Edgar Wallace

“ It interfered with your little scheme, didn't it, Meister? You might have found a less drastic way of clearing me out."
Meister's smile was a blend of pity and amusement.
"Johnny, you're talking nonsense," he said. "A little rest will do you good, anyway. Came out too soon, did you? And now you're going into the country—alone!"
"That will do, Meister." Wembury caught him by the arm and jerked him back angrily. "I am not going to allow you to jeer at a man in trouble. He's going to the country alone, but while Mary Lenley is in London and I am here, she is not alone—do you understand that?" ”

“ Let Atkins stay in the house with you; he can sleep in your study."
Meister shot a queer glance at him.
"Yes—but not to-night."
The slow, sly smile came back to his face.
"I shan't be alone to-night."
There was a pause.
"You won't, eh?" said Alan Wembury softly. "You're having a friend to stay with you?"
"That's it—a very good friend—if promises mean anything."
"A man friend?" The searching eyes were on the lawyer's face. ”

“ The lawyer started to say something, but with an impatient wave of his hand:
"Let me alone. I don't want to quarrel with you. A man has got to find his happiness where he can. You haven't adopted—a certain person, have you?"
Wembury nodded, and the next second turned his face to the door.
"There he is again!" It was Lomond; he was pointing up the street. Meister gripped the arm of the detective.
"Who is it?"
"He's been watching the station ever since Meister came in," said Lomond, and with a scream of terror the lawyer's knees doubled up under him ”

“ CHAPTER XV SHE came towards him, and from the pallor of her face and her obvious distress he thought that she had discovered her brother's plans.
"May I see you, please?" she said breathlessly. "Alone. I want to talk." ”

“ He's been hanging round all the evening.... This fat man is going to die in one of these fits."
Happily there was a little wash place in Wembury's room, and running water. As the doctor swabbed the face of the unconscious man and tore off his collar, he proceeded to enlarge upon the psychology of conscience.
"Meister has evidently done something particularly bad in the past," he said, and Alan knew it was useless to agree or disagree, so brought the doctor back to the subject of the mysterious watcher."What was he like?" ”