“Exactly,” said one of the party they called Wiggins. “It is the old story of the fox and the grapes. Did you ever hear, sir, the story of the fox and the grapes? The fox one day was—”
“Yes, yes,” said Murphy, who, fond of absurdity as he was, could not stand the fox and the grapes by way of something new.
“They're sour, said the fox.”
“Yes,” said Murphy, “a capital story.”
“Oh, them fables is so good!” said Wiggins.
“All nonsense!” said the diminutive contradictor.
“Nonsense, nothing but nonsense; the ridiculous stuff of birds and beasts speaking! As if any one could believe such stuff.”
“I do—firmly—for one,” said Murphy.
“You do?” said the little man.
“I do—and do you know why?”