“The newspapers seem to have little to say about you recently. What is the matter?”
“I pay the interviewers not to write anything. At first I drove them away but they began interviewing my horses and now I pay them for their silence by the line. Have you a customer for my villa, Magnus? I shall sell it together with the artists and the rest of its paraphernalia.”
We again grew silent and paced up and down the room: Magnus rose first and then sat down. I followed and sat down too. In addition, I drank two more glasses of wine while Magnus drank none.... His nose is never red. Suddenly he said with determination:
“Do not drink any more wine, Wondergood.”
“Oh, very well. I want no more wine. Is that all?”
Magnus continued to question me at long intervals. His voice was sharp and stern, while mine was...melodious, I would say.
“There has been a great change in you, Wondergood.”
“Quite possible, thank you, Magnus.”
“There used to be more life in you. Now you rarely jest. You have become very morose, Wondergood.”
“Oh!”