James Greenwood

“ It is the commonest thing in the world to hear one say, 'Well, to be sure, M'Rooster does charge a high figure, but what he sells is of the very best, and lasts for ever almost;' and well it may, when the coat or the best gown, or whatever it may be, is lying in the pawnbroker's drawers from· Monday morning until Saturday night every week of the year. ”

“ It makes your money as right as the Bank. They look each other up on collecting days as sharply as though they were paid for it - not out of fear that you may be let in the hole, but that they may. But that's only one of a whole bagful of tricks I can put you up to if we come to terms. ”

“ I do not lay claim to a profound knowledge of the value of drapery goods, but cannot think that I am wrong in deeming tenpence halfpenny a yard an exorbitant price for ordinary calico, and that five and ninepence a yard was not cheap for French merino, albeit it was of double width and war ranted a last colour, and that a pair of black cloth trousers and a waistcoat to match, fit for a working man's Sunday wear, might be obtained for a trifle less than two pounds eleven and sixpence. ”

“ M'Rooster, it is not impossible that my first impressions would have done him injustice. A man who has more than seven hundred customers on his books, and whose takings exceed sixty pounds a week, usually makes more show of worldly prosperity than is compatible with an abode in a side street in the vicinity of Lambeth-walk, and bounded on either hand by a chandler's shop and a greengrocer's. No shop, no display of that enormous stock of stuffs and calicoes for which it was the delight of Mr. ”

“ And in "the bill" that was for the husband the account was. similarly falsified in every particular, the trousers and waistcoat appearing as having cost one pound twelve and sixpence, the French merino three-and-six a yard, &c. - the total, instead of eleven pounds, being a little over six. I could not help remarking to my ingenious companion when we had quitted the house that I thought the little game I had just seen played a somewhat dangerous one.
"For whom?" he asked, in some surprise.
"For you."
"For me! Why, it's as common a game as marbles," returned Mr. M'Rooster, with a laugh ”

“ To a man of moderate capital and of energetic and active habits the realization of a fortune in a few years is certain. There are at present over seven hundred customers on the books, many of ten and fifteen years' standing, and well secured by being employed in respectable firms. Weekly collections guaranteed to be over sixty pounds. ”