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The Beetle A Mystery

Chapter 6 A SINGULAR FELONY

Word Count: 2891    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

ed through it into the open air. I was not only incapable of resistance, I was incapable of distinctly formulating the desire to

And a faint hope began to dawn within my bosom that, as I increased the distance between myself and it, I might shake off something of the nightmare helplessn

reeze,-for I quickly discovered that the wind amounted to something like a gale. Apart from all other considerations, the notion of parading the streets in such a condition filled me with profound disgust. And I do believe that if my tyrannical oppressor had only permitted me to attire myself in my own garments, I should have started with a comparatively ligh

h, and strained my every nerve, I might have shaken myself free from the bonds which shackled me, and bade defiance to the ancient sinner who, for all I knew, was peeping at me through

ad made, of my own initiative, for hours. But it was too late. My tormentor,-as if, though unseen, he saw-tightened hi

neither foot-passenger nor vehicle,-not even a policeman. The greater part of the route along which I was driven-I know no juster word-was one with which I had some sort of acquaintance. It led, at first, through what, I take it, was some part of Walham Green; then along the Lillie Road, through Brompton, across the Fulham Road, through the network of streets leading to

o his career. I was wet,-intermittent gusts of rain were borne on the scurrying wind; in spite of the pace at which I had been brought, I was chilled to the bone; and-worst of all!-my mud-stained feet, al

ult than a step ladder. The result was, that, though the impulse might be given me, the skill could not, and I had only ascended a yard or so when, losing my footing, I came slithering down upon my back. Bruised and shaken though I was, I was not allowed to inquire into my injuries. In a moment I was on my feet again, and again I was impelled to climb,-only, however, again to come to grief. This time the demon, or whatever it was, that had entered into me, seeming to appreciate the impossibility of getting me to the top of that verandah, directed me to try another way. I mounted the steps leading to the front door, got on to the lo

ed upon my brain in a series of pictures, whose clear-cut outlines, so long as memory endures, will never fade. Certainly no professional burglar, nor, indeed, any creature in his senses, would have ventured to emulate my surprising rashness. The process of smashing the pane of glass-it was plate glass-was anything but a noiseless one. There was, first, the blow itself, then the

someone being on the alert, I could hear nothing. Within the house there seeme

ndeed, among the various impedimenta. As it was I seemed to come into contact with most of the obstacles there were to come into contact with, stumbling more than once over footstools, and over what seemed to be dwarf chairs. It was a miracle that my movements still continued to be unheard,-but I bel

landing, and, on the second, moved to a door upon the right. I turned the handle, it yielded, the door opened, I entered, closing it behind me. I went to the wall just inside the door, found a handle, jerked it, and switched o

s, all covered with an orderly array of manuscripts and papers. A typewriter stood at the side of one. On the floor, under and about them, were piles of books, portfolios, and official-looking documents. Every available foot of wall space on three sides of the room was lined with shelves, full as they could hold

lap to let down. It was to this flap my attention was directed. I put out my hand to o

I looked about me in search of some convenient tool with which to ply the felon's trade. I found it close beside me. Leaning against the wall, within a yard of where I stood, were examples of various kinds of weapons,-among them, spear-heads. Taking one of these spear-heads, with much difficulty I forced the point between the flap and the bureau. Using the leverage thus obtained, I attempted to

e flap itself only to find that at the back were several small drawers, on one of which my observation was brought to bear in a fashion which it was quite impossible

ase, were a pair of revolvers. Statesmen, nowadays, sometimes stand in actual peril of their lives. It is possible that Mr Lessingham, conscious of continually threatened danger, carried them about with him as a necessary protection. They were serviceab

f someone was endeavouring to explain to me to what service to apply the revolvers, and I, perforce, strained every nerve to grasp the meaning of my invisible mentor. While I did so, the wheels drew rapidly nearer, and, just as I was expecting them to go whirling by, stopped,-in front of t

at once, anywhere, anyhow; but, at that moment, my comings and goings were not matters in which I was consulted. Panic fear raging within, outwardly I was calm as possible, and stood, turning the rev

sate folly which was hurrying me to infallible destruction, without success. For me there was only obedience. With a revolver in either hand I marched towards the bureau as unconcernedly as if I would not have given my life to have escaped the denouement which I needed but a slight modicum of common sense to be aware was close at hand. I placed the muzzle of one of th

Mr Lessingham was standing

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1 Chapter 1 OUTSIDE2 Chapter 2 INSIDE3 Chapter 3 THE MAN IN THE BED4 Chapter 4 A LONELY VIGIL5 Chapter 5 AN INSTRUCTION TO COMMIT BURGLARY6 Chapter 6 A SINGULAR FELONY7 Chapter 7 THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM8 Chapter 8 THE MAN IN THE STREET9 Chapter 9 THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKET10 Chapter 10 REJECTED11 Chapter 11 A MIDNIGHT EPISODE12 Chapter 12 A MORNING VISITOR13 Chapter 13 THE PICTURE14 Chapter 14 THE DUCHESS' BALL15 Chapter 15 MR LESSINGHAM SPEAKS16 Chapter 16 ATHERTON'S MAGIC VAPOUR17 Chapter 17 MAGIC -OR MIRACLE 18 Chapter 18 THE APOTHEOSIS OF THE BEETLE19 Chapter 19 THE LADY RAGES20 Chapter 20 A HEAVY FATHER21 Chapter 21 THE TERROR IN THE NIGHT22 Chapter 22 THE HAUNTED MAN23 Chapter 23 THE WAY HE TOLD HER24 Chapter 24 A WOMAN'S VIEW25 Chapter 25 THE MAN IN THE STREET No.2526 Chapter 26 A FATHER'S NO27 Chapter 27 THE TERROR BY NIGHT28 Chapter 28 THE STRANGE STORY OF THE MAN IN THE STREET29 Chapter 29 THE HOUSE ON THE ROAD FROM THE WORKHOUSE30 Chapter 30 THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT31 Chapter 31 THE TERROR BY DAY32 Chapter 32 A NEW CLIENT33 Chapter 33 WHAT CAME OF LOOKING THROUGH A LATTICE34 Chapter 34 AFTER TWENTY YEARS35 Chapter 35 A BRINGER OF TIDINGS36 Chapter 36 WHAT THE TIDINGS WERE37 Chapter 37 WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR38 Chapter 38 THE REST OF THE FIND39 Chapter 39 MISS LOUISA COLEMAN40 Chapter 40 WHAT MISS COLEMAN SAW THROUGH THE WINDOW41 Chapter 41 THE CONSTABLE,-HIS CLUE,-AND THE CAB42 Chapter 42 THE QUARRY DOUBLES43 Chapter 43 THE MURDER AT MRS 'ENDERSON'S44 Chapter 44 THE MAN WHO WAS MURDERED45 Chapter 45 ALL THAT MRS 'ENDERSON KNEW46 Chapter 46 THE SUDDEN STOPPING47 Chapter 47 THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD-CLASS CARRIAGE48 Chapter 48 THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER