"I see," I said bitterly. "In plain words you are indifferent to my fate."
He smiled slightly and reached for a match to re-light his pipe.
My blood was up. I would not be defied by this man; at least, not completely. "Very well," I said coldly, "I will leave my cheque for ten pounds with you and take only a couple on account."
"I couldn't do that either."
"Well, a pound will have to do then."
"No."
"Then," I said in despair, "we come to the ridiculously small amount of eighteenpence. Ha, ha!"
"And that," he answered, "would be equally objectionable."
I started. "Come," I said, "you are human after all. You can quote at random from Dickens. You read him?"
"I do. When not engaged in business pursuits." He looked anxiously at the clock.