“As you like.”

“You don't do a man justice,” said Aaron.

“Does a man care?”

“He might.”

“Then he's no man.”

“Thanks again, old fellow.”

“Welcome,” said Lilly, grimacing.

Again Aaron looked at him, baffled, almost with hatred. Lilly grimaced at the blank wall opposite, and seemed to ruminate. Then he went back to his book. And no sooner had he forgotten Aaron, reading the fantasies of a certain Leo Frobenius, than Aaron must stride in again.

“You can't say there isn't a difference between your position and mine,” he said pertinently.

Lilly looked darkly over his spectacles.