The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by david

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THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

A STUDY IN SCARLET.

THE SIGN OF FOUR. THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE. MICAH CLARKE.

THE WHITE COMPANY.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE POLESTAR. THE DOINGS OF RAFFLES HAW.

THE GREAT SHADOW.

THE ADVENTURES OF

SHERLOCK HOLMES.

CONAN DOYLE.

Hon Do a

GEORGE NEWNES,

Limited,

SOUTHAMPTON STREET AND EXETER STREET, STRAND. 1892.

[A/^ rights reserved^

MY OLD TEACHER,

JOSEPH BELL,

M.D., &c.

OF 2,

MELVILLE CRESCENT, EDINBURGH.

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

among

Baker-street, buried

week

books, and

his old

alternating

fi*om

week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, to

as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his

immense

and

faculties

powers of observation

extraordinary

following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries, which

had been abandoned as hopeless by the to time

heard some vague account of his doings

Odessa

From time his summons

the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up

tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee,

of the singular

and

official police.

finally of the

and successfully

mission which he had accomplished so delicately

signs of his activity, however, which

readers of the daily press,

knew

Beyond these

Holland.

for the reigning family of

merely shared with

little

all

the

former friend and

companion.

One

night

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

was on the 20th

from a journey to a patient

when my way

tice),

led

(for I

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

was returning

had now returned

to civil prac-

March, 1888

through Baker-street.

passed the

well-remembered door, which must always be associated

mind with Scarlet, to

Holmes

seized with a keen desire to see

know how he was employing brilliantly

lit,

his extraordinary powers.

and, even as

looked up,

chest,

the

room

swiftly, eagerly,

again, and

saw

His

his tall

spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind.

was pacing

wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study

was

rooms were

with his head sunk upon his

To me, who knew his and manner told their own story.

and his hands clasped behind him.

mood and habit, his attitude He was at work again. He had risen out of his drug-created dreams, and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell, and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly every

been in part

own.

His manner was rot think, to see eye, he

me.

waved me

effusive.

With hardly to

and indicated a

spirit

stood before the

fire,

seldom was; but he was glad,

a word spoken, but with a kindly

an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, case and a gasogene in the corner.

and looked

Then he

over in his singular introspec-

tive fashion. *'

Wedlock

suits 5'ou,"

he remarked.

.you have put on seven and a half pounds since

think, I

Watson, that

saw you."

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. " Seven," " Indeed,

more,

tell

How

you

see

it,

^ little

more.

deduce

know

it.

that you

have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that

^^^^^^_^^_ and careless servant

girl

dear Holmes," said

certainly have

trifle

You

"'^K^^

"THEN HE STOOD BEFORE THE

"My

Just a

Watson. And in practice again, I observe. me that you intended to go into harness."

"Then, how

Know

have thought a

should

fancy,

did not

answered.

"this

FIRE."

too much.

You would

been burned had you lived a few centuries ago.

had a country walk on Thursday and came home but, as I have changed my clothes, I can't in a dreadful mess imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, It is

true that

;

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

and

wife has given her notice

how you work

but there again

;

fail

to see

out."

chuckled to himself and rubbed his

long nervous hands

together.

inside of your left

leather

eyes

who has

tell

that on the

strikes

firelight

scored by six almost parallel cuts.

edges of the sole see,

;

where the

shoe, just

been caused by someone

you

It is simplicity itself," said

it,

the

Obviously they have

very carelessly scraped round the

order to remove crusted

mud

from

Hence,

it.

double deduction that you had been out in vile weather,

and that you had a particularly malignant

boot-slitting

specimen

London slavey. As to your practice, if a gentleman walks my rooms smelling of idioform, with a black mark of nitrate of

of the into

upon

silver

his right fore-finger,

and a bulge on the side of his top-

hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope,

indeed

do not pronounce him to be an active

must be

member

dull

of the

medical profession." could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained " When I hear you give your reasons," his process of deduction. I remarked, " the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously I

simple that

could easily do

instance of your reasoning

And

process.

yet

myself, though at each successive

believe

bafifled,

that

you explain your eyes are as good as

until

yours."

" Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself serve.

down into an armchair. *' You see, but you do not obThe distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently

seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." *'

Frequently."

How

Well, some hundreds of times."

often

" ?

Then how many are there ? " How many I don't know." ** Quite so You have not observed. That is just my point. Now, I know **

steps,

because

in these little

to chronicle

be interested

He threw

the way, since

problems, and since you are good

one or two of

in this."

yet you have seen.

that there are seventeen

have both seen and observed.

you are interested

enough

And

trifling experiences,

you

may

over a sheet of thick pink-tinted

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. notepaper which had been lying open upon the table. " Read it aloud." the last post," said he.

The

was

note

and

undated,

without

either

" It

came by

signature

address.

upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o'clock," it said, " a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of Your recent services to one of the the very deepest moment. Royal Houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which

"There

will call

can hardly be exaggerated. account of you quarters

This

we have from

all

re-

Be in your cham

ceived.

then

ber

that hour, and

do not take

amiss

visitor

wear a

your

mask." " This

indeed

mystery,"

remarked. "What

do you

imagine it

means "

no data

that "

have yet.

It is

a capital mistake to

theorise before one has data.

Insensibly

one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit

you deduce from carefully

was

facts.

But the note

itself.

What

" it ?

examined the writing, and the paper upon which

written.

The man who wrote

remarked, endeavouring to

was presumably

imitate

well

companion's

to do,"

processes.

Such paper could not be bought under half-a-crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff." **

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

" Peculiar— that English paper at I

Hold

all.

It is

not an

to the light."

and saw a large

did so,

with a small g, a P, and a large woven into the texture of the paper.

with a small t " What do you *'

the very word," said Holmes.

The name

make

of that

asked Holmes.

of the maker, no doubt

Not at all. The G with the small which is the German for Company.' '

tion like our

monogram, rather."

or his

;

stands for

Gesellschaft,'

a customary contrac-

It is

P, of course, stands for

Co.'

Now for He took

Papier.'

the Eg.

Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer." down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. " Eglow, Eglonitz

— here

are, Egria.

Bohemia, not

from Carlsbad.

far

of the death of Wallenstein,

German-speaking country

in a

—

Remarkable as being the scene

numerous glass factories and paper mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you make of that ? " His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud and

for its

from his cigarette.

*'The paper was made

" Precisely.

man who

Do you

And

note the

the

peculiar

Bohemia,"

wrote the note

construction

account of you we have from

man who

said.

all

quarters

received.'

or Russian could not have written that.' is

so uncourteous to his verbs.

what

German.

sentence

the

—

This

French-

the

German

only remains, therefore, to

wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And

discover

here he comes,

not mistaken, to resolve

As he spoke there was the sharp sound

all

our doubts."

of horses' hoofs

and

grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the

Holmes

bell.

whistled.

by the sound," said he. " Yes " he continued, glancing out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in this case, pair,

Watson,

there

think that

Not a

Boswell.

bit.

nothing else."

had better go. Holmes." Stay where you

Doctor.

And

this

are.

promises to be interesting.

am It

lost

without

would be a

pity to miss it." **

But your client Never mind him.

may want your

help,

and so may he.

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. Here he comes.

Sit

down

in that armchair, Doctor,

and give us

your best attention."

slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there

was

loud

authoritative tap.

and

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

From

entered.

man

the lower part of the face

with a thick, hanging hp, and a long

of strong character,

straight

pushed

suggestive of resolution

chin,

he appeared to be a

length

the

obstinacy.

" You had

" he asked, with a deep harsh voice and a

German

strongly marked

note

accent.

looked from one to the other of

you that

told

us,

would

call."

uncertain which to

address. **

Pray take a

Watson, who

colleague, Dr. in

my **

You may

nobleman. of

Whom

cases.

have

address

Holmes.

said

seat,'*

This

occasionally good enough to help

the honour to address

as the

honour and

discretion,

whom

most extreme importance.

" ?

Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian

understand that this gentleman, your friend,

and

friend

may

If not,

man

trust with a matter of the

should

much

prefer to

com-

municate with you alone." I

rose to go, but

back into

Holmes caught me by **

chair.

It is

both, or none," said he.

say before this gentleman anything which you

The Count shrugged begin," said

two years, importance.

he, at

his

broad

" by binding you

the

may

shoulders.

say to me." " Then I must

both to absolute

end of that time the matter

At present

me "You may

the wrist and pushed

not too

much

secrecy for

will

say that

of is

no of

such weight that it may have an influence upon European history." " I promise," said Holmes.

And I." " You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by ''

which " **

have just called myself

was aware

of it," said

The circumstances

not exactly

Holmes

own."

dryly.

are of great delicacy, and every precaution

has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal of

and seriously compromise one

Europe.

House **

To speak

plainly,

the

also

aware

of that,"

reigning families

matter implicates the great

of Ormstein, hereditary kings of

was

of the

Bohemia."

murmured Holmes,

down in his armchair, and closing his eyes. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise

settling himself

at the languid.

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. lounging figure of the

him as the most

man who had been no

doubt depicted to

and most energetic agent in Holmes slowly reopened his eyes, and looked impatiently

Europe.

incisive

reasoner,

at his gigantic client.

your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, ** I should be better able to advise you." If

The man sprang from

his chair,

room

and paced up and down the

in uncontrollable agitation.

Then,

with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the

\BEiStv..

"HE TORE THE MASK FROM "

ground.

should

You

are

right,"

attempt to conceal

he cried,

HIS FACE.

the

King.

Why

" it ?

murmured Holmes. " Your Majesty had not spoken before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel**

Why,

Felstein,

indeed

and hereditary King of Bohemia."

But you can understand," down once more and passing *'

said

our strange

his

hand over

visitor,

his

high,

sitting

white

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

"you can understand doing such business in my own

that

forehead,

delicate that

myself in his power.

not

accustomed to

Yet the matter was so

person.

could not confide

an agent without putting

have come incognito from Prague

for the

purpose of consulting you."

Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once

more.

The

a lengthy

facts

are

visit

known adventuress

these

briefly

five

years

during

ago,

made the acquaintance of the wellThe name is no doubt familiar to Adler.

Warsaw, Irene

Some

you." *'

Kindly look her up in

murmured Kolmes,

index, Doctor,"

For many years he had adopted a paragraphs concerning men and things,

without opening his eyes.

system of docketing so that

was

all

difficult

name

a subject or a person on which

In this case

he could not at once furnish information.

her biography sandwiched in between that of a that of a staff-commander

who had

deep sea fishes. " Let me see," said Holmes. in

year

the

1858.

written a

Hum

— hum La of Warsaw — Yes! London — quite so

Contralto

found

Hebrew Rabbi and

monograph upon the Born

New Jersey Prima hum

Scala,

Retired from operatic donna Imperial Opera Your Majesty, as I Living in stage ha understand, became entangled with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is now desirous of getting those

—

letters

back."

Was

But how

" Precisely so.

there a secret marriage

" ?

''None." *'

legal papers or certificates

"None." " Then I

fail

to follow

your Majesty.

this

young person

should produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, is

she to prove their authenticity? " There is the writing." " Pooh, pooh Forgery." " My private notepaper." !

" Stolen." "

My own

seal."

how

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA.

" Imitated."

photograph."

" Bought." **

were both

dear

in the

That

photograph." very bad

Your Majesty has

indeed

committed an indiscretion."

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

was mad insane." You have compromised yourself seriously." " I was only Crown Prince then. I was young.

but

pay

thirty now."

must be recovered." " We have tried and failed." "Your Majesty must pa}^ It must be bought."

" She will not sell." " Stolen, then." " Five attempts have been made.

ransacked her house.

Twice

travelled.

she

Twice burglars

Once we diverted her luggage when she There has been no has been waylaid.

result."

Absolutely none."

sign of

it ?

Holmes laughed.

quite

pretty

little

problem,"

said he. *'

serious one to me," returned the King, reproach-

But a very

fully.

" Very, indeed.

photograph

And what

does she propose to do with the

" ?

'*To ruin me."

"But how?" "

am about to be married." "So I have heard."

of the of

King

her family.

of a doubt as to

And

Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles

Clotilde

conduct would bring the matter to an end."

Irene Adler

herself the very soul of delicacy. " ?

" Threatens to send them the photograph. it.

know

that she will do

has a soul of

A shadow

She

steel.

it.

You do

not

And she know her,

She has the face of the most

will

but she

beautiful of

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

women, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not go none."

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

You

And why

Because she has said that she would send

are sure that she has not sent

when

yet

sure." Âť'

was

the betrothal

publicly proclaimed.

That

on the day will

be next

Monday." Oh, then, we have three days yet," said Holmes, with a yawn. " That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of im**

portance

look into just

London for the present ? You will find me at the Langham, under the name

Certainly.

Count Von Kramm."

of the

will,

course, stay in **

Your Majesty

present.

Then

shall

drop you a line to

you know how we

let

progress."

" Pray do

so.

Then, as

You have

Absolutely

shall be all anxiety." "

money

carte

hlanchey

" ?

you that

tell

kingdom

v/ould

one of the provinces of

give

have that photograph."

And for present expenses ? " The king took a heavy chamois *'

cloak, **

and

laid

in gold,

and seven hundred

he said.

Holmes handed

under his

on the table.

There are three hundred pounds

in notes,"

leather bag from

scribbled a receipt

upon a sheet

of his note-book,

and

to him.

*'And mademoiselle's address?" he asked. " Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine-avenue, St. John's

Holmes took "

Was "

note of

it.

the photograph a cabinet

One other

Wood."

question," said he.

" ?

was."

Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall And good-night, Watson," soon have some good news for you. he added, as the wheels of the Royal brougham rolled down the *' If you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon, street. *'

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA at three o'clock,

should like to chat this

little

matter over with

you, II.

At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker-street, but Holmes had not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. beside the

sat

down

however, with

fire,

the intention of awaiting him,

however long he might

be.

was already deeply

interested

in his inquiry, for,

though

was surrounded by none

of the

grim and strange features which

were associated with the two crimes which recorded,

the

and

of his

a character of

deed,

have elsewhere

still,

case

station

apart

the nature of

the

gave

client

own.

its

In-

from the nature

of the investigation friend

exalted

which

had on hand, there was

something

his

masterly

grasp of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which

made

a pleasure to

study his system of work, and follow

the

quick,

subtle

methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable So

mysteries.

was

I to his

accustomed

invariable success

A DRUNKEN-LOOKING GROOM.

that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into

head.

was

upon four before the door opened, and a drunkenlooking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inflamed Accustomed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of disguises, It

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

14 I

With

he.

was

was indeed the bedroom, whence he emerged

had to look three times before

a nod he vanished into

certain that

minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of

in five

his

hands into his pockets, he stretched out

the

fire,

and laughed heartily

What

It's

is it ?

some minutes. and then he choked; and laughed

for

morning, or what

can't imagine.

helpless, in the chair.

quite too funny.

employed

Putting

old.

his legs in front of

"Well, really!" he cried, again until he was obliged to lie back, limp and

sure you could never guess

how

ended by doing."

suppose that you have been watching

the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler."

" Quite

however. in

so,

but the sequel was rather unusual. the house a

I left

the character of a

little after

groom out

will tell you,

eight o'clock this morning,

There

of work.

a wonderful

sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Briony Lodge.

It is

a hijou

with a garden at the back, but built

villa,

Chubb

out in front right up to the road, two stories.

Large sitting-room on the right

the door.

with long windows almost to the

floor,

side,

lock to

well furnished,

and those preposterous

window fasteners which a child could open. Behind was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window

English there

could be reached from

round

and examined

the

top of

the

coach-house.

was a mews

of the garden.

horses,

and

two

half,

fills

in a lane

lent the

expected,

which runs down by one wall

ostlers a

hand

rubbing down their

received in exchange twopence, a glass of half-andof

shag tobacco, and as much information as

could desire about other people in interested,

least

walked

closely from every point of view, but

without noting anything else of interest. " I then lounged down the street, and found, as that there

Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen

the neighbourhood

but

whose

whom

biographies

was not in the was compelled to I

listen to."

And what

Oh, she has turned

She the

of Irene Adler? " I asked. all

the men's heads

down

that part.

the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet.

Serpentine-mews, to

man.

She

lives

quietly,

So say sings

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA,

concerts, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp

Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He never calls less than once a is dark, handsome, and dashing; dinner.

for

day, and often twice.

a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner

They

See the advantages of a cabman as a confidant.

Temple.

had driven him home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and

knew to

tell,

When

about him.

all I

had listened

to all that they

had

began to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once

more, and to think over my plan of campaign. " This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor

He was

matter.

the

was

the

Was

What

a lawyer.

between

relation

repeated visits

That sounded ominous. them, and what the object

his

she his client, his friend, or his mistress

had probably transferred the photograph

the former, she

was less likely. On the issue of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman^s chambers keeping.

his

the

the Temple.

have to

let

was a

inquiry.

latter,

delicate point,

fear that I bore

you see

and

you with these

difficulties, if

little

widened the

details,

field

but

you are to understand

the situation." " I

was

following you closely," still

answered.

balancing the matter in

mind, when a hansom

cab drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out.

was a remarkably handsome man,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; evidently in

a great

the

man

whom

hurry, shouted to

past the maid

who opened

dark, aquiline, and moustached

had heard.

cabman

to wait,

the

appeared to be

and brushed

the door with the air of a

man who

was thoroughly at home. " He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch glimpses of him, in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and down, talking excitedly and waving his arms. Of her I could Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried see nothing. than before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from his devil,'

and

pocket

he shouted,

looked

first

Half a guinea

you do

Gross

then to the church

of it

St.

earnestly.

Hankey's

Monica

twenty minutes

the * !

Drive

the

Regent-street,

Edgware-road.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Away

was just wondering whether I should them, when up the lane came a neat little

they went, and

not do well to follow

landau^ the coachman with his coat only half buttoned, and his

under his

ear, while all the tags of his

the buckles.

door and into

it.

harness were sticking out of

hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall

only caught a glimpse of her at the moment,

she was a lovely

but

tie

woman, with a

that

face

man might

die for. ** '

The Church

sovereign **

you reach

This was

good

too

should run for

cried,

and half a

twenty minutes.'

quite

balancing whether

Monica, John,' she

of St.

Watson. I was just or whether I should perch

lose, it,

The jumped in

behind her landau, when a cab came through the street. driver

looked twice at

before

'The Church

he could object.

and half a sovereign

such a shabby fare

you reach

cabby drove

fast.

their steaming horses

was

clergyman,

were

all

was enough

twenty minutes.'

clear

were

don't think I ever drove faster, but

The cab and

us.

the two

who seemed

the landau with

when

front of the door

whom

side aisle like

church.

Suddenly, to

They

be expostulating with them.

any other

arrived.

had followed and a surpliced

three standing in a knot in front of the altar.

up the

There was not a

paid the man, and hurried into the church.

soul there save

said

wind.

in the

the others were there before

Monica,'

St.

twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course

what was

but

;

idler

lounged

who has dropped

into

the altar faced

surprise, the three at

round to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me." ''

Thank God

" he cried.

"What then?" **

You'll do.

Come

** !

asked.

Come man, come,

only three minutes, or

won't be legal."

and before I knew where I was, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and I

was

half dragged

to the altar,

generally assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Godfrey Norton, bachelor.

was

all

done

an instant, and

was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was

there

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. the most preposterous position in which

ever found myself in

and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just now. seems that there had been some informality about their licence,

life,

the clergyman absolutely refused to

that

witness of some sort, and that

marry them without a

lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in search of a

man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and on my watch chain in memory of the occasion." best

" This

mean

wear

a very unexpected turn

of affairs," said

and what then ? "Well, I found

;

my plans very seriously It

menaced.

looked as

might

pair

the

take

an immediate departure,

and

necessitate

very

prompt and energetic measures on

At the

part.

church door, howthey

ever,

rated, he

back

sepa-

driving

the

Temple, and she

own

to her *

house.

shall drive out

in the

Park

at five

as usual,' she said I

FOUND MYSELF MUMF-LING

RESPONSES.'

They drove away in different my own arrangements." " "

directions,

and

she

left

him.

heard no more.

went

off to

make

Which are " Some cold beef and

bell.

busier

a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to be

still

this evening.

co-operation."

the way. Doctor,

shall

want your

AD VENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

shall be delighted."

" You don't mind breaking the law

"Not

in the least."

" Nor running a chance of arrest " Not in a good cause." **

Oh, the cause

Then

excellent

your man."

was sure that I might But what is it you wish

"When

rely "

on you."

Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray

will

make

Now," he said, as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our landlady had provided, " I must discuss it while I eat, for I have not much time. In two hours we It is nearly five now. must be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, clear to you.

returns from her drive at seven.

Briony Lodge

have already arranged what

must be

meet her."

''And what then? " ** You must leave that to

There

occur.

me.

only one point on which

must not interfere, come what may. "I am to be neutral ? " **

To do nothing

unpleasantness.

not join in

veyed into the house.

Four or

room window will open. open window."

You

must ?

will probably be It will

it.

end

some small

being con-

minutes afterwards the

five

You

insist.

You understand

There

whatever.

sitting-

are to station yourself close to that

"Yes." '*

You

are to watch me, for

I will

be visible to you."

" Yes." "

what of

And when I

fire.

give you to

You

Entirely."

shaped rocket,

will be

nothing very formidable," he said, takii.g a long cigar-

roll

from his pocket.

fitted

Your task to

quite follow

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

hand so you will throw into the room throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry

I raise

an ordinary plumber's smoke

It is

with a cap at either end to

When

confined to that.

you

make

raise

taken up by quite a number of people.

the end of the street, and

hope that

will rejoin

have made myself clear

" ?

you

self-lighting.

your cry of

fire, it

You may then walk in ten

minutes.

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. "

remain neutral,

to get near the

window,

watch you,

and, at the signal, to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of

and

fire,

Precisely."

Then you may

" That

at the corner of the street."

you

to wait

entirely rely on I

think perhaps

role I

have to play."

excellent.

prepared for the

new

me." it

almost time that

disappeared into his bedroom, and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and

Nonconformist minded His broad black hat, clergyman. simple

baggy trousers, his white

his

his sympathetic smile,

tie,

and general

look of peering and benevolent curi-

were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled. It was osity

merely that Holmes changed

not

His expression,

his costume.

manner, his very soul seemed vary

with every fresh

part

The

stage

that he assumed.

lost

fine

actor,

even

his to

science lost an acute reasoner,

when he became in

a specialist

crime. It

was a quarter past

when we left

six

Baker-street, and

wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found our-

it still

selves in Serpentine-avenue. It

was already

A SIMPLE-MIWDED CLERGYMAN.

dusk, and the

lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, but the locality appeared to be less private than pected.

ex-

the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood,

was remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbilydressed men smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, it

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of '*

the house,

this marriage rather simplifies matters.

The

photo-

graph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton, as

coming

question

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Where are we to find the photograph

to its

Now

to the eyes of his Princess.

our client

the

" ?

Where, indeed ? ** It is It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's cabinet size. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid dress. **

Two

and searched.

We may

take

then that she does not carry

Where, then

Her banker

But

and they

do their

secreting.

She could

lay her hands it

upon

must be

should she hand

own

guardianship, but

influence might be

remember that she must be where she can

Besides,

in her

own house."

has twice been burgled."

They did not know how Pshaw " But how will you look ? !

are naturally secretive,

political

within a few days.

it.

that double possibility.

Why

trust her

tell

had resolved to use

own

Women

what indirect or bear upon a business man.

brought to

But

There

inclined to think neither.

she could not

about with her."

or her lawyer.

like to

over to any one else

attempts of the sort have already been made.

I will

not look."

What

then

I will

get her to

to look."

" ?

show me."

" But she will refuse." **

She

will not be able to.

her carriage.

Now

carry out

As he spoke the gleam to the door of

men

hear the rumble of wheels.

at the corner

orders to the letter."

of the sidelights of a carriage

came round

was a smart little landau which Briony Lodge. As it pulled up one of the

the curve of the avenue.

But

rattled

loafing

dashed forward to open the door in the hope

earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another loafer who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out,

which was increased by the two guardsmen, who took

sides with

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA, one of the loungers, and by the scissors grinder, hot upon the other side. lady,

who had

blow was struck, and

who was in

equally

an instant the

stepped from her carriage, was the centre of a

knot of flushed and struggling other with their protect the lady

fists ;

and

sticks.

men who

little

struck savagely at each

Holmes dashed

into the

but, just as he reached her, he gave

crowd to a cry and

" HE GAVE A CRY AND DROPPED.

dropped to the ground, with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while a

who had watched

number

of better dressed people

the scuffle without taking part in

help the lady and to attend to the injured man. will still call her,

had hurried up the steps

;

it,

crowded

in to

Irene Adler, as

but she stood at the top

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the

back into the

looking

But

he'll

street.

Is the poor

hall,

gentleman much hurt

" she asked.

dead," cried several voices.

" No, no, there's

life

him," shouted another.

gone before you can get him to hospital." "

They would have had hadn't been for him. They were a

He's a brave fellow," said a woman.

the lady's purse and watch

if it

gang, and a rough one too. Ah, he's breathing now." " He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, ''

Surely.

fortable sofa.

Bring him into the sitting-room. This way, please

marm

There

" ?

a com-

" !

Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge, and laid out in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings

The lamps had been lit, but the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was conspiring, from

post by the window.

or the grace and kindliness with which she waited upon the injured

man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had entrusted to me. I hardened my heart and took the smoke-rocket from under my ulster. After

all, I

thought,

are not injuring her.

are but prevent-

ing her from injuring another.

Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like A maid rushed across and threw open a man who is in want of air. the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand, and at the signai I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of '' Fire." The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well

maids

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;joined

dressed and

ill

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;gentlemen,

and servant Thick clouds of

ostlers,

a general shriek of " Fire."

smoke curled through the room, and out at the open window. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within, assuring them that it was a false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of the uproar. He

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. walked swiftly and turned

down one

some few minutes,

in silence for

of the quiet streets

until

we had

which lead towards the

Ed"'-

ware-road.

You

did

could have been better.

It is all right." "

You have the photograph ** I know where it is." ** And how did you find out **

She showed me, as

still

" Nothing

very nicely, Doctor,'* he remarked.

told

you that she would.'*

in the dark."

do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. " The matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that every one **

the street

They were

was an accomplice.

all

engaged

for the

evening."

I guessed as much.'* " Then, when the row broke out,

in the

palm

hand

hand.

had a

rushed forward,

little fell

moist red paint

down, clapped

and became a piteous spectacle.

face,

trick."

" That also

Then they

What

could fathom."

carried

else could she

And

do?

She was bound

in.

room which I suspected. room, and I was determined to I

motioned

have me

in.

into her sitting-room,

the very

couch,

an old

It is -

which was lay between that and her bed-

They

laid me on a they were compelled to open the window,

for air,

see which.

and you had your chance."

How

did that help you

was all-important.

fire,

her instinct

values most.

It is

" ?

When

woman

thinks that her house

at once to rush to the thing

which she

a perfectly overpowering impulse, and

more than once taken advantage of it. ton Substitution Scandal it was of u^e worth Castle business.

married

have

In the case of the Darlingto

me, and also

woman

in the

Arns-

grabs at her baby

Now

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;an

was clear to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. unmarried one reaches

The photograph

is in

for

her jewel box.

a recess behind a sliding panel just above the

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

She was there in an as she half drew it out. When

right-bell pull.

alarm, she replaced

and

it,

escaped from the house. the photograph at once

may And now ? "

*'Ojr quest

that It

caught a glimpse

cried out that

rose,

and, making

false

excuses,

ruin all."

asked.

practically finished. if

shall call with the

you care to come with

when she comes she may

will

you

call

us. it

King

will be

probable

find neither us nor the photograph.

might be a satisfaction to His Majesty to regain

when

was a

coachman had come in, and, as he seemed safer to wait. A little over-

into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but

hands." " And

but the

;

to-morrow, and with you,

shown

hesitated whether to attempt to secure

was watching me narrowly, precipitance

and

glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room,

have not seen her since.

instant,

with his

own

" ?

She will not be up, so that we shall have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the King without delay." **

At eight

in the

morning.

had reached Baker-street, and had stopped at the door. He was searching his pockets for the key, when some one passing said ** Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the :

greeting appeared to

come from a

slim youth in an ulster

who had

hurried by. " I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the dimly lit street. " Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have

been." III.

I slept at

Baker-street that night, and

we were engaged upon

our toast and coffee when the King of Bohemia rushed into the

room. *'

You have

really got

" he cried, grasping Sherlock

by either shoulder, and looking eagerly into his

Not yet." ** But you have hopes

face.

have hopes."

" ?

Holmes

A SCANDAL

I/V

BOHEMIA.

"Then, come.

impatience to

all

be gone."

must have a

cab." " is

my brougham

No,

waiting."

''Then

that

will

simplify matters."

and

descended,

started

off

for

once Briony

Lodge. *'

Adler

Irene

remarked

married,"

Holmes. "Married! When?" " Yesterday." " But to

whom ?

To an English lawyer named Nor**

ton."

" But

not love him "

GOOD-NIGHT, MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES.*

could

she

hopes

that she does." **

And why

" Because

annoyance.

your Majesty. reason **

own

why is

Majesty

your

all

lady loves her husband,

the

fear

future

she does not

she does not love your Majesty, there

love is

she should interfere with your Majesty's plan."

lapsed into a

would spare If

true.

station

hopes

And

What moody

yet

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Well!

wish she had been of

a queen she would have silence

made

which was not broken

until

my re-

we drew

in Serpentine-avenue.

Lodge was open, and an elderly woman She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stood upon the steps. stepped from the brougham.

The door

of Briony

Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

believe

" said she.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Mr. Holmes," answered

companion, looking at her

with a questioning and rather startled gaze.

Indeed

She

that you were likely to

morning with her husband, by the

this

left

mistress told

call.

from

5.15 train

Charing-cross, for the Continent."

What

Holmes staggered back, white with Do you mean that she has left England ? "

Sherlock

" chagrin and surprise. " Never to return." "

And

the papers

shall see."

" asked the King, hoarsely.

He pushed

The

her

the lady had hurriedly ransacked

Holmes rushed

flight.

and a

before

photograph

The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening To letter was superscribed to *' Sherlock Holmes, Esq. My friend tore it open, and we all three read called for."

letter.

dress, the left till

together.

ran in this "

them

the bell-pull, tore back a small

sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a

furniture

scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves, and

open drawers, as

is lost."

past the servant, and rushed into

the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself.

was

All

way

was dated

midnight of the preceding night, and

My Dear

Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

You took me

well.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;You

really did

Until after the alarm of

in completely.

very fire,

had not a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed I had been warned against you months myself, I began to think. I had been told that, if the King employed an agent, it would ago. I

And your address had been given me. Yet, with Even you made me reveal what you wanted to know.

certainly be you. all

this,

after

became

suspicious,

dear, kind old clergyman.

as an actress myself. often take advantage of

found

hard to think

But, you know,

evil of

such a

have been trained

Male costume is nothing new to me. I the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the

coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking clothes, as I call them, and came down just as you departed. " Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Then I, rather imprudently, wished you the Temple to see my husband. **

good-night, and started for

both thought the best resource was

by so formidable an antagonist

;

flight,

when pursued

so you will find the nest

empty

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA. when you

call

rest in peace.

to-morrow. I

love

and

King may do what he

will

has cruelly wronged.

preserve a

which he might take

very truly yours, " What a woman

;

will

and

than he.

may The

whom

only to safeguard myself, and to

me from any

always secure I

steps

leave a photograph which he

remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, *'

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;oh,

man

without hindrance from one

in the future.

might care to possess

photograph, your client

loved by a better

keep

weapon which

to the

Irene Norton,

what a woman

Abler." the King of *' Did I not

nee

cried

Bohemia, when we had all three read this epistle. tell you how quick and resolute she was ? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Is it not a pity she was not on my "

level

From what

"^~

have seen

of the lady, she seems, in-

Wr:

deed, to be on a very differ-

ent level to your Majesty," said

Holmes,

sorry that

coldly.

have

not been able to bring your

business

jesty's

Masuc-

conclu-

cessful sion." **

trary,

the con-

dear

cried

sir,"

the

King. "Nothing

more successful. 1

could

know

that

word

invio-

The

late.

tograph

he:

as safe as

pho-

now if

it **

were **

THIS PHOTOGRAPH

" I

in the fire." I

" I

am glad to hear your Majesty say so." am immensely indebted to you. Pray

tell

what way

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

can reward you.

This ring

slipped an emerald snake

ring from his finger, and held it out upon the palm of his hand. " Your Majesty has something which I should value even more

highly," said Holmes.

You have but

" This photograph

name

it."

" !

The King

stared at him in amazement. " Irene's photograph " he cried. " Certainly, if you wish it." " I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in !

the matter.

He bowed,

have the honour to wish you a very good morning."

away without observing the hand which the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and, turning

chambers.

And

that

was how a

great

scandal threatened to affect the

Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of

kingdom

late.

And when he speaks

her photograph,

woman.

of Irene Adler,

when he

always under the honourable

refers to

title

of the

II.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE.

HAD day

called

in the

upon

autumn

conversation with

gentleman, with

my pulled

a very

florid-faced,

stout,

deep

elderly

With an apology for withdraw, when Holmes

fiery red hair.

abruptly into the room, and closed the door behind me.

You could

Watson," he "

and found him

of last year,

was about

intrusion, I

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one

friend,

not possibly have

come

at a better time,

dear

said, cordially.

was afraid that you were engaged." " So I am. Very much so." " Then I can wait in the next room." " Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt I

that he will be of the utmost use to

The

yours also."

stout gentleman half rose from his chair, and gave a bob of

greeting, with a quick

little

questioning glance from his small,

fat-

encircled eyes. *'

Try the

settee," said

Holmes, relapsing into his armchair, and

was his custom when know, my dear Watson, that you share my

putting his finger-tips together, as

moods. that

bizarre and outside the conventions and

every-day

life.

You have shown your relish

for

which has prompted you to chronicle, and, saying

so,

somewhat

embellish

humdrum it

love of

all

routine of

by the enthusiasm

you

many

in judicial

will

excuse

my own

little

adventures." " I

Your cases have indeed been

of the greatest interest to

me,"

observed.

You

we went

will

remember that

remarked the other day, just before

into the very simple problem

presented by Miss

Mary

Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations 29

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

3<^

we must go effort of the **

life

itself,

which

always far more daring than any

imagination."

proposition which

took the liberty of doubting.'*

" You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my view, for otherwise I shall keep piling fact upon fact on you, until

your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call right.

upon

this morning,

and

which promises to have listened to for some time.

to begin a narrative

be one of the most singular which

MR. JABEZ WILSON.

You have heard me remark

that the strangest and

most unique

things are very often connected not with the larger but with the

smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there

room for As far as I

doubt whether any positive crime has been committed.

have heard, is

impossible for

to say

whether the present case

an instance of crime or not, but the course of events

among

the most singular that

have ever listened

to.

certainly

Perhaps,

Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. narrative.

ask you, not merely because

Watson

friend Dr.

has not heard the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature

makes me anxious to have every possible detail from As a rule, when I have heard some slight indication of

of the story

your

lips.

the course of events

other similar cases which

instance belief,

occur to

my memory.

In the present

forced to admit that the facts are, to the best of

unique."

The

portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of

pride,

little

able to guide myself by the thousands of

some

and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the

inside pocket of his greatcoat.

ment column, with out upon his knee,

As he glanced down the

advertise-

head thrust forward, and the paper flattened took a good look at the man, and endeavoured

his I

after the fashion of

companion

which

to read the indications

might be presented by his dress or appearance. did not

gain very much, however, by

visitor bore every

mark

of being an average

commonplace

He wore

tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow.

Our

inspection.

British

rather baggy grey

check trousers, a not overclean black frockcoat, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy shepherd's

Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling

ornament.

as an

frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with a

wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. look as

down

Altogether,

would, there was nothing remarkable about the

his blazing red head,

man

save

and the expression of extreme chagrin and

discontent upon his features.

my occupation, and noticed my questioning

Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in his

head with

a smile

he shook glances.

" Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately,

can deduce nothing else."

Mr. Jabez Wilson started up

upon the paper, but "

How, in the name Mr. Holmes ? " he asked. I did

manual labour.

upon

his eyes

It's

in his chair,

with his forefinger

companion.

good fortune, did you know all that, ** How did you know, for example, that

as true as gospel, and

began as a ship's

carpenter."

"Your hands, my dear

sir.

Your

right

hand

quite a size

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

larger than your

You have worked with

left.

and the muscles

it,

more developed."

are

" Well, the snuff, then,

and the Freemasonry

won't insult your intelligence by telling you

how

read that,

especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order,

you use

an arc and compass breastpin." **

Ah, of course,

What

else

where you

rest

**Well, but

The

But the writing

can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiney

and the

five inches,

forgot that.

for

one with the smooth patch near the elbow

left

upon the desk."

China?"

which you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small study of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of fish

a delicate pink

When,

quite peculiar to China.

in addition, I see

a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter becomes

even more simple." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. *'

thought at

was nothing

there **

first

Well,

you had done something

" said he.

clever, but I see that

after all."

begin to think, Watson,"

mistake in explaining.

never

Holmes,

said

Omne ignotum

that

make

pro magnifico,' you know,

my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson ? "

and I

Yes,

have got

planted half-way

began

it all.

You

down

now," he answered, with his thick, red finger " Here

the column.

just read

is.

This

what

for yourself, sir."

took the paper from him and read as follows

To THE Red-Headed League.

account of the bequest

Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Penn., U.S.A., there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to All a salary of four pounds a week for purely nominal services. of the late

red-headed

men who

are sound in body and mind, and above the age

of twenty-one years, are eligible.

eleven o'clock,

Duncan Ross,

Apply

person on Monday, at

the offices of

the

League,

7, Pope's-court, Fleet-street." **

What

on earth does this mean

" I ejaculated,

twice read over the extraordinary announcement.

after

had

THE RED HEADED LEAGUE. Holmes chuckled, and wriggled when in high spirits. It is a little '''

said he.

"And now,

Mr. Wilson,

off

his chair, as

off

the beaten track, isn't

you go

You

tisement had upon your fortunes.

was

about yourself, your household, and the

all

at scratch,

which

effect

will

Doctor, of the paper and the date." " It is The Morning Chronicle, of April

first

and

it ?

tell

this adver-

make

1890.

27,

his habit

note,

Just

two

months ago." Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson ? "Well, it is just as I have been *'

telling

you, Mr. Sherlock

Holmes," said Jabez Wil-

VVHAT ON EARTH DOES THIS MEAN.

son, at

mopping

his forehead, "

have a small pawnbroker's business

Coburg-square, near the City.

of late years

It's

not a very large affair, and

used to be able to keep two assistants, but

and

would have a job

for half

has not done more than just give

now

pay him, but that he

a living.

only keep one willing to

;

come

wages, so as to learn the business."

"What

the

name

of this obliging

Holmes. 4

youth?" asked Sherlock

ADVENTUKES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

" His either.

name

should not wish a smarter

and

know very

and earn twice what

is satisfied,

Why,

say his age.

Mr. Holmes

assistant,

hard

It's

himself,

Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth

why

indeed

;

should

put ideas in his head

know

don't

common

not a

ought to be improving his

Mr. Wilson.

That

cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures.

that your

Never was such Snapping away with a camera when he mind, and then diving down into the

faults, too," said

a fellow for photography.

fault

ex-

not as remarkable as your advertisement."

Oh, he has his

main

after all,

fortunate in having an employe

who comes under the full market price. perience among employers in this age. assistant

But

able to give him.

You seem most

well that he could better

but on the whole, he's a good worker.

;

his

There's no vice

him."

is still

"Yes,

with you,

sir.

and a

girl

pay our debts,

The

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;that's

who

does a bit of simple

all I

have

first

Spaulding, he

the house,

widower, and never had any family.

quietly, sir, the three of us

of fourteen,

cooking, and keeps the place clean for

presume

live

very

and we keep a roof over our heads, and

;

we do nothing more. thing that

came down

put

was

out

into the office just this

with this very paper in his hand, and he says " I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that :

advertisement.

that

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

day eight weeks

was

a red-headed

man.' ** '

Why

that

Why,' says Red-headed Men. gets

it,

and

asks.

he,

here's another

It's

worth quite a

vacancy on the League of the little

fortune to any

man who

understand that there are more vacancies than there

men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to do with If my hair would only change colour, here's a nice the money. are

little crib all ''

ready for

Why, what

me it,

to step into.'

then

a very stay-at-home man,

my having to go my foot over the

instead of

putting

much

of news.

it,

and, as I

was

door-mat.

what was going on

You

asked.

outside,

my often

Mr. Holmes,

business

came

weeks on end without

In that

and

see,

way

didn't

was always glad

know

of a bit

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. "

Have you never heard Men?' he asked, with his eyes

of the

Never/

Why,

wonder

League

Red-headed

the

open.

you are

at that, for

eligible yourself for

one of

the vacancies.

And what

are they worth

asked.

Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work shght, and it need not

interfere

much

with

very one's

other occupations.'

"the league has a

vacancy."

" Well, you can easily think that that made

prick up

has not been over good for some years, and an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. ears, for the business

" *Tell

all

about

it,'

said

"'Well,' said he, showing for yourself that the

League has

the advertisement,

a vacancy, and there

you can see

the address

As far as I can make out, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself redheaded, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men so,

where you should apply

for particulars.

;

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

when he

died,

was found

that he had

enormous fortune

his

left

the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the interest to the

providing of easy herths to all I

hear '

men whose

splendid pay, and very

it is

But,' said

hair little

to do.'

'there would be millions of red-headed

From

of that colour.

men who

would apply.' *' '

Not so many

you might

think,' he answered.

Londoners, and to grown men.

really confined to

You

see

This American

had started from London when he w^as young, and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your applying bright,

real,

your hair

lightj'ed, or dark red, or

Now,

blazing, fiery red.

you cared

Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps

worth your while to put yourself out of the way

anything but apply, Mr.

would hardly be

for the sake of a

few

hundred pounds.' "

Now,

is is

that

hair

that,

there

a fact, gentlemen, as of a very full

was

to be

useful, so to

know

man much

just ordered

tint, so

any competition

good a chance as any

seemed

and rich

you may see

that

about

him

that

to put

seemed

in the matter, I

had ever met. it

for yourselves,

that

stood as

Vincent Spaulding

thought he might prove

up the shutters

for the day,

and

come right away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday, we shut the business up, and started off for the address that was

given us in the advertisement. " I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes.

From

north, south, east, and west every

man who had

a shade of

red in his hair had tramped into the City to answer the advertise-

ment.

was choked with red-headed

Fleet-street

court looked like

coster's

thought there were so

many

orange barrow. in the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; straw, lemon,

Spaulding

and Pope's-

should not have

whole country as were brought

together by that single advertisement.

were

folk,

Every shade

of colour they

orange^ brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay

said, there

When

were not maany who had the

;

but, as

real vivid flame-

saw how maany were waiting, I would have How given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear of it. he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up to the steps which There was a double stream upon the stair, some led to the office. coloured

going

tint.

hope,

and

some coming back dejected

;

but

THE REDHEADED LEAGUE. wedged

as well as

could, and soon found

ourselves in

the

office."

Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Holmes, as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge *'

pinch of snuff. " Pray continue your very interesting statement." " There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs

and a deal

table,

behind which

sat

small man, with

head

was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in them which would disqualify

that

Getting

them.

vacancy did not seem such

very

easy matter after

all.

However, when

our

turn came, the

little

man was more favourable to me than to any of the others, and he closed the door as

entered,

might

that

have

word with us. *"This is Mr.

private

Wilson,'

Jabez

my assistant, is

willing to

said

and he

fill

" HE CONGRATULATED ME WARMLY.

a va-

cancy in the League.' "

And he

admirably suited for

has every requirement.

so fine.'

and gazed

cannot recall when

have seen anything

Then suddenly he wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on hair until

I felt

quite bashful.

success. "

the other answered.

took a step backwards, cocked his head on one side,

plunged forward,

it,'

would be

sure, excuse

he seized

the pain.

injustice to hesitate,' said he.

for taking

You

an obvious precaution.'

hair in both his hands, and tugged until

There

water

will,

however,

With

that

yelled with

your eyes,' said he, as he released me.

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

But we have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the window, and shouted through it at '

perceive that

all is

should be.

was

the top of his voice that the vacancy

appointment came up from below, and the different directions, until there

my own

and that

"'My

was not

'is

upon the fund you a married man, Mr. Wilson ? " I answered that I had not. "

fell

Dear me

' !

folk all trooped

dis-

away

a red head to be seen except

Duncan Ross, and

Mr.

of the pensioners

His face

groan of

manager.

of the

name,' said he,

filled.

myself one

by our noble benefactor.

left

Have you

a family

Are

immediately.

said, gravel}^,

that

very serious indeed

The fund was,

sorry to hear you say that.

of course, for the

propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their maintenance.

exceedingly unfortunate that you

should

bachelor.' *'

face lengthened at this, Mr.

was not

for a

have the vacancy after

few minutes, he said that

"'In the case

of another,'

upon your new duties said

Well,

;

for I

thought that

but, after thinking

over

would be

all right.

said

'the objection might be

he,

favour

When

such a head of hair as yours. *'

all

must stretch a point

but w^e

fatal,

Holmes,

shall

man

you be able

with

to enter

little

awkward,

for I

have a business already,'

Oh, never mind about

Spaulding. '* '

Now

Ten

Mr. Wilson

' !

said

Vincent

shall be able to look after that for you.'

What would

that,

be the hours

asked.

to two.'

a pawnbroker's business

mostly done of an evening,

Mr. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just so it would suit me very well to earn a little before pay-day Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good in the mornings. ;

man, and that he would see to anything that turned up. " That would suit me very well,' said I. And the pay? *' Is four pounds a week.' '

'And the work?'

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. **

Is purely nominal.'

What

Well, you have to be in the

do you

the whole time.

The

ever.

said

your whole position

point. office

You

for

comply

don't

during that time.'

should not think of leaving,'

excuse will

your

Mr.

avail,' said

nor business, nor anything

Duncan

Ross,

There you must

else.

neither sickness, stay, or

you

lose

billet.'

'And

Is to

the work?' "

copy out the

volume of

first

upon that

you budge from the

or at least in the building,

forfeit

only four hours a day, and

It's

office,

you

leave,

will is very clear

with the conditions **

you

purely nominal

call

Encyclopaedia Britannica."

