What have you got to growl at ?" "You offered to put it in a safe place." "No, I didn't.

I didn't want to have it at all." "But you did have it; you can't deny that." "No--but--" "Hold on.

And you stuck it there under the grating." "Well, and if I did--" "And that's how Jarman's cigar got on to it." "Yes--but--" "And that's how it blew up, wasn't it?
You haven't the cheek to say that wasn't the way it blew up ?" "Of course it was; only--" "Therefore, if you hadn't stuck it there it wouldn't have blown up.

You can't deny that ?" "I don't say that.

What I say--" "Therefore, it was you who blew it up; and it's you've got to pay for the fireworks, Q.E.D.; and if you don't shut up, young Sarah, you'll get your face washed." I felt I was the victim of a very one-sided argument, but the popular verdict was so manifestly in favour of the secretary, that I was constrained to allow the point to pass.
"-- reason why," resumed Langrish.