Pressing my own claim, if you like, on you, the guardian.

You might do much worse than support my claims, Dr.Ransford." "Claims, man!" retorted Ransford.

"You've got no claims! What are you talking about?
Claims!" "My pretensions, then," answered Bryce.

"If there is a mystery--as Wrychester people say there is--about Miss Bewery, it would be safe with me.

Whatever you may think, I'm a thoroughly dependable man--when it's in my own interest." "And--when it isn't ?" asked Ransford.