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I had been drinking hard of late； and the two things together fairly turned
my brain。 There's something throbbing in my head now； like a docker's
hammer； but that morning I seemed to have all Niagara whizzing and
buzzing in my ears。
〃'Well； I took to my heels； and I ran after the cab。 I had a heavy oak
stick in my hand； and I tell you I saw red from the first； but as I ran I got
cunning； too； and hung back a little to see them without being seen。
They pulled up soon at the railway station。 There was a good crowd
round the booking…office； so I got quite close to them without being seen。
They took tickets for New Brighton。 So did I； but I got in three carriages
behind them。 When we reached it they walked along the Parade； and I
was never more than a hundred yards from them。 At last I saw them hire
a boat and start for a row； for it was a very hot day； and they thought； no
doubt； that it would be cooler on the water。
〃'It was just as if they had been given into my hands。 There was a bit
of a haze； and you could not see more than a few hundred yards。 I hired
a boat for myself； and I pulled after them。 I could see the blur of their
craft； but they were going nearly as fast as I； and they must have been a
long mile from the shore before I caught them up。 The haze was like a
curtain all round us； and there were we three in the middle of it。 My God；
shall I ever forget their faces when they saw who was in the boat that was
closing in upon them？ She screamed out。 He swore like a madman and
jabbed at me with an oar； for he must have seen death in my eyes。 I got
past it and got one in with my stick that crushed his head like an egg。 I
would have spared her； perhaps； for all my madness； but she threw her
arms round him； crying out to him； and calling him 〃Alec。〃 I struck
again； and she lay stretched beside him。 I was like a wild beast then that
had tasted blood。 If Sarah had been there； by the Lord； she should have
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
joined them。 I pulled out my knife； andwell； there！ I've said enough。
It gave me a kind of savage joy when I thought how Sarah would feel
when she had such signs as these of what her meddling had brought about。
Then I tied the bodies into the boat； stove a plank； and stood by until they
had sunk。 I knew very well that the owner would think that they had lost
their bearings in the haze； and had drifted off out to sea。 I cleaned myself
up； got back to land； and joined my ship without a soul having a suspicion
of what had passed。 That night I made up the packet for Sarah Cushing；
and next day I sent it from Belfast。
〃'There you have the whole truth of it。 You can hang me； or do what
you like with me； but you cannot punish me as I have been punished
already。 I cannot shut my eyes but I see those two faces staring at me
staring at me as they stared when my boat broke through the haze。 I
killed them quick； but they are killing me slow； and if I have another night
of it I shall be either mad or dead before morning。 You won't put me
alone into a cell； sir？ For pity's sake don't； and may you be treated in
your day of agony as you treat me now。'
〃What is the meaning of it； Watson？〃 said Holmes solemnly as he laid
down the paper。 〃What object is served by this circle of misery and
violence and fear？ It must tend to some end； or else our universe is ruled
by chance； which is unthinkable。 But what end？ There is the great
standing perennial problem to which human reason is as far from an
answer as ever。〃
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