Damn! I never thought it was worth anything, but here goes.

What'll you bid, Phipps ?" Phipps apprised the situation and decided upon his role.

He had a very correct intuition as to what was likely to happen.
"Sit down and don't be an ass, Dredlinton," he laughed.

"Don't take the fellow seriously," he went on, speaking generally.

"He's all right as long as you let him alone.