“I always am,” says Fledgeby.

“You like town,” says Twemlow. But is felled flat by Fledgeby’s taking it quite ill, and replying, No, he don’t like town. Lammle tries to break the force of the fall, by remarking that some people do not like town. Fledgeby retorting that he never heard of any such case but his own, Twemlow goes down again heavily.

“There is nothing new this morning, I suppose?” says Twemlow, returning to the mark with great spirit.

Fledgeby has not heard of anything.

“No, there’s not a word of news,” says Lammle.

“Not a particle,” adds Boots.

“Not an atom,” chimes in Brewer.