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from a combination of violent, unusual colours. The result
amused him and next morning he showed it to Mrs. Hodg-
es. She was somewhat astonished, but took it at once to the
buyer.
‘It’s unusual,’ he said, ‘there’s no denying that.’
It puzzled him, and at the same time his trained eye saw
that it would make up admirably. To save his face he began
making suggestions for altering it, but Mrs. Hodges, with
more sense, advised him to show it to Miss Antonia as it
was.
‘It’s neck or nothing with her, and she may take a fancy
to it.’
‘It’s a good deal more nothing than neck,’ said Mr. Samp-
son, looking at the decolletage. ‘He can draw, can’t he?
Fancy ‘im keeping it dark all this time.’
When Miss Antonia was announced, the buyer placed
the design on the table in such a position that it must catch
her eye the moment she was shown into his office. She
pounced on it at once.
‘What’s that?’ she said. ‘Why can’t I ‘ave that?’
‘That’s just an idea we got out for you,’ said Mr. Sampson
casually. ‘D’you like it?’
‘Do I like it!’ she said. ‘Give me ‘alf a pint with a little
drop of gin in it.’
‘Ah, you see, you don’t have to go to Paris. You’ve only got
to say what you want and there you are.’
The work was put in hand at once, and Philip felt quite
a thrill of satisfaction when he saw the costume complet-
ed. The buyer and Mrs. Hodges took all the credit of it; but

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