The Confessions of Arsène Lupin quotes
The lines readers remember from The Confessions of Arsène Lupin, by Maurice Leblanc.
13 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
I am the man who gave her back her son!
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“
I am the man who gave her back her son!
”
Oh, gratitude! … All humbug! … Where should we honest men be if we had not our conscience and the satisfaction of duty performed to reward us?
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“
Oh, gratitude! … All humbug! … Where should we honest men be if we had not our conscience and the satisfaction of duty performed to reward us?
”
The thought of death has always struck me as the most humorous thing in the world.
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“You frighten me,” he said. “If you have sworn to do for me, don’t stand on ceremony. But cheer up, for goodness’ sake.
The thought of death has always struck me as the most humorous thing in the world.
Whereas, with you, old chap, it simply becomes lugubrious. I prefer to go to sleep. Good night!”
Death is here, doctor, shadowing the people in this house; and it will soon strike at those whom it is pursuing.
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“I think nothing, doctor. I know nothing. All I can say is that the situation is most tragic and that we must be prepared for the worst.
Death is here, doctor, shadowing the people in this house; and it will soon strike at those whom it is pursuing.
”
So you see that my letter was not absolutely useless and that one may safely venture to repeat to people things which they have learnt only to forget them.
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It needed the assistance of my letter, the letter in which I amused myself—apart from the exigencies of the facts—by employing the argument and sometimes the identical words used by the American poet in a story which everybody has read.
So you see that my letter was not absolutely useless and that one may safely venture to repeat to people things which they have learnt only to forget them.
”
I have the soul of a conservative, my dear fellow, the instincts of a retired tradesman and a due respect for every sort of tradition and authority.
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but I assure you that it’s very different when my own’s at stake. By Jove, it doesn’t do to lay hands on what belongs to me! Then I’m out for blood! Aha! It’s my pocket, my money, my watch … hands off!
I have the soul of a conservative, my dear fellow, the instincts of a retired tradesman and a due respect for every sort of tradition and authority.
And that is why Ganimard inspires me with no little gratitude and esteem.”
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II: The Wedding-Ring
I am the man who gave her back her son!
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“
I am the man who gave her back her son!
”
III: The Sign of the Shadow
That comes of doing one’s best to help people!
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“So, my dear fellow, I was caught in a trap, with not a leg to stand on, and I had to compromise and accept one modest diamond as my share, the smallest and the least handsome of the lot.
That comes of doing one’s best to help people!
”
Oh, gratitude! … All humbug! … Where should we honest men be if we had not our conscience and the satisfaction of duty performed to reward us?
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“
Oh, gratitude! … All humbug! … Where should we honest men be if we had not our conscience and the satisfaction of duty performed to reward us?
”
IV: The Infernal Trap
The thought of death has always struck me as the most humorous thing in the world.
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“You frighten me,” he said. “If you have sworn to do for me, don’t stand on ceremony. But cheer up, for goodness’ sake.
The thought of death has always struck me as the most humorous thing in the world.
Whereas, with you, old chap, it simply becomes lugubrious. I prefer to go to sleep. Good night!”
Sensible people don’t find Lupin: they make him come to them!
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“Ah, so you admit it! You signed your theft and you signed your ruin at the same time. There was nothing left to be done but to find you. Find you? No, better than that.
Sensible people don’t find Lupin: they make him come to them!
That was a masterly notion. It belongs to my young nephew, who loathes you as much as I do, if possible, and who knows you thoroughly, through reading all the books that have been written about you.
Good looks count for something, after all!
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“
Good looks count for something, after all!
” he muttered.
VI: Shadowed by Death
Death is here, doctor, shadowing the people in this house; and it will soon strike at those whom it is pursuing.
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“I think nothing, doctor. I know nothing. All I can say is that the situation is most tragic and that we must be prepared for the worst.
Death is here, doctor, shadowing the people in this house; and it will soon strike at those whom it is pursuing.
”
VII: A Tragedy in the Forest of Morgues
So you see that my letter was not absolutely useless and that one may safely venture to repeat to people things which they have learnt only to forget them.
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It needed the assistance of my letter, the letter in which I amused myself—apart from the exigencies of the facts—by employing the argument and sometimes the identical words used by the American poet in a story which everybody has read.
So you see that my letter was not absolutely useless and that one may safely venture to repeat to people things which they have learnt only to forget them.
”
VIII: Lupin’s Marriage
“Oh, your eyes … the calm and sadness of your eyes … the beauty of your eyes!”
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She did not lower her eyes at first. But she blushed. And never had he seen so pathetic a face, marked with such modesty and such dignity. He said to her, as on that first evening in Paris:
“Oh, your eyes … the calm and sadness of your eyes … the beauty of your eyes!”
She dropped her head and stammered:
“No,” she replied, softly. “On the contrary, you have shown me where my real life lies.”
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“Forgive me. … I am a contemptible wretch. … I have wrecked your life. …”
“No,” she replied, softly. “On the contrary, you have shown me where my real life lies.”
He was about to ask her to explain. But she had opened the door and was pointing the way to him. Nothing more could be spoken between them. He went out without a word, bowing very low as he passed.
X: Edith Swan-Neck
It’s a bad habit; and I’m sorry for it. But what can I say?
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“
It’s a bad habit; and I’m sorry for it. But what can I say?
It’s the way of the world. Here’s a decent detective-chap, here’s a whole pack of decent men, who stand for law and order, who protect us against the apaches, who risk their lives for honest people like you and me;
I have the soul of a conservative, my dear fellow, the instincts of a retired tradesman and a due respect for every sort of tradition and authority.
Show the passage
but I assure you that it’s very different when my own’s at stake. By Jove, it doesn’t do to lay hands on what belongs to me! Then I’m out for blood! Aha! It’s my pocket, my money, my watch … hands off!
I have the soul of a conservative, my dear fellow, the instincts of a retired tradesman and a due respect for every sort of tradition and authority.
And that is why Ganimard inspires me with no little gratitude and esteem.”
Poor Edith Swan-neck stood drooping like an overweighted lily.
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The guests were lost in enthusiasm over this tapestry, over the unsophisticated beauty of the design, over the faded colours, over the lifelike grouping of the figures and the pitiful sadness of the scene.
Poor Edith Swan-neck stood drooping like an overweighted lily.
Her white gown revealed the lines of her languid figure. Her long, tapering hands were outstretched in a gesture of terror and entreaty. And nothing could be more mournful than her profile, over which flickered the most dejected and despairing of smiles.
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