J. S. Fletcher

Name: The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street
Author: J. S. Fletcher

The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

Summary

“The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street”, published in 1922, is a work by J. S. Fletcher. It explores elements such as Millwaters, Perkwite and Carless.

Quotes from The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (J. S. Fletcher)

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Portlethwaite knew well enough that to put him on a trail was equivalent to putting a hound on the scent of a fox or a terrier to the run of a rat. And that evening, Millwaters, who had clever ways of his own, made himself well acquainted with the so-called Mr. Cave's appearance, and assured himself that his man had gone peacefully to rest at his hotel, and he had seen him again before breakfast next morning and had been in quiet and unobtrusive attendance upon him when, later, he visited Methley's office and subsequently walked away with Methley to the police-court. ”

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J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Perkwite drew away from the window, pulling Millwaters by the sleeve.
"Careful!" he said. "There's something seriously wrong here, Millwaters! What's Miss Wickham being brought down here for? See, they've gone into that surgery, and the car's going off. Look here—we've got to do something, and at once!"
But Millwaters shook his head.
"Not my job, Mr. Perkwite!" he answered. "My business is with the man—Cave! I've nothing to do with Miss Wickham, sir, nor with the old lady that's taken her in there. Cave's my mark! Queer that the young lady's gone there, no doubt, but—no affair of mine." ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Perkwite—don't seem to be watching anything. We're just going in for a bottle of ale, and talking business together.
"Whatever you recommend," said Perkwite.
He followed his companion down the street to the tavern, a joyless and shabby place, the bar-parlour of which, a dark and smoke-stained room was just then empty, and looked over its torn half-blind across the way.
"Certainly a queer place for a man who professes to be a peer of the realm to visit!" he muttered. "Well, now, what do you propose to do, Millwaters?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Perkwite!" he said. "To get police into a quarter like this is as bad as putting a light to dry straw. I'll tell you a better plan than that, sir—find the nearest telephone-box and call up our people—call Mr. Carless, tell him what you've seen and get him to come down and bring somebody with him. That'll be far better than calling the police in."
"Give me your telephone-number, then," said Perkwite, "and keep a strict watch while I'm away."
Millwaters repeated some figures and a letter, and Perkwite ran off up the street and toward the Whitechapel Road, anxiously seeking for a telephone booth. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Do you know, in spite of what you say, I really think we ought to get hold of the nearest police and tell them—"
"Wait, Mr. Perkwite!" counselled Millwaters. "Our governor is a pretty cute and smart sort, and he's vastly interested in this Miss Wickham; so Portlethwaite and he'll be on their way down here now, hot foot; and with help, too, if he thinks she's in any danger. Now, he can go straight to that door and demand to see her, and—"
"Why can't we?" interrupted Perkwite. "I'd do it! ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ Portlethwaite, after Methley and his client had left Carless and Driver's office, had given certain instructions to one of his fellow-clerks, a man named Millwaters, in whose prowess as a spy he had unlimited belief. Millwaters was a fellow of experience. He possessed all the qualities of a sleuth-hound and was not easily baffled in difficult adventures. In his time he had watched erring husbands and doubtful wives ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. S. Fletcher, The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (1922)

“ He drew Perkwite over to the window and began to whisper, "That'll satisfy him," he said with a sharp glance at the little room behind the hatch where the landlord was drawing corks. "He'll think we're doing a bit of trade, so we've nothing to do but stand in this window and keep an eye on the street. ”

J. S. Fletcher

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Quotes from The Middle of Things — XXVI. The Dismal Street (J. S. Fletcher)

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