For an hour or so, he trades community gossip, argues about politics and drops casual remarks about crops and prices designed to feel out what his fellow farmers are doing without asking them a direct question, which is taboo.

• 在餐馆里一个小时左右，帕特跟人交谈本地的小道新闻，辩论政治问题，还议论几句庄稼和价格的情况，为的是探听一下其他农场主都在干些什么，他从不直截了当地提问，大家都忌讳那样做。