Edgar Wallace

“ Harrap drooped.
"I shouldn't say so. I've never seen Mr. Wembury drink beer. Bless your life, sir, one policeman's enough. Who's going to break into this house to-night—why, there ain't a man outside of a lunatic asylum who'd attempt to come here. The man who killed Mr. Meister's miles away by now."
"Do you think so?" The doctor seemed comforted by this official assurance.
Wembury came in soon after and sent Harrap down to the door. ”

“ The Ringer might be working single-handed; on the other hand, he might have a friend or two. He imparted his fears to the doctor when he returned.
"If he's single-handed, then the danger is in this house."
"Here?" asked Lomond, in a startled voice.
"Here," said Alan curtly. "Don't forget this: if the only possible way the Ringer could escape justice was by destroying half the people of London, they would be dead!"
Thump!
The two men looked at one another. There was nobody in this house except the officer. Again Constable Harrap's quiet pipe was interrupted; he was called into the room. ”

“ The doctor opened his bag on the table, took out a long knife and balanced it on the palm of his hand.
"In India, where the knife is a popular instrument of destruction, an experienced assassin can tell at a glance whether the holder of a knife is an amateur or a professional. I don't profess to be an experienced assassin, but I've learnt enough from these people to enable me to judge from the direction of the stroke whether the blow was intentional or accidental. There is no doubt"—he seated himself beside Alan—"there is no doubt whatever that the blow that killed Peter the Nose was designed. ”

“ She smiled wearily. "Yes, that's a pretty foolish proposition, isn't it? No, I feel I ought to be somewhere around—in the danger zone. I suppose you'll be pinching me if I give you any trouble, and maybe if I don't! ”