The crimson circle
The executioner did not reply, being by etiquette forbidden to discuss
other matters than the prisoner’s forgiveness for the deed which was
about to be committed.
“You should find out something about Pallion,” said Yale, as the
procession formed, “and profit by his example. Never drink. Drink was
my ruin! If it were not for drink I should not be here!”
This little conceit kept him amused all the way to the scaffold. They
slipped the noose about his neck and covered his face with a white
cloth, and then the executioner stepped back to the steel lever.
“I hope this rope won’t break,” said Derrick Yale.
It was the last message from the Crimson Circle.
THE END
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
Minor spelling inconsistencies (e.g. court-house/court house,
fireplace/fire-place, jailor/jailer, etc.) have been preserved.
Alterations to the text:
Fix a couple quotation mark pairings.
[Chapter I]
Change “The _dèbris_ of the dead autumn whirled in fantastic
circles” to _débris_.
[Chapter III]
(in her even tone. “_something_ which you haven’t realised.) to
_Something_.
[Chapter IX]
(“_Mr_ Beardmore,” she said in a low voice, “you are just being) to
_Mr._
[Chapter XXXI]
(“Good morning, Miss Drummond,”) change the second comma to a period.
[Chapter XXXII]
“which was found afterwards to contain the poison,” change comma to a
period.
[Chapter XXXV]
“and realising the absurdity of his protest, laughed,” change the
second comma to a period.
[Chapter XLIII]
(as the procession formed. “and profit by his example.) change the
first period to a comma.
“Never drink, Drink was my ruin! If it were not for drink” change
the first comma to a period.
[End of text]