The Case of the Indian Curse Quotes

“What are you planning to tell your mother about all this when you get home, Andrew?”
“I don’t see any need to tell her anything.”
“You don’t? What do you say when she asks where you’ve been all day?”
“Why,” said Sara cheerfully, “we were on a boat trip on the canal. It was very interesting and instructive. We learned something about dustmen and dust yards and about Indian religions. But, best of all, we met a police officer from India who turned out to be a good friend of Beasley’s as well as the inspector’s and whom he’ll almost certainly invite to dinner.”
“Isn’t there a folk saying about teaching one’s grandmother to suck eggs?” said Captain Ross with a smile.
“There is,” said Wyatt. “And the interesting part of it is that every word of what she said is true.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“But it wasn’t our fault,” said Sara.
“Of course not,” said Wyatt scathingly. “You were on board the launch for a tour of the canal system, which leaves London Bridge every hour on the hour!”
“You’re being sarcastic because you’re angry,” said Andrew patiently, “but it really wasn’t our fault. We were on the launch because we’d been kidnapped.”
“Kidnapped where and when?”
“At Beasley’s shop this morning.”
“What were you doing there?”
“Looking for Sean.”
“Why?”
Andrew hesitated, glancing at Sara. They were standing just outside the warehouse—he, Sara, Wyatt, Beasley, and, somewhat surprisingly, Captain Clemson. The reason he hesitated was that Wyatt might have a right to be angry at this point.
And then, again surprisingly, Clemson spoke up. “Excuse me, inspector,” he said. “I don’t want to interfere, but they weren’t on the launch of their own free will. The Indians had them in the house and brought them along.”
“Is he a friend of yours?” Sara asked Wyatt, looking at Clemson.
“In a way,” said Wyatt. “But he seems to be a friend of yours, too, trying to find excuses for your being in a place where you shouldn’t have been."
“Look, we all know why you’re so angry, inspector,” said Beasley. “It’s because you like this pair of rapscallions—as who doesn’t—and you were worried about them. But I suspect things wouldn’t have worked out as nicely as they did if it wasn’t for them. I’ll bet they were the ones who spotted us from the house.”
“You don’t say! And what do you want me to do about it—give them each a medal?”
“No,” said Andrew, playing on the fact that Wyatt was speaking a little more moderately. “All we want is for you not to be quite so angry with us.”
“And of course let us know what’s been going on,” said Sara. “Exactly what’s been happening and why.”
“You would want to know that,” said Wyatt dryly. “And you’ll remember everything I say, and the next time it’ll be even harder to keep you out of any case you get within a mile of.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“They had never actually shadowed anyone before, but they had heard enough talk about it from Peter Wyatt and Sergeant Tucker so that they understood the general theory, which was: be inconspicuous, but not conspicuously inconspicuous. In other words, don’t try so hard not to be noticed that everyone notices you.
The first thing they did was separate, one walking on one side of the street, the other on the other side. And they took turns watching their quarry. Andrew would hang back, looking into a shop window, actually going into a shop or sitting down on a step to adjust the laces on his boot while Sara drifted along, keeping her eye on Willie. Then, when she had gone several blocks, Andrew would amble past her and take the lead in watching while she hung back. Of course, since Willie knew them, none of this would have done much good if he had been suspicious and looked around to see if he were being followed. But apparently he wasn’t the least bit suspicious and just kept on with his hard, dusty work.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“That means Peter must have wanted to tell him something. Was it something he wanted him to do?”
“Probably. The question is, what was it? And who helped Beasley?” They stared at one another. “Come on, Sara, think! If Peter was able to figure it out, we should be able to.”
“That’s not true. He is a little older and more experienced than we are and, since he’s at the Yard, he may have information that we don’t have.”
“That’s so. And I suppose we ought to allow for the possibility that he may be just a little smarter than we are.”
“What are you saying?” said Sara with pretended incredulity.
“I know,” said Andrew, smiling. “I don’t really think that’s possible either, but . . . you know what? Tomorrow, just for fun, I’d like to see if we can’t do a little more about this—either find Beasley or figure out what it is Peter wants Sean to do.”
“Peter won’t like it. That’s probably why he didn’t want us around when he talked to Sean.”
“He didn’t tell us to stay out of it, did he?”
“He probably thought we’d have sense enough to know that without his saying anything about it. Those Thugs sound like an awfully scary crew. Still, I suppose if we’re careful . . .”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“There's something rum about this," she said. "Beasley was your friend long before he was ours. You introduced us to him and we know you like him, but somehow you don't seem terribly upset at what's happened to him. Is it because you know something that we don't?"
"What can I know when I just got back to London?"
"I don't know," said Andrew, "but Sara's right. You either know something or you've guessed something. I'll bet you know what's happened to him, maybe even where he is."
"That's very flattering. Do you think I'm a magician, a psychic, or the Sleuth of all Sleuths?"
"If you mean by that, the best detective in England, the answer is, yes. Sometimes."
"I repeat, that's very flattering, and it's nice to be appreciated by two such illustrious colleagues, but— " He broke off at a knock.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“You realize, of course, that this is the first time we've been separated since we were married."
"I do. But it won't be for long."
He kissed her, closed the carriage door and, as it moved off, signaled to a waiting four-wheeler.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“You want to know something? You’re all right, Andrew. You and Sara and Sean. You’re all all right, have been all through these last few days, and I won’t forget it.”
“Oh, sure.” He put on his best Cockney accent. “We’ave been blooming wonders, we have. Three right ream and rorty coves.”
“Well, you have been—in spite of that shoful accent that you shouldn’t even try.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse

“We could do it easily if the three of us took turns watching him,” he said. “I don’t think we should worry your mother,” he told Sara, “but why don’t you invite me to stay for supper so I can see what Dr. Reeves says when he comes back? And, after that, you can suggest that since it’s so late, I should stay overnight. Then we can make our own arrangements about who stays with him when.”
“And if Dr. Reeves doesn’t come back?” asked Andrew.
“We won’t be sure about that until about nine or ten o’clock, which will be late enough so that there’ll be all the more reason for me to stay.”
“Will you stay for supper, Sean?” Sara asked with no change of expression. “We’re having one of Mrs. Simmons’ specialties, Wiltshire gammon with Cumberland sauce, which I happen to know you like.”
“I love any kind of ham, Sara,” said Sean, his face as expressionless as hers, “but I love Wiltshire gammon best of all. Thank you very much.”
― Robert Newman, The Case of the Indian Curse