“He’d say if a man chooses to turn himself into a sort of modern Diogenes—”
“Diogenes be hanged, sir! All a myth. I don’t believe there ever was such a body. And look here, Leslie, I imitate no man—no myth. I prefer to live this way for my own satisfaction, and I shall.”
“And welcome for me, old fellow; only don’t scold me for living my way.”
“Not going to. Here, stop! I want to talk to you. How’s copper?”
“Up a good deal, but you don’t want to know.”
“Of course I don’t. But look here. What do you think of my nephew?”
“Tall, good-looking young fellow.”
“Humph! What’s the good of that? You know all about him, of course?”
“I should prefer not to sit in judgment on the gentleman in question.”
“So I suppose. Nice boy, though, isn’t he?”