"Are you really indifferent or only pretending ?" "I ?" The corners of Max's mouth went down.

He stuffed his pipe into one of them and said no more.
Nick continued to regard him with interest for some seconds.

Suddenly he laughed.

"Do you know, Wyndham," he said, "I should awfully like to give you a word of advice ?" "What on ?" Max did not sound particularly encouraging.

He proceeded to light his pipe with exceeding deliberation.