Singularly he didn't mention it at once, but began to complain about the low state of the market in real estate.
"Not but that the values are all right," he was careful to explain; "it's just that they _are_ all right makes it so trying.

If a fellow had a little capital now, he could do wonders.

The deuce of a chap like me is that he hasn't any capital unless there's some buying." "You think it's a good time then to lay out a little money ?" "Good! _Good!_ Oh, Lord, it's so good that if a fellow had a few thousands just put around judiciously, he wouldn't be able to sleep nights for hearing it turn over." He kicked the gravel in sheer impatience.

"How's your sister ?" It was a formula that he had kept on with because to have dropped it immediately might have betrayed the extenuating nature of its inception, and besides there were so many directions in which one might start conversationally off from it.

He made use of it now without waiting for Peter's habitual "Very well, thank you," by a burst into confidence.
"You see I'm engaged to be married--yes, I guess you've seen me with her.