When I told him this was so, the speaker shook his head doubtfully and remarked:

"You won't get much of a sleep up there, sir. Not unless you're fond of the

sound of old Bob" - he indicated the landlord - "banging away down here right

the way into the night. And then you'll get woken by his missus shouting at him

right from the crack of dawn."

 

Despite the landlord's protests, this caused loud laughter all round.

 

"Is that indeed so?" I said. And as I spoke, I was struck by the thought - the

same thought as had struck me on numerous occasions of late in Mr Farraday's

presence - that some sort of witty retort was required "of me. Indeed, the local

people were now observing a polite silence, awaiting my next remark. I thus

searched my imagination and eventually declared:

 

"A local variation on the cock crow, no doubt." At first the silence continued,

as though the local persons thought I intended to elaborate further. But then

noticing the mirthful expression on my face, they broke into a laugh, though in

a somewhat bemused fashion. With this, they returned to their previous

conversation, and I exchanged no further words with them until exchanging good

nights a little while later.

 

I had been rather pleased with my witticism when it had first come into my head,

and I must confess I was slightly disappointed it had not been better received

than it was. I was particularly disappointed, I suppose, because I have been