It's your way of making jokes, and you don't mean any harm by what you say; but I'd really rather not be mixed up with Simpkins even by way of a joke.

I don't like the man at all." "Don't repeat that again," said Meldon.

"I quite believe you.

And as for the murder of Simpkins being a joke, I assure you it's nothing of the sort.

I may be flippant--several people have called me flippant--but I draw the line at making jokes about murder.