But you know my wife--" Lycurgus always referred to Mrs.Mason with a grand gesture as to his dog or his horse, which were especially desirable chattels.

"My wife,--it's just like a woman,--she sits and reads that, and laughs and weeps, and giggles and sniffs, and I say, 'What's the matter with you, anyway ?'" John Barclay pushed a button.

To the porter he said, "Bring me that little red book in my satchel." The book had been published but a few weeks, and John always carried a copy around with him in those days to give to a friend.

When the porter brought the book, Barclay read aloud, "Ah, truly hath the poet said, 'Marriages are made in heaven.'" But Lycurgus Mason pulled his napkin from under his chin and moved back from the table, dusting the crumbs from his obviously Sunday clothes.

"There you go--that's it; 'as the poet says.' John, if you heard that 'as the poet says' as often as I do--" He could not finish the figure.