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244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1924
Hilary has an illusion common to Englishmen, that if a man can utter three consecutive sentences without breaking them up with “eh,” “ah,” “hm,” "mm"; and any other noises that may occur to him as fit and proper, he must be held to be talking too much.
. . .
Hilary, because I had given way to a moment’s emphasis, gained instantly in leisured calm. "Hm,” he said. Gently he put down his huge glass. "Hm,” he said. He considered the stump of his cigar, and decided that it was not worth while relighting it “Hm,” he said, and took another from the box, pinching it. I passed him the matches. “Hm,” he said. But not I to be provoked ! I did to him what Mr. Beerbohm once so notably did to the late Mr. James Pethick in the Casino at Dieppe : I plied the spur of silence.