The generous dealer would infallibly have carried the day,
had not his rival humbly supplicated the purchaser not only to receive
his article as a gift, but also the compliment of a crown inside.
'What a terrible cheat the first merchant must have been!' said the
puzzled Popanilla, as they proceeded on their way.
'By no means!' said his calm companion; 'the purse was sufficiently,
cheap even at four crowns. This is not Cheatery; this is Competition!'
'What a wonderful nation, then, this must be, where you not only get
purses gratis but even well loaded! What use, then, is all this heavy
gold? It is a tremendous trouble to carry; I will empty the bag into
this kennel, for money surely can be of no use in a city where, when in
want of cash, you have only to go into a shop and buy a purse!'
'Your pardon!' said his companion; 'far from this being the case,
Vraibleusia is, without doubt, the dearest country in the world.'
'If, then,' said the inquisitive Popanilla, with great animation, 'if,
then, this country be the dearest in the world; if, how -- '
'My good friend!' said his companion, 'I really am the last person in
the world to answer questions.
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