“Don’t know Bundle? Where have you been vegetating? She’s simply it.”

“Be a bit more subtle, Bill,” said Socks. “Stop blethering about your lady friends and get on with the business.”

Mr. Murgatroyd, owner of Murgatroyd’s Stores, burst into eloquence.

“If you’ll allow me to advise you, Miss, I should say⁠—not the ⁷⁄₁₁ one. It’s a good clock⁠—I’m not running it down, mark you, but I should strongly advise this kind at ¹⁰⁄₆. Well worth the extra money. Reliability, you understand. I shouldn’t like you to say afterwards⁠—”

It was evident to everybody that Mr. Murgatroyd must be turned off like a tap.

“We don’t want a reliable clock,” said Nancy.

“It’s got to go for one day, that’s all,” said Helen.