"But, doctor, wait a moment. You don't understand——"
"My friend, if you understand these things more well than do I, why is it that you come to me? A man of fifty, he but recently marries a girl of eighteen——"
"But I have lived a careful life!"
"We all do. I have never known a drunkard; all of my drunkards, they are moderate drinkers."
"I drink no more than you."
"I was not speaking literally, monsieur."
"I have lived in the open air," said Jim.
"La-la-la!"
"And I have been abstemious. You understand me now: absolutely abstemious."
It was obvious that Boussingault doubted this, but he made a valiant effort to speak as if he did not.