“Have a care how you speak to me, Imp. Doubtless he meant to sound threatening, but that absurd wisp of a mustache ruined the effect.”
“And you would have lost. We were surrounded. He threatened your life, and he would have made good on that threat. He had you, and that meant he had me, too.”
“Who can know how much of his most inward life is made up of the thoughts he believes other men to have about him, until that fabric of opinion is threatened with ruin?”
“He sounded absolutely miserable. “Are you ever going to speak to me?”
“This time the Imp meant to fight, and a city that fought could expect no mercy at all.”
“Sounds good. Drive safe."He sighed, knowing I really meant, "Take care of my Mercedes.”