Ralph Stock

Name: The Peepshow
Author: Ralph Stock

The Peepshow (1922)

Summary

“The Peepshow”, published in 1922, is a work by Ralph Stock. It explores elements such as Felisi, Luana and Morgan.

Quotes from The Peepshow (Ralph Stock)

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ The other said nothing, but carefully lowered a round, compact bundle from his shoulder to the ground, and sat upon it.
At this juncture Felisi, who had watched their advent from the doorway of her father's house, saw fit to make her presence known; and a very engaging presence it was, consisting of five feet two inches and fourteen years of bronze femininity, lithe and upstanding like a boy, clad in her best sulu, a red hibiscus blossom, and a dazzling smile. But what would you? It is not for nothing that one is the eldest daughter of the chief of a village like Luana. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ At the pile of mats it paused, kneeling, peering, outstretching an arm. It was a hesitant shadow even now, and not without cause, for in its gropings under the mats its arm became suddenly transfixed, and in a moment the guest-house was a chaos of struggling men.
But it did not last long. Morgan was infinitely the stronger. With a wrench he was free and away, the bundle under his arm, his partner, a gaunt, dishevelled figure, stumbling impotently in his wake. Felisi watched them go—down through the moon-mottled fringes of the palm grove and out on to the beach. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ The curtain was rung down on the first act of Felisi's peepshow. But there was still the bundle.
Within five minutes she knew what it contained, and, like a dutiful daughter, made a report to her father.
"They have come far, and are very tired," she told him, squatting in her proper place at the doorway.
The Chief of Luana looked up from a litter of meaningless papers, and fixed Felisi with his official frown. He was a quaint little man, who, under pretence of being eternally busy, did nothing whatever. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ Felisi nodded and retired, whereupon the tall man drew a battered pouch from his pocket and thoughtfully filled his pipe.
"Look here, Morgan," he said, "it's about time you and I understood one another."
"I'm on," agreed Morgan.
"We're partners," the other continued slowly, "until we sell and divide the proceeds; there's no avoiding that. But there's no need to hide the fact that we dislike each other pretty thoroughly, is there?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ Felisi wriggled in delicious self-consciousness on the mats.
"Oh, cut it out, Slade," interposed Morgan. They don't want thanks. Don't understand 'em. They look after us for the honour of the thing. Pleases the chief, and all that. As long as we are looked after, what does it matter who does it, or why? You make me tired. Hi, Mary, some more taro, lively!"
"Will you go to the Chief of Luana," continued the tall man, as though the other had not spoken, "and convey to him our thanks?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ Undoubtedly the third act had been a success. It only remained to supply a fitting climax, which she proceeded to do by combing her hair, and taking from its hiding-place a bundle wrapped in weather-worn sacking. This she carried down to the beach, that it might be the first thing her patient's eyes should rest upon.
Unfortunately, the more telling phase of the climax was perforce enacted "off," when somewhere and at some time an exactly similar bundle was exultantly unwrapped, exposing to view a congealed mass of Luana's good red clay. But you cannot have it both ways, even in a peepshow. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ Her father's eyes goggled at her over the typewriter.
"Ambergris!" he repeated in an awed undertone.
"Yes. It is one hundred pounds for a piece no bigger than a pigeon's egg in Suva. I have seen."
And the Chief of Luana knew this to be so. For a while his brow was creased by a myriad wrinkles, which signified that he was trying to think; then he waved Felisi from the presence. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ They have not spoken. They are asleep."
"Have they many cigars and much wisiky?"
"They have nothing," said Felisi, "except——"
The Chief of Luana had intended to smite the wicker table after the fashion of the Native Commissioner when exasperated, but, instead, his wrist caught the typewriter keys, causing several bars to rear on end and unite in a tangled mass. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ralph Stock, The Peepshow (1922)

“ Slade shook his head wearily.
"If that's being a sport, I've finished with sport," he said. "I've had too many little fortunes within cooee and lost them, to do the same with this. I'm afraid to take the chance, if you like. ”

Ralph Stock

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Quotes from The Peepshow (Ralph Stock)

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