Anthony Trollope

“ How terrible is that absolute loss of all personal dignity which the drunkard is obliged to undergo! And then his voice! Every tone has been formed by gin, and tells of the havoc which the compound has made within his throat. I do not know whether such a man as this is not the vilest thing which grovels on God's earth. ”

“ There are women whom we affect to scorn with the full power of our contempt; but I doubt whether any woman sinks to a depth so low as that. She also may be a drunkard, and as such may more nearly move our pity and affect our hearts, but I do not think she ever becomes so nauseous a thing as the man that has abandoned all the hopes of life for gin. You can still touch her;—ay, and if the task be in one's way, can touch her gently, striving to bring her back to decency. ”

“ It must not be supposed that any lawyer could get up at will, as the spirit moved him, and utter his own ideas; or that all members of the congress could speak if only they could catch the speaker's eye. Had this been so, a man might have been supported by the hope of having some finger in the pie, sooner or later. But in such case the congress would have lasted for ever. As it was, the names of those who were invited to address the meeting were arranged, and of course men from each country were selected who were best known in their own special walks of their profession. ”

“ Reader, such as you and I have come to that, when abandoned by the respect which a man owes to himself. May God in his mercy watch over us and protect us both!
Such a man was Snow père as he stood before Graham in his chambers in the Temple. ”

“ I should be slow, myself, to advise my client to try the matter again, but to tell the truth anything of this kind would go to my son now. I did read Mr, Mason's letter, but I immediately handed it to Matthew.'
'I will tell you how you can oblige me, Mr. Round.'
'Do tell me; I am sure I shall be very happy.'
'Look into this matter yourself, and talk it over with Mr. Mason before you allow anything to be done. It is not that I doubt your son's discretion. Indeed we all know what an exceedingly good man of business he is.'
'Matthew is sharp enough,' said the prosperous father. ”

“ Though Snow père might be a thought tipsy—a sheet or so in the wind, as folks say, he was not more tipsy than was customary with him, and knew pretty well what he was about. 'And what am I to do with myself, Mr. Gorm?' he asked in a snivelling voice, when the idea began to strike him that it might perhaps be held by the courts of law that his intended son-in-law was doing well by his daughter.
'Work,' said Graham, turning upon him sharply and almost fiercely.
'That's all very well. It's very well to say "Work!"'
'You'll find it well to do it, too. Work, and don't drink. ”

“ At such a meeting as this the English bar generally could have had no better representative than Mr. Chaffanbrass.
'No; is he here?'
'He must be here. He is the only man they could find who knows enough Italian to understand what that fat fellow from Florence will say to-morrow.'
'We're to have the Italian to-morrow, are we?'
'Yes; and Staveley afterwards. It's as good as a play; only, like all plays, it's three times too long. I wonder whether anybody here believes in it?'
'Yes, Felix Graham does.'
'He believes everything—unless it is the Bible. ”

“ Furnival, with many others—indeed, with most of those who were so far advanced in the world as to be making bread by their profession—was of opinion that all this palaver that was going on in the various tongues of Babel would end as it began—in words. 'Vox et præterea nihil.' To practical Englishmen most of these international congresses seem to arrive at nothing else. Men will not be talked out of the convictions of their lives. No living orator would convince a grocer that coffee should be sold without chicory ”

“ Furnival, listening to a German lecture three hours' long. I don't know how it is, but I think we all used to work harder in those days than the young men do now.' And then these eulogists of past days went back to the memories of their youths, declaring how in the old glorious now gone, no congress such as this would have had a chance success. Men had men's work to do then, and were not wont to play the fool, first at one provincial town and then at another, but stuck to their oars and made their fortunes. ”

“ He said to himself, and said truly, that he loved the world, and that he would willingly spend himself in these great endeavours for the amelioration of its laws and the perfection of its judicial proceedings. ”

“ But what did Von Bauhr say to you during those three hours?'
'Of course it was all in German, and I don't suppose that any one understood him,—unless it was Boanerges. But I believe it was the old story, going to show that the same man might be judge, advocate, and jury.'
'No doubt;—if men were machines, and if you could find such machines perfect at all points in their machinery.'
'And if the machines had no hearts?'
'Machines don't have hearts,' said Mr. Furnival; 'especially those in Germany. ”

“ Von Bauhr.
It will be remembered that Mr. Crabwitz was sent across from Lincoln's Inn to Bedford Row to ascertain the present address of old Mr. Round. ‘Mr. Round is at Birmingham,’ he said, coming back. 'Every one connected with the profession is at Birmingham, except———'
'The more fools they,' said Mr. Furnival.
'I am thinking of going down myself this evening,’ said Mr. Crabwitz. 'As you will be out of town, sir, I suppose I can be spared?'
'You too!'
'And why not me, Mr. Furnival? When all the profession is meeting together, why should not I be there as well as another? ”

“ The sorrows of Lydia in the play when she finds that her passion meets with general approbation are very absurd, but, nevertheless, are quite true to nature. Lovers would be great losers if the path of love were always to run smooth. ”

“ He brought back the subject at once to the young man's means, to his mother, and to the doctor's shop; and though he learned nothing that was very promising, neither did he learn anything that was the reverse. Albert Fitzallen did not ride a very high horse when he learned that his supposed rival was so anxious to assist him. He was quite willing to be guided by Graham, and, in that matter of the proposed partnership, was sure that old Balsam, the owner of the business, would be glad to take a sum of money down. ”

“ After that, so much having been settled, Felix Graham got into an omnibus and took himself back to his own chambers.
So far was so good. This idea of a model wife had already become a very expensive idea, and in winding it up to its natural conclusion poor Graham was willing to spend almost every shilling that he could call his own. But there was still another difficulty in his way. What would Snow père say? Snow père was, he knew, a man with whom dealings would be more difficult than with Albert Fitzallen. ”

“ As regards the result of a new trial, no sane man, I fancy, could have any doubt. You know as well as any one living how great is the strength of twenty years of possession———'
'It would be very strong on her side, certainly.'
'He would not have a chance; of course not. ”

“ Furnival, though he would not drink brandy and water or smoke cigars, sat down opposite to Mr. Round, and had soon broached the subject which was on his mind.
'Yes,' said the attorney, 'it is quite true that I had a letter on the subject from Mr. Mason. The lady is not wrong in supposing that some one is moving in the matter.'
'And your client wishes you to take up the case again?'
'No doubt he does. He was not a man that I ever greatly liked, Mr. Furnival, though I believe he means well. He thinks that he has been ill used ”