"Probably you're right and I'm wrong.

I was only talking lightly.

And speaking of imagination--what about your next book ?" "Oh, damn the next book," said he, flicking the ash off his cigarette.
"I've got an idea, of course.

A jolly good idea.

But I'm not worrying about it yet." "Why ?" I asked.
He threw his cigarette into the grate.