I said. "But--imagine yourself writing a play!"

I couldn't."

Well, anything that needs concentration."

Ah!" he said, "of course," and meditated. His expression became so

eloquent of distress, that I relented still more. After all, there is a

touch of aggression in demanding of a man you don't know why he hums on

a public footpath.

You see," he said weakly, "it's a habit."

Oh, I recognise that."

I must stop it."

But not if it puts you out. After all, I had no business--it's something

of a liberty."

"Not at all, sir," he said, "not at all. I am greatly indebted to you. I

should guard myself against these things. In future I will. Could I

trouble you--once again? That noise?"

Something like this," I said. "Zuzzoo, zuzzoo. But really, you know--"

The First Men In The Moon