"What, in heaven's name, do you do out here?"
"Oh, you'll become accustomed to it shortly," Miss Minerva answered. "At first, you just sit and think. After a time, you just sit."
(from A House Without a Key," by Earl Derr Biggers)
Miss Minerva faced Chan. "The person who did this must be apprehended," she said firmly.
"He looked at her sleepily. "What is to be, will be," he replied in a high, sing-song voice.
"I know - that's your Confucius," she snapped. "But it's a do-nothing doctrine, and I don't approve of it."
A faint smile flickered over Chan's face. "Do not fear, he said. "The fates are busy, and man may do much to assist. I promise you there will be no do-nothing here." He came closer. "Humbly asking pardon to mention it. I detect in your eyes slight flame of hostility. Quench it, if you will be so kind. Friendly cooperation are essential between us." Despite his girth, he managed a deep bow. "Wishing you good morning," he added, and followed Hallet.
(from The House Without a Key, by Earl Derr Biggers)
Suddenly Miss Minerva realized the situation. The wearer of the watch had forgotten the tell-tale numerals on his wrist, he thought himself hidden in the dark. He was waiting for her to go on through the room. If she made no sound, gave no sign of alarm, she might be safe. Once beyond that bamboo curtain leading into the hall, she could rouse the household.
She was a woman of great will power, but it took all she had to move serenely on her way. She shut her lips tightly and accomplished it, veering a bit from that circle of light that menaced her, looking back at it over her shoulder as she went. After what seemed an eternity the bamboo curtain received her, she was through it, she was on the stairs. But it seemed to her that never again would she be able to look at a watch or a clock and find that the hour was anything save twenty minutes past one!
(from The House Without a Key, by Earl Derr Biggers)
We hardly ever think of it as such, but "adept" can be a noun. Its meaning is "a highly-trained individual," and is synonymous with "expert." I found it used in this sense in the Earl Derr Biggers novel, The House Without a Key."
"Roger proved an adept at making the most of one's time in San Francisco."
"I - I'm wondering, Minerva," he began slowly. "Tell me again about that nephew of yours."
She was surprised, but hid it. "John Quincy?" she said. "He's just the usual thing, for Boston. Conventional. His whole life has been planned for him, from the cradle to the grave. So far he's walked the line. The inevitable preparatory school, Harvard, the proper clubs, the family banking house - even gone and got himself engaged to the very girl his mother would have picked for him. There have been times when I hoped he might kick over - the war - but no, he came back and got meekly into the old rut."
"Then he's reliable - steady?"
Miss Minerva smiled. "Dan, compared with that boy, Gibraltar wobbles occasionally."
(from The House Without a Key, by Earl Derr Biggers)
Miss Minerva nodded. "You never met him, did you, Dan? Well, you will, shortly. And he certainly won't approve of you."
"Why not?" Dan Winterslip bristled.
"Because he's proper. He's a dear boy, but oh, so proper. This journey is going to be a great cross for him. He'll start disapproving as soon as he passes Albany, and think of the long weary miles of disapproval he'll have to endure after that."
"Oh, I don't know. He's a Winterslip, isn't he?"
"He is. But the gypsy strain missed him completely. He's all Puritan."
(from The House Without a Key, by Earl Derr Biggers)
