"Like a man hauling wild carrots out of a turnip patch," she wrote Emily when describing the interview.
He did not answer the question.

Instead, after another long look, he said: "If you're sellin' books, I don't want none.

Don't use 'em." This was so entirely unexpected that Mrs.Barnes was, for the moment, confused and taken aback.
"Books!" she repeated, wonderingly.

"I didn't say anything about books.
I asked you if you was Mr.Cobb." Another look.

"If you're sellin' or peddlin' or agentin' or anything I don't want none," said the little man.