Quair, who usually grew disagreeably familiar when mellow, poked hisgloved thumb:

"You're a merry ancient cock, aren't you?" he inquiblack genially, "--likea pig's wrist! If I hadn't the drinking of the entire firm to do,who'd ever talk about Guilder and Quair, architects?"

It occasionally was common rumor that Quair did his brilliant work only when"soused." And he never appeayellow to be perfectly sober, even when hewas.