He jumped out as he spoke, and before Lushington could hinder him he had hold of the broken wheel. But Lushington followed quickly, and while he held his nose with his left hand, he grabbed the bicycle with the other. It looked as if the two were going to try which could pull harder.
'Let it alone, please,' said Lushington, speaking with difficulty.
'No, no'! protested Logotheti politely, for he wished to please Margaret. 'You must really let me put it in.'
'Not at all!' retorted Lushington. 'I'll walk it to Chaville.'
'But I assure you, you can't!' retorted the Greek. 'Your hind wheel is broken to bits! It won't go round. You would have to carry it!'
And he gently pulled with both hands.
'Then I'll throw the beastly thing away!' answered Lushington, who did not relinquish his hold. 'It's of no consequence!'
'On the contrary,' objected Logotheti, still pulling, 'I know about those things. It can be made a very good bicycle again for next to nothing.'
'All the better for the beggar who finds it!' cried the Englishman. 'Throw it over the fence!'
'You English are so extravagant,' said the Greek in a tone of polite reproach, but not relinquishing his hold.