Elias poured out a glass of wine for Miss Tillie, and for himself a glass of beer.
“Have a fresh cigar?” cried Mr. Koch.
“No, thank you. I haven't finished this one,” returned Elias, who had allowed the fire of his cigar to go out.
“Well, if you ain't comfortable, speak up, that's all,” his host concluded, and became silent.
“Oh, by the way, Meester Bacharach,” piped Mrs. Koch, who, having disposed of Lester, had rejoined the company, “I hear dot we haif to con-kratulate you.”
“Indeed? What about?” inquired Elias, unsuspiciously.
“We hear dot you was encaged. Was it true?”
“Oh!” he cried, taken aback. He colored up; but the darkness hid his blushes.
“Vail?” pursued his good-natured tormentress.
“No—not at all—an entire mistake,” he stammered.