Mr Pamphlett detested Un' Benny's conversation. It always struck him as significantly meaningless. Again he addressed himself to the other men.
"What Rowett says about the fish is true enough, I dare say.
When they hear all this noise—"
But Un' Benny took him up, blandly as before. "There's a man, down to Mevegissey," he said, "that holds 'tis no question of hearin', or of what you and I do call hearin'. Accordin' to him the fish have a sixth sense, denied to ordinary Christians—"
"I don't want to hear what this or that fool says at Mevegissey—"
"He's a County Councillor," murmured Un' Benny. "But, to be sure, it don't follow."
"What I say," pursued Mr Pamphlett, shaking a forefinger at the group, "is that Rowett may be his own master, but the rest of you mustn't take it into your heads that because our country happens to be at war you've an excuse to be idle. 'Business as usual'—that's my motto: and I doubt if Rowett here will find you a better-paying one, however long you listen to him." On secure ground now, Mr Pamphlett faced about, challenging the old man.
"Heigh?" said Un' Benny with a well-affected start of surprise.
"There now!—and I was allowin' you'd had enough o' my chatter.
'Business as usual'"—he looked closely at Mr Pamphlett, and so let
his gaze travel down the street, till it rested meditatively on the
Bank doorway. "'Business as usual' . . . aye to be sure!
Well, well!"
There was nothing in this upon which Mr Pamphlett could retort. So, after wagging his forefinger again at the group of men, he turned and left them.
On his way back he came face to face with Nicky-Nan, still solitary and seated on his bollard; and pulled up before him.
"Oh, by the way, Nanjivell!—I hope you understand that the ejectment order still holds, and that I can take possession of the premises at any time?"