My Mum was a professional elevator operator who had the most appallingly affected powdery professional voice! My sister and I used to stand at the door of her elevator (actually, we call it a 'lift') and laugh uproariously at her as she announced in a most un-Mumly voice 'ground floor: toys, floor coverings, gentlemens' apparel - thenk you for shopping at Winn's'.

A Malay elder crawled on to the veranda, greeted Crabbe with an edentulous Tabek! and then crouched in a dark corner, chewing a quid of sireh with hard gums.

Passengers may perform quarantine on board if they choose, but it is not advisable to do so if they arrive by a merchant ship, as in that case the term is longer than for a person who goes into the lazzaretto; the day he enters the lazzaretto is reckoned as one, and pratique is given at the earliest hour of the day when the period expires. […] The best lazzarettos are those of Malta, Leghorn, Marseilles, Ancona, and Trieste.

Raising his clipboard as a preacher might raise his bible, he reminded Charlie of his duty to the Crown, and demanded the monies outstanding, in full, in cash, banker's draught, or negotiable securities.