He now sat down again very much out of breath, gasping at his pipe as if it contained a supply of that necessary, without which he must perish.
'I am sorry to have heard bad news of Mr.Barkis,' said I.
Mr.Omer looked at me, with a steady countenance, and shook his head.
'Do you know how he is tonight ?' I asked.
'The very question I should have put to you, sir,' returned Mr.Omer, 'but on account of delicacy.

It's one of the drawbacks of our line of business.

When a party's ill, we can't ask how the party is.' The difficulty had not occurred to me; though I had had my apprehensions too, when I went in, of hearing the old tune.

On its being mentioned, I recognized it, however, and said as much.
'Yes, yes, you understand,' said Mr.Omer, nodding his head.

'We dursn't do it.