How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
“But don’t you see, he’s mad? It’s all mad! The whole thing of going by the rhyme is mad! Dressing up the judge, killing Rogers when he was chopping sticks—drugging Mrs. Rogers so that she overslept herself—arranging for a bumble bee when Miss Brent died!” (15.89)
It’s bad enough that they’re all dying off, but the real terror comes from knowing that the killer is a lunatic who takes pleasure in going by a silly children’s rhyme as he’s stalking his prey. You can’t get much more evil than that.
Quote #8
I have a definite sadistic delight in seeing or causing death. I remember experiments with wasps—with various garden pests… From an early age I knew very strongly the lust to kill. (E.130)
Uh-oh. Animal abuse is a classic serial killer tell, and Wargrave is apparently no exception. Too bad no one staged an early intervention.
Quote #9
To see a wretched criminal squirming in the dock, suffering the tortures of the damned, as his doom came slowly and slowly nearer, was to me an exquisite pleasure. (E.132)
Pop quiz: who’s more evil: the criminal in the dock, or Wargrave who is enjoying everything that’s happening? We’ll give you two guesses, but we bet you’ll only need one.