Author: The Hippo Press

All quotes are from Mrs. Pollifax Pursued, by Dorothy Gilman, born June 25, 1923.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) Once ensconced in the kitchen Mrs. Pollifax pursued her inquiries as tactfully as possible. Breaking eggs into a bowl and whipping them she asked, ‘Were you followed out of New York City on Monday, or did this happen after you reached Connecticut?’ Tactful inquiries are the best inquiries.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) If his situation intrigued Mrs. Pollifax, his importance did not, since planting basil in her greenhouse was the more vital to her this morning. Planting basil is always more important.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) The salami, however, was not in the refrigerator. This seemed odd, since she had made a sandwich of it scarcely an hour ago; nevertheless the salami was not where it should have been in the refrigerator, nor was it on the counter or the kitchen table. When someone moves your salami, make lemonade.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) Carefully she took stock of her resources: a flashlight for dark closets, the poker from the fireplace, and her training in karate. Take stock and replenish your resources.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) The inquiry did not take days, however; by early evening Bishop was in his office beaming triumphantly. ‘Got it! Thank God for computers, Paris has found the needle in the haystack for you.’ A big haystack needs a big computer.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) ‘Sardines!’ cried Mrs. Pollifax suddenly as they headed north on I-95, still followed by the green sedan. But no anchovies.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) It was only Carstairs, thought Mrs. Pollifax, who had been intuitive enough to weave together dissimilar and fragile threads to make a whole out of a crazy, outrageous pattern, and she marveled at him again. An intuitive friend can be marvelous.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) At the Department people did not ask unnecessary questions. Bishop merely said, ‘Where are you at this precise moment, Mrs. P.?’ Don’t ask unnecessary questions.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) Frowning, he leaned back in his chair and attempted an emptying of his mind, hoping the answer might spring from his subconscious as so frequently happened; in fact he sometimes found his subconscious more reliable than Bishop’s memos as he juggled three and four projects at a time. Take a moment to forget the memos.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) After all, it had proven a rather dull winter, and a girl in trouble appealed far more to her sense of adventure than a Garden Club meeting. Hey, even a garden club meeting can be an adventure.

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Carstairs … placed the package to one side with his other paperwork, at which point Bishop said tactfully, ‘They want it today.’ Carstairs groaned. ‘Then preserve my sanity by bringing me a fresh cup of coffee, will you?’ And water. Don’t dehydrate.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) ‘My friend,’ said Bernard, ‘I do not like to be overly suspicious but I would take a close look at whatever company your American businessman represents, which is—?’ ‘A holding company,’ said Carstairs. ‘Ah, yes, my friend, but does one know what it “holds”?’ Fancy jargon will not throw you off.