)
VALENTINE. My good sir: my patients haven't all formed their
characters on kitchen soap.
CRAMPTON (suddenly gripping him by the arm as he turns away again to
the cabinet). So much the worse for them. I tell you you don't
understand my character. If I could spare all my teeth, I'd make you
pull them all out one after another to shew you what a properly hardened
man can go through with when he's made up his mind to do it. (He nods
at him to enforce the effect of this declaration, and releases him.)
VALENTINE (his careless pleasantry quite unruffled). And you want to
be more hardened, do you?
CRAMPTON. Yes.
VALENTINE (strolling away to the bell). Well, you're quite hard
enough for me already---as a landlord. (Crampton receives this with a
growl of grim humor. Valentine rings the bell, and remarks in a
cheerful, casual way, whilst waiting for it to be answered.) Why did
you never get married, Mr. Crampton? A wife and children would have
taken some of the hardness out of you.
CRAMPTON (with unexpected ferocity). What the devil is that to you?
(The parlor maid appears at the door.)
VALENTINE (politely). Some warm water, please. (She retires: and
Valentine comes back to the cabinet, not at all put out by Crampton's
rudeness, and carries on the conversation whilst he selects a forceps
and places it ready to his hand with a gag and a drinking glass.
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