And the commerzienrath, with an appearance of intense enjoyment, exhaled the smoke slowly through the nostrils.
"To tell you the candid truth, very often; but I must confess that I am a little dainty in this particular point. Probably my old stay at Zehrendorf made me fastidious."
"I dare say," said my host, with a sneer. "He could afford it: he did not have to pay duties as we do."
"I thought you said, Herr Commerzienrath, that these cigars were duty free?"
He looked at me again as if strongly moved to ring for a servant to turn me out the house. He did not ring, however, but said:
"So! If you are such a judge of the weed, what do you estimate these to be worth?"
"Twenty thalers I should consider a full price."
"They cost eighteen!" cried the commerzienrath, giving the table a thump. "Why should a man set costly cigars before his guests until he knows whether they can appreciate them or not? And now I will give you some that----"
"Are worth a hundred and twenty thalers, between brothers."
"Exactly so! exactly so! you ironical fellow!" cried the little old man as he sprang up and took from a cupboard a box containing cigars, of which I am bound to say that I never smoked better, even with the Wild Zehren.