Simon quotes

By the time the train was fairly at rest, the door had been as quietly closed again and the man was picking his way over the sleepers in the darkness, past the guard’s van and away from the station and publicity.

Certainly he had succeeded in achieving a singularly economical and private journey.

For a few minutes he continued to walk back along the line, and then after a wary look all round him, he sprang up the low bank at the side, threw his leg over a wire fence, and with infinite care began to make his …

He listened intently, crouched down once or twice, and when at last he reached the wall, he peered over it very carefully before he mounted and dropped on the other side.

“Well,” he murmured, “I’m here, by God, at last!”

He was standing now in a road on the outskirts of the town. On the one hand it led into a dim expanse of darkened country; on the other the lights of the town twinkled.

In her low voice and with a fleeting smile she wished him good morning, like an acquaintance with whom she was quite familiar, and then with a serious little frown, and fixing her engaging eyes very straight upon him, she made the surprising demand:

“Mr. Rattar, I want you to tell me honestly who I am.”

For an instant Simon’s cold eyes opened very wide, and then he was gazing at her after his usual silent and steadfast manner.

“Uninteresting? Oh no!” she cried in protest, and then checked herself and her colour rose a little.

“I can’t see you out of this glass eye unless I turn round, so whether you’re pulling my leg or not I don’t know, but I was just saying to old Simon that the only kind of lady likely to take an interest in me was a female collector of antique curiosities, and you don’t seem that sort, Miss Farmond.”

She said nothing for a moment, and then asked:

“God!” exclaimed the unfortunate reasoner.

“I’ve proved it was mysel’!”

“Well, and what shall I do—string you up now or hand you over to the police?”

“God, but I’ve just described yoursel’, sir!” he cried in an unhappy voice.

“You’re determined to hang one of us, Bisset.”

For a moment Bisset seemed to find conversation difficult. Then he said miserably:

The philosopher shook a wise head.

“I have yet to learn, Mr. Cromarty, what folks will not believe.”

“They’ve got to stop believing this!” said Ned emphatically.

… people, in love with one another and secretly engaged, with no money, and no chance of getting married, stood to gain everything they wanted by a death that gave them freedom to marry, a baronetcy, a thousand a year, and two thousand in cash besides?”

“Damn it, Mr. Rattar, is the fact that a farmer benefits by a shower any evidence that he has turned on the rain?”

“I have repeatedly said, Mr. Cromarty, that there is no definite evidence to convict anybody. But nothing would have been easier than making an end of Sir Reginald Cromarty, to anybody inside that house whom he would never suspect till they struck the blow.

Ned suddenly jumped to his feet.

“I’m no lawyer,” said he, “but to me you seem to be arguing in the damnedest circle I ever met. You won’t do anything because you can’t get more evidence. And you won’t look for more evidence because you don’t want to do anything.”

There was more than a hint of temper in Simon’s eye and his answer was rapped out sharply.

Mr. Carrington recovered his pleasant spirits instantly.

“Quite right,” said he. “I was thinking about fishing⁠—in very deep waters.”

“Come straight to Stanesland! Will you?”

“It’s the direction you run in that matters,” said he.

“Now, mind you, that’s understood!”

“Delighted,” said the baronet, “if you don’t mind being seen with such a marked man.”

“I rather like them marked,” smiled Carrington.

All the way to the hotel the notorious Sir Malcolm pursued what had evidently become his favourite subject:—the vast sensation he was causing in society and the pain it gave a gentleman of title and position to be placed in such a predicament.

A little later he confessed:

“Do you know, Cicely, I’ve always had a funky feeling that if I ever proposed my glass eye would drop out!”

The next event was the somewhat sudden entry of Lilian Cromarty, and that lady’s self control was never more severely tested or brilliantly vindicated. One startled glance, and then she was saying, briskly, and with the old bright smile: