Explore "The Amateur Crime" by Anthony Berkeley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mr. Priestley returned to London with emotions that were decidedly mixed. His delight in his successful revenge was almost swamped in the feelings caused by Cynthia's utterly unscrupulous suggestion. He knew, of course, that he could never act upon it: to do so would be the act of a cad, a poltroon, and a blackguard. But there was no harm in allowing it to titillate his mind.
Laura eternally in that empty arm-chair... Laura available every night and every morning for kisses that need not be in the least avuncular... Laura's smile, Laura's pretty face, the way Laura's eyebrows fascinatingly just did not meet when she was perplexed, his to contemplate for the rest of his life... Mr. Priestley sighed and, having looked on this picture, looked on that. Those rooms of his without Laura in them... Only Barker... He and Barker, alone together for ever more... Mr. Priestley sighed again.