Finding that he had attracted my notice, he showed no signs of embarrassment--he seized the opportunity of asking for information.
"Did my gentleman trust you, sir, with all that writing ?" he began.
"Yes." "Did he want you to read it ?" "He did." "What's it all about, sir ?" Confronted by this cool inquiry, I informed Mr.Toller that the demands of curiosity had their limits, and that he had reached them.

On this ground, I declined to answer any more questions.

Mr.Toller went on with his questions immediately.
"Do you notice, sir, that he seems to set a deal of store by his writings?
Perhaps you can say what the value of them may be ?" I shook my head.

"It won't do, Mr.Toller!" He tried again--I declare it positively, he tried again.

"You'll excuse me, sir?
I've never seen his portfolio before.