“It is not every man can make his profession the efficient ally of his morality.”
“An engineer can, and there 's nothing so like life as a new line of railroad. But to come back. You see now how the matter stands. If the arrangement suits you, the thing can be done.”
“You have a very business-like way of treating these themes.”
“If I had n't, I could n't treat them at all. What I say to myself is, Will it pay? first of all; and secondly, How much will it pay? And that's the one test for everything. Have the divines a more telling argument against a life of worldliness and self-indulgence than when they ask, Will it pay? We contract for everything, even for going to heaven.”
“If I could hope to rival your eminently practical spirit, Mr. Cutbill, I 'd ask how far—to what extent—has Lord Culduff made you the confidant of his intentions?”
“You mean, has he sent me here this evening to make a proposal to you?”
“No, not exactly that; but has he intimated, has he declared—for intimation would n't suffice—has he declared his wish to be allied to my family?”
“He did n't say, 'Cutbill, go down and make a tender in my name for her,' if you mean that.”
“I opine not, sir,” said Bramleigh, haughtily.
“But when I tell you it's all right,” said Cutbill, with one of his most knowing looks, “I think that ought to do.”