you do, it's on the wrong side of the mouth you do it--and they say that
same is but indifferent mirth, Val."

"I wish, Brian, you would sometimes speak seriously, and besides, you're
always hard, too hard, upon me. Anything I did harshly, it was always in
the discharge of my duty."

"Never mind, Val, the fewer of those old sores you rip up, the better
for yourself--I'm not going to put you through your catechism about
them. If you're wise, let byegones be byegones; take that advice from
me. Whatever tricks you may have practised, you're now a wealthy man,
and for the same reason the world will help you forget them, if you keep
your toe in your pump."

"I _am_ a wealthy man, and can set the world at defiance, if it goes to
that; yes, Brian, a wealthier man than the world thinks--and as I said,
I defy it."

"Faith, and you needn't, for the world won't put you to that trouble, at
least a great part of it, if you were ten times the vulture you are, so
long as you have a full purse. Eh, do you perceive me? ha! ha! ha!"

"Well, damn the devil, heaven pardon me for swearing, for it's a thing I
hate----"

"----And yet, many a fat oath you've bolted in your time. Now on the
nick of your conscience, Val darling, how many Bibles did you wear out,
by a long and honest course of hard swearing?--eh--ha! ha! ha!"

"Ha! ha! ha! Brian, I see there is little use in speaking to you, or