"What do you mean?"
"Why, he is a young man just, as you say, entering into life, and I cannot help thinking it would be a pity to cut him off like a flower in the bud, so very soon."
"Oh, you make quite sure, then, of settling him, do you?"
"My dear sir, only consider; he might be very troublesome, indeed; you know young men are hot-headed and troublesome. Even if I were only to maim him, he might be a continual and never-ceasing annoyance to me. I think I should be absolutely, in a manner of speaking, compelled to cut him off."
"The devil you do!"
"As you say, sir."
"D—n your assurance, Mr. Vampyre, or whatever odd fish you may be."
"Admiral Bell, I never called upon you and received a courteous reception, and then insulted you."
"Then why do you talk of cutting off a better man than yourself? D—n it, what would you say to him cutting you off?"
"Oh, as for me, my good sir, that's quite another thing. Cutting me off is very doubtful."