'
"We had, of course, been having short talks together at one time or
another during the passage. I dare say he had read me like a book. There
ain't much to me, except that I have never been tame, even when walking
the pavement and cracking jokes and standing drinks to chums--ay, and to
strangers, too. I would watch them lifting their elbows at my expense,
or splitting their side at my fun--I _can_ be funny when I like, you
bet!"
A pause for self-complacent contemplation of his own fun and generosity
checked the flow of Ricardo's speech. Schomberg was concerned to keep
within bounds the enlargement of his eyes, which he seemed to feel
growing bigger in his head.
"Yes, yes," he whispered hastily.
"I would watch them and think: 'You boys don't know who I am. If you
did--!' With girls, too. Once I was courting a girl. I used to kiss her
behind the ear and say to myself: 'If you only knew who's kissing you,
my dear, you would scream and bolt!' Ha! ha! Not that I wanted to
do them any harm; but I felt the power in myself. Now, here we sit,
friendly like, and that's all right. You aren't in my way. But I am not
friendly to you. I just don't care. Some men do say that; but I really
don't. You are no more to me one way or another than that fly there.
Just so. I'd squash you or leave you alone. I don't care what I do.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170