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
Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.
(Somerset Maugham, The Appointment in Samarra, 1933)
I want to ask you a serious question. Are you flirting with me?
— Who was the girl, Steve?
— Who was what girl?
— The one who left you with such a high opinion of women.
May I?
—What do you want?
—I coud use a match… Thanks. Now I need a cigarette.