How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"The lie was in the way I said it, and not at all in what I said. […] It is my own fault that you can't believe me now." (4.41)
Why does Brigid make a distinction between the "way" she lied and "what" she lied about? Is there really a difference? In most cases, a lie is a lie is a lie, but Brigid is trying to show that there are different forms of lying, and some are more "truthful" than others.
Quote #2
He said: "I've got nothing against trusting you blindly except that I won't be able to do you much good if I haven't some idea of what it's all about. For instance, I've got to have some sort of line on your Floyd Thursby."
"I met him in the Orient. […] We came here from Hongkong last week. He was—he had promised to help me. He took advantage of my helplessness and dependence on him to betray me."
"Betray you how?"
She shook her head and said nothing. (4.61)
Spade's trust isn't easily attained, and he expects Brigid to give him more information before he's willing to believe her. Do you think Brigid is telling the truth about Thursby? Why is she so hesitant to confide in Spade? She refuses to come clean with Spade and expects him to help her just on blind faith, but is this really fair?
Quote #3
Dundy scowled down at the girl and asked: "What do you want us to think the truth is?"
"Not what he said," she replied. "Not anything he said." She turned to Spade. "Is it?"
"How do I know?" Spade responded. "I was out in the kitchen mixing an omelette when it all happened, wasn't I?" (8.25)
In this scene, lies are spread so thick that it's hard to see. Cairo has accused Brigid of attacking him, whereas Brigid claims that Cairo started it. It's impossible to figure out who's telling the truth, and we can't blame Dundy for feeling frustrated. Even Spade is lying through his teeth during this entire exchange because he's trying to keep the police in the dark.