He gave up his Highland tour, shouldered the whole Canongate business, organised the thing as never before, inveigled all his friends into the same deadly breach, among the number your humble servant, who at the time was fiercely endeavouring in the last lap of the course to atone for a two years' loaf, organised a champion team which has licked the spots off everything in sight, and in short, has made the whole business a howling success; at the cost, however, of all worldly delights, including his Highland tour and the International." "Oh, I say!" moaned Linklater.

"It makes me quite ill to think of the old chief going off this way." Martin nodded sympathetically.

"Kind of 'Days that are no more,' 'Lost leader' feeling, eh ?" "Exactly, exactly! Oh, it's rotten! And you, too! He's got you on this same pious line." "Look here," shouted Martin, with menace in his voice, "are you classifying me with the old chief?
Don't be a derned fool." Linklater brightened perceptibly.

"Now you're getting a little natural," he said in a hopeful tone.
"Oh, I suppose you'd like to hear me string out a lot of damns." "Well, it might help.

I wouldn't feel quite so lonely.