H. B. Marriott Watson

“ After all Norroy was indefensible, which was one of the absurd reasons why I liked him. I feebly countered, as she would not admit broader principles.
"A good-natured easy-going man sometimes suffers from his extreme popularity."
"No man has a right to be popular at the expense of others," pronounced Miss Fuller, hardly. ”

“ I said with a neat bow.
"I say, Brabazon, that beast of a fox terrier has ruined my— Oh, how d'ye do, Miss Harvey?"
Norroy's head had protruded through the door half-way through his complaint, and his face broadened in a grin.
"Are you ready?" she asked lightly.
"Eustace, we must explain," I said, and while he was getting his eye-glass fixed, I turned to her. "The fact is, Miss Harvey, the enemy has got through."
"What do you mean?" she asked startled.
"A man has gained admission to the Castle, and is hiding somewhere. We 're sure of that, but we can't find him. It's getting warm." ”

“ Broad day found us still searching, and searching in vain. We had exhausted the inhabited parts of the house, and attacked now the east wing in which the chambers were for the most part destitute of furniture. A few old tapestries covered the walls here and there, and occasionally we came upon a battered chest into which we peeped suspiciously. But no sign of the intruder was to be discovered. We rested at length, dusty, hot, tired and, speaking for myself, cross. Poor Jackman sat on a box nd wiped a beady face with a dirty duster.
"He's beat us, sir," he said in a melancholy voice. ”

“ He was a rascal, but then, you see, he had the reward of his defects, for he was interesting; he had arrested Miss Isabel's wondering eyes.
I demurred. "One never knows other people's temptation," I said, "and one ought n't to turn oneself into a little Day-of-judgment all to oneself." ”

“ I assured him. "If you 'll only be discreet, you 're as safe here as in the Bank of England! But, mind you, Norroy, you 've got to act warily while this fox is in the house. Jackman and I will start on a systematic hunt after breakfast."
"Look here, I 've got an idea," said Sir Gilbert, brightly. "Why not get in a dog?"
"A good thought," I cried. "We can raise one in the village, I dare say."
"Let's ask Jackman. Damn it, if there was time I could get half a dozen from town."
Jackman, interrogated, knew of a man with a smart fox terrier, which breed seemed to meet with his master's approval ”

“ The morning-room, as I have explained, lay to the front of the Castle, and had doors upon either side communicating with different parts of the house. A third door opened widely on the lawn, and upon each side of it were long low embrasured windows, to which a dado of oak extended, and which was furnished with old oak window-seats of a capacious interior. In one of these retreats Norroy talked with Miss Harvey. For the reputed owner of the Castle I was being unconscionably neglected, and I was forced more or less back on the attentions of Mr. ”