"Look here—is she as handsome as people say?"
"Blaydes!—this is the last time I shall allow you to talk about her—you get on my nerves. Handsome? I don't know."
He walked on, muttering to himself and twitching at the trees on either hand.
"I am simply putting what is your duty to yourself—and your creditors," said Blaydes, sulkily—"You must know your affairs are in a pretty desperate state."
"And a girl like that is to be sacrificed—to my creditors! Good Lord!"
"Oh, well, if you regard yourself as such an undesirable, naturally, I've nothing to say. Of course I know—there's that case against you. But it's a good while ago; and I declare women don't look at those things as they used to do. Why don't you play the man of letters business? You know very well, Paul, you could earn a lot of money if you chose. But you're such a lazy dog!"
"Let me alone!" said Lathrop, rather fiercely. "The fact that you've lent me a couple of hundred really doesn't give you the right to talk to me like this."
"I won't lend you a farthing more unless you promise me to take this thing seriously," said Blaydes, doggedly.
Lathrop burst into a nervous shout of laughter.
"I say, do shut up! I assure you, you can't bully me. Now then—here's the house!"