It became active a year and a half ago.

I knew what it was, even then." "In heaven's name, sir, why did you let it go on?
An operation at that time might have--" "You forget that I could afford to wait.

When a man gets to be as old as I am he can philosophise even in the matter of death.

What is a year or two, one way or the other, to me?
An operation is either an experiment or a last resort, isn't it?
Well, my boy, I preferred to look upon it as a last resort, and as such I concluded to put it off until the last minute, when it wouldn't make any difference which way it resulted.

If it had resulted fatally a year and a half ago, what would I have gained?
If it should take place to-morrow, with the same result, haven't I cheated Time out of eighteen months ?" "But the pain, the suffering," cried Braden.