I do not pretend to understand how gears and levers can bring forth consciousness, sir, but it certainly appears that somehow they have. - David D. Levine

Although I believe he is personally profiting from the proceedings, I hope that an appeal to his honor as a gentleman may bear fruit.

They think the privateer’s life one of nothing but adventure, violence, evasion, and escape. But, between letters of marque, bills of lading, rosters, inventories, and plunder contracts, it involves, in fact, more paperwork than any thing else.

My dear Mrs. Singh," Lady Corey sighed, interrupting. "The first thing you must learn about prevarication is to reduce detail to an absolute minimum.