"There are one or two elementary rules to be observed in the way of handling patients," he remarked, seating himself on the table and swinging his legs. "The most obvious is that you must never let them see that you want them. It should be pure condescension on your part seeing them at all; and the more difficulties you throw in the way of it, the more they think of it. Break your patients in early, and keep them well to heel."

We must look for consistency. Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception.

The weak man becomes strong when he has nothing, for then only can he feel the wild, mad thrill of despair.

There are no crimes and no criminals in these days. What is the use of having brains in our profession? I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous. No man lives or has ever lived who has brought the same amount of study and of natural talent to the detection of crime which I have done. And what is the result? There is no crime to detect, or, at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it.

Of all ghosts the ghosts of our old loves are the worst.

Still, it is an error to argue in front of your data. You find yourself insensibly twisting them round to fit your theories.

We balance probabilities and choose the most likely. It is the scientific use of the imagination.