"She's a bit hypnotized by Hollywood."

"Everyone is," Mason grinned, "including Hollywood."

***

[In which Erle Stanley Gardner lets one of his characters (and not even a recurring character) name the book...]

"Ooh, the Big Bad Lawyer!" she laughed. "I forgot I was being cross-examined. What shall we call this, Mr. Mason—'The Case of the Purloined Picture'?"

"It wasn't purloined," he said, "so much as substituted."

"All right, then. 'The Case of the Substitute Face.' How will that do?"

"All right," he said, "at least temporarily."

[ Oh, I like this character a lot! A little later...]

"Incidentally, what are your theories?"

She shook her head. "I don't have theories. I'm too young... You don't mind being kidded a bit, do you, Mr. Mason? Because if you do, you only have to say so and I get worse... No, seriously speaking...."

[ I would let her name the book, too, if she showed up in one of mine.]

***

Jackson said, "He's an arrogant, dictatorial, obstinate nincompoop."

"You really should take up profanity, Jackson. It's a lot more satisfying," Mason told him.