Therefore Trampas spoke. “Your bet, you son-of-a–.”
The Virginian’s pistol came out, and his hand lay on the table, holding it unaimed. And with a voice as gentle as ever, the voice that sounded almost like a caress, but drawling a very little more than usual, so that there was almost a space between each word, he issued his orders to the man Trampas: “When you call me that, SMILE.” And he looked at Trampas across the table.
Yes, the voice was gentle. But in my ears it seemed as if somewhere the bell of death was ringing; and silence, like a stroke, fell on the large room.
Quotations by:
Wister, Owen
When yu’ can’t have what you choose, yu’ just choose what you have.
Owen Wister (1860-1938) American novelist
The Virginian, ch. 13 (1929)
“One God and fifteen religions,” was his reflection. “That’s a right smart of religions for just one God.”
Owen Wister (1860-1938) American novelist
The Virginian, ch. 18 (1902)
Sometimes quoted as: "Fifteen religions at least. That's a lot of religions for one God." Full text.