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Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith), 1874-1936

"The Man Who Knew Too Much"


"That's John Burke, the traveler," he condescended to explain. "I
expect you've heard of him; shoots big game and all that. Sorry I
couldn't stop to introduce you, but I dare say you'll meet him later
on."
"I know his book, of course," said March, with renewed interest.
"That is certainly a fine piece of description, about their being
only conscious of the closeness of the elephant when the colossal
head blocked out the moon."
"Yes, young Halkett writes jolly well, I think. What? Didn't you
know Halkett wrote Burke's book for him? Burke can't use anything
except a gun; and you can't write with that. Oh, he's genuine enough
in his way, you know, as brave as a lion, or a good deal braver by
all accounts."
"You seem to know all about him," observed March, with a rather
bewildered laugh, "and about a good many other people."
Fisher's bald brow became abruptly corrugated, and a curious
expression came into his eyes.
"I know too much," he said. "That's what's the matter with me.
That's what's the matter with all of us, and the whole show; we know
too much. Too much about one another; too much about ourselves.
That's why I'm really interested, just now, about one thing that I
don't know."
"And that is?" inquired the other.
"Why that poor fellow is dead.


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