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The consequence was that almost every one was on the look out for him; and it not unfrequently happened that he paid more for an article which he imagined he was getting, in consequence of some manoeuvre, at less than cost, than his next-door neighbour, who dealt fairly and above-board. One day, a Mr. Lladd, an importer, called upon him, and said
Eldon did not understand how completely he had overreached himself, until a part of his establishment had been idle for days, and he had been compelled to go to New York, and purchase some fifty pieces of the goods he wanted, for cash, at twelve dollars per piece, a price that he is still compelled to pay, as neither Lladd nor any other importing house in the city has since ordered a case from abroad.
But he erred in this. Eldon fully expected to see Mr. Lladd before three days went by. But two weeks elapsed, and as there had been no visit from the dealer, the manufacturer found it necessary to go to him, in order to get a fresh supply of goods. So he went to see him. "I must have a dozen pieces of those goods to-day," said he, as he met Mr. Lladd. "Very well. They are at your service."
"Then you can send them home," replied the merchant, in a manner that offended Eldon. "Very well, I will do so, and you may keep your goods," he retorted, betraying, as he spoke, a good deal of warmth. And the goods were sent back, both parties feeling offended; Lladd at the glaring attempt made to overreach him, and Eldon because the other would not submit to be overreached.
"You offered that, but I positively refused it." "I am sure I understood you as accepting my offer, and ordered the goods to be sent home under that impression." "If so, you erred," coolly replied Lladd. "I can't take them at the price called for in this bill," said Eldon, assuming a positive air, and thinking, by doing so, Lladd would deem it his better policy to let the goods go at ten dollars.
The merchant smiled blandly and replied "Sorry I can't accommodate you. But I haven't a yard in the store." "What?" Lladd looked blank. "No. I have sold off the entire lot, and concluded not to import any more of that class of goods." "Ah? I supposed they were still on hand."
"No, I placed them in the hands of Miller, and he has worked them all off for me at a considerable advance on former prices. He notified me, a week ago, that the lot was closed out, and rendered account sales at twelve and a half per piece." Lladd said all this seemingly unconscious that every word he was uttering fell like a blow upon his old customer.
On the day following, Eldon started out in search of another lot of the goods he wanted, and thought himself fortunate in meeting with some in the hands of a dealer named Miller, but demurred when twelve dollars and a half a piece were asked for them. "I can't take less," was replied. "But," said Eldon, "Lladd has the same article for ten and a half."
"Yes, you got the last some days ago." "I'm sorry for that. Lladd has a good stock on hand, but I don't care about dealing with him, if I can help it. He's a crusty sort of a fellow. Has no other house a supply?" "Not to my knowledge. There is only a limited demand for the article, you know, and but few importers care about ordering it, for the reason that it goes off slowly."
"You'll sell them at ten and a quarter, I suppose?" Mr. Lladd shook his head. "But you offered them at that, you know." "I offered the whole lot at that price, and the offer is still open; though I am in no way particular about selling." Since ten dollars and a quarter a piece had been mentioned; the idea of paying more had become entirely obliterated from the mind of Eldon.
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