"I'd like to close out that entire lot of goods, Eldon. I wish you'd
take them."
"How many pieces have you left?" inquired Eldon, with assumed
indifference. It occurred to him, on the instant, that the merchant
was a little pressed, and that, in consequence, he might drive a
sharp bargain with him.
"Two hundred."
Eldon shook his head.
"What's the matter?" asked Lladd.
"The lot is too heavy."
"You'll work up every piece before six months."
"No, indeed. Not in twelve months."
"Oh, yes, you will. I looked over your account yesterday, and find
that you have had a hundred aid fifty pieces from me alone, and in
six months."
"You must be in error."
"No. It is just as I say."
"Well, what terms do you offer?"
"If you will take the entire lot, you may have them for ten and a
quarter, three months."
Eldon thought for a few moments, and then shook his head.
"You must say better than that."
"What better can you ask? You have been buying a dozen pieces at a
time, for ten and a half, cash, and now I offer you the lot at ten
and a quarter, three months."
"Not inducement enough. If you will say ten at six months, perhaps I
will close with you."
"No. I have named the lowest price and best terms. If you like to
take the goods, well and good; if not, why you can go on and pay ten
and a half, cash, as before."
"I'll give you what I said."
"Oh, no, Mr. Eldon. Not a cent less will bring them."
"Very well. Then we can't trade," said the manufacturer.
"As you like," replied the merchant.
And the two men parted.
Now Eldon thought the offer of Lladd a very fair one, and meant to
accept of it, if he could make no better terms; but seeing that the
merchant had taken the pains to come and offer him the goods, he
suspected that he was in want of money, and would take less than he
asked, in order to get his note and pass it through bank. But he
erred in this. Eldon fully expected to see Mr. Lladd before three
days went by. But two weeks elapsed, and as there had been no visit
from the dealer, the manufacturer found it necessary to go to him,
in order to get a fresh supply of goods. So he went to see him.
"I must have a dozen pieces of those goods to-day," said he, as he
met Mr. Lladd.
"Very well. They are at your service."
"You'll sell them at ten and a quarter, I suppose?"
Mr. Lladd shook his head.
"But you offered them at that, you know."
"I offered the whole lot at that price, and the offer is still open;
though I am in no way particular about selling."
Since ten dollars and a quarter a piece had been mentioned; the idea
of paying more had become entirely obliterated from the mind of
Eldon.
"But if you can sell for ten and a quarter, three months, you can
sell for the same, cash."
"Yes, so I can; but I don't mean to do it."
The merchant felt a little fretted. Eldon was disappointed. He stood
chaffering for some time longer; but finding it impossible to bring
Lladd over to his terms, he finally agreed to take the two hundred
pieces at ten and a quarter, on his note at three months.
Still he was far from being satisfied. He had fully believed that
the merchant was pressed for money, and that he would in consequence
be able to drive a hard bargain with him. Notwithstanding he had
been compelled to go to Lladd, and to accept his terms, he yet
believed that money was an object to him, and that, rather than not
have the sale confirmed, he would let it be closed at ten dollars a
piece, on a note at six months. So firmly was he impressed with this
idea, that he finally concluded to assume, boldly, that ten dollars
was the price agreed upon, and to affect surprise that the bill
expressed any other rate.
In due time, the goods were delivered and the bill sent in.
Immediately upon this being done, Eldon called upon the merchant and
said, in a confident manner, as he laid the bill he had received
upon his desk.
"You've made a mistake, haven't you?"
"How?"
"In charging these goods."
"No. I told you the price would be ten and a quarter, didn't I?"
"I believe not. I understood the terms to be ten dollars, at six
months."
"You offered that, but I positively refused it."
"I am sure I understood you as accepting my offer, and ordered the
goods to be sent home under that impression."
"If so, you erred," coolly replied Lladd.
"I can't take them at the price called for in this bill," said
Eldon, assuming a positive air, and thinking, by doing so, Lladd
would deem it his better policy to let the goods go at ten dollars.
"Then you can send them home," replied the merchant, in a manner
that offended Eldon.
"Very well, I will do so, and you may keep your goods," he retorted,
betraying, as he spoke, a good deal of warmth.
And the goods were sent back, both parties feeling offended; Lladd
at the glaring attempt made to overreach him, and Eldon because the
other would not submit to be overreached.
On the day following, Eldon started out in search of another lot of
the goods he wanted, and thought himself fortunate in meeting with
some in the hands of a dealer named Miller, but demurred when twelve
dollars and a half a piece were asked for them.
"I can't take less," was replied.
"But," said Eldon, "Lladd has the same article for ten and a half."
"You don't pretend to put his goods alongside of mine?" returned
Miller.
Eldon examined them more closely.
"They are better, it is true. But the difference is not so great as
the price."
"Look again."
Another close examination was made.
"They are finer and thicker certainly. But you ask too much for
them."
"It's my lowest price. They will bring it in the market, which is
now bare."
"Won't you let me have a dozen pieces at twelve dollars?" asked
Eldon.
"Can't sell a piece for less than what I said."
Eldon hung on for some time, but finally ordered a dozen pieces to
be sent home, and paid the bill, though with a bad grace. Still, he
was so angry with Lladd because he had shown a proper resentment at
the effort made to overreach him, that he determined to buy no more
of his goods if he could supply himself at a higher price. Thus
matters went on for five or six months, Eldon supplying himself at
the store of Miller, and reconciling himself to the serious advance
in price, with the reflection that Lladd's goods were remaining dead
on his hands.
At last, Miller's supply was exhausted. Eldon called, one day, and
ordered a dozen pieces, and received for answer--
"Not a piece in the store."
"What? All gone?" said Eldon.
"Yes, you got the last some days ago."
"I'm sorry for that. Lladd has a good stock on hand, but I don't
care about dealing with him, if I can help it. He's a crusty sort of
a fellow. Has no other house a supply?"
"Not to my knowledge. There is only a limited demand for the
article, you know, and but few importers care about ordering it, for
the reason that it goes off slowly."
Eldon tried several places, but couldn't find a yard. By the next
day, his workmen would be idle; and so he had no alternative but to
call upon Lladd. The merchant received him pleasantly; and they
chatted for a while on matters and things in general. At last Eldon,
though it went against the grain, said--
"I want you to send me twenty pieces of those goods around, with the
bill."