Joseph Conrad

The Partner Joseph Conrad

"And that be hanged for a silly yarn. The boatmen here in Westport have been telling this lie to the summer visitors for years. The sort that gets taken out for a row at a shilling a head-and asks foolish questions-must be told something to pass the time away. D'ye know anything more silly than being pulled in a boat along a beach? ... It's like drinking weak lem- onade when you aren't thirsty. I don't know why they do it! They don't even get sick."