[H]e laid hold of the first ratline with his right hand, then sprung to the second, with his left, and so on alternately, right and left, up to the last, close to the futtock shrouds.

Our guide surprised us by refraining from exploiting it for propaganda purposes. In fact, she seemed to take a genuine delight in all the gardens of Su-chou- a fact which may explain why we saw so many of them. Not once did she say so much as a word about the decadence of life under the emperors.

“Yoo azzhoe.” “Well, Doctor, I think he just called you a prince.” That it was something bacterial, and not, say, an overdose of five different prescription drugs mixed with cognac and two Slimfast strawberry shakes that nearly killed[…]

The old patrician retreated noiselessly with a slow bow that was part of the ceremonious legacy left by a ci-devant aristocracy of the last century’s better days.