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''Damn!" Peter exploded, then said contritely, "I'm sorry." |
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"That's all right, dear," Mrs. Bates said. "Now, what were you going to say?" |
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"I was going to say I'd be damned if I spent the next two weeks trying to match the schedules of the British, French, and Italian railways, not to mention making those connect right with a Greek shipping line." |
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"But darling, you don't have to. Linda will do all that. Won't you, Linda?" |
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"Of course, I will, Mrs. Bates. I'm sure I can manage it, but if I could make a suggestion. . .?" |
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"I'd better ask a question first. Will you be in a great hurry to arrive in Corfu? I mean, must you be there by a particular date?" |
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"I can't see why the general or Harriet or I should be in any hurry. Donald, Rose-Anne, and Peter have their work to consider, of course." |
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"Then perhaps there is no need to match schedules with split-second accuracy. Perhaps we could take the night boat train to Paris, stay a day or two, take the train to Florence, stay again, and then move on to whichever port city we need to catch the boat. Then" |
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"You're as batty as a bedbug!" Peter stated with devastating deliberateness. |
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"Why?" Linda asked, surprised, just as Mrs. Bates said, "What in the world does that mean, Peter?" |
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"It means she's crazy, that's what it means. And I'll tell you why, Linda. You've never trav- |
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