*

[…] and how happy I looked. ‘Any advance on happy’ said Ollie and he was off again. ‘Do I hear radiant?’ Yes, I have radiant here on my left. Now, any advance on radiant? Beautiful? Do I have beautiful? thank you, sir. Now do I hear magnificent anywhere? Spectacular? Sensational? It’s with beautiful on my right at the moment . . . Beautiful

. . . beautiful . . . I have spectacular in front of me. Spectacular with me . . . are you all done at spectacular? Sold to the auctioneer, bought in by Ollie . . .’

—Talking it Over.

Julian Barnes.