“There is no doubt about it,” I replied, with what self-possession I could command.
“Just so; I had forgotten the particulars,” he continued, as he took the note from the papers in his pocket-book.
He might as well have told me that I had forgotten it, as that he had; but I am sorry to say that both of us had a bad habit of pretending not to remember what, from the nature of the case, must have been uppermost in the mind. It was a stupid and ridiculous affectation. My creditors were often in my mind, and I am sure his debtors were as faithfully remembered.
“I am not prepared to pay the note just now,” I began, with more candor than I generally used.
“But, Paley, it is three or four months since I lent you the money; and you promised to pay it in a few weeks.”
His memory was improving wonderfully.
“I have just furnished my house, uncle, and that cost me a good deal of money,” I pleaded.
“But you got trusted for that,” said he, sharply.
“For only a small portion of it,” I answered, wondering how he could know that I owed any thing.