W. Pett Ridge

“ The white shaft of light from his lantern waved round and settled on the Velasquez. "I'm a bit of a art lover myself, and——"
"Why," interrupted Miss Ballard, "you're not in uniform!"
"Well, I know that. Can't a 'tec dress in plain clothes?"
"But you don't, somehow, look like a 'tec."
"That's the cunning part of it," he said. "There ain't a better man at making up in all Scotland Yard than Robert Warkins." ”

“ I 've got something better to do than bother my head about a pack of grinning——"
"Because if she had," said Sir Benjamin to his daughter, "she would have had to understand that he mustn't come hanging around here. I hope they all clearly comprehend that."
"I think they ought, papa. We are always reminding them of it."
"Anything else, Miss."
"No, Ballard. Make the acquaintance of the others, and try to work as quietly as you can and avoid all disturbance."
"You trust me, Miss, for that. I don't suppose a more amiable person than me has ever been born on this earth ”

“ Civility," added Cook, with some severity, "civility becomes us all."
The house was late that night in retiring to rest. Several visitors called after dinner to see the Velasquez, and a South African person had offered Sir Benjamin a thousand pounds over and above the amount paid for the picture. At Sir Benjamin's express directions, his daughter locked the door very carefully, and placed the key on her bunch, and Miss Ballard took the key off' the bunch with the dexterity that practice brings. ”