"You got here this morning, I suppose?" "I did, at eight o'clock. Madame Georges has had ample time to make all the preparations you desired." "What has gone wrong, Murphy? You seem completely out of humour. Have I done anything to offend you?" "Can you not, my lord, accomplish your self-imposed task without incurring so much personal risk?" "Surely, in order to lull all suspicion in the minds of the persons I seek to understand and fully appreciate, I cannot do better than, for a time, to adopt their garb, their language, and their customs." "But all this did not prevent you, my lord, last night (in that abominable place where we went to unkennel Bras Rouge, in hopes of getting out of him some particulars relative to that unhappy son of Madame Georges), from being angry, and ready to quarrel with me, because I wished to aid in your tussle with the rascal you encountered in that horrid cut-throat alley." "I suppose, then, Murphy, you do not think I am capable of defending myself, and you either doubt my courage or the strength of my arm?" "Unfortunately, you have given me too many reasons to form a contrary opinion of both. Thank God! Flatman, the Bertrand of Germany, perfected you in the knowledge of fencing; Tom Cribb taught you to box; Lacour, of Paris, accomplished you in single-stick, wrestling, and slang, so as to render you fully provided for your venturesome excursions. You are bold as a lion, with muscles like iron, and, though so slight in form, I should have no more chance with you than a dray-horse would against a racer, were they to compete with each other. No mistake about that." "Then what are you afraid of?" "Why, I maintain, my lord, that it is not the right thing for you to throw yourself in the way of all these blackguards. I do not say that because of the nuisance it is to a highly respectable individual of my acquaintance to blacken his face with charcoal, and make himself look like a devil. No, God knows, spite of my age, my figure, and my gravity, I would disguise myself as a rope-dancer, if, by so doing, I could serve you. But I still stick to what I say, and--" "Oh! I know all you would say, my excellent old fellow, and that when once you have taken an idea into your thick skull, the very devil himself could no more drive it out of you than he could, by all his arts, remove the fidelity and devotion implanted in your brave and valiant heart." "Come, come, my lord, now you begin to flatter me, I suspect you are up to some fresh mischief." "Think no such thing, Murphy; give yourself no uneasiness, but leave all to me." "My lord, I cannot be easy; there is some new folly in hand, and I am sure of it." "My good friend, you mean well; but you are choosing a very ill hour for your lectures; forbear, I beg." "And why, my lord, can you not listen to me now, as well as any other time?" "Because you are interfering with one of my short-lived moments of pride and happiness. I am here, in this dear spot!"