Philip Marlowe and the Comedy Rule of Three

"Trouble is my business," I said. "Twenty-five a day and guarantee of two-fifty if I pull the job."

"Trouble is my business," I said. "How else will I make a nickel?"

"Why the ride home? Just to tell me that?"

"She asked me to look out for you. That's why you're loose. She likes you. I like her. See? You don't want any more trouble."

"Trouble -- " I started to say, and stopped. I was tired of that gag for the night.

Philip Marlowe, in Raymond Chandler's

"Trouble Is My Business,"

from Collected Stories.