This increased my good humour.

I grasped the dwarf's hand.
"My dear Professor, I am delighted to see you.

Pray excuse my receiving you in this unceremonious fashion, and sit down by the fire." I hastily completed my toilette by stuffing my watch, letter-case, loose change and handkerchief into my pockets, and took a seat opposite him.
"It is I," said he politely, "who must apologise for this untimely call.
I have wanted to pay my respects to you since I arrived in Algiers, but till now I have had no opportunity." "Allow me," said I, "to disembarrass you of your hat." I took the high-crowned, flat-brimmed thing which he was nursing somewhat nervously on his knees, and put it on the table.

He murmured that I was "_Sehr aimable_." "And the charming Monsieur Saupiquet, how is he ?" I asked.
He drew out his gilt-embossed pocket-book, and from it extracted an envelope.
"This," said he, handing it to me, "is the receipt.

I have to thank you again for regulating the debt, as it has enabled me to transact with Monsieur Saupiquet the business on which I summoned him from Toulon.