Sax Rohmer

“ You see, I had not arrived at the Abbey at the time of the man's death.” And the speaker's glance became introspective, as though he were contemplating some new idea which had just occurred to him.
“Altogether, it's a funny house,” continued the inspector. “Of course, Mr. Van Dean is an American gentleman, and very eccentric. But how Mrs. Moody can go on living there beats me. Still, I'm here if I'm wanted. I expect to be wanted very soon.” ”

“ We had a special man put on duty at his place—the Abbey. What happened?” The inspector took a drink and answered his own question. “Scotland Yard instructs us to take him off! And what's the result? Here's this poor fellow the coroner's just been sitting on, comes and dies right there in the Abbey shrubbery!” ”

“ A group of farm laborers homeward bound had collected in the porch of the old inn, to gather news of the excitement which had come to stir the life of this sleepy Norfolk village. The jurymen, conscious of their prestige, nodded distantly to acquaintances and entered the bar parlor to drink the traditional pint with the landlord. ”