Quotation from: The Valley of the Moon

Written by: Jack London

"Remember what I told you about horses," he reiterated to Saxon;
and, assisted by his hostess, he gave a very creditable
disquisition on horseflesh and its management from a business
point of view.

When he went out to smoke Mrs. Mortimer led Saxon into talking
about herself and Billy, and betrayed not the slightest shock
when she learned of his prizefighting and scab-slugging
proclivities.