'You look rather seedy, do you know.

Why the deuce don't you and your wife look us up now and then ?' 'I've had a hard pull to finish my novel.' 'Finished, is it?
I'm glad to hear that.

When'll it be out?
I'll send scores of people to Mudie's after it.
'Thanks; but I don't think much of it, to tell you the truth.' 'Oh, we know what that means.' Reardon was talking like an automaton.

It seemed to him that he turned screws and pressed levers for the utterance of his next words.
'I may as well say at once what I have come for.

Could you lend me ten pounds for a month--in fact, until I get the money for my book ?' The secretary's countenance fell, though not to that expression of utter coldness which would have come naturally under the circumstances to a great many vivacious men.