How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"They got any cute girls working there?"
Ignatius thought of Miss Trixie and said, "Yes, there is one."
"Single?"
"She appears to be."
Mrs. Reilly winked at Ignatius and threw her overcoat on top of the cupboard. (3.218-222)
This is one of Ignatius's most gratuitous lies. Why bother pretending that Miss Trixie is a cute girl? It's hard to believe he actually cares whether his mother thinks he has a girlfriend, or might have a girlfriend. Maybe he just figures it will make her happy and so keep her off his back? Or maybe he just likes lying.
Quote #2
As soon as the office manager went through the door, Ignatius rolled a sheet of Levy stationery into Mr. Gonzalez' high black typewriter. If Levy Pants was to succeed, the first step would be imposing a heavy hand upon its detractors. (4.75)
Ignatius sets about committing fraud. The odd thing is that this, his biggest, most consequential lie, appears to come from something like honest motives. He wants to help Levy Pants; he's trying to be a good employee. To some extent. Though it seems likely, too, that he just really enjoys insulting people and telling fibs, and can't pass up the chance to do both at once.
Quote #3
"You tell a cop by his eyes, Darlene. They're very self-assured. I been in this business too long. I know every dirty cop angle. The marked bills, the phony clothes. If you can't tell by the eyes, then take a look at the money. It's full of pencil marks and crap." (5.6)
Lana Lee explains that cops are deceivers. As a criminal, Lana practices a certain amount of deception herself, so it seems like she should know whereof she speaks, but then toward the end of the novel, she gets fooled. Oops.