--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a tavern by the docks. He's there…" description: "\"“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings.\" \"Then I'll talk to him tonight,\" Halt said. \"You can try. But he's a hard case, Halt. I'm no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/john-flanagan-904_funny_there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there_14480.png" --- # There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings."… ![“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings." "Then I'll talk to him tonight," Halt said. "You can try. But he's a hard case, Halt. I'm not sure you'll get anything out of him. He's not interested in money. I tried that." "Well, perhaps he'll do it out of the goodness of his heart. I'm…” quote by John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/john-flanagan-904_funny_there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there_14480.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/john-flanagan-904_funny_there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there_14480.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/john-flanagan-904_funny_there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there_14480.png) > ““There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings." "Then I'll talk to him tonight," Halt said. "You can try. But he's a hard case, Halt. I'm not sure you'll get anything out of him. He's not interested in money. I tried that." "Well, perhaps he'll do it out of the goodness of his heart. I'm sure he'll open up to me," Halt said easily. But Horace noticed a gleam in his eye. He was right: the prospect of having something to do had reawakened Halt's spirits. He had a score to settle, and Horace found himself thinking that it didn't bode well for this Black O'Malley character. Will eyes Halt doubtfully, however. "You think so." Halt smiled at him. "People love talking to me," he said. "I'm an excellent conversationalist and I have a sparkling personality. Ask Horace. I've been bending his ear all the way from Dun Kilty, haven't I?" Horace nodded confirmation. "Talking nonstop all the way, he's been," he said. "Be glad to see him turn all that chatter onto someone else.”” [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Halt seeks a reluctant informant, hoping a personal connection will coax information, while Horace remains skeptical of his motives. **In simple terms:** Halt uses charm to extract intel. Key Takeaway Charm can be a strategic tool. Themes trust motivation skepticism communication strategy persuasion Mood hopeful cautious determined Type dialogue narrative character insight When to use this quote - interrogation - informant recruitment - social negotiation - building rapport - leveraging curiosity Key Concepts character dynamics information gathering personal incentives Practical Applications - intelligence gathering - building alliances Questions to Reflect On - How does personal interest affect willingness to share? - When can charm backfire? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-horace-377571/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Horace Nodded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horace-nodded-377573/) [Horace Noticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horace-noticed-377574/) [Horace Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horace-thinking-377572/) [Settle Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settle-horace-377575/) ## Related quotes > [I'll think of something," he temporized, and Horace nodded wisely, satisfied that Halt would indeed think of something. 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Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [The sun was trembling on the brink of the world, the shadows at their longest, and they still had several kilometers to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-sun-was-trembling-on-the-brink-of-the-world-the-shadows-at-their/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm." Will shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-re-going-to-see-ragnak-halt-told-him-he-s-going-to-have-to-promise/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“We must wait," she said. "They are involved in important buisness." 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Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/) [Michael Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fishman/) [Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings.\" \"Then I'll talk to him tonight,\" Halt said. \"You can try. But he's a hard case, Halt. I'm not sure you'll get anything out of him. He's not interested in money. I tried that.\" \"Well, perhaps he'll do it out of the goodness of his heart. I'm sure he'll open up to me,\" Halt said easily. But Horace noticed a gleam in his eye. He was right: the prospect of having something to do had reawakened Halt's spirits. He had a score to settle, and Horace found himself thinking that it didn't bode well for this Black O'Malley character. Will eyes Halt doubtfully, however. \"You think so.\" Halt smiled at him. \"People love talking to me,\" he said. \"I'm an excellent conversationalist and I have a sparkling personality. Ask Horace. 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