Probe as he would with his innocent wit, Matt found himself baffled.

St.Vincent certainly rang true.

Simple, light-hearted, unaffected, joking and being joked in all good-nature, thoroughly democratic.

Matt failed to catch the faintest echo of insincerity.
"May the dogs walk on me grave," he communed with himself while studying a hand which suffered from a plethora of trumps.

"Is it the years are tellin', puttin' the frost in me veins and chillin' the blood?
A likely lad, an' is it for me to misjudge because his is a-takin' way with the ladies?
Just because the swate creatures smile on the lad an' flutter warm at the sight iv him?
Bright eyes and brave men! 'Tis the way they have iv lovin' valor.