The Noser and the Note

THE Head Rifler of an insolvent¹ bank, learning that it was about to
be visited by the official Noser into Things, placed his own
personal note for a large amount among its resources, and, gaily²
touching³ his guitar, awaited the inspection⁴.  When the Noser came
to the note he asked, "What's this?"

  "That," said the Assistant Pocketer of Deposits, "is one of our
liabilities."

  "A liability?" exclaimed the Noser.  "Nay⁵, nay, an asset.  That is
what you mean, doubtless."

  "Therein you err," the Pocketer explained; "that note was written
in the bank with our own pen, ink, and paper, and we have not paid
a stationery⁶ bill for six months."

  "Ah, I see," the Noser said, thoughtfully; "it is a liability.  May
I ask how you expect to meet it?"

  "With fortitude⁷, please God," answered the Assistant Pocketer, his
eyes to Heaven raising - "with fortitude and a firm reliance on the
laxity of the law."

  "Enough, enough," exclaimed the faithful servant of the State,
choking with emotion; "here is a certificate of solvency⁸."

  "And here is a bottle of ink," the grateful financier said,
slipping it into the other's pocket; "it is all that we have."