"Well, you tie it round you like this. Through there—and over there—and then back under there. You see, it simply CAN'T slip. Then I should pull you up."
"But how nice of you. Let me try. … Oh, yes, that's easy."
"Well, then there's the hangman's knot."
Archie and I looked at each other.
"The predicaments in which Simpson finds himself are extraordinarily varied," I said.
"One of these days he'll be in a well, and we shall let down a rope to him, and he'll hang himself by mistake."
"That would look very determined. On the other hand there must be annoying occasions when he starts out to strangle somebody and finds that he's pulling him out of the cistern."
"Why, how delightful, Mr Simpson," said Myra. "Do show us some more."
"Those are the most important ones. Then there are one or two fancy ones. Do you know the Monkey's Claw?"
"Don't touch it," said Archie solemnly. "It's poison."