it read as follows : 1/2 lb of sago10 cans of sardines1 bottle of mushroom ketchup5 lb of rice1 tin of golden syrup2 lb of currants a bottle of cochineal 1 lb of barley sugar1 shilling box of rowntrees elect cocoa 3d tin of oakey 's knife polish 6d of brunswick black1 packet of swinborne 's isinglass 1 bottle of furniture cream 1 basting ladle a ninepenny gravy strainer a set of kitchen steps tristran read it to himself , looking for something about which he could begin to talk : a conversational gambit of some kind - any kind .