American library books ยป Fiction ยป The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (best summer reads txt) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซThe Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (best summer reads txt) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   G. K. Chesterton



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expects that psychological inferno from which he has warned others. It leapt upon poor Armstrong prematurely, and by this morning he was in such a case that he sat here and cried he was in hell, in so crazy a voice that his daughter did not know it. He was mad for death, and with the monkey tricks of the mad he had scattered round him death in many shapesโ€”a running noose and his friendโ€™s revolver and a knife. Royce entered accidentally and acted in a flash. He flung the knife on the mat behind him, snatched up the revolver, and having no time to unload it, emptied it shot after shot all over the floor. The suicide saw a fourth shape of death, and made a dash for the window. The rescuer did the only thing he couldโ€”ran after him with the rope and tried to tie him hand and foot. Then it was that the unlucky girl ran in, and misunderstanding the struggle, strove to slash her father free. At first she only slashed poor Royceโ€™s knuckles, from which has come all the little blood in this affair. But, of course, you noticed that he left blood, but no wound, on that servantโ€™s face? Only before the poor woman swooned, she did hack her father loose, so that he went crashing through that window into eternity.โ€

There was a long stillness slowly broken by the metallic noises of Gilder unlocking the handcuffs of Patrick Royce, to whom he said: โ€œI think I should have told the truth, sir. You and the young lady are worth more than Armstrongโ€™s obituary notices.โ€

โ€œConfound Armstrongโ€™s notices,โ€ cried Royce roughly. โ€œDonโ€™t you see it was because she mustnโ€™t know?โ€

โ€œMustnโ€™t know what?โ€ asked Merton.

โ€œWhy, that she killed her father, you fool!โ€ roared the other. โ€œHeโ€™d have been alive now but for her. It might craze her to know that.โ€

โ€œNo, I donโ€™t think it would,โ€ remarked Father Brown, as he picked up his hat. โ€œI rather think I should tell her. Even the most murderous blunders donโ€™t poison life like sins; anyhow, I think you may both be the happier now. Iโ€™ve got to go back to the Deaf School.โ€

As he went out on to the gusty grass an acquaintance from Highgate stopped him and said:

โ€œThe Coroner has arrived. The inquiry is just going to begin.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ve got to get back to the Deaf School,โ€ said Father Brown. โ€œIโ€™m sorry I canโ€™t stop for the inquiry.โ€

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