"He's smarter than you or most people think. That yarn about his being brought up in the poor-house may be true, but I have my doubts."
"Why?" asked Ferris, in high curiosity.
"I can't explain now." There was a brief pause. "Here, take a cigar. Those nasty cigarettes make me sick."
There was the striking of matches, and then another pause.
"Are you going to continue as book-keeper when Allen leaves?" asked Ferris.
"Certainly."
"I thought you were to go with Allen in his new venture."
"I will—later on."
"Has he made any definite plans yet?"
"No."