'It would let you focus things at their proper worth and prevent your becoming slack in this hothouse of a town.

Indeed it would, old man.

I shouldn't have spoken if I hadn't thought so.

Only, you make a joke of everything.' 'Before God I do no such thing,' said Dick, quickly and earnestly.

'You don't know me if you think that.' I don't think it,' said the Nilghai.
'How can fellows like ourselves, who know what life and death really mean, dare to make a joke of anything?
I know we pretend it, to save ourselves from breaking down or going to the other extreme.