Well I don't know how you pulled it off, but it was a smart piece of work, sir." Lorne encountered Mr Winter's frank smile with an expression of crude and rather stolid discomfort.

It had a base of indignation, corrected by a concession to the common idea that most events, with an issue pendent, were the result of a smart piece of work: a kind of awkward shrug was in it.

He had no desire to be unpleasant to Walter Winter--on the contrary.
Nevertheless, an uncompromising line came on each side of his mouth with his reply.
"As far as I know," he said, "the application was dismissed on its demerits." "Of course it was," said Mr Winter good-humouredly.

"You don't need to tell me that.

Well, now, this looks like dancing.