Arthur Conan
Arthur Conan
burst came chosen deadly four hard journey knaves later men minute nerves passed past rode saw sickness sitting terrible
A minute later the bailiff and four of his men rode past him on their journey back to Southampton, the other two having been chosen as grave-diggers. As they passed Alleyne saw that one of the men was wiping his sword-blade upon the mane of his horse. A deadly sickness came over him at the sight, and sitting down by the wayside he burst out weeping, with his nerves all in a jangle. It was a terrible world thought he, and it was hard to know which were the most to be dreaded, the knaves or the men of the law.
absurd brought came caused dead delirious despair fairly happiness happy heavy keen life money neither nor profit state struggling time wish
You know that he came into his uncle's money a little time ago, and after a first delirious outbreak, he has now relapsed into that dead heavy state of despair which is caused by having everything which one can wish for. How absurd are the ambitions of life when I think that I, who am fairly happy and as keen as a razor edge, should be struggling for that which I can see has brought neither profit nor happiness to him!
abbey arms cellar curse droop eyes god great green grey house land lay left listen night pile power raised stones swept until within
Listen to me while I lay a curse upon you and yours! she cries, as she raised her shriveled arms and blighted him with her flashing eyes: ""As you have done to the house of Loring, so may God do to you, until your power is swept from the land of England, and of your great Abbey of Waverley there is nothing left but a pile of grey stones in a green meadow! I see it! With my old eyes I see it! From scullion to abbot and from cellar to tower, may Waverley and all within it droop and wither from this night on!
inquiry listen mostly people pocket private sent trouble
They are mostly sent on by private inquiry agencies. They are all people who are in trouble about something, and want a little enlightening. I listen to their story, they listen to my comments, and then I pocket my fee.
acquired allow analysis aspects attain begin elementary exercise faculties glance greatest highest history learn life mastering matter meeting mental moral mortal nor patient perfection possible present profession science teaches trade turning
Like all other arts, the science of deduction and analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches one where to look and what to look for.
contrast doubt memory nature soul spring sweetest torn within
It is the sweetest spring within the memory of man. So green, so mild, so beautiful! Ah, what a contrast between nature without and my own soul so torn with doubt and terror!
capable fine heights nature rising sinking
I am much mistaken, however, if he has not fine strata in his nature. He is capable of rising to heights as well as of sinking to depths.
became conversation feels foul height man surely white
At last, however, his conversation became unbearable--a foul young man is odious, but a foul old one is surely the most sickening thing on earth. One feels that the white upon the hair, like that upon the mountain, should signify a height attained.
count man might scale small stage strike throwing weight
Even on this small stage we have our two sides, and something might be done by throwing all one's weight on the scale of breadth, tolerance, charity, temperance, peace, and kindliness to man and beast. We can't all strike very big blows, and even the little ones count for something.
dark face lips lofty looked majesty moment pressed rare shallow soul
Nigel looked at her with sparkling eyes. The soul which shone through her dark face had transformed it for the moment into a beauty, more lofty and more rare than that of her shallow sister. He bowed before the majesty of the woman, and pressed his lips to her hand.
god hold kindly pray thank
So they lived, these men, in their own lusty, cheery fashion--rude and rough, but honest, kindly and true. Let us thank God if we have outgrown their vices. Let us pray to God that we may ever hold their virtues.
aversion father marked men
Our father would never tell us what it was he feared, but he had a most marked aversion to men with wooden legs.
appear consent difficulty failed grasp hour intelligence isolated named needs quote sentence shall understanding
You quote an isolated sentence from my lecture, and appear to have some difficulty in understanding it. I should have thought that only a sub-human intelligence could have failed to grasp the point, but if it really needs amplification I shall consent to see you at the hour named . . .
dear dog game leave
You see, dear heart, said he, ""that they will not leave the old dog in his kennel when the game is afoot.