The Silly Toe

--- By JLS
----- for the GC

-- I LOVE SILLITOE and I hosted him when he was in Buenos Aires. Leech/Short cite him along with the authors of "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" and "The Magus" on p. 298 of "Conversation in the novel" -- implicature section. They quote from "Loneliness of a long-distance runner"

DETECTIVE. Well, you know where Papplewick Street is, don't you?
SMITH. Ain't it off Alfreton Road?
DETECTIVE. You know there's a baker's half-way down on the left-hand side, don't you?
SMITH. Ain't it next door to a pub, then?
DETECTIVE. No, it bloody well ain't.

Leech/Short comment:

"The detective is quizzing Smith on the break-in that has just taken place in Papplewick Street. Both participants know that Smith is responsible, and also that the detective cannot prove it. Each time the policeman invites Smith to give him information whey they BOTH KNOW he has as his disposal, Smith avoids giving him the answer by pretending to make guesses which they both know are incorrect. The detective states what he believes to be true and invites Smith to confirm it. By replying by asking questions, Smith denies the premise of shared knowledge on which the detective's interrogation is based. The detective's loss of temper is easily understood when we realise that Smith has turned the tables on him, posing questions where, in his role of suspect, he should be giving answers."

Etc.