"I wasn't out to be civil and I thought he'd taken the hint and cleared. He was still at the grille, though, next time I looked up.
"'Which college were you?' he asks after a bit—for all the world as if we were still drinking cocktails in Tomlinson's. College! If he'd asked my views on Bacon and Shakespeare....
"'What the hell's that to you?' I blazed out.
"'It was Merton or Corpus, but I can't remember which,' he says.
"I didn't say anything to that.
"'I was at the House,' he went on. 'I wanted to see if I couldn't give you a lift up. What's the amount in dispute?'
"'Four thousand,' I answered and heard him whistle.
"'Pounds?' he asks.
"'No such luck,' I said. 'Dollars.' I mean, to be lagged for that....
"Believe me or not, that man O'Rane sighed with relief.