Then, as I drew back, "You've no
need to be scrupulous," he added, "seeing that they were bought with
your money."
"If that's so, I will," said I; and having chosen one, struck a match.
Glancing round, I saw a hundred small flames spurt up, and a hundred men
hold them to a hundred glowing cigar-tips.
"After you with the match." Gervase took it from me with a steady hand.
He, too, glanced about him while he puffed. "Ugh!" He blew a long
cloud, and shivered within his furred overcoat. "What a gang!"
"It takes all sorts to make a world," said I fatuously, for lack of
anything better.
"Don't be an infernal idiot!" he answered, flicking the dust off one of
the gilt chairs, and afterwards cleaning a space for his elbow on the
looking-glass table. "It takes only two sorts to make the world we've
lived in, and that's you and I." He gazed slowly round the walls.
"You and I, and a few fellows like us--not to mention the women, who
don't count."
"Well," said I, "as far as the world goes--if you must discuss it--
I always found it a good enough place."
"Because you started as an unconsidering fool: and because, afterwards,
when we came to grips, you were the under-dog, and I gave you no time.
My word--how I have hustled you!"
I yawned. "All right: I can wait. Only if you suppose I came here to
listen to your moral reflections--"
He pulled the cigar from between his teeth and looked at me along it.
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