"Oh, I don't insinuate, though it's a habit among the people where I was brought up."
"If you don't insinuate, what then? what do you mean?"
"That you've got about all the money I had."
"The devil, you say!"
"I didn't mention the devil. I didn't think it was necessary to speak in the third person of one who is already present."
Caruthers started and took his feet off the table. Lyman regarded him with a cool smile.
"Lyman, I thought that we might have parted friends."
"We can at least part as acquaintances," Lyman replied. "Until a few moments ago I was willing to stand a good deal from you; that part of your principles that I do not like I was willing to ascribe to a difference of opinion, but just now you called me a fool because I had refused to declare those books to be worth a hundred dollars. Up to that time we might have parted in reasonably good humor, but since then I haven't thought very well of you. And you'll have to take it back before you leave."
"You say I'll have to take it back."
"Yes, that's what I said."