You must

in that press.

and blotting-paper, but we provide

find

this table

There

the

your own ink, pens,

and chair.

Will you

be ready to-morrow ? " Certainly,' I answered. *

Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you once more on the important position which you have been fortunate enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room, and I "

went home with I

was

so pleased

Well,

low

thought over the matter

;

object

might be

make such

that any one could

pay such a sum

for

look at

what

its

seemed altogether past

a will, or that they would

Vincent Spaulding did what he could

up, but by bedtime

However,

whole thing.

fraud, though

doing anything so simple as copying out the

Encyclopaedia Britannica.'

to cheer

had quite persuaded myself that the

for I

could not imagine.

to say or do,

day, and by evening

all

must be some great hoax or

affair

again

spirits

whole belief

my assistant, hardly knowing what at my own good fortune.

anyhow, so

had reasoned myself out

the morning

of the

determined to have a

bought a penny bottle of ink, and with

a quill pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper,

started off for

Pope's-court. **

possible.

and delight everything was as right as The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan

Well, to

Ross was there upon the

surprise

to see that

letter A,

got fairly to work.

and then he

time to time to see that

all

left

was

;

started

off

but he would drop in from

right with

me.

At two o'clock he

ADVEMLRES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

bade

written,

me upon

good-day, complimented

and locked the door of the

amount

the

oftice after

that

had

me.

" This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the

manager came

and planked down four golden sovereigns

for

was the same next week, and the same the week Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I

week's work. after.

in It

wmasfHfKimi

Ross took

coming

once

only

he did

after a time,

come

all.

course,

Still,

and then,

morning,

not

de-

Duncan

Mr.

grees

at two.

left

never dared to leave

room

the

for

stant, for

sure

in-

was not

when he might

come, and the

was such and

a good one,

suited

that

well,

billet

would

not risk the loss of **

it.

Eight weeks

passed away like

and

had

written

and

Abbots,

about

this,

Archery, and Armour,

and Architecture, and and

Attica,

THE DOOR WAS SHUT AND LOCKED

with diligence that

might get on to the Bs before very long. in foolscap,

and

had pretty nearly

filled

It cost

with a

little

at ten

o'clock, but the

square of cardboard

panel with a tack.

Here

it is,

me something

a shelf with

writings.

And then suddenly the whole business came to an end." ''To an end?" "Yes^ sir. And no later than this morning. I went work as usual

hoped

door was shut and locked,

hammered on

to the

and you can read

middle of the

for yourself."

THE RED HEADED LEAGUE. He

held

piece of white cardboard, about the

sheet of notepaper. "

read in this fashion

The Red-Headed League Sherlock Holmes and

the rueful face behind

it,

of a

Dissolved.

si::e

Oct.

i8go."

surveyed this curt announcement and the comical side of the affair so

until

completely overtopped every other consideration that we both burst out into a roar of laughter. " I cannot see that there client, flushing

anything very funny," cried our

to the roots of his flaming head.

" If

you can

do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." " No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from which he had half risen. " I really w^ouldn't miss your case for

most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the

the world.

door?" I was

staggered,

**'

called at the

sir.

did not

none of

round, but

offices

went

accountant living on the ground

floor,

and

anything

tell

about

Finally,

it.

me what had become

of the

He answered

that

Well,' said

What, the red-headed man

do.

the landlord, I

asked him

who

he could

said that

Then I asked him who Mr. the name was new to him."

'the gentleman at No.

Red-headed League.

he had never heard of any such body.

Duncan Ross was.

Then I them seemed to know

know what

4.'

"'Yes.' "

Oh,'

solicitor,

said

he,

his

and was using

name was William

my room

Morris.

He was

a temporary convenience

new premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Where could I find him ? Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes,

until his

17,

King Edward- street, near St. Paul's.' "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when

was a manufactory

of artificial knee-caps,

got to that address

and no one

had ever

heard of either Mr. William Morris, or Mr. Duncan Ross." " And what did you do then ? " asked Holmes. "

went home

Saxe-Coburg-square, and

took the advice

AD VENTURES OF SHERL O CK HOLMES.

But he could not help me

assistant.

only say that

if I

waited

Holmes.

place without a struggle, so, as

enough right

could

But that was not

did not wish to lose such a

had heard that you were good who were in need of it, I came

to you."

And you

did very wisely," said

exceedingly remarkable

one, and

From what you have

it.

to give advice to poor folk

away

any way.

should hear by post.

quite good enough, Mr.

told

shall

I I

Your case is an be happy to look into

Holmes.

think that

js possible that

graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." " Grave enough " said Mr. Jabez Wilson. '* Why, I have lost !

pound a week." " As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, " I do not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary

four

league.

the contrary, you are, as

thirty pounds, to say nothing of the

understand, richer by some

minute knowledge which you

have gained on every subject which comes under the

You have

letter A.

nothing by them."

lost

want to find out about 'them, and who they are, and what their object was in playing this prank if it was a prank upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it cost them two-and-thirty pounds." *'

No,

But

sir.

—

first,

who

shall

endeavour

to clear

up these points

one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. first

And,

This assistant of yours

called your attention to the advertisement "

he been with you

for you.

— how long

had

''About a month then." "

How

did he

come

" ?

" In answer to an advertisement." " Was he the only applicant." " No, *'

Why

had a dozen." did

you pick him

" ?

Because he was handy, and would come cheap.'*

At half wages,

in fact."

**Yes." "

What

Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face,

like, this

though he's not short of his forehead."

Vincent Spaulding

thirty.

Has

a white splash of acid upon

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. Holmes

" I chair in considerable excitement. " Have you ever observed that his said he.

sat

thought as much,"

his

ears are pierced for earrings

" Yes,

sir.

told

" ?

that a gipsy had done

for

him when

he was a lad."

Hum

" said "

with vou

still

Holmes, sinking back

deep thought.

" Oh, yes, sir;

business been attended to in your absence

And has your

have only just

" Nothing to complain

him."

left

much

There's never very

of, sir.

to do of

a mornmoj.

That

son.

be happy to

shall

give you an opinion

subject

the

and

hope

upon the

course of a

day or two. To-day day,

Wil-

will do, Mr.

Satur-

that

Monday we may come

to a

conclusion."

Watson,"

Well,

said

Holmes, when our visitor had left us, ''what do you

make " I

of I

all ?

make nothing

of it,"

answered, frankly.

It is

a most mysterious business."

"As

a rule," said Holmes, ''the

bizarre

a thing

the

proves

be.

featureless crimes just

less

your

difficult to

mysterious

commonplace,

which are really puzzling,

commonplace identify. But

face I

the

most

must be prompt

over this matter."

"HE CURLED HIMSELF UP

HIS CHAIR."

"To and

"What

arc you going to do then ?"

^3j^^^^

smoke," he answered.

" It is quite a three pipe problem,

beg that you won't speak to

for fifty minutes."

curled

himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his hawklike nose,

and there he

sat with his eyes closed

and his black clay

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

pipe thrusting out like the

bill of

some strange

bird.

had come

the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and indeed

was nodding

when he suddenly sprang out of his chair with the gesture man who has made up his mind, and put his pipe down upon

myself, of a

the mantelpiece. " Sarasate plays at the St. James's

remarked.

"What

do you think, Watson?

spare you for a few hours "

have nothing

Hall this afternoon," he

Could your patients

" ?

do to-day.

practice

never very

absorbing."

Then, put on your hat, and come. I am going through the I observe that City first, and we can have some lunch on the way. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is *'

taste than Italian or French. Come along " to introspect.

rather more to

and

want

It is introspective,

travelled by the

Underground as

far as Aldersgate

;

and a

short walk took us to Saxe-Coburg-square, the scene of the singular story

which we had listened

little,

to in the morning.

was a pokey,

shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy two-storied

brick houses looked out into a small railed-in enclosure,

where a

lawn of weedy grass, and a few clumps of faded laurel bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and uncongenial atmosphere.

Three white

gilt

and a brown board with '* Jabez Wilson " in upon a corner house, announced the place where

balls

letters,

our red-headed client carried on his business. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between puckered lids.

Then

he walked slowly up the street and then down again to the corner, Finally he returned to the still looking keenly at the houses. pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up to the door and

knocked.

was

instantly

opened

by a bright-looking, clean-

shaven young fellow, who asked him to step in. "Thank you," said Holmes, " I only wished to ask you how you

would go from here to the Strand." " Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, closing the door.

"Smart "

is,

fellow, that," observed

Holmes

judgment, the fourth smartest

we walked away. man in London, and

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. for I

daring

not sure

that he has not a claim to be third.

have known something of him before."

" Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that

"Evidently," said

you inquired your way merely

"Not him." " What then ? " The knees of his *'

order that you might see him."

trousers."

And what

did

you see

"What

ex-

pected to see." ''

W^hy

did you

the "

pave-

beat

ment "

dear Doca time

tor, this is

for observation, not

for talk.

are

an enemy's

spies in

We know

country.

something of SaxeCoburg-square. Let us

now

explore the

parts which

hind

which

road

turned

found

v/e

round

the

ourselves

corner from the tired

be-

it."

The

THE DOOR WAS INSTANTLY OPENED.

lie

re-

Saxe-Coburg-

square presented as great a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was one of the main arteries which convey the traffic of

the City to the north and west.

The roadway was blocked

with the immense stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inwards and outwards, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians.

was

difficult to realise

looked at the line of fine shops and stately business premises that

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

they really abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which we had just quitted. **

Let

along the

line,

houses here.

London.

Holmes, standing

see," said

should

hobby

It is a

There

like just

mine

at the corner,

and glancing

remember the order

have an exact knowledge of

Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the shop, the Coburg branch of the City and is

little

of the

newspaper

Suburban Bank, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building depot.

other

That

carries us right

we've done our work, so

we had some

play.

of coffee,

violin-land,

the

And now% Doctor,

block.

and a cup

where

sandwich,

and then all

time

it's

off to

sweetness, and delicacy, and

harmony, and there are no red-headed clients to vex us w^ith their

conundrums."

My friend was

being him-

siastic musician, self not

an enthu-

only a very capable

performer, but a composer

no ordinary merit.

All

the afternoon he sat in the stalls

wrapped

perfect

waving in

in the

most

gently

happiness,

his long thin fingers

time to the music, while

his gently smiling face

and ALL AFTEKNOON HE SAT IN THE STALLS.

his

languid

dreamy eyes

were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, relentless, keen-witted,

In his singular character the dual nature alter-

sible to conceive.

nately asserted

ready-handed criminal agent,

Holmes the as it was pos-

itself,

and his extreme exactness and astuteness

have often thought, the reaction against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally predominated

represented,

him.

The swing

him from extreme languor knew well, he was never so truly

of his nature took

to devouring energy; and, as

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE.

formidable as when, for days on end, he had been lounging in his

armchair amid his improvisations and

Then

him,

and that his

level

of intuition,

was that the

black-letter

editions.

chase would suddenly come upon

lust of the

reasoning power would rise to the

brilliant

who were unacquainted with his him as on a man whose knowledge

those

until

his

methods would look askance at was not that of other mortals.

When

saw him that afternoon so

enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set himself to hunt down. '*

You want

go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked, as

emerged. **

Yes,

would be as well."

And

have some business to do which

This business at Coburg-square *'

Why

serious

serious."

" ?

considerable crime

to believe that

some hours.

will take

is in

contemplation.

shall be in time to stop

Saturday rather complicates matters.

But to-day being

it.

want

shall

have every reason your

help

be some

little

to-night."

"At what time?" ** Ten will be early enough." **

shall be at Baker-street at ten."

*'Very danger, so

And,

well.

Doctor! there

say.

kindly put your

army

waved

his hand, turned on his heel,

among

the crowd.

trust that

with Sherlock Holmes.

Here

about to happen, while to

revolver in your pocket."

and disappeared

not more dense than

my own

always oppressed with a sense of

may

an instant

neighbours, but

stupidity in

was

dealings

had heard what he had heard, I had seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that he saw clearly not only what had happened, but what was

and grotesque. I

thought over

copier of the

it all,

square, and the

drove

the whole business

home

was

house

still

confused

Kensington

from the extraordinary story of the red-headed

Encyclopaedia " down to the

Saxe-Coburgominous words with which he had parted from me. nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed?

What was this Where were we

going, and

what were we

visit to

to do

had the hint

from Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

man â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a man who

a formidable

puzzle

out, but

gave

until night should bring

in despair,

my way

the passage,

room,

started from

home and made

were standing

at the door, and, as

Baker-

entered

heard the sound of voices from above. On entering found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, I

whom

one of

matter aside

set the

across the Park, and so through Oxford-street

Two hansoms

street.

and

tried to

an explanation.

was a quarter past nine when

his

play a deep game.

mi^:!;ht

recognised as Peter Jones, the official police agent while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I

;

Ha! our party

complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his pea

jacket, and taking his heavy hunting-crop from the rack. I

know Mr.

think you

you

Jones, of Scotland-yard

Mr. Merryweather, who

our companion

to be

Let

Watson,

introduce

in to-night's

adventure."

" We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones, " Our friend here is a wonderful man for in his consequential way. starting a chase.

All he

wants

an old dog to help him to do the

running down."

hope a wild goose may not prove observed Mr. Merryweather, gloomily. '*

'*You

may

and

are, if

end of our chase,"

place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir,"

said the police agent, loftily.

which

to be the

he won't mind

own

has his

saying

so, just

little

methods,

too theoretical

he has the makings of a detective in him. It is to say that once or twice, as in that business of the

fantastic, but

not too

much

Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force."

"Oh,

you say

with deference.

Saturday night

first

Mr. Jones,

so,

Still, I

for

it is

confess that

all I

right

miss

" said the stranger,

rubber.

seven-and-twenty years that

It is

the

have not had

rubber." *'

think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, " that you will

play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and that the play will be

exciting.

For you, Mr. Merryweather,

some thirt}^ thousand pounds and for you, Jones, will be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." " John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's

the stake will be it

;

THE RED-IIEADED LEAGUE.

Menyweather, but he is at the head of his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Clay. His grandfather was a Royal Duke, and he himself has been to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where a 30ung man, Mr.

to find the

man

and be raising money

been on his track

him

yet."

hope that

night.

and

I've

may have

had one or two

first

set

eyes on

the pleasure of introducing you to-

turns also with Mr. John Clay,

little is

at the

head of his profession.

past ten, however, and quite time that

take the

Cornwall the next.

and have never

years,

for

agree with you that he

an orphanage

to build

I've

He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week,

himself.

hansom, Watson and

I will

started.

It is

you two

will

follow in the second."

Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive,

and lay back

heard

in the afternoon.

gas-lit streets until '*

humming

the tunes which he had

rattled through an endless labyrinth of

we emerged

are close there now,"

Menyweather matter.

in the cab

into Farringdon-street.

friend remarked.

fellow

a bank director and personally interested in the

thought

has one positive virtue. tenacious as a lobster

brave

his

and they are waiting

had reached the same crowded thoroughfare

not

bulldog, and

he gets his claws upon any one.

in the

profession.

are,

had found ourselves

as well to have Jones with us also.

a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in

"This

Here

for us." in

which we

Our cabs were dismissed, and, Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a

morning.

following the guidance of

narrow passage, and through a side door, which he opened for us. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding stone steps, which

terminated at another formidable

Merryweather stopped to

gate.

Mr.

and then conducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all round with crates

light a lantern,

and massive boxes.

"You

are not very vulnerable from above,"

^s he held

Holmes remarked,

up the lantern, and gazed about him. 5

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

5° **

Nor from below,"

upon the

said

Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick

which Hned the

floor.

" he remarked, looking

flags

quite hollow " I must really ask you to be a !

severely.

the whole

You have success

little

Why,

dear me,

sounds

in surprise.

quiet," said

Holmes,

already imperilled

our

expedition.

beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those

Might

boxes, and not to interfere

The

Mr.

solemn

Merryweather perched himself upon a crate,

with

injured

very

expression

upon

his

face, while

Holmes

fell

upon

his knees

upon

the floor, and, with the lantern and a magnilens,

fying

began to

examine minutely the the cracks between

stones.

few seconds

sufficed to satisfy him, for

he sprang to his

and put his

feet again,

glass in his pocket.

have

at least

an hour before us," he remarked, '' for they can hardly take any steps until the good

pawnbroker in

Then

bed.

safely

they

will not lose a minute, for the

their

««i,ir.

merryweather sTorrED to light a lantern."

sooner they do

work the longer time they

will

have for their escape.

are

Doctor— as no doubt you have divined— in the cellar of the branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Merry-

at present,

City

weather

the chairman of directors, ^nd he will explain to you

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE. are reasons

that there

why

the more daring criminals of

London

should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present." '' " It is our French gold," whispered the director. We have

had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon " Your French gold

it."

" ?

had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed, for that purpose, thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France. It has become known that we have never *'

Yes.

unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The crate upon which I sit contains two thousand napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our reserve of had occasion

much

bullion

branch

office,

larger at present than

and

the

usually kept in a single

have had misgivings upon the

directors

subject."

"Which were now

very well justified,"

time that we arranged our

observed Holmes. plans.

little

within an hour matters will come to a head.

''And

expect that

In the meantime,

Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." '*

And

and

sit in

the dark

afraid so.

had brought a pack

thought that, as we were

rubber after

gone so

all.

But

partie carree,

pocket,

you might have your

see that the enemy's preparations have

we cannot

far that

of cards in

risk the presence of a light.

And,

first

we must choose our positions. These are daring men, and, though we shall take them at a disadvantage they may do us some harm, unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a light of all,

upon them, close

swiftly.

they

fire,

Watson, have no com-

punction about shooting them down." I

placed

behind which

of his lantern,

darkness as

revolver, cocked,

Holmes

crouched.

and

left

upon the top

us in pitch

darkness

notice.

to a pitch of expectancy,

subduing

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such The

have never before experienced.

moment's

still

To me, with my

there

wooden case

shot the slide across the front

metal remained to assure us that the light was flash out at a

of the

was

an absolute smell of hot

there, ready to

nerves worked up

something depressing

and

the sudden gloom, and in the cold, dank air of the

vault.

" They have but one retreat," whispered

Holmes.

That

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

back through the house into Saxe-Coburg-square.

hope that you

have done what I asked 3^ou, Jones ? " I have an inspector and two officers waiting "

Then we have stopped

all

the holes.

at the front door."

And now we must

and wait."

silent

What

a time

From comparing

seemed!

notes afterwards

was but an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost gone, and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position, yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle breathing of

companions, but

could distinguish the deeper, heavier

in-

breath of the bulky Jones from the thin sighing note of the bank director.

From my

direction

the

position

could

Suddenly

floor.

look over the case in

the

caught the glint of

eyes

a light.

first it

was but a

lurid spark

upon the stone pavement.

Then

became a yellow line, and then, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again save the single lurid spark, which marked a chink between the stones. With a rendIts disappearance, however, was but momentary. ing, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon it

lengthened out until

its side,

and

left

a square, gaping hole, through

which streamed the

Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder high and waist high, until light of a lantern.

In another instant he stood at the

one knee rested upon the edge. side of the hole,

and small

and was hauling

like himself,

after

him

a companion, lithe

with a pale face and a shock of very red

hair. *'

It's all clear,"

he whispered.

Have you

the chisel and the

Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the

bags.

collar.

Great Scott!

The

rending cloth

other dived

down

the hole, and

as Jones clutched at his skirts.

heard the sound of

The

light flashed

THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE.

upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone floor. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly; " you have no chance at '*

all."

see,"

fancy that

the

other answered, with

pal

all

right,

though

the I

see

utmost coolness.

you have got

hisi

coat-tails."

'it's

** **

very **

use,

JOHN CLAY."

There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Oh, indeed. You seem to have done the thing very com-

pletely.

must compliment you."

And I you," Holmes answered. new and effective." You'll

see

" Your red-headed idea was

your pal again presently,"

said

Jones.

He's

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

quicker at climbing I

fix

down

holes than

am.

Just hold out while

the derbies."

beg that you

touch

not

will

with your filthy hands,"

remarked our prisoner, as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists.

"You may

not be aware that

the goodness also

have royal blood

when you address me always

Have

veins.

to say

sir

and

'please.'" **

right," said Jones, with a stare

All

would you

please,

march

sir,

upstairs,

and a snigger.

where we can get a cab

carry your highness to the police-station." " That is better," said John Clay, serenely.

sweeping bow to the three of

us,

''Well,

He made

and walked quietly

off

in the

custody of the detective. " Really, Mr. Holmes," said

them

from the cellar, "

Merryweather, as we followed

I\Ir.

how

do not know

bank can thank you or repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts

bank

robbery

that

have

the

ever

come within

experience." *'

have had one or two

little

scores of

my own

to settle

with

some small expense over this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the Red-headed League." Mr. John Clay," said Holmes,

You

have been

Watson," he explained, in the early hours of the morning, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker-street, " it was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible object see,

of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the

and the copying of the

Encyclopaedia,' must be to get this not

over-bright pawnbroker out of the day.

was a curious way

difficult to

League,

suggest a better.

way

for a

number

of hours every

managing it, but really it would be The method was no doubt^suggeSted

mind by the colour of his accomplice's hair. The four pounds a week was a lure which must draw him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands ? They put to Clay's ingenious

in the advertisement;

rogue incites the

man

one rogue has the temporary to apply for

it,

and

office,

togethe** they

the other

manage

The red-headed league:. From

secure his absence every morning in the week. I

heard of the assistant having come for half wages,

some strong motive for securing the " But how could you guess what the motive was ?

the time that

that he had

Had

women

there been

business

the house.

What

situation."

should have suspected

That, however, was out of the question.

a mere vulgar intrigue.

The man's

in the house, I

was obvious

was nothing in his house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and such an expenditure as they were at. It must then be something out of for

was a small

could

be?

one, and there

thought of the assistant's fondness

photography, and his trick of vanishing into the

cellar

There was the end

of this tangled

cellar.

Then

clue.

and found that

inquiries as to this mysterious assistant,

The made

had to

deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London.

He was

doing something in the cellar

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something which took many

What

hours a day for months on end.

could

be,

once more?

could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some other building. " So far

had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I I was surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It

was not sistant

Then

in front.

answered

it.

rang the

and, as

hoped, the as-

have had some skirmishes, but we had

never set eyes on each other before.

His knees were what

bell,

wished to

see.

hardly looked at his face.

You must

yourself have

remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were.

They spoke of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw that the City and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert

bank

called

upon Scotland-yard, and upon the chairman

directors, with the result that

"And how to-night

" Well,

could you

tell

of the

you have seen."

that they would

make

their attempt

asked.

when they

closed their

League

offices that

was a

they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence

words, that they had completed their tunnel. that they should use

might be removed.

But

sign that ;

was

in other

essential

might be discovered, or the bullion Saturday would suit them better than any other it

soon, as

Adventures oe Sherlock holmes.

5(5

day, as

reasons *'

would give them two days

for their escape.

For

all

these

expected them to come to-night."

You reasoned "

admiration.

out so

beautifully,"

long

exclaimed, in unfeigned

a chain, and yet

every link rings

true."

saved

already feel effort

And you

He sorne

from ennui," he answered, yawning.

closing in upon me.

life

are a benefactor of the race," said

use," he remarked.

c'est tout,' as

Alas

These

little

to do so."

shrugged his shoulders.

little

spent in one long

escape from the commonplaces of existence.

problems help **

Gustave Flaubert

Well, perhaps, after all, it is of " L'homme c'est rien I'oeuvre

WM'ote to

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Georges Sand."

111.

THE ADVENTURE OF A CASE OF IDENTITY.

either side of the **

fire

man

sat

in his lodgings at Baker-street,

infinitely stranger

life

Sherlock Holmes, as

dear fellow," said

than

anything which the

would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of If we could fly out of that v/indow hand in hand, hover

mind

existence.

could invent.

over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and peep in at the

queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, Vv'orking it

cross-purposes,

the

wonderful

the

through generations, and leading

would make

with

fiction

all

chains of

to the

most

conclusions most stale and unprofitahle." " And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered.

which come extreme

its

to light in the papers are, as a rule, hald

vulgar enough.

have

foreseen

The

cases

enough, and

our police reports realism pushed to

and yet the result

limits,

outre results,

conventionalities and

its

events,

is,

must he confessed,

neither fascinating nor artistic."

must be used

certain selection and discretion

remarked Holmes.

a realistic effect," police report,

" This

producing

vÂť^anting in

upon the platitudes which to an observer con-

where more

stress is laid perhaps

upon the details, Depend upon tain the vital essence of the whole matter. is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of the magistrate than

smiled and shook

thinking so,"

head.

adviser and helper to everybody

f.'om the first

there

can quite understand you

who

absolutely puzzled, through-

out three continents, you are brought in contact with

ground â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

" Of course, in your position of unofficial

said.

strange and bizarre.

the

But let

here "

us put

heading upon which

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

that

picked up the morning paper

to a practical test.

come.

all

*A husband's

Here

the

cruelty to his

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

There

wife.' it

that

other

woman,

column

half a

of print, but

know without reading

There

perfectly familiar to me.

all

of course, the

is,

the drink, the push, the blow, the bruise, the sympa-

thetic sister or landlady.

The

crudest of writers could invent nothing

more crude." " Indeed, your example

an unfortunate one

your argu-

for

ment," said Holmes, taking the paper, and glancing his eye down

Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of

it.

"This

the

winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling them at his wife, which you wdll allow is not an action likely to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. of

Doctor, and acknowledge that

snuff.

Take a pinch

have scored over you

your example."

held out his snuff-box of old gold, with a great amethyst in

the centre of the

homely ways and simple upon it.

"Ah," weeks. for

said he,

It is

little

splendour was in such contrast to his

Its

lid.

life

forgot

that

could

not

which sparkled upon

help

commenting

had not seen you

souvenir from the King of

my assistance in the case of "And the ring?" I asked, "

that

Bohemia

for

some

in return

the Irene Adler papers."

glancing at a remarkable brilHant

his finger.

was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of

my "

little

problems."

And have you any on hand

just

now?

" I

asked with interest.

" Sorne ten or twelve, but none which presents any feature of interest.

They

are important, you understand, without being in-

Indeed,

teresting.

matters that there

have found that

usually in unimportant

a field for the observation, and for the quick

analysis of cause and effect which gives the gation.

The

cases, save for one rather intricate matter

me from

investi-

larger crimes are apt to be the simpler, for the bigger

the crime, the more obvious, as a rule,

charm

Marseilles, there

the motive.

In these

which has been referred

nothing which presents any features

A CASE OF IDENTITY. of interest.

possible, however, that

many minutes are am much mistaken."

better before very clients, or I

He had

risen from

his chair,

down

parted blinds, gazing

Looking over

street.

into

may have something

over, for this is one of

and was standing between the

London

the dull, neutral-tinted

his shoulder

opposite there stood a large

saw that on the pavement

woman

with a heavy fur boa round

her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat

which was

tilted

over her ear.

a coquettish Duchess-of-Devonshire fashion

From under

this great

panoply she peeped up

in a

nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated

backwards and forwards, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove

swimmer who

Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the

buttons.

the bank, she hurried across the road, and

we heard

leaves

the sharp clang

of the bell.

have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing

his cigarette into the fire.

" Oscillation

means an

She would

affaire de cceur.

that the matter

upon the pavement always

advice, but

not too delicate for communication.

not sure

And

yet

may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Here we may take it that there is a love is a broken bell wire. /natter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or even here we

But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed merchantman grieved.

behind a tiny pilot boat.

Sherlock Holmes welcomed her with the

easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and having closed the door, and

bowed her

into an armchair, he looked her over in the

minute, and yet abstracted fashion which was peculiar to him.

"Do little

you not

find,"

trying to do so I

letters

did at first,"

are

he said, "that with your short sight

much

typewriting

she answered, " but

without looking."

it is

now

know where

the

Then, suddenly realising the

full

purport of his words, she gave a violent start, and looked up with fear

and

astonishment

upon

her

broad,

good-humoured

"You've heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she could you know all that?"

cried,

face.

"else how

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

6o **

Never mind," said Holmes, laughing, "

know

things.

overlook. ''

Perhaps

If not,

came

why

to you,

sir,

business to

have trained myself to see what others

should you come to consult

because

" ?

heard of you from Mrs. Etherege,

whose husband you found so easy when the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes,

police I

and everyone had

wish you would do as

SHERLOCK HOLMES WELCOMED HER.

much for me. I'm own right, besides would give "

Why

the

little

still I

that

have a hundred a year

make by

the

machine, and

know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." you come away to consult me in such a hurry?"

it all

did

not rich, but

asked Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together, and his eyes to the ceiling.

A CASE OF IDENTITY.

Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of " Yes, I did bang out of the house," she Miss Mary Sutherland. said, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in \vhich Mr.

Windibank— that

is,

father— took

He would

all.

the police, and he would not go to you, and so at

not go to

as he would

last,

do nothing, and kept on saying that there was no harm done,

made me mad, and

just on with

came

things and

away

right

to 3^ou."

"Your father,'' name is different."

" Yes,

said

Holmes, "your

step-father.

funny, too, for he

step-father, surely, since the

him

call

though

father,

sounds

only five years and two months older tlian

mvself." •J

And your mother

alive

mother

yes,

alive

" ?

and

well.

wasn't best pleased, Mr.

Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was a plumber in the Tottenham Court-road, and he left a tidy business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the

foreman, but wdien Mr. Windibank came he made

They

superior,

thousand seven

four

got

was very

business, for

her

the

sell

being a traveller in wdnes.

hundred

the

for

and

goodwill

which wasn't near as much as father could have got

interest,

he had been alive." I

to see Sherlock

had expected

Holmes impatient under

this

rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he

had listened with the greatest concentration " Your

own

of attention.

income," he asked, " does

little

come out

of the

business? " Oh no,

It is quite separate,

sir.

Ned

Two

thousand

Auckland. five

and was

left

me by my Uncle

Ne\v Zealand Stock, paying \\ per cent. hundred pounds was the amount, but I can only It is in

touch the interest."

"You draw

interest

so large a

sum

extremely," said Holmes.

as a hundred a year, with

the bargain, you no doubt travel a

every way.

little,

"And

since

you

what you earn

into

and indulge yourself

believe that a single lady can get on very nicely

upon

an income of about sixty pounds." "

could do with

much

less

than that, Mr. Holmes, but you

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

understand that as long as

live

home

don't wish to be a

burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while I am staying with them. Of course that is only just for the time.

Mr. Windibank draws

and

to mother,

typewriting.

from ''

I find

fifteen to

that

brings

twenty sheets friend. Dr.

flush

earn at

can often do

position very clear to me," said Holmes.

whom

Watson, before

now

tell

you can speak as

all

about your con-

Hosmer Angel."

nection with Mr.

a sheet, and

over

day."

in a

Kindly

before myself.

freely as

can do pretty well with what

me twopence

You have made your

" This

and pays

interest every quarter,

Miss Sutherland's face, and

over

stole

she

picked

nervously at the fringe of her jacket. I met him first at the " They used to send father tickets gasfitters' ball," she said.

when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He never did wish us to go anywhere.

He would

get quite

mad

wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I was set on going, and I would go, for what right had he to He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all prevent ? And he said that I had nothing father's friends were to be there. fit

when

to wear,

had

purple plush that

as taken out of the drawer.

he went

off to

mother and

last

had never

when nothing

France upon the business of the with Mr. Hardy,

who used

much

else

would do

firm, but

we went,

be our foreman, and

met Mr. Hosmer Angel." suppose," said Holmes, ''that when Mr. Windibank came *' I back from France, he was very annoyed at your having gone to the it

was there

ball." *'

Oh, well, he was very good about

it.

laughed,

remember,

and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "

see.

Then

at the gasfitters' ball

Hosmer

a gentleman called Mr. ''

ask is

Yes,

sir.

we had

to say,

met him that

got

home

Mr. Holmes,

father

came back

to the

house any more,"

all

you met, as

understand,

Angel." night,

safe,

and

and he called next day after that

met him twice

again, and

Mr.

we met him

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;that

for walks, but after that

Hosmer Angel

could not come

A CASE OF IDENTITY.

**No?"

" Well, you know, father didn't like anything of the sort.

wouldn't have any visitors that a

woman

should be happy in her

used to say to mother, a

with, and

he could help

own

it,

and he used

But then,

family circle.

woman wants

to say

her ow^n circle to begin

had not got mine yet."

"But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "

you

? '^

off

Well, father was going

France again

and Hosmer wrote

week,

and said that

and better not

safer

each

other until

gone.

v/ould

to see

had

could write in

the meantime, and he used to write every day.

took

the letters in in the morn-

was no need know."

ing, so there

for father to

Were you engaged

the gentleman at this tim.e

to ?

''Oh yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engage d after the

walk

first

that

— Mr.

—was a cashier an — Leadenhall-street — and Hosmer

Angel

•'

AT THE GASFITTERS' BALL."

" " That's the worst of "

" "

" '*

it,

Mr. Holmes,

What

don't

office

" ?

know."

Where did he live then ? He slept on the premises." And 5^ou don't know his address ? " No except that it was Leadenhall-street." Where did you address your letters, then ? " To the Leadenhall-street Post Office, to be left

said

took.

—

that

they were sent to the

office

till

called for.

he would be chaffed

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

all

the other clerks about having letters from a lady, so

them,

to typewrite

he said that when

he did

his,

offered

but he wouldn't have that, for

wrote them they seemed to come from me, but

when they were typewritten he always felt that the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the

little

things that he would think of."

was most suggestive," said Holmes. ** It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. *'

Hosmer Angel ? He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes.

He would

with

evening than in the daylight, for he said that he

in the

Very

hated to be conspicuous.

Even

rather walk

and gentlemanly he was. He'd had the quinsy and swollen retiring

was gentle. glands when he was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always well-dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes weie weak, just as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the his

voice

glare." '*

France

father, returned to *'

that

when Mr. Windibank, your

Well, and what happened ?

Hosmer Angel came

Mr.

we should marry

dreadful

earnest,

before

and made

the house again, and proposed

that

Mother said he was quite it

was a

from the

sign of his passion.

;

hands on the

would always be true

make me swear, and Mother was all in his favour

right

him afterwards, and mother I

I I

was.

Then,

began

to ask

but they both said never to mind about father, but

ri^ht with him.

funny that

talked of marrying within the week,

about father just to tell

with

swear,

He was

back.

and was even fonder of him than

first,

when they

came

father

Testament, that whatever happened him.

step-

said she

didn't quite like that,

would make

Mr. Holmes.

all

seemed

should ask his leave, as he was only a few years older

want to do anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the very morning of the than

;

but

didn't

wedding." '*

missed him then

" Yes,

sir,

for

" ?

he had started to England just before

arrived,"

A CASE OF IDENTITY. "

was unfortunate.

that

Was

then, for the Friday.

" Yes,

sir,

but very quietly.

Your wedding was arranged,

to be in It

was

church

" ?

to be at St. Saviour's, near

we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there

King's-cross, and

Pancras Hotel.

were two of

he put us both into

us,

and stepped himself into a

it,

four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the street.

got to the church

we waited for him to cabman got dov,^n from

and when the four-wheeler drove up step out, but he never did, and when the first,

the box and looked, there was no one there

THERE WAS NO ONE THERE.

The cabman

said he could not imagine

what had become of him, own eyes. That was last

he had seen him get in with his Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything since

for

then to throw any light upon what became of him." *'

seems to

that you have been very shamefully treated,"

said Holmes. *'

all

no, sir

He was

the morning he

was

be true

;

too good and kind to leave

was saying

and that even 6

me if

that,

so.

Why,

whatever happened,

something quite unforeseen

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed strange talk for a wedding morning, but what has happened since gives a meaning to it." '' Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him ? " " Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw occurred to

separate us,

happened." " But you have no notion as to what ''

None."

One more

She was angry, and

matter again

question.

How

did your

said

that

could have been

mother take the matter

was never

" ?

speak of the

. .

Did you tell him ? " ) *' Yes, and he seemed to think, with me, that something had happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said,

And your

what

father

interest could

any one have

the church, and then leaving

money, or if he had married there might be some reason

bringing

to the doors of

me ? Now, if he had borrowed my me and got my money settled on him,

Hosmer was very independent about money, and never would look at a shilling of mine. And And why could he not write? yet what could have happened? Oh, it drives me half mad to think of and I can't sleep a wink at ;

but

She pulled a

night."

to sob heavily into *' *'

shall

and

little

handkerchief out of her muff, and began

it.

glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising,

have no doubt that we shall reach some definite

Let the weight of the matter your mind dwell upon

upon me now, and do not let Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer

rest

further.

Angel vanish from your memory, as he has done from your " *' Then you don't think I'll see him again ? *'

result.

life."

fear not."

Then what has happened to him ? You will leave that question in my hands.

should like an

accurate description of him, and any letters of his which you can spare."

" *'

Here

advertised for is

the

slip,

him

in last

Saturday's Chronicley" said she.

and here are four

letters

from him."

A CASE OF in ENTITY. Thank

And your

you.

address

"31, Lyon-place, Cambervvell.'*

Mr. Angel's address you never had,

your father's place of business ? " He travels for Westhouse

understand.

Where

Marbank, the great

claret im-

porters of Fenchurch-street."

You

Thank you. have made your **

ment very

state-

clearly.

will leave the

You

papers here,

and remember the advice

which

have given you.

Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow

affect

your

life."

You

are very kind,

Mr. Holmes, but do that. to find

cannot

shall be true

Hosmer.

ready

shall

when he

comes back." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was something noble

the

simple faith of our visitor

which compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle

papers upon

the table, and went her

SHE LAID A LITTLE BUNDLE UPON THE TABLE.

way, with a promise to

come again whenever she might be summoned. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with tips

still

his finger

pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him,

and his gaze directed upwards to the ceiling. Then he took down from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of infinite

languor in his face.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

"Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed.

found her more interesting than her Uttle problem, which, by the

way,

rather

consult

Andover

index, in

Hague

the sort at the

You

one.

trite

Old as

were one or two details which were new

was most

herself

Not

where

me,"

to read a

the idea, however, there

But the maiden

to me.

good deal upon her which was quite

remarked.

You

unnoticed, Watson.

but

invisible,

and so you missed

to look,

you

instructive."

You appeared

invisible to

and there was something

in '77,

last year.

parallel cases,

find

will

was important.

that

all

know

did not

can

never bring you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness

Now

bootlace.

ance

it."

she had

beads sewn upon

Her

and a fringe

it,

broad-brimmed straw

slate-coloured,

with a feather of a brickish red. dress

what did you gather from that woman's appear-

Describe

" Well,

Her

may hang from

thumbnails, or the great issues that

jacket

was

black, with black

of little black jet

was brown, rather darker than

ornaments.

coffee colour, with a little

Her

purple plush at the neck and sleeves.

hat,

gloves were greyish,

and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a general air of

being fairly well to do, in a vulgar, comfortable, easy-going

way."

Holmes clapped

Sherlock chuckled. " 'Pon

You have

really

his

hands

and

together

softly

word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully.

done very well indeed.

It is true

that you have

upon the method, and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. missed

first

everything

glance

perhaps better observe, this

importance,

always

first

woman had

take

woman's

showing

the wrist, where

the

hit

In a

sleeve.

the knee of the

traces.

typewritist

The double

thumb, instead

left

man is

of the

a most

line a little

the

As you

trouser.

presses against

The sewing-machine,

a similar mark, but only on the farthest from the

have

plush upon her sleeves, which

useful material for

beautifully defined.

but you

above

table,

was

hand type, leaves

arm, and on the side of

of being right across the broadest

OF- IDENTITY.

A CASE

6(;

then glanced at her face, and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I ventured a

part, as this was.

upon

remark

short

and

sight

which

typewriting,

seemed

surprise her." *'

surprised me."

was very obvious. I was then much surprised and interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were *'

But, surely,

odd ones, the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and fifth. realiy

Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." " And what else? " I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by

my **

friend's incisive reasoning.

noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving

home, but

You observed

after being fully dressed.

that her right

you did not apparently see She had that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. It must have written in a hurry, and dipped her pen too deep.

was

glove

torn at the forefinger, but

been this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the All this

finger.

go back

amusing, though rather elementary, but

to business,

Would you mind " Mr. Hosmer Angel ?

advertised description of

held the

little

5ft.

printed slip to the light.

" on the morning of the 14th, a gentleman

About

reading

Watson.

7in. in height

Missing,"

must

the

said,

named Hosmer Angel.

strongly built, sallow complexion, black

;

hair, a httle

bald in the centre, bushy, black side whiskers and

moustache

tinted

dressed,

;

when

glasses,

last seen, in

slight

infirmity

Was

speech.

black frock coat faced with

silk,

black

waistcoat, gold Albert chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with

brown

gaiters over elastic-sided boots.

ployed in an *'

That

office in

will do,"

Known

once.

em-

Anybody bringing," &c., &c. " As to the letters," he con-

Leadenhall-street. said

Holmes.

tinued, glancing over them, " they are very lutely

to have been

commonplace.

Abso-

to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac

no clue

them

There

one remarkable point, however, which will no

doubt strike you."

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

They are typewritten," I remarked. " Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Hosmer Angel at the bottom. There neat little '

see,

Look

a date, you

but no superscription, except Leadenhall-street, which

vague.

The

we may

call

point about the signature

very suggestive

rather

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;in

fact,

conclusive."

" Of what

at the

" ?

dear fellow,

possible

you do not see how strongly

bears upon the case." **

deny his signature

were that he wished

do, unless

an action

for breach of

cannot say that

to be able

promise were

insti-

tuted." *'

No, that was not the point.

letters

which should

However,

settle the matter.

One

shall

write two

to a firm in the City,

young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock to-morrow evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the male relatives.

the other

And now, letters

to the

we can do nothing until the answers we may put our little problem upon the

Doctor,

come, so

to those

shelf for

the interim."

had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers of reasoning, and extraordinary energy in action, that I felt that he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had been I

upon to fathom. Once only had I known hirh to fail, in the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler photograph, but when I looked back to the weird business of the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle indeed which he called

could not unravel. I left

him then,

viction that

when

still

puffing at his black clay pipe, with the con-

came again on the next evening

that he held in his hands

all

would

find

the clues which would lead up to the

Mary Sutherland. was engaging my own atten-

identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss

professional case of great gravity

was busy at the It was not until close upon six o'clock that bedside of the sufferer. I found myself free, and was able to spring into a hansom and drive

tion at the time, and the

whole

to Baker-street, half afraid that

of next

day

might be too

late to assist at the

A CASE OF IDENTITY. denouement of the

mystery.

little

found Sherlock Holmes alone,

however, half asleep, with his long, thin form

recesses of his armchair.

curled up in the

formidable array of bottles and testtubes, with the pun^'

gent cleanly smell of hydrochloric

told

FOUND SHERLOCK HOLMES HALF

acid,

ASLF.EP."

that he had spent his day in the chemical

work which was

so dear to him.

" Well, have you solved

"Yes.

No, no, the mystery

Oh, that

back "

asked as

that there

Who

was

Sutherland

entered.

I cried.

thought of the

some

of baryta."

salt

There was never any mystery

said yesterday, is

was the bisulphate

upon.

it ?

that

have been working

in the matter,

of the details are of interest.

no law,

he, then,

I fear,

though, as

The only draw-

that can touch the scoundrel."

and what was his object

in deserting

Miss

" ?

The question was hardly

out of

mouth, and Holmes had not

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

when we heard

yet opened his lips to reply,

passage, and a tap at the door, " This is the girl's stepfather,

Holmes..

has written to

Mr. James Windibank,"

said

would be here

to say that he

Come in The man who

six.

a heavy footfall in the

was a sturdy middle-sized

entered

fellow,

some

and sallow skinned, with a bland,

thirty years of age, clean shaven,

insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and penetrating

grey eyes.

shot a questioning glance at each of us, placed his

shiny top hat upon the sideboard, and, with a slight bow, sidled

down

into the nearest chair.

Good

evening, Mr.

James Windibank,"

that this typewritten letter

from you.

me for six o'clock I am afraid that I am Yes, sir. I am quite my own master, you know. has troubled you about this

the

think

Of course,

a point.

a useless expense, for

how

not

was

far better

it is

official police,

this

girl,

when she has

did not

quite against

not easily controlled

much, as you are not connected with the pleasant to have a family misfortune

Hosmer Angel

a very excitable, impulsive

you may have noticed, and she

made up her mind on

but

late,

sorry that Miss Sutherland

linen of the sort in public. is

it is

which you made an

little

matter, for

little

wishes that she came, but she

Besides

think

wash

appointment with

not to

Holmes.

said

mind you so but

it is

not

abroad.

noised

could you possibly find this

" ?

reason to believe that

Holmes, quietly

said

contrary," I

succeed

will

** ;

discovering

have

every

Mr. Hosmer

Angel."

Mr. Windibank gave a violent start, and dropped his gloves. am delighted to hear it," he said. '' It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter

has really quite as

much

individuality

man's handwriting.

Unless they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that in every case there

some

slight defect in the tail of the teristics, *'

little

r.'

slurring over of the

e,'

and a

There are fourteen other charac-

but those are the more obvious." do all our correspondence with this machine at the

office,

A CASE OF IDENTITY. and no doubt

worn," our visitor answered, glancing

little

keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. " And now I will show you what is really a very interesting " I think of writing study, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued.

another

little

monograph some

its relation to

crime.

attention.

little

They

from the missing man. observe,

'e's

you care

are

letters

have devoted some

which purport

typewritten.

all

slurred and the

r's

come

In each case,

tailless,

but you will

to use

other characteristics to which

on the typewriter and

subject to which

It is a

have here four

not only are the

of these days

magnifying lens, that the fourteen have alluded are there as well."

Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair, and picked up his hat. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes,"

" If you can catch the man, catch him, and

he said.

when you have done

me know

let

it."

Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in " I let you know, then, that I have caught him " the door. *'

What

" lips,

where

shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his and glancing about him like a rat in a trap.

*'0h,

There

doâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; really

won't

won't,"

said

Holmes, suavely.

no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you *'

said

right

was impossible

for

down, and

let

us talk

Sit

Our glitter

visitor collapsed

to solve so simple a question.

into

over."

a chair, with a ghastly face,

moisture on his brow.

That's

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; it's

not

and a

actionable,"

stammered. *'

very

Windibank,

way

petty

much

afraid that

But between ourselves, was as cruel, and selfish, and heartless a trick in a ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the it

not.

course of events, and you will contradict me,

The man

sat

his breast, like

huddled up

one

up on the corner

hands

who

in his chair,

in his pockets,

go wrong."

with his head sunk upon

Holmes stuck

utterly crushed.

of the mantelpiece,

if I

his feet

and, leaning back with his

began talking, rather

to himself, as

seemed,

than to us. *'

The man married

her money,"

said he, "

woman

very

much

older than himself for

and he enjoyed the use of the money of the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

sum

for peo-

ple in their position, and

the

loss

would

made

have

serious

difference.

Itwas worth an

effort

preserve

it.

The daughwas

ter

of a

ami-

good,

dispo-

able sition,

but

affectionate

and

warm-

hearted

her ways, so that

was

evident that

with her

personal ad-

GLANCING ABOUT HIM LIKE A RAT IN A TRAP

and her long.

a it ?

vantages,

income, she would not be allowed to remain single

little

Now

her

marriage would

mean,

course,

the

hundred a year, so what does her stepfather do

forbidding

fair

loss

prevent

takes the obvious course of keeping her at home, and

her

seek the

to.

company

people of her

own

age.

But soon he found that that would not answer for ever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain ball.

stepfather do then

head than to his heart.

What

does her clever

conceives an idea more creditable to his

With

the connivance and assistance of his

wife he disguised himself, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with a moustache and a pair of bushy

whiskers, sunk that clear voice into an insinuating whisper, and, doubly secure on account of the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr.

A CASE OF IDENTITY. Hosmer Angel, and keeps

off

by making love him-

other lovers

self." '*

was only

"We

a joke at first," groaned our visitor.

never

thought that she would have been so carried away." *'

Very

However

likely not.

very decidedly carried that her stepfather for

was

may

young lady was away, and having quite made up her mind in

that

be, the

France, the suspicion of treachery never

She was

an instant entered her mind.

man's attentions, and the

effect

was

expressed admiration of her mother.

by the gentle-

flattered

increased

the

loudly

Then Mr. Angel began

was obvious that the matter should be pushed as far as would go, if a real effect were to be produced. There were it meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the girl's affections from turning towards any one else. But the deception call, for

These pretended journeys

could not be kept up for ever.

were rather cumbrous.

The thing

France

do was clearly to bring the

manner

would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind, and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to come. Hence business to an end in such a dramatic

that

those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening on the very

James Windibank wished Miss Sutherland

ing of the wedding.

be so bound to

morn-

Hosmer

Angel, and so uncertain as to his fate, that

for ten

years to come, at any rate, she would not listen to another

man.

church door he brought her, and then, as he could go no further, he conveniently vanished away by the old trick far as the

one door of a four-wheeler, and out at the other.

of stepping in at I

think that that was the chain of events, Mr.

Our visitor had recovered something of Holmes had been talking, and he rose from cold sneer

upon

Windibank his

" !

assurance while

now with

his chair

his pale face.

Mr. Holmes," said he, " but if you are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is It

may

so,

may

not,

you who are breaking the law now, and not me. nothing actionable from the

first,

have done

but as long as you keep that door

locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal constraint."

The law

cannot, as you

sa}^,

touch you," said Holmes, unlock-

ing and throwing open the door, "yet there never

was

man who

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

deserved punishment more. friend,

If the

young lady has a brother

or a

By Jove!"

he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders.

he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the

man's face,"

not part of

hunting-crop handy, and

He it

think

duties to I

client,

but here's a "

shall just treat myself to

took two swift steps to the wiiip, but before he could grasp

there

was

wild

hall door banged,

clatter of steps

upon the

heavy

stairs, the

and from the window we could see Mr. James

Windibank running

at the top of his

speed

down

the road.

HE TOOK TWO SWIFT STEPS TO THE WHIP."

"There's a cold-blooded scoundrel

" said

Holmes, laughing, as he threw himself down I

^will rise

from crime

ends on a gallows.

his

into

chair

once more.

" That fellow

crime until he does something very bad, and

The

case

entirely devoid of interest."

has,

some

respects,

been not

A CASE OF IDENTITY. "

cannot

entirely see all the steps of your reasoning,"

now

remarked. " Well, of course

was obvious from the first that this Mr. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really profited by Then the the incident, as far as we could see, was the stepfather. it

two men were never together, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, which both hinted at a dis-

fact that the

guise, as did the

bushy whiskers.

by his peculiar action

in typewriting his signature,

inferred that his handwriting

was

together with

all

confirmed

which

of course

so familiar to her that she

recognise even the smallest sample of facts,

suspicions were

many minor

You

it.

ones,

all

would

see all these isolated

pointed

the

same

direction."

And how

did

you verify them

" ?

Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. Having taken the I knew the firm for which this man worked. printed description, I eliminated everything from it which could be "

the result of a disguise sent

whether

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the whiskers, the

the firm, with a request that

glasses, the voice,

they would inform

answered the description of any of their

travellers.

had already noticed the peculiarities of the typewriter, and to the

man

and

himself at his business address, asking him

me 1

wrote

he would

come here. As I expected, his reply was typewritten, and revealed The same post brought the same trivial but characteristic defects. me a letter from Westhouse and Marbank, of Fenchurch-street, to say that the description tallied in every respect with that of their

employe, James Windibank.

Voila tout

" !

''And Miss Sutherland?" " If

I tell

her she will not believe me.

old Persian saying,

There

danger

for

whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much know-

cub, and danger also for

There

You may remember the him who taketh the tiger

ledge of the world."

IV.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY.

were seated

when

at breakfast

the maid brought in a telegram.

Sherlock Holmes, and ran in this *'

Have you

been wired

for

What

you

Have

just

connection

will

come with

" said

me.

wife, looking across at

" ?

really don't

was from

Leave Paddington by the 11.15."

do you say, dear?

" Will you go

Shall be glad

from the West of England

Air and scenery perfect. '*

way

wife and

a couple of days to spare

with Boscombe Valley tragedy.

me.

one morning,

know what

to say.

have a

fairly

long

list

at present." **

Oh, Anstruther would do your work

looking a

little

pale lately.

for you.

You have been

think that the change would do you

good, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." ''

should be ungrateful

through one of them,"

pack at once,

for I

were

answered.

not,

seeing

But

camp

to go

gained I

must

Afghanistan had at least had the

life in

making me a prompt and ready

few and simple, so that

have only half an hour."

experience of

effect of

what

in less

traveller.

than the time stated

wants were I

was

in a

away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey travelling

cab with

cloak,

" It

and

valise, rattling

close-fitting cloth cap.

good of you to come, Watson," said he. " It makes a considerable difference to me, having some one with me Local aid is always either on whom I can thoroughly rely. is

really very

worthless or else biassed. I

you

shall get the tickets." 78

will

keep the two corner seats

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY.

had the carriage

of papers

save for an

to ourselves

immense

Among

which Holmes had brought with him.

79 litter

these he

*'WE HAD THE CARRIAGE TO OURSELVES.

rummaged and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditaThen he suddenly rolled them tion, until we were past Reading. all

into a gigantic ball,

and tossed them up on to the rack.

Have you heard anything

Not a word.

The London

of the case

have not seen a paper

press has not had very

just been looking

through

the particulars.

all

for

he asked.

some days."

full

accounts.

have

the recent papers in order to master

seems, from what

gather, to be one of those

simple cases which are so extremely difficult." **

clue.

That sounds a little paradoxical." But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

difficult is

to bring

home.

In this case, however, they have

established a very serious case against the son of the murdered

man." "â&#x20AC;˘

It is

a murder, then

"Well,

granted until I

" ?

conjectured to be so.

shall

take nothing for

have the opportunity of looking personally into

the state of things to you, as far as

will explain

able to understand

in a very

it,

it.

have been

few words.

Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, The largest landed proprietor in that part is a in Herefordshire. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia, and returned some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came **

down they should do so as near each other as possible. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his to

settle

tenant, but as

still

remained,

seems, upon terms of perfect equality,

they were frequently together.

McCarthy had one

son, a lad

and Turner had an only daughter of the same age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have avoided the society of the neighbouring English families, and to have led of eighteen,

though both the McCarthys were fond of sport, and were frequently seen at the race meetings of the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants a man and a girl. Turner had a retired lives,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

considerable household,

much

some half-dozen

That

at the least.

have been able to gather about the families.

Now

as for

the facts. *'

the

On June

that

is,

Monday

Hatherley about three

Pool, which

Boscombe

last,

McCarthy

left

the afternoon, and walked

his

house

down

a small lake formed by the spreading

out of the stream which runs

down

the

Boscombe

Valley.

had been out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment From that appointment he never of importance to keep at three.

came back

alive.

*'From Hatherley Farmhouse to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the

THE BOSCOMBE VALLE V MYSTER V.

was William Crowder, a gamekeeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The gamekeeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was following him. He thought no more of the matter other

until he

heard in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred.

'*The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William

Crowder, the gamekeeper, thickly

lost sight of

wooded round, with

round the edge.

The Boscombe Pool

them.

of fourteen, Patience

girl

and

just a fringe of grass

of reeds

Moran, who

the

daughter of the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley Estate, was

one of the woods picking flowers.

was

there she saw, at the border of the

lake,

wood and

close by the

She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using his son, and she saw the latter raise up

very strong language to

hand as

to strike his father.

violence that she ran away, and told

home

states that while she

Mr. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be

having a violent quarrel.

his

She

that she

had

combe Pool, and She had hardly

left

She was so frightened by their her mother when she reached

the two McCarthys quarrelling near Bos-

that she

was

afraid that they

were going

to fight.

words when young Mr. McCarthy came running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was

much

said the

excited, without either

his

gun or

his hat,

and his right

hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On following him they found the dead body of his father stretched out upon the grass beside the Pool. The head had been beaten by repeated blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's gun, which was found lying on the grass in

within a few paces of the body.

Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested, and a verdict of 'Wilful Murder having been returned at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the magistrates at Ross, who have Those are the main facts the case as they came out before the coroner and at the police-

referred the case to the next assizes. of

court."

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

82 ''

could hardly imagine a more damning case,"

remarked.

ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal

does so

here."

" Circumstantial

evidence

f^^

a very tricky thing,"

answered

Holmes, thoughtfully,

...<â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

may

seem

point very straight to

one thing, but shift

may

you

your own point

view a

find

you

little,

pointing

an equally uncom-

promising manner to

something

entirely

different.

however,

confessed,

that

must be

looks

case

the

exceedingly grave young

the

against

man, and

that

possible

very

indeed

the

culprit.

There

are

several

people in the neigh-

bourhood,

however,

and among them Miss Turner, the daughter of

neighbouring

the

landowner,

who

be-

lieve in his innocence,

and who have retained

whom

you

remember

with

the

Lestrade,

"THEY FOUND THE

may

BODY."

connection

work out the

Study

trade,

being rather puzzled,

hence

Scarlet,

home."

has

case

referred

his

the

interest.

case

me,

Les-

and

that two middle-aged gentlemen are flying westward

at fifty miles at

an hour, instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY. "

afraid," said

ยง3

" that the facts are so obvious that you

will find little credit to be gained out of this case."

nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he answered, laughing. *' Besides, we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to

"There

You know me

Mr. Lestrade.

too well to think that

boasting

when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of under-

standing.

perceive that in

and yet

side,

example to hand, I very clearly your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted

take

the

first

even so self-evident a thing as that."

How

"My

on earth

dear fellow,

which characterises

know you well. I know the military neatness You shave every morning, and in this you.

season you shave by the sunlight, but since your shaving is less and less complete as we get further back on the left side, until it

becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle

jaw,

surely very clear that that side

than the other. at himself in

man

could not imagine a

an equal

light,

and being

of the

less well illuminated

of your habits looking

satisfied

with such a result.

only quote this as a trivial example of observation and inference. Therein lies my metier, and it is just possible that it may be of I

some

service

are one or

investigation

the

which

lies

before us.

two minor points which were brought out

There

in the inquest,

and which are worth considering."

''What " It after

are

they?"

appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but

the

return to Hatherley Farm.

stabulary informing that he

him

that

was not surprised

the inspector of con-

he was a prisoner, he

to hear

it,

and that

remarked

was no more

This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any traces of doubt which might have remained in

than his deserts.

the minds of the coroner's jury." " It was a confession," I ejaculated.

" No, for *'

was "

was followed by a protestation of innocence." Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it

most suspicious remark." On the contraiy," said Holmes, "

at least a

the

brightest

rift

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

which might

he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to

be,

see that

the

circumstances were very black against him.

he appeared surprised at his own at

should have looked upon

it,

However innocent he

can at present see in the clouds.

arrest,

Had

feigned indignation

as highly suspicious, because

such surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a

man.

His frank acceptance

of the situation

scheming

marks him as

either

an innocent man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not unnatural

you consider that he stood by the dead body of his

and that there

father,

forgotten his

raise his

hand as

no doubt that he had that very day so

far

duty as to bandy words with him, and even,

filial

according to the

little

girl

whose evidence

The

to strike him.

which are displayed

so important,

self-reproach and contrition

remark appear

in his

to be the signs of

a healthy mind, rather than of a guilty one."

shook

head.

slighter evidence,"

Many men have

So they have.

What

the

remarked.

afraid,

not very encouraging to his supporters,

though there are one or two points will find

here,

been hanged on far

And many men have been wrongfully hanged." young man's own account of the matter ? "

is,

and may read

which are suggestive.

You

for yourself."

picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire

paper, and

having turned down the sheet, he pointed out the

which the unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the

paragraph

corner of the carriage, and read

way

very carefully.

ran in this

Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called, and gave evidence as follows I had been away from *'

home

for three

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon

was absent from was informed by the maid

the morning of last Monday, the 3rd.

home that

at the time of

arrival,

and

father

Ross with John Cobb, the groom. heard the wheels of his trap in the my window, I saw him get out and

he had driven over to

Shortly after

return

yard, and, looking out of

walk rapidly out

of the yard,

though

was not aware

which

THE BO SCO MB E VALLE Y MYSTERY.

was going. I then took my gun, and strolled out in the direction of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting On my way I the rabbit warren which is upon the other side. saw William Crowder, the gamekeeper, as he has stated in his evidence but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards from the Pool I heard a cry of Cooee which was a usual signal between my father and myself. I then He appeared hurried forward, and found him standing by the Pool. to be much surprised at seeing me, and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A conversation ensued, which led to high words, and almost to blows, for my father was a man of a Seeing that his passion was becoming unvery violent temper. I governable, I left him, and returned towards Hatherley Farm. had not gone more than one hundred and fifty yards, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me to direction he

;

run back again.

found

father expiring on the ground, with

dropped

gun, and held him in

his

head terribly injured.

arms, but he almost instantly expired.

some minutes, and then made my way

for

knelt beside

Mr. Turner's lodge-

keeper, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance.

no one near

father

when

returned,

he came by his injuries.

He was

what cold and forbidding

in his

before he died

" Witness

some *'

saw

have no idea how

not a popular man, being some-

manners; but he had, as

far as I "

He mumbled

a few words, but

could only catch

allusion to a rat.

The Coroner

" Witness

was

know nothing further of the matter.' Did your father make any statement to you

know, no active enemies. " The Coroner

and

him

What

did you understand by that

conveyed no meaning to me.

thought that he

delirious.

The Coroner

What was

father had this final quarrel

the point upon which you and your

"Witness: I should prefer not to answer. *' The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. *' Witness It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which .

followed.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

HELD HIM

''The Coroner: That

MY ARMS."

for the

Court to decide.

need not

point out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your

case considerably in any future proceedings which

''Witness: "

must

The Coroner

common

still

signal between

may

arise.

refuse.

understand that the cry of

Cooee

was

you and your father?

" Witness It was. " The Coroner " How :

was

it,

then, that he uttered

before

he saw you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol

" Witness (with considerable confusion) "

A Juryman

do not know.

Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions when you returned on hearing the cry, and found your father fatally injured

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY. " Witness Nothing definite. " The Coroner What do you

mean

" Witness the open, that

was

so disturbed and excited as

the ground to the

left

Yes,

was

that

No,

How

from the body

'And how

it,

but

was

far

to be

perhaps.

something grey

When

rose

for help

had a feeling something was

Yet

gone.'

seemed

was gone. disappeared before you went

You cannot say what

rushed out into

ran forward something lay upon

sort, or a plaid

looked round for

Do you mean

father

me.

some

colour, a coat of

from

could think of nothing except of m}^ father.

have a vague impression that as

dozen yards or far

there.'

so.'

from the edge of the wood

" 'About the same.' *'

Then

yards of

was removed

was while you were within a dozen

it ?

" 'Yes, but with

back towards

it.'

"This concluded the examination of the witness." " I see," said I, as I glanced down the column, " that the coroner his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy.

calls attention,

and with reason,

father having signalled to

to the discrepancy about his

him before seeing him,

to give details of his conversation with his father,

account of his father's dying words. very

much

They

are

also to his refusal

and his singular

all,

as he remarks,

against the son.

Holmes laughed upon the cushioned

and stretched himself out "Both you and the coroner have been

softly to seat.

himself,

some pains," said he, " to single out the very strongest points in the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him credit for having too much imagination and too little ? Too at

he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from his little, if

own

inner consciousness anything so outre as a dying reference to

a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth.

No,

sir,

shall

approach this case from the point of view that what this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that hypothesis will lead us.

And now

here

pocket Petrarchj and not another word

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

shall I say of this case until

lunch at Swindon, and

that

see

are on the scene of action. shall

be there in twenty

minutes."

was nearly four

when we

o'clock

at last, after passing

through

the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn,

found ourselves at the pretty

little

country town of Ross.

lean,

and sly-looking, was waiting for us upon the In spite of the light brown dustcoat and leather leggings platform. which he wore in deference to his rustic surroundings, I had no

man,

ferret-like

difficulty in

of tea.

With him we

recognising Lestrade, of Scotland-yard.

drove to the

engaged

furtive

Hereford Arms," where a room had already been

for us.

have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade, as we sat over a cup *' I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be

you had been on the scene of the crime." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered.

happy

until

entirely a question of barometric pressure."

It is

Lestrade looked startled. "

How

clolid in

the glass?

the sky.

do not quite follow," he

Twenty-nine,

I see.

said.

wind, and not a

have a easeful of cigarettes here which need

smoking, and the sofa hotel abomination.

very

much

superior to the usual country

do not think that

probable that

I shall

use the carriage to-night."

Lestrade laughed indulgently.

''You have, no doubt, already

'' The case formed your conclusions frDm the newspapers," he said. plainer it is as plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it ihe becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a very

She had heard

positive one, too.

opinion, though

and would have your

repeatedly told her that there

you could do which here

of you,

had not already done.

was nothing which

Why,

bless

soul

her carriage at the door."

hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her

He had

cheeks,

all

thought of her natural reserve

lost in

her overpowering

excitement and concern.

Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes " she cried, glancing from one to the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, fastening upon my companion, ** I am so glad that you have come. I have '*

THE SOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY down

you

know

James didn't do it. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a charge is absurd to any one who really knows him." ''I hope w^e may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. You may rely upon my doing all that I can." " But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion ? Do you not see some loophole, some flaw ? Do you driven

to tell

so.

that

not yourself think that he think that

*'I *'

it is

There now!

innocent

shrugged

colleague has been a

very probable."

" she cried,

defiantly at Lestrade.

Lestrade

throwing back her head, and looking

You hear

shoulders.

his

gives *'

me am

hopes." afraid

that

quick in forming his conclusions," he

little

said.

" But he that it.

right.

And about

father,

right.

knowj

James never

his quarrel

in it."

did

with his

sure that the reason

he would not speak about

concerned

why

LESTRADE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS."

the coroner

was because

was

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

what way

" In

? "

asked Holmes.

no time for

James and his father had many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and I

It is

to hide anythin?^.

have always loved each other as brother and

sister,

but of course

and

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; andâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; well, he

naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet.

So there were

young, and has seen very

and

quarrels,

this,

" And your father

was one of them." asked Holmes. " Was he

sure, "

No, he was averse to

favour of

if I

it."

Holmes shot one *' Thank you father

favour of

such a union

little of life yet,

also.

one but Mr. McCarthy was

quick blush passed over her fresh young face as

of his keen, questioning glances at her. for this information," said he.

May

see your

to-morrow

call

afraid the doctor won't allow it."

*'The doctor?" Yes, have you not heard

Poor father has never been strong has broken him down completely. He has

for years back, but this

taken to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he his nervous

system

in the old

That

In Victoria!

Yes, at the mines."

Quite so;

Turner made

his

Mr. McCarthy was the only

shattered.

who had known dad

alive

the

days

man

in Victoria."

important."

mines, where, as

gold

a wreck, and that

understand, Mr.

money."

" Yes, certainly." **

Thank

you, Miss Turner.

ance to me."' " You will 5^ou will

tell

You have been

you have any news to-morrow. Oh,

go to the prison to see James.

him that

I will.

of material assist-

know him

you

do, Mr.

doubt

Holmes,

to be innocent."

Miss Turner."

must go home now,

leave him.

for

dad

very

ill,

and he misses me so

Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking."

She hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and

we heard ^*

after a

the wheels of her carriage rattle off

am ashamed

of you,

down

the street.

Holmes," said Lestrade with

few minutes' silence.

Why

dignity,

should you raise up hopes

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY. which you are bound but

call

think that

see

my way

Have you an

to clearing

Yes, but only for you and me."

Then still

not over-tender of heart,

shall re-consider

James McCarthy,"

said

order to see him in prison."

have

cruel."

Holmes.

to disappoint

resolution about going out.

time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night

" ?

''Ample." '*

Then

slow, but I

us do

let

so.

shall only be

walked down

Watson,

away

fear that

you

will find

very

a couple of hours."

to the station

with them, and then wandered

through the streets of the

town, finally

little

_._,,^.._,, -â&#x201E;˘^--^^^_

returning to the hotel,

where

lay

upon the

sofa

rest

myself

TRIED TO INTEREST MYSELF IN A YELLOW-BACKED NOVEL."

in a

yellow-backed novel.

The puny

plot of the story

was

mystery through which we were groping, and I found my attention wander so constantly from the fiction to the fact, that 1 at last flung it across the room, and so thin, however,

when compared

to the deep

gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the day.

unhappy young man's story was absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the time when he parted from Supposing that

this

and the moment when, drawn back by his screams, he It was something terrible and deadly. rushed into the glade ?

his father,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

What

could

something

Might not the nature

medical instincts

the injuries reveal

rang the

and called

bell,

for

the weekly county paper, which contained a verbatim account of the inquest.

In the surgeon's deposition

third of the

was

stated that the posterior

bone and the

left half of the occipital bone had been shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from behind. That was to some extent in favour of the left

when

accused, as father.

parietal

seen quarrelling he was face to face with his

did not

Still, it

for very

much,

have turned his back before the blow while to call Holmes' attention to

dying reference to a

A man

delirium.

become

What

rat.

for the older

Then

it.

might be worth

Still, it

fell.

could that

was the peculiar

there

mean

man might

could not be

dying from a sudden blow does not commonly

was more likely to be an attempt to explain how he met his fate. But what could it indicate ? I cudgelled my brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident of the grey cloth, seen by young McCarthy. If that were true, the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to return and carry it away at the instant when the son was No,

delirious.

kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces of mysteries

wonder

and improbabilities the whole thing was! opinion, and

Lestrade's

What

off.

Sherlock Holmes' insight that every fresh fact

seemed

yet

had so much

a tissue did not faith

could not lose hope as long as

strengthen his conviction of young

McCarthy's innocence.

was

late before

alone, for Lestrade

" **

The

It is of

glass

and keenest

town.

in lodgings in the

keeps very high," he remarked; as he sat down.

importance that

over the ground. best

was staying

still

He came back

Sherlock Holmes returned.

On for

should not rain before

the other hand, a

man

should be at his very

such nice work as that, and

when fagged by

are able to go

long journey.

did not wish

have seen young

McCarthy." "

And what

Nothing."

Could he throw no

None

did you learn from

all.

light

was

him

" ?

inclined to think at

one time that h^

The BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY.

knew who had done it, and was screening him or her, but convinced now that he is as puzzled as every one else. He a very quick-witted youth, though comely to look

at,

and,

not

should

think, sound at heart." *'

cannot admire his taste,"

that he

was averse

to a

remarked,

if it is

indeed a fact

marriage with so charming a young lady as

Miss Turner."

this

" Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful

This fellow

tale.

madly,

some two years ago, when he was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol, and marry her at a registry insanely in love with her, but

office

how

one knows a word of the matter, but you can imagine maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not doing

what he knows to be this sort which made

his very eyes to do, but

what he would give

was sheer frenzy of him throw his hands up into the air when his father, at their last On the interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Turner. other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would have thrown him It was with his barmaid wife over utterly had he known the truth.

absolutely impossible.

that he had spent the last three days in Bristol, and his father did It is of importance. not know where he was. Mark that point.

however, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious trouble, and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly, and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is I think that that bit of news has really no tie between them.

Good has come

out of

evil,

consoled young McCarthy for *'

But

innocent,

all

that he has suffered."

who has done

" it ?

your attention very particularly to is that the murdered man had an appointment with some one at the Pool, and that the some one could not have been his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to

who ? two points. One

cry,

Cooee

would

before he

call

knew

that his son had returned.

George Meredith,

minor matters

you

until to-morrow."-

please,

And now

let

and we shall leave

all

the crucial points upon which' the case depends. talk about

Those are

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us

with the carriage, and

Boscombe

serious

news

this

the

morning," Lestrade observed.

Mr. Turner, of the

that

said

Farm and

Hatherley

Pool.

" There is

set off for

Hall,

that his

ill

life

It is

despaired of."

*'An elderly man, " About sixty life

;

presume?

" said

Holmes.

but his constitution has been shattered by his

abroad, and he has been in failing health for a very bad effect upon

business has had

friend of McCarthy's, and,

may

some

He was

him.

This

time.

an old

add, a great benefactor to him,

have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent " Indeed That is interesting," said Holmes.

for I

free."

Oh, yes

hundred other ways he has helped him.

Everybody about here speaks of his kindness to him." " Really Does it not strike you as a little singular that this McCarthy, who appeals to have had little of his own, and to have !

been under such obligations to Turner, should his son to Turner's daughter, estate,

and that

who

is,

still

talk of marrying

presumably, heiress to the

such a very cocksure manner, as

if it

was merely is the more

would follow ? It strange since we know that Turner himself was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not .deduce something from a case of a proposal and

that *'

" ?

have got to

Holmes, without

You

flying

deductions and the inferences," said

the

Lestrade, winking at me.

else

all

away

are right," said

find

hard enough to tackle

after theories

facts,

and fancies."

Holmes, demurely; "you do

find

very

hard to tackle the facts." " Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find difficult to get

hold

of,"

replied Lestrade, with

some warmth.

'*And that is?" *'

That McCarthy,

and that

all

senior,

met

his death

from McCarthy, junior,

theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine."

Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, " But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley laughing. "

Farm upon

the left."

" Yes, that

it."

was a widespread, comfortable-looking

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY, building,

two-storied, slate

lichen upon the grey walls.

chimneys, however, gave this horror

the

still

maid, at

master wore

lay heavy

roofed,

with great yellow blotches of

The drawn

blinds and the smokeless

a stricken look, as though the weight of

upon

it.

called

at the

door,

when

Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her

at the

time of his death, and also a pair of the son's,

though not the pair which he had then had. these very carefully from seven or

Having measured eight different points. Holmes

"THE MAID SHOWED

US THE BOOTS.

desired to be led to the courtyard, from which

all

followed the

winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent as this.

Men who had

only

known

the quiet thinker and

would have failed to recognise him. His His brows were drawn into two hard, face flushed and darkened. black lines, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a His face was bent downwards, his shoulders bowed, steely glitter.

logician of Baker-street

his lips compressed,

and the veins stood out

whipcord

in his

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

96 long,

His

sinewy neck.

animal lust

for the chase,

nostrils

seemed

and

mind was

his

to dilate with a purely

so absolutely concen-

upon the matter before him, that a question or remark fell unheeded upon his ears, or at the most, only provoked a quick, Swiftly and silently he made his way impatient snarl in reply. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of

trated

was damp, marshy ground, as is all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the path, and amid the short grass which bounded it on either side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and I

the

woods

Boscombe

to the

Pool.

walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the conviction that every one of his actions were directed towards a definite end.

The Boscombe some

yards across,

fifty

Hatherley

Pool, which

Farm and

little

situated at

reed-girt sheet of water

tlie

boundary between the

the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner.

Above the woods which

lined

upon the further side we could see

the red jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich land-

owner's dwelling.

grew very

thick,

the Hatherley side of the Pool the woods

and there was a narrow

belt of

sodden grass twenty

paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds which lined Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the body the lake.

had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager face and peering eyes, very

many

grass.

other things were to be read upon the trampled

ran round, like a dog

then turned upon *'

What I

who

picking up a scent, and

companion.

did you go into the Pool for

fished about with a rake.

" he asked.

thought there might be some

But how on earth ? " Oh, tut, tut That left foot of yours with I have no time A mole could trace it, and its inward twist is all over the place. Oh, how simple it would all there it vanishes among the reeds.

weapon

or other trace. !

have been had

been here before they came

like a

herd of buffalo,

and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the lodgekeeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or eight feet

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY AIYSTERY,

But here are three separate tracks of the same drew out a lens, and lay down upon his waterproof to

round the body.

feet."

all the time rather to himself than to us. " These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was walking, and

have a better view, talking

once he ran swiftly so that the soles are deeply marked, and the heels hardly visible.

saw

That bears out

his father on the ground.

he paced up and down.

What

Then here is this,

the gun as the son stood listening.

have we here? boots

Tip-toes! tip-toes!

They come, they

go, they

his story.

ran

when he

are the father's feet as

then

And

this

It is ?

the butt end of

Ha, ha

What

Square, too, quite unusual

come again

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of

course that was

^'jujljy

FOR A LONG TIME HE REMAINED THERE,

where did they come from ? " He ran up and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we were well within the edge of the wood, and under the shadow of a

Now

for the cloak.

and lay

Holmes traced down once more upon

cry of satisfaction.

For a long time he

great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. his

his

way face

to the further side of this,

with

little

remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope, and examining with his lens not only the ground, but even the bark of the tree as far as he could reach. -A jagged stone was lying among the moss,

and

this also

he carefully examined and retained. 6

Then he

followed

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

pathway through the wood

all

he came to the high road, where

until

traces were lost. *'

has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked,

returning to his natural manner. the right must be the lodge.

fancy that this grey house on

think that

I will

and have a

word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab,

and

you presently."

shall be with

was about ten minutes before we regained our cab, and drove back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he It

had picked up " This **

wood.

in the

may

interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding

The murder was done with "

out.

it."

see no marks."

" There are none." *'

How

The

days.

do you know, then

" ?

grass was growing under

had only

it.

There was no sign of a place whence There

corresponds with the injuries.

lain there a

few

had been taken.

no sign of any other

weapon." *'

And

the murderer

" ?

man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick-soled shooting boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt penknife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be enough to aid **

Is a tall

us in our search." "

Lestrade laughed. said.

" Theories are

all

afraid that

very well, but

we have

still

a sceptic," he

to deal with a hard-

headed British jury." ^'

Nous

verrons,'"

shall

And

No, finished."

leave your case unfinished

**But the mystery?" **

It is solved."

Who

was the

criminal, then

The gentleman " But who is he ?

"You work

your

work mine. I shall be busy this afterprobably return to London by the evening train."

own method, and noon, and shall

answered Holmes, calmly.

describe,"

" ?

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY.

â&#x20AC;˘

" Surely

would not be

This

difficult to find out.

not such

a populous neighbourhood."

Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. *'and

said,

a practical man," he

undertake to go about the

really cannot

game

left-handed gentleman with a

looking for a

leg.

country I

should

become the laughing-stock of Scotland-yard." *' " All right," said Holmes, quietly. I have given you the chance. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before I leave."

Having

left

Lestrade at his rooms we drove to our hotel, where

we found lunch upon

Holmes was

the table.

silent

and buried

thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one

who

finds

himself in a perplexing position.

"Look

Watson," he said, when the cloth was cleared ** just sit down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't quite know what to do, and I should value your advice. here,

Light a cigar, and " Pray do so."

;

me expound."

let

" Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about

young

McCarthy's

although they impressed

One was cry

Cooee

was

' !

The

before seeing him.

He mumbled

rat.

what the

What

lad says

of this

Xooee

But

instantly,

then

1 '

Now

from this double point

will begin

by presuming

" ?

have

The

was within earshot.

Cooee

his singular dying

absolutely true."

knew, was

the attention of whoever *

both

several words, you understand, but

could not

son, as far as he

that he

was

other

that caught the son's ear.

all

Well, obviously

The

and you against him.

his favour

our research must commence, and that

struck

the fact that his father should, according to his account,

reference to a that

which

narrative

been meant

Bristol. '

Cooee

the

was mere chance was meant to attract

was that he had the appointment with.

a distinctly Australian cry, and one which

between Australians.

son.

for

There

strong presumption

that

used the

person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was some one who had been in Australia." *'

What

of the rat, then

Sherlock Holmes flattened

took

" ?

out on the table.

folded paper *'

This

from

map

his

pocket and

of the

Colony of

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

loo

Victoria," he said. his

hand over part

wired to Bristol for

map.

of the

ARAT,"

read.

And now

BALLARAT."

What

last night.'*

do you read

put

he asked.

raised his hand.

" Quite so. his

the

That was the word the man uttered, and of which son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter

name "

It is

So-and-so of Ballarat."

of his murderer.

wonderful obvious.

" I exclaimed.

And now, you The possession

see,

had narrowed the

field

down

considerably.

point

which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a

certainty.

garment was a third

have come now out of mere vagueness to the

conception

definite

of a grey

an Australian from Ballarat with a grey

cloak."

"Certainly." ''

And one who was

home

in the district,

for the

Pool can

only be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers

could hardly wander." ''Quite so." *'

Then comes our

of the

ground

By an examination

expedition of to-day.

gained the trifling details which

gave to that

imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." " But how did you gain them ? " *'

You know my method.

It is

founded upon the observance of

trifles."

" His height

know

length of his stride.

you might roughly judge from the His boots, too, might be told from their that

traces."

" Yes, they were peculiar boots."

" But his lameness ? " " The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than his left.

put less weight upon

it.

Why

Because he limped

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he was lame." *'

But

his left-handedness.''

" You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from

immediately behind, and yet was upon the that be unless

were by a left-handed

left side.

man

Now, how can

He had

stood behind

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY.

lOI

He had

that tree during the interview between the father and son.

even smoked there.

found the ash of a cigar, which

special

knowledge

to-

bacco ashes enabled

pronounce as

an Indian cigar.

have, as you know,

devoted some atten-

tion

written a

this, little

and

mono-

graph on the ashes of

140

different

varieties of pipe,

and cigarette

cigar,

Having

tobacco.

found the ash,

then

round and disco ve red the stump among the

looked

moss where he had It was tossed it. an Indian cigar, of the

variety

are

rolled

which in

Rot-

terdam." **

And

the cigar-

holder?" **

HE HAD STOOD BEHIND THAT TREE."

could see that

the end had not been in his off,

mouth.

not bitten

Therefore he used a holder. off,

The

tip

had been cut

but the cut was not a clean one, so

deduced

a blunt penknife." "

Holmes,"

said, "

you have drawn a net round this

man from human life

which he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent as truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. " the direction in which all this points. The culprit is " Mr.

see

John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door ot our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

I02

bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual

slow, limping step and

His tangled beard, grizzled

strength of body and of character.

hair,

and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were tinged with a shade of blue. grip of

was

clear to

some deadly and chronic

at a glance that he

was

in the

disease. '*

Pray

You had my note **

the

Yes,

brought

" ?

lodge-keeper

You

up.

you wished

the

Holmes, gently.

said

sofa,"

down on

sit

to see

said that

here to

avoid scandal." " I thought people would talk

if I

went

to the Hall."

And why

see

across

did

you wish

me ? He looked at my companion with "

despair in his weary eyes, as

though

were

question

his

already answered. *'

Yes," said Holmes, an-

swering the look rather than "

the words.

so.

know all about McCarthy." The old man sank his *' face in his hands. God help MR. JOHN lURNLU,

give you

him

my word

SAID

that

would

he cried.

not

have

" let

But the

young man come to harm. would have spoken out if it went against

at the Assizes."

would have spoken now had

glad to hear you say so," said Holmes, gravely.

would break her heart I

THE WAITER.'

arres'cd."

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

will

not been for

dear

girl.

break her heart when she hears that

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY, *'

may

come

not

to that," said

to3

Holmes.

**What!" *'

who

daughter

month.

My Yet

Holmes said.

doctor says

rose and sat of

here can witness last

down

it.

unless

wish

it is

you

;

incarnate.

such a

man

know you

tell

shall live a

roof than in a gaol."

tell

hand

in his

us the truth," he

promise you that

shall

matters

this that.

a question whether

''it's little

And now

me, but

will

make

should

the thing

in the acting, but will not take

dead man, McCarthy.

God keep you

He was

a devil

out of the clutches of

me these twenty years, you first how I came to be in

His grip has been upon

as he.

and he has blasted

have had diabetes

with his pen

Just

man;

has been a long time

long to tell. " You didn't

however."

absolutely needed."

to spare Alice the shock.

clear to

off,

acting in

down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Then I could produce your confession at the

shall live to the Assizes, so

at the table

as well," said the old

It's

my own

under

die

extremity to save young McCarthy.

not use

got

was your

a question whether

paper before him.

shall jot

presence here, and

man," said old Turner.

would rather

and a bundle "

understand that

Young McCarthy must be

a dying

for years.

required

her interests. *'

agent.

official

life.

I'll

tell

his power.

" It

was

was a young chap then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand to anything I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with my claim, took to the bush, and, in a word, became what you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and in the early sixties at the diggings.

;

we had

a wild, free

time, or stopping the

Jack

of Ballarat

remembered

life

it,

sticking up a station from time to

waggons on the road

was the name

to the diggings.

went under, and our party

in the colony as the Ballarat

Black is still

Gang.

One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of their *'

saddles at the

first volley.

Three

of our boys

we got the swag. I put my pistol to driver, who was this very man McCarthy. before

were

killed,

however,

the head of the waggonI

wish to the Lord that

AD VENTURES OF SHEkLOCK HOLMES.

saw his wicked Httle eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted from my old pals, and determined to settle down to a quiet and I bought this estate which chanced to be in the respectable life. market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to I

had shot him then, but

make up though

way

for the

spared him, though

which

had earned

wife died young, she

when she was

left

me my

dear

little

wee hand seemed

just a baby her

new

and did

leaf,

best to

married, too, and

it.

the right path as nothing else had ever done.

over a

make up

Even me down

Alice.

to lead

In a word,

turned

for the past.

All

was

going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. **

had gone up

town about an investment, and

met him

Regent-street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his foot. *'

Here we

are. Jack,' says he,

touching miC on the arm

There's two of

be as good as a family to you.

us,

* ;

me and my

we'll

son,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't it's a fine, lawabiding country is England, and there's always a policeman within hail.'

Well, down they came to the

shaking them

off,

ness

turn where

;

and there they have

There was no

land ever since.

West

rest for

country, there

lived rent free

me, no peace, no

was no

best

forgetful-

would, there was his cunning, grinning face

grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a at

elbow.

thing which *'

could not give.

His son, you

was known

see,

to be in

asked for Alice.

had grown up, and so had

weak

health,

seemed a

that

I I

would not have

stood firm.

to do his worst.

houses to talk **

When

smoked a

were to

But there

him was

mixed with mine; not

dislike to the lad, but his blood

had any

was enough.

his cursed stock

and as

fine stroke to

that his lad should step into the whole property. firm.

girl,

was

him, and that

McCarthy threatened. I braved him meet at the Pool midway between our

over.

went down there

cigar,

found him talking with his son, so

and waited behind a

tree until he should be alone.

THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY. But as seemed

listened to his talk all that

daughter with as

were a

slut

and

that

all

from

little

off

bitter in

urging his son to marry

was black and

regard for what she might think as

the streets.

drove

me mad

not snap the bond

she

to think that

held most dear should be in the power of such a

Could

as this.

He was

come uppermost.

i<^5

man

was already a dying and a

Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl

desperate man.

knew that Both could be it,

saved,

Mr. Holmes.

could but silence that foul tongue.

would do

again.

Deeply as

did

have sinned,

But that my girl should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought back his son but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had have led a

of martyrdom, to atone for

life

it.

;

dropped

flight.

That

the true story, gentlemen, of

all

that occurred."

"Well,

man

signed

not for

judge you," said Holmes, as the old

the

statement which

had been drawn "I pray that

out.

we may never

exposed to such a temptation." **

sir.

pray not,

And what

do you intend to

do?"

"In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you will soon

answer

have

for

your

deed at a higher

Court

than the

FAREWELL, -THEN,

SAID THE OLD MAN.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

io6 Assizes.

demned,

I I

keep your confession, and,

will

shall be forced to use

by mortal eye

and your

;

secret,

If not,

it.

if it

whether you be

McCarthy

con-

shall never be seen alive or dead, shall

be safe with us." " Farewell

death-beds,

then," said the old man, solemnly.

when they come,

God

help us

Tottering and shaking

he stumbled slowly from the room. said

Holmes,

after a long

does fate play such tricks with poor helpless

hear of such a case as this that

and say, of

silence.

worms

Why never

do not think of Baxter's words,

There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'

James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes, on the strength a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes,

and submitted

Old Turner lived

the defending counsel.

every prospect that the

for

now dead and there son and daughter may come to live

seven months after our interview, but he is

Your own thought of

will be the easier for the

the peace which you have given to mine." in all his giant frame,

;

happily together, in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their past.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE FIVE ORANGE

^^^HEN

glance over

PIPS.

notes and records of the Sherlock

Holmes cases between

the years '82

and

'90,

by so many which present strange and interesting features, that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, have

faced

already gained publicity through the papers, and others have not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend possessed in

so high a degree,

illustrate.

Some,

be, as narratives,

and which

too,

have

the object of these papers to

baffled his analytical skill,

and would

beginnings without an ending, while others have

been but partially cleared up, and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and surmise than on that absolute logical

was so dear to him. which was so remarkable in

proof which last

results, that I

tempted

to give

There

however, one of these

is,

its details

and so startling

some account

fact that there are points in connection

with

it,

in its

in spite of the

which never have

been, and probably never will be, entirely cleared up.

The year

'Sy furnished

or less interest, of

which

us with a long series of cases of greater retain the records. Among my headings

under this one twelve months, the Paradol Chamber, of the

find an account of the adventure of

Amateur Mendicant

Society,

who

held

a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the British barque Sophy Anderson, of the singular adventures of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa,

and

may

finally of the

Camberwell poisoning

case.

Holmes was

able,

be remembered, Sherlock

the dead man's watch, to prove that

In the

latter,

by winding up

had been wound up two hours ago, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these I may sketch out at some future

that time

107

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

io8

none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to date, but

describe.

was

the

latter

days of September, and the equinoctial

gales had set in with exceptional violence.

All

day the wind had

screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made

minds

raise our

for the

London we were

instant from the routine of

forced to

and

life,

recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek

mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-

indexing his records of crime, whilst

at the other

of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories, until the

without seemed to blend with the

was

howl of the gale from

and the splash

text,

of the rain to

lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves.

on a

visit to

her aunt's, and for a few days

was

wife

was a dweller once

old quarters at Baker-street.

"Why,"

said

Who

the bell.

one

deepi in

glancing up at

could

come

to-night

companion, ''that was surely

Some

friend of yours, per-

haps

Except

yourself

have none," he answered.

do not

encourage visitors."

*' **

client,

then?

If so, it is

a serious case.

on such a day, and likely to

Nothing

less

But

such an hour.

would bring a man out take.it that

be some crony of the landlady's."

Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there

came

a step in the passage, and a tapping at the door.

arm

stretched

lamp away from himself and towards " Come in " the vacant chair upon which a new-comer must sit. out his long

to turn the

said he.

The man who outside,

well

entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the

groomed and trimly

ment and delicacy he held the

fierce

his

in his bearing.

hand, and

weather

through

his

clad, with

something of

refine-

The streaming umbrella which long shining waterproof told

which

had come.

about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and

He I

looked

could see

THE FIVE ORANGE

PIPS.

109

was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man weighed down with some great anxiety. *' I owe you an apology," he

that his face

who

raising his golden pince-nez,

said,

to his eyes.

not intruding.

trust that

fear that I

have

brought some traces of the storm

and

the

snug

your

into

rain

chamber." " Give

"They may

Holmes.

brella," said rest here

your coat and um-

on the hook, and

will be

You have come up

dry presently.

from the south-west, I see." " Yes, from Horsham."

"That which

clay and chalk mixture

see upon your toe-caps

quite distinctive.

have come

" That "

And

That

have

Prendergast in *'

He was

Ah, of course.

easily got."

help."

Holmes. â&#x20AC;˘*HE LOOKED ABOUT HIM ANXIOUSLY.

for advice."

not always so easy."

heard heard

you,

from

how you

Mr.

Major

saved him

the Tankerville Club Scandal."

wrongfully accused of cheating at

cards."

He " He

you could solve anything."

said that said too

much."

" That you are never beaten." "

have been beaten four times

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;three times

by men, and once

by a woman." " But what cesses

It is true

that

compared with the number

your suc-

" Then you **

that

may

have been generally successful."

be so with me."

beg that you will draw your chair up to the

with some details as to your case."

fire,

and favour

AJD VENTURES

no **

It is

None

OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

no ordinary one."

which come

of those

are.

the last court of

appeal.'*

"And

yet

question,

sir,

whether, in

all

your experience, you

have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain events than those which have happened in my own family."

"You

fill

essential

facts

with interest," said Holmes.

" Pray give us the

from the commencement, and

can

question you as to those details which seem to

afterwards

most

to be

important."

The young man

pulled his chair up, and pushed his wet feet out

towards the blaze. " My name," said he, " have, as far as business.

It is

John Openshaw, but my own

can understand

it,

affairs

to do with this

little

awful

a hereditary matter, so in order to give you an idea

must go back to the commencement of the You must know that my grandfather had two sons

of the facts, I

affair.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; my uncle

Elias and

father Joseph.

father

had a small factory

Coventry, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicy-

He was

cling.

the patentee of the

Openshaw unbreakable

met with such success that he was able upon a handsome competence.

his business to retire

tire,

to sell

it,

and

when he was a young planter in Florida, where he was reported to At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's

uncle Elias emigrated to America

man, and became a have done very

well.

army, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel.

When Lee

laid

down

his

arms

uncle returned to his plantation,

where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came back to Europe, and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his to

dislike of the

them.

He was

Republican policy

extending the franchise

a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very

foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition.

During set

all

the years that he lived at

foot in the town.

Horsham

doubt

ever he

had a garden and two or three

fields

round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very

weeks on end he would never .leave his room. He drank a great deal of brandy, and smoked very heavily, but he would

often for

THE FIVE ORANGE want any

see no society, and did not

PIPS.

iii

own

not even his

friends,

brother.

mind me, in fact he took a fancy to me, for at the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. That would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in didn't

England.

was very kind

fond of playing

make me

begged

in his

When

way.

with him, and he

live

he was sober he used to be

backgammon and draughts with me, and he would

his representative both with

tradespeople, so that by the time that

master of the house.

and do what

liked

father to let

kept

liked, so

all

the servants and with the

was

sixteen

was

quite

the keys, and could go where

long as

did not disturb

him

in his

There was one singular exception, however, for he had a single room, a lumber room up among the attics, which was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or any one else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped through

privacy.

the keyhole, but

was never able

to see

more than such a

and bundles as would be expected

lection of old trunks

col-

such a

room. *'

lay

One dayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; it was

upon the table

common in

March,

1883â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a

letter

with a foreign stamp

in front of the Colonel's plate.

thing for him to receive letters, for his

Opening

up,

Pondicherry postmark

hurriedly, out there

which pattered down upon

pips,

but the laugh was struck from

had

jumped

his plate.

bills

ready money, and he had no friends of any sort.

said he, as he took

was not a

were

all

paid

From India What can this '

five little dried

began

orange

to laugh at this,

lips at the sight of his face.

His

eyes were protruding, his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling lip

hand. sins

fallen, his

K. K. K.,' he shrieked, and then,

God,

have overtaken me."

***

What

is it,

uncle?'

cried.

***

Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope,

and saw scrawled

the letter five

upon the inner

three times repeated.

dried pips.

terror

in red ink

left

What

flap,

just above the

There was nothing

gum,

else save the

could be the reason of his overpowering

the breakfast table, and as

met him coming down with an

ascended the

old rusty key,

stair

which must have

AD VENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

112

belonged to the

one hand, and a small brass box,

attic, in

like a

cash box, in the other. **

They may do what they

said he, with an oath.

room

Mary

Tell

and send down

to-da}',

but

like,

I'll

that

checkmate them

Fordham, the Horsham

when the lawyer The fire was burning

did as he ordered, and

to step

to the

grate there

was

room.

mass

want a

shall

treble

which

wish you, John,' said

leave

you can enjoy

take

had read

in the

estate, with all its

brother, your father,

advice,

uncle,

whence

will,

were printed the

and good to

all

its

will.

you

disadvantages

find

to you.

you cannot,

your deadliest enemy. I

can't say

what turn

Kindly sign the paper where Mr. Fordham

you.'

" I signed the

The

with him.

paper as directed, and the lawyer took

my mind

every

way

Yet

could not shake

behind

it,

away

made, as you may think, the

singular incident

deepest impression upon me, and

lid

glanced

no doubt, descend

sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but

shows

it.

witness

advantages and

boy, and leave

things are going to take.

in the

morning upon the envelope.

in peace, well

was asked and

brightly,

upon the

noticed, with a start, that

box

of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper,

at the

fire

lawyer.'

arrived

while the brass box stood open and empty beside I

still,*

pondered over

it,

and turned

without being able to make anything of off the

vague feeling of dread which

though the sensation grew

less

it.

left

keen as the weeks passed,

and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I He drank more than could see a change in my uncle, however. Most of his ever, and he w^as less inclined for any sort of society. time he v/ould spend in his room, with the door locked upon the sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man,

inside, but

and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man When these hot fits were over, however, he would rush or devil. tumultuously in at the door, and lock and bar it behind him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul.

At such times

have seen his

on a cold day, glisten with moisture as though from a basin.

face,

even

were new raised

THE FIVE ORANGE **

PIPS.

113

Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not

your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found to abuse

him,

when we went

green-scummed

was no

pool,

to search for him, face

which lay

downwards

in a little

at the foot of the garden.

sign of any violence, and the water

was but two

There

feet deep,

known eccentricity, brought in who knew how he winced from the very

so that the jury, having regard to his

But death, had

a verdict of suicide.

thought

much ado

persuade

myself that he had gone out of his

way

meet

The matter passed

it.

however, and

father

entered into possession of the estate,

and

some

thousand

fourteen

pounds, which lay to his credit at the

bank."

"WE FOUND "

FACE DOWNWARDS IN A LITTLE GREEN-SCUMMED TOOL."

One moment," Holmes

foresee,

Let

IIIM

interposed.

one of the most remarkable

me have

" Your statement

which

is,

have ever listened.

the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter,

and the date of his supposed suicide."

"The

latter arrived

on March the loth, 1883.

His death was

seven weeks later, upon the night of the 2nd of May." " Thank you. Pray proceed." " When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at request,

made

a careful examination of the attic, which had been

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

114

always locked up.

found the brass box there, although

contents had been destroyed.

paper

with the initials K. K. K. repeated upon

label,

memoranda, presume,

the

indicated

much importance

nature

the

well,

For the uncle's

rest,

life

mostly concerned with

politics, for

Horsham, and

sitting

newly in

opened

hand

one

was nothing

scattered papers

Some

America.

soldier.

stretched

There

with

who had been

father

sent

came

and

five

palm

He had

always laughed at what

called

cock-and-bull story about

Colonel,

the

but he

very

looked

puzzled and scared

now

down

to live

sat together at the break-

envelope

the other one.

his duty

Others were

dried orange-pips in the

out

all

father give a sharp cry of surprise as

was,

went as well as possible with us until the On the fourth day after the New Year I heard my

'85.

table.

These,

he had evidently taken a strong

from the North. " Well, it was the beginning of '84 when

fast

Southern States, and were

part in opposing the carpet-bag politicians

January of

there

many

and had borne the repute of being a brave

of a date during the reconstruction of the

and Letters,

war time, and showed that he had done

of the

was a

papers which had been

the

save a great

attic,

and notebooks bearing upon

them were

it,

and a register' written beneath.

receipts

destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. of

the inside of the cover

its

that

same thing had come upon the

himself.

"WHAT ON EARTH

DOES THIS

MEAN?"

'''Why, what on earth does this mean, John ? he stammered. " My heart had turned to lead. It is K. K. '

K.' said T.

THE FIVE ORANGE "

looked inside the envelope.

But what

are the very letters. "

PIPS.

115

it is,'

this written above

Put the papers on the sun-dial,'

cried.

them

read, peeping

Here

over his

shoulder. *'

What

The

papers

What

sun-dial

he asked.

? '

There

sun-dial in the garden.

other,' said

;

but

the papers must be those that are destroyed.'

Pooh

said he, gripping hard at

' !

a civilised land here, and

his courage.

are in

have tomfoolery of this kind.

can't

Where does the thing come from ? " From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. *'* Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have '

with sun-dials and papers? *'

shall take

should certainly speak to the

And be laughed Then let me do No,

at for

forbid you.

no notice of such nonsense.'

police,' I said.

Nothing

pains.

of the sort.'

made about such

won't have a fuss

nonsense.' "

man.

was

in vain to

argue with him,

he was a very obstinate

for

went about, however, with a heart which was

full

forebodings.

On the third da}^ after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Mnjor Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was further "

from danger when he was away from home. I

was

from

Upon

in error.

father

abound

had the

shattered skull.

the

that, however,

second day of his absence

the

Major,

fallen

over

imploring

one

of the

received

come

once.

deep chalk-pits which

neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a I

hurried to him, but he passed

having ever recovered his consciousness.

away without

had, as

appears,

been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country

was unknown

to him,

hesitation

bringing in a verdict

causes.'

Carefully as

examined every

Death fact

jur}^

from

had no

accidental

connected with his

was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no

death, of

and the chalk-pit unfenced, the

robbery, no record of strangers having been seen

upon the roads.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

ii6

And

yet

that

need not

tell

was well-nigh

you that

my mind was some

certain that

round him. " In this sinister way '

came

far

from

had been woven

foul plot

into

and

at ease,

You

inlieritance.

will

was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as pressing

me why

ask

did not dispose of

one house as "

was

it ?

answer because

another.

January,

'85,

that

poor father met his end, and

two years and eight

months have elapsed since then. During that time

have lived

happily at Horsham,

and

had begun

hope that

this curse

had passed away from the family, and that

had ended with the

last

generation.

had

begun

take

comfort too soon,however; yesterday

blow

ing the

very

the

which

upon

The SHOOK OUT FIVE LITTLE DRIED ORANGE

PIPS."

morn-

fell

shape

in in

had come father.'*

young

man

took from his waistcoat a crumpled en-

velope, and, turning to the table, he shook out

orange pips. " This is the envelope,"

London upon

upon

he continued.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; eastern division.

father's last

papers on the sun-dial.' **

What

Nothing."

five little dried

The postmark

Within are the very words which were message. K. K. K.' and then 'Put the '

;

have you done

''Nothing?"

" asked

Holmes.

THE FIVE ORANGE "

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;"

tell

have

the truth"

felt

PIPS.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he sank his face into his

helpless.

have

felt like

117 thin,

white hands

one of those poor rabbits

when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against." *' Tut " cried Sherlock Tut

Holmes.

"You must

This

Nothing but energy can save you.

or you are lost.

act,

man, is

time for despair." " I have seen the police."

"Ah?" my

" But they listened to

story with a smile.

convinced

that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are practical jokes,

and that the deaths

accidents, as the jury stated,

and were not

all

relations were really

to be connected with the

warnings."

Holmes shook imbecility

in the

have, however, allowed

Has he come with you

Why

a policeman,

who may remain

come

once

did not know.

Prendergast about

" ?

in the house.

in the air.

come

did you

did you not I

to-night

His orders were to stay

Again Holmes raved

house with me."

" No. "

" Incredible

air.

" he cried.

"They

clenched hands in the

his

me?"

he said; "and, above

all,

why

" ?

was only to-day that I spoke to Major trouble, and was advised by him to come to It

you."

two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us no suggestive detail which " It

really

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

might help us " There

" ?

one thing," said John Openshaw.

He rummaged

and drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted " I have some remembrance," paper, he laid it out upon the table. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I

his coat pocket,

observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular colour. the floor of his room, and of the papers

which

found this single sheet upon

may be one from among the

inclined to think that

has, perhaps,

fluttered out

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

ii8

and

others,

way have escaped

in that

mention of

pips,

that

a page from

doubtedly

do not see that

The

private diary.

think myself

writing

un-

uncle's."

Holmes moved paper, which

some

helps us much.

Beyond the

destruction.

we both

the lamp, and

showed by

torn from a book.

its

bent over the sheet of

ragged edge that "

was headed,

had indeed been

March, 1869," and beneath

were the following enigmatical notices " 4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. :

7th. Set the pips on

McCauley, Paramore, and John Swain

St Augustine.

" gth. McCauley cleared. '*

John Swain

loth.

cleared.

" I2th. Visited Paramore.

Thank you

ing

" said

to our visitor.

another instant.

What

must put

And now you must on no account

\Vc cannot spare time even

shall

There

well."

Holmes, folding up the paper, and return-

You must

have told me.

x^ll

get

home

instantl}^

and act."

but one thing to do.

this piece of paper

must be done

You must

Do you **

You

into the

were burned by your uncle, and

the only one which remains.

once.

also put in a note

You must

such words as will carry conviction with them.

you must

which you have shown us

to say that all the other papers is

what you

to discuss

brass box which you have described.

that this

lose

assert that in

Having done

this,

once put the box out upon the sun-dial, as directed.

understand

" ?

Entirely."

"Do

not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present.

think that

we may gain

that by

web

to weave, while theirs

tion

second

means

of the

already woven.

law

;

The

but

we have our

first

considera-

remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The to clear up the mystery, and to punish the guilty

parties."

thank you," said the young man,

overcoat.

You have given me

rising,

fresh

life

And, above

all,

and pulling on his

and hope.

shall

certainly do as you advise."

"Do in the

not lose an instant.

meanwhile,

for I

take care of yourself

do not think that there can be a doubt that

THE FIVE ORANGE you are threatened by a very you go back ?

real

PIPS.

I19

and imminent danger.

How

**By train from Waterloo." **

not yet nine.

that you

may

be in safety.

The streets will be crowded, so I trust And yet you cannot guard yourself too

closely."

That

armed." is

No, in

lies

you

shall see

shall set to

work upon your ^^,

case."

your

secret

London.

It is

there that

Horsham, then *'

To-morrow

well.

shall seek

it."

Then

shall call

upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as to the box

papers.

your

and the

shall

every

shook

advice

particular."

take

hands with

us,

his leave.

Outside the

wind

still

the rain

pattered

and took

screamed, and splashed and the

against

windows. This strange, wild

seemed

story

have come

to us

HIS EYES

BENT UPON THE GLOW OF THE FIRE."

from

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

amid the mad elements blown in upon us like a sheet of seaweed in a gale and now to have been reabsorbed by them once

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

more.

Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence with his head sunk forward, and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the lit

his

pipe,

and leaning back

his chair he

fire.

Then he

watched the blue

smoke rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. ** I think, Watson," he remarked at last, " that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this." **

Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four."

AD VENTURES OF SHERL O CK HOLMES.

" Well, yes.

seems

And

Save, perhaps, that.

Openshaw

yet this John

walking amid even greater perils than did the

to be

Sholtos."

But have you," I asked, *' formed any definite conception as " to what these perils are ? *' There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. ** Then what are they ? Who is this K. K. K., and why does " he pursue this unhappy family ? Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes, and placed his elbows upon *'

the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together.

reasoner," he remarked, " would,

which

follow from

led

but also

it,

As Cuvier could

it.

ideal

when he has once been shown

single fact in all its bearings, deduce from

of events

The

all

not only

all

the chain

the results which would

correctly describe a

whole animal

by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents, should be able to accurately state

all

the other ones, both before and

after.

have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled attain to.

all

those

who have sought

carry the art, however, to

highest pitch,

its

reasoner should be able to utilise his knowledge,

possession

of all

the facts which have

is likely to

have endeavoured

on one occasion,

you

somewhat

not so impossible, however, that a

knowledge which

necessary that the

come

will readily see, a

knowledge, which, even in these days of free

education and encyclopaedias, It

all

it is

this in itself implies, as

and

a solution by the aid of their senses.

rare accomplishment.

man

should possess

all

be useful to him in his work, and this

remember

rightly,

you

days of our friendship,

defined

case to do.

in the early

If I

limits in a very precise fashion."

"Yes,"

Philosophy,

remember. stains

"It was a singular document. politics were marked_ at zero, I

answered, laughing.

astronomy,

Botany

and

variable, geology profound as regards the

from any region

within

fifty

miles

town,

mud

chemistry

anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and selfpoisoner by cucaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main eccentric,

points of

analysis."

Holmes giinned

at the last item.

" Well," he said, "

say now,

THE FIVE ORANGE as

said then, that a

with

man

i2i

little

brain attic stocked

should keep his

the furniture that he

all

PIPS.

likely to use,

and the

rest he can

where he can get it it he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the American Encyclopaedia put

away

lumber room

in the

of his library,

which stands upon the shelf beside you. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation, and see what may be deduced from it. In the

first

place,

we may

start with a strong

Openshaw had some very strong reason do not change

at his time of life

presumpiion that Colonel

for leaving

America.

their habits,

all

Men

and exchange

charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in England

willingly the

was

some one or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of some one or something which drove him from America. As to what it was suggests the idea that he

in fear of

he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters

which were received by himself and

Did you

his successors.

remark the postmarks of those letters ? " The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London."

" From

What

East London.

" They are

all

that the probability

on board of a

That the writer was on board a ship." have already a clue. There can be no doubt

sea-ports.

"Excellent.

do vou deduce from that

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

And now

ship.

let

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

that the writer

was

us consider another point.

strong probability

the case of Pondicherry seven wrecks elapsed betvveen the threat

and

its

fulfilment, in

Dundee

Does that suggest anything *'

But the

Then

There

man

was only some three

or four days.

greater distance to travel." letter

had

also a greater distance to

come."

do not see the point."

men

at least a

are

their singular their mission.

when

presumption that the vessel

a sailing ship.

looks as

which the

they always sent

warning or token before them when starting upon

You

see

how

quickly the deed followed the sign

came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. But as a matter of fact seven weeks elapsed. I think that those it

AD VENTURES OF SHERL CK HOLMES.

12 2

seven weeks represented the difference between the mail boat which

brought the ''

letter,

and the sailing vessel which brought the writer."

It is possible."

" More than that.

why

urgency of this new case, and

The blow has always

caution.

And now you

probable.

It is

would take the senders

see the deadly

urged young Openshaw to

end of the time which

fallen at the

But this one comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." it

Good God

cried.

What

can

mean,

this relentless

persecution

travel the distance.

The papers which Openshaw

carried are obviously of vital im-

portance to the person or persons in the sailing ship.

think that

must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as There must have been several in it, to deceive a coroner's jury. and they must have been men of resource and determination. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. is

quite clear that there

this

way you

individual,

see

ceases to be

K. K.

and becomes the badge

the initials of an

of a society."

" But of what society." *'

and sinking Klan

—" — voice

Have you never his

Holmes, bending forward

said Sherlock

have you never heard of the

Ku Klux

" ?

" I never have."

Holmes turned over '

Here

derived

cocking

from a

said

is,"

rifle.

fanciful

This

the

leaves

presently,

resemblance terrible

the

book upon

Ku Klux to

secret

the

his

knee.

A name

Klan.

sound produced by

society

was

formed

some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern States after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country,

notably in Tennessee,

Georgia, and Florida.

Its

Louisiana,

power was used

the

Carolinas,

for political purposes,

principally for the terrorising of the negro voters, and the murdering

or driving from the country of those

who were opposed

to its views.

were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked some fantastic but generally recognised shape a sprig of

Its outrages

man

—

oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others.

receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly from the country.

he braved the matter out, death

THE FIVE ORANGE

PIPS,

123

woald unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a case upon

man

record where any in

which any

succeeded

of its outrages

braving

with impunity, or

were traced home to the perpetrators.

For some years the organisation flourished, in spite of the efforts of the United States Government, and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1869, the move-

ment rather suddenly collapsed, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date." ** You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, " that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It is no wonder that he It may well have been cause and effect. and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their

You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." " ** Then the page which we have seen ** It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Is such as we might expect.

track.

the pips to A, B, and

Then

them.

C,'

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;that

is,

there are successive entries that

the country, and finally that

left

sent the society's warning to

C was

and

visited,

cleared, or

with,

we may

fear,

some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand Well,

sinister result for C.

over

violin

and

let

miserable weather, and the

think. Doctor, that

let

us try to forget for half an hour the

more miserable ways

still

of our fellow

men."

had cleared

in the

morning, and the sun was shining with a

subdued brightness through the dim great city.

veil

which hangs over the

Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast

when

came

down. **

have, of

You I

will

excuse

foresee, a very

for not waiting for you," said

busy day before

young Openshaw's." ** What steps will you take

asked.

;

looking into this case

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

124 '*

may have to " You will

No,

much depend upon go down to Horsham

very

It will

not go there

first inquiries.

after all."

commence with

shall

first ?

the results of

Just ring the bell, and

the City.

the maid will bring up your coffee."

waited,

and glanced chill to

lifted the

eye over

it.

heart.

" Holmes,"

cried, ''you are too late."

"'HOLMES,'

" *

" said he, laying

done?" deeply moved. was

unopened newspaper from the table It rested upon a heading which sent a

eye caught

CKIKD, 'YOU ARE TOO LATE.'"

down

his cup, "

spoke calmly, but

the

name

Tragedy near Waterloo Bridge.'

feared as

could

much.

see that he

Openshaw, and the

Here

the account

was

heading '

How

Between

Division, nine and ten last night Police-constable Cook, of the on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in

the water.

The

was extremely dark and stormy, so several passers-by, it was quite im

night, however,

that, in spite of the help of

THE FIVE ORANGE possible to effect a rescue.

The

125

was

alarm, however,

given, and,

body was eventually recovered.

police, the

by the aid of the water

PIPS.

proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John It

Openshaw, and whose residence tured that he

near Horsham.

may have been hurrying down

from Waterloo Station, and that

It is

conjec-

to catch the last train

and the extreme

his haste

darkness, he missed his path, and walked over the edge of one of

The body

the small landing-places for river steamboats.

exhibited

no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing stages.'

some minutes, Holmes more depressed and

sat in silence for

had ever see him. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said

shaken than

no doubt, but

feeling,

matter with

hand upon tiiat I

his

me now, this

hurts

and,

pride.

God sends me

away

should send him

and paced about the room

chair,

health,

to his death in

a petty

becomes a personal

That he should come

gang.

at last.

me for help, and He sprang from

to !

shall set

uncontrollable agitation,

with a flush upon his sallow cheeks, and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long, thin hands.

They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed, at last. " How could they have decoyed him down there ? The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "

Well, Watson,

crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose.

we shall see who now!" " To the police ?

will

win

the long run.

;

evening before

had not come back

yet.

It.

You

from the

piece

down with

have spun the web

was nearly ten

He walked up loaf,

remarked.

o'clock before

to the sideboard,

he devoured

a long draught of water.

are hungry,"

was late Sherlock Holmes

work, and

returned to Baker-street,

entered, looking pale and worn.

washing

going out

No I shall be my own police. When they may take the flies, but not before.'* All day I was engaged in my professional

and, tearing a

in the

voraciousl3^

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

126

" Starving.

had escaped

my memory.

had no time

to think of it." "

have had nothing

since breakfast."

" Nothing?" " Not a bite. '*

And how have you succeeded

"Well." *'

You have

have them

''I

a clue

not long remain unavenged.

What do you mean He took an orange he squeezed

let

us put their

well thought of!

It is

shall

own

pieces,

Young Openshaw

hand.

Why, Watson,

upon them.

devilish trade-mark

hollow of

in the

from

the

cupboard,

the pips upon the

out

and,

tearing

Of these he

table.

them into an envelope. On the inside of Then he sealed it and adthe flap he wrote, " S. H. for J. O." dressed it to "Captain James Calhoun, Barque Lone Star, Savannah, took

live,

and thrust

Georgia." " That will await him " It

may

give

him a is

this

enters port," said he, chuckling.

sleepless night.

precursor of his fate as

"And who

when he

Openshaw

will

find

did before him."

Captain Calhoun?

" The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he " How did you trace it, then ? "

sure a

took a large sheet of paper from his pocket,

first."

covered with

all

dates and names. " I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers

and the

files

of the old papers, following the future career of every

January and in February in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reOf these, one, the Lone Star^ ported there during those months. vessel

which touched

instantly attracted

Pondicherry

attention, since, although

having cleared from London, the name

was reported

that which

given to

one of the States of the Union." " Texas, I think." "

was not and am not sure which must have an American origin." I

What

then

;

but

knew

that the ship

" ?

searched the Dundee records, and

barque Lone Star was there in January,

'85,

when

found that the

suspicion became a

THE FIVE ORANGE certainty.

PIPS.

127

then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in

the port of London."

*'Yes?" " The hone Star had

arrived here last week.

the Albert Dock, and found that she had been taken

went down

down

the river

by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah.

wired to Gravesend, and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind

easterly,

have no doubt that she

now

past the Goodwins, and not very far from the Isle of Wight."

What

will

Oh,

have

you do, then

" ?

my hand upon

learn, the only native-born

are Finns and

Germans.

from the ship

him.

Americans

know

last night.

been loading their cargo.

He and

The

in the ship.

also that they

had

the two mates are,

were

all

three

from the stevedore,

the time that

their

away

who has

sailing

reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this the cable will have informed the police of

others

letter,

ship

and

Savannah that these

three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder."

There

ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of

human

plans,

and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year.

news

for

of the

Lone Star

wave, with

tlie letters

shall ever

know

Savannah, but none ever reached

long us.

somewhere far out in the Atlantic, a a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a " L. S." carved upon it, and that is all which the fate of the Lone Star.

did at last hear that

shattered sternpost of

We waited

VI.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED

,^MSA

WHITNEY,

D.D.,

^^^

brother of the

Principal

Theological

the

late

Elias

LIP.

Whitney,

College

St.

was much addicted to opium. The habit grew upon him, as 1 understand, from some foolish freak when he was at college, for having read De George's,

Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched his

tobacco with laudanum

effects. is

found, as so

an attempt

many more have

easier to attain than to get rid

of,

and

produce the same

done, that the practice for

many

years he con-

tinued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror and

and

pity to his friends

relatives.

can see him now, with yellow,

pasty face, drooping lids and pin-point pupils,

all

huddled

in a chair,

man. One nightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; it was in June, '89â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there came a ring to my bell, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn, and glances at I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needlework the clock.

the wreck and ruin of a noble

down

and made a

in her lap

groaned, for

patient

little

" You'll have to go out."

" said she. I

face of disappointment.

was newly come back from a weary day.

heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad steps upon the linoleum. in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room.

"You

will excuse

calling

and then, she ran forward, threw her arms so late," she began,

suddenly losing her self-control, " about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. euch trouble " she cried " I do so want a little help." in

How

Why," you

you came *'

said

startled

I'm

;

wife, pulling

me, Kate!

up her

veil,

"it

Kate Whitney.

had not an idea who you were when

in."

didn't

know what

to do, so i?8

came

straight to you."

That

THE

MAN WITH THE TWISTED Folk who were

was always the way.

LIP.

came

in ^rief

129

wife like

birds to a lighthouse.

was very sweet

wine and water, and

Or should you **

sent

James

off to

bed

all

about

it.

" ?

want the Doctor's advice and help too. It's He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened I

was not the

time that she had spoken to us of her

first

husband's trouble, to

words as we could

wife as an old friend

soothed and comforted her

b}'

such

Did she know where her husband was

find.

possible that \ve could bring

seemed that

as a doctor, to

and school companion.

tell

about him

Was

Now, you must have some

come.

here comfortably and

sit

rather that

Oh, no, no.

about Isa.

you

him back

to her

She had the surest information that of late he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the furthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him eight-andIt

forty hours,

was.

and he lay

there, doubtless,

among

the dregs of the

There

docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects.

he was to be found, she was sure of

it,

at the

Bar

of Gold," in

But w^hat was she to do? Upper Swandam-lane. How could she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place, and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him ? There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Might

it.

not escort her to this place?

why

thought,

should

she

come

medical adviser, and as such

manage I

better

in a

was Isa Whitney's

had influence over him.

were alone.

would send him home

all

And, then, as a second

promised her on

cab within two hours

my word

could that

he were indeed

which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was

at the address

had

left

speeding eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as to

at the time,

seemed

though the future only could show how strange

was to be. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my adventure. Upper Swandam-lane is a vile alley lurking behind the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of it

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

I30

London Bridge.

Between a

by a steep

flight of steps

of a cave,

cab to wait,

slop shop

leading

down

found the den of which

passed down the steps,

the ceaseless tread of drunken

feet,

and a gin shop, approached gap

to a black

like the

mouth

was in search. Ordering my worn hollow in the centre by

and by the

light of a flickering

lamp above the door I found the latch and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, oil

like the forecastle

emigrant

ship.

Through the gloom one could dimly

catch

glimpse of bodies in

strange

fantastic

poses,

lying

bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads

thrown back and chins pointingup-

wards, with here

and there a dark, lack ^

lustre

turned upon the

new-comer. of "STARING INTO THE red circles of light,

waxed

now

bright,

the

shadows glimmered

FIRE.

now

faint, as

eye

Out black there little

the burning poison

waned in the bowls of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in or

gushes, and then suddenly tailing out

his

own

thoughts,

off into

and paying

little

silence, each

mumbling

heed to the words of

At the further end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire. his neighbour.

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED As

pipe for

IIP.

131

Malay attendant had hurried up with a me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty entered, a sallow

berth.

Thank

you,

mine

friend of

have not come to stay," said

here, Mr. Isa

Whitney, and

" There

wish to speak with

him."

There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and unkempt, staring out at me. '*

My God

Watson,"

It's

He was

said he.

of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. " o'clock is it ? *'

in a pitiable state

Watson, what

say,

Nearly eleven."

" Of what day

" ?

•''

Of Friday, June 19."

Good heavens

What

thought

was Wednesday.

d'you want to frighten a chap for

his arms,

and bec;an

you that

It is

Wednesday.

sank his face on to

to sob in a high treble key.

Friday, man.

Your wife has been waiting this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself " *' So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been I tell

it is

here a few hours, three pipes, four pipes I'll

go home with you.

Give *'

me your hand Yes,

a cab

how many.

forget

wouldn't frighten Kate

Have you

—poor

little

But Kate.

have one waiting."

" Then

—

shall

go in

it.

But

must owe something.

Find what

I am all off colour. owe, Watson. I can do nothing for myself." " I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of

sleepers, holding of the drug, tall

breath to keep out the

and looking about

man who

sat

and a low voice whispered, " me."

The words

fell

manager.

for the

by the brazier

I felt

Walk

stupefying fumes

vile,

passed the

a sudden pluck at

skirt,

past me, and then look back at

quite distinctly

my ear. man at my

upon

glanced down.

They could only have come from the old side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees, as though

had dropped

in sheer lassitude

two steps forward and looked back. prevent

from his

took

all

fingers.

took

self-control to

from breaking out into a cry of astonishment.

He had

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

132

turned his back so that none could see him but filled fire,

out, his wrinkles

and there,

sitting

were gone, the by the

dull eyes

and grinning

fire,

His form had

had regained their

surprise,

was

none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to

company once more, subsided

the

a doddering, loose-lipped

into

senility.

holmes!'

WHISrERED."

Holmes!" I whispered, ''what on den?" *' As low as you can," he answered, *'

you would have the great kindness of yours

earth are you doing in this

have excellent ears.

to get rid of that sottish friend

should be exceedingly glad to have a

little

talk with you."

have a cab outside."

Then pray send him home

it.

You may

safely trust him,

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED

IIP.

133

I should he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to

for

say that you have thrown in your outside,

shall be with

was

you

with me.

lot

in live

you

will wait

minutes."

any of Sherlock Holmes' requests,

difficult to refuse

for

they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery.

once confined in the cab,

and

for the

rest,

mission was practically accomplished

friend

one of

which were the normal condition I

had written

;

could not wish anything better than to be

associated with

however, that when Whitney was

felt,

note, paid

those

singular adventures

In a few minutes

of his existence.

Whitney's

bill,

and seen him driven through the darkness.

led

him out

to the cab,

In a very short time a

had emerged from the opium den, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two streets he shuffled Then glancing along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. decrepit figure

quickly round, he straightened himself out and burst into a hearty fit

of laughter. '*

suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that

added opium-smoking to cucaine injections and weaknesses on which you have favoured

all

have

the other

little

with your medical

views.'*

was certainly surprised to find you " But not more so than I to find you." " I came to find a friend." I

"And "

to find

An enemy ?

"Yes, one of

there."

an enemy."

natural enemies, or

sliall I

say,

my natural

Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent ramblings

prey.

Briefly,

inquiry,

and

of these

sots, as I

den

have done before now.

been recognised

in that

would not have been worth an hour's purchase,

life

have used

Had

before

now

for I

my own

purposes, and the rascally has sworn vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that building, near the corner of Paul's it

Lascar who runs

Wharf, which could through

for

tell

some strange

tales of

what has passed

upon the moonless nights."

"What!

You do

not

"Aye, bodies, Watson.

mean bodies?"

should be rich

men

we had a

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

134

thousand pounds in that den.

and

for every is

poor devil

who has been done

death

the vilest murder-trap on the whole river-side,

fear that Neville St. Clair has entered

never to leave

But our trap should be here " He put his two fore-fingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal which was answered by a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle more.

of wheels

and the clink of horses' hoofs."

"Now, Watsaid

son," Holmes, dog

tall

as -

cart

dashed up through the gloom, throwing

two golden

out

tunnels of yellow

from

light

its

side-lanterns, " you'll

come

with me, won't

you ?" **

If I

can be

of use."

**0h, a trusty

comrade

al-

ways of use. And a chronicler

more room "

HE FLICKED THE HORSE WITH HIS WHIP.'

so.

The

Cedars

double-bedded one.

still

''The Cedars?" **Yes; that I

Mr.

St. Clair's house.

staying there while

conduct the inquiry." **

Where

is it,

then

" ?

" Near Lee, in Kent. *'

have a seven-mile drive before us."

But I am all in the dark." Of course you are. You'll know

up here

All right, John,

all

shall not

about

presently.

need you.

Jump

Here's half-a-

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED Look out

crown.

head

So long, then

for

IIP.

135

Give her her

to-morrow, about eleven.

'* !

flicked the horse with his whip,

and we dashed away through

the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which widened

we were

gradually, until

flying across a broad balustraded bridge,

Beyond

with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us. another broad wilderness of bricks and mortar,

lay

silence broken

its

only by the heavy, regular footfall of the policeman, or the songs

and shouts of some belated party drifting slowly across the

Holmes drove

of the clouds.

rifts

silence,

with his head sunk upon his breast, and the

who

lost

what

sorely,

in thought, whilst

and yet afraid

had driven several

of the belt of

lit

himself that he

villas,

a great thing for

when he shook

You

woman

forget that

get to Lee.

as a companion.

a spark

and concisely

where

to-night

all

Proceed then."

Some

years ago

and

lived

to,

you the

for I

word,

my own

should say

at the door."

it."

facts of the case before yet,

somehow,

hand.

dark to me."

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to be

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

May, 1884 there came to Clair by name, who appeared to have

definite, in

large villa, laid out the grounds very

generally in

" It

There's plenty of thread, no doubt,

friends in the neighbourhood, of a local brewer,

he.

Now, I'll state the case you, Watson, and maybe you may see

Lee a gentleman, Neville St. He took a plenty of money. nicely,

satis-

'Pon

when she meets me

to tell

go upon.

has

said

was wondering what

know nothing about

can't get the end of

clearly

man who

seems absurdly simple, and

powers so

himself, shrugged his

have some one to talk

have time

shall just

can get nothing but

to learn

to get to the fringe

Watson,"

silence,

thoughts are not over-pleasant.

man

acting for the best.

You have a grand gift makes you quite invaluable

to this dear little

to tax his

and were beginning

him curious

his pipe with the air of a

air of a

break in upon the current of his thoughts.

miles,

suburban

shoulders, and fied

sat beside

new quest might be which seemed

this

wrack was

dull

and a star or two twinkled dimly

sky,

here and there through the

of revellers.

whom

good

and

style.

degrees he

made

1887 he married the daughter

he has

now had two

had no occupation, but was interested

in several

children.

companies, and

ADVENTU/^ES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

136

went into town as a rule

morning, returning by the 5.14 Mr. St. Clair is now 37 years

in the

from Cannon-street every night. of age,

man

affectionate father,

of temperate

a good husband, a

habits,

and a man who

popular with

all

very

who know

may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to ;ÂŁ'88 los., while

him.

far as

he has ÂŁ^220 standing to his credit

Bank.

to think that

There is no reason, therefore, have been weighing upon his mind. " Last earlier

Monday Mr.

Neville

St.

the Capital and Counties

went

Clair

money

troubles

town rather

into

than usual, remarking before he started that he had two

important commissions to perform, and that he would bring his

boy home a box of bricks.

little

wife received

Now, by the merest chance his a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly

after his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable

value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the Aberdeen Shipping Compan}-.

offices of

know

your London, you

Fresno-street, which branches out of

where started

you found for

the

City,

will

did

you are well

that the office of the

Mrs.

to-night.

Now,

St.

company

Upper Swandam-lane, Clair

had her lunch,

some shopping, proceeded

to the

com-

packet, and

found herself exactly at 4.35 walking through Swandam-lane on her way back to the station. pany's

office,

Have you *'

It is

got her

followed

so far

very clear."

you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found *'

herself.

While she walked

way down Swandam-lane cry, and was struck cold to

suddenly heard an ejaculation or her

husband

looking

she

in this

down

her,

and,

beckoning to her from a second-floor window.

seemed

see her,

The window was

open, and she distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly

agitated.

He waved

his

hands

frantically

then vanished from the window so suddenly that

to it

her,

seemed

and to

her that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind.

One

singular point which struck her quick feminine eye

was that, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had to town in, he had on neither collar nor necktie.

started

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED

LIP.

137

Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the steps for the house was none other than the opium **

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

den

which you found me to-night

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and,

running through the

front room, she attempted to ascend the stairs

which

led to the

At the

first floor.

foot of the stairs,

however, she met

Lascar scoun-

this

drel

whom

have spoken, who her

thrust

back,

aided

and,

Dane, who acts as assistant

there,

pushed

her

the

into

out

street.

with

Filled

the

maddening doubts and fears, most

rushed

she

down by

the lane, and,

rare good fortune,

met,

Fresno-

street, a

number

constables with an inspector,

all

way to their beat. The inspector and two men actheir

companied her back, and, in spite of

the

continued

resistance proprietor,

the

they

STAIRS SHE MET THIS LASCAR SCOUNDREL."

"AT THE FOOT OF THE

made their way to There was the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. no sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was no one to be found, save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Both he and the Lascar stoutly it seems, made his home there.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

138

swore that no one else had been

room during the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had in

the

front

been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box which lay upon the table, and

cascade of children's bricks. to bring

Out there fell a was the toy which he had promised

tore the lid from It

it.

home.

" This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple

showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious.

The rooms were

examined, and results

carefully

The

an abominable crime. a sitting-room, and

front

led into a

room was

all

pointed to

plainly furnished as

small bedroom, which looked out

upon the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide, but is

covered at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water.

The bedroom window was a broad On examination traces of blood were floor

front

the

bedroom.

room were

all

were there.

visible

away behind

upon the window upon the wooden a

curtain

the

the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the

His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch

exception of his coat. all

Thrust

and opened from below.

to be seen

and several scattered drops were

sill,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

one,

There were no signs

of violence

upon any

these garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St.

Out

Clair.

of the

window he must apparently have gone,

for

other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the

gave

sill

for the tide

little

was

And now

promise that he could save himself by swimming,

at its very highest at the

moment

of the tragedy.

who seemed to be immediately The Lascar was known to be a man

as to the villains

implicated in the matter.

of the vilest antecedents, but as by Mrs. St. Clair's story he

known

have been at the foot of the

of her husband's appearance at the

stair within a

as to the doings of

not account in any

few seconds

window, he could hardly have

been more than an accessory to the crime. of absolute ignorance,

was

His defence was one

and he protested that he had no knowledge

Hugh

way

Boone, his lodger, and that he could

for the

presence of the missing gentleman's

clothes.

" So cripple

much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister who lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED who was Neville face

Clair.

St.

City.

human being whose eyes rested upon His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous familiar to every man who goes much to the

a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the

police regulations he

Some

distance

little

there

side

that

may

.have remarked,

the

vestas.

left

hand

a small angle in the

wax

pretends to a small trade in

down Threadneedle-street upon

as you

is,

Here

wall.

139

certainly the last

one which

LIP.

creature

the

takes his dailyseat, cross-legged, with

stock

tiny

his

matches

his

and as he

lap,

piteous spectacle a

small

rain

descends

charity

greasy

the

into

leather cap which

upon the pavement before him.

lies

have

this

watched

fellow

than once, before ever

making sional

thought of his profes-

acquaint-

ance, and

have

been surprised at the harvest which

A PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR.

he has reaped in a short time.

His appearance, you

see, is so

can pass him without observing him.

remarkable, that no one

shock of orange hair, a

pale face disfigured by a horrible scar, which,

has turned up the outer edge of his upper

lip,

its

contraction,

a bull-dog chin,

and a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the

common crowd

mendicants, and

so, too,

does his wit, for he

ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which

may

be thrown

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

140 at

him by the passers-by.

have been the lodger

last

man

But a cripple!" handed against a man

man whom we now

the

opium den, and

learn

have been the

whom we are in quest." "What could he have done

said

in the

prime of

single-

life ?

a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp

in other respects,

man.

at the

gentleman of

to see the

This

;

but,

he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured

Surely your medical

that weakness in one limb

experience w^ould

tell

compensated

often

you, Watson,

for b}^ exceptional

strength in the others."

" Pray continue your narrative." *'

Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the

window, and she was escorted home

a cab by the police, as

her presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Inspector Barton,

who had charge

of the case,

made

a very careful

examination of the premises, but without finding anything which

One

threw any light upon the matter.

m.istake

had been made

Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes during which he might have communicated with his friend the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was

not

seized

arresting

and searched, without anything being found which could

some bloodstains upon his right shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring finger, which had been cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen There

incriminate

him.

Mr. Neville

St. Clair,

room was

w^ere,

true,

and swore that the presence of the clothes

much

him

As to Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the police station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue^ " And it did, though they hardly found upon the mudbank what they had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And what do you think they found in the pockets ? " in his

cannot imagine.'

a mystery to

as to the police.

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED

" No,

don't think

you

pennies and halfpennies

Every pocket

will guess.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; four

LIP.

141 stuffed with

hundred and twenty-one pennies,

and two hundred and seventy halfpennies. It was no wonder that But a human body is it had not been swept away by the tide. There is a fierce eddy between the wharf and a different matter. It seemed likely enough that the weighted coat had rethe house. mained when the stripped body had been sucked away into the " But I understand that all the other clothes were found

Would

room. *'

No,

the body be dressed in a coat alone the

but

sir,

might

facts

met

river." in the

" ?

enough.

speciously

man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the What would he do then ? It would of course instantly deed. He strike him that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. Suppose that

would

when

this

seize the coat then,

would occur

has

little

him that

in the act of

throwing

would swim and not

heard from his

up,

sink.

when

and perhaps he has already

Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying

There

street.

way

out

time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs

the wife tried to force her

up the

and be

not an instant to be

lost.

rushes to

where he has accumulated the fruits of beggary, and he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay

some

secret horde,

hands into the pockets

make

sure of the coat's sinking.

his

and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the rush of steps below, and only just

throws

out,

had time

to close the

window when the

police appeared."

" It certainly sounds feasible." *'

W^ell,

better.

will take

Boone, as

station, but

as a working hypothesis for

want

have told you, was arrested and taken

of a

to the

could not be shown that there had ever before been

anything against him. fessional beggar, but his

He had life

for years

been known as a pro-

appeared to have been a very quiet

and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the questions which have to be solved, what Neville St. Clair was doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is

he now, and what

are

all

Hugh Boone had

as far from a solution

ever.

do with his disappearance, I

confess that

cannot

any case within my experience which looked at the glance so simple, and yet which presented such difficulties," recall

first

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

142

Whilst Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of events

town

we had been whirling through

until the last straggling

the outskirts of the great

houses had been

as he finished, however,

we drove through two

where a few

glimmered

skirts of

still

in the

behind, and

hedge upon either side of

rattled along with a country

lights

left

us.

Just

scattered villages,

windows.

are on the out-

Lee," said "

companion.

have

touched on three English counties

our

short

drive, starting in Middlesex, passing over

an angle of Surrey,

and

ending

See that

Kent.

among

light

the

That is The Cedars, and beside that lamp trees

woman

sits

whose

anxious

ears have already, I

havelittle doubt,

caught the clink of

our

horse's

feet."

"But why are you not conducting the case from Baker-street

STUFFS ALL THE COINS INTO THE POCKETS.

asked. " Because there are here.

Mrs.

disposal,

St.

Clair has

and you may

but a welcome for

Watson, when

Whoa,

there,

many rest

friend

inquiries

which must be made out

most kindly put two rooms assured that she will

and colleague.

have nothing

hate to meet her,

have no news of her husband.

whoa

Here we

are.

" !

had pulled up

in front of

a large villa which stood within

its

THE MAN Willi THE TWISTED A

own grounds.

springing down,

which

drive

open, and a

143

stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and,

Holmes up the small, winding gravel house. As we approached, the door flew

followed

led to the

blonde

little

LIP.

woman

stood in the opening, clad in

some

sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her

neck and wrists.

She stood with her figure outlined against one hand upon the door, one half raised in eager-

the flood of light,

her body slightly bent, her head and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing question. ness,

"Well?" were two of

us,

saw that

as she

"well?"

she cried,

And

then,

seeing that there

she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan

my companion

shook his head and shrugged his

shoulders.

No good news

" ?

"None." "

â&#x20AC;˘'

No bad

" No."

Thank God

But com3

for that.

in.

You must

has been of most

be weary, for

you have had a long day." " This

use to it

friend, Dr.

vital

and a lucky chance has made bring him out and associate him with this

in several of

possible for

Watson. cases,

investigation."

"You

delighted to see you," said she, pressing

my hand

warmly.

which may be wanting in our arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so suddenly upon us." "

will, I

dear

were not,

sure, forgive anything

madam,"

said

an old campaigner, and

can very well see that no apology

be of any assistance, either to you or

needed.

friend here,

If I I

if I

can

shall be

indeed happy."

"Now, Mr.

Sherlock Holmes," said the lady, as we entered a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had been laid out, " I should very much like to ask you one or two plain questions, to

which

" Certainly, *'

beg that you will give a plain answer."

madam."

not trouble about

feelings.

not hysterical, nor

given to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." " Upon what point ? "

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

144

" In your heart of hearts, do \'ou think that Neville is alive ? " Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. " Frankly now! " she repeated, standing upon the rug, and looking keenly down at him, as he leaned back in a basket chair.

" Frankly then, madam, I do not." " You think that he is dead ? " "

do."

" Murdered

" ?

FRANKLY NOW,' SHE REPEATED."

" "

don't say that.

And on what day

Perhaps." did he meet his death

*'0n Monday." *'Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how it is that I have received this letter from him "

to-day

Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as galvanised.

''What!" he

roared.

he had

been

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED '*

She stood smiling, holding up a

Yes, to-day."

paper in the "

May

145 little slip

air.

see

LIP,

it ?

" Certainly."

snatched

upon the

table,

had

left

from her in his eagerness, and smoothing

he drew over the lamp, and examined

chair,

envelope was

and was gazing

a very

coarse

intently.

The

over his shoulder.

and was

one,

out

stamped with

the

and with the date of that very day, or

Gravesend post-mark,

was considerably after midnight. "Coarse writing!" murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not

rather of the day before, for

your husband's writing, madam." " No, but the enclosure is." " I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go

and inquire as

How

to the address." "

can you

tell

"The name, you The

itself.

that

see, is in perfectly black ink,

rest is of the greyish colour v/hich

paper has been used. blotted,

If it

none would be

which has dried

shows that

had been written straight

of a

off,

This

deep black shade.

blotting-

and then

man has

written the name, and there has then been a pause before he wrote

mean

the address, which can only It is, of

course, a

Let us

now

here

trifle,

but there

see the letter

that he is

was not familiar with

nothing so important as there has been an

enclosure

was a

ring.

His signet

ring."

And you are sure that this is your husband's hand " " One of his hands." "One?" " His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike writing, and yet I know it well." "

trifles.

" Yes, there

it.

}

Dearest, do not be frightened.

huge error which

in patience.

octavo

size,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Neville.'

may

take some

Written

no watermark.

All will little

in pencil

Hum

come

well.

time to

upon the

Posted to-day

his usual

There

rectify.

Wait

fly-leaf of a book,

Gravesend by has been gummed, in

man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's hand, " madam ?

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

146

" None.

And

Neville wrote those words."

they were posted to-day at Gravesend.

Clair, the clouds lighten,

though

Well, Mrs. St.

should not venture to say that

the danger is over." " But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes."

Unless this

The

a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent.

ring, after all, proves nothing.

may have been

taken from

him." **

No, no

" Very well.

own

his very

it is, it is, it is

;

writing

" !

may, however, have been written on Monday,

and only posted to-day." *'

That

If so,

much may have happened between."

possible."

" Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. all is I

There

well with him.

know

should

evil

so keen a

came upon him.

know

that

sympathy between us that On the very day that I saw

him last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the diningroom rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such a and yet be ignorant of

trifle, '*

have seen too much not

woman may

of evidence to

and able

" ?

know

you certainly have a very strong piece But if your husband is alive corroborate your view. in this letter

to write letters,

cannot imagine.

why should he remain away from you ? It is

And on Monday he made no remarks

No."

And you were surprised Very much so." Was the window open ?

unthinkable."

that the impression of a

be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical

And

reasoner.

*'I

his death

him

to see

before leaving you

Swandam-lane

" ?

''Yes." "

Then he might have

He He

called to

you

" ?

might." only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry

" Yes." *'

call for help,

He waved

" Yes. "

But

you thought

" ?

his hands."

might have been a cry

of surprise.

Astonishment

THE

MAN WITH THE TWISTED you might cause him

the unexpected sight of

LIP. to

147

throw up

his

hands." " It is possible." *'

And you thought he was

He He

disappeared so suddenly."

might have leaped back.

was

" Quite

man

confessed to having been there, and

at the foot of the stairs."

Your husband,

so.

ordinary clothes on '*

did not see any one else

" No, but this horrible

the Lascar

You

room

in the

pulled back."

But without

you could

as far as

see,

had

his

" ?

his

collar

tie.

distinctly

saw

his

bare

throat."

Had

he ever spoken of Swandam-lane

" ?

" Never." "

Had

he ever shown any signs of having taken opium

" ?

"Never." "

Thank

about which a

little

Those are the principal points

you, Mrs. St. Clair. I

wished to be absolutely

supper and then

retire, for

clear.

we may have

shall

now have

a very busy day

to-morrow."

room had been placed at our disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, who when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind would go

large and comfortable double-bedded

for

days,

and even

for

a week, without rest, turning

rearranging his facts, looking at

had either fathomed insufficient.

an all-night

it,

over,

from every point of view, until he

or convinced himself that his data were

was soon evident

that he

was now preparing

and waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered about the room collecting pillows from his bed, and cushions from the sofa and

for

armchairs.

sitting.

With

these he

took

off his coat

constructed a sort of Eastern divan,

upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with an ounce of shag In the tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front of him.

dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an old brier pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong set aquiline features. So he sat

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

148

when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still between his lips, the smoke still curled upwards, and the room was full of a dense tobacco haze, as

dropped

off to sleep,

and so he

sat

but nothing remained of the heap of shag which

had seen upon

the previous night. **

Awake, Watson

â&#x20AC;˘'

Yes."

he asked.

"THE nrE was

Game

â&#x20AC;˘'

Certainly."

Then

stable-boy

for a

still

morning drive

between

his Lirs.'

" ?

dress.

sleeps,

and we shall soon have

one

stirring yet, but

know where

the

the trap out."

chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed a different

man

to the

dressed

no ont was

stirring.

sombre thinker

glanced at It

of the previous night.

watch.

was no wonder

was twenty-five minutes past

four.

that

had

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED hardly finished

when Holmes returned with

boy was putting "

want

LIP.

149

news that the

the

in the horse.

to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling

on his

Watson, that you are now standing in the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to be kicked from here to Charing-cross. But I think I have the key of the affair now." ''And where is it ? " I asked, smiling. *'

boots.

think,

In the bath-room," he answered.

he continued, seeing

and

there,

have taken

Come

stone bag.

on,

Oh,

yes,

look of incredulity. it

out,

boy,

and

and we

have got

not joking,"

have just been this Glad-

shall see v/hether

will not

;

and out

the lock."

fit

made our way downstairs morning sunshine.

into the bright

as quietly as possible

In the road stood our horse and

trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head.

both

and away we dashed down the London-road. A few country carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, sprang

in,

but the lines of villas on either side were as silent and

some "

city in a It

dream.

has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes,

flicking the horse

on into a gallop.

blind as a mole, but to learn

lifeless as

confess that

better to learn

wisdom

have been as

late,

than never

at all."

In town, the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily

from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey side.

Passing down the Waterloo Bridge-road we crossed over the

river,

and dashing up Wellington-street wheeled sharply to the and found ourselves in Bow- street. Sherlock Holmes was

right,

well

known

saluted him.

Force, and the two

the

One

them held the

constables

the

door

horse's head while the other

led us in. *'

Who

Inspector Bradstreet, sir."

on duty

asked Holmes.

"Ah, Bradstreet, how are you ? " A tall, stout official had come down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged jacket. **

wish to have a word with you, Bradstreet." *'

Certainly, Mr.

was a small

Holmes.

Step into

office-like room.,

my room

with

here."

a huge ledger upon the

AD VENTURES OF

150

SIIERL O CK HOLMES.

table,

and a telephone projecting from the wall.

down

at his desk.

What

can

inspector sat

do for you, Mr. Holmes

about that

called

The

beggarman, Boone

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the

one

who was

charged with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Clair, of

He was

" Yes. '

Lee."

You have him

heard.

brought up and remanded for further inquiries." here

" ?

" In the cells." *'Is he quiet?"

" Oh, he gives no trouble.

But he

a dirty scoundrel."

'Dirty?" " Yes, face

it is all

we can do

as black as a

settled he will

have a

make him wash his hands, and his tinker's. Well, when once his case has been regular prison bath and I think, if you saw to

;

him, you would agree with "

Would you

that he needed

it."

should like to see him very much." ?

That

easily done.

Come

You can

this way.

leave your bag." ''

No,

think that

I'll

take

it."

Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and '*

brought us to a white-washed corridor with a line of doors on each side.

" is

" !

The

third on the right

his," said the inspector.

Here

quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door,

and glanced through. ''

asleep," said he.

You can

both put our eyes to the grating.

see

him very

The

well."

prisoner lay with his

face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly

He was

a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as

became

and heavily. his calling,

with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his tattered coat.

was, as the inspector had said, extremely dirty, but the

grime which covered his face could not conceal ness. chin,

its

broad wheal from an old scar ran across

and by

its

repulsive ugliit

from eye to

contraction had turned up one side of the upper

so that three teeth were exposed in a perpetual snarl.

very bright red hair grew low over his eyes and forehead. *'

He's a beauty,

isn't

" said the inspector,

lip,

shock of

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED He

certainly needs a wash," remarked

idea that he might, and

He opened

me."

LIP.

Holmes.

'51 '"'

had an

took the liberty of bringing the tools with

his Gladstone

bag as he spoke, and took

out, to

astonishment, a very large bath sponge. "

Now,

You

are a funny one," chuckled the inspector.

you

have the great

will

goodness

open

door

that

very

we will soon make him cut a much more re-

quietly,

spectable figure."

"Well,

don't

why

know

not,"

said the inspector. *'

doesn't

look

a credit to the

Bow-

street

does

cells,

slipped

his

key

lock,

and we

the

into all

very

quietly entered the

The

cell.

half

sleeper

turned,

down

then settled

once

deep

and

into

slumber.

Holmes stooped the

water

jug,

moistened

his

and

then

sponge,

rubbed

HE TOOK OUT A VERY LARGE BATH SPONGE.

twice vigorously across and

"Let me

down

the prisoner's face.

introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair,

of Lee, in the county of Kent."

Never

life

have

seen such a sight.

peeled off under the sponge like the bark from a

Gone, brown tint across, and the twisted

the coarse

seamed

too, lip

the horrid

The man's face tree. Gone was scar which had

which had given the repulsive

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

152

sneer to the face there, sitting

man, black-haired

his bed,

and

him

staring about

twitch brought

was

away the tangled

a pale, sad-faced, refined-looking

smooth-skinned,

with

rubbing

The

" cried the inspector,

know him from

and threw himself

charged with

of it,"

aban-

And pray what

said

the

Mr. Neville

make

inspector, with in

Oh, come, you

Neville St.

a case of attempted

a grin.

the force, but this

St. Clair,

then

has been committed, and that, therefore,

man who

been twenty-seven years

indeed, the missing

so," said he.

can't be charged with that, unless they

cake." " If

it is,

BROKE INTO A SCREAM.'

With making away with Mr.

suicide

prisoner turned with the reckless air of a

dons himself to his destiny. "

and

the photograph."

IIE

eyes,

his face to the pillow.

Great heaven

man.

his

Then suddenly

bewilderment.

sleepy

realising the exposure, he broke into a scream,

down with

red hair, and

it is

"Well,

really takes

have the

obvious that no crime

illegally detained."

crime, but a very great error has been committed," said

THE Holmes.

MAN WITH THE TWISTED

You would have done

better

LIP.

153

have trusted

vour

wife." *'

was not the

wife,

was the

children," groaned the prisoner.

God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My God What an exposure What can I do ? " Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch, and patted !

him kindly on the shoulder. " If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up,." said he, " of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible case against you,

way

should find their I

make

sure,

submit

know

do not

that there

details

Inspector Bradstreet would,

into the papers.

notes upon anything which you might

The

to the proper authorities.

any reason that the

tell us,

and

case would then never go

into court at all."

"God

you!"

bless

"I would

cried the prisoner, passionately.

have endured imprisonment, aye, even execution, rather than have left

are the

education.

who have

first

was a schoolmaster

Chesterfield,

travelled in

where

from which

adventures started.

face,

and

When

up,

flesh-coloured

ostensibly

hours

trade,

and fourpence.

wrote

some time

the

in the

later, I

the

green-room

for

painted

attainments. I

all

made

a good scar

a twist by the aid of a small slip of

red

head of

hair,

and an

station in the busiest part of the City,

and when

articles,

by trying

had, of course, learned

as pitiable as possible

surprise, that I

until,

Then with

took

shillings I

could get the facts upon which to

now

lip in

onl}'

as a match-seller, but really as a beggar.

plied

found, to

plaster.

appropriate dress,

and had been famous

make myself

and fixed one side of

an actor

took advantage

upon begging

articles

was

making

skill.

One day my

London.

articles.

secrets of

received an excellent

There was the point

begging as an amateur that base

father

volunteered to supply them.

all

story.

youth, took to the stage, and finally

wished to have a series of

metropolis, and

children.

ever heard

became a reporter on an evening paper editor

miserable secret as a family blot to

You

returned

home

had received no

and thought

backed a

bill

for

less

in the

For seven evening

than twenty-six

more of the matter a friend, and had a writ

little

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

154

was at my money, but a sudden idea came to me.

served upon

for

£2^.

wits'

end where to get the

begged a fortnight's grace

from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, and spent In ten days I the time in begging in the City under my disguise.

had the money, and had paid the debt. " Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous work at two pounds a week, when I knew that I could earn as

much

in a

day by smearing

face with a

little

paint, laying

cap on the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my pride and the mone}^ but the dollars won at last, and I threw

up reporting, and

day after day

sat

chosen, inspiring pity by

in the corner

ghastly face, and

which filling

had

first

pockets

Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam-lane, where I could every morning emerge as a squalid beggar, and in the even-

with coppers.

ings transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. fellow, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I

This

knew

that my secret was safe in his possession. " Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable

sums London

do not mean that any beggar in the streets of could earn seven hundred pounds a year which is less than my average takings but I had exceptional advantages in my power of

money.

—

making

up, and also in a facility in repartee, which improved by

practice, All

and

and made

quite a recognised character in the City.

of pennies, varied

day a stream

poured

silver,

upon me,

was a very bad day upon which I failed to take two pounds. " As I o-rew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the it

country, and eventually married, without any one having a suspicion My dear wife knew that I had business as to my real occupation.

She

in the City.

little

knew what.

had finished for the da}^ and was dressing in my room above the opium den, when I looked out of the window, and saw, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing I gave a cry of in the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. *'

Last Monday

surprise,

threw up

my arms

to cover

confidant, the Lascar, entreated

me.

not ascend.

him

face, and,

beggar, and put on

threw

off

any one from coming

to prevent

knew

that she could

clothes, pulled

on those of a

heard her voice downstairs, but Swiftly

rushing to

pigments and wig.

Even

a wife's eyes could

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED But then

not pierce so complete a disguise.

LIP.

155

occurred to

that

there might be a search in the room, and that the clothes might

betray me.

small cut which

coppers which w^hich

seized

upon myself

inflicted

disappeared into

takings.

moment

followed, but at that

from the leather bag

other clothes would

was a rush

there

the bedroom that

of constables

and a few minutes

relief,

that instead of being identified as Mr. Neville St. Clair,

found, rather,

have

confess, to

up the

stair,

after

out of the window, and

The

Thames.

the

hurled

violence a

which was weighted by the

coat,

had just transferred

carried

had

Then

morning.

threw open the window, re-opening by

was

arrested as his murderer.

do not know that there

was determined

hence

to preserve

at a

slipped off

moment when no

to explain.

disguise as long as possible, and

Knowing

preference for a dirty face.

be terribly anxious,

Lascar

anything else for

ring,

constable

that

wife would

and confided

to the

was watching me, together

with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to fear." *'

That note only reached her yesterday,"

said

Holmes.

Good God What a week she must have spent." " The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Brad-

street, "

and

can quite understand that he might find

to post a letter unobserved.

customer "

of his,

That was

who it,"

forgot

said

Probably he handed all

about

for

difficult

some

sailor

some days."

Holmes, nodding approvingly,

'*'

have no

But have you never been prosecuted for begging." " " Many times but what was a fine to me ? " It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. " If the police are to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." *' I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can doubt of

it.

;

take."

" In that case

may I

think that

probable that no further steps

you are found again, then all must come out. Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for

be taken. sure,

But

having cleared the matter up.

wish

knew how you reach your

results."

"I reached pillows and

this

one," said

consuming an ounce

drive to Baker-street

friend,

of shag.

''by sitting upon five think,

Watson, that

shall just be in time for breakfast,"

Vll.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. i^ 1

HAD

called

upon

friend

Sherlock

Holmes upon

the second morning after Christmas, with the inten-

him the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-

tion of wishing

gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the and a

pile

near at hand.

right,

crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the

A VERY SEEDY HARD FELT HAT.

angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard

much

the worse for wear, and cracked in several places. 156

felt hat,

lens

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE.

of the chair suggested that the

and a forceps lying upon the seat suspended

been

had

hat

manner

this

157

purpose

the

for

examination. *' " You are engaged," said I perhaps I interrupt you." " Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can dis;

cuss his

The matter

results.

thumb

a perfectly trivial one

(he jerked

the direction of the old hat), "but there are points in

connection with

which are not entirely devoid

of interest,

and

even of instruction."

warmed my hands

seated myself in his armchair, and

his crackling

with the

thick

homely as

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that

crystals.

ice

looks, this thing has

it is

sharp frost had set

for a

fire,

in,

before

and the windows were

suppose,"

some deadly

remarked,

that,

story linked on to

the clue which will guide you in the solution of some

mystery, and the punishment of some crime." " No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing.

one of those whimsical

human

have four million

incidents

little

beings

space of a few square miles.

which

all jostling

Amid

will

Only

happen when you

each other within the

the action and reaction of so

dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events

may

be expected to take place, and

presented which

may

many

little

problem

will be

be striking and bizarre without being criminal.

have already had experience of such."

" So

much

have added

so,"

remarked, " that, of the

last six cases

notes, three have been entirely free of

which any

legal

crime." *'

Precisely.

You

allude to

attempt to recover the Irene

Adler papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the adventure of the

man

with the twisted

doubt that this small matter will gory.

You know

fall

Well,

lip.

into the

Peterson, the commissionaire

have no

same innocent

cate-

" ?

"Yes." "

It is to

It is his hat."

" No, no

him that

;

this

he found

it.

trophy belongs."

Its

owner

unknown.

beg that you

upon it, not as a battered billycock, but as an intellectual problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I will look

have no doubt, roasting

at this

moment

in front of Peterson's fire.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

158

About four o'clock on Christmas morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was returning from some small jollification, and was making his way homewards

The

facts are these.

down Tottenham light, a tallish

Court-road.

In front of

man, walking with a

white goose slung over his shoulder.

him he saw,

in the gas-

and carrying a

slight stagger,

As he reached the corner

Goodge-street, a row broke out between this stranger and a

knot of roughs.

which he raised

One

of the latter

knocked

off

his

head, smashed the shop

little

the man's hat, on

his stick to defend himself, and, swinging

"the roughs had fled at the APPEARAN'CE of

over

PETERSON."

window behind him.

Peterson had

rushed forward to protect the stranger from his assailants, but the

man, shocked

having broken the window, and seeing an

official-

looking person in uniform rushing towards him, dropped his goose,

took to his heels, and vanished amid the labyrinth of small streets

which

lie

also fled

The roughs had

the back of Tottenham Court-road.

the appearance of Peterson, so that he was

left

possession of the field of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE.

159

the shape of this battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas

goose." "

Which

dear fellow, there

Mrs. Henry Baker

to the bird's left leg, legible

it is

lies

and

it is

" ?

the problem.

was printed upon

upon the lining

It is true that

a small card

of this hat of

;

but, as there are

Henry Bakers

which was

also true that the initials

and some hundreds

of Bakers,

owner

surely he restored to their

For tied

B.' are

some thousands

in this city of ours,

not easy to restore lost property to any one of them."

What,

then, did Peterson do

brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to

me.

The goose we

retained until this morning,

signs that, in spite of the slight frost,

be eaten without unnecessary delay. therefore, to

fulfil

when

would be well that Its finder

unknown gentleman who

has carried

the ultimate destiny of a goose, while

to retain the hat of the

there were

should it

off,

continue

Christmas

lost his

dinner." "

Did he not advertise

" No." *'Then, what clue could you have as to his identity *' Only as much as we can deduce." " From his hat ? " ''

battered

felt ?

Here

What

can

you gather from

this article

old

lens.

You know my methods.

What

can you

man who has worn

" ?

took the tattered object in

hands, and turned

was a very ordinary black hat

ruefully.

hard, and

much

silk,

this

gather yourself as to the individuality of the

Precisely."

''But you are joking.

the worse for wear.

but was a good deal discoloured.

of the usual

The

over rather

round shape,

had been of red There was no maker's name; lining

Holmes had remarked, the initials " H. B." were scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was cracked, exceedingly but, as

dusty, and spotted in several places, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the discoloured patches by smearin"-^

them with

ink.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i6o

can see nothing," said

handing

back to

friend.

the contrary, Watson, you can see everything.

however, to reason from what you

You

see.

You

fail,

are too timid in draw-

ing your inferences."

Then, pray

hat

me what

tell

that you can infer from this

picked

was

fashion which

suggestive there

up, and gazed at

than

of him.

characteristic

might

others which represent

perhaps

have been," he remarked,

a few inferences which

are

in the peculiar introspective

least

are

and yet

very distinct, and

strong balance

That the man was higi ly intellectual is the face of it, and also that he was

few

of probability.

obvious upon

of course

within

well-to-do

fairly

less

now fallen upon evil He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, days. pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the the

three

last

decline

of his

although he

3^ears,

seems

fortunes,

has

some

indicate

evil

influence,

This may account also

probably drink, at work upon him.

for the

obvious fact that his wife has ceased to love him." *'

dear

has, however,

Holmes

continued, disregarding leads a sedentary

life,

retained

some degree "

remonstrance.

goes out

self-respect," is

man who

out of training entirely,

little, is

middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the last

few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat.

way, that

it is

Also, by the

extremely improbable that he has gas laid on in his

house." **

You

Not

are certainly joking, Holmes." in the least.

you these results you are unable "

have no doubt that

am unable to follow you. this man was intellectual ?

now when

possible that even to see

how they

are attained

very stupid

;

but

a question of cubic capacity," said he

a brain must have something in *'

The

For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. right over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of is

give "

must confess that For example, how did you deduce that

" It

it."

decline of his fortunes, then

" ?

;

''a

man

came

his

nose.

with so large

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. " This hat

came

These

three years old.

in then.

band of ribbed since, then

a hat of the very best quality.

silk,

and the excellent

he has assuredly gone down

" Well, that

Look

If this

lining.

at the

man

could

putting his finger upon the

little

elastic,

the foresight," said he, of the hat-securer.

man

If this

of foresight, since

to take this precaution against the wind.

has broken the

and loop

disc

are never sold upon hats.

amount

But how about the

" Here

Sherlock Holmes laughed.

sign of a certain

in the world."

enough, certainly.

clear

and the moral retrogression

foresight,

They

brims curled at the edge

buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no hat

afford to

flat

i6i

ordered one,

he went out of his way

But since we

and has not troubled

see that he

replace

it,

now than formerly, which is a weakening nature. On the other hand, he has

obvious that he has less foresight distinct proof of a

endeavoured

some

conceal

daubing them with

ink,

which

of is

these stains a sign that

upon the

felt

he has not entirely

lost his self-respect."

" Your reasoning is certainly plausible." " The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair grizzled, that

are

has been recently cut, and that he uses lime-cream,

be gathered from a close examination of the lower part of

all to

The

the lining.

and there

number of hair ends, clean They all appear to be adhesive,

lens discloses a large

cut by the scissors of the barber.

observe,

a distinct odour of lime-cream.

This dust, you will

not the gritty, grey dust of the street, but the

fluffy

brown dust of the house, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time while the marks of moisture upon the inside are ;

proof positive that

the wearer perspired very freely, and

could,

therefore, hardly be in the best of training."

But

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

you said that she had ceased to love him." " This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you,

his wife

dear Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your

hat,

and when your wife allows you

fear that

go out

you also have been unfortunate enough

such a state, to lose

shall

your wife's

affection."

"But he might

be a bachelor."

" Nay, he was bringing wife.

Remember

home

the goose as a peace-offering to his

the card upon the bird's leg."

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

l62

You have an answer

deduce that the gas *'

One

when

to everything.

not laid on

But how on earth do you

the house

tallow stain, or even two, might

see

less

than

five,

" ?

come by chance

;

think that there can be

but, little

doubt that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with burning tallow walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

one hand and a guttering candle in the other. got tallow stains from a gas

''Well,

jet.

Are you

very ingenious," said

Anyhow, he never

satisfied

" ?

laughing; "but since, as

you said just now, there has been no crime commifted, and no harm done save the loss of a goose,

seems

all

this

to be rather

a waste of energy.'

"SEE WHAT MY WIFE FOUND IN

ITS CROP."

Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew open, and Peterson the commissionaire rushed into the apart-

ment with

flushed cheeks and the face of a

man who

dazed with

astonishment.

The goose, sir " he gasped. ** Eh ? What of it, then ? Has it returned to life, and flapped through the kitchen window ? " Holmes twisted himself round "

off

The

goose, Mr.

upon the sofa

Holmes

to get a fairer

''See here, sir!

view of the man's excited

See what

wife found in

its

face.

crop!"

held out his hand, and displayed upon the centre of the palm a

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE.

163

brilliantly scintillating blue stone, rather smaller

but of such purity and radiance that

than a bean in

size,

twinkled like an electric

point in the dark hollow of his hand.

Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. *'

said he,

this is treasure trove indeed.

you have got

"A "

suppose you know what

sir!

precious stone!

cuts

glass as

into

were putty."

more than a precious

It's

Jove, Peterson

diamond,

though

precious stone."

It's the

Morcar's blue carbuncle!"

Countess of

''Not the

stone.

ejacu-

lated.

" Precisely so. I

ought to know

its

have read the advertisement about

lately.

absolutely unique, and

and shape, seeing that in The Times every day

size it

can only be con-

value

its

jectured, but the reward offered of a thousand

pounds

certainly

not within a twentieth part of the market price."

*'A thousand pounds! sionaire

plumped down

The commis-

Great Lord of mercy!"

into a chair,

and stared from one

to the

other of us. *'

That

the reward, and

have reason

know

that there are

sentimental considerations in the background which would induce

Countess to part with half of her fortune,

the

she could but

recover the gem."

" I

was

lost, if I

remember

Hotel Cosmopolitan,"

aright, at the

remarked. *'

ago.

Precisely so, on the twenty-second of December, just five days

John Horner, a plumber, was accused

from the ladv's jewel case. that

the

case

The evidence

against

believe."

Hotel

him was I

last

have some his

he smoothed one

and read the following paragraph Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John

so strong

He rummaged amid

newspapers, glancing over the dates, until at

having abstracted

has been referred to the Assizes.

account of the matter here,

out, doubled

over,

Horner,

26,

plumber, was brought up upon the charge of having upon the

22nd the

inst.

abstracted from the jewel case of the Countess of Morcar

valuable

gem known

as the blue carbuncle.

James Ryder,

upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the

had shown Horner

tip

Morcar upon the day

to the dressing-room

the

of the robbery, in order that he

effect that

Countess of

might solder

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i64

was

the second bar of the grate, which

loose.

had remained

wnth Horner some Httle time, but had finally been called away.

Horner had disappeared, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco casket in

returning, he found

which, as

that

afterwards transpired, the Countess was accustomed

was

empty upon the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner w^as arrested the same evening but the stone could not be found either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, where she found matters as to keep her jewel

lying

;

described by the last witness.

Inspector Bradstreet,

gave evidence as

Horner,

to the arrest of

and protested his innocence

offence,

the

magistrate

but referred

refused

to the

been

Evidence of a

given

the

with

the

who had shown

Horner,

Assizes.

against

summarily

deal

division,

struggled frantically,

in the strongest terms.

previous conviction for robbery having prisoner,

who

signs of intense emotion during the proceedings, fainted

away

the conclusion, and was carried out of court." " So much for the police-court," said Holmes, thought-

Hum

fully, tossing aside is

the paper.

The question

for us

now

to solve

the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel case at one end

to the crop of a goose in see,

Watson, our

little

Tottenham Court-road

at the other.

deductions have suddenly assumed a

You much

more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other characterSo now w^e must set ourselves istics with which I have bored you. very seriously to finding this gentleman, and ascertaining what part ;

he has played simplest in

all

means

in this little mystery. first,

and these

the evening papers.

lie

To do

this,

fail,

try the

an advertisement

shall

have recourse to

undoubtedly

If this

we must

other methocs."

What will you say?" ** Give me a pencil, and *'

that slip of paper.

at the corner of Goodge-street, a goose

Now

then

and a black

Henry Baker can have the same by appl3ing at 6.30 That is clear and concise." 221B, Baker-street.' " <* Very. But will he see it ?

Found

felt hat.

Mr.

this evening at

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. "

Well, he

165

sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor

man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his mischance in breaking the window, and by the approach of Peterson, that he thought of nothing but flight

but since then he must

;

have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his bird.

Then, again, the introduction of

see

for every

name

his

him

will cause

Here you are

who knows him will direct his attention to it. Peterson, run down to the advertising agency, and

have this put

in the

it,

one

evening papers."

In which, sir."

" Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's Gazette, Evening

News, Standard, '*

Very

EcJio,

And

well, sir.

*'Ah, yes,

and any others that occur this stone

shall keep

Thank

the stone.

Peterson, just buy a goose on your

to you."

way

And,

you.

back, and leave

say,

here with

we must have one to giwQ to this gentleman in place of the one which your family is now devouring." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone me, for

and held see

how

it it

glints

and sparkles.

Every good stone

of crime.

against the light.

bonny thing,"

It's a

Of course

They

is.

the larger and older jewels every facet

This stone of the

not yet twenty years old.

Amoy

are the devil's pet baits.

may It

River in Southern China, and

history.

In spite of

youth,

its

was found is

weight of crystallised charcoal.

would be a purveyor in

remarkable

" *'

having

blue in shade,

has already a sinister suicide,

for the

sake of this forty-grain

Who would

think that so pretty a toy

to the gallows

and the prison

I'll

lock

it."

Do you I

banks

strong-box now, and drop a line to the Countess to say that

we have "

in the

There have been two murders, a vitrol-throwing, a

and several robberies brought about

stand for a bloody deed.

every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that instead of ruby red.

"Just

lie.

a nucleus and focus

said

think this

cannot

man Horner

innocent

" ?

tell."

Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker,

had anything

do with the matter

" ?

much more likely that Henry Baker is an absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made of â&#x20AC;˘

It is, I think,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

That, however,

solid gold. if

have an answer

w^e

And you can do nothing

Nothing."

come back

shall

Very glad

until then

shall continue

" ?

at a case,

found myself

a woodcock,

the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps

had been delayed

when

There

dine at seven.

ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine six

But

professional round.

evening at the hour you have mentioned,

in the

to see you.

believe.

test,

should like to see the solution of so tangled a business."

for I *'

determine by a very simple

shall

oar advertisement."

" In that case

proached the house

and

crop."

was a

man

after half-past

little

Baker-street once

sav/ a tall

its

more.

ap-

a Scotch bonnet, with a

was buttoned up to his chin, waiting outside in the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I arrived, the door was opened, and we w^ere shown up together to Holmes' coat which

room. **

Mr. Henry Baker,

and greeting his

Pray take

a cold night, and

adapted for

come

believe," said he, rising from his armchair,

with the easy air of geniality which he could

visitor

so readily assume. It

summer than

Yes,

sir,

He was

that

fire,

Mr. Baker.

undoubtedly

Ah, Watson, you have just

for winter.

your hat, Mr. Baker?"

hat."

a large man, with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and

a broad, intelligent face, sloping

brown.

by the

observe that your circulation

Is that

the right time.

this chair

touch of red

his extended hand, recalled

rusty black

frock-coat

collar turned up,

down

to a pointed beard of grizzled

nose and cheeks, with a slight tremor of

Holmes' surmise as

was buttoned

right

to his habits. in

front,

His

with the

and his lank wrists protruded from his sleeves

without a sign of cuff or

shirt.

spoke

in a

low staccato fashion,

choosing his words with care, and gave the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had ill-usage at the hands of fortune. *'

" because

have retained these things

for

some days,"

said

Holmes,

an advertisement from you giving your I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." address. Our visitor gave a rather shame-faced laugh. " Shillings have *' I not been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked.

we expected

to see

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. had no doubt that the gang of roughs both

off

hat and the bird.

who

167

assaulted

me had

did not care to spend

a hopeless attempt at recovering them." " Very naturally. By the way, about the bird,

carried

more money

we were compelled

to eat it."

eat

Our

visitor half rose

from his chair

in his excite-

ment. *'

But is

Yes, I

would have been no use

presume that

this

any one had we not done

other goose upon the

so.

which

sideboard,

about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your

purpose equally well

" ?

" Oh, certainly, certainly

answered Mr. Baker, with a sigh

relief.

"Of

your own

bird, so

The man

course,

have the feathers,

still

you wish

burst into a hearty laugh.

as relics of

going to be to me.

and so on

They might be

No,

sir,

useful tu

adventure," said he, " but beyond that

hardly see what use the disjecta membra of

will confine

legs, crop,

late

can

acquaintance are

think that, with your permission,

attentions to the excellent bird which

perceive

upon the sideboard."

Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at

with a slight

shrug of his shoulders. " There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. the way, would

from

bore you to

am somewhat

tell

me where you

of a fowl fancier,

and

got the other one

have seldom seen a

better-grown goose." '*

Certainly,

said

sir,"

Baker,

who had

newly-gained property under his arm. frequent the

the

Museum

Alpha itself

Inn, near the

and tucked his

risen

" There are a few of us

Museum â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we

who

are to be found in

during the day, you understand.

This year our

good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, receive a bird at Christmas. is

fitted

pence were duly paid, and the rest

am much indebted to you, sir, for neither to my years nor my gravity."

familiar to you.

bonnet

we were each

a Scotch

With a

comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us, and strode off upon his way.

" So

much

for

Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes, when he had

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i68

closed the door behind him.

"It

Are you hungry, Watson

nothing whatever about the matter. " Not particularly."

"Then

all

" ? '

suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper, and

follow up this clue while

knows

quite certain that he

it is still

hot."

means."

was a

bitter night, so

cravats about our throats.

we drew on our

and wrapped

ulsters

Outside, the stars were shining coldly in

a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so

many

pistol

shots. Ourfootfalls

rang

out

crisply

and loudly as we

swung through the Doctors'

Wimpole

quarter, street,

Harley-street, and so

^^^^'''HfetfMBir

into

street

Oxford-street.

quarter

^^^^M JW^SHBP'^^J,

Wig-

through

hour we were

Bloomsbury

at the

"Alpha"

Inn,

which

small

public-house at the

corner the *'

HE BOWED SOLEMNLY TO BOTH OF

streets

one

which

down into Holborn. Holmes

runs

US."

pushed open the door of the private bar, and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. **

Your beer should be excellent

as good as your geese,"

said he.

geese

The man seemed

surprised.

was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose-club." "Ah yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Whose, then ?" "Indeed **

Yes.

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. " Well,

got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden."

" Indeed

know some

" Breckinridge

know

lord, **

don't

Which was

them.

it ?

name."

his

Well, here's your good health, land-

him.

and prosperity to your house.

Now

169

Good-night."

Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his

for

we came out into the frosty air. " Remember, Watson, that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven It is years' penal servitude, unless we can establish his innocence. possible that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt but, in any case, we have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, coat, as

;

and which a singular chance has placed follow

march

Faces

out to the bitter end.

Let us

in our hands.

to the south, then,

and quick

" !

passed across Holborn,

down

Endell-street,

One

zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. bore the

name

of Breckinridge

upon

it,

and so through a

of the largest stalls

and the proprietor, a horsey-

looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers, was helping a boy to put up the shutters.

"Good evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. The salesman nodded, and shot a questioning glance

my com-

panion. *'

Sold out of geese,

see,"

continued Holmes, pointing at the

bare slabs of marble. *'

Let you have

five

hundred to-morrow morning."

" That's no good." **

Well, there are some on the

Ah, but

Who

The

Oh, yes

was recommended

to you."

sent

Alpha.'

him a couple

" Fine birds they were, too.

To my

with the gas flare."

landlord of the ;

stall

of dozen."

Now where

did

you get them from?"

surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the

salesman.

Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, " what are you driving at ? Let's have it straight, now." **

It is straight

enough.

should like to

geese which you supplied to the

Alpha.'

know who

sold

you the

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

I70 ''

Well, then,

Oh,

warm

should be so

Warm am. When

over such a

;

an end of the business

but

;

did you sell the geese to

for a

it's

and

know why you

don't

trifle."

pay good money

but

You'd be as warm, maybe,

So now

sh'an't tell you.

a matter of no importance

it is

good

Where

What

you were as pestered as

article there ?

are the geese

will

One would think they were the only geese fuss that is made over them."

you take

should be

and

Who

for the geese

in the world, to

hear the

have no connection with any other people who have been making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. " If you won't tell But I'm always ready to back my us the bet is off, that is all. *'

Well,

opinion on a matter of fowls, and ate

have a

fiver

that the bird

country bred."

Well, then, you've lost your

fiver, for it's

town bred," snapped

the salesman.

nothing of the kind."

It's

say

don't believe it."

is."

" D'you think you

handled them ever that went to the

know more about since I was a nipper ?

Alpha

" Will you bet, then *'

But

I'll

you,

who have those birds

all

to believe that."

" ?

merely taking your money,

It's

I tell

were town bred."

You'll never persuade

fowls than

for I

know

that

right.

have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be

obstinate."

The salesman chuckled

grimh'.

" Bring

the books. Bill,"

said he.

The

small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great

greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging

lamp. '*

Now

was out

one

left in *'

Well

then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman,

You

shop.

thought that

" ?

" That's the

list

of the folk from

whom

buy. D'you see

then, here on this page are the country folk, and the their

finish you'll find that there is still " see this little book ?

of geese, but before

names

are

where

numbers

their accounts are in the big ledger.

Well, after

Now,

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. then

You

my town to

see this other page in red ink

Now,

suppliers.

171

Well, that

look at that third name.

Quite

so.

Now

Holmes turned

list

Just read

out

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 249," read Holmes.

turn that up in the ledger." "

page indicated.

to the

Here you

Oakshott, 117, Brixton-road, ^gg and poultry supplier.' " Now, then, what's the last entry ? " **

December

22.

Twenty-four geese

"JUST READ

" Quite ''

so.

There you

And underneath

are.

to say

now

from his pocket and threw the air of a

man whose

Alpha

Mrs.

" ?

" at 12s.' "

" ?

down upon

disgust

are,

OUT TO ME.

Sold to Mr. Windigate of the

What have you

at 7s. 6d.'

Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined.

He drew

a sovereign

the slab, turning

too deep for words.

away with

few yards

he stopped under a lamp-post, and laughed in the hearty, noise-

less fashion

'un

me." " Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton-road

off

which was peculiar to him. you see a man with whiskers

When

protruding out of his

and the 'pink pocket, you can always draw him by a of that cut

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

172

had put a hundred pounds down him that man would not have given me such complete

bet," said he. in front of

daresay that

if I

information as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing

Well, Watson, we are,

on a wager.

fancy, nearing the end of

our quest, and the only point which remains to be determined

whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or whether

we should

reserve

for

to-morrow.

It is clear

from what that surly

who

fellow said that there are others besides ourselves

about the matter, and

are anxious

should

His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Breckinridge the salesman, framed in the door of his stall,

had enough

I've

you were

his

the cringing figure.

fists fiercely at *'

was shaking

all at

you and your geese," he shouted.

the devil together.

wish

me any

you come pestering

more with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with it ? Did I buy the geese off you ? " *' No but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little man. ;

" Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for

" She told

it."

to ask you."

Well, you can ask the King of Proosia for

enough

Get out

it.

the inquirer flitted

away

of this

all I care.

I've

had

rushed fiercely forward, and

into the darkness.

may save us a visit to Brixton-road," whispered Holmes. Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Ha,

this *'

lounged round the flaring the

man and

little

round, and

Who

companion speedily overtook

touched him upon the shoulder.

sprang

could see in the gaslight that every vestige of colour

had been driven from "

stalls,

his face.

are you, then

What

do you want

" he asked in a

quavering voice.

me," said Holmes, blandly, " but I could not help overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just **

now.

You I

will excuse

think that

could be of assistance to you."

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. *'

You

matter "

Who

are you

How

could you

'73

know anything

of the

" ?

My name

Sherlock Holmes.

It is

business to

know what

other people don't know."

But you can know nothing of this " Excuse me, I know everything of

" ?

it.

You

are endeavouring to

YOa ARE THE VERY MAN.

some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton-road, a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Windigate, the Alpha,' and by him to his club, of which Mr. Henry Baker is

trace to of

member." ** Oh, sir, you are the very man

whom

have longed to meet,"

cried the little fellow, with outstretched hands

can hardly explain to you

how

interested

and quivering

in this

fingers.

matter."

AD VENTURES OF SHERL O CK HOLMES.

174

" In

Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. that case

we had

better discuss

windswept market-place," said

in a

he.

cosy room rather than in this

But pray

me, before we

tell

who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." My name is John RobinThe man hesitated for an instant.

go further,

son," he answered, with a sidelong glance.

" No, no

;

the real name," said Holmes, sweetly.

awkward doing business with an

" It is

alias.''

flush sprang to the white cheeks of the

stranger.

then," said he, " my real name is James Ryder." " Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel

Pray step into the cab, and

always Well,

Cosmopolitan.

shall soon be able to tell

you every-

thing which you would wish to know."

The

little

man

stood glancing from one to the other of us with

half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one is

who

not sure whether he

Then he stepped

on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe.

into the cab,

and

in half

an hour we were back

in the sitting-room

Nothing had been said during our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the claspings and at Baker-street.

unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous tension within him. **

Here we are

The

" !

said

Holmes,

cheerily, as

Mr. Ryder.

Pray take the basket

chair.

" Yes,

we settle this little matter of know what became of those geese

look cold,

yours.

Now, then

" ?

sir."

" Or rather, in

You

will just put

slippers before

the room.

filed into

looks very seasonable in this weather.

fire

You want

fancy, of that goose.

which you were interested

was one

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; white, with

bird,

imagine,

a black bar across the

tail."

Ryder quivered with emotion. " Oh, me where it went to."

sir,"

he cried, "can you

tell

came here." " Here ? " ''

wonder It laid an tgg after it was that you should take an interest in it. aeadâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the bonniest, brightest little blue Qgg that ever was seen. I **Yes, and a most remarkable bird

have

Our

here in

proved.

don't

my museum." and clutched the mantelpiece Holmes unlocked his strong box, and held up

visitor staggered to his feet,

with his right hand.

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE.

175

the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, brilliant,

Ryder stood glaring with a drawn

many-pointed radiance.

uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. " The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes, quietly.

face,

Hold

up,

man, or you'll be into the fire. Give him an arm back into his chair, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Give him a dash of brandy.

impunity.

Now

he looks a

little

more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring with !

frightened eyes at his accuser. *'

have almost every link

could possibly need, so there

Still

that

may

little

You had

plete.

Morcar's

hands, and

make

me.

tell

the case com-

heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of

" ?

was Catherine Cusack who

" It

the proofs which

which you need

little

as well be cleared

all

told

of it,"

said he, in a

crackling voice. *'

Her

see.

ladyship's waiting-maid.

Well, the temptation of

sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much

men

been for better

before you

means you used. making of a very pretty

in the

for you, as

has

but you were not very scrupulous

;

seems

me, Ryder, that there

You knew

villain in you.

that this

the

man

some such matter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. What did you do, then ? You made some small job in my lady's room you and your confederate Cusack â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and you managed that he should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the jewel case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate arrested.

man

Youthen

Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug, and clutched *' For God's sake, have mercy " he at my companion's knees. " Think of my father shrieked. Of my mother It would break !

their hearts.

swear

it.

I'll

never went wrong before

swear

on a Bible.

For Christ's sake, don't

never will again.

Oh, don't bring

into court

I !

" !

" Get back into your chair

" said

Holmes,

well to cringe and crawl now, but you thought

sternly, little

" It is very

enough

of this

poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothino^."

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

176 **

will fly,

Mr. Holmes.

will leave the country, sir.

Then

the charge against him will break down." *'

Hum

will talk

account of the next

how came there

lies

about that.

How came

act.

just as

room.

Tell us the truth, for

' \

HE SHRIEKED.

parched lips. '* I will tell you " When Horner had been said he.

his tongue over his

happened,

seemed

sir,"

that

with the stone at once, for police

us hear a true

your only hope of safety."

Ryder passed arrested,

let

the stone into the goose, and

the goose into the open market

HAVE MERCY

And now

might not take

into

would be best

did not

know

their heads

for

to get

away

what moment the

There was no place about the hotel where

me and my

would be

safe.

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. I

went

out, as

on some commission, and

177

made

for

sister's

She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton-road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective, and for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring house.

down my

face before

me what was

to the Brixton-road.

came

the matter, and

why

was

so pale

sister aske.l

but

;

told her

had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went into the back yard, and smoked a pipe, and w^ondered what it that

would be best to do. " I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went

to the bad,

and

One day he had met thieves and how they could

has just been serving his time in Pentonville.

ways of I knew that he would be true to me, for get rid of what they stole. I knew one or two things about him, so I made up my mind to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my conme, and

fidence.

fell

into talk about the

He would show me how

money.

to turn the stone into

him in safety. I thought of the agonies I had gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat But how

to get to

was leaning against the wall at the time, and looking at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the pocket.

best detective that ever lived. *'

My sister

had told

me some weeks

before that

pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and

always as good as her word. I

would carry

the stone

tail.

down

its

bird gave a gulp,

would take

stone to Kilburn.

yard, and behind this

with a barred

might have the

knew

that she

was

goose now, and in

There was a

little

shed in the

drove one of the birds, a fine big one, white

caught

it,

and, prising

throat as far as

and

I felt

its bill

open,

thrust

The and down

finger could reach.

the stone pass along

its gullet

But the creature flapped and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose, and fluttered off among the

into

its

crop.

others.

" 'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem ? says she. " Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and '

was

feeling

which was the

fattest.'

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

178

" call

Oh,' says she,

we've set yours aside for you.

the big, white one over yonder.

It's

it.

Jem's

bird,

There's twenty-six of

them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen for the market.'

Thank

I'd rather *' '

other

same

the

is all

you

said,

and we

have the other,

I'll

and

I'll

take

now,'

I. '

Oh, just as you

vou want, then "

'but

;

expressly for you.'

'"Never mind. said

was handling just now.' a good three pound heavier,' she

have that one

The

fattened

you, Maggie,' says

like,' said she,

little

huffed.

Which

is it

That white one, with the barred

tail,

right in the middle of

the flock.' **

Oh, very well.

Well,

bird all the

way

was a man that

what she

did

Kill

to Kilburn.

was easy

until he choked,

and take

that

some

rushed back to

was not *' '

Where

Gone

Which

*' '

pal

what

carried the

had done,

to tell a thing like that to.

for

laughed

and we got a knife and opened the goose.

was no

sign of the stone, and

mistake had occurred.

terrible sister's,

left

the bird,

and hurried into the back yard.

There

a bird to be seen there.

told

with you.'

Holmes, and

said, Mr.

heart turned to water, for there

knew

are they

all,

Maggie

? '

cried.

to the dealer's.'

dealer's

Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.'

But was there another with a barred

tail?'

asked, 'the

same as the one I chose ? "'Yes, Jem, there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never tell them apart.' " Well, then, of course, I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has '

always answered

mad. I

like that.

think that

Sometimes

myself a branded

wealth for which

sold

thief,

My I

sister thinks that

myself.

without

character.

ever

God

going

And now â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and now having touched the help

God

help

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE. me

*' !

179

burst into convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his

hands.

was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon TJiere

Then my

the edge of the table.

friend rose, and threw open the

doo-.

" Get out

" said he.

What, sir Oh, heaven bless you *' No more words. Get out " !

" !

"he

burst into convulsive sobbing."

There was a rush, a clatter a door, and the crisp rattle of running

And no more words were needed stairs, the

upon the footfalls

from the

" After

all,

clay pipe, " ficiencies.

suppose that

street.

Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his am not retained by the police to supply their deHorner were in danger it would be another thing, but

this fellow will not I

bang

appear against him, and the case must collapse.

am commuting

saving a soul.

too terribly frightened.

a felony, but

This fellow

Send him

it is

just possible that

will not

go wrong again.

to gaol

now, and you make him

AD VENTURES OP SHERL CK HOLMES..

ibo ยง a gaol-bird

for

life.

Chance has put

in our

and

its

solution

touch the

bell,

which also a bird

its

Besides,

way own

Doctor,

the

season

forgiveness.

a most singular and whimsical problem, reward.

will

If 3

will

have the goodness

begin another investigation,

will be the chief feature."

VIII.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND.

glancing over

which

methods

notes of the seventy odd cases

have during the of

some comic, none commonplace

the love of his art than for

last eight years studied the

Holmes,

friend Sherlock

tragic,

a large

number merely

find

many

strange, but

working as he did rather for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to ;

for,

associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards

the unusual, and even the fantastic.

however,

these varied cases,

all

cannot recall any which presented more singular features

than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of

my association

rooms as bachelors,

when we were sharing

with Holmes,

Baker-street.

possible that

might

have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. for I

It is

perhaps as well that the facts should now come to

have reasons to know there are widespread rumours as to the

death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to

more It

terrible

was

to find

bed. pie:e at I

light,

make

the matter even

than the truth.

early in April, in the year '8^, that

woke one morning

Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of

He was a late riser as showed me that it was

a rule, and, as the clock on the mantel-

only a quarter past seven,

him in some surprise, and perhaps was myself regular in my habits.

just a

little

blinked up

resentment, for

''Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, ''but it's the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you," " What is it, then ? A fire ? "

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i82 "

No, a

seems that a young lady has arrived in a She excitement, who insists upon seeing me.

client.

considerable state of is

waiting

now

wander about the Metropolis

at this

presume that

pressing which they have to communicate.

an interesting case, you would, outset.

thought

the chance." " My dear fellow,

any rate that

ladies

hour of the morning, and knock

sleepy people up out of their beds, ver}'

Now, when young

sitting-room.

the

should

would not miss

something

prove to be

Should

wish to follow

sure,

call you,

for

from the

and give you

anything."

had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift I

as intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis, with which

he unravelled the problems which were submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes, and was ready in a few minutes to accompany

friend

down

to the sitting-room.

heavily veiled, wdio had been sitting

lady dressed in black and

the window, rose

entered.

Good morning, madam,"

Sherlock Holmes.

Watson, before Ha, I am glad

whom

It is

Holmes,

cheerily.

My name

intimate friend and associate. Dr.

you can speak as

to see that Mrs.

to light the fire.

of hot coffee, for

This

said

freely as

before myself.

Hudson has had the good sense

Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup observe that you are shivering."

not cold which

makes me

shiver," said the

low voice, changing her seat as requested. " What then ? " *' It is terror." It is fear, Mr. Holmes.

She

woman

in a

raised her veil as

she spoke, and w^e could see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of a<^itation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless, frightened eyes, like those of

some hunted animal.

Her

features and figure

were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Sherlock

Holmes ran her over wdth one

of his quick, all-comprehensive

glances.

not fear," said he, soothingly, bending forward and " shall soon set matters right, I have no patting her forearm.

You must

You have come in by " You know me, then ?

doubt. *'

train this

morning,

see."

THE SPECKLED BAND. '*

No, but

183

observe the second half of a return ticket in the

palm of 30ur left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station."

The

lady gave a violent start, and stared in bewilderment at

companion. " There left

arm

no mystery,

your jacket

The marks

places.

dear

madam,"

mud

spattered with

said he, smiling.

There

are perfectly fresh.

less

The

than seven

no vehicle save

SHE RAISED HER VEII

a dog-cart which throws up

you

sit

in that

Whatever your reasons may '^

started from

twenty past, and came

home in

can stand this strain no longer,

have no one to turn he, poor fellow,

Mr. Holmes

;

be,

train

Waterloo.

Sir,

mad if it continues. one, who cares for me,

shall

little

only aid.

have heard of you,

have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosti, w^hom you

helped in the hour of her sore need.

your address.

first

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; none, save

can be of

you are perfectly correct,"

before six, reached Leatherhead

by the

and

way, and then only when

on the left-hand side of the driver."

said she. at

mud

Oh,

sir,

was from her that

do you not think you could help

had

too,

and

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i84 at least

throw a

rounds

little

your services, but

in a

my own

control of

out of

my power

month

or two

At present

through the dense darkness which sur-

light it

reward you

for

shall be married, with the

income, and then at least you shall not find

ungrateful."

Holmes turned

to his desk,

and unlocking

it,

drew out a small

case-book which he consulted. " Farintosh," said he.

was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case as profession

expenses

now in

may

yes, I recall the case

did to that of your friend.

reward

is its

"Ah,

be put

;

to reward,

but you are at liberty to defray whatever

to, at

And

the time which suits you best.

beg that you will lay before us everything that

may

help us

forming an opinion upon the matter." *'

Alas! " replied our

lies in

my fears

the fact that

so entirely

upon small

that even he to

and advice looks upon

woman.

of a nervous

that

tell

so,

the

human

heart.

You may

advise

but

But

situation

suspicions depend trivial to

him about

does not say

Holmes, that you can see deeply

have a right to look

soothing answers and averted eyes.

his

which might seem

of all others I all

very horror of

are so vague, and

points,

whom

"The

visitor.

another, for help

as the fancies

can read

from

have heard, Mr.

into the manifold wickedness of

me how to walk amid

the dangers

which encompass me."

My name

who

all

the

attention, is

last

madam."

Helen Stoner, and

living with

my stepfather,

survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in

England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey."

Holmes nodded his head. '' The name is *' The family was at one time among the

familiar to me," said he. richest in England,

and

the estate extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north,

and Hampshire

the west.

In the last century, however, four

successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and

was eventually completed by a gambler, in the days Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and the Regency.

the family ruin of

the two-hundred-year-old house, which

heavy mortgage.

The

last squire

itself

crushed under a

dragged out his existence there,

THE SPECKLED BAND, living the horrible

life

185

an aristocratic pauper

but his only son,

;

must adapt himself to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which enabled him to take a medical degree, and went out to Calcutta, where, by his stepfather, seeing that he

professional skill and his force of character, he established a large

In a

practice.

fit

of anger, however, caused

had been perpetrated

in the house,

by some robberies which

he beat his native butler to death,

and narrowly escaped a capital sentence.

was, he suffered

a long term of imprisonment, and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man.

When

young widow

Stoner, the

Artillery.

sum

and

less

than a thousand a year, and this

with a provision that a certain annual

in the event of

England

She had a con-

mother's re-marriage.

money, not

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; she

a railway accident near Crewe.

was

resided with him,

sum should

our marriage.

mother died

Bengal

were twins, and we were only two

she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely whilst

each of us

mother, Mrs.

of Major-General Stoner, of the

sister Julia

years old at the time of siderable

Dr. Roylott was in India he married

be allowed to

Shortly after our return killed eight

years

ago

Dr. Roylott then abandoned his

attempts to establish himself in practice

London, and took us

him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and there seemed no obstacle to our happiness. " But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbours,

to live with

who had back

in the

first

been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran

old family seat, he shut himself

seldom came out save to indulge

might cross his path. had,

tropics.

ended

believe,

in ferocious quarrels

men

of the family,

and

series of disgraceful brawls took place,

and the

folks

and

with whoever

stepfather's

been intensified by his long residence

in the police-court, until at last

village,

in his house,

Violence of temper approaching to mania

has been hereditary in the case

would

fly

in the

two of which

he became the terror of the

at his approach, for

man

immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. " Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money that I could gather together that I was able to avert another public exposure. of

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

i86

He had

no friends

at all

save the wandering gipsies, and he would

give these vagabonds leave to

encamp upon

the few acres of bramble-

covered land which represent the family estate, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering away with them

sometimes for weeks on end. He has a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, which wander freely over his grounds, and are feared by the villagers

**^^

almost as

much

as their

can

imagine

master.

You

from what

say that

my poor sister Julia I

and

had no great pleasure

our

lives.

ser-

vant would

stay with

us,

and

long time

did

the

for a

the work of

all

house.

She was

but thirty at the time death, and yet

of her

her

hair

begun as

then â&#x20AC;˘-â&#x20AC;˘

HE HURLED THE BLACKSMITH OVER A

living the

life

even

Your

sister is dead,

" ?

She died just two \ears ago, and it is of ''

;

her death that

to whiten,

mine has." ''

had already

J'ARAl'ET."

wish to speak to you.

which

have described,

You can understand that, we were little likely to see

any one of our own age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden sister. Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and

we were

at tbis lady's house.

occasionally allowed to pay short visits

Julia went there at Christmas two years ago,

and met there a half-pay Major of Marines, to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned, and offered no objection to the marriage; fortnight

of the

day which had been

fixed for the

but within a

wedding, the

THE SPECKLED BAND, event occurred which has deprived

terrible

187

only com-

panion."

Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes

and his head sunk

closed,

cushion, but he half opened his lids

in a

now, and glanced across at his

visitor.

" Pray be precise as to details," said he. *'

It is

easy for

seared into

to be so, for every event of that dreadful time

my memor3^

very old, and only

said,

The manor house is, as I have alread}^ one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms

wing are on the ground

in this

floor,

Of these bedrooms the

central block of the buildings. Roylott's, the second

the sitting-rooms being in the

no communication between them, but they

same

corridor.

and the third

sister's,

make myself

all

first is

There

own.

plain

open out into the

night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though

that he had not retired to rest, for

smell of the strong Indian cigars which

She

left

came

her room, therefore, and

" Perfectly so." " The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. fatal

Dr.

sister

was

That

we knew

was troubled by the his

into mine,

custom to smoke.

where she

sat for

some time, chatting about her approaching wedding.

At eleven

o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door

and looked

back. ''

Tell me,

v.'histle in

Helen,' said she,

the dead of the night

Never,' said

have you ever heard any one

suppose that you could not possibly whistle yourself

your

sleep ''

But why

Certainly not.

Because during the

last

few nights

have always, about three

morning, heard a low clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought in the

would just ask you whether you had heard it.' "*No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies

that

in the

plantation.'

Very

likely.

you did not hear " 'Ah, but

And

yet

were on the lawn

also.'

sleep

more heavily than

you.'

wonder that

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

88 ***

back

Well,

consequence

i^reat

me, closed

Was

she smiled

rate,'

door, and a few moments, later

key turn in the lock." " Indeed," said Holmes.

heard her

your custom always to lock

yourselves in at night **

any

Always."

"And why?" "

think that

mentioned

and a baboon.

you that the Doctor kept a cheetah

had no feeling

of security unless our doors

were

locked." *'

Quite

Pray proceed with your statement."

so.

A vague

could not sleep that night.

misfortune impressed me. twins, and you

know how

and

sister

feeling of

you

impending

will recollect,

were

which bind two souls

subtle are the links

which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows.

Suddenly, amidst

forth the wild

scream of a

sister's voice.

the hubbub of the gale, there burst

all

sprang from

hear a low whistle, such as

down

the

passage

slowly upon

its

hinges.

knew

mass

of metal

was my

and a few moments

had

fallen.

door was unlocked,

stared at

that

wrapped a shawl round me, opened my door I seemed to

sister described,

sister's I

bed,

and rushed into the corridor. later a clanging sound, as

woman.

terrified

ran

and revolved

knowing the corridor lamp

horror-stricken, not

what was about to issue from it. By the I saw my sister appear at the opening, her

light of

face blanched with terror,

her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard.

ran to her and threw

my arms

round her, but

moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs at that

were dreadfully convulsed. recognised me, but as voice which

band

The

first

thought that she had not

bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a

shall never forget,

speckled band

' !

Oh,

my God

Helen

There was something

else

was the

which she

w^ould fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in

the direction of the Doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my step-

met him hastening from

father,

and

When

he reached

sister's side

his

room

in his

dressing-gown.

she was unconscious, and though

THE SPECKLED BAND.

189

poured brandy down her throat, and sent for medical aid from the

lie

village, all efforts

were

in vain, for she slowly

having recovered her consciousness.

sank and died without

Such was the dreadful end

beloved sister." **

One moment,"

and metallic sound

said

Holmes

;

" are you sure about this whistle

Could you swear

" it ?

That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. is my strong impression that I heard it, and yet among the crash the gale, and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have *'

been deceived."

"IIER FACE BLANCHED WITH TERROR." *'

Was

No, she was

3^our sister dressed

" ?

in her nightdress.

In her right hand was found

the charred stump of a match, and in her

left

a matchbox."

Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when That is important. And what conclusions the alarm took place. " did the coroner come to ? "

investigated

the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's

conduct had long been notorious in the count}^ but he was unable

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

190

any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which

to find

were secured every

were shown

The

night.

walls were carefully sounded, and

to be quite solid all round,

and the flooring was also

thoroughly examined, with the same result. barred up by four large staples.

but

sister

The chimney

How

The

What

It is

about poison

Besides, there

" it,

but without success."

do you think that this unfortunate lady died

though what

that

doctors examined her for

wide,

It is certain, therefore,

was quite alone when she met her end. were no marks of any violence upon her." "

belief that she died of pure fear

was which frightened her

of,

then

" ?

and nervous shock,

cannot imagine."

Were

Yes, there are nearly always some there."

there gipsies in the plantation at the time

" ?

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

" Ah, and

what did you gather from this allusion to a band " speckled band ? *' Sometimes I have tho^jght that it was merely the wild talk delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation.

know whether

many

the spotted handkerchiefs which so

of of

do not

them

wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. '*

These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your

narrative." "

Two

years have passed since then, and

lately lonelier

A month

than ever.

life

has been until

ago, however, a dear friend,

whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Percy Armitage the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading.

we are to Two days ago some repairs

stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and

be married in the course of the spring.

were started

in the

west wing of the building, and

has been pierced, so that

which

sister died,

Imagine, then,

and

my bedroom

wall

have had to move into the chamber

to sleep in the very bed in

thrill of terror

thinking over her terrible fate,

when

which she

last night, as I lay

suddenly heard

slept.

awake,

in the silence of the

THE SPECKLED BAND.

night the low whistle which had been the herald of her

sprang up and

own

191

death.

the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the

lit

was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown inn, which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this morning with the one object of seeing

room.

you and asking your advice." " You have done wisely," said

" But have you told

friend.

all ? **

Yes, all."

Miss Roylott, you have not.

You

are screening your step-

father."

Why, what do you mean

" ?

For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Five little livid fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist. " You have been cruelly used," said Holmes.

The "

own

lady coloured deeply, and covered over "her injured wrist.

a hard

man," she

and perhaps he hardly knows his

said,

strength."

There was a long

silence, during

which Holmes leaned

upon his hands and stared into the crackling *'

This

fire.

very deep business," he said at

thousand details which

our course of action.

Yet we have not

were to come

should desire to

his chin

" There are a

last.

know before I a moment to

Stoke Moran to-day, would

decide upon If

lose.

be possible for us to

rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather ? " happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some

see over these *'

most important business.

It is

probable that he will be

day, and that there

would be nothing to disturb housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and her out of the wav." J " Excellent. You are not averse to this " By no means."

"Then we "

shall both

come.

What

have one or two things which town.

But

shall return

trip,

all

have a

could easily get

Watson

" ?

are you going to do yourself? I

would wish

by the twtlve o'clock

be there in time for your coming."

5^ou. I

away

now

that

" I

train, so as to

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

192 *'

And you may

expect us early in the afternoon.

some small business matters " No,

must

confided

go.

trouble

heart

you.

lightened already since

have

shall look forward to seeing

She dropped her thick black

again this afternoon."

you

over her

veil

and glided from the room.

"And what

do you think of

Holmes, leaning back "

Will you not wait and

to attend to.

breakfast

face,

have myself

seems

Watson?"

all,

asked Sherlock

in his chair.

most dark and

to be a

sinister business."

Dark enough, and

sinister

Yet

correct in saying that the flooring and walls

the lady

enough."

chimney are impassable,

arc sound, and that the door, window, and

then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone

when she met her

mysterious end." "

What

becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of

the very peculiar

When

words

of the dying

woman ?

cannot think."

you combine the ideas

of whistles at night, the presence

band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old Doctor, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an of a

interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion

and

to a band,

finally, the

fact

that

Miss Helen Stoner heard a

metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of those metal

bars which secured the shutters falling back into their place, that there

good ground

to think that the

along those lines." " But what, then, did the gipsies do **

cannot imagine."

see

And

so do

Moran

to Stoke fatal, or

they

the devil

The

many

mystery

may

think

be cleared

" ?

objections to any such theory."

It is precisely for that

this day.

may

want

to see

be explained away.

reason that

are going

whether the objections are

But what,

in the

name

" !

ejaculation had been

drawn from

my companion

by the fact

that our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge

framed himself

the

aperture.

man

His costume was a peculiar

mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a black top hat, a long frock coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with a hunting*

THE SPECKLED BAND. So

crop swinging in his hand.

tall

193

was he that

his hat actually

brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his breadth seemed to span

from

across

side

side.

large

seared with a

face,

thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes,

and his high thin fleshless nose, gave him

somewhat the resemblance

"Which

to a fierce old bird of prey.

of 3^ou

isHolmes?"asked this apparition.

" sir,

name,

but you have

the advantage of

my com-

me," said

panion, quietly. ''

Dr.

Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.'" Indeed,

Doc-

Holmes,

tor," said

Pray

blandly.

take a seat." " I will

nothing kind.

do the

step-

daughter has been here.

have

What

traced her.

has she been say-

WHICH OF YOU

HOLMES?"

ing to you

It is

What

little

cold for the time of the year," said Holmes.

has she been saying to you

screamed the old

man

furiously. *'

But

have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued

my companion imperturbably. " Ha You put me off, do !

you

" said

our

step forward, and shaking his hunting-crop.

scoundrel

have heard of you before.

meddler." 14

new

visitor,

taking a

know you, you You are Holmes the '"

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

194

friend smiled.

" Holmes the busybod}'

His smile broadened. "

Holmes the Scotland-yard Jack-in-officc." Holmes chuckled heartily. " Your conversation is most enter''When you go out close the door, for there is a taining," said he. decided draught." "

with her

will

my I

go when

affairs.

have had

know

say.

Don't you dare to meddle

that Miss Stoner has been here

man

dangerous

to fall

foul

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

traced

See here."

stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent

into a curve

with his huge brown hands.

See that you keep yourself out of

grip," he

and

snarled,

hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace, he strode out of the

room. "

He seems

a very amiable person," said

not quite so bulky, but

him that

grip w^as not

he had remained

much more

Fancy

detective

feeble than his

As he

own."

his having the insolence to confound

however, and

effort

out again.

force

might have shown

spoke he picked up the steel poker, and with a sudden straightened

Holmes, laughing.

This incident gives zest

only trust that our

little

with the

official

our investigation,

friend will not suffer from

And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where 1 hope to get some data which may help

her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her.

us in this matter."

was nearly one

his excursion.

o'clock

when Sherlock Holmes returned from

held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled

over with notes and figures. "

have seen the

termine

will of the

exact meaning

its

deceased wife," said he.

de-

have been obliged to work out the

present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little short of ^Tijioo, is

than ;f750. of marriage. this beauty

now through the fall in agricultural Each daughter can claim an income It is evident, therefore,

would have had a mere

that

prices not

of ^^250, in case

both girls had married

pittance, while even one of

them

THE SPECKLED BAND. would cripple him

this

way

anything of the

aware that we are interesting ourselves

much

obliged

call a

you are

should be very

your revolver into your pocket.

slip

an excellent argument with gentlemen

twist steel pokers into knots.

That and a tooth-brush

we need." At Waterloo we were fortunate head, where we hired a trap at the

who

can

are, I think,

that

all

catching a train for Leather-

station inn, and drove for four or

miles through the lovely Surrey lanes.

live

was a

with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens.

and wayside hedges

and the

And now, old man is

in his affairs, so if

cab and drive to Waterloo.

you would

Eley's No. 2

sort.

too serious for dawdling, especially as the

ready we shall

morning's work has

has proved that he has the very strongest

motives for standing in the

Watson,

to a very serious extent.

not heen wasted, since

195

air

was and

My companion pulled

full of

was

at least there

of the spring

w-ere just

first

The

trees

green shoots,

the pleasant smell of the moist earth.

a strange contrast between the sweet promise

upon which we were engaged. the trap, his arms folded, his hat

this sinister quest

sat

down over

throwing out their

perfect day,

front of

and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me

his eyes,

in the deepest thought.

on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "

Look

heavily-timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening

there

" said he.

into a grove at the highest point.

From amidst

the branches there

jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion. " Stoke Moran ?" said he. '*

Yes,

sir,

that

the house

Dr.

Grimesby Roylott,"

marked the driver. " There is some building going on there," is where we are going."

said

re-

Holmes; "that

" There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of " but if you want to get roofs some distance to the left to the ;

house, you'll find

path over the

shorter to get over this

There

stile,

and so by the

foot-

where the lady is walking." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading his eyes. " Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way 10 Leatherhead.

fields.

it is,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

196 "

thought

said

as well,"

''that this fellow should think

some

definite business.

Miss Stoner.

Our

You

see that

client of the

we had come here

may

Holmes, as we climbed the

as architects, or on

stop his gossip.

we have been

stile,

Good

afternoon,

as good as our word."

morning had hurried forward

meet us with a

have been waiting so eagerly for '' All has turned out you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he splendidly.

which spoke her

face

will

joy.

be back before evening." "

have had the pleasure of making the Doctor's acquaint-

\VE

GOT OFF, PAID OUR FARE.'

ance," said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had

Miss Stoner turned white

occurred. " *'

Good heavens So

" !

to the lips as she listened.

she cried, " he has followed me, then."

appears."

He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What will he say when he returns ? " He must guard himself, for he may find that there is some one *'

more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself If he is violent, we shall take you away to up from him to-night. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to examine."

The

building

was

of grey,

lichen-blotched stone, with

a high

THE SPECKLED BAND.

197

and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were central portion,

wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the broken, and blocked with

chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the stone-

work had been broken

men at the moment down the ill-trimmed

but there were no signs of any work-

into,

Holmes walked slowly up and

of our visit.

lawn, and examined with deep attention the

outsides of the windows.

" This,

take

it,

belongs to the room in which you used to sleep,

the centre one to your

sister's,

chamber ? But I am now sleeping

ing to Dr. Roylott's

" Exactly so.

and the one next

to the

main

build-

middle one."

in the

"Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end wall." **

from "

There were none.

my Ah

believe that

was an excuse

move me

room." !

that

Now, on

suggestive.

the other side of this narrow

wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. " are windows in it, of course ? " Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for any one

There to pass

through." " As you both locked your doors at night your rooms were un-

approachable from that

Now, would you have

side.

the kindness to

go into your room, and to bar your shutters." Miss Stoner did

so,

and Holmes,

after a

careful examination

through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the

There was no

shutter open, but without success.

a knife could

be passed

raise the bar.

he tested the hinges, but they were of solid the in

massive masonry.

some

Hum

" !

said he,

through which

Then with

his

lens

iron, built firmly into

scratching

theory certainly presents some

one could pass these shutters

shall see

perplexity, "

'"'

slit

they were bolted.

his

chin

difficulties.

Well,

the inside throws any light upon the matter."

small side-door led into the whitewashed corridor from which

ADVENTURED OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

198

Holmes

the three bedrooms opened.

chamber, so we passed

now

Stoner was

little

once to the second, that

and

which her

which Miss

had met her

fate.

room, with a low ceiling and a gaping

fire-

sleeping,

was a homely

refused to examine the third

sister

A brown

place, after the fashion of old country houses.

chest of

drawers stood in one corner, a narrow white-counterpaned bed

another, and a dressing-table on the left-hand side of the window.

These

Wilton carpet

furniture in the room, save for a square of

The boards round and

centre.

made up

with two small wickerwork chairs,

articles,

tlie

panelling of

in the

may have

Holmes drew one

dated from the original building of the house.

and

the

the walls were

brown, worm-eaten oak, so old and discoloured that

of the chairs into a corner

all

sat silent, while his eyes travelled

round and round and up and down, taking

in every detail of the

apartment.

communicate with ? " he asked at last, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "

Where does

goes to the housekeeper's room."

looks newer than the other things

" Yes,

was only put there a couple

Your

No,

sister

You

Indeed, will

it, I

suppose

of years ago." "

it.

used always to get

to put so nice a bell-pull there.

few minutes while

for a

He threw

this floor."

" ?

for ourselves."

seemed unnecessary

excuse

his hand,

asked for

never heard of her using

what we wanted **

that bell

himself

down upon

satisfy

myself as to

his face with his lens in

and crawled swiftly backwards and forwards, examining

minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with

woodwork with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it, and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the bellrope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. " Why, it's a dummy," said he. Won't it ring ? " the

''No,

not even attached to a wire.

You can

ing.

the

it is

little

see

now that

it is

very absurd

very interest-

fastened to a hook just above where

opening of the ventilator

How

This

is."

never noticed that before."

THE SPECKLED BAND. Very

strange

Holmes,

muttered

t^9

pulling

There are one or two very singular points about

example, what a

must be

builder

fool a

the

this

rope,

For

room.

open a ventilator into

commu-

another room, when, with the same trouble, he might have "

nicated with the outside air! " That is also quite modern," said the lady.

Done about

same time

the

remarked

bell-rope,"

Holmes. Yes, there were several

changes carried cut about that

little

time."

They seem

dummy

have been of a most interesting character

and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your permission. Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches bell-ropes,

into the inner apartment."

Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his stepdaughter,

wooden

but

was as

A camp

plainly furnished.

small

bed,

shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an

arm-

wooden chair against the wall, a round and a large iron safe were the principal things which met the Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and all of

chair beside the bed, a plain table, eye.

them with the keenest interest. " What's in here ? " he asked, tapping the '*

Only once, some years ago.

safe.

stepfather's business papers." !

you have seen

inside, then

" ?

remember

that

was

full

papers."

" There isn't a cat in it, for example " No. What a strange idea "

" ?

" Well, look at this stood on the top of

;

" !

took up a small saucer of milk which

it.

But there

don't keep a cat.

a cheetah and

baboon." *'

Ah, yes, of course

Well, a cheetah

just a big cat, and yet a

saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying

There

down

one point which

in front of the

its

wants,

should wish to determine."

wooden

chair,

daresay.

squatted

and examined the seat of

with

the greatest attention. *'

Thank

you.

That

his lens in his pocket.

quite settled," said he, rising and putting

" Hullo

here

something interesting " !

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

200

Tlie object

which had caught

his eye

The

on one corner of the bed.

lash,

was

however, was curled upon

make a loop of whipcord. What do you make of that, Watson ? "

It's

itself,

and

tied so as to

common enough

be tied." " That

world, and

when

worst of

all.

But

lash.

common,

not quite so

man

a clever

think that

and, with your permission,

had never seen

don't

is it ?

know why

Ah,

it's

should

a wicked

turns his brains to crime

the

have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, shall

WELL, LOOK AT

hung

a small doo; lash

walk out upon the

lawn.*'

THIij

friend's face so grim, or his

brow

so dark,

was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We had walked several times up and dowm the lawn, neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he as

roused himself from his reverie. *'

It is

very essential. Miss Stoner," said he, " that you should

absolutely follow '*

shall

"The

advice in every respect."

most certainly do

matter

so."

too serious for any hesitation.

depend upon your compliance." *' I assure you that I am in your hands."

Your

life

may

THE SPECKLED BAND. '*In the in

place, both

first

and

friend

201

must spend the night

your room."

Both Miss Stoner and ** Yes, it must be so.

the village inn over there

Yes, that

Very good.

the

gazed

Let

him

in astonishment.

explain.

believe that that

Crown.'"

Your windows would be

visible

from there

" ?

''Certainly."

You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a headThen when you hear him ache, when your stepfather comes back. ''

for the night,

retire

your window,

to us,

and then with-

you must open the shutters

undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal

draw with everything which you are likely to want which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, repairs, you could manage there for one night." **

into the in

room

spite of the

Oh, yes, easily."

The rest you will leave in our hands." " But what will you do ? "

"We

spend the night

shall

your room, and we shall investi-

gate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." 'â&#x20AC;˘

believe,

Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your

mind," said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon

companion's

sleeve.

" Perhaps

Then

have."

me what was

for pity's sake tell

the cause of

sister's

death."

should prefer to have clearer proofs before

You can

and

if ''

at least tell

speak."

me whether my own thought

correct,

she died from some sudden fright."

No,

do not think

more tangible cause. if

so.

think that there was probably some

And now, Miss

Stoner,

we must

leave you, for

Dr. Roylott returned and saw us, our journey would be in vain.

Good-bye, and be brave, for

may

shall soon

rest assured

that

you

will

do what drive

have told you, you

away the dangers

that

threaten you."

Sherlock Holmes and

gate,

had no

difficulty in

" Inn.

engaging a bedroom

Crown They were on the upper and from our window we could command a view of the avenue and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At

and sitting-room floor,

at the

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

202

dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, ing up beside the

had some

little

figure of the lad

slight difficulty in

who

his

huge form loom-

The boy gates, and we

drove him.

undoing the heavy iron

heard the hoarse roar of the Doctor's voice, and saw the fury with

which he shook his clenched

fists at

him.

The

trap drove on, and

a few minutes later

we saw

a sudden

light

spring

among

the trees as

the lamp

was

one of the

lit

sitting-

rooms.

Do you know, Watson," said "

Holmes, as we

sat

together

the

gathering ness, "

dark-

have

really

some

scruples

takingyou to-night.

There

a distinct

element of danger."

''Can

be of

assistance

"Your presence might

invalu-

able."

''Then

shall

certainly come."

It is

very kind

of you."

You speak of danger. You have

GOOD-BYE, AND BE BRAVE.

evidently seen more in these rooms than "

No, but

fancy that

imagine that you saw " that

all

that

was

visible to

may have deduced I

me."

little

more.

did."

saw nothing remarkable save the bell rope, and what purpose could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." I

THE SPECKLED BAND. ''

You saw

the ventilator, too

" Yes, but

" ?

do not think that

203

it is

such a very unusual thing to

have a small opening between two rooms.

so small that a

was

rat could hardly pass through."

knew

that

find a ventilator before ever

we should

we came

Stoke Moran." ''

Holmes

dear

Oh, yes,

You remember

did.

statement she said that

in her

Now,

her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar.

of course that

suggests at once that there must be a communication between the

two rooms.

remarked upon **

could only be a small one, or

at the Coroner's inquiry.

But what harm can there be

" Well, there ventilator

least

made, a cord

Does not that

dies.

" ?

coincidence

a curious

dates.

hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bed

you

strike

would have been

deduced a ventilator."

in that

" ?

cannot as yet see any connection."

Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed

" ?

''No." "

was clamped

like that before " I *'

same

may *'

at.

Did you ever see a bed fastened

to the floor.

" ?

cannot say that

have."

The lady could not move her

bed.

relative position to the ventilator call

it,

since

Holmes,"

was

cried,

clearly never ''

seem

and

meant

to see

are only just in time to prevent

the

first

criminals.

to the rope

in the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for so we

for a bell-pull."

dimly v/hat you are hinting

some

crime." " Subtle enough, and horrible enough.

wrong,

must always be

subtle and horrible

When

a doctor does go

has nerve and he has

Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that profession. we shall be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors knowledge.

enough before the night quiet pipe, and turn our

over

minds

;

for goodness'

for a

sake

let

us have a

few hours to something more

cheerful."

About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

204

passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us.

That

our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet

;

comes from the middle window." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord,

we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in explaining that

our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the

gloom

to guide us

There was

on our sombre errand.

little difficulty in

entering the grounds, for unrepaired

Making our way among the

breaches gaped in the old park wall.

we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window, when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself on trees,

the grass with wTithing limbs, and then ran swiftly across the

lawn

into the darkness. *'

My God

" !

Holmes was like a vice

whispered

wTist in his agitation.

low laugh, and put his

"It

did you see

lips to

His hand closed

Then he broke

into a

ear.

household,"

nice

it ?

m.oment as startled as

for the

upon

'' ;

murmured.

''That

the

baboon."

had forgotten the strange pets which the Doctor

There was a cheetah, too

;

perhaps we might find

shoulders at any moment.

confess that

when,

after following

I felt

upon our easier in my mind

Holmes' example and slipping

found myself inside the bedroom.

affected.

off

shoes,

companion noiselessly closed the table, and cast his eyes round

moved the lamp on to Then creepAll was as we had seen it in the day-time. the room. ing up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the shutters,

the words

"The

least

nodded

must

sound would be

show that sit

fatal to

our plans."

had heard.

without a

light.

He would

see

through the

ventilator. I

nodded again.

not go asleep

;

your very

life

may depend upon

it.

Have

THE SFECKLEjy BAND. your pistol ready of the bed, I

and you

took out

we should need

in case

will

it.

sit

on the side

in that chair."

revolver and laid

Holmes had brought up along the bed beside him.

on the corner of the table.

thin cane, and this he placed

upon

he laid the box of matches and the stump

Then he turned down

of a candle.

205

we were

the lamp, and

left in

darkness.

How

shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil

sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet

companion

sat open-eyed, within a

of nervous tension in least ray of light,

which

few

feet of

The

was myself.

and we waited

me,

could not hear a I

knew that my the same state

shutters cut off the

absolute darkness.

From

out-

came the occasional cry of a night bird, and once at our very window a long drawn, cat-like whine, which told us that the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one, and two, and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might side

befall.

Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a

light

the

which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Some

direction of the ventilator,

one

in the next

room had

lit

a dark lantern.

heard a gentle sound

movement, and then all was silent once more, tho'jgh the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then of

suddenly another sound became audible

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

very gentle, soothing

sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a

The

kettle.

instant that

we heard

it,

Holmes sprang from

the bed,

struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull. " " You see it, Watson ? " he yelled. '' You see it ?

saw nothing.

At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which

But

friend lashed so savagely.

was deadly

pale,

and

filled

could, however, see that his face

with horror and loathing.

He had when

ceased to strike, and was gazing up at the ventilator, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most

horrible cry to

which

have ever

listened.

louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear

swelled up louder and

and anger

all

mingled in the

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

2o6

They say

one dreadful shriek.

that

away down

in the village,

and

even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers from their It struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes, beds.

and he

from which

silence "

me, until the

What

can

haps, after

mean it

had died away into the

all

gasped. over,"

for the best.

all, it is

rose.

"It means that

echoes of

last

Holmes answered. ''And perTake your pistol, and we shall

enter Dr. Roylott's room."

HOLMES LASHED FURIOUSLY. " J

With

a grave face he

corridor.

Twice he struck

fr(3m within.

was

way down

chamber door without any

at the

Then he turned

with the cocked pistol in It

the lamp, and led the

lit

the handle and entered,

hand.

a singular sight which

table,

upon the

met our

iron safe, the door of

on the wooden

at his heels.

eyes.

the table stood

a dark lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant of light

the

chair, sat Dr.

which was

ajar.

beam

Beside this

Grimesby Roylott, clad

in a long

THE SPECKLED BAND.

207

grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers.

short stock with the long lash which

Across his lap lay the

we had

noticed during the da}^

His chin was cocked upwards, and his eyes were

Round

fixed in a dreadful

brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his head. As we entered he made neither sound

rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling.

his

nor motion.

The band

HE MADE NEITHER SOUND NOR MOTION."

the speckled band

" !

In an instant his strange headgear began

took a step forward.

move, and there reared

itself

from among his hair the squat

diamond-shaped head and puffed neck " It India.

swamp adder

pit

which he digs

its

den, and let

the

" cried

loathsome serpent.

Holmes â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

upon the

for another.

violent,

the deadliest snake in

and the schemer

Violence

falls into

the

Let us thrust this creature back into

we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place county police know what has happened."

As he spoke he drew the dog whip lap,

of a

has died within ten seconds of being bitten.

does, in truth, recoil

and

whispered Holmes.

and throwing the noose round the

swiftly

of shelter,

from the dead man's

reptile's neck,

he drew

from

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

2o8 its

horrid perch, and, carrying

iron safe,

which he closed upon

Such are the true Stoke Moran.

It is

arm's length threw

it.

Grimesby Roylott,

facts of the death of Dr.

not necessary that

which has already run

girl,

by telling

how we conveyed

met little

inquiry

official

came

how we broke

her by the morn-

how

ing train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of

process of

the slow

to the conclusion that the

Doctor

The

his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet.

which

had yet to learn of the case was told me by Sherlock

Holmes as we travelled back next day. "I had," said he, " come to an entirely erroneous which shows,

should prolong a narrative

to too great a length,

the sad news to the terrified

into the

dear Watson,

how dangerous

The presence

always

conclusion, is

to reason

and the use

was used by the poor girl, no doubt, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse

from insufficient data.

of the gipsies,

the word 'band,' which

by the

light of her

wrong

scent.

sidered

match, were sufficient

to put

me upon

can only claim the merit that

position when, however,

became

an entirely

instantly recon-

clear to

that what-

come

ever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not either from the

drawn, as

window

or the door.

attention

have already remarked to you, to

the bell rope which

hung down

to the bed.

was speedily and

this ventilator,

The

discovery that this

was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole, and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the Doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track.

The

idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be dis-

covered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless rapidity with his point

man who had had an Eastern

which such a poison would take

of view, be an advantage.

coroner indeed

who

effect

training.

would

also,

The from

would be a sharp-eyed

could distinguish the two

little

dark punctures

which would show where the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of course, he must recall the snake before the

morning

light revealed

to the victim.

He had

trained

THE SPECKLED BAND. probably by the use of the milk which

it,

when summoned.

He would

hour that he thought

down

put

209

saw, to return to him

through this ventilator

with the certainty that

best,

the rope, and land on the bed.

at the

would crawl

might or might not

bite the

occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but

sooner or later she must **

room.

had come

fall

a victim.

to these conclusions before ever I

had entered his

showed me that he had been which, of course, would be necessary

inspection of his chair

the habit of standing on

it,

The

order that he should reach the ventilator.

sight of the safe, the

saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel

any doubts which may have remained. The metallic clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her father hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Having once made up

mind, you know the steps which

to the proof.

heard the creature

did also, and

instantly

lit

took in order to put the matter

hiss, as

have no doubt that you

the light and attacked

it."

With the result of driving it through the ventilator." " And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master at the other side.

roused In this

its

Some

of the blows of

snakish temper, so that

way

Roylott's death,

heavily upon

cane came home, and

flew upon the

first

person

saw.

no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby

and

cannot say that

conscience."

likely to

weigh very

IX.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB.

all

friend Mr. Sherlock

Holmes

years of our intimacy,

was

the problems which have been submitted to

means

the

that of Mr.

for solution

there

Ilatherley's

during the

were only two which

introducing

thumb and

that of Colonel

his

notice,

Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was so strange in

may

inception and so dramatic in

its

that

be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even

gave

fewer openings for those

friend

reasoning by which he story has,

achieved

believe, been told

set forth en bloc in

more than once

away

a deep impression

was

of '89, not long after

am now

returned to

and had

practice,

rooms, although

occasionally even so far as to

and as

ton Station, of these

whom

never weary of

me on

two years has

marriage, that

about to summarise.

finally

had

abandoned Holmes

continually visited him, and

persuaded him to forego his Bohemian habits

come and

happened

effect.

Baker-street

when than when the

At the time the circumstances

the events occurred which civil

newspapers,

less striking

upon me, and the lapse

summer

in the

The

each new discovery furnishes a step which

hardly served to weaken the It

your own eyes and the mystery clears

leads on to the complete truth.

made

much

if it

methods

results.

in the

a single half-column of print

facts slowly evolve before

gradually

deductive

such remarkable

but, like all such narratives, its effect is

his

its details,

visit us.

to live at

practice had steadily increased,

no very great distance from Padding-

got a few patients from

among

the

officials.

One

had cured of a painful and lingering disease, w^as advertising my virtues, and of endeavouring to send

every sufferer over

whom

he might have any influence.

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. One morning,

at a little before

seven o'clock,

211

was awakened

men had

by the maid tapping at the door, to announce that two

come from Paddington, and were waiting in the consulting room. I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my old ally, the guard, came out of the room, and closed the door tightly behind him.

" I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder; " he's all right." "

What

then

it,

manner suggested that

asked, for his

was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. *' It's a new patient," he whispered. ''I thought I'd bring him round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and sound. I must go now, doctor, I have my dooties, just the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without it

even giving "

time to thank him.

entered. my consulting room, and found a gentleman seated

by the

table.

He was

quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed,

which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all over with bloodstains. He was young, not more

with a

soft cloth

cap,

than five-and-twenty,

should say, with a strong masculine face;

but he was exceedingly pale, and

man who was

some strong

the

impression of a

agitation,

which

took

strength of mind to control.

all his

suffering from

gave

sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he.

But I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I

might

find a doctor a

worthy fellow very kindly escorted

gave the maid a card, but

see that she has left

'*'

here.

upon the

side table."

took

hydraulic

up and

engineer,

the name, style, that

chair.

glanced

i6a,

You

is in itself

" Oh, laughed.

Victor

Hatherley,

(3rd

floor)."

That was

morning

visitor.

Victoria-street

and abode

have kept you waiting," said "

" Mr.

it.

sitting

are fresh from a night journey,

down I

regret

library

understand, which

a monotonous occupation."

my night could not He laughed very

be called monotonous," said he, and heartily, with

high

ringing

note,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

212

leaning back in his chair, and shaking his sides.

medical

up against that laugh.

instincts rose

" Stop

All

cried.

Pull yourself together

and

poured

out some water from a caraffe. It

was

outbursts which crisis is

He was

useless, however.

come upon

strong nature

came

Presently he

over and gone.

one of those hysterical

off in

when some

great

to himself once more,

very weary and blushing hotly.

" HE

UNWOUND THE HANDKERCHIEF, AND HELD OUT

have been making a

Not

all.

Drink

fool of myself,"

this

water, and the colour began to *'

That's better!"

would kindly attend

said to

he.

HIS HAND."

he gasped.

dashed some brandy into the

come back

to his bloodless cheeks.

''And now. Doctor, perhaps you

thumb, or rather

my thumb used to be." He unwound the handkerchief and even my hardened nerves a shudder

to the place

held out his hand. to look

it.

where

gave

There were

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. protruding fingers and

four

thumb should have

the

spongy surface where had been hacked or torn right

horrid

been.

213

red

out from the roots.

Good heavens

cried,

this is a terrible injury.

must

have bled considerably." Yes,

did.

when

fainted

was done

and

;

think that

must have been senseless for a long time. When I came to, found that it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my hand-

kerchief very tightly round the wrist, and braced

Excellent

" It

own

You should have been

a surgeon."

came within my

a question of hydraulics, you see, and

up with a twig."

province."

This has been done," said

examining the wound, " by a

very heavy and sharp instrument." "

An accident, I presume By no means."

thing like a cleaver," said he. " ?

What, a murderous attack

Very murderous indeed."

You

horrify

sponged

covered

me."

the wound,

cleaned

dressed

it,

it;

and,

cotton wadding and carbolised

over with

lay back

" !

without wincing, though he

his lip

bit

finally,

bandages.

from time

to time.

How

" Capital

new man.

that !

when

asked,

had

finished.

Between your brandy and your bandage, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal

feel

through." " Perhaps

you

had

not

better

speak of the matter.

evidently trying to your nerves." *'

but,

Oh, no; not now. between ourselves,

of this

wound

statement, for

shall

if it

have to

were not

tell

for the

of mine, I should be surprised it

in the w^ay of proof

tale to the police

with which to back

which

up.

;

convincing evidence if

a very extraordinary one, and

believe me, the clues is

they believed I

have not

And, even

much

they

can give them are so vague that

a question whether justice will be done." *' Ha " cried I, " if it is anything in the nature of a problem !

which you desire

to see solved,

should strongly recommend >ou

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

214 to

come

Mr. Sherlock Holmes before you go to the

friend

official police."

"Oh, I

should be very glad

" *'

do better.

We'll

an instant."

smoking

Times, and all

the

before,

all

equal to

" it ?

story."

shall be with 3'ou in

minutes was inside a hansom, driving with to Baker-street. I

dressing-gown,

his

feel

rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to

Sherlock Holmes was, as

expected, lounging about his sitting-

reading

agony column of

the

The

which was composed from his smokes of the day

his before-breakfast pipe,

plugs and dottels dried

carefully

left

and collected on the

mantelpiece.

fresh rashers

and eggs, and joined us

give

shall just be in time

have told

servant will call a cab, and

my wife, and in five my new acquaintance in

Do you

breakfast with him.

shall not feel easy until

"Then my

and

take you round to him myself."

I'll

cab and go together.

call a

little

Yes,

room

should be immensely obliged to you."

have a **

Would you

police as well.

ril

visitor,

he would take the matter up, though of

must use the official " an introduction to him ?

course

have heard of that fellow," answered

corner

the

received us in his quietly genial fashion, ordered

was concluded he

settled our

When

a hearty meal.

new acquaintance upon

the sofa,

placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of brandy and

water within his reach. easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Mr. Hatherley," said he. " Pray lie down there and make your-

"It

absolutely at

self

you are "

tired,

Thank

home.

and keep up your strength with a

you," said

since the doctor

patient, " but

bandaged me, and

completed the cure. time

what you can, but stop when

Tell us

as possible,

I I

shall

have

stimulant."

felt

man

another

think that your breakfast has

up as

take

shall

little

start

little

once upon

your valuable

peculiar

experiences."

Holmes

sat in

his big armchair with the wear}', heavy-lidded

expression which veiled his keen and opposite to him, and

which our

eager

nature, while

listened in silence to the strange

sat

story

visitor detailed to us.

"You must know,"

said

he,

"that

an orphan and a

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. bachelor, residing alone in lodgings in London.

21=^

profession

am a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner and Matheson, the well-known firm of Greenwich. Two years ago, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in business for myself, and took professional chambers in Victoriastreet. " I

suppose that every one finds his

first

independent start

"HE SETTLED OUR NEW ACQUAKN TAiNCE ON THE business a dreary experience.

To me

SOFA."

has been exceptionally

so.

During two years I have had three consultations and one small job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought me.

amount to twenty-seven pounds ten. Every day, from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to believe gross takings

that

should never have any practice at

all.

was thinking of leaving the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with **

Yesterday, however, just as

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

2t6

the

name

Colonel Lysander Stark

came

at his heels size but of

an exceeding thinness.

and the skin

standing bones. habit,

and due

man

the Colonel himself, a

seen so thin a man. chin,

engraved upon

rather over the middle

do not think that

it.

His whole face sharpened away

have ever

into nose

and

was drawn quite tense over his outYet this emaciation seemed to be his natural no disease, for his eye was bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was of his cheeks

plainly but neatly dressed, and his age,

should judge, would be nearer

forty than thirty.

"*Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. You have been recommended to *

me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a

who

only proficient

not

profession, but

his

also discreet

man and

capable of preserving a secret.' " I bowed, feeling as flattered as

any young man would address.

such an

May I ask who it was me so good a character ? '

who gave

asked.

Well, perhaps

should not

moment.

it is

better that

you just at this have it from the same tell

source that you are both an orphan

and a

bachelor,

and

are

residing

alone in London.'

"'That

"COLONEL LYSANDER STARK."

swered, I

say that

how

cannot see

qualifications.

"* Undoubtedly secrecy

so.

upon

an-

professional

was on a professional matter

will find that all

have a professional commission absolute

secrecy,

say

really

for you, but absolute

you understand, and

we may expect that more from a man who from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of course

But you

quite essential

correct,'

but you will excuse

this bears

understood that

that you wished to speak to

to the point.

all

quite

alone than

THE ENGINEER 'S THUMB. **

promise to keep a

If I

depend upon

doing

secret,' said

may

you

You do promise, then

Yes,

spoke, and

seemed had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. '

that

promise.'

reference to the matter at *'

said he at last.

'"Absolute and complete

absolutely

so.'

**He looked very hard at

silence,

either in

all,

have already'given you

and after?

before, during,

word or

writing:?

word.'

Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside '

was empty. ** '

That's

all

right,' said he,

coming

back.

know

are sometimes curious as to their master's affairs.

He drew up

talk in safety.' to stare at

that clerks

Now we

his chair very close to mine,

can

and began

again with the same questioning and thoughtful look.

***A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man.

Even my dread

impatience.

" is

me from showing

of losing a client could not restrain

beg that you will state your business,

Heaven

of value.'

words came "

How

would

forgive

for that

sir,'

last

said

' ;

sentence,

time

but the

lips. fifty

guineas for a night's work suit you

asked. 'â&#x20AC;˘'

Most admirably.'

say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. simply want 3/our opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine *'

which has got out of gear.

soon set

What

sion as that ''

*' '

right ourselves.

you show us what

do you think of

wrong we shall such a commis-

The work appears Precisely so.

and the pay munificent.' want you to come to-night by the

to be light,

shall

last train.'

'''Whereto?' " of

Eyford, in Berkshire.

Oxfordshire, and within

train

It is a little

seven

place near the borders

miles of Reading.

from Paddington which would bring you

eleven fifteen.'

There

in there at

about

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

2i8

Very good.'

There

come down

shall

a drive, then

Yes, our

place

little

meet you/

in a carriage to ?

quite out in the country.

It is

seven miles from Eyford Station.' " Then we can hardly get there before midnight. '

there would be no chance of a train back.

a good

suppose

should be compelled

to stop the night.'

Yes,

That

could easily give you a shakedo^yn.'

very awkward.

convenient hour **

have judged

recompense you a

Could

would buy an opinion from Still, of course, if you would like

a fee which

of the business, there

thought of the

w^ould be to me.

plenty of time to do

It is

how

guineas, and of

fifty

Not

all,'

said

accommodate myself to your wishes. understand a little more clearly what it " 'Quite so.

It is to

late.

any inconvenience that we are paying you,

for

the very heads of your profession.

draw out

some more

you should come

best that

young and unknown man,

come

not

very useful they

shall be very

should

so.'

like,

happy

however, to

that you wish

to do.'

very natural that the pledge of secrecy which

we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having I I suppose that we are absolutely safe from it all laid before you. ?

eavesdroppers ''

Entirely.'

Then

fuller's

earth

** '

place

England

have heard

Some

little

— within

are probably aware that

a valuable product, and that

two places *•'

You

the matter stands thus.

ten

only found in one

so.'

time ago

bought a small place

miles of Reading.

—a

very small

was fortunate enough

discover that there was a deposit of fuller's earth in one of fields.

On examining

it,

however,

a comparatively small one, and that

very

much

larger ones

upon the

however, in the grounds of

I it

right

quite as valuable as a gold mine.

found that this deposit was

formed a link between two

and the

left

—both

of them,

These good people land contained that which was Naturally, it was to my interest

neighbours.

were absolutely ignorant that their

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. to

buy

their land before they discovered its true value

tunately, of

2ig

had no capital by which

could do this.

but, unfor-

;

took a few

and they suggested that

friends into the secret, however,

we should quietly and secretly work our own little deposit, and that in this way we should earn the money which would enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we erected This press, as

a hydraulic press.

out of order, and

we wish your

have already explained, has got

our secret very jealously, however, and

soon rouse inquiry, and then,

good-bye to any chance of getting these

That

tell

that

why

came

out,

and carrying out our

fields

have made you promise

human being that you make it all plain ?

would would be

to our little house,

the facts

guard

once became known that

if it

we had hydraulic engineers coming

plans.

advice upon the subject.

that you will not

are going to Eyford to-night.

hope

quite follow you,' said

not quite understanJ,

The only

was what use you could make

press in excavating fuller's earth, which, as like gravel

from a '

could

of a hydraulic

understand,

dug out

pit.'

said he, carelessly,

point which

we have our own

process.

remove them without revealing what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I trust you.' He rose as he spoke. I shall expect you, compress the earth into

bricks,

then, at Eyford at 11.15.' *'

** '

shall certainly be there.'

And

not a word to a soul.'

looked at

my hand

questioning gaze, and then, pressing

with a last long, in

a cold,

dank

grasp, he hurried from the room.

Well,

much

when

astonished,

came as

to think

should

was

over in cool blood

entrusted to

glad, for the fee

have asked

all

you may both think,

mission which had been of course, I

had

and

the

other hand, the face

set

was

at this

me. at

least

upon

price

was very

sudden com-

the

one hand,

tenfold

my own

what

services,

possible that this order might lead to other ones.

and manner of

an unpleasant impression upon me, and

patron

had made

could not think that his

explanation of the fuller's earth was sufficient to explain the neces-

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

220 sity for

should

my coming tell

any one

midnight, and his extreme anxiety

errand.

However,

threw

to the winds, ate a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, off,

having obeyed to the

letter the

lest

all

fears

and started

injunction as to holding

tongue.

" At Reading station.

However,

NOT A WORD TO A SOUL

had I

was

! '

change not only time for the

carriage but

last train to

Eyford, and

was the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed I

reached the

little

dim-lit station after eleven o'clock.

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. out through the wicket gate, however, of the

morning waiting

in the

my arm

a word he grasped

found

i22i

shadow upon the other

and hurried

acquaintance

Without

side.

into a carriage, the door

which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either side, tapped on the woodwork, and away we went as hard as the of

horse could go." " interjected

Holmes.

One horse

Yes, only one."

Did you observe the colour

" ?

saw it by the sidelights when It was a chestnut."

" Yes, I carriage.

was stepping

" Tired-looking or fresh ? " " Oh, fresh and glossy." " Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you.

into the

Pray con-

tinue your most interesting statement."

**Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the must have been nearer twelve. He sat at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good in I tried that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. to look out of the windows to see something of where we w^ere, but

time that

they were

took, that

made

of frosted glass,

and

could

make

Now

the occasional blurr of a passing light.

out nothing save

and then

hazarded

break the monotony of the journey, but the Colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the conversation soon flagged.

some remark At

however, the bumping of the road was exchanged for the

last,

crisp

smoothness of a gravel

of us.

drive,

Colonel Lysander Stark

stand. after

him, pulled

front of the house.

the door

sprang out, and, as

swiftly into a porch

stepped, as

the hall, so that

and the carriage came

which gaped

followed in front

were, right out of the carriage and into

most

failed to catch the

The

to a

instant that

slammed heavily behind

us,

fleeting glance of the

had crossed the threshold

and

heard faintly the rattle

of the wheels as the carriage drove away.

" It was pitch dark inside the house, and the Colonel fumbled

about looking for matches, and muttering under his breath.

Sud-

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

222

denly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a long,

golden bar of light shot out in our direction.

grew broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which slie held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the light shone It

upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly

fell

from her hand.

Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered something in her ear, and

room from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the lamp in his hand. " Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for

then, pushing her back into the

a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. quiet

little,

plainly furnished room, with a round table in the centre,

on which several German books were scattered.

down

was a

Colonel Stark laid

lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the door. not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and vanished the

shall

into

the darkness. *'

glanced at the books upon the table, and

ignorance of

German

spite of

could see that two of them were treatises

Then

on science, the others being volumes

of poetry.

across to the window, hoping that

might catch some glimpse

of the country side, but

walked

an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded

was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were they doing, living in this strange, out-of-the-way place ? And where was the place ? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was all For I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no idea. across

it.

that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded after it

was

quite certain from the absolute stillness that

country.

paced up and down the room,

breath to keep up

earning **

utter

spirits,

we were

humming

and feeling that

all.

Yet the

a tune under

was thoroughly

fifty-guinea fee.

Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the stillness,

the

door of

my room swung

slowly open.

The

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. woman was

standing in the aperture,

behind her, the yellow light from

and beautiful fear,

face.

words of broken English

chill

would

my lamp

my own

to be silent,

the hall

beating upon her eager

heart.

She held up one

and she shot a few whispered

me, her eyes glancing back,

of a frightened horse, into the

*''I

the darkness

could see at a glance that she was sick with

and the sight sent a

shaking finger to warn

223

gloom behind

like those

her,

go,'

said she, trying hard,

seemed

speak calmJy

would go.

me, *

;

should

not stay here. There is

no good

for

you

do.' *'

said

But, madam,'

have not

yet done what for.

came

cannot pos-

leave

sibly

have

until

seen the

machine.' *'

It is

not worth

your while to wait,' she went on.

can

door

You

through

pass

the

;

And

hinders.'

seeing that

and shook

one then,

smiled

head,

she suddenly threw â&#x20AC;˘

â&#x20AC;˘

^''

"'GET AWAY FROM HERE BEFORE

aside her constraint,

IT IS

TOO LATE.'"

and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. For the love of Heaven!' she whispered, *get away from here before *

it is

too late

" But

am somewhat

ready to engage in an

way.

thought of

headstrong by nature, and the more

affair

when

there

fifty-guinea fee, of

and of the unpleasant night which seemed

some obstacle

the

wearisome journey,

to be before

me.

Was

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

it all

carried

due

for

This

With a

woman

should

slink

knew, be a monomaniac.

stout bearing, therefore, though

her manner had shaken

me more

than

declared to

Why

away without having out my commission, and without the payment which was nothing

might, for

cared

all

confess,

still

intention of remaining where

shook

was.

She was about

head, and

renew her entreaties when a door slammed overhead, and the

sound

upon the

stairs.

She

an instant, threw up her hands with a despairing

listened for

gesture,

were heard

footsteps

several

and vanished as suddenly and as noiselessly as she had

come.

The new-comers were Colonel Lysander Stark, and a short thick man with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. ** By This is my secretary and manager,' said the Colonel. **

the way,

just now. **

the

I felt **

was under the impression that fear that

you have

the contrary,' said

room

felt

this door shut

left

the draught.'

opened the door myself, because

to be a little close.'

shot one of his suspicious glances at me.

had better proceed to business, then,' said he. I will take you up to see the machine.' " I had better put my hat on, I suppose.'

Perhaps we

Mr. Ferguson and

*' '

no,

it is

in the house.'

What, do you

No, no.

dig fuller's earth in the house

This

only where

we compress

it.

But never

All we wish you to do is to examine the machine, mind that and to let us know what is wrong with it.' ** We went upstairs together, the Colonel first with the lamp, It was a labyrinth of an old the fat manager and I behind him. !

narrow winding staircases, and little low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets, and house, with

corridors,

passages,

no signs of any furniture above the ground

was peeling

off

the walls, and the

green, unhealthy blotches.

floor,

damp was

tried

while the plaster

breaking through in

put on as unconcerned an

had not forgotten the warnings of the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent air as possible, but I

THE EXGINEER'S man, but

could see from the

TIIUM^.

225

was

that he said that he

little

least a fellow-countryman.

Colonel Lysander Stark stopped

before a low door,

last

Within was a small square room,

which he unlocked.

Ferguson remained

the three of us could hardly get at one time. outside,

and

and the Colonel ushered

are now,' said he,

in.

actually within the hydraulic press,

would be a particularly unpleasant thing

The

which

for

any one

chamber is really the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns of water outside which receive the force, and which were to turn

on.

transmit and multiply

The machine goes the working of

has

have the goodness

will

can set "

manner which

some

to look

over,

and

stiffness in

Perhaps you

lost a little of its force.

took the lamp from him, and

familiar to you.

show us how we

right.'

thoroughly.

was indeed a gigantic

When

enormous pressure.

down

in the

readily enough, but there

and

it,

ceiling of this small

examined the machine very one, and capable of exercising

passed outside, however, and pressed

the levers which controlled

it,

knew

once by the whishing

sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed a regurgitation of

water through

showed that one

one of the side cylinders. of the indiarubber

An examination

bands which was round the

head of a driving rod had shrunk so as not quite to along which

power, and

pointed

remarks very

how they

carefully,

out to

and asked several practical questions as it

right.

When

had made

to satisfy

my own

curiosity.

would be absurd

when

all

over

what

wood, but the

came it.

was,

to it

to suppose that so powerful

saw the cadaverous

walls

and

could see a crust of metallic deposit

had stooped and was scraping I

The

floor consisted of a large iron trough,

examine

when

was obvious

was the merest

engine could be designed for so inadequate a purpose.

were

companions, who followed

a glance that the story of the fuller's earth

fabrication, for

loss of

returned to the main chamber of the machine, and

took a good look at at

should proceed to set

clear to them,

the socket

This was clearly the cause of the

worked.

fill

at this to see exactly

heard a muttered exclamation in German, and face of the Colonel looking

down

me.

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

226 **

What

I felt

are you doing there

angry

* ;

think that

your machine

was

he asked.

having been tricked by so elaborate a story as

that which he had told me. said

was admiring your

fuller's earth,*

should be better able to advise you as to

knew what

the exact purpose

was

which

for

used.'

"The

'"'

that

instant

uttered the

words

legretted

the rashness of

His face

speech.

and

hard,

set

baleful light sprang

in his grey eyes.

Very

said he,

know

you shall about the

all

machine.' a

well,'

backward,

step

slamm.ed the door,

took

and

little

turned

the key in the lock. r

rushed towards

and pulled at the handle, but quite

secure,

was and

did not give in the least

and '

RUSHED TO THE DOOR.'

Hullo Hullo!

Let "

And then suddenly

in the silence

my kicks shoves.

1 '

yelled.

Colonel! out

heard a sound which sent

was the clank of the levers, and the swish of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming down upon me, slowly, jerkil}^ but, as none knew better than myself, with a force which must within a .minute grind heart into

mouth.

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. me

to a shapeless pulp.

Colonel to

drowned

let

The

If I lay

upraised

lock.

much upon

face the weight

could

perhaps, and yet had

the nerve to

black shadow wavering

gush

spine,

met and

Easier the other way,

and look up

lie

at that

deadly to

when my eye caught something which brought

walls were of wood.

saw a thin

hard, rough

that the pain of

would come upon

down upon me

line of

Already

heart.

have said that though

its

was unable

hope back

feel

two above

the position in which

shuddered to think of that dreadful snap.

stand erect,

implored the

foot or

my mind

flashed through

death would depend very it.

the

was only a

ceiling

my hand

Then

surface.

nails

out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers

cries.

head, and with

threw myself, screaming, against the

and dragged with

door,

227

and ceiling were of

floor

gave a

iron,

the

hurried glance around,

last

yellow light between two of the boards, which

broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backwards.

For an instant which

could hardly believe that here was indeed a door

away from death.

led

The

and lay half-fainting upon the other

afterwards the clang of the two slabs of

and

was

escape.

me and

bent over

tugged at

while she held a candle in her right.

whose warning

Come

had so foolishly

come moment. They *

feet,

The

reached of

it,

will see that

hand,

was the same good

friend

left

you are not

They

will be here

there.

Oh, do not

' !

did not scorn her advice.

latter led to

staggered

we heard

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one

another broad passage, and, just as

one

answering the other

who

a door which led into a

moon was

the sound of running feet, and the shouting

were, and from the one beneath.

about her the

with her

and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding

two voices

she cried, breathlessly.

" This time, at least,

stair.

wrist,

rejected.

waste the so precious time, but come

recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at

woman

while a

in a

The panel had closed lamp, and a few moments metal, told me how narrow

found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor,

threw myself through,

side.

again behind me, but the crash of the

had been

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;from

the floor on which

guide stopped, and looked

Then she threw open bedroom, through the window of which at her wits' end.

shining brightly.

AD VENTURES OF SHERL O CK HOLMES.

It is

your only chance,' said she.

jump

that you can

It is

high, but

may

it.'

" As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the passage, and

saw the lean

Lysander Stark

figure of Colonel

rushing forward with a lantern in one hand, and a weapon like a butcher's cleaver in the other.

rushed across the bedroom, flung

How

open the window, and looked out.

and sweet and

quiet

wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I hesitated to jump, until I should have heard what passed between my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the door, pushing his way past her but she threw her arms round him, and tried to hold him back. " Fritz she cried in English, remember your promise Fritz ;

You

after the last time. silent *'

Oh, he

You

said

will be silent

are mad, Elise

from her.

You

Let me pass,

say

' !

hands across the "

my I

sill,

off

understood that however, as

among I

was

for the first time,

I fell

fell.

far

window

myself

let

and

slot

was conscious

of a dull

into the garden below. fall

;

picked myself up,

I I

could run, for

from being out of danger

yet.

Suddenly,

and sickness came over me.

hand, which was throbbing painfully, and then,

saw that

handkerchief round

rushing to

had

the bushes as hard as

the blood was pouring from

ears,

blow

his

ran, a deadly dizziness

glanced down at

has seen too much. side, and,

fingers in the

was shaken, but not hurt by the

and rushed

with his heavy weapon.

grip loosened, and

will be

dashed her to one

when

should not be again.

he shouted, struggling to break away

' !

and was hanging with

pain,

will be the ruin of us.

the window, cut at go,

it,

my thumb my wound.

but there

and next moment

fell

had been cut I

came

dead

off,

and that

endeavoured to

tie

sudden buzzing

faint

among

my my

the rose-

bushes. **

How

long

remained unconscious

have been a very long time,

for the

morning was breaking when all sodden with dew, and my

came

cannot

moon had to myself.

coat- sleeve

tell.

must

sunk, and a bright

clothes were

was drenched with blood

THE ENGINEER. 'S THUMB. from

my wounded

the particulars of

all

feet

The smarting

thumb.

But, to

night's adventure,

with the feeling that

pursuers.

229

recalled in an instant

and

sprang to

might hardly yet be safe from

astonishment, when

me, neither house nor garden were to be seen.

came I

my my

look round

had been lying

" HE CUT AT ME.' '

an angle

lower ing

of the

down was

it,

hedge close by the

liigh road,

a long building, which proved, upon

Were

not for

little

approach-

had arrived upon the the ugly wound upon my hand, all

be the very station at which

previous night.

and just a

that had passed during those dreadful hours might have been an evil

dream.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

230

Half dazed,

morning

when

found, as had been there

inquired from him whether he had ever heard

The name was strange

Lysander Stark.

of Colonel

and asked about the Reading in less than an

station,

porter w^as on duty,

arrived.

into the

There would be one

train.

The same

hour.

went

he observed a carriage the night before waiting for

had

Was

not.

there a police station anywhere near

one about three miles

off.

was too

"It

to wait until

far for

weak and ill as I was. town before telling my

No, he

There was

to go,

back

got

Had

to him.

determined

story to the

was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough police.

bring

along here.

what you

exactly

to to

put the case into your hands, and shall do

advise."

both sat in silence for some

little

time after listening to

Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down ponderous commonplace books in which

this extraordinary narrative.

from the shelf one of the he placed his cuttings. *'

an advertisement which will interest you," said he.

appeared

this

Here

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the

all

Lost, on the gth

papers about a year ago. inst.,

Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged 26, a

Left his lodgings at ten o'clock at night, and

hydraulic engineer.

has not been heard of since.

Was

dressed

&c.,

in,'

Good heavens

what the *'

cried

patient.

Then

&c.

have his

that

explains

That represents the last time that the Colonel needed machine overhauled, I fancy." "

Listen to

girl said."

Undoubtedly.

It is quite clear

that the Colonel

was

a cool

and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out pirates

who

will leave

every m.oment

now

no survivor from a captured ship.

precious, so,

you

feel

equal to

it,

Well, shall

go down to Scotland-yard at once as a preliminary to starting

for

Eyford."

Some

three

hours or so afterwards

we were

all

in the

train

bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Bradstreet Bradstreet had of Scotland-yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the seat, and was

together,

THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. busy with his compasses drawing a

231

Eyford

with

circle

for

its

centre. *'

drawn at a radius of The place we want must be somewhere *'

There you are," said he.

ten miles from the village.

near that

You

line.

said ten miles,

was an hour's good

And you

That I

circle is

think, sir?

drive."

think that they brought you back

all

way when

that

you were unconscious ? *' They must have done so. I have a confused memory, having been lifted and conveyed somewhere." ''

What

cannot understand," said

why

too, of

they should have

when they found you lying fainting in the garden. villain was softened by the woman's entreaties."

Per-

spared you

haps the *'

hardly think that likely.

my circle, we

the folk that I

shall soon clear

have drawn '*

think

opinion

only wish

And I

And

for west,"

say east," said

several quiet

little

knew

Well,

what point upon

Holmes,

finger on it," said

now!" cried the Come now, we shall

south, for the country *'

that," said Bradstreet.

are in search of are to be found."

could lay

and

all

quietly.

Inspector, *'you have formed your

"Really,

never saw a more inexorable face

life."

" Oh, I

who

see

agrees with you.

say

more deserted there."

patient.

remarked the plain-clothes man.

villages

There are

up there."

for north," said

*' ;

because there are no

hills there,

and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up any." '' " Come," cried the Inspector, laughing it's a very pretty We have boxed the compass among us. diversity of opinion. ;

Who

do you give your casting vote to

You

But we can't all be." Oh yes, you can. This

are

all

" ?

wrong."

the centre of the circle.

" This

my is

point," he placed his finger on

where we

shall find

them."

But the twelve-mile drive ? " gasped Hatherley. " Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself How could that the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. ''

be that,

if it

"Indeed

had gone twelve miles over heavy roads

a likely

ruse

" ?

enough," observed

Bradstreet,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMRS.

232

" Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature

thoughtfully. of this gang."

None

said

all,"

Holmes.

and have used the machine

scale,

They

are coiners on a large

form the amalgam which has

taken the place of silver."

have known

some time that a clever gang was at work," said the Inspector. They have been turning out halfcrowns by the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could get no further for they had covered their traces in a way that showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this lucky chance, I think that we have got them right *'

for

;

enough."

But the Inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood, and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape.

house on

again on

its

fire ? "

asked Bradstreet, as the train steamed

way.

Yes, sir! " said the station-master.

W^hen did

hear that

break out

" ?

was during the

and the whole place

Whose house

Dr. Becher's."

Tell me," broke in the engineer, "

an Englishman, and there better-lined waistcoat.

has got worse,

who

man

Dr. Becher a German,

heartily.

isn't

But he has

understand,

but

is it ?

The stationmaster laughed

a patient, as

sir,

in a blaze." "

very thin, with a long sharp nose

No,

sir,

Dr. Becher

the parish

who has

gentleman staying with him,

a foreigner, and he looks as

good Berkshire beef would do him no harm."

The stationmaster had all

night,

little

off

not finished his speech before

hastening in the direction of the

fire.

we were

The road topped

a low

and there was a great widespread white-washed building in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the

hill,

garden

in front

three fire-engines were vainly striving to keep the

flames under. .**

That's

" cried

Halherley, in intense excitement.

"There

TIJE

ENGINEER'S TtlUMB,

the gravel drive, and there are the rose-bushes where

second window

^IZ I lay.

That

jumped from." at least," r.aid Holmes, "you have had your revenge *' Well, upon them. There can be no question that it was your oil lamp which, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden is

were too excited

you

in this

very

much

at the

keep your eyes

crowd

friends of last night, I

chase

in the

to observe

Now

time.

open

though no doubt they

walls,

after

the one that

for

your

though

fear that

they

are a good hundred miles off

by now."

H0US7.

ON FIRE

" !

And Holmes'

fears came to be realised, for from that day to this no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a peasant had met a cart, containing several people and some very

bulky boxes, driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but there all

traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' ingenuity

failed ever to discover the least clue to their

whereabouts.

Al:>VEMfURii.S

234

OP SHERLOCK HOLME'^.

The firemen had been much perturbed

at the strange arrange-

ments which they found within, and still more so by discovering a newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen

in,

the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save twisted

and iron piping, not a trace remained

cylinders

and

some the

machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored in an outhouse, but no coins were to be found, which

may have

explained

the presence of those bulky boxes which have been already referred to.

How

our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden

to the spot

where he recovered

ever a mystery were plain tale.

He had

whom

one of

large ones.

his senses

down by two

evidently been carried

the whole,

Englishman, being

for

not for the soft mould, which told us a very

had remarkably small

might have remained

less bold or

had assisted the woman

feet

persons,

and the other unusually

was most probable less murderous than

to bear the unconscious

man

that the silent his

companion,

out of the

way

of danger.

" Well," said

return to London, lost

gained

we took our business for me!

our engineer, ruefully, as ''it

thumb, and

has been a pretty

have

lost a fifty-guinea fee,

have

and what have

" ?

" Experience," said Holmes, laughing. value,

seats to

you know

;

you have only

reputation of being excellent existence."

put

company

for

Indirectly

into

words

may

be of

to gain the

the remainder of your

THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR.

Lord

Simon marriage, and

St.

nation, have

long

tunate

bridegroom

and

it,

this

Fresh

subject

piquant

been revealed to the general public, and as

have

details

drama.

facts

full

have

scandals

four-year-old

however, that the

believe,

moves.

their

drawn the gossips away from have reason

those exalted circles in which the unfjr-

interest

eclipsed

ceased

since

curious termi-

its

have never

friend Sherlock

Holmes had a considerable share in clearing the matter up, that no memoir of him would be complete without some

feel

little

sketch of this remarkable episode.

was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker-street, that he came home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table It

waiting for him.

had remained indoors

had taken a sudden turn jezail bullet of

body

which

to rain,

had brought back

one easy chair and

legs

one of

of the day,

tossed

them

all

limbs as a relic

dull persistency.

upon another,

myself with a cloud of newspapers, until at

news

day, for the weather

with high autumnal winds, and the

Afghan campaign, throbbed with

all

last,

With my

had surrounded

saturated with the

aside and lay listless, watching

monogram upon the envelope upon the table, and wondering lazily who my friend's noble correspondent could be. the huge crest and

Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a fishmonger and a tide waiter." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more *'

interesting.

This looks

monses which

call

one of those unwelcome social sum-

upon a man either 235

to be bored or to lie."

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

2^6

He *'

broke the

Oh, come,

"Not ** *'

" **

and glanced over the contents.

seal,

may

prove to be something of interest after

all."

then?"

social,

No, distinctly professional."

And from a noble client ? " One of the highest in England."

dear fellow,

congratulate you."

" I assure you,

Watson, without that

affectation,

the status of

matter

client is a

â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

of less

ilE

hROKE THE SEAL AND GLAiNCED OVER THE CONTEMTb.

moment

than the interest of his case.

possible, however, that that also

may

investigation.

You have been reading

have you not

It is

just

not be wanting in this

new

the papers diligently of late,

looks like

the corner.

" I

it," said I, ruefully,

pointing to a huge bundle

have had nothing else to do."

fortunate, for

you

will

read nothing except the criminal

But

perhaps be able to post

news and the agony column.

up.

The

you have followed recent events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his latter is

always instructive.

wedding?

THE NOBLE BACHELOR,

237

Oh, yes, with the deepest interest."

That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. *'

This

may

tion.

Backwater

tells

in reference

connection with

upon you, and to consult the very painful event which has occurred in wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland-yard, is

call

acting already in the matter, but he assures

that he sees no

objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that

be of some assistance.

that you will postpone

will call at four o'clock in the afternoon,

it,

as this matter

Robert

upon the outer side of his he folded up the epistle.

hope

St. Simon.'

dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen,

and the noble lord has had the misfortune

paramount importance.

— Yours faithfully, It is

mJght

and, should you have any other engagement at that time,

place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discre-

have determined, therefore, to

you

My dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, — Lord

that

what he says

smear of ink remarked Holmes, as

to get a

right little finger,''

says four o'clock.

It is

three now.

will be here in

hour.'* **

Then

have just time,

the subject.

Turn over those

their order of time, while

your assistance, to get clear upon

papers, and arrange the extracts in

take a glance as to

who our

client is."

picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of reference

beside the mantelpiece. flattening

Vere

Arms

St. :

Was

out

upon

Here he

his

knee.

" '

Robert of

Balmoral

Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess

Under-Secretary for the Colonies

Tudor on the

father,

was

have very

one

time

mature

— Hum Born

for marriage.

a late Administration.

Secretary

for

Foreign

descent, and

Ha!

Well there is nothing very inthink that I must turn to you, Watson,

distaff side.

something more

sable.

Plantagenet blood by direct

inherit

structive in all this.

down and Walsingham de

said he, sitting

is,"

Simon, second son of the Duke

The Duke, his Affairs. They

He's forty-one years of age, which

1846.'

for

v/ith

solid."

little

difficulty in finding

what

want,"

said

AD VENTURES OF SHERL O CK HOLMES.

238 **

for the facts are quite

markable.

recent,

feared to refer

and the matter struck

them

however, as

to you,

as ic-

knew

that

you had an inquiry on hand, and that you disHked the intrusion of other matters." '*

Oh, you mean the

furniture van.

That

problem of the Grosvenor-square

now

quite cleared up

was obvious from the

little

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though,

indeed,

Pray give me the results of your news-

first.

paper selections." " Here

column back.

St.

the

of The *

rumour

notice which

first

Morning

marriage

Post,

and

can

find.

you

dates, as

has been arranged,'

Simon, second son

of the

Duke

some weeks

see,

says,

correct, very shortly take place,

the personal

It is in

and

will,

between Lord Robert

of Balmoral,

and Miss Hatty

Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran, Esq., of San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.'

That

is all."

Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, thin legs towards the fire. **

There was a paragraph amplifying

papers of the same week. call for protection in the

Ah, here

one of the society

this in

is.

There

will soon be a

marriage market, for the present free-trade

principle appears to tell heavily against our

home

by one the management of the noble houses of Great passing into the hands of our

fair

One

product.

Britain

cousins from across the Atlantic.

important addition has been made during the

list

of the prizes

last

week

to the

which have been borne away by these charming Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself for over twenty

invaders.

years proof against the

little

now

god's arrows, has

definitely an-

nounced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Doran, the fascinating

daughter

California

Miss Doran,

millionaire.

whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and it is currently reported that

her dowry will

run to considerably over

the six figures, with expectancies for the future. secret that the

Duke

property of his own, save the

small

obvious that the Californian heiress

which

will

Balmoral has been compelled

pictures within the last few years, and as

alliance

enable her to

Lord

estate

St.

an open

to sell his

Simon has no

of Birchmoor,

not the only gainer by an

make

the

transition from a Republican lady to a British

easy and title.'

common

THE NOBLE BACHELOR. **

Anything

yes

;

else

23-9

asked Holmes, yawning.

Then

plenty.

there

another note

The Morning

Post to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it

would be

Hanover-square, that only half a dozen

at St. George's,

intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would return

house at Lancaster Gate which has been taken by

to the furnished

Two

Mr. Aloysius Doran.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;there

days later

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that

is,

on Wednesday

last

announcement that the wedding had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices which appeared a curt

before the disappearance of the bride."

" Before the

what

" asked

Holmes, with a

The vanishing

When

At the wedding breakfast."

Indeed.

start.

of the lady."

did she vanish, then

This

" ?

more interesting than

promised

quite dramatic, in fact."

"Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." *' They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the honeymoon but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt ;

as this.

Pray

let

have the details."

warn you that they

" Perhaps

are very incomplete."

we may make them

less so."

" Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a

morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding '

It is

headed,

The

family of Lord Robert St.

Simon has been thrown

into

the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which

have taken place as shortly

connection with his wedding.

announced

previous morning

;

but

in the it

The ceremony,

papers of yesterday, occurred on the only

now

that

has been possible to

confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently floating about. up, so

In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the matter

much

public attention has

now been drawn

purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what

that no good is

common

subject for conversation. **

The ceremony, which was performed square, was a very quiet one, no one being '

the

bride,

at St. George's,

Hanover-

present save the father of

Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord

?4o

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara brother and sister of the bridegroom), and

The whole party proceeded afterwards

St.

Lady

to the

Simon

(the

younger

Alicia Whittington.

house of Mr. Aloysius

Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been prepared.

*'SHE

WAS EJECTED BY THE BUTLER AND THE FOOTMAN."

appears that some

name has

little

trouble

not been ascertained,

into the house after the

was caused by a woman, whose

who endeavoured

to force her

bridal party, alleging that she

claim upon Lord St. Simon.

was only

after a painful

way

had some

and pro-

longed scene that she was ejected by the butler and the footman.

The

THE NOBLE BACHELOR. who had

bride,

241

fortunately entered the house before this unpleasant

down

interruption, had sat

when she her room. Her

breakfast with the rest,

complained of a sudden indisposition, and retired to

prolonged absence having caused some comment, her father followed her

but learned from her maid that she had only

;

chamber

come up

to her

an instant, caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen declared that he had seen for

a lady leave the house thus apparelled that

was

but had refused to credit

;

his mistress, believing her to be with the

company.

ascertaining that his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in

conjunction witli the bridegroom, instantly put themselves into

communication with the being made, which will

and very energetic inquiries are probably result in a speedy clearing up of police,

this very singular business.

to a late

hour

last night,

however,

nothing had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the

woman who had

have caused the arrest of the

police

original disturbance, in the belief that,

may have

motive, she

been concerned

from jealousy or some other in

the strange disappearance

of the bride.'

]

And

'•'

Only one

caused the

that

all ?

little

item

another of the morning papers, but

a suggestive one." "

''And

ance, has actually been arrested.

who had caused known

the bridegroom for

There are no further particulars, and the whole ease your hands now so far as it has been set forth in the public years.

—

press."

the disturb-

appears that she was formerly

a dansense at the Allegro, and that she has

is in

is?

" That Miss Flora Millar, the lady

some

it is

And an

;

exceedingly interesting case

not have missed

for worlds.

appears to be.

But there

.-»•.

,.».

would

a ring at the bell,

Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to

my own memory."

" Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page boy, throwing A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured open the door, face,

high-nosed and pale,

with something perhaps of petulance 17

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

242

about the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a

man

whose pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop, and a little bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges, and thin his

upon the top. As dress, it was careful verge

the

with high

^rT'

foppishness,

collar,

black frock

coat, white waistcoat, yellow

gloves, patent-leather shoes,

and light-coloured

He advanced

gaiters.

slowly

into

the room, turning his head

from

right,

and

in his right

hand

left

swinging

which

cord

the

held

his

Good -day, Lord

St.

golden eye-glasses. *'

Simon," said Holmes, rising

and bowing.

Pray take

This

the basket chair.

and

friend

colleague,

Draw up a fire, and we

Dr. Watson. little

the

shall talk this matter over." **

A most

painful matter

you can most

me, as

imagine,

readily Holmes.

havj been cut

to the quick.

though

"LORD ROBERT

ST.

SIMON.

understand

that you have already sir,

Mr.

managed

several delicate cases of this sort,

presume that they were hardly from the same

society."

No,

Oh, really

descending."

beg pardon

" ?

last client of the sort !

had no

was

idea.

a king."

And which king

" ?

class of

THE NOBLE BACHELOR, The King

What

Of course

my own

may "

lost his wife

" ?

said Holmes, suavely,

that

other clients the same secrecy which

extend to

prom.ise to

yours."

in *'

You can understand,"

the affairs of

you

of Scandinavia."

Had

243

Thank

prints,

case,

you

assist

Very

right

very right

I'm sure

beg pardon.

ready to give you any information which

forming an opinion."

you.

have already learned

nothing more.

presume that

that

all

may

is in

take

the public

as correct

this article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride."

Lord

St.

Simon glanced over

" Yes,

it.

correct, as far as

goes."

" But

needs a great deal of supplementing before any one

could offer an opinion.

most

Pray do

When

may

arrive

facts

by questioning you,"

directly

think that

so."

did

you

first

meet Miss Hatty Doran

" In San Francisco, a year ago." " You were travelling in the States

" ?

*'Yes."

" Did you become engaged then " No."

But you were on a friendly footing ? " " I was amused by her society, and she could see that

was

amused." "

Her

father is

very rich

" ?

said to be the richest

And how

In mining.

gold, invested *'

did he

it,

Now, what

make

He had

his

man on

money

the Pacific slope."

" ?

nothing a few years ago.

Then he

struck

and came up by leaps and bounds." is

your own impression as to the young lady's

your wife's character

" ?

The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down " You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, " my wife was into the fire. twenty before her father became a rich man.

During that time

she ran free in a mining camp, and wandered through woods or

mountains, so that her education has come from nature rather than

from the schoolmaster.

She

what we

call in

England a tomboy.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

244

with a strong nature, wild and

She

traditions.

impetuous

free,

unfettered by any sort

— volcanic,

was about

She

to say.

making up her mind, and fearless in carrying out her resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the name which I have the honour to bear" (he gave a little stately cough) ''had I not thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. is

swift in

believe that she

capable of heroic self-sacrifice, and that any-

thing dishonourable would be repugnant to her." " Have you her photograph ? " "

the

full face of

a very lovely

an ivory miniature, and the the

woman. artist

locket,

and showed us

was not a photograph, but

had brought out the

Holmes gazed long and

mouth.

opened a

full effect of

black hair, the large dark eyes, and the exquisite

lustrous

the locket and handed "

brought this with me."

The young

lady

earnestly at

back to Lord

came

St.

Then he

it.

closed

Simon.

London, then, and you renewed your

acquaintance ? " Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I

met her several times, became engaged

married her." " She brought,

dowry.

fair

"And

her,

and have now

understand, a considerable dow^-y

Not more than

this, of course,

usual in

" ?

family."

remains to you, since the marriage

fait accompli?'''

" "

have made no inquiries on the subject." Did you see Miss Doran on the day Very naturally not. I

really

before the

wedding? "

" Yes."

Was

Never

she in good spirits better.

" ?

She kept talking

what we should do

our

future lives." •'

Indeed.

wedding " "

That

very interesting.

And on

the morning of the

" ?

—

She was as bright as possible at least, until after the ceremony." And did you observe any change in her then ?"

saw then the first signs that I had ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident, however, was too trivial to relate, and can have no possible bearing upon the case." "Well,

tell

the

truth,

THE NOBLE BACHELOR. "

Pray

let

us have

it,

245

for all that."'

She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the *'

Oh,

gentleman

childish.

in the

pew handed

up to her again, and

did not

Ssi-

"THE GENTLEMAN

THE TEW HANDED

UP TO HER."

to her of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet, when I spoke and in the carriage, on our the matter, she answered me abruptly ;

she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause.'' " Indeed. You say that there was a gentleman in the pew.

way home,

Some

of the general public

were present, then

" ?

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

246

yes.

It is

impossible to exclude them

when

the church

open." "

This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends

No, no

him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance.

quite a

But

" ?

really

;

call

think that

rather far from

are wandering

the

point." *'

Lady

Simon, then, returned from the wedding

St.

cheerful frame of

mind than she had gone

do on re-entering her father's house " I *'

saw her

And who Alice

in is

it.

What

a less did she

" ?

conversation with her maid."

her maid

" ?

her name.

She

an American, and came from

California with her." *' **

A A

confidential servant little

too

much

" ?

so.

allowed her to take great

seemed

liberties.

Still,

that her mistress

America

of course, in

they look upon these things in a different way." *'

How

Oh, a few minutes.

" 'â&#x20AC;˘'

long did she speak to this Alice I

" ?

had something

else to think of." "

You did not overhear what they said ? Lady St. Simon said something about

She was accustomed

to use slang of the kind.

jumping a

claim.'

have no idea what

she meant."

"American slang

very expressive sometimes.

And what

your v/ife do when she had finished speaking to her maid " She walked into the breakfast room." *'

On your arm?

did

" ?

She was very independent in little matters like Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose that. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She never came back." *' But this maid Alice, as I understard, deposes that she went to **

No, alone.

her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a bonnet, and went out." " Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde-

park

custody,

company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in and who had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's

house that morning."

THE NOBLE BACHELOR. *'

Ah, yes.

should like a few particulars as to this young lady,

to her."

and your relations

Lord **

Simon shrugged

St.

247

and raised his eyebrows. some years I may say on

his shoulders,

have been on a friendly footing

for

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

She used to be at the Allegro. I have not treated her ungenerously, and she has no just cause of complaint Flora against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed, and devotedly She wrote me dreadful letters when she heard attached to me. that I was about to be married, and to tell the truth the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I feared lest there a very friendly footing.

might be a scandal

She came

in the church.

to Mr. Doran's door

endeavoured to push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the possibility of something of

just

after

the sort, and

returned, and

had given instructions to the servants, who soon

pushed her out again. no good

she

She was quiet when she saw that there was

making a row." "

Did your wife hear

No, thank goodness, she did not."

And she was

all this ?

seen walking with this very

woman

afterwards

" ?

"Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland -yard, looks upon as so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife and

out,

laid

" Well,

some

a possible supposition,"

it is

''You think " I did not

upon " **

what

too?

so,

say a probable one.

this as likely I

terrible trap for her."

do not think Flora would hurt a

Still, is

your own

have given you say that

all

came

to seek a theory, not to

the facts.

effect of

propound one.

Since you ask me, however,

may

as possible that the excitement of

this affair, the consciousness that she

Pray

has occurred to

had the

fly."

a strange transformer of characters. " theory as to what took place ?

jealousy

" Well, really, I

stride,

But you do not yourself look

had made so immense a

causing some

little

social

nervous disturbance

wife." *'

In short, that she had become suddenly deranged

" Well, really,

when

consider that she has turned her

back^

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

248 I

upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired without success I can hardly explain it in any other fashion."

will not say

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

" Well, certainly that

Holmes, smiling. nearly

all

also a conceivable hypothesis," said

And now, Lord

May

data.

St.

Simon,

Quite

think that

have

ask whether you were seated at the

window?

breakfast-table so that you could see out of the

*'We could

see the other side of the road, and the Park."

Then

so.

do not think that

need detain you any

I shall communicate with you." " Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said

longer.

our

client, rising.

/' I

have solved

it."

What was

say that

that

" ?

have solved

it."

Where, then, is my wife ? " " That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Lord St. Simon shook his head. " I am afraid that

will take

wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a stately, old-fashioned **

putting *'

very good of Lord St. Simon to honour

is it

head by

on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing.

think that

manner, he departed.

have a whisky and soda and a cigar

shall

this cross-questioning.

had formed

after all

conclusions as to the case

came into the room." " dear Holmes

before our client *' **

My I

have notes of several similar cases, though none, as

whole exami-

conjecture into a certainty.

Circumstan-

remarked before, which were quite as prompt. nation served to turn tial

evidence

occasionally very convincing, as

when you

find a

trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." *'

But

Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which

serves

have heard so

well.

all

that you have heard."

There was a

parallel

instance in Aberdeen

some years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the year after the Franco- Prussian war. It is one of these Good afternoon, Lestrade cases but hullo, here is Lestrade You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

cigars in the box."

The

official

detective

was

attired in a pea-jacket

and cravat, which

THE NOBLE BACHELOR.

249

gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a black canvas bag

and

lit **

a short greeting he seated himself,

the cigar which had been offered to him.

What's

You

With

hand.

in his

up, then

asked Holmes, with a twinkle in his eye.

look dissatisfied."

"And

I feel

It is this infernal

dissatisfied.

St.

Simon marriage

I can make neither head nor tail of the business." " Really You surprise me." " Who ever heard of such a mixed affair ? Every clue seems

case.

to slip *'

his

through

And

very wet

fingers. it

seems

hand upon the arm " Yes,

have been at work upon

all

day."

have made you," said Holmes, laying

of the pea-jacket.

have been dragging the Serpentine."

In Heaven's name, what for

In search of the body of

Holmes

Sherlock

" ?

Lady

leaned

St.

back

Simon." his

chair

and

laughed

heaitily.

Have you dragged

the basin of the Trafalgar-square fountain? "

he asked. *'

Why ? What

do you mean

" ?

Because you have just as good a chance of finding the one as in the other." *'

Lestrade shot an angry glance at

you know **

all

Well,

about

Then you think

part in the matter?

think

suppose

he snarled.

have only just heard the

up." " Oh, indeed "

it,"

companion.

this lady in

facts,

but

my mind

made

that the Serpentine plays no

very unlikely."

Then perhaps you

will kindly explain

how

that

we found

opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled on to the floor a wedding dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shoes, and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked in

this in it?"

water.

"There," said

top of the

pile.

he, putting a

" There

little

new wedding-ring upon

the

nut for you to crack, Master

Holmes."

"Oh, indeed," said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. " You dragged them from the Serpentine ? " " No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

250

They have been

keeper.

that

found *'

same

the

seemed

man's body

brilliant reasoning, every

neighbourhood of his wardrobe.

in the

you hope

and

the clothes were there the body would not be far

identified as her clothes,

through this

to arrive at

some

evidence

off." is

to be

And pray what

did

implicating

Flora

Millar

the

dis-

appearance." "

afraid that

you will find it difficult." ** Are you indeed, now?"

with some bitterness.

cried

Lestrade,

afraid,

Holmes,

that you are not very piactical with your deduc-

" THERE,' SAID HE."

tions

and your inferences.

You have made two

blunders in as

many

minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." " And how ? " *'

In the dress

the card-case

theory

all

In the pocket

a pocket.

a note.

down upon the will see me when it

And

here

ready.

a card-case.

the very note."

table in front of him. all

Come

slapped

Listen to this.

once.

F. H. M.'

You

Now

along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed

away by Flora Miller, and that she, with confederates no doubt, Here, signed with her was responsible for her disappearance. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped into her hand at the door, and which lured her within their reach."

THE NOBLE BACHELOR.

251

Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. '* You really Let me see it." He took up the paper in a are very fine indeed. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he **

gave a

cry of satisfaction.

little

This

indeed important,"

said he.

Ha, you

find

" Extremely

so.

Lestrade rose

congratulate you warmly."

triumph and bent his head to look.

in his

he shrieked, " you're looking at the *'

The

the contrar}^ this right side

side."

the right side."

You're

wrong

"Why,"

mad

Here

the note written in

to be the

fragment of a hotel

pencil over here." *'

over here

which

bill,

And

interests

what appears

deeply."

There's nothing in

Oct. 4th,

rooms

glass sherry, 8d.' **

Very

the note,

8s.,

looked at

before," said Lestrade.

breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail

is.,

lunch

2s. 6d.,

see nothing in that."

likely not.

important

it is

it.

most important

all

the same.

also, or at least the initials are, so I

con-

gratulate you again." *'

I've

wasted time enough," said Lestrade,

hard work, and not in sitting by the

fire

rising,

believe in

spinning fine theories.

Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter first."

gathered up the garments, thrust them

and made for the door. " Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes, before his " I will tell you the true solution of the matter. rival vanished into the bag,

;

Lady

St.

Simon

a myth.

There

not,

and there never has been,

any such person." Lestrade looked sadly at

companion.

Then he turned

me, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and hurried avvav.

He had

him when Holmes rose and put on his overcoat. " There is something in what the fellow says about outdoor work," he remarked, " so I think, Watson, that I must leave you to your papers for a little." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no time tioner's

man

hardly shut the. door behind

to be lonely, for within

with a very large

flat

an hour there arrived a confec-

box.

This he unpacked with the

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

252

help of a youth

whom

he had brought with him, and presently, to

very great astonishment, a quite epicurean

began

little

cold supper

be laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany.

There were a couple of brace of cold w^oodcock, a pheasant, a pdic de foie gras pie, with a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles. 'Having laid out all these luxuries, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid

for,

and were ordered

to this address.

Holmes stepped briskly into were gravely set, but there was a light in

Just before nine o'clock Sherlock

His features

the room. his eye

which made me think that he had not been disappointed

his conclusions.

They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. " You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." " Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said " I am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. he. Ha! I fancy that I hear his step now. upon the stairs." It was indeed our visitor of the morning who came bustling in, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "

The

messenger reached you, then ? " asked Holmes. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Have you good authority for what you say ? "

Lord

best possible."

St.

Simon sank

into a chair,

and passed his hand over his

forehead. *'

What

will the

duke say," he murmured,

when he hears

one of the family has been subjected to such a humiliation *'

the purest accident.

that

" ?

cannot allow that there

any

humiliation." ''

Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint."

I fail to

see that any one

to blame.

can hardly see

how

the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt

doing

was undoubtedly

to be regretted.

had no one to advise her at such a " It

was

a slight,

sir,

method of Having no mother she

crisis."

a public slight," said Lord St. Simon,

tapping his fingers upon the table. " You must make allowance for this poor

unprecedented a position."

girl,

placed in so

THE NOBLE BACHELOR, *'

will

make no allowance.

253

very angry indeed, and

have been shamefully used." " I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. steps on the landing.

If I

view of the matter, Lord here

who may

ushered

"allow me

The

lady,

St.

Simon,

a lady and gentleman.

you

''Yes, there are

cannot persuade you to lake a lenient I

more successful."

to introduce

have brought an advocate

opened the door and

" Lord St. Simon," said he,

Mr. and Mrs. Francis

Hay

Moulton.

think, you have already met."

"A PICTURE OF OFFENDED

DIGNITY.'

At the sight of these new-comers our client had sprung from his seat,

and stood very

erect,

with his eyes cast down and his hand

thrust into the breast of his frock coat, a picture of offended dignity.

The

lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out her hand

to him, but

still

was as well for his her pleading face was one which it was hard

refused to raise his eyes.

resolution, perhaps, for

to resist. *'

You're angry, Robert," said she.

" Well,

guess you have

every cause to be." ^^

Pray make no apology

me," said Lord

St.

Simon,

bitterly.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

254

know

yes, I

that

treated you real bad, and that

have spoken to you before from the time when

what

was doing

and do a

went

;

but

was kind

saw Frank here again, I I only wonder that saying. I

should

of rattled,

know down

just didn't I

and

didn't fall

faint right there before the altar."

Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the room while you explain this matter." *' If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, *'

we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hear the He was a small, wiry, sunburned man, with a sharp rio-hts of it." *'

and

face

manner.

alert

" Then here and

met

Frank

McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where

in '8i, in

a claim.

Pa was working

our story right away," said the lady.

tell

I'll

were engaged to each other, Frank

but then one day father struck a rich pocket, and made a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came

and

pile,

;

The

to nothing.

Pa grew,

richer

the poorer

was Frank

so at last

;

Pa wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though so he followed me there, and he saw me without Pa knowing anyIt would only have made him mad to know, so we thin o- about it. ;

Frank said that he would go and make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had as much as Pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of time, and pledged myself not to marry any one else while he lived.

just fixed

Why

it all

shouldn't

we be married

will feel sure of

come

;

and

right away, then,' said he,

all

'and then

won't claim to be your husband until

talked

clergyman

nicely, with a ;

you

Well,

back.'

right there

for ourselves.

over,

and he had fixed

ready in waiting, that

and then Frank went

off to

all

up so

just did

seek his fortune and

went

to Pa.

back

heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then he went prospecting into Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about *'

The next

that

there

camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and was my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away,

and

was very

how

a miners'

and took

sick for

months

Pa thought I had a Not a word 'Frisco.

after.

to half the doctors in

decline,

news

THE NOBLE BACHELOR, came

for a

year and more, so that

Then Lord

never doubted that Frank was

Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came London, and a marriage was arranged, and Pa was very pleased,

really dead. to

255

but

the time that no

I felt all

place in

St.

man

on this earth would ever take the

heart that had been given to

Still, if I

had married Lord

duty by him.

went

can't

St.

poor Frank.

Simon, of course

command

I'd

our love, but

have done

we can our

to the altar with

him with the intention that I would make him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I glanced back and saw Frank standing looking at me out of the I thought it was his ghost at first first pew. but, when I looked again, there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes as if actions.

;

to ask

me whether I were drop. I know that

glad or sorry to see him,

wonder I didn't everything was turning round, and the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make a scene in the church

know what

to be

glanced at him again, and he seemed to was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to tell ?

Then I saw him he was writing me a

still.

scribble on a piece of paper,

and

knew that note. As I passed his pew on the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty now was to him, and

determined to do just whatever he might direct. *'When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say I

nothing, but to get a few things packed and

know

ulster ready.

ought to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before his mother and all those great people. I just made up I

my mind

to run

away, and explain afterwards.

the table ten minutes before

saw Frank out

of the

hadn't been at

window

at the

beckoned to me, and then began walkin"slipped out, put on my things, and followed him.

other side of the road. into the Park.

Some woman came

something or other about Lord St. Simon to meâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little secret of his own before marriage also but I managed to o-et talking

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

away from

her,

and

soon

overtook Frank.

got into a cab

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

256

away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon- square, and that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to England, followed me there, and had come together, and

upon me

at last

on the very morning of

second wedding."

"SOME WOMAN CAME TALKING ABOUT LORD

ST.

SIMON."

saw it in a paper," explained the American. '' It gave the name and the church, but not where the lady lived." *' Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as'if I would like to vanish away and never see any of them again, just sending a line to Pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It I

THE NOBLE BACHELOR, was awful

to think of all those lords

and

257 ladies sitting

round

come back. So Frank took my wedding clothes and things, and made a bundle of them so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away somewhere where no one should find them. It is likely that we should have

that breakfast table, and waiting for

gone on

Paris to-morrow, only that this good gentleman, Mr.

Holmes, came round

though how he found us

to us this evening,

more than I can think, and he showed us very clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that we should put ourselves in the wrong if we were so secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord St.

Simon

alone,

came

once.

Now, Robert, you

away round

right

have heard I

and

it all,

to his

rooms

very sorry

at if

and so we

have given you pain, and

hope that you do not think very meanly of me." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his

rigid attitude, but

had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed

lip to this

long

narrative.

" Excuse me," he said,

most intimate personal " I

Then you won't

but

not

affairs in this public

forgive

custom

to discuss

manner."

You won't shake hands

before

" ?

Oh, certainly,

would give you any pleasure." He put cut his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, ''that you would have joined 'â&#x20AC;˘'

us in a friendly supper." "

think that there you ask a

lordship.

ments, but

of the

too much," responded his

may

be forced to acquiesce in these recent developcan hardly be expected to make merry over them. I

think that, with your permission, good-night."

little

included us

all in

will

now wish you

all

a very

a sweeping bow, and stalked out

room.

"Then

that

you

least will honour me with your company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to me to meet an American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe I

trust

that the folly of a

gone

monarch and the blundering

years will not

of a Minister in far

prevent our children from

being some day

same world-wide country under a flag whichbe a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes."

citizens of the

shall

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

25ÂŤ *'

The

when our

case has been an interesting

one," remarked

" because

Holmes,

show very clearly how simple the explanation may be of an affair which at Nothing could be more first sight seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural than the sequence of inexplicable. visitors

had

left

us,

serves to

events as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than the result

when viewed,

for

instance, by

Mr.

Lestrade

of Scotland-

yard."

"1 WILL WISH YOU ALL A VERY GOOD-NIGHT. "

" to to

You were not yourself at fault at all, then ? From the first, two facts were very obvious

me, the one that the lady had been quite willing undergo the wedding ceremony, the other that she had repented it

within a few minutes of returning home.

Obviously something

had occurred during the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that something be ? She could not have spoken to

any one when she was bridegroom.

Had

out, for she

had been

she seen some one, then

in the ?

company

she had,

of the

must

be some one from America, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she could hardly have allowed any one to acquire so deep an influence over her that the

mere sight

induce her to change her plans so completely.

You

him would

see

we have

THE NOBLE BACHELOR.

259

already arrived, by a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might

Then who could this American be, and why should he possess so much influence over her ? It might be Her young womanhood had, I it might be a husband. a lover have seen an American.

;

knew, been spent far

had

got before

rough scenes, and under strange conditions. So

man

he told us of a

When

ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative.

pew, of the change in the bride's manner,

in a

of so transparent a device of obtaining a note as the dropping of a

bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very allusion

significant

claim-jumping, which

means taking possession claim

which another person has a prior

of that

with a man, and the

off

miners' parlance

She had

the whole situation became absolutely clear.

to,

gone

man was

either a lover or w^as a

previous husband, the chances being in favour of the latter."

And how

in the

world did you find them

might have been

tion in his

but friend Lestrade held informa-

difficult,

hands the value

" ?

The

which he did not himself know.

were of course of the highest importance, but more valuable was it to know that within a week he had settled his bill at one

initials still

of the

most

How

select

London

hotels."

did you deduce the select

Eight shillings

the select prices.

for a glass of sherry, pointed to

There are not many second one which

" ?

for a

one of the most expensive hotels.

London which charge

visited in

bed and eightpence

In the

at that rate.

Northumberland-avenue,

learned by

an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an American gentleman, had

left

entries against him, in

the duplicate

only the day before, and on looking over the I

bill.

came upon the very items which His

Gordon-square, so thither

travelled,

to find the loving couple at

home,

paternal advice, and to point out to

every w^ay that they should to the general public

them

and

make Lord

and being fortunate enough ventured to give them some

them that

w^ould be better in

their position a little clearer, both St.

Simon

meet him here, and, as you

had seen

were to be forwarded to 226,

letters

see,

in particular. I

invited

made him keep

the

appointment." " But with no very good result,"

was

remarked.

His conduct

certainly not very gracious."

"Ah

Watson,"

said

Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not

ADVENTURES

26o

very gracious either,

if,

0I<

SHERLOCK HOLMES.

after

all

the

trouble of wooing and

wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of

we may judge Lord St. Simon ver}' mercifully, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves Draw your chair up, and hand me my violin, in the same position. for the only problem which we have still to solve is how to while fortune.

think that

away these bleak autumnal evenings."

XL THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET.

OLMES,"

said

window looking down the

man coming

along.

him

friend rose lazily

street,

" here

seems rather sad that his

relatives should allow

bow a mad-

stood one morning in our

come out

alone."

from his armchair, and stood

with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over shoulder. of

the

was a

day before

bright, crisp still

lay

February morning, and the snow

shimmering

deep upon the ground,

Down

brightly in the wintry sun.

the centre of Baker-street

had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the

traffic,

but

and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still The grey pavement had been cleaned lay as white as when it fell. and scraped, but was still dangerously slippery, so that there were at either side

fewer passengers than usual.

Indeed, from the direction of the

Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman

whose eccentric conduct had drawn

He was

man

attention.

of about fifty, tall, portly,

massive, strongly marked face and a

and imposing, with a

commanding

figure.

He was

dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining hat,

neat brown gaiters,

and well-cut pearl grey trousers.

Yet his

actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress features, for he

was running hard, with occasional

such as a weary

man

upon

his legs.

his head,

gives

who

is little

As he ran he jerked

his

little

accustomed to

set

and

springs,

any tax

hands up and down, waggled

and writhed his face into the most extraordinary contor-

tions. *'

What

on earth can be the matter with him? "

asked.

"He

looking up at the numbers of the houses." " I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his

hands. 261

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

262

''Here?" "Yes; I rather think he

coming to consult me professionally. Ha! did I not tell you?" I think that I recognise the symptoms. As he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door, and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the is

clanging.

few moments later he was

our room,

gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief

still

puffing,

and despair

still

his

eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pity.

Willi

A LOOK OF GRIEF AND

For a while he could not get his words and plucked

at his hair like

limits of his reason.

one

DESPAIR.

out, but

who has been

swayed his body

driven to the extreme

Then, suddenly springing

to his feet,

he beat

head against the wall with such force that we both rushed upon him, and tore him away to the centre of the room. Sherlock Holmes his

pushed him down into the easy-chair, and, his hand,

and chatted with him

he knew so well " said

how

sitting beside him, patted

the easy, soothing tones which

employ.

You have come to me to tell me your stor}', have you not ? " ** You are fatigued with he. your haste. Pray wait until you

THE BERYL CORONET. have recovered yourself, and then

any

problem which you may submit

little

The man

to look into

me."

minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting

sat for a

Then he passed

his emotion.

against

most happy

shall be

263

his handkerchief over

his

brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us." " No doubt you think me mad ? " said he. ''

you have had some great trouble," responded

that

see

Holmes.

"God knows

have!

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a trouble

reason, so sudden and so terrible

have faced, although borne a stain.

enough

may

very noblest in the land

to unseat

might

character has never yet

man

the lot of every

;

but

so frightful a form, have been

Besides,

very soul.

enough

Public disgrace

it.

Private affliction also

shake

man whose

two coming together, and

the

which

unless

suffer,

not

alone.

The

some way be found out

of this horrible affair." *'

Pray compose

a clear account of

Holmes, " and let me have and what it is that has befallen

yourself, sir," said

who you

are,

you." *'

ears.

name," answered our

visitor,

probably familiar to your

Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder

Stevenson, of Threadneedle-street."

The name was indeed

known

well

to us, as belonging to the

senior partner in the second largest private banking concern in the

What

City of London.

could have happened, then, to bring one of

London

the foremost citizens of waited,

all curiosity, until

to this

with another

most

pitiable pass

he braced himself to

effort

tell his story. *'

here

feel that

when

time

of value," said he, '*that is

the police inspector suggested that

co-operation.

came

That little

why

exercise.

as shortly *'

was

so out of breath, for I

I feel better

now, and

and yet as clearly as

It is, of course, well

business as

hastened

should secure your

Underground, and the cabs go slowly through this snow.

Baker-street

hurried from there on foot, for

why

known

by the

I will

man who

takes very

put the facts before you

can. to

much depends upon our

you that

in a successful

banking

being able to find remunerative

investments for our funds, as upon our increasing our connection and the

number

of our depositors.

One

our most lucrative means of

264

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

laying out

money

unimpeachable.

the shape of loans, where the security

have done a good deal

the last few years, and there are

many

in this direction

during

whom we

noble families to

have advanced large sums upon the security of their pictures,

libra-

or plate.

ries,

Yesterday morning

when when

a card

was seated

was brought

me by one

into

the Bank,

office

of the clerks.

started

well, saw the name, for it was that of none other than perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which is a household word all over the earth one of the I was overhighest, noblest, most exalted names in England. whelmed by the honour, and attempted, when he entered, to say I

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

so,

but he plunged at once into business with the air of a

man who

wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task. *'

Mr. Holder,' said he,

have been informed that you are

the habit of advancing money.' *'

'The

fifty

It is

the security

good,'

absolutely essential to me,' said he,

thousand pounds

sum

when

firm do so

at once.

ten times over from

I '

answered.

that

should have

could of course borrow so trifling

friends, but

much

make

prefer to

a matter of business, and to carry out that business myself. position you can readily understand that

it is

unwise to place oneself

under obligations.' *'

For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum ? Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and

asked.

shall then

most certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you But it is very essential to me that the think it right to charge.

money should be *'

paid at once.'

should be happy to advance

without further parley from

were

not that the strain would be

my own

private purse,' said

rather more than it

in the

name

insist that,

could bear.

on the other hand,

If,

of the firm, then in justice to

partner

to do

must

even in your case, every business-like precaution should

be taken.' "

square, '

should

said

prefer to have

black morocco case which

You have *' One '

much

so,' said

up a

he had laid beside his chair.

doubtless heard of the Beryl coronet of the

he, raising

most precious public possessions of the Empire,'

THE BERYL CORONET, "

Precisely.'

opened the case, and there, embedded

in soft,

flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which

he had named. *

There are thirty-nine enormous beryls/ said

and the price

of the gold

chasing

The

incalculable.

lowest

sum

estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the

which

have asked.

prepared to leave

he,

with you as

security.' *'

took the precious case into

perplexity from **'

value

You doubt "

illustrious client.

its

leaving

You may mind

it.

your

set

about

at rest

should not

that.

dream

of doing so

were

not

abso-

certain that

lutely I

some

The propriety

all.

only doubt *"

hands and looked

he asked.

"*Not I

should be able in

four days to reclaim It

it.

pure

matter of form. the

security

cient

*''

suffi:-,.

Ample.'

*''You understand, Mr. Holder,

that

all

TOOK THE TRECIOUS CASE."

that

of the confidence

have heard of you.

be discreet and to refrain from all,

giving

you a strong proof

upon

â&#x20AC;˘'

to preserve this coronet

all

which I

rely

have

in you,

upon you not only

its

befall

complete

these,

and

it.

Any

loss, for

gossip upon the matter, but, above

with every possible precaution, because

need not say that a great public scandal would be caused were to

founded

any harm

would be almost as serious as there are no beryls in the world to match injury to

would be impossible

to replace

them.

leave

wilh

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

266

you, however, with every confidence, and

shall call for

person

on Monday morning.' ''

Seeing that

client

was anxious to leave, I said no more; I ordered him to pay over fifty thousand-

my cashier, When I was

but, calling for

pound notes.

alone once more, however, with

precious case lying upon the table in front of me,

think with some misgivings of the

immense

the

could not but

responsibility

which

There could be no doubt that, as it was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any misfortune

upon me.

entailed

should occur to take charge of

now, so

it.

locked

it.

already regretted having ever consented to

However, up

was too

late

matter

to alter the

would be an imprudence

private safe, and turned once

work.

When

evening came,

I felt

that

Bankers' safes

leave so precious a thing in the office behind me.

had been forced before now, and why should not mine be ? If so, how terrible would be the position in which I should find myself I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always carry the case backwards and forwards with me, so that it might never be really out of cab,

locked

in the

And now

bureau of

a word as to

to thoroughly

you

With

reach.

this intention,

called a

house at Streatham, carrying the jewel did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs, and

and drove out

with me.

my my

dressing-room.

household, Mr. Holmes, for

understand the situation.

wish

groom and

page sleep out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three maid-servants who have been with me a number of years, and whose absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another,

Lucy

Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in

service a

She came with an excellent character, however, and has always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl, and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place.

few months.

That

the only drawback which

believe her to be a thoroughly *'

So much

will not take

good

for the servants.

long to describe

we have found girl in

My it.

every way.

family itself I

to her, but

so small that

a widower, and have an

has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very

only son,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Arthur.

THE BERYL CORONET. When my

likely I have.

to love.

from his

dear wife died

I felt

267

that he

was

could not bear to see the smile fade even for a

face.

have been better

have never denied him a wish. for both of us

had

Perhaps

been sterner, but

all I

had

moment it

would

meant

for the best.

was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became **

member

of an

aristocratic

club,

and there, having charming

manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of

purses and expensive habits.

and

squander money on the

come

me and

with long

learned to play heavily at cards

he had again and again

turf, until

men

him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend Sir George Burnwell was enough to draw him back again. '* And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir to

implore

to give

George Burnwell should gain an influence over him, frequently brought I

him

house, and

man

brilliant talker,

great personal beauty.

Yet when

away from the glamour

of his presence,

cynical speech, and the look which

one

who

thinks

older

who had and a man of

of the world to his finger-tips, one

been everywhere, seen everything, a

he has

have found myself that

could hardly resist the fascination of his manner.

than Arthur, a

for

think of him in cold blood, far I

convinced from his

have caught

in his eyes, that

So I think, and so, Mary, who has a woman's quick insight

should be deeply distrusted.

little

too,

into

character.

And now there is when my brother

but

world

She

only she to be described. died five years ago and

left

niece

;

her alone in the

adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

She is a sunbeam in my house sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without her. In only one matter has she daughter.

ever gone against

marry him,

for

wishes.

Twice

boy has asked her to

he loves her devotedly, but each time she has

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

268

refused him. right path

think that

any one could have drawn him

would have been

have changed

his

whole

she,

and that his marriage might

but now, alas

life;

into the

it is

too late

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for ever

too late *'

roof,

Now, Mr. Holmes, you know and

When we

were taking

after dinner, I

told

name

had,

client.

sure, left the

OH,

was

to sec the

live

under

drawing room that night,

experience, and of the

we had under our roof, suppressing only Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, room

but

;

ANY OLD KEY WILL

famous coronet, but

Where have you put " In my own bureau.'

coffee in the

cannot swear that the door

FIT

THAT BUREAU."

Mary and Arthur were much

closed.

who

miserable story.

Arthur and Mary

precious treasure which the

shall continue with

the people

it ?

interested,

thought

asked Arthur.

and wished

better not to disturb

it.

Well,

hope

goodness the house won't be burgled during

the night,' said he.

It is

Oh, any old

youngster

locked up,'

answered.

key will

have opened

fit

that

When

bureau.

was a

myself with the key of the box-room

cupboard.'

often

had a wild way

of talking, so that

thought

little

THE BERYL CORONET what he

said.

with a very grave *'

No,

room, however, that night

face.

me have two hundred pounds

let

down.

here, dad,' said he, with his eyes cast

Look

followed

269

cannot!

answered, sharply.

Can you

have been

far too

generous with you in money matters.'

'''You have been very money, or

my face

And

Yes, but you would not have

said he. in

can never show

else I

he; 'but

kind,' said

a very good thing, too

some way, and

you

will not

cried.

let

leave I

a dishonoured man,'

must

me have

other means.' " I was very angry, for this was the third

'You

month.

he bowed and

When

treasure

was

try

demand during

the

then

on which

I cried,

unlocked

bureau,

made

sure that

and locked it again. Then 1 started to go round a duty which I usually leave see that all was secure safe,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Mary, but which

came down the

money

the room without another word.

he was gone

the house to to

left

raise the

must

it,

have a farthing from me,'

shall not

this

inside the club again.'

could not bear the disgrace.

must have

thought

well to perform myself that night.

saw Mary

stairs I

herself at the side

window

the hall, which she closed and fastened as I approached. " Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed, '

did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night

" "

Certainly not.'

She came

now by

in just

the back door.

that she has only been to the side gate to see

that it " '

prefer

have no doubt

some one, but

think

hardly safe, and should be stopped."

You must speak

morning,

to her in the

Are you sure that everything

it.

fastened

will,

you

Quite sure, dad.'

"'Then, again,

where

good-night.' I

was soon

kissed her, and

went

my bedroom

asleep.

you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question me upon any point which I do not make clear." "

endeavouring to

tell

the contrary, your statement

come

to a part of

particularly so.

^not a

story

now

singularly lucid."

which

should wish to be

very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety in

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

270

make me even less so than usual. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left in the house. an impression behind it as though a window had gently closed

my mind

tended, no doubt, to

lay listening with

somewhere.

horror, there

was

next room.

all

a distinct sound of footsteps

slipped out of bed,

peeped round the corner of

Suddenly, to

ears.

moving

softly in the

and

palpitating with fear,

all

dressing-room door.

**'Arthur!'I screamed,

you thief!

villain!

How

you

dare

touch that coro'

net?

The gas was ^

had

and

half up, as left

it,

unhappy boy, dressed

only

shirt

and

trousers,

was

his

standing

beside

the light, holding

coronet

the his

hands.

appeared

or bending

snatched

up and examined

the gold corners, with three of the beryls in

it,

with

his strength.

his

turned as pale as death;

it,

all

cry it

from

grasp,

and

dropped

IT.

wrenching

AT MY CRY HE DROPPED

it.

One

was missing.

You I shouted, beside myself with rage. You blackguard Where You have dishonoured me for ever have destroyed it **

are the jewels *'

â&#x20AC;˘*

'Stolen '

which you have '

stolen

cried.

Yes, you thief!

roared, shaking

him by the shoulder.

THE BERYL CORONET. *'

There cannot be any

There are none missing.

271

missing,' saiJ

he.

"'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying *'

shall not say another

you have chosen

morning, and make *'

mad

You have called me names enough,'

any longer.

since

another piece

to tear off

You

me.

to insult

my own way

shall leave

with grief and rage.

word about

this business

your house

will leave

in the

in the world.' I cried, half

' !

have this matter probed to the

shall

will not stand

hands of the police

in the

said he,

bottom.' *'

You

such as "

call the police, let the police find

this time the

voice in

learn nothing from me,' said he, with a passion

should not have thought was in his nature.

choose to

shall

anger.

whole house was

Mary was

at the sight of the coronet story, and,

with a scream,

the

first

astir, for I

to rush into

and of Arthur's fell

down

what they

face,

you

can.'

had raised

room, and,

she read the whole

senseless on the ground.

sent

the housemaid for the police, and put the investigation into their

hands

who had

house, Arthur,

whether that

one,

When

at once.

was

the inspector and a constable entered the

stood sullenly with his arms folded, asked

intention to charge

the ruined

since

least,' said he,

would be house

theft.

answered

had ceased to be a private matter, but had become a public

was

coronet

determined that the law should have *'

him with

its

national

way

*you will not have

property.

was

in everything.

your advantage as well as mine

arrested at once.

might leave the

for five minutes.'

*''That you

may

get away, or perhaps that you

what you have stolen,' position in which I was

said

And then

placed,

may

realising the

conceal dreadful

implored him to remember that

who was

was and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would at stake convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell me what he had done with the three missing stones.

not only

honour, but that of one

far greater

than

;

You may

caught in the heinous.

as well face the matter,' said

act,

;

'you have been

and no confession could make your

you but make such reparation as

guilt

your power,

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

272

by telling us where the beryls

be forgiven and

are, all shall

for-

gotten.'

Keep your forgiveness turning away from me with dened for any words of mine

way

for

made

search wrs

for

he answered,

it,'

saw that he was too harto influence him. There was but one the inspector, and gave him into custody.

called in

it.

who ask

for those

a sneer.

room,

at once, not only of his person, but of his

and of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would

mouth for all our persuasions and our This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after going

the wretched boy open his threats.

through

the police formalities, have

all

implore you to use your

skill in

unravelling the matter.

have openly confessed that they can

You may go

any expense which you think necessary.

have

Oh, what

night.

He and

The

lost

shall I do

honour,

police

make nothing

at present

a reward of a thousand pounds.

already offered shall

hurried round to you, to

gems, and

My my

it.

have

God, what son in one

" !

put a hand on either side of his head, and rocked himself to

fro,

droning to himself

like a child

whose

grief has got

beyond

words.

Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows

upon the

knitted and his eyes fixed

Do you

much company

receive

"None, save

one

Do you

Arthur does.

That

She

go out

his

he asked. family, and

an occasional

George Burnwell has been several times

much in society ? Mary and I stay

unusual

in a

young

" at

home.

neither of us

girl."

Besides, she

of a quiet nature.

not so very young.

four-and-twenty."

" This matter, from to

it."

She

else, I think."

care for

partner with Sir

fiiend of Arthur's. lately.

fire.

what you

say,

seems

have been a shock

her also." *'

Terrible

She

even more affected than

I."

You have

neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt

How

can

have,

when

the coronet in his hands."

saw him with

my own

" ?

eyes with

THE BERYL COROAET. "

Was

hardly consider that a conclusive proof.

of the coronet at

Yes,

Do you

not think, then, that he might have been trying to "

straighten

God

injured

all

the remainder

was twisted."

273

it ?

you

bless

You

are doing

what you can

for

him and

for

What was he doing there at all? " If his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so ? Precisely. And if he were guilty, why did he not invent a lie ? His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several singular points about the case. What did the police think of the But

me.

it is

too heavy a task.

noise which

"They

awoke you from your

considered that

sleep

might be caused by Arthur's closing his

bedroom door." "

likely story

man

What

door so as to awake a household.

disappearance of these gems? *'

They

Have they thought

bent on felony would slam his did they say, then, of the

sounding the planking and probing the furniture in the hope of finding them." are

" Yes,

still

of looking outside the house

shown

they have

extraordinary

garden has already been minutely examined." " Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, " is

now

that this matter really strikes very

or the police were at

be a simple case

what

;

not obvious to you

You suppose

his bed, went, at great

risk,

gems out

it,

went

off to

Consider

that your son

came

your dressing-room,

some other

you you to

either

appeared to

opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke a small portion of

The whole

seems exceedingly complex.

involved by your theory.

down from

much deeper than

inclined to think

first

energy.

off

by main force

place, concealed three

of the thirty-nine, with such skill that

nobody can

find

them, and then returned with the other thirty-six into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of being discovered. I

ask you now, *'

such a theory tenable

But what other **

despair. "

them

If his

there

" ?

" cried the banker with a gesture of

motives were innocent,

why

does he not explain

" It

our task to find that out," replied Holmes, " so now,

you please, Mr. Holder, we wAW 19

set

off for

Streatham together,

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

271

and

hour

devote

glancing

little

closely

into

details."

friend insisted

which

tion,

my accompanying them in their expedienough to do, for my curiosity and sym-

upon

was eager

pathy were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to

obvious as

unhappy

did to his

Holmes' judgment that hope as long as he was

I felt

father, but

still I

had such

to be as faith in

must be some grounds

that there

for

dissatisfied with the accepted explanation.

way

hardly spoke a word the whole

out to the southern suburb,

but sat with his chin upon his breast, and his hat drawn over his

sunk

eyes,

taken fresh

Our

thought.

the deepest

heart at the

client

appeared to have

glimpse of hope which

little

had been

presented to him, and he even broke into a desultory chat with

over his business

affairs.

short railway journey, and a shorter

walk, brought us to Fairbank, the modest residence of the great financier.

Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing back a little from the road. A double carriage sweep, with a snow-

down

clad lawn, stretched

closed the entrance.

which

led into a

two large iron gates which was a small wooden thicket

in front to the

the right side

narrow path between two neat hedges stretching

from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the tradesmen's entrance.

not

itself

used,

the

left

ran a lane which led to the stables, and was

within the grounds at

thoroughfare.

walked slowly

all

Holmes

all,

left

being a public, though

little

standing at the door, and

round the house, across the

front,

down the

tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden behind into the stable lane.

So long was he that Mr. Holder and

room, and waited by the sitting there

came

in.

silence

fire

when

until

went

into the dining-

he should return.

the door opened, and a

She was rather above the middle height,

were

young lady

slim, with dark

hair and eyes, which seenied the darker against the absolute pallor of her skin.

do not think that

ness in a woman's face.

were flushed with crying.

have ever seen such deadly pale-

Her lips, too, were bloodless, but her eyes As she swept silently into the room she

with a greater sense of her grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong character, with immense capacity for

im.pressed

fHE BERYL CORONET. my

Disregarding

self-restraint.

presence,

21/O

went straight

she

her uncle, and passed her hand over his head with a sweet

womanly

caress.

you

You have

not,

dad

" No, no, " But

women's you

given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have

" she asked.

my am

sure

instincts are.

Why

must be probed he

that

know

to the bottom."

innocent.

You know what

that he has done no harm, and that

having acted so harshly."

will be sorry for

the matter

girl,

silent, then, if

innocent

" ?

"SHE WENT STRAIGHT TO HER UNCLE." *'

Who

knows

Perhaps because he was so angry that you

should suspect him." " How could I help suspecting him, when with the coronet in his hand

my word

for

say no more.

that he

actually

saw him

**0h, but he had only picked take

innocent.

to look at

it.

Oh, do, do

Let the matter drop, and

so dreadful to think of our dear

Arthur

prison ''I

Your

shall never let

affection for

drop until the gems are found

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; never,

Mary!

Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences

ADVENtURJLS OF ^HEkLOCR HOLMES.

276

Far from hushing the thing up, I have blrought ^ gentle^ man down from London to inquire more deeply into it." ** This gentleman ? " she asked, facing round to me. *' No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is

to me.

round

the stable lane now."

The

stable lane

She raised her dark eyebrows.

can he hope to find there

Ah,

this, I

what

that you will succeed in proving,

cousin Arthur *'

I fully

prove

it,"

suppose,

sure

feel

he.

What

trust, sir,

the truth, that

innocent of this crime."

share your opinion, and,

trust with you, that

returned Holmes, going back to the

mat

we may

knock the

I believe I have the honour of addressing snow from his shoes. " Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two ? *'

Prav do,

may

sir,

help

clear

this

horrible

affair

up." *'

You heard nothing

Nothing, until

that,

and

" ?

uncle here began to speak loudly.

heard

came down." the windows and doors the night before.

You shut up

you fasten

yourself last night

all

the windows

â&#x20AC;˘*

Yes."

Were they

Yes."

fastened this morning

all

Did

" ?

have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to your uncle last night that she had been out to see

"You

him?" *'

was the

Yes, and she

girl

who

waited in the drawing-room, and

who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." You infer that she may have gone out to tell I see. heart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." *'

" But what

the good of

banker, impatiently,

when

all

her sweet-

these vague theories," cried the

have told you that

saw Arthur with

the coronet in his hands? " Wait a little, Mr. Holder.

About door, *'

this girl,

presume

Yes

;

Miss Holder.

must come back

You saw her

to that.

return by the kitchen

" ?

when

went

met her slipping in. " Do you know him

to see I ?

the door

saw the man,

was fastened

too, in the

for the night

gloom."

THE BERYL CORONET, " Oh, yes

;

His name

round.

"He

who

the greengrocer

our vegetables

Francis Prosper."

stood," said Holmes, "to the

up the path than

say, further

brings

277

left

of the door

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that

necessary to reach the door

" ?

"Yes, he did." "

And he

Something

young

the

eyes.

are

black

Why, you magi-

said

cian,"

" ?

lady's

expressive

with a wooden leg

fear sprang

man

she.

How do you know

that?" She smiled, but

there

was no

answering smile

Holmes' thin, eager face.

should

very glad

now

go upstairs," said " I shall prohe. bably wish

over the outside of

house

the

Perhaps

again. I

had

better take a look at

the lower win"

dows

before

SOMETHING LIKE FEAR SPRANG UP

THE YOUNG

lady's EYES."

up.

walked swiftly round from one

to the other,

pausing only

the large one which looked from the hall on to the stable lane.

This he opened, and made a very careful examination of the sill with his powerful magnifying lens. " Now we shall go upstairs," said he, at last.

The

banker's

dressing-room

was a

plainly-furnished

little

chamber with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Holmes went to the bureau first, and looked hard at the lock,

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

278

Which key was used

That which

open

it ?

he asked.

son himself indicated

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that of

the cupboard of

the lumber-room."

Have you

" That

is it

here

" ?

on the dressing-table."

Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. " It is a noiseless lock," said he. " It is no wonder that

wake you.

This case,

have a look

at it."

laid

upon the

jeweller's art,

must

opened the case, and, taking out the diadem,

table.

and the

presume, contains the coronet.

did not

was a magnificent specimen were the

thirty-six stones

of the

have

finest that I

At one side of the coronet was a crooked cracked edge,

ever seen.

where a corner holding three gems had been torn away.

Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes '^ here is the corner which corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I *'

;

beg that you

break

will

The banker

recoiled

off."

horror.

should

not

dream

trying," said he.

Then

Holmes suddenly bent

will."

without result.

feel it give

little,"

exceptionally strong in the fingers,

break

it.

ordinary

think would happen

man

a noise like a pistol shot.

said he; "but,

would take me

could not do

did break

it,

Do you

upon

his strength

it.

it,

though

all

Now, what do you

There would be me that all this happened

Mr. Holder?

tell

do not know what to think.

"But perhaps think, Miss *'

may grow

It is all

lighter as

I still

you.

go.

What

do you

uncle's perplexity." ?

have certainly been favoured with extraordi-

nary luck during this inquiry, and

we do

Holder?"

confess that

Thank

it ?

dark to me."

" Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him " He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "

time to

within a few yards of your bed, and that you heard nothing of ''I

but

will be entirely

not succeed in clearing the matter up.

our

own

fault

With your permis-

now continue my investigations outside." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an

sion,

Mr. Holder,

I shall

hour or more he was

work, returning at

last

with his

with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever.

feet

heavy

BERYL CORONET.

J^HE **

think that

Holder," said he *'

have seen now

;

cannot

that there

all

Where

can serve you best by returning

But the gems, Mr. Holmes.

*'I

279

Mr.

see,

rooms."

are they

tell."

The banker wrung his hands. " I shall never see them again " " And my son ? You give me hopes ?" he cried. " My opinion is in no way altered." ** Then for God's sake what was this dark business which was !

acted in

If 3^ou

house can

last night

" ?

upon me

call

morning between nine and ten

make

clearer.

at I

Baker-street rooms to-morrow

happy

shall be

understand that you give

do what

can to

carte blanche to act

back the gems, and that you place draw."

for you, provided only that I get

no limit on the sum "

would give

Very good.

then.

Good-bye

my I it

;

may

fortune to have

shall

them back,"

look into the matter between this and

just possible that

may have

come over

here again before evening."

was obvious

made up about

that

companion's mind was

now

the case, although what his conclusions were

was

more than I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our room once more. He hurried to his chamber, and was down

common

again in a few minutes dressed as a

collar turned up, his shiny seedy coat, his red cravat,

boots, he *'

was

and

his

worn

a perfect sample of the class.

fireplace.

Watson, but matter, or

know which

''I

fear that

may it

only wish that you could it

won't do.

be following a will

is.

hope that

may

come with me,

be on the

the wisp, but

trail, in this I

soon

shall

be back in a few hours."

cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, sand-

wiched

between two rounds of bread, and, thrusting

meal into his pocket, he started I

had just finished

tea

off

upon

when he

this rude

his expedition.

returned,

evidently in

excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his

his

think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass

above the

With

loafer.

chucked

down

into a corner

and helped himself

to a

hand.

cup of

tea.

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

28o *'

only looked in as

passed," said he.

going right

on." ''

Where

Oh, to the other side of the West-end.

may

time before

get

wait up for

be some

Don't

back.

case

should

be late." *'

How

Oh, so

plain

are you getting on

of.

Nothing

so.

have

Streatham since but

a very sweet

It is

not

been out to

saw you

last,

problem,

little

would not have missed

for a

com-

did not call at the house.

and

" ?

good

sit

must but must

However,

deal.

gossiping here,

get these disreputable clothes off

and return

highly respect-

able self." I

could

by his manner

see

that he had stronger reasons for satisfaction than his

words alone

His eyes twinkled,

would imply.

and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks.

hastened upstairs, and a few

minutes later

heard the slam of

the hall door, which told

he was

off

that

once miore upon his

congenial hunt. I

there

waited until midnight, but

was no

sign of his return,

DRESSED AS A COMMON LOAFER.'

retired to

room.

was

no uncommon thing for him to be away for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his lateness caused me no surprise.

came down of coffee in

do not

know

what hour he came

to breakfast in the morning, there

one hand and the paper

trim as possible.

in the

in,

but

when

he was with a cup other,

as fresh and

THE BERYL CORONET. "

You

excuse

will

281

beginning without you, Watson," said he

" but you remember that our client has rather an early appointment

morning."

this

Why,

surprised

that were he.

now,"

after nine

thought

change which had come over him,

for his face,

was shocked by the which was naturally

and massive mould, was now pinched and

of a broad

not be

heard a ring."

was, indeed, our friend the financier.

"I should

answered.

fallen in,

while his hair seemed to be at least a shade whiter.

entered

with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than

morning

his violence of the

armchair which **

he.

before,

pushed forward

do not know what

Only two days ago

niece

Mary has

Now

was empty, and to

upon the heels

all

was thoughtless

refers in this note

this

morning had not been

me upon

the hall table.

to say so.

My dearest if

to that

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

I feel

Uncle,

had acted

misfortune might never have occurred.

slept in, her I

might have been well with him.

trouble upon you, and that

;

fruitless labour,

Mary.'

troubles

sum

cannot, with this thought

trust,

and

could she

points to suicide It is

life

feel that

future, for that it

will be

or in death,

mean by

that note, Mr.

" ?

perhaps the best possible

Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your

You say

You would for

roof,

you have learned ''

think

What

No, no, nothing of the kind.

solution.

have brought

do not search for me, for

Do you

all,

ever your loving,

Holmes

that

and, above

service to me.

remark that she

not worry about

ill

had

she

Perhaps

and an

had said

for ever.

must leave you

room

differently this terrible

mind, ever again be happy under your

provided for

of another.

a note lay for

boy

dis-

her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that

married

and

to a lonely

left

deserted me."

Her bed

Yes.

him.

was a happy and prosperous man,

One sorrow comes

" Deserted you **

for

have done to be so severely tried," said

without a care in the world.

honoured age.

and he dropped heavily into the

them

" ?

You have heard something, Mr. Holmes something Where are the gems ? " so

;

not think a thousand pounds apiece an excessive

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

282

would pay ten."

" That would be unnecessary.

And

matter.

there

Here

cheque-book?

Three thousand

reward,

little

a pen.

Have you your

fancy.

make

Better

will cover the

out

four

for

thousand pounds."

With a dazed face the banker made out the required cheque. Holmes walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. " " You have it " he gasped. " I am saved I am saved The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock !

Holmes, rather *'

Owe

sternly.

pay it." " No, the debt

caught up a pen.

Name

You owe

the sum, and

will

humble apology

that noble lad, your son,

should be proud to

who has carried himself in this matter see my own son do, should I ever chance

not to m.e.

a very

have one." â&#x20AC;˘'

Then I

told

was not Arthur who took them

you yesterday, and

" ?

repeat to-day, that

was not."

You are sure of it Then let us hurry to him at once, to let him know that the truth is known." " He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an *'

interview with him, and, finding that he would not story, I told

and me. **

to him,

on which he had to confess that

was

the

right,

add the very few details which were not yet quite clear to

Your news of For Heaven's

mystery "

tell

this

morning, however,

sake,

may open

me, then, what

tell

his lips."

this extraordinary

" !

show you the steps by which I reached it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me to say and for you to hear. There has been an understanding between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now fled I

will

so,

and

Impossible

will

together."

My Mary

It is,

unfortunately,

" !

more than

possible;

it is

you nor your son knew the true character of

certain.

this

Neither

man when you

THE BERYL CORONET. admitted him into your family

dangerous men desperate villain

knew nothing

in ;

England

man

one of the most

gamhler,

ruined

without heart or conscience.

When

men.

of such

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

circle.

283

he breathed his

absolutely

Your niece vows to her,

as he had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that

she alone had touched his heart. said, but at last she

became

The

his tool,

devil

and was

knows

best

what he

in the habit of seeing

him nearly every evening." "

cannot, and

will not, believe

" cried the banker, with

an ashen face. '*

I will tell

Your

when you

niece,

slipped

you, then, what occurred in your house last night.

down and

had, as she thought, gone to your room,

talked to her lover through the

leads into the stable lane.

window which

His footmarks had pressed right through

the snow, so long had he stood there.

She

told

him

of the coronet.

His wickeM

lust for gold kindled at the

his will.

have no doubt that she loved you, but there are

whom

news, and he bent her to

the love of a lover extinguishes

women

other loves, and

all

think that she must have been one.

She had hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming downstairs, on which she closed the window^ rapidly, and told you about one of the servants' escapade with her

wooden-legged

lover,

which was

all

perfectly true.

" Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you, but he debts.

slept

badly on account of his uneasiness about his club

In the middle of the night he heard a

door, so he rose, and looking out

soft tread

was surprised

pass his

to see his cousin

walking very stealthily along the passage, until she disappeared into

your dressing-room.

Petrified

with

astonishment

the

lad

some clothes, and waited there in the dark to see what would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the room again, and in the light of the passage lamp your son saw that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed slipped on

down

the

stairs,

and he,

thrilling

with horror,

slipped behind the curtain near your door,

ran along

whence he could

and see

what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the window, hand out the coronet to some one in the gloom, and then closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close to where he stood hid behind the curtain.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

2S4

" As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action

without a horrible exposure of the the instant

that

she was gone he

fortune this would be for you, