Wouldn't like it underdone, sir." Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: "I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the larks are sparrows." "Let us hope so," said Thorndyke.

"The lark is better employed 'at Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding.

But you were telling us about your case." "So I was.

Well it's just a matter of--ale or claret?
Oh, claret, I know.

You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." "He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke.