“You know. The one we—”
“Yes. I saw it.”
“You didn’t, by any chance, take it home with you?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certainly I’m sure.”
“You are an absent-minded beggar, you know,” he explained. “You remember about the fire-tongs. And a stick is like an umbrella. One is likely to pick it up and—”
“One is not likely to do anything of the sort. At least, I didn’t.”
“Oh, all right. Every one well?”
“Very well, thanks.”