Tallente acknowledged all these things and yet found himself wondering, with a grim sense of irony, how he could call a man "Comrade" with such finger nails! "It's given you something to think about, eh ?" Miller remarked affably.
Tallente came to himself with a little start.
"I'm afraid my mind was wandering," he confessed.
His companion smiled knowingly.

He was conscious of Tallente's aloofness, but determined to break through it if he could.

After all, this caste feeling was absurd.

He was, in his way, a well-known man, a Member of Parliament, a future Cabinet Minister.

He was the equal of anybody.
"Don't wonder at it! Pleasant neighbours hereabouts, eh ?" Tallente affected to misunderstand.