stereotypes are awfully misleading. There are typical librarians, but not all librarians are typical.

Emerson,' I said, choosing my words with care, 'it is a sheer drop from the cleft down to the base of the cliff. If you are bent on breaking your arm or your leg or your neck or all three, find a place closer to home so we won't have to carry you such a distance.

When men start talking about 'honor', there is sure to be trouble ahead.

I will tell you a little secret about archaeologists, dear Reader. They all pretend t be very high-minded. They claim that their sole aim in excavation is to uncover the mysteries of the past and add to the store of human knowledge. They lie. What they really want is a spectacular discovery, so they can get their names in the newspapers and inspire envy and hatred in the hearts of their rivals.

There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.

Sekhmet crawled onto Ramses's lap and began to purr. 'The creature oozes like a furry slug,' said Ramses, eyeing it without favor.

I can do a book in three months if I spend all day, seven days a week at it and, in fact, I work better that way.