"But those in the know always said about the London rain that, try as it might, it would never, ever clean that noisome city, because all it did was show you another layer of dirt. And on this dirty night there were appropriately dirty deeds that not even the rain could wash away." Chapter One, pp. 1-2

"Dodger had never read a book, but if he had ever done so, he would have read the cook just like it — and it was amazing how much you could glean from a look, or a snort, or even a fart if it was dropped into the conversation at just the right place." Chapter Two, p. 20

"If you don't want to end up like poor old Grandad, then you'd better end up like somebody else, and a good start mmm would be to look like someone else, especially mmm if...