Hart's slow drawl was ever trenchant and witty, and Grant forgot his woes in congenial company.

As for the mercurial detective himself, it might be said of him as of the school-master of Auburn: And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew.
It was he who dropped them with a bounce from the realm of fancy to the unpleasing region of ugly fact.

No sooner had Minnie cleared the table, and brought in the coffee, than he whisked around on Grant as though hitherto he had been only awaiting an opportunity of scarifying him.
"Now," he said, propping an elbow on the table, and supporting his chin on a clenched fist, "the embargo is off the Steynholme affair.

_You_ didn't kill Adelaide Melhuish, Mr.Grant.Who did ?" "I wish I could tell you," was the emphatic answer.
"Do you suspect anybody?
You needn't fear the libel law in confiding your secret thought to me, and I assume that Mr.Hart is trustworthy--where his friends are concerned ?" "Why that unkind differentiating clause, my pocket Vidocq ?" put in Hart.
"Because two Kings and a baker's dozen of Presidents have, at various times, sent most unflattering reports to this country about you." "I must have annoyed 'em most damnably." "You had.

I congratulate you, but Heaven only knows where I may convoy you some day on an extradition warrant....Proceed, Mr.Grant." "I assure you, on my honor, that the only reasonable suggestion I can make is that put forward by my gardener to-day," said Grant.