Neverwhere

“You have a good heart. Sometimes that’s enough to see you safe wherever you go. But mostly, it’s not.”

Outside the pub in Scotland, the old woman reads Richard’s palm and predicts his adventure. Besides serving as direct characterization, this is a bit of foreshadowing, as the story will go on to punish some people with good hearts, like Anaesthesia, while ultimately keeping Richard safe.

“Jessica was in the process of organizing a traveling exhibition of Mr. Stockton’s angel collection, and had come to the conclusion that great men always collected something.”

This provides insight into Jessica’s pushy nature and her desire to make Richard live up to the standards set by her boss. Richard collects troll dolls, which Jessica disliked until she began organizing the exhibit and decided Richard’s collection was on par with her boss’s.

“You’re in trouble already. Everything you do, everything you say, everything you hear, just makes it worse. You had better pray you haven’t stepped too far in.”

The Marquis delivers this warning to Richard—one of many, as they travel to meet Old Bailey—and it builds tension by hinting at the danger Richard faces. In Neverwhere, not only the characters but the very metaphysics of the story world embody The Threat of Treachery, so an individual’s own actions may betray them.