De sang-froid

[S]he looked again at the faces on the kitchen table. "Think of him," she said, placing a finger against the front-view portrait of the blond young man. "Think of those eyes. Coming toward you." Then she pushed the pictures back into their envelope. "I wish you hadn't shown me."

"I know the form," Dick said. "I've been questioned before."
"Now, Mr. Hickock–"
"Dick."
"Dick, we want to talk to you about your activities since your parole. To our knowledge, you've gone on at least two big check sprees in the Kansas City area."
"Uh-huh. Hung out quite a few."
"Could you give us a list?"
The prisoner, evidently proud of his one authentic gift, a brilliant memory, recited the names and addresses of twenty Kansas City stores, cafes, and garages, and recalled, accurately, the "purchase" made at each and the amount of the check passed.
"I'm curious, Dick. Why do these people accept your checks? I'd like to know the secret."
"The secret is: People are dumb."

Pas une âme n’entendit les quatre coups de fusils qui, tout compte fait, mirent un terme à six vies humaines. 

Elle avait soixante-quatorze ans,mais elle fit à Nye l’impression « d’être plus jeune, de dix minutes peut-être »

Mes relations sont nombreuses, mes amis sont rares ; et plus rares encore ceux qui me connaissent vraiment.