“Who made the monkeys fling cocoa-nuts at him?” asked the older of the two youths.
“Oliver Bailey,” I replied.
“Was it Oliver,” asked David sharply, “that found the cocoa-nut-tree first?”
“On the contrary,” I answered, “it was first observed by David, who immediately climbed it, remarking, 'This is certainly the cocos-nucifera, for, see, dear Oliver, the slender columns supporting the crown of leaves which fall with a grace that no art can imitate.'”
“That's what I said,” remarked David with a wave of his hand.
“I said things like that, too,” Oliver insisted.
“No, you didn't then,” said David.
“Yes, I did so.”
“No, you didn't so.”
“Shut up.”