Explore "The Murders in Praed Street" by John Rhode on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"What I have to tell you now may interest you more nearly, Dr. Priestley," continued the Black Sailor. "Having disposed of five of my intended victims, I had to remove Copperdock. But I wished first of all to concentrate as much suspicion as possible on him before his death. You will perceive the idea, no doubt. If the murders were to cease with Copperdock's death, there being already a vague suspicion that he had caused them, further enquiries would not be pursued very briskly.
"For this reason, I appeared to Copperdock that evening as he was coming out of the Cambridge Arms. The disguise was very imperfect, since I had merely smeared the dye on my beard in the street, and the scar was made of sticking-plaster. It would not have borne a moment's close inspection, but it was good enough for Copperdock, as I felt sure it would be. I escaped from him without difficulty, and, having taken a wet sponge with me, removed the scar and dye at the first opportunity and came quietly home. I beat Mr. Copperdock by about five minutes.