He named a larger sum than I had foreseen, evidently expecting me to beat him down, and I discerned a look of surprise, perhaps even of disappointment, on his face when I took out my check-book and wrote out a check without demur.

他开出的金额比我预料的要多，显然是希望我能击败他，当我拿出支票簿并毫不犹豫地开出支票时，我看出他脸上有一种惊讶，甚至可能是失望的表情。