informing the public generally that she had demanded a guinea stole at
three minutes past nine, and had been put off with a monstrous excuse.
And then a newspaper reporter appeared, and began to take notes. The din
increased, though shopwalkers said less and less, and the chances seemed
in favour of the insurrection becoming a riot. Other admirable bargains
in furs were indubitably to be had--muffs, for example--and the cashiers
were busy; but nothing could atone for the famine of stoles.

Lily had a suspicion that Albert would have wished her to report these
singular circumstances to Hugo at once. But she dismissed the suspicion,
because she passionately desired an 'Incroyable' corset at twelve and
eleven, and she feared lest the corsets might have vanished as strangely
as the stoles. In ten minutes, breathless, she had reached the corset
department, demanded an 'Incroyable' of the correct size, and bought it.
There was no dissatisfaction in the corset department.

'Shall we send it, miss?'

'Madam,' said Lily proudly. 'No, I'll take it.'

'Yes, madam.'

At the cash desk (No. 56) she had to wait her turn in a disorderly
queue before she could tender the bill and her five-pound note.
Customers pressed round her on all sides as she put down the note and
peered through the wire network into the interior of the desk.

'Next, please,' said the cashier sharply, after a moment.

'My change,' demanded Lily.