tout-a-coup

Updated: May 27, 2025

The American drew nearer and whispered spectacularly: "Your friend is upstairs. I think they're examining him." T-d got this; and though his rehabilitated dignity had accepted the "makin's" from its prisoner, it became immediately incensed: "That's enough," he said sternly. And dragged me tout-a-coup upstairs, where I met B. and his t-d coming out of the bureau door. B. looked peculiarly cheerful.

E. E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings - The Enormous Room