"
"Because he pokes his nose into everybody's business," said the Major,
"and won't let people alone."
Meldon took a note on a sheet of paper.
"Good," he said. "Simpkins--meddlesome ass--pokes his nose into
everybody's business. Now, who is everybody?"
"Who is what, J. J.?"
"Who is everybody? That's plain enough, isn't it? For instance, are
you everybody?"
"No, I'm not. How could I be?"
"Then I take it that Simpkins has not poked his nose into your
business. Is Doyle everybody?"
"He _has_ poked his nose into my business."
"Be careful now, Major. You're beginning to contradict yourself. What
business of yours has he poked his nose into? Was it the carpet?"
"No. I told you he had nothing to do with the carpet. He made a
beastly fuss about my fishing in the river above the bridge. He
threatened to prosecute me."
"He may have been perfectly justified in that," said Meldon. "What
right have you to fish in the upper part of the river?"
"I always fished there. I've fished there for thirty years and more."
"These questions of fishing rights," said Meldon, "are often extremely
complicated. There may very well be something to be said on both
sides.
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