But he asked them in a manner so engagingly innocent that I found myself answering them before I was aware of it.

There was a confiding air of _bonne camaraderie_ about the fellow which completely put one off one's guard.
At the end of fifteen minutes he was on the inside track of most of my affairs, and was giving me advice through a kindly desire to keep me from getting things in a mess.

The situation would have struck me as ludicrous had I stopped to think of it; but it is a fact I have noted since, that, with Terry, one does not appreciate situations until it is too late.
When he had got from me as much information as I possessed, he shook hands cordially, said he was happy to have made my acquaintance, and would try to drop in again some day.

After he had gone, and I had had time to review our conversation, I began to grow hot over the matter.

I grew hotter still when I read his report in the paper the next morning.
I could not understand why I had not kicked him out at first sight, and I sincerely hoped that he would drop in again, that I might avail myself of the opportunity.
He did drop in, and I received him with the utmost cordiality.