Quotes from Gladys Mitchell

In a sense, all murderers are lunatics. Killing is a not a sane reaction to the circumstances of life.

I am a congenital liar. Some Highlanders are. To my ancestors, the truth was so sacred as to be unusable.

What about Kost, sir? He's a foreigner, you know." "Yes," said the inspector, allowing to pass unchallenged the usual English implication that foreigners are always either lunatics or criminals or both, "but the motive?

Well," continued Hilary, "it felt like somebody's face! You know when you play water polo, and you push a chap's face with your foot—" "What sort of water polo do you play, for heaven's sake?" asked Richard Cowes.

She wants to see the children before she dies," pronounced his wife. "Poor thing. I expect she's very lonely and unhappy right out there in the country. Write back quickly, dear, and tell her how very welcome she is." "I'd better tip the boys the wink to be civil to her," said Godfrey, pursuing a different train of thought. "Her money's got to be left somewhere, and she was never one to be fond of cats.

replaced the cigarette, took a plate of kidneys and bacon from the maid, and accepted a piece of bread from a plate proffered by Hilary.

John MacKechnie's Gaelic Without Groans

rampole isn't here and nobody knows when she'll be back

There are several advanced classes in the university of liars. Golfers and fishermen rank very high in the sporting grades

said Mrs Bradley, looking like a benevolent alligator and then suddenly screeching like a slightly demented macaw.

But, whereas bricklayers' trowels are hard to come by, the humble fish-slice resides in every well-conducted home,' said Mrs. Bradley, hooting with mirth.

Daphne, who, of course, is full of the milk of human kindness and drips it about rather after the manner of a punctured cocoanut — that is to say, where it is neither expected nor desired.

Richard, having modestly but effectually scored the minimum number for the purpose, was in process of deciding whether a green or a canary-coloured Fluffy Hussy should be his boon companion for the rest of the day.

Mrs. Bradley herself kept out of the invalid's way for almost the whole of the fortnight. This was partly for the invalid's sake, but largely for her own.

It is a humiliating fact that at nineteen the keenest sorrows have a habit of yielding, with uncanny readiness, to the soothing effects of excitement and a change of scene. It is a sound instinct, after all, which takes the rejected lover to the wilds to shoot hippopotami and lions. Even the female of the species—not of hippopotami and lions—can obtain a considerable amount of balm from driving along the Great North Road at eighty miles an hour.

but her gaze, although reminiscent of a serpent's unwinking watchfulness, was urbane.

I am bubbled, I'm bubbled, O how I am troubled! Bamboozled and bit, my distresses are doubled!" John Gay

The Police Are Continuing Their Investigation," he said, with capital letters in his voice.

When he had disconnected the pump and tested the tyre with thumb and forefinger, he stood the bicycle upright against the side of the house and replied tersely: "Brighton. Club test. By the way, did my white sweater get washed last week?" "How should I know?" said Celia. "I don't look after your things. Better go and ask Mum.