Mr. Tulkinghorn is not the man to help him to any conclusion or to admit anything as to any possibility concerning himself. So Mr. Snagsby trails off into saying, with an awkward cough, "I must ask you to excuse the liberty, sir, I am sure."
"Not at all," says Mr. Tulkinghorn. "You told me, Snagsby, that you put on your hat and came round without mentioning your intention to your wife. That was prudent I think, because it's not a matter of such importance that it requires to be mentioned."
"Well, sir," returns Mr. Snagsby, "you see, my little woman is--not to put too fine a point upon it--inquisitive. She's inquisitive. Poor little thing, she's liable to spasms, and it's good for her to have her mind employed. In consequence of which she employs it--I should say upon every individual thing she can lay hold of, whether it concerns her or not--especially not. My little woman has a very active mind, sir."

Mr. Tulkinghorn does not help him. Mr. Snagsby trails off into saying, with an awkward cough, "Excuse the liberty, sir."
"Not at all," says Mr. Tulkinghorn. "You told me, Snagsby, that you came round without mentioning your intention to your wife. That was prudent, because it's not a matter of such importance that it needs to be mentioned."
"Well, sir," returns Mr. Snagsby, "you see, my little woman is - not to put too fine a point upon it - inquisitive. My little woman has a very active mind, sir."
