The Complete Raffles Collection Quotes

“Again I see him, leaning back in one of the luxurious chairs with which his room was furnished. I see his indolent, athletic figure; his pale, sharp, clean-shaven features; his curly black hair; his strong, unscrupulous mouth. And again I feel the clear beam of his wonderful eye, cold and luminous as a star, shining”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“It was Raffles I loved. It was not the dark life we led together, still less its base rewards; it was the man himself, his gayety, his humor, his dazzling audacity, his incomparable courage and resource. And a very horror of turning to him again in mere need of greed set the seal on my first angry resolution. But the anger was soon gone out of me, and when at length Raffles bridged the gap by coming to me, I rose to greet him almost with a shout.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Up went the umpire's finger, and down came Raffles's hand upon my thigh.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Bunny and I are one," said Raffles airily.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Strong as that repugnance became, I had an even stronger feeling that we were embarking on an important enterprise far too much upon the spur of the moment. The latter qualm I had the temerity to confess to Raffles; nor have I often loved him more than when he freely admitted it to be the most natural feeling in the world.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“That settles it. I'm your man." "You mean it?" "Yes--for to-night.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“The technical slang of the modern cricket-field is ever a weariness; at the moment it was something worse, and I resigned myself to the silent contemplation of as wild an over as ever was bowled at Lord's. A shocking thing to the off was sent skipping past point for four. "Tripe!" muttered Raffles”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“the waiting umpires animated snow-men, the heap of sawdust at either end a pyramid of powdered”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“never heard a man more down upon himself, or confession of error couched”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“At Philippi, Bunny, where I said I'd see him. What a rabbit you are at a quotation! "'And I think that the field of Philippi Was where Cæsar came to an end; But who gave old Brutus the tip, I Can't comprehend!' "You may have forgotten your Shakespeare, Bunny, but you ought to remember that.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“For my face?" "It has been my fortune before to-night, Bunny. It has also given me more confidence than you are likely to believe at this time of day. You stimulate me more than you think." "Your gallery and your prompter's box in one?”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“De Quincey's masterpiece on 'Murder as a Fine Art,”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Horresco referens.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“I expected an ultimatum from my banker by every post. Yet this influence was nothing to the other.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“The Yale lock he had given up at a glance. It was placed high up in the door, feet above the handle, and the chain of holes”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“least by name, did I feel free to mention them. But I do not, and indeed it is better so. I have not to describe the war even as I saw it, I am thankful to say, but only the martial story of us two and those others of whom you wot. Corporal Connal”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Such were my reflections on the way to Richmond in a hansom cab. Richmond had struck us both as the best centre of operations in search of the suburban retreat which Raffles wanted, and by road, in a well-appointed, well-selected hansom, was certainly the most agreeable way of getting there.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Margarita de Parete, era a' sarta d' e' signore; se pugneva sempe e ddete pe penzare a Salvatore! "Mar--ga--ri, e perzo e Salvatore! Mar--ga--ri, Ma l'ommo e cacciatore! Mar--ga--ri, Nun ce aje corpa tu! Chello ch' e fatto, e fatto, un ne parlammo cchieu!”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“Is it conceivable that a man like Raffles, with his knowledge of the world, and his experience of women (a side of his character upon which I have purposely never touched, for it deserves another volume);”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“The counter had not been emptied by Raffles; its contents were in the Chubb's safe, which he had given up at a glance; nor had he looked at the silver, except to choose a cigarette case for me. He had confined himself entirely to the shop window. This was in three compartments, each secured”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection

“We were now in a bare and roomy lobby behind the shop, but separated therefrom by an iron curtain, the very sight of which filled me with despair. Raffles, however, did not appear in the least depressed, but hung up his coat and hat on some pegs in the lobby before examining this curtain with his lantern.”
― E.W. Hornung, The Complete Raffles Collection