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nydus/The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, GentlemanPublic
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XXXIV

⸺⁠She has gain’d her point.

In this case, continued my father, which Plato , I am persuaded, never thought of⁠⸺⁠Love, you see, is not so much a Sentiment as a Situation , into which a man enters, as my brother Toby would do, into a corps⁠⸺⁠no matter whether he loves the service or no⁠⸺⁠being once in it⁠—he acts as if he did; and takes every step to show himself a man of prowesse.

The hypothesis, like the rest of my father’s, was plausible enough, and my uncle Toby had but a single word to object to it⁠—in which Trim stood ready to second him⁠⸺⁠but my father had not drawn his conclusion⁠⸺⁠

For this reason, continued my father (stating the case over again)⁠—notwithstanding all the world knows, that Mrs. Wadman affects my brother Toby ⁠—and my brother Toby contrariwise affects Mrs. Wadman , and no obstacle in nature to forbid the music striking up this very night, yet will I answer for it, that this selfsame tune will not be play’d this twelvemonth.

We have taken our measures badly, quoth my uncle Toby , looking up interrogatively in Trim’s face.

I would lay my Montero -cap, said Trim ⁠⸺⁠Now Trim’s Montero -cap, as I once told you, was his constant wager; and having furbish’d it up that very night, in order to go upon the attack⁠—it made the odds look more considerable⁠⸺⁠I would lay, an’ please your honour, my Montero -cap to a shilling⁠—was it proper, continued Trim (making a bow), to offer a wager before your honours⁠⸺⁠

⸺⁠There is nothing improper in it, said my father⁠—’tis a mode of expression; for in saying thou would’st lay thy Montero -cap to a shilling⁠—all thou meanest is this⁠—that thou believest⁠—

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