But I know the feeling you entertain on the subject, Messer Blondel; and though I do not agree with you, for we look at the thing from different sides, I had no hope that you would come to it." "Never!" "No.

So much so, that I had it in my mind to keep the condition to myself.

But----" "Why did you not, then ?" "Hope against hope," the big man answered, with a shrug and a laugh.
"After all, a live dog is better than a dead lion--only you will not see it.

We are ruled, the most of us, by our feelings, and die for our side without asking ourselves whether a single person would be a ducat the worse if the other side won.

It is not philosophical," with another shrug.