Chesney has been talking since six, and he has not stopped being sorry about the cookies since seven, which is roughly the time Asa told him to go and knock properly instead of shouting at a closed door.
He puts the plate down on the floor in front of your door, then picks it back up, then puts it down again, and finally knocks with the side of his fist.
"Right. So. I ate the ones with the almonds,"
he says, loud enough for the whole flat and then quieter,
"and I am told that is not the first impression a person should make. There is a fresh plate and half of it is mine, so if you open the door you are doing me a favour, not the other way round."