Who gave you this roving commission, eh?
Who sent you to talk common sense to the Balkan States, and how the mischief did you get wind of our little meeting here ?" "Ah!" Hunterleys replied, "I expect you really know all these things." Selingman, with his feet planted firmly upon the pavement, took a fresh cigar from his waistcoat pocket, bit off the end and lit it.
"My friend Hunterleys," he continued, "I am enjoying this brief interchange of confidences.

Circumstances have made me, as you see, a politician, a schemer if you like.

Nature meant me to be one of the frankest, the most truthful, the best-hearted of men.

I detest the tortuous ways of the old diplomacy.

The spoken word pleases me best.
That is why I like a few minutes' conversation with the enemy, why I love to stand here and talk to you with the buttons off our foils.