"I don't think I ought to say anything—I know it's absurd, Dave."
"What is absurd?"
"Why—er—that is, you know Roger thinks a lot of Vera Rockwell, don't you?"
"Does he? I hadn't noticed it particularly—in fact, I thought he treated her rather coolly the day we played the game with the Comets."
"That was because you were around."
"Because I was around?" repeated Dave, in a puzzled way.
"Exactly."
"I don't catch your meaning, Phil."
"I don't see why you are so thick, Dave."
"Am I thick?"