"Ha, Ferrers, how are you?"
"So-so. What's the news?" replied Lumley.
"Rattler pays forfeit."
"O! but in politics?"
"Hang politics—are you turned politician?"
"At my age, what else is there left to do?"
"I thought so, by your hat; all politicians sport odd-looking hats: it is very remarkable, but that is the great symptom of the disease."
"My hat!—/is/ it odd?" said Ferrers, taking off the commodity in question, and seriously regarding it.
"Why, who ever saw such a brim?"
"Glad you think so."