“Well ?” I repeated with some acerbity. I had been wondering for the last ten minutes how many more knots he would manage to make in that same bit of string before he actually started undoing them again.

For the moment, there is no energy crisis, no gasoline rationing, no collection of conservation tips from oil companies, no twinge of un-Americanism from driving a car big enough to fit into comfortably, and no such thing as being fuelish.

Us London lawyers don't often get an out; and when we do, we like to make the most of it, you know.

The causes? Overconfidence? Misfingering? Disbelief that anything serious could happen, by that opponent, so early?