unearths some literary gems.
[A novel way of saying "thanks for nothing"--and original to Brett, as far as I can tell.]
"Thanks for a manx cat's tail!"
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"Not on your nuthatch[!]"
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In spite of Em's blandishments (and she was very handy with a blandishment)...."
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[Bonus: When the aristo protagonist is menaced by a tiger, he gets the tiger to retreat by boring it with interminable stories from his cricket-playing.]