The Sea Mystery quotes

But though the sergeant did not know it, this was French’s way.

He was an enthusiastic believer in the theory that with ninety-nine persons out of a hundred you can lead better than you can drive.

He therefore made it an essential of his method to be pleasant and friendly to those with whom he came in contact, and many a time he had found that it had brought the very hint that he required from persons who at first had …

Lucky for us, and for society, too. But I’ve seen it again and again. I’ve seen things happen that a writer couldn’t put into a book, because nobody would believe them possible, and I’m sure so have you.

There’s nothing in this world stranger than the truth.

”

“Cases do seem so at first,” French returned, “but it’s wonderful how light gradually comes.

It is almost impossible to commit a murder without leaving a clue, and if you think it over long enough you usually get it.

But this, I admit, is a pretty tough proposition.”

“No doubt, but there is this difference between a novel and real life. In a novel the episodes are selected and the reader is told those which are interesting and which get results.

In real life we try perhaps ten or twenty lines which lead nowhere before we strike the lucky one.

And in each line we make perhaps hundreds of enquiries, whereas the novel describes one. It’s like any other job, you get results by pegging away. But it is interesting on the whole, and it has its compensations.

In real life we try perhaps ten or twenty lines which lead nowhere before we strike the lucky one. And in each line we make perhaps hundreds of enquiries, whereas the novel describes one.

It’s like any other job, you get results by pegging away.

But it is interesting on the whole, and it has its compensations. Well, Doctor, I mustn’t keep you talking all night. I shall see you at the inquest tomorrow?”

The saying “it never rains but what it pours” is a popular expression of the unhappy fact that misfortunes never come singly.

Fortunately for suffering humanity, the phrase expresses only half the truth. Runs of good luck occur as well as runs of bad.

As French was smoking his after-breakfast pipe in the lounge next morning it was borne in on him that he was at that time experiencing one of the most phenomenal runs of good luck that had ever fallen to his lot.

This was something more than a blow to French, and his self-esteem reeled under it. For the nth time he marvelled at the amazing knowledge of other people’s business to be found in country districts.

The small country town, he thought, was the absolute limit!

There he was, moving continually among the townspeople, none of whom gave the least sign of interest in his calling, yet evidently they had discussed him and his affairs to some purpose. The garrulous landlady, Mrs.

French glanced at him keenly. The man was genuinely angry. And if so, it tended in his favour.

Real indignation is difficult to simulate and would not be called forth by an imaginary insult.

“If you think my remark unwarrantable, I shall withdraw it,” French said, with his pleasant smile. “I simply wanted to know whether you yourself believed in it. I think you do. Well, Colonel, I think that’s all we can do tonight.