“He Looked Rather Pleasantly, Like A Blonde Satan.” ― Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon

Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation...

Spade: What do you want me to do - learn to stutter?

Dashiell Hammett, creator of the hard-boiled, plain-talking detective genre, featuring Sam Spade. "The Maltese Falcon" novel is set in 1920's San Francisco, and indeed the foggy, hilly city is a main character. Dash's personal Royal typewriter is on the display in the SF Historical Room, 6th Floor of the SF Main Public Library.

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