"It's a mistake," said Maddox, "to wear your best trousers every day."
"Perhaps. But I mean to wear them."
"Wear them by all means. But you must make up your mind for a certain amount of wear and tear. In your case it will probably be tear."
"That's my look-out."
"Quite so. I wouldn't say anything if it was only Hanson you'd offended, but you shouldn't alienate your friends."
"My friends?"
"Yes. Why, oh why, did you make that joke about Mackinnon's head?"
"We were all making jokes about Mackinnon's head."
"Yes; but we weren't all of us bringing out poems the next day. Your position, Ricky-ticky, was one of peculiar delicacy—and danger."
"What does it matter?" said Rickman wearily. "I can trust my friends to speak the truth about me."