Don't you remember saying, not long ago, that a man's life is a pretense almost from the beginning to the end ?" "I don't remember saying it, but it agrees with what I have often been compelled to think." "Well, then, if you think that life is a pretense, why not pretend by request ?" "Well talk about it some other time, my boy." "But there may not be any other time." "Oh, yes, there will be.

Don't you think you can sleep now ?" "No, I don't think I can sleep and wake up again." But he did sleep, and he did awake again.

Three more days passed wearily away, and the patient was delirious most of the time.
DeGolyer's acquaintance with Spanish was but small, and he could comprehend but little of what a pedantic doctor might say, yet he learned that there was not much encouragement to be drawn from the fact that the sick man's mind sometimes returned from its troubled wandering.
DeGolyer was again alone with his friend.

It was a hot though a blustery afternoon, and the sea, in sight through the open door, sounded the deeper notes of its endless opera.
"Hank." "I'm here, my boy." "Have you thought about what I told you to do ?" "Are you still clinging to that notion ?" "No; it is clinging to me.

Have you thought about it ?" "Yes." "And what did you think ?" "I thought that for you I would take the risk of playing a part that you are unable to perform.