(With apologies to M.R. James for words taken at random from the final paragraphs of Casting the Runes).
The killer struck, identified
his mutilated head
on the scaffold of destruction.
Did he hear the stone that fell?
It is not clear.
And in that judicious interval
did he see it on the page?
And did he know that others knew?
It was not proved.
He has gone into the instant dark,
and can no longer hear
his brother talking in his sleep.
