"I'm not experiencing any of the pangs of mortality now.

My dissolution ain't a matter of to-night or to-morrow--there's some life in Slocum Price yet, for all the rough usage, eh?
I've had my fun--I could tell you a thing or two about that, if you had hair on your chin!" and the selfish lines of his face twisted themselves into an exceedingly knowing grin.
"You talked like you thought you were going to die right off," said Hannibal gravely, as he resumed his chair.

The judge was touched.

It had been more years than he cared to remember since he had launched a decent emotion in the breast of any human being.

For a moment he was silent, struck with a sense of shame; then he said: "You are sure you are not running away, Hannibal?
I hope you know that boys should always tell the truth--that hell has its own especial terrors for the boy who lies?
Now, if I thought the worst of you, I might esteem it my duty to investigate your story." The judge laid a fat forefinger against the side of his nose, and regarded him with drunken gravity.