“ I said: ‘All right, talk, but do you mind putting the gun away? My wife doesn't care, but I'm pregnant. Dashiell Hammett
“ She stared at him dully and said: I don’t like crooks, and even if I did, I wouldn’t like crooks that are stool-pigeons, and if I liked crooks that are stool-pigeons, I still wouldn’t like you. She tu… Dashiell Hammett
“ The face she made at me was probably meant for a smile. Whatever it was, it beat me. I was afraid she'd do it again, so I surrendered Dashiell Hammett
“ Don't be so damned patronizing. Your performance so far has been a little less than dazzling.I didn't mean no harm, I said and kissed her. That a new dress?Ah! Changing the subject, you coward. Dashiell Hammett
“ How about a drop of something to cut the phlegm?Why don't you stay sober today?We didn't come to New York to stay sober. Dashiell Hammett
“ I guess I can put two and two together.Sometimes the answer's four, I said, and sometimes it's twenty-two... Dashiell Hammett
“ You know Quinn? Macaulay asked me.Ten minutes ago I was putting him to bed.Macaulay grinned. I hope you keep his acquaintance like that - socialMeaning what?Macaulay's grin became rueful. He used to b… Dashiell Hammett
“ It's probably polite to pretend you don't see people coming out of pawnshops, anyhow. Dashiell Hammett
“ She tilted her head to the right. You didn't even tell me you had taken the case.I had done what? Oh, I see what you mean. Well, I hadn't and haven't. My getting shot ought to prove I was an innocent… Dashiell Hammett
“ Nora was eating a piece of cold duck with one hand and working on a jig-saw puzzle with the other when I got home.I thought you'd gone to live with her, she said. You used to be a detective: find me a… Dashiell Hammett
“ He's the guy that the joke was wrote about: 'Is he a criminal lawyer?' 'Yes, very. Dashiell Hammett
“ What was that joke about a guy being so thin he had to stand in the same place twice to throw a shadow? Dashiell Hammett
“ He opened the door wider. He's waiting. He gave me what was probably meant to be a significant wink, but a corner of his mouth moved more than his eye did and the result was a fairly startling face. Dashiell Hammett
“ Dorothy asked timidly: Did his wife say anything?She sent her love to you.Nora said: Stop being nasty. Dashiell Hammett
