Early in his career Oliver Herford was perpetually short of money. Accordingly, the manager of his hotel graciously took to adding any amount owing at the end of each week to his bill for the next.

One day, as the men passed in the hotel foyer, the manager asked Herford if he had received his last bill. "Yes," Herford declared, moving on. "Is that all you have to say?" the manager demanded. "At the moment, yes," the humorist replied. "But if the bill gets any larger, I'll have to ask you for a larger room!"