Having arrived at the shop to which the stranger has been directed, the purchase is made somewhat in this fashion:— _Lady._ “I wish, if you please, to look at some French ribbons.” _Shopman._ “Horro sha, Sudarina” (very well, lady). The shopman takes down a box, the contents of which are undeniably of Russian manufacture. _L._ “These are not French—I want _French_ ribbons.” _S._ “These are _real_ French: they are from Paris.” _L._ “No, I am sure they are not.” _S._ (After again most energetically repeating his assertion) “Well! how much do you want?” _L._ “Show me the ribbons, and then I will tell you.” _S._ “How many arsheens did you say?” _L._ “Show me the French ribbons.” The shopman unblushingly puts back the box which he has so recently declared contained the real article, and takes down another, which is filled with ribbons really of French fabrication. _L._ “How much is this an arsheen?” _S._ (With a most graceful inclination) “Seventy copecks.” _L._ “Seventy copecks! Why, the price is only fifty, and that is all I will give you.” _S._ (Quite indignant) “Fifty! they cost us more than that; you shall have it for sixty-five.” _L._ “Fifty.” _S._ “Bosja moia! No; I can’t think of fifty—say sixty.” _L._ “Not a copeck more than fifty.” _S._ “By Heaven! I can’t sell it for that price; you shall have it for fifty-five.” _L._ “Will you take fifty or not?” _S._ “I can’t indeed.” (He shuts up the box and puts it back into its place.) “You shall have it for fifty-three.” The purchaser refuses to be cheated of even three copecks an arsheen, and walks out of the shop; she has perhaps gone half-a-dozen yards, when the shopkeeper’s voice is heard calling out, “Barishna, Barishna! come back, if you please!” _L._ “Not a copeck more than fifty.” _S._ (Having persuaded her to re-enter the warehouse, says in a confidential manner) “You shall have it for fifty-one.” _L._ “I said fifty, and I will give you no more.” _S._ “Well! say fifty and a half!” _L._ “If you don’t like to take what I said, I will go to the next shop.” _S._ (Finding that his customer will _not_ be cheated) “Horro sha, Mosjna! well, you may have it; how much do you want?” _L._ “Six arsheens.” He proceeds to measure the ribbon, and she takes out her purse, and gives him, perhaps, a five-rouble note to change. The shopkeeper’s hopes of cheating begin to revive at the sight of the note, for he can’t find the amount of the balance due to his customer by two or three copecks. _L._ “You must give me three copecks more; this is not right.” _S._ (With a very low bow) “Isvenete veno vat, I beg your pardon, I am in fault.” The remaining three copecks are slowly produced, and the customer at last walks away with her ribbon. In this senseless manner do the Russian shopkeepers waste their own time and that of the purchaser. One would think that the minutes thus lost would be of more value than the consideration of the profit of a few copecks more.