Barry Pain

“ But a clever criminal is as ready to take advantage of a sudden opportunity as to work on a pre-conceived plan, though he may prefer the plan. There seemed to be no prospect of my finding out any more than the police had done, and after all detective business has no attractions for me. I carefully memorised the numbers of the missing notes—there were six of £100 and one of £50—in case some unprincipled person might attempt to get me to change any of them. ”

“ The lady had given the name of Miss Endelwode—the clerk had had some difficulty in spelling it—and the number of her room was 127. The notes were those which had been stolen from Gladden, the bank messenger. I had read the numbers at a glance as the clerk wrote them down. It is quite easy to read upside-down writing with a little practice. On my lonely walk I examined the lady's handkerchief. It was of exquisite quality, perfumed with Russian leather, and bore in one corner the initials E. E.
In the case of a man or, indeed, of most women, my course would have been clear enough. ”

“ I left fourteen hundred louis at the bureau before dinner."
"Then you have been gambling."
"I have. This morning my position was terrible; I could see ruin closing a lean paw on my neck. I had had hints from the hotel people—and something more than hints. I heard the gossip of the hotel servants from my faithful Jeanne. I have no valuable jewels, and I do not travel in great state. The marvel of marvels is that I have been allowed to go on so long. I had to do something this morning to restore my credit. There were the bank-notes in their case, locked away in my dressing-bag. ”

“ A professional would have had a plan; the assailant clearly had none, for he could not have told that the train would stop just outside Charing Cross, or that, if the train did stop, Gladden would put his head out of the window. A professional would not have taken absurd and unnecessary risks ”

“ My father went up to my uncle's lodgings in London, attended the funeral, and arranged matters generally. My uncle had been a constant source of trouble and expense to my father, and I think my father felt the death rather as a relief than as a sorrow. ”