"Only that, when they've once tried you, they won't care to return to me."
"That's it, is it? I thought so. Do you take me to be that kind of person? I'm extremely obliged."
"You're quite mistaken. I didn't mean it in that way at all, as you know. I meant it for a clumsy compliment."
"It's a kind of clumsy compliment I don't care about, thank you very much."
"But, professionally, you are infinitely cleverer than I am."
"Professionally, I am nothing of the kind. It's not fair of you to laugh at me. Wherever I go people tell me how skilful you are, especially those who know. Besides, you need have no fear of illegitimate competition. It is not likely that I shall remain in Market Hinton."
He started.
"You are not going away?"
"I am, most probably. I only came here as an experiment; from my point of view it is an experiment which has failed."
He was still, to speak again after another interval. A more serious note was in his speech.