The million pound banknote

'Do me the favour to put on this shirt and this suit; it's just the thing, the very thing - plain, rich, modest, made to order for a foreign prince - you may know him, Sir, His Serene Highness the Hospodar of Halifax; had to leave it with us and take a mourning-suit because his mother was going to die - which she didn't. But that's all right; we can't always have things the way we - that is, the way they - there! trousers all right, they fit you to a charm, Sir; now the waistcoat; aha, right again! now the coat - Lord! look at that, now! Perfect - the whole thing! I never saw such a triumph in all my experience.'

I expressed my satisfaction.

'Quite right, sir, quite right; it'll do for a makeshift, I'm bound to say. But wait till you see what we'll get up for you on your own measure. Come, Tod, book and pen; get at it. Length of leg, 32"' - and so on. Before I could get in a word he had measured me, and was giving orders for dress-suits, morning suits, shirts, and all sorts of things.

When I got a chance I said: 'But, my dear Sir, I can't give these orders, unless you can wait indefinitely, or change the bill.'

'Indefinitely! It's a weak word, Sir, a weak word. Eternally - that's the word, Sir. Tod, rush these things through, and send them to the gentleman's address without any waste of time. Let the minor customers wait.'

Vocabulary:

Made to order: Made for a particular customer
Mourn: To show extreme sorrow
Fit to a charm: An old fashioned way of saying 'fit perfectly'
Makeshift: Something temporary made from what is available
Indefinitely: Without setting a precise time