"I have not heard you congratulate me," he said.
"Nor will you," I replied, laughing.
"I like you the better for it, Richard. 'Twas a damned poor performance, and that's truth."
"I thought the performance remarkable," I said honestly.
"Oh, but it was not," he answered scornfully. "The moment that dun-coloured Irishman gets up, the whole government pack begins to whine and shiver. There are men I went to school with I fear more than Burke. But you don't like to see the champion of America come off second best. Is that what you're thinking?"
"No. But I was wondering why you have devoted your talents to the devil," I said, amazed at my boldness.
He glanced at me, and half laughed again.
"You are cursed frank," said he; "damned frank."
"But you invited it."
"Yes," he replied, "so I did. Give me a man who is honest. Fill up again," said he; "and spit out all you would like to say, Richard."