He can do it once, he can do it twice, he can do it at a stretch half a dozen times.

But--but--" He was returning to his former refrain, but Rowland intercepted him.
"Oh, he will keep it up," he said, smiling, "I will answer for him." Gloriani was not encouraging, but Roderick had listened smiling.

He was floating unperturbed on the tide of his deep self-confidence.

Now, suddenly, however, he turned with a flash of irritation in his eye, and demanded in a ringing voice, "In a word, then, you prophesy that I am to fail ?" Gloriani answered imperturbably, patting him kindly on the shoulder.

"My dear fellow, passion burns out, inspiration runs to seed.