"My only reason."
"Then you are the greater fool."
"You think so, do ye?"
"Certainly."
"Supposin'," said Black George, stroking his golden beard reflectively, "supposin' I was to get up and break your neck for that."
"Then you would, at least, save me from the folly of becoming a smith."
"I don't," said Black George, shaking his head, "no, I do not like you."
"I am sorry for that."
"Because," he went on, "you've got the gift o' the gab, and a gabbing man is worse than a gabbing woman."
"You can gab your share, if it comes to that," said I.