"Think you can hold out that long?"
"Sure—got to; if I keel over before we reach my digs ... chances are it'll get you into trouble ... besides, I want to fight shy of the papers ... no good airing this scandal ..."
"None whatever," affirmed P. Sybarite heartily. "But—how did you get into it?"
"Just by way of being a natural-born ass."
"Oh, well! If it comes to that, I admit it's none of my business—"
"The deuce it isn't! After all you've done for me! Good Lord, man, where would I be...!"
"Sleeping the sleep of the doped in some filthy corner of Dutch House, most likely."
"And you saved me from that!"
"And got this hole drilled through you instead."
"Got me away; I'd've collected the lead anyhow—wasn't meaning to stay without a fight."