The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

"Speak up, speak up," said the Dwarf. "Don't stand there buzzing and twittering in my
ear. Who's been killed?"
"Nobody's been killed," hooted the Owl.
"Who?"
"NOBODY."
"All right, all right. You needn't shout. I'm not so deaf as all that. What do you mean by
coming here to tell me that nobody's been killed? Why should anyone have been killed?"
"Better tell him I'm Eustace," said Scrubb.
"The boy's Eustace, my lord," hooted the Owl as loud as it could.
"Useless?" said the Dwarf irritably. "I dare say he is. Is that any reason for bringing him
to court? Hey?"
"Not useless," said the Owl. "EUSTACE."
"Used to it, is he? I don't know what you're talking about, I'm sure. I tell you what it is,
Master Glimfeather; when I was a young Dwarf there used to be talking beasts and birds
in this country who really could talk. There wasn't all this mumbling and muttering and
whispering. It wouldn't have been tolerated for a moment. Not for a moment, Sir. Urnus,
my trumpet please -"
A little Faun who had been standing quietly beside the Dwarf's elbow all this time now
handed him a silver eartrumpet. It was made like the musical instrument called a serpent,
so that the tube curled right round the Dwarf's neck. While he was getting it settled the
Owl, Glimfeather, suddenly said to the children in a whisper:
"My brain's a bit clearer now. Don't say anything about the lost Prince. I'll explain later. It
wouldn't do, wouldn't do, Tu-Whoo! Oh what a to-do!"
"Now," said the Dwarf, "if you have anything sensible to say, Master Glimfeather, try
and say it. Take a deep breath and don't attempt to speak too quickly."
With help from the children, and in spite of a fit of coughing on the part of the Dwarf,
Glimfeather explained that the strangers had been sent by Aslan to visit the court of
Narnia. The Dwarf glanced quickly up at them with a new expression in his eyes.
"Sent by the Lion Himself, hey?" he said. "And from m'm - from that other Place -
beyond the world's end, hey?"
"Yes, my lord," bawled Eustace into the trumpet.