“This man has a very good stock of clothes,” he said. “After you have selected what you want and got his price for everything, offer him exactly half what he asks. If he objects, pretend you’re going to leave and he’ll come to time fast enough. When you get through, wait for me here, and I’ll take you to the ship.” The boys entered the shop, and informed the merchant what they wished. They found, as Captain Foster had said, that the shop contained an excellent stock of clothing, and they soon made their selections of a complete wardrobe for each of them. Then Sidney asked the merchant how much it all amounted to. “As the gentlemen can see,” said the man, rubbing his hands together and smirking, “the clothing is most excellent quality.” “Yes,” said Sidney, “the clothes are all right. How much are they?” “I am sure,” said the merchant, “the young gentlemen are well pleased.” “Of course, or we shouldn’t take the things. Now, tell me how much everything is, we’re in a hurry.” The man regarded his customers shrewdly for a moment, and then said,-- “The gentlemen may have all of this clothing, all of the most excellent garments which they have selected, for the small sum of one hundred ten rubles.” “I’ll give you just fifty-five rubles for everything we’ve picked out,” said Sidney. The man threw up his hands in supplication, and raised his eyes in horror. “Would your lordship rob a poor defenseless man?” he asked, most humbly. “My lordship doesn’t intend to rob anybody,” said Sidney, while Raymond snickered. “But if you don’t want to sell the things, all right. Come on, Ray.” The man interposed hastily. “Business is so bad with the cruel war, that I am willing to take much less than the clothing is worth. But fifty-five rubles!” And he raised his hands in protest. “All right,” said Sidney, “we’ll go somewhere else.” And he started toward the door. “If the gentleman insists,” interposed the merchant again in a tone of agony, “he shall have the excellent clothing at his own price, though I lose half the value of the goods.” “Very well,” said Sidney; “now show us a place where we can put the things on.” “Do you want to change your clothes here, Sid?” objected Raymond. “Yes; we’d better do the whole thing up now.” Thereupon the merchant conducted the boys to a room at the rear of the shop where he apparently lived. When the boys were alone Sidney explained to his brother. “You see, Ray, my money is all under my clothes, and I didn’t want to take it out and let that fellow know how much we’ve got. Besides, we may as well leave all these old rags here, they’re good for nothing. I was ashamed to jew him down that way, but I guess we paid all the things were worth, or he wouldn’t have let them go.”