Friday, January 04, 2019

Once over lightly, thanks

The mind of the New York Customs inspector being the unpleasant, suspicious thing it is, a motion picture star returning to her native land from a visit to Europe usually finds the clearing of her baggage a rather lengthy process. But today Lottie had got through quickly. The official told off to examine her belongings had begun by examining the little wickerwork basket which she was carrying, and after that had seemed unable to put any real heart and thoroughness into his work. His sense of duty was strong enough to make him ask her to unlock he trunks, but his whole attitude when going through them had been that of a man who has had his lesson and felt that prudence is best. Perfunctory about sums it up. [There had been a small alligator in the basket.]

(from The Luck of the Bodkins, by Sir Pelham Wodehouse)

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