The cautious old gentleman knit his brows tenfold closer after this explanation, being sorely puzzled by the ratiocination of the syllogism; while methought the one in pepper and salt eyed him with something of a triumphant leer. At length he observed, that all this was very well, but still he thought the story a little extravagant – there were one or two points on which he had his doubts. 'Faith, sir,' replied the story-teller, 'as to that matter, I don't believe one half of it myself.' This passage exemplifies: