Richard Austin Freeman

Name: The Adventures of Romney Pringle — V. The Paste Diamonds
Author: Richard Austin Freeman

The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

Summary

“The Adventures of Romney Pringle — V. The Paste Diamonds”, published in 1902, is a work by Richard Austin Freeman. It explores elements such as Pringle, Percy and Israels.

Quotes from The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (Richard Austin Freeman)

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ Israels had paid over that afternoon. A cloud slipped off the moon, and he counted them feverishly. One hundred and four tens, and twenty-three twenties. To seize them, and return the empty wallet to its owner's pocket was the work of a moment more. For the second time, and still unknown to Percy, had Pringle bested him; he might be forgiven the contemptuous smile with which he regarded his prostrate adversary. The snores still reverberated through the darkness, as he strode over the mountainous body, and out on to the balcony. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ As he held it up towards his companion, Pringle involuntarily grasped his own pocket to satisfy himself of the safety of the facsimile, so accurately did the two match in every particular. As for the Jew, from his gloating gaze, and the fondling gesture with which he handled it, the sight was one to rouse his utmost cupidity.
At length, as the other made no movement, but continued to stare, Percy broke the silence.
"Now then, Israels, what do you say?"
"Dey are very fair stones."
"Fair! 'Fair', do you call them? You don't see such stones as they are every day, nor yet every year!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ Percy, with a condescending air, counted the notes over again, whistling carelessly the while, then turning to Israels—
"Well, old stick-in-the-mud!" he said graciously, "I'll stand you a dinner. Yes, by Jingo! at the Weimar! There's nothing eatable to be got here. And then we'll go to the Diergaarden—it's slow, but it's the only thing to do in this cursed place."
"You are doo kind, Misdare Winder," sniggered the diamond-merchant, as he retired with the precious handbag.
The clock was nearing five when Pringle descended to the frowsy dining-room and reserved a seat for the table d'hôte. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ Your brother Percy—have you heard anything of him lately?"
"As you say, it is a painful subject! In return for nothing but kindness from me, to not only make me appear insane, but to nearly drive me so in reality! You know, Mr. Pringle, no one better, what I suffered. I don't think I'm a vindictive man, but I feel that I cannot, at all events at present, hold any communication with him. My cousin saw him recently. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ There was a pause in the conversation, and Pringle stepped gingerly towards the sun-blind. He did not advance too closely, but contented himself with an occasional glance between the hinges, which afforded him a very fair view of the room. Windrush was partially undressing, so as to remove a wash-leather packet which hung next his skin by a cord round the neck. Ripping it open with a pocketknife, he removed several layers of tissue-paper, and finally a mass of cotton wool surrounding a diamond-star. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ But the sudden closing of a door near by, and a few words spoken in English broke the spell, and once again focused his thoughts on Percy Windrush.
"So here you are at last! I thought you'd have been here before me." The voice sounded through the next window, which must have been open, although its wooden sun-blind stood half across the balcony and effectually concealed it.
"Ma tear Mishdare Winder! It is a long, long way to come. I am poor man, and de hotel egspenche is great."
"Yes, I know all about that. I know you're the richest poor man in Amsterdam. Have you taken a room here?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ The contest merged into an East-End picturesqueness of abuse, when one of the men, espying an elderly lady possessed of a large quantity of luggage as yet unappropriated, abruptly raised the siege, and dropping the bag, went in pursuit of this more desirable client.
The appearance of the traveller was commonplace enough, but, as he moved off under the wing of the victorious porter, Pringle felt certain he had seen him before, and not so very long ago either. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ It was from the next chamber that the sounds of discord arose, and setting his door ajar, the better to hear, he commenced a leisurely toilet to the accompaniment of an acrimonious duet.
"What d'you want to wake me up for with your infernal row?" growled a deep bass, in farcical contrast to the falsetto of its interlocutor.
"Gij hebt mij bezwendeld! Hets altemaal fopperij!! Ik zal gij voor den vrederegter doen verschijnen!!!" ("You have swindled me! These are rubbish!! I will have you brought before the justice of the peace!!!") ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ Well now, a cousin of mine lives near me; her husband is head of one of the oldest families in our county, and I have always been on very affectionate terms with her. Well, I'm sorry to say she has lately got in with a rather fast set, and being in pressing need of about a thousand pounds, she took a very fine diamond star, which is a sort of family heirloom, to some West-end jewellers who do that sort of thing, and got an advance, and as she didn't want her husband to know anything about it, she got these people to make her a facsimile in paste. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ But the bag would hardly have been unlocked in that case. Could Percy have gone one better than the Jew, and have handed them to the landlord for safe keeping? One more look round. Pringle tried the drawers in the rickety dressing-table. They were empty of all but dust and fluff; of course no one but a lunatic would have put them there—or a drunkard! Stay, what about his pockets? A wallet would be too large to be concealed very easily. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Austin Freeman, The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (1902)

“ Gij hebt mij bezwendeld!"
"You're mad then!" roared the bass with a hail of expletives.
"You are a pig-dog!" returned the falsetto, and to judge from an intermittent bouncing on the floor, he resumed his saltatory exercise.
"Let me see the (adjective) thing." A pause. "Well, what's all the fuss about?"
"Dey are paste! Give back my money."
"Paste be damned!"
"My money! I will call de police!"
"Here, take your money! I'll sell 'em to a man who knows good stuff when he sees it. Why, where the—" Another pause. Then suddenly the bass thundered, "You infernal Jew, you've robbed me!" ”

Richard Austin Freeman

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Quotes from The Adventures of Romney Pringle… (Richard Austin Freeman)

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