"I--I like it." "That's enough!" Thayer, black-featured, his gnarled hands clenched into ugly knots, came abruptly forward.

"I thought this was a serious thing; I didn't know you were going to turn it into a burlesque!" "Perhaps M'sieu Thayer has studied the practice of medicine ?" "No.

But--" "Nor, pardon, the practice of politeness.

Ba'teese will not need your help." "Whether you need it or not, I'll come back when you're through with this infernal horseplay.

I--" "Ba'teese choose his guests." "You mean--" "Ba'teese mean what he say." "Very well, then.