"He is a friend of yours, I suppose?
By the way, did you know that he stopped those ridiculous horses last night and probably saved my life ?" "For goodness sake don't let him hear you say that, or even guess that you think it," he said, with an affectation of alarm.

"Stafford would be inexpressibly annoyed.

He hates a fuss even more than most Englishmen, and would take it very unkindly if you didn't let a little thing like that pass unnoticed.

Oh, yes, I am his greatest friend.

I don't think"-- slowly and contemplatively--"that there is anything he wouldn't do for me or anything I wouldn't do for him--excepting get up early--go out in the rain--Oh, it isn't true! I'm only bragging," he broke off, with a groan.