But Dick, old fellow, _Ne quid nimis_! Don't overdo it!" "Come now," said Dick, "am I likely to?
Am I not the most tolerant man in the world?
Am I not quite contented so long as you don't make me learn mathematics, or go into your new science of aesthetics, and let me do a little practical aesthetics with my gold and steel, and the blowpipe and the nice little hammer?
But, hillo! here comes another questioner for you, my poor guest.

I say, Bob, you must help me to defend him now." "Here, Boffin," he cried out, after a pause; "here we are, if you must have it!" I looked over my shoulder, and saw something flash and gleam in the sunlight that lay across the hall; so I turned round, and at my ease saw a splendid figure slowly sauntering over the pavement; a man whose surcoat was embroidered most copiously as well as elegantly, so that the sun flashed back from him as if he had been clad in golden armour.

The man himself was tall, dark-haired, and exceedingly handsome, and though his face was no less kindly in expression than that of the others, he moved with that somewhat haughty mien which great beauty is apt to give to both men and women.

He came and sat down at our table with a smiling face, stretching out his long legs and hanging his arm over the chair in the slowly graceful way which tall and well-built people may use without affectation.

He was a man in the prime of life, but looked as happy as a child who has just got a new toy.