Only wants a very sharp knife and a good hard pinch to numb the muscle; then it's done in a few minutes--one good cut, the stone pressed in, and the cold surface makes the skin contract." Anson's face seemed to curdle up, and two creases formed, one round each corner of his mouth, as if putting it between parentheses, as he shook his head.
"Look here," he said, "what's the good of bantering so?
Are you going to search any more men ?" "No," said the official; "that's the lot." "But are you going to punish them ?" "Oh yes! They'll have to take their dose for it, sir; you may be sure of that.

We're going to be more and more severe over this illicit-diamond-dealing." "Are you ?" said Anson innocently.
"We just are.

It'll be a shooting matter soon if it can't be stopped otherwise." "How horrid!" said Anson.

"But I say, these men don't deal illicitly, do they ?" "They wouldn't if a set of scoundrels did not set them on to steal, so that they could buy of the poor ignorant savages, giving them shillings for what they sell for pounds." "How sad it seems!" said Anson thoughtfully.
"And how innocent you seem!" said West, laughing.
"Yes, it's charming," cried Ingleborough.

"Why, you know all about it." "I ?" cried Anson.