“Humph?” was the somewhat dubious rejoinder.
“I should have called upon you instead of sending for you to my office, but I have really been so harassed by business that I could not get a single spare moment.”
“And you presumed that I was not overburdened in that way, eh?”
“My dear Blunt,” said Sharp, with wounded feeling, “how can you imagine such a thing?”
“I only judged from what you said. You hadn’t time to call upon me, but judged that I had plenty of time to spend in calling upon you.”
“My dear Blunt,” said Sharp, impressively, “if the extent of a man’s business were always commensurate with his merits——”
“We should neither of us stand a very good chance.”
“That was not exactly what I intended to say,” said Sharp, blowing his nose, “your modesty, my dear Blunt——”
“Modesty! I am sure you’re joking now, Sharp, and although my time is not particularly valuable, I don’t care to stand here discussing personal qualities; so if you had any object in sending for me, out with it.”
“You are somewhat abrupt in your speech, my dear friend; an evidence of your sincerity, for which no one has a greater respect than myself.”