Only--why do you do it, Malcourt ?" "Why do I do which?
The wheel or the lady ?" "Oh, the whole bally business?
It isn't as if you were lonely and put to it.

There are plenty of attractive girls about, and anybody will take you on at Bridge.

Of course it's none of my affair--but we came unpleasantly close to a quarrel--which is my only excuse." Malcourt looked at him thoughtfully.

"Hamil, do you know, I've always liked you a damn sight better than you've liked me." Hamil said, laughing outright: "I never saw very much of you to like or dislike." Malcourt smiled, stretched his limbs lazily, and lighted a cigarette.
"As a matter of fact," he said, "you think I'm worse than I am, but I _know_ you are worse than you think, because I couldn't even secretly feel friendly toward a prig.

You've had a less battered career than I; you are, in consequence, less selfish, less ruthless, less cynical concerning traditions and illusions.