Tragedy at Ravensthorpe quotes
The lines readers remember from Tragedy at Ravensthorpe, by J. J. Connington.
12 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
“It’s a very useful habit in my line of business.”
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“No harm done,” he admitted. “You gave nothing away.”
“It’s a very useful habit in my line of business.”
But Sir Clinton’s interest in the approaching masked ball was apparently not yet exhausted.
“Let’s keep clear of any preconceived ideas until we see how the land lies up yonder.”
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“You know as much as I do, Inspector,” the Chief Constable pointed out.
“Let’s keep clear of any preconceived ideas until we see how the land lies up yonder.”
When they reached Ravensthorpe, they found Michael Clifton waiting for them at the door.
A man can only be in one place at once, if you follow me. And if he’s not there, then he must be here.
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“I should say that was indisputable, if not certain,” commented Sir Clinton, with a return of his faintly chaffing manner. “
A man can only be in one place at once, if you follow me. And if he’s not there, then he must be here.
”
Even the police can’t know everything, you see.
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“It’s news to me, Mold, I’m afraid.
Even the police can’t know everything, you see.
Now before you go I want something more from you. That night when you were on guard in the museum, you remember. Do you recall seeing anyone there at any time during the evening dressed in cowboy clothes?
There’s nothing like a good authoritative lie for shaking confidence,
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“
There’s nothing like a good authoritative lie for shaking confidence,
” Sir Clinton observed, mildly. “That’s your share in the business. You’d better mention it at breakfast time to as many people as you can;
Foss was a poor little creature, hardly better than a rabbit in the big jungle of crime.
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“
Foss was a poor little creature, hardly better than a rabbit in the big jungle of crime.
And the other two were something quite different: carnivores, beasts of prey. They’d picked him out simply on account of his one miserable talent: his little trick of legerdemain. He was only a tool, poor beggar, and he knew it.
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I: The Fairy Houses
“That’s precisely what I’ve been doing for the last minute or two,” he said, dryly.
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Sir Clinton glanced at him with a faint twinkle in his eye.
“That’s precisely what I’ve been doing for the last minute or two,” he said, dryly.
“What do you mean?” Cecil asked, looking puzzled. “You haven’t told me anything.”
“It’s a very useful habit in my line of business.”
Show the passage
“No harm done,” he admitted. “You gave nothing away.”
“It’s a very useful habit in my line of business.”
But Sir Clinton’s interest in the approaching masked ball was apparently not yet exhausted.
VII: What Was in the Lake
“Nobody knows even their own price till it’s put on the table, Sir Clinton,”
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Armadale flushed angrily at the suggestion; then, seeing that he had been trapped, he laughed awkwardly.
“Nobody knows even their own price till it’s put on the table, Sir Clinton,”
he countered, with a certain acuteness.
VIII: The Murder in the Museum
“Let’s keep clear of any preconceived ideas until we see how the land lies up yonder.”
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“You know as much as I do, Inspector,” the Chief Constable pointed out.
“Let’s keep clear of any preconceived ideas until we see how the land lies up yonder.”
When they reached Ravensthorpe, they found Michael Clifton waiting for them at the door.
“I’m not paid for being curious.”
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“You don’t seem to have had much curiosity, Marden.”
“I’m not paid for being curious.”
The Inspector put down his pencil and reflected for a moment or two.
“I wasn’t engaged as a detective.”
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“None of my business, as you say,” Marden returned, equably.
“I wasn’t engaged as a detective.”
“Well, this question falls into your department,” Sir Clinton intervened, as Armadale showed signs of losing his temper. “What costume was Mr. Foss wearing on the night of the masked ball? You must know that.”
X: The Shot in the Clearing
Friendship doesn’t come into these affairs, Inspector.
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The business of the police is to get hold of the murderer, whoever he may be.
Friendship doesn’t come into these affairs, Inspector.
So kindly don’t suspect me of anything of that kind in future. You know what I mean; I needn’t put it into words.”
A man can only be in one place at once, if you follow me. And if he’s not there, then he must be here.
Show the passage
“I should say that was indisputable, if not certain,” commented Sir Clinton, with a return of his faintly chaffing manner. “
A man can only be in one place at once, if you follow me. And if he’s not there, then he must be here.
”
Even the police can’t know everything, you see.
Show the passage
“It’s news to me, Mold, I’m afraid.
Even the police can’t know everything, you see.
Now before you go I want something more from you. That night when you were on guard in the museum, you remember. Do you recall seeing anyone there at any time during the evening dressed in cowboy clothes?
XIII: The Otophone
There’s nothing like a good authoritative lie for shaking confidence,
Show the passage
“
There’s nothing like a good authoritative lie for shaking confidence,
” Sir Clinton observed, mildly. “That’s your share in the business. You’d better mention it at breakfast time to as many people as you can;
XIV: The Second Chase in the Woods
What you need, Inspector, is a touch of fantasy.
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“You take things too seriously,” Sir Clinton retorted, with an evident double meaning in the phrase. “
What you need, Inspector, is a touch of fantasy.
You’ll get a taste of it tonight, perhaps, unless my calculations go far astray. Now I’m going to ring up Mr. Chacewater and make arrangements for tonight.”
XV: Sir Clinton’s Solution
Foss was a poor little creature, hardly better than a rabbit in the big jungle of crime.
Show the passage
“
Foss was a poor little creature, hardly better than a rabbit in the big jungle of crime.
And the other two were something quite different: carnivores, beasts of prey. They’d picked him out simply on account of his one miserable talent: his little trick of legerdemain. He was only a tool, poor beggar, and he knew it.
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