A man walked into a shoe shop and asked for a pair of shoes, size eight. The sales assistant said: "Are you sure, sir? You look like a size twelve to me." "Just bring me a size eight," insisted the customer. So the assistant fetched a pair of size eight shoes, and the man squeezed his feet into them with obvious discomfort. He then stood up in the shoes, but with considerable pain. "Are you absolutely sure you want these shoes?" repeated the assistant. "Listen," said the man. "I've lost my house…