Quotation from: Elsinore

Written by: Jack London

"On the contrary," I answered dryly. "And I wish I had been. I
haven't had five hours' sleep all told since I came on board. These
pestiferous hives.

I held up a lumpy wrist to show. She took one glance at it, halted
abruptly, and, neatly balancing herself to the roll, took my wrist in
both her hands and gave it close scrutiny.

"Mercy!" she cried; and then began to laugh.