"Got any gold handbags?" he asked in a low voice, as if he had something
to conceal. "Kind made of chain, with diamonds and sapphires along the
top."
He was shown the stock; saw nothing apparently which struck his fancy, and
was off like a shot in search of the next name on his list.
At this place lived a bag which, so far as he could remember, seemed the
duplicate of Mrs. May's except that the stones alternating with the
diamonds were emeralds instead of sapphires.
"Just keep that thing for twenty minutes," said he. "I'll come back to
tell you whether I'll take it or not, and what I want done to it, if I
do."
"Another gentleman was in to-day looking at that bag," said the attendant.
"If he comes before you, I must let him have it."
"What price did you make for him?" asked Nick.
"Seven hundred and seventy-five dollars," was the reply.
"Well, will you do a little gamble? Keep it till I come in, and if I take
it I'll pay eight hundred. If I don't, you can have twenty-five dollars
interest on your time."
The attendant laughed. "We don't do business that way. But I guess I can
promise to keep the bag till you come back, if you hurry."
Nick did hurry, and visited three other shops within ten minutes, though
they were at some distance from each other.
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