I never thought he would make me his reference though.'
'It seems natural enough that he should.'
'Quite so, Mr. Sampson; but I never thought of it. Let me see.'
He took the printed paper from his pocket. 'How am I to answer all
these questions?'
'According to the truth, of course,' said I.
'O, of course!' he answered, looking up from the paper with a
smile; 'I meant they were so many. But you do right to be
particular. It stands to reason that you must be particular. Will
you allow me to use your pen and ink?'
'Certainly.'
'And your desk?'
'Certainly.'
He had been hovering about between his hat and his umbrella for a
place to write on. He now sat down in my chair, at my blotting-
paper and inkstand, with the long walk up his head in accurate
perspective before me, as I stood with my back to the fire.
Before answering each question he ran over it aloud, and discussed
it. How long had he known Mr. Alfred Beckwith? That he had to
calculate by years upon his fingers. What were his habits? No
difficulty about them; temperate in the last degree, and took a
little too much exercise, if anything.
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