The fact that Maurice didn't make the connection leads me to believe that he's willfully blind. And an idiot. Seriously Clive, just give him a hit upside the head and have your way with him. He'll like it, I swear.

Yes, Maurice is being a bit dim all round - during the vac he gets pulled back into his own mental stagnation which can't help matters. I agree that Maurice would like it if Clive were to just get on and do something, but I'm not entirely sure that Clive himself would.