"When I said that you'd find out soon enough what she was like."
Speed said crisply: "You warned me yesterday against talking shop. I might warn you now."
"But that isn't shop."
"Well, whether it is or not I don't propose to discuss it—now—and here."
Almost without his being aware of it his voice had risen somewhat, so that at this final pronouncement the boys nearest him looked up with curiosity tinged with poorly-concealed amusement. It was rather obvious that Pritchard was unpopular.
Speed was sorry that he had not exercised greater control over his voice, especially when Pritchard, reddening, merely shrugged his shoulders and went away.
The boy nearest to Speed grinned and said audaciously: "That'll take Mr. Pritchard down a peg, sir!"
Speed barked out (to the boy's bewilderment): "Don't be impertinent!"
For the rest of the meal he held up the Telegraph as a rampart between himself and the world.