GR translation: but expect to be taken seriously

[Mike Weaver]

I was taking the Cary Grant reference as Enzian matching her in manner 
while still cutting through her come on, but looking again at what 
follows I think Mark is right. Katje is trying it on but the next para 
shows she realises he's in a different place and his suave manner is a 
way of distancing , not engaging.


On 26/11/2025 15:01, Mark Kohut wrote:
> I think it means the flirtation will not be seen as only 
> flirtation—Daisy Miller, Lolita--but as a serious come-on.
>
> On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM Mike Jing 
> <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>     That's what I thought. On the other hand, he is acting all smooth and
>     suave as Cary Grant, so I'm no longer entirely sure.
>
>
>     On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM Mike Weaver
>     <mike.weaver at zen.co.uk> wrote:
>
>     > Hi Mike,
>     >
>     > That's a challenging one. I think he's saying she can't distract
>     from
>     > the serious matter at hand by lightening the exchange with
>     flirtation.
>     >
>     > cheers M-other.
>     >
>     > On 26/11/2025 12:43, Mike Jing wrote:
>     > > V661.38-40, P675.1-3   “Flirt if you want,” Enzian now just as
>     smooth as
>     > > that Cary Grant, “but expect to be taken seriously.” Oh, ho.
>     Here’s
>     > whatcha
>     > > came for, folks.
>     > >
>     > > The published translation interpreted this sentence as "but be
>     prepared,
>     > > people may take your flirtations seriously", which doesn't
>     seem right to
>     > > me. What exactly is Enzian saying here?
>     > > --
>     > > Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>     >
>     --
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>