unearths some literary gems.
***
In spite of the fact that she was highly paid for giving advice, that which she offered was probably no worse than her correspondents would have received from any other well-meaning, warm-hearted person.
***
The pattern of his tie was so enterprising that if she had not heard him speak, she might have presumed that he was an American.
***
"Tell me," said Alex, "does Miss Takahashi always say everything three times?"
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"Nobbling you on the staircase to tell you things seems to be her only form of social relaxation."
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Whether or not [the detective]...listened at those times if other people chose to speak to him, was difficult to know. He generally turned away from the speaker, giving him an occasional sideways glance, after which he would cock an eyebrow as if to register slight surprise at the speaker's existence. If he wanted a person to speak, he pointed a pencil at him.
***
"She's quite good at looking her suspicions."
"Looks can mean all sorts of things," said Daniel. "They're even more ambiguous than words, which are bad enough."
***
