While Karson and I rested under a tree, I thought of all the things I’d tried, without success, to quell my fears: extreme exercise, decaffeination, deep breathing, blue-green algae.

'Two 99s for you, young man. A Fab? Yes, here you are, madam. A Mivvi coming up.' As he handed over the ices, the kids ran or just sauntered off. I don't know if the ice-cream man thought some adult was going to appear and pay for the lot, […]

Above all, the establishment of toleration helped to weaken the presumption that plurality in matters of faith inevitably caused social disorder.

Alfie was familiar with the term ‘understrapper’. The Harry Fielding Alfie knew was an understrapper; a bob-a-job man for MI5. Somebody who could do a bit of house- or office-breaking, or some surveillance work.