This really aroused in me that indignation which sometimes renders me almost terrible; but his fixed and glittering gaze seemed to hold me back from making the protest which rose to my lips.
"Permit me, Sir," said he, "to offer you a cigar."
It was a strong-looking weed; but although I am not a smoker, I took and lighted it. He resumed his attention to his bottle and paper.
"Will you be so kind," said he, breaking silence, "as to read that item as it appears to you?"
"'Federal Improvement Company,'" I read. "'Organized under the laws of New Jersey, on January 4th, with a capital of $1,000,000. Charter powers very broad, taking in almost every field of business. The incorporators are understood to be New York men.'"
"'Imp,'" said he, "isn't it? not 'Improvement.'"
"I take it, sir," said I, "that the omission of the period is a printer's error, and that i-m-p means Improvement.'"
He leaned forward, grasped my wrist and peered like a hypnotist into my face.
"Just as badly mistaken," said he, "as if you had lost—as could be! It means 'Imp' just as it says 'Imp.' Have another drink!"
This time I really did not feel free to refuse him. He seemed greatly pleased at my tasting.