Edgar Wallace

“ Smith was in such a state of apprehension that he twice mislaid the millionaire to watch whose comings and goings was his duty. In that period two things occurred which worried him. The first was the absence from town of Stephanie. Cæsar mentioned casually that she had gone up to Scotland for a couple of days, and seemed on the whole relieved by her absence. And then Mr. Ross confined himself to his room and refused to come out and be watched. That did not worry Smith greatly, except that he thought it was extraordinary. ”

“ Smith was grave. “At any moment you, the artist in slaughter, are liable to be arrested for a very vulgar, common assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, if I may employ the stilted phraseology of an indictment.”
Cæsar shook his head. “He will not take action. I tell you the man is fanatical. He is satisfied in his mind that some day he will kill me, and nothing less than killing me will please him.”
“Better you than me,” said Smith. “You would be well advised to go careful, Mr. Cæsar Valentine. You can't play those monkey tricks in England and get away with 'em. ”

“ He spends his time running about up and down the country. He's away for long periods. Moreover—and this is important—he has been visiting the gaols.”
“As a boarder?” asked Smith flippantly, but Cæsar was in no mood for jests.
“I told you that I was pretty well informed as to what happened at Scotland Yard. As a matter of fact, when Hallett, the chief of the criminal intelligence bureau, gave his instructions to the mysterious Number Six, there was a man of mine planted in the library, which was the next room. ”