Murder in the Maze quotes
The lines readers remember from Murder in the Maze, by J. J. Connington.
14 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
Murders don’t happen to people like us, you know. It’s the kind of thing one finds among the lower classes.
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“This must be a joke of yours, Stenness. What I mean to say is, the thing’s impossible.
Murders don’t happen to people like us, you know. It’s the kind of thing one finds among the lower classes.
”
Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?
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“
Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?
” he inquired. “Well, if that’s the method you can give me just two fingers and all the soda. The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
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“Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?” he inquired. “Well, if that’s the method you can give me just two fingers and all the soda.
The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
And, remember, I warned you frankly that it might not be convenient to tell you very much just at present. The arrangement was that you were to give your views and I was to say what I thought of them.”
Nothing ever does happen between the last time and the next time.
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“Since the last time? No, it’s rather a curious point which you may have noticed, Squire.
Nothing ever does happen between the last time and the next time.
That I should say was an almost invariable rule in life.”
After all, one’s skin is one’s dearest possession.
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Do you mean about the murderer? … Oh, I think I’ll have him tomorrow, quite possibly—if he doesn’t bolt. If he doesn’t bolt, I said. That’s the only thing I’m afraid of. … Yes, I’m sure that would interest you.
After all, one’s skin is one’s dearest possession.
Good night. We shall be across shortly after dinner.”
Once a puzzle’s solved, no one troubles about it any more; but even a trace of mystery will keep one worrying spasmodically and so one can’t put the matter aside for good.
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I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be better if you know all that I know myself about it; and I think that will clear the whole thing up and let you get it out of your minds.
Once a puzzle’s solved, no one troubles about it any more; but even a trace of mystery will keep one worrying spasmodically and so one can’t put the matter aside for good.
”
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II: The Affair in the Maze
The Minotaur was afoot in the labyrinth.
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It came over her how safe and peaceful the normal world was—and now, in pursuit of an aimless piece of amusement, she had come into the slaughterhouse.
The Minotaur was afoot in the labyrinth.
At the end of the alley she forced herself to halt and peeped cautiously round the corner. No one was in sight, so she ventured into a fresh avenue.
IV: The Chief Constable
One rarely climbs higher than the top.
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“I suppose he must have got tired of the view and come down again, in that case. One usually does come down.
One rarely climbs higher than the top.
”
V: The Evidence in the Case
Murders don’t happen to people like us, you know. It’s the kind of thing one finds among the lower classes.
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“This must be a joke of yours, Stenness. What I mean to say is, the thing’s impossible.
Murders don’t happen to people like us, you know. It’s the kind of thing one finds among the lower classes.
”
VIII: Opportunity, Method, and Motive
Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?
Show the passage
“
Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?
” he inquired. “Well, if that’s the method you can give me just two fingers and all the soda. The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
Show the passage
“Truth at the bottom of the decanter, eh?” he inquired. “Well, if that’s the method you can give me just two fingers and all the soda.
The truth’s sometimes dangerous when it’s undiluted.
And, remember, I warned you frankly that it might not be convenient to tell you very much just at present. The arrangement was that you were to give your views and I was to say what I thought of them.”
Divergence from the normal is the weakest link in a murderer’s chainmail.
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What have you to go on? Not much. But if you find somebody poisoned with some fairly out-of-the-way alkaloid, then you limit the number of possible murderers very considerably. You remember the Crippen case.
Divergence from the normal is the weakest link in a murderer’s chainmail.
”
IX: The Burglary at Whistlefield
“Ugh! Spider’s web got across my mouth! There’s any amount of gossamer about here. These hedges must be full of spiders. Beastly things!”
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He glanced into the centre and then passed round to the position of the loophole in the outer hedge. As he did so he gave an exclamation of disgust and passed his hand over his face.
“Ugh! Spider’s web got across my mouth! There’s any amount of gossamer about here. These hedges must be full of spiders. Beastly things!”
Coming to the loophole, he examined it carefully as though to discover the range of view from it. Then he made his way to the loophole commanding the second centre, which he inspected with equal interest.
X: The Third Attack in the Maze
You’re an exasperating beast at times, Clinton,
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“
You’re an exasperating beast at times, Clinton,
” Wendover affirmed, without a trace of irritation.
I’ve no great use for a cowardly little beast.
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“
I’ve no great use for a cowardly little beast.
You should have heard him on the phone, Wendover. Sounded like one of those things they used to run in the Grand Guignol.”
XI: The Squire’s Theories
There’s a big gap between knowing a thing and proving it,
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“
There’s a big gap between knowing a thing and proving it,
” said Sir Clinton, cautiously.
You can’t hang a man twice. So if a man decides to commit a single murder, he might as well commit two.
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“I see your objection, I think,” the Squire went on. “You meant to say: ‘Why were both the Shandons murdered when it was only Neville’s death that was essential to Hackleton?’ But there’s quite a plausible explanation of that.
You can’t hang a man twice. So if a man decides to commit a single murder, he might as well commit two.
The punishment’s the same for a quantity. And if he can commit two with equal impunity—as in the Maze—mightn’t it occur to him that two murders would be a stiffer problem than one murder, in these particular circumstances?
XII: The Fourth Attack
Nothing ever does happen between the last time and the next time.
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“Since the last time? No, it’s rather a curious point which you may have noticed, Squire.
Nothing ever does happen between the last time and the next time.
That I should say was an almost invariable rule in life.”
XIV: The Forged Cheque
After all, one’s skin is one’s dearest possession.
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Do you mean about the murderer? … Oh, I think I’ll have him tomorrow, quite possibly—if he doesn’t bolt. If he doesn’t bolt, I said. That’s the only thing I’m afraid of. … Yes, I’m sure that would interest you.
After all, one’s skin is one’s dearest possession.
Good night. We shall be across shortly after dinner.”
XVIII: The Truth of the Matter
Once a puzzle’s solved, no one troubles about it any more; but even a trace of mystery will keep one worrying spasmodically and so one can’t put the matter aside for good.
Show the passage
I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be better if you know all that I know myself about it; and I think that will clear the whole thing up and let you get it out of your minds.
Once a puzzle’s solved, no one troubles about it any more; but even a trace of mystery will keep one worrying spasmodically and so one can’t put the matter aside for good.
”
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