"Have I made a mistake? Oh! I beg your pardon; I am distressed; it was all these feathers that misled me; they put so many feathers on hats nowadays. Accept my apologies, madame; your humble servant." Having executed a graceful bow, Cherami left the shop, saying to himself: "That's one; I did that very well; it wasn't a bit bad. My two young friends are not there. Let's try another." A little farther on, he saw another establishment for the sale of flowers and feathers. He entered as before, and struck the same attitude. "We are waiting for monsieur to say what he wants," said an old woman. "Mon Dieu! madame," said Cherami, examining the girls, of whom there were not so many as in the first shop, "I would like--I wanted a coat, either blue or black, but made in the latest style, and, above all things, becoming to me. I don't care for the price, but I am particular about being well dressed." "You are not in a tailor's shop, monsieur!" retorted the old woman superciliously, while the workgirls exchanged glances and laughed till they cried. But the old woman bade them be silent, and added: "Apparently you didn't look to see what we keep here, monsieur?" "What! am I not in a shop of outfitters for both sexes?" "No, monsieur; we sell only flowers and feathers." "Oh! a thousand pardons, madame; but your shop has a sort of resemblance to the Magasin du Prophete. It isn't so brightly lighted, I agree; but these flowers, these wreaths--it's all so pretty! and, in Paris, outfitters' shops look like stage decorations.--Accept my apologies, madame." "Two!" said Cherami, when he was in the street once more. "My pretty grisettes are not there either. Patience! we shall find them at last. Ah! I see another feather-shop; they fairly swarm in this street. Forward!" In the third shop, Cherami asked for shirts, while passing in review the workgirls and apprentices, without finding those whom he sought. He succeeded, as before, in making the young women laugh and in obtaining a tart response from the mistress of the place. In the fourth shop, after staring about for some time, Cherami exclaimed: "I don't see any; this is very strange; I don't see any, and yet I was certain that I saw several in the window." "Will monsieur kindly tell us what he desires?" said the forewoman. "I want to buy a Bayonne ham, madame; the best you have." This time the laughter was general, and the mistress shared the merriment of her workgirls; so that Cherami had an opportunity to examine them at his leisure. At last, when the hilarity had subsided somewhat, the forewoman, still smiling, said to him: "We don't sell hams here, monsieur; pray, what sort of a place did you take this for?" "Oh! a thousand pardons, madame; isn't this a provision shop?" "No, monsieur; it's a flower and feather shop."