Barque, the good fellow, replied jokingly, and succeeded in soothing the monster.

He replied jokingly that his first job "is to find the eight votes we were not expecting".

"Yes," I replied jokingly, "but your prime minister this time is a Welshman."

"Well," he replied jokingly, "I can't imagine a friend going back on you.

"Never knew I had one before," he replied jokingly.

"Not down," I replied jokingly.

"How can we old men possibly compare with you youngsters?" For replied jokingly, and tossed me the purse he had just removed from my belt.