What wonders does Gutman detail in the cryptic history of the Maltese Falcon?

Dashiel Hammett, today on the Classic Tales podcast.

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Today we continue with the Maltese falcon.

By the way, the phrase, off the gooseberry, is an archaic phrase from the 1920s meaning stealing hanging laundry from the line there is a little more coarse language in this story than in our usual

fair and as with nearly all detective novels of the time it's got its share of homophobia

and misogyny take the time to pause the show and point it out to your kids.

And now, the Maltese Falcon, Part 5 of 8, by Dashil Hammett.

Chapter 12, Merry Go Round. Spade rode down from Gutman's floor in an elevator. His lips were

dry and rough, in a face otherwise pale and damp. When he took out his handkerchief to wipe his

face, he saw his hand trembling. He grinned at it and said,

"'Phew!' So loudly that the elevator operator turned his head over his shoulder and asked,

"'Sir?' Spade walked down Geary Street to the Palace Hotel, where he ate luncheon.

His face had lost his pallor, his lips, their dryness, and his hand it's trembling by the time he had sat down.

He ate hungrily without haste, and then went to Sid Wise's office.

When Spade entered, Wise was biting a fingernail and staring at the window.

He took his hand from his mouth, screwed his chair around to face Spade, and said,

...