I want to know!" Mr.Lasher was really a kindly man, and when his eyes beheld things--there were of course many things that they never beheld--he would do his best to help anybody.

He wanted to help Mr.Pidgen now; but he was also a truthful man.
"My dear Pidgen! Ha, ha! What a question! I'm sure many, many people enjoy your books immensely.

I'm sure they do, oh, yes!" "Come, now, Lasher, the truth.

You won't hurt my feelings.

If you were discussing me with a third person you'd say, wouldn't you?
'Ah, poor Pidgen might have done something if he hadn't let his fancy run away with him.