"Excepting barratry, the ten commandments, earthquake and the act of God, sir, yes."
"Without the maharajah knowing?"
"Without his highness knowing."
"You'd do that with a clear conscience, eh?"
Tom Tripe screwed his face up, puffed his cheeks, and struck a very military attitude.
"A soldier's got no business with a conscience, sir. Conscience makes a man squeamish o' doing right for fear his wife's second cousin might tell the neighbors."
"Ha-ha! Very profoundly philosophic! I dare wager you've carried her letters at least a dozen times—now come."
Again Tom Tripe puffed out his cheeks and struck an attitude.
"Men don't get hanged for murder, sir."
"For what, then?"