“We going far before we meet ’em?” asked Bealby.
William’s deafness became apparent.
His mind was preoccupied by other ideas. One wicked eye came close to Bealby’s face. “We going to ’ave a bit of choc’late,” he said in a wet desirous voice.
He pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the door. “You get it,” said William with reassuring nods and the mouth much pursed and very oblique.
Bealby shook his head.
“It’s in a little dror, under ’er place where she sleeps.”
Bealby’s head-shake became more emphatic.
“Yus, I tell you,” said William.
“No,” said Bealby.
“Choc’late, I tell you,” said William, and ran the tongue of appetite round the rim of his toothless mouth.