Most of the women, even those who seemed quite poor, had accounts in the shop, and did not shrink from increasing them.

Once or twice a stranger presented some sort of a letter of introduction, and was at once accommodated with apparently unlimited credit.
At length there was a lull in the business, and Hyacinth succeeded in spreading his goods on a vacant counter, and attracting the attention of Mr.O'Reilly.

He began with shawls.
'I hope,' he said, 'that you will give me a good order for these shawls.' Mr.O'Reilly fingered them knowingly.
'Price ?' he said.
Hyacinth mentioned a sum which left a fair margin of profit for Mr.
Quinn.

O'Reilly shook his head and laughed.
'Can't do it.' Hyacinth reduced his price at once as far as possible.
'No use,' said Mr.O'Reilly.
Compared with the suave oratory to which he treated his customers, this extreme economy of words was striking.
'See here,' he said, producing a bundle of shawls from a shelf beside him.

'I get these for twenty-five shillings a dozen less from Thompson and Taylor of Manchester.' Hyacinth looked at them curiously.