"Indeed!" I said.
"Oh yes; oh yes, I—but in a different line, sir, I—"
Again he hesitated, apparently through humility, so that I encouraged him to proceed.
"Yes?" I said.
"I—er—in fact, I—" he continued, shyly.
"Something philosophical," I ventured.
"Yes; oh yes," he ejaculated. "Well, no; not that exactly."
"Scientific then, Mr. Percival."
He beamed upon me.
"Well, now, how did you guess it? How did you guess it?" he exclaimed.