And I should have given your good nice respectful grandfather a sovereign.
STRAKER.
Five shillins, more likely. [He leaves the car and approaches Tanner]. What about the lady's views?
TANNER.
She is just as willing to be left to Mr Robinson as Mr Robinson is to be left to her. [Straker looks at his principal with cool scepticism; then turns to the car whistling his favorite air].
Stop that aggravating noise.
What do you mean by it? [Straker calmly resumes the melody and finishes it. Tanner politely hears it out before he again addresses Straker, this time with elaborate seriousness].
Enry: I have ever been a warm advocate of the spread of music among the masses; but I object to your obliging the company whenever Miss Whitefield's name is mentioned.
You did it this morning, too.
STRAKER. [obstinately] It's not a bit o use.
Mr Robinson may as well give it up first as last.
TANNER.
Why?
STRAKER.
Garn!
You know why.
Course it's not my business; but you needn't start kiddin me about it.
TANNER.
I am not kidding.
I don't know why.
STRAKER. [Cheerfully sulky] Oh, very well.
All right.
It ain't my business.
TANNER. [impressively] I trust, Enry, that, as between employer and engineer, I shall always know how to keep my proper distance, and not intrude my private affairs on you.
Even our business arrangements are subject to the approval of your Trade Union.
But don't abuse your advantages.
Let me remind you that Voltaire said that what was too silly to be said could be sung.
STRAKER.
It wasn't Voltaire: it was Bow Mar Shay.
TANNER.
I stand corrected: Beaumarchais of course.
Now you seem to think that what is too delicate to be said can be whistled.
Unfortunately your whistling, though melodious, is unintelligible.
Come! there's nobody listening: neither my genteel relatives nor the secretary of your confounded Union.
As man to man, Enry, why do you think that my friend has no chance with Miss Whitefield?
STRAKER.
Cause she's arter summun else.
TANNER.
Bosh! who else?
STRAKER.
You.
TANNER.
Me!!!
STRAKER.
Mean to tell me you didn't know?
Oh, come, Mr Tanner!
TANNER. [in fierce earnest] Are you playing the fool, or do you mean it?
STRAKER. [with a flash of temper] I'm not playin no fool. [More coolly] Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face.
If you ain't spotted that, you don't know much about these sort of things. [Serene again] Ex-cuse me, you know, Mr Tanner; but you asked me as man to man; and I told you as man to man.
TANNER. [wildly appealing to the heavens] Then I—I am the bee, the spider, the marked down victim, the destined prey.