Ashton-Kirk, Investigator quotes

But among them come many who seek his help in solving problems in crime.

“I’m more curious than some other fellows, that’s all,” is the way he accounts for himself. “If a puzzle is put in front of me I can’t rest till I know the answer.”

At any rate his natural bent has always been to make plain the mysterious; each well hidden step in the perpetration of a crime has always been for him an exciting lure;

A volume of the Poe and the Albertus-Magnus were lying at hand; Pendleton ignored the dumpy, stained little Latin volume; its strong-smelling leather binding and faded text had no attractions for him. But he took up the Poe and began idly turning its leaves.

“It is a mistake to suppose that some specific thing must be the cause of an action, or a train of thought,”

resumed the other, from the comfortable depths of his chair. “Sometimes thousands of things go to the making of a single thought, countless others to the doing of a single deed.

“Beautiful!” he cried. “I do not recall ever having seen anything just like it!” He slapped Pendleton upon the back with a heavy, hand.

“Pen, that stump of candle sheds more light than the finest arc lamp ever manufactured.”

“I’m watching and I’m listening,” spoke Pendleton. “Also I’m agitating my small portion of gray matter. But inspiration, it seems, is not for me. So I’ll have to ask you what these things tell you.”

The investigator leaned back and began drumming upon the arm of his chair with his long supple fingers.

“Experience never quite takes away that comfortable feeling of satisfaction that the proving of a theory gives one,” said he. “I suppose it is a sort of reward that Nature reserves for effort.”

And he smiled at his beautiful visitor’s puzzled look, and went on:

“Of course,” she said in conclusion, “I now understand that the entire matter will get into the papers. It is too late to prevent that.

But it is not too late for you to fix the guilt where it belongs.

And I have every confidence that you will do it. If I had not,” and her voice quavered pitifully, “I don’t know what I should do.”

With a truly Latin gesture of despair, the Italian put his hands to his forehead.

“Always Hume,” he said. “Always Hume! I can not be free of him. He was evil!”

in a sort of shrill whisper. “Even when he is dead, I am mocked by him. He was all evil! I believe he was a devil!”

He held her hand and looked meaningly at her.

“My appearances are sometimes surprising,” he said. “But I usually select the night for them; the effect is better then, you see.”

She smiled into his eyes.

“That is true,” she said.

“Some of the world’s most daring and accomplished criminals have been women,” he went on. “But Nature never intended woman to be the bearer of burdens; there is a weakness in her soul structure somewhere; she usually sinks under the consciousness of guilt.”

“More so than men, do you think?”

“Mr. Morris still keeps himself well concealed, I note.”

Like a tigress leaping to defend her young, she met the accusation.

“Mr. Morris has done no wrong,” she declared, spiritedly. “And there is no need of his concealing himself.”

“Surely,” protested the excited Pendleton, “you don’t propose to leave the thing there! Think of the risk! You might lose it in the end; for, you know, one never foresees what is to turn up.”

“A fisherman must always risk losing his lure,” answered the investigator composedly.

They spent the long hours of the day in smoking and talking; and at intervals they ate the sandwiches and other things which had been smuggled in in the guise of packages of furs.

and, also, that Ashton-Kirk was once more gripping his shoulder with a warning hand. Becoming instantly alert, his senses perceived a stoppage of everything; the clocks seemed to tick more faintly, he could no longer hear the woman breathe.

There was an instant that roared with silence; then came the soft, steady padding of feet descending the stair.

Then he heard the girl release her breath in a great, trembling exhalation; the rustle of skirts came quick and sharp in the darkness;