`` not an occasion , '' griffin said finally , `` just a favor . '' `` no , no , '' said the first man to speak . it suddenly occurs to me that we 're standing still on the sidewalk , quite obviously staring . no matter how hard she tried , however , she could not force herself to sleep . slowly and as quietly as possible , i crossed the dark hall and tiptoed to the door , then stopped in front of it . `` permission for the spiders to crawl down a wall , boss sir ? '' 