It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public.

Before the crisis, perhaps 70 percent of demand came from practitioners of convertible arbitrage, who aimed to profit from the interplay of the debtlike and equitylike characteristics of the securities.

In the event of the beasts failing us, we took also ten of the best of those Strathmuir men who had accompanied us on the sea-cow trip, to serve as bearers when it became necessary. It cannot be said that these snuff-and-butter fellows—for most, if not all of them had some dash of white blood in their veins—were exactly willing volunteers. Indeed, if a choice had been left to them, they would, I think, have declined this adventure.

To swadle a bowe much about wyth bandes, verye seldome dothe anye good, excepte it be to kepe downe a spel in the backe.