his shoulders to himself a little contemptuously as he took it; this
annoyed me.

"Young man," I cried, "do be a little careful! There are two costly glass
vases in that; the parcel has to go to Smyrna."

This had a famous effect. The fellow apologized with every movement he
made for not having guessed that there was something out of the common in
this blanket. When he had finished packing it up I thanked him with the
air of a man who had sent precious goods to Smyrna before now. He held the
door open for me, and bowed twice as I left.

I began to wander about amongst the people in the market place, kept from
choice near the woman who had potted plants for sale. The heavy crimson
roses--the leaves of which glowed blood-like and moist in the damp
morning--made me envious, and tempted me sinfully to snatch one, and I
inquired the price of them merely as an excuse to approach as near to them
as possible.

If I had any money over I would buy one, no matter how things went;
indeed, I might well save a little now and then out of my way of living to
balance things again.

It was ten o'clock, and I went up to the newspaper office. "Scissors" is
running through a lot of old papers. The editor has not come yet. On being
asked my business, I delivered my weighty manuscript, lead him to suppose
that it is something of more than uncommon importance, and impress upon
his memory gravely that he is to give it into we editor's own hands as
soon as he arrives.