They worked very hard all through the sausage course, each in turn saying his piece in the manner of a gramophone record. It was impossible to interrupt. When at first I ventured to argue a point or bring my own views into the conversation, I found that it threw them out of gear completely. They looked at me with complete uncomprehending stares. There would be a pause followed by a bout of toasting in beer then the gramophone record would start again. I gave it up.20
