Flunkies of the ruling class!" Parasites -- that was another of them. And
'yenas -- 'e definitely called 'em 'yenas. Of course 'e was referring to
the Labour Party, you understand.'
Winston had the feeling that they were talking at cross-purposes.
'What I really wanted to know was this,' he said. 'Do you feel that
you have more freedom now than you had in those days? Are you treated more
like a human being? In the old days, the rich people, the people at the
top--'
'The 'Ouse of Lords,' put in the old man reminiscently.
'The House of Lords, if you like. What I am asking is, were these
people able to treat you as an inferior, simply because they were rich and
you were poor? Is it a fact, for instance, that you had to call them "Sir"
and take off your cap when you passed them?'
The old man appeared to think deeply. He drank off about a quarter of
his beer before answering.
'Yes,' he said. 'They liked you to touch your cap to 'em. It showed
respect, like. I didn't agree with it, myself, but I done it often enough.
Had to, as you might say.'
'And