For the Love of Accessories

We were strolling along the winding cobblestone streets of Montmartre when we passed by a cute leather shop that showcased coin purses and bags in its front window. We stopped and decided that since our mutual close friend adores coin purses, we should suck up the exchange rate and buy her one. Plus, they were reasonably priced. When we went inside there were lots of little signs written in English that said DO NOT TOUCH. We stood there staring at the rows of brilliantly colored small leather coin purses, and without touching any of them, decided upon a squarish-shaped cobalt blue one. I picked it up from under the rest thinking that the do not touch signs referred to while you were browsing. I can understand the store not wanting every single purse fondled by the masses. I figured since we were about to purchase it, it was now okay to touch it. I thought wrong! As soon as I touched it, the store clerk sitting three feet to my left started barking orders in French. My friend who speaks fluent French told me that the woman was saying we weren't allowed to touch anything and to put it back immediately. So I did. My friend then told me I had to ask to the woman to see the purse. Since I speak approximately six words of French and "may I see this blue purse" isn't one of them, I had to have my friend ask for me. And I kid you not the woman then walked over to me, picked up the blue purse, handed it to me and said: "Now you may touch it."