'Still your uncle's cabinet?
A remarkable collector, sir!' And the little pale, round-shouldered dealer stood almost on tip-toe, looking over the top of his gold spectacles, and nodding his head with every mark of disbelief.

Markheim returned his gaze with one of infinite pity, and a touch of horror.
'This time,' said he, 'you are in error.

I have not come to sell, but to buy.

I have no curios to dispose of; my uncle's cabinet is bare to the wainscot; even were it still intact, I have done well on the Stock Exchange, and should more likely add to it than otherwise, and my errand to-day is simplicity itself.

I seek a Christmas present for a lady,' he continued, waxing more fluent as he struck into the speech he had prepared; 'and certainly I owe you every excuse for thus disturbing you upon so small a matter.