. Oh, you’re quite right, you’re quite right! The life of the mind needs a comfortable house and decent cooking. You’re quite right. It even needs posterity. But it all hinges on the instinct for success. That is the pivot on which all things turn.”

Hammond looked rather piqued. He was rather proud of the integrity of his mind, and of his not being a timeserver. None the less, he did want success.

“It’s quite true, you can’t live without cash,” said May. “You’ve got to have a certain amount of it to be able to live and get along⁠ ⁠… even to be free to think you must have a certain amount of money, or your stomach stops you. But it seems to me you might leave the labels off sex. We’re free to talk to anybody; so why shouldn’t we be free to make love to any woman who inclines us that way?”

“There speaks the lascivious Celt,” said Clifford.