I'm very willing to say good-
bye to the Maria, but I don't know whether you'll care
to start me out with three months' wages.' He got his
money-box right away. 'My son,' says he, 'I think it
cheap at the money.' He had me there."
It was a singular tale for a man to tell of himself;
above all, in the midst of our discussion; but it was
guite in character for Nares. I never made a good hit
in our disputes, I never justly resented any act or
speech of his, but what I found it long after carefully
posted in his day-book and reckoned (here was the man's
oddity) to my credit. It was the same with his father,
whom he had hated; he would give a sketch of the old
fellow, frank and credible, and yet so honestly touched
that it was charming. I have never met a man so
strangely constituted: to possess a reason of the most
equal justice, to have his nerves at the same time
quivering with petty spite, and to act upon the nerves
and not the reason.
A kindred wonder in my eyes was the nature of his
courage. There was never a braver man: he went out to
welcome danger; an emergency (came it never so sudden)
stung him like a tonic.
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