"There was no mistake," he said sharply; "I know what I am talking
about. The discount offered was 25 and 10."

I hastened to assure him that I had not meant that he was mistaken,
but that Reachum must have made a mistake.

"That's no concern of mine," said he, "and I rather think that Reachum
is a man who knows his business as well as any of you. If you are
higher than he is on guns you probably are on other goods. I guess you
had better cancel that order."

Here was a pretty how-do-you-do! How was I to get out of this box? I
confess I was in great doubts as to what to do or say. I dared not
sell Parker's guns at any such price, yet the man would cancel the
order and probably always have a grudge against the house unless I
sold him now. I could not believe that Reachum had made this price,
and yet there was no telling what that house might or might not do.

"How many Parker guns do you want?" I asked.

"I don't want any. I only asked because it is a leading thing, and if
a house is not low on that I conclude it is high on other goods."

"I was going to say," I said, "that I would meet the price." I wasn't
going to say anything of the kind, but as he didn't want any I was
safe in saying it now.

"Then you may send me two. I think I know a place where I can sell
two."