"Hm—hm—very good!" he said, when he had finished his examination. "You have not been very extravagant. I'll reduce them for you!"
He began beckoning, as he had beckoned to the chair and the tea-tray, and I smiled, expecting to see the papers grow smaller and smaller. But when he stopped I could see no change, although he seated himself as though well satisfied. As he said nothing, I finally ventured to say:
"Well!"
"Well," he replied; "look at your bills!"
I picked them up and was astonished to see that the amounts had dwindled from dollars to cents, until each bill was for only a hundredth part of what it had been.
"But that is nonsense!" I said, looking up angrily. "I'm not a baby! What good will that do?"
"You're only twenty-three," he said, doubtfully; and smiling as a knock was heard at the door, he made me a sign to open it.
I did so, and there stood my tailor, Mr. Mewlett. I frowned, for I owed him more than a hundred dollars. But he smiled politely, saying, "Could you oblige me with that dollar or two you owe me? I need a little change to-night."
I stared at him in wonder; but, thinking it wise to ask no questions, I took his bill from the pile on the table and handed it to him.
He read it aloud: "One dollar and fourteen cents."