Thief of Time - Near

He stopped, without looking at Lobsang Ludd, and held out his hand. 'And now, if you please, you will return the little shovel you stole from me when first we met.'

'But I came nowhere near you, master!'

Lu-Tze's smile did not flicker. 'Oh. Yes. That is true. My apologies. The ramblings of an old man. Is it not written, “I'd forget my own head if it wasn't nailed on”? Let us proceed.’

***

The Thief of Time - p58