"He’s about seventy-one, a retired lawyer with a reputation for grouchiness. But it’s less grouchiness, I think, than …"

"“Why didn’t you tell Doug about it, Mr. Nordstrum?” “Because he’s a fool. Has it all figured out what he’s going to b…"

"I was pleased at the thought of a girl with a hope chest full of power tools."

"You had no criminal record, not with us, anyway, but that didn’t tell me anything either; most people have no crimina…"

"Some writers are belligerent about critics, some are sullen and hostile, but Max was just contemptuous. I’m sure he b…"

"This was in January, and we’d just had nearly a month of rain, fog, and wet chill. Then California did what it does s…"

"“Sounds impressive. And expensive.” “Not at all.” Danziger shook his head firmly. “It will cost, all told, only a lit…"

"I like women, I never run them down as somehow inferior to men, and I have a contempt for men who do. And I think, fo…"

"“You just think about supporting a wife and children on a dollar and ninety cents a day. Most of us work on Sundays; …"

"Haven’t you ever wished it were somehow possible to cross-examine an absolute stranger about something none of your b…"