"What's he done?" I ventured.
Micklethwaite did not answer for a moment and crammed things into his
mouth vindictively, bread and all sorts of things. Then leaning towards
me in a confidential manner he made indignant noises which I could not
clearly distinguish as words.
"Oh!" I said, when he had done.
"Yes," said Micklethwaite. He swallowed and then poured himself
wine--splashing the tablecloth.
"He had _me_ for an hour very nearly the other day."
"Yes?" I said.
"Silly fool," said Micklethwaite.
I was afraid it was all over, but luckily he gave me an opening again
after gulping down his wine.
"He leads you on to argue," he said.
"That----?"
"That he can't prove it."
"Yes?"
"And then he shows you he can. Just showing off how damned ingenious he
is."