"This heartburn will be the death of me," whispered one of the voices, dignified and elderly.
"It's the goose's liver, father," answered the other voice, high-pitched and respectful. "Would you like some telek? There is nothing like it for indigestion; with lemon and cardamon it is most refreshing."
There was a sound of liquid being poured out
"Have a drink too, Sparrow?"
"Your health, father!"
"Why do you call me 'father'?"
"Out of respect: you're my benefactor and that's as good as a father."
"It is a good thing you respect old people. And why do they call you 'Sparrow'?"
"Because I pick up a grain out of every bit of business like a sparrow out of a manure heap."
"Come now, don't be so modest about it: you must have grabbed 'the man with the pig' from the cemetery thieves the other day...."