The Theft of the Iron Dogs Quotes

“You’re jumping at conclusions. What I want to know is the process of detection in detail, step by step.” “I’m afraid that it doesn’t always work out like that, Mrs. Hoggett,” rejoined Macdonald. “I try to emulate scientific method. In actual fact I often resemble one of the less methodical birds—say, a starling—who hops about picking up other birds’ food and imitating their voices. In a narrative like this, I tend to make the detective method much more orderly than it is in actual fact, because I omit the irrelevant and the unsuccessful gropings.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, The Theft of the Iron Dogs

“As he walked over the sour grass toward the house, he found himself leading a procession; two hens, one of them almost bald, three ducks, and a goose in a bad way followed him hopefully; then the goat joined in.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake

“Have you got a hot toddy in that cottage of yours?” “No, I haven’t and I’d say you don’t need one,” retorted Hoggett. “You’re a rotten runner anyway. You can have a cup of tea and get dry while you’re explaining why I shouldn’t get you certified.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake

“The harvest moon was just past the full, and it seemed to sail overhead in a sea of luminous iridescence, due to the vaporous clouds in the high steely vault of the sky.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake

“Mrs. Hoggett would make a good witness, thought Macdonald. She only said she was certain of a thing when she really was certain, and she added chapter and verse with exemplary clarity. A judge would appreciate Mrs. Hoggett, meditated the C.I.D. man but the jury would like her husband.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake

“John Staple turned round with an inquiring “Eh…?” that aggregate of vowels uttered in such varying tones by all good Lancastrians, and quite inimitable to the southerner.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake

“None of your cows has any feeling for discipline,” murmured Katherine.”
― E.C.R. Lorac, Murderer's Mistake