Ripley, at this point still developing the skills that will carry him through several more adventures, instinctively knows that the best way to lie is to admit to lying, and to tell the truth whenever convenient. When Dickie asks him what his talents are, he replies, “Forging signatures, telling lies, and impersonating almost anyone.” Quite true. And then he does a chilling impersonation of Mr. Greenleaf asking him to bring Dickie back to America. “I feel like he’s here,” Dickie says, as Tom does his father’s voice. By confessing his mission, Tom disarms Dickie, and is soon accepted into his
...more
