It was a needless precaution, I felt sure, but men always enjoy marching around with weapons and flexing their figurative muscles, and I saw no reason to deny them this harmless exercise.

...Peabody had better retire to her bed; she is clearly in need of recuperative sleep, she has not made a sarcastic remark for fully ten minutes.

Why is a man with a knife after your blood? Who sent him? I would like to write the fellow a letter of thanks!

Don't sound so surprised. I have sensible moments, you know.

If she hasn't learned to appreciate my sterling character and spectacular good looks by this time, it's not likely she will.

So now you have it. The plot, the whole plot, and nothing but the plot.

I have learned that particularly clever ideas do not always stand up under close scrutiny.

Have you caught cold?''It would appear so.''You could give it to Margaret,' Ramses suggested. His uncle turned the tinted spectacles toward him and then, unexpectedly, bust into laughter. 'What a charming idea. Will you aid and abet me when I catch her in a close embrace and breathe heavily on her?

I don't know why I should have been so pleased to see Lucas behaving like a gentleman for a change. I never liked the man... But of course I know why. I would have defended Satan himself if he had been in disfavor with Emerson.