the last time i had heard so many sirs in one conversation it had ended with the gentlemans barber from brighton asking me if i would like anything for the week-end , sir ? , when i said a crate of guinness he looked rather sad , and it took me less than two minutes to sort david out ; i was not going let him go , even if he tried to kung fu me , so i tore up his letter , although he did pause before he left my office , i could see that he had something else on his mind .