But the old woman bade them be silent, and added:
"Apparently you didn't look to see what we keep here, monsieur?"
"What! am I not in a shop of outfitters for both sexes?"
"No, monsieur; we sell only flowers and feathers."
"Oh! a thousand pardons, madame; but your shop has a sort of resemblance to the Magasin du Prophète. It isn't so brightly lighted, I agree; but these flowers, these wreaths--it's all so pretty! and, in Paris, outfitters' shops look like stage decorations.--Accept my apologies, madame."
"Two!" said Cherami, when he was in the street once more. "My pretty grisettes are not there either. Patience! we shall find them at last. Ah! I see another feather-shop; they fairly swarm in this street. Forward!"
In the third shop, Cherami asked for shirts, while passing in review the workgirls and apprentices, without finding those whom he sought. He succeeded, as before, in making the young women laugh and in obtaining a tart response from the mistress of the place.
In the fourth shop, after staring about for some time, Cherami exclaimed:
"I don't see any; this is very strange; I don't see any, and yet I was certain that I saw several in the window."
"Will monsieur kindly tell us what he desires?" said the forewoman.
"I want to buy a Bayonne ham, madame; the best you have."
This time the laughter was general, and the mistress shared the merriment of her workgirls; so that Cherami had an opportunity to examine them at his leisure. At last, when the hilarity had subsided somewhat, the forewoman, still smiling, said to him:
"We don't sell hams here, monsieur; pray, what sort of a place did you take this for?"
"Oh! a thousand pardons, madame; isn't this a provision shop?"
"No, monsieur; it's a flower and feather shop."
"Ah! I am a miserable wretch! But let me tell you what misled me: it was the birds that I saw in the window. I said to myself: 'That's game; therefore, they sell provisions.'"
"Those are birds-of-paradise that you saw, monsieur; they're used to put on ladies' hats, but not to eat."
"Birds-of-paradise! Pardon me, but they are in paradise, in very truth, since they live under the same roof with such charming ladies! I renew my apologies, and beg you to accept my respects."