Theseus and the Minotaur

Occasionally an irritable, snarling fight would flare up among Dodo’s boyfriends, and whenever this occurred the entire family would turn round and bellow вЂShut up’ in menacing tones. This had the effect of making the more nervous of our guests spill their drinks. After every such interruption Mother would smile round brightly and endeavour to steer the conversation back to normal. She had just succeeded in doing this for the third time when all talk was abruptly frozen again by a bellow from inside the house. It sounded like the sort of cry the minotaur would have produced if suffering from toothache. вЂWhatever’s the matter with Leslie?’ asked Mother. She was not left long in doubt, for he appeared on the veranda clad in nothing but a small towel. вЂGerry,’ he roared, his face a deep red with rage. вЂWhere’s that boy?’ вЂNow, now, dear,’ said Mother soothingly, вЂwhatever’s the matter?’ вЂSnakes,’ snarled Leslie, making a wild gesture with his hands to indicate extreme length, and then hastily clutching at his slipping towel, вЂsnakes, that’s what’s the matter.’ The effect on the guests was interesting ...»