"How are you doing?" asked Wrightwood.
"All right."
"A bit dull, isn't it?"
"Life is often dull," remarked Hagen noncommittally.
"Look, Steve, why not take it a bit easier?"
"What do you mean?"
William Wrightwood eyed Steve coldly. "Now look," he said quietly, "we'll admit for once and for all, that you and I don't get along."
"Well, that's a concession."
"All right, take it as you will. But it's true; for some inexplicable reason you hate my guts—"
Steve grunted. "It's not so damned inexplicable."