“The two men laughed together creakily, almost affectionately. They had been together on the ship for ten years and, as they controlled the highly saleable stores on the ship, between them they had swindled the Admiralty and the British public out of some thousands of pounds.”
“Order the wedding banquet right away. But I’m asking one favor of you: since those three crones made me laugh so hard, let me invite them to the banquet.”
“They still laughed at his ridiculous dignity; and they loved to tease him to see him stiffen with rage and hear his choky little growls; but they liked his independence and admired his tremendous pluck.”