“Oh, all right!” returned Banneker amiably.
The receiver produced, in some occult manner, the manner of not being precisely pleased with this. “You don’t seem much disappointed,” it said.
“I’m stricken but philosophical. Don’t you see me, pierced to the heart, but—”
“Ban,” interrupted the instrument: “you’re flippant. Have you been drinking?”
“No. Nor eating either, now that you remind me.”
“Has something happened?”
“Something is always happening in this restless world.”
“It has. And you want to tell me about it.”
“No. I just want to forget it, in your company.”
“Is it a decent night out?”