Paul lay softly and listened to what they were saying . He was not troubled by any sense of dishonour . Honour was something Paul King could not lose since it was something he had never possessed . They were talking of him and Joan . `` What a shame that a girl like Joan Shelley should throw herself away on a man like that , '' Holmes said . Byron Lyall removed the pipe he was smoking and spat reflectively at his shadow . `` Darned shame , '' he agreed . `` That girl 's life will be ruined if she marries him , plum ' ruined , and marry him she will . He 's bewitched her -- darned if I can understand it . A dozen better men have wanted her -- Connor Mitchell for one . And he 's a honest , steady fellow with a good home to offer her . If King had left her alone , she 'd have taken Connor . She used to like him well enough . But that 's all over . She 's infatuated with King , the worthless scamp . She 'll marry him and be sorry for it to her last day . He 's bad clear through and always will be . Why , look you , Teacher , most men pull up a bit when they 're courting a girl , no matter how wild they 've been and will be again . Paul has n't . It has n't made any difference .
He was dead drunk night afore last XXXXX the Harbour head , and he has n't done a stroke of work for a month .
at by for if like of over since that to