With this the clerk took himself off to procure a blank ticket.
While he waited, Staff was entertained by snatches of a colloquy at the far end of the counter, where the other patron was being catechised as to his pedigree by the other booking-clerk. What he heard ran something to the following effect:
“What did you say the name was, sir?”
“The name?”
“If you please—”
“What name?”
“Your name, sir.”
“I didn’t say, did I?”
“No, sir.”
“Ah! I thought not.”