What voice that is nurtured on brandy can ever be clear?
It had about it a peculiar huskiness, a dissipated guttural tone, which Thorne immediately recognised, and recognised as being more marked, more guttural, and more husky than heretofore.
"So you've smelt me out, have you, and come for your fee?
Ha! ha! ha! Well, I have had a sharpish bout of it, as her ladyship there no doubt has told you.

Let her alone to make the worst of it.

But, you see, you're too late, man.

I've bilked the old gentleman again without troubling you." "Anyway, I'm glad you're something better, Scatcherd." "Something! I don't know what you call something.

I never was better in my life.