"I believe in individualism too firmly to allow that any beliefs or unbeliefs can be professional, Cresswell."
"Possibly you are right," Valentine answered lightly. "What a pity it is that there is no profession of which all the members at least believe in themselves."
"Ah; would you enter it?"
"I scarcely think it would be necessary."
He glanced first at the doctor, then at Cuckoo as he spoke.
"I am thankful to say," he added in his clear, cool voice, "that I have no longer either the perpetual timidity of the self-doubter or even the occasional anxiety of the egoist."
"You have passed into a region which even egoism cannot enter."
"Possibly—the average egoism."
"The average egoism of the end of the century moves in a very rarefied air."
"Its feet touch ground nevertheless."