“I must protest.” “To whom?” That seemed to flummox him. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “But a protest must be lodged nonetheless.” “I don’t think the dog meant to shoot him,” Iris demurred. “You mean the author does not make the canine’s motivations clear?” Iris assumed a scrupulously even expression. “Even she lacks such talent.”

“I must protest.” “To whom?” That seemed to flummox him. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “But a protest must be lodged nonetheless.” “I don’t think the dog meant to shoot him,” Iris demurred. “You mean the author does not make the canine’s motivations clear?” Iris assumed a scrupulously even expression. “Even she lacks such talent.”

— Julia Quinn