My Mum was a professional elevator operator who had the most appallingly affected powdery professional voice! My sister and I used to stand at the door of her elevator (actually, we call it a 'lift') and laugh uproariously at her as she announced in a most un-Mumly voice 'ground floor: toys, floor coverings, gentlemens' apparel - thenk you for shopping at Winn's'.
Raising his clipboard as a preacher might raise his bible, he reminded Charlie of his duty to the Crown, and demanded the monies outstanding, in full, in cash, banker's draught, or negotiable securities.
Passengers may perform quarantine on board if they choose, but it is not advisable to do so if they arrive by a merchant ship, as in that case the term is longer than for a person who goes into the lazzaretto; the day he enters the lazzaretto is reckoned as one, and pratique is given at the earliest hour of the day when the period expires. […] The best lazzarettos are those of Malta, Leghorn, Marseilles, Ancona, and Trieste.
A Malay elder crawled on to the veranda, greeted Crabbe with an edentulous Tabek! and then crouched in a dark corner, chewing a quid of sireh with hard gums.
