The provided text is comprised of excerpts from the novel The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian by Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Lawrence Block. The narrative centers on Bernard "Bernie" Rhodenbarr, an antiquarian bookseller and professional burglar, who becomes entangled in a murder investigation after being hired to appraise a library. The plot revolves around a stolen Mondrian painting, a kidnapped cat named Archie, and the subsequent murder of two men, leading Bernie and his friend Carolyn Kaiser to uncover a complex scheme of forgery and betrayal. The text includes sections of dialogue, internal monologue detailing Bernie's thoughts on his illicit activities, and an "About the Author" section, confirming Block's literary credentials and the book's status as a well-regarded mystery in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.