"Is all the better for it. Those who drink beer think beer."
"And those who drink milk think cows, I should say."
"Your knowledge on that point prevents contradiction on mine."
Derrington chuckled. This was just the kind of epigrammatic reply he relished. "You must enter the Diplomatic Service sir," said he, looking approvingly from under his bushy brows.
"Don't you think I'm rather old?"
"Brains are never old, sir. And you have 'em. It's what the Diplomatic Service in this country requires and what it never gets. I was in the Service myself at one time."
"So I have heard," said Brendon, cracking nuts composedly.
"Eh! What did you hear?"
"You must excuse me at your own table, sir."
"Pooh, if you want to say anything disagreeable my own table is the safest place you can say it at. I can't throw things at you."