I've tried to open a door for a reasonable conversation

Hmmm, well you were self-promoting.
Nothing wrong with that.
Plenty of it goes on around here.
And I was just telling you how it is. I'd listen to you . . . eventually.
I know you won't be better than Nic Jones at performing Annachie Gordon.
But you'd surely be better than Mary Black. Aren't you?
Well, I'll see if it turns up . . .