I fear that if the matter is beyond humanity, it is certainly beyond me.

The whole force of the State is at your back if you should need it. I'm afraid that all the queen's horses and all the queen's men cannot avail in this matter.

Data!data!data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay.

The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it should be eaten without delay. Its finder has carried it off therefore to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose.

Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing. It may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different

I followed you.' I saw no one.' That is what you may expect to see when I follow you.

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.