From Thirteen Guests, by J. Jefferson Farjeon:

***

Usually he was rather good at conversation, but now he could not even talk of cabbages and kings without putting his foot in it.

***

She always closed her eyes in company when she thought, so that the company would know she was thinking. Sometimes she cheated, and opened her eyes without having thought at all.

***

"I have written a detective novel," replied Bultin. "Also, the notice of it."

[I note that this precurses our namesake Jeremy Hillary Boob of Yellow Submarine, who says he is writing a book and simultaneously reviewing it. (Also sock-puppet Amazon reviewers.)]

***

A figure darted towards Kendall, like a ghost that had suddenly materialised out of a shadow and had urgent business to do before dissolving back into ethereal form.

***

It was Bultin who discovered--or who expedited the discovery of--the little glass tube in the hat's leather lining. This discovery will probably cause his own size in hats to increase.