"Very well, Mr.--er--You," said I. "What is your favorite novel in
Chinese?"
"My favorite novel has not yet been translated into Chinese," he
replied, calmly, and I had to admit myself defeated.
"Do you like _Vanity Fair_?" I asked.
"I have never been there," said he, simply.
"What do you think of Pickwick?" I asked.
"That is a large question," he replied, with some uneasiness, I thought.
"But as far as my impressions go, I think he was guilty."