As we were drinking, silently, I looked at the stout young fellow standing there, and I thought to myself: What a good, straightforward young fellow he is anyway, and how thoroughly he knows his job.

I thought how well he was equipped with unilluminated knowledge, and it came to me whimsically, that here was a fine bit of road-mending for me to do.
Most people have sight, but few have insight; and as I looked into the clear blue eyes of my friend I had a sudden swift inspiration, and before I could repent of it I had said to him in the most serious voice that I could command: "Friend, I am in reality a spectacle-peddler--" His glance shifted uncomfortably to my gray bag.
"And I want to sell you a pair of spectacles," I said.

"I see that you are nearly blind." "Me blind!" It would be utterly impossible to describe the expression on his face.

His hand went involuntarily to his eyes, and he glanced quickly, somewhat fearfully, about.
"Yes, nearly blind," said I."I saw it when I first met you.

You don't know it yourself yet, but I can assure you it is a bad case." I paused, and shook my head slowly.