Sax Rohmer

“ I don't think he is coming, lad. Pass that tin of tobacco. We have half an hour to wait. Let's forget my dark horse of the Arcade for the time being, and revert to the other matter which we were discussing."
Torrington raised the lid of the tin and began to fill his briar, staring at Carey the while; then:
"To be blunt," he said, "are you or are you not going down to Low Ketley?"
"I am not," Carey replied, without hesitation.
"Then you're a fool!" Torrington cried. "You are worse than a fool; you are failing in your plain duty." ”

“ Carey nodded. "The time is up! What shall we do?"
"I reply without a moment's hesitation," said Torrington. "Open the parcel! Here are mysteries enough, some of them dangerous. You and I would be twin fools to allow ourselves to become involved in another, blindfolded."
At that he swooped down upon the little packet, untied the string with which it was fastened, and revealed a cardboard box which at some time had contained twenty cigarettes of a popular brand. He was about to lift the lid when he paused again, listening. ”

“ First case: you dream of the grey face, and the dream corresponds with an unaccountable loss of consciousness and an even more serious personal loss—that of your report. Second: a half-caste woman, a woman, so far as we are aware, of no importance whatever in the scheme of things, dreams of the grey face (for this can- not have been a coincidence, Carey) , and her dream corresponds with her death. ”

“ Now you"—he pointed again in his vigorous fashion—"whilst admittedly excellent with a midnight lamp and an efficient service of wet towels, are less successful as the Man on the Spot. I admit it isn't your job ”