a feature, not a problem

One of the problems with trying to pick a quote from the new Pratchett is that you end up reading the whole thing again. Well, perhaps this is not so much a problem as a feature.

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The conversation had to stop there as waiters came past, and after the noise of the plates and the - oh so much - cutlery, Miss Burden-Coutts said, 'You appear to be everywhere and into everything, according to my informants, rather like the famous, or if you prefer, the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin. Have you heard of him, young man? What do you think about his extraordinary ride to York on his mare Black Bess? I believe they are doing plays about him now and the public just love him, because he was a scallywag.'

Looking apprehensively at the meal put in front of him, Dodger said, 'I have heard about the gent, madam, and I like the way he put a shine on the world. But I think he was clever, and far too clever to ride all the way to York. Too risky, and while I have to say I ain't - I beg your pardon, I am not - a horseman, I reckon that he would have knackered the horse within an hour if he'd done it as fast as they said. No, I reckon he rushed up to some of his mates what he knew to be not all that matey and shouted out something like, "Pray for me, my lads, for I am going to try to get to York this very night!" And o'course, you see, you can be certain that when you have a price on your head like he did, his mates would have instantly peached on him to the runners within ten minutes, by which time, I'll bet you a crown, our friend Dick would be in the West End with his moustache a different colour, walking around with two sporting ladies arm-in-arm. That's what's clever; just legging it don't do the trick, though I know they got him in the end.'

--Dodger, Terry Pratchett