“Of course,” said the injured voice of Spanswick, “if it’s too much trouble for you to listen, why it isn’t any use me talking.”
“Sorry,” he said absently. “Fact is, I don’t take very much interest in gardening.”
“I was talking about poultry.”
“They both come under the same head,” remarked Erb.
“I suppose, as a matter of fact, you’re pretty keen on this ’ere job?”
“They’re a long time deciding,” said Erb.
“I’ve been expectin’,” Spanswick made circles on the landing with his right foot in a hesitating way, “I’ve been expectin’ that you’d approach me and ask me to withdraw from the contest.”
“What’d be the use of that?”
“Well,” said Spanswick in a mysterious whisper, “you know what Shakespeare says?”
“He said a lot.”