The Master of Ballantrae

And I propose we do one of two things upon the instant: either quarrel and be done; or make a sure bargain to bear everything at each other's hands. . . if we are to have our noses rubbed together in this course of flight, let us each dare to be ourselves like savages, and each swear that he will neither resent nor deprecate the other. I am a pretty bad fellow at bottom, and I find the pretence of virtues very irksome.

O, I am as bad as yourself,' said I. 'There is no skim milk in Francis Burke.

Quoted on October 4, 2011