AI Classic Books

26200.

26201.

26202.

26203.

26204.

26205.

26206.

26207.

26208.

26209.

26210.

26211.

26212.

26213.

26214.

26215.

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26220.

26221.

26222.

26223.

26224.

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26226.

26227.

26228.

26229.

26230.

26231.

26232.

26233.

26234.

26235.

26236.

26237.

26238.

26239.

26240.

26241.

"Not at all. If my view of the case is correct, and I have every reason to believe that it is, this man would rather risk anything than lose the ring. According to my notion he dropped it while stooping over Drebber’s body, and did not miss it at the time. After leaving the house he discovered his loss and hurried back, but found the police already in possession, owing to his own folly in leaving the candle burning. He had to pretend to be drunk in order to allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate. Now put yourself in that man’s place. On thinking the matter over, it must have occurred to him that it was possible that he had lost the ring in the road after leaving the house. What would he do, then? He would eagerly look out for the evening papers in the hope of seeing it among the articles found. His eye, of course, would light upon this. He would be overjoyed. Why should he fear a trap? There would be no reason in his eyes why the finding of the ring should be connected with the murder. He would come. He will come. You shall see him within an hour?"

26242.

26243.

26244.

26245.

26246.

26247.

26248.

26249.

26250.

26251.

26252.

26253.

26254.

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26258.

26259.

26260.

26261.

26262.

26263.

26264.

26265.

26266.

26267.

26268.

26269.

26270.

26271.

26272.

26273.

26274.

26275.

26276.

26277.

26278.

26279.

26280.

26281.

26282.

26283.

26284.

26285.

26286.

26287.

26288.

26289.

26290.

26291.

26292.

26293.

26294.

26295.

26296.

26297.

26298.

26299.

26300.

26301.

26302.

26303.

26304.

26305.

26306.

26307.

"Oh, I don’t mind telling a story against myself. That creature had gone a little way when she began to limp and show every sign of being foot-sore. Presently she came to a halt, and hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. I managed to be close to her so as to hear the address, but I need not have been so anxious, for she sang it out loud enough to be heard at the other side of the street, ‘Drive to 13, Duncan Street, Houndsditch,’ she cried. This begins to look genuine, I thought, and having seen her safely inside, I perched myself behind. That’s an art which every detective should be an expert at. Well, away we rattled, and never drew rein until we reached the street in question. I hopped off before we came to the door, and strolled down the street in an easy, lounging way. I saw the cab pull up. The driver jumped down, and I saw him open the door and stand expectantly. Nothing came out though. When I reached him he was groping about frantically in the empty cab, and giving vent to the finest assorted collection of oaths that ever I listened to. There was no sign or trace of his passenger, and I fear it will be some time before he gets his fare. On inquiring at Number 13 we found that the house belonged to a respectable paperhanger, named Keswick, and that no one of the name either of Sawyer or Dennis had ever been heard of there."

26308.

26309.

26310.

26311.

26312.

26313.

26314.