I have wanted something
to fight for. Let me fight for you!...
"I'm rich without intending it. Let me mean it, give me an honourable
excuse for it, and I'll put all this rotten old Warren of England at
your feet!"
I said such things as that. I write them down here in all their
resounding base pride. I said these empty and foolish things, and they
are part of me. Why should I still cling to pride and be ashamed? I
shouted her down.
I passed from such megalomania to petty accusations.
"You think Carnaby is a better man than I?" I said.
"No!" she cried, stung to speech. "No!"
"You think we're unsubstantial. You've listened to all these rumours
Boom has started because we talked of a newspaper of our own. When you
are with me you know I'm a man; when you get away from me you think I'm
a cheat and a cad.... There's not a word of truth in the things they say
about us. I've been slack. I've left things. But we have only to exert
ourselves. You do not know how wide and far we have spread our nets.
Even now we have a coup--an expedition--in hand.
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