nail

This nail," he continued, pulling off his hat and turning up his sightless orbs, "is one of those wherewith man's salvation was secured.

The nail I must have, and I will give it to the abbey of Beaulieu, so that all the folk in England may go thither to wonder and to pray."

This nail that he hath sold you was taken from my nail-box, and as to the wood and the stones, you will see a heap of both outside from which he hath filled his scrip."

"I can but see an old rusty nail, with bits of stone and slips of wood."

I stepped to the unobstructed casement, withdrew the nail with some difficulty and attempted to raise the sash.

"I now replaced the nail and regarded it attentively.

I had traced the secret to its ultimate result, - and that result was the nail. It had, I say, in every respect, the appearance of its fellow in the other window; but this fact was an absolute nullity (conclusive us it might seem to be) when compared with the consideration that here, at this point, terminated the clew.

Dropping of its own accord upon his exit (or perhaps purposely closed), it had become fastened by the spring; and it was the retention of this spring which had been mistaken by the police for that of the nail, - farther inquiry being thus considered unnecessary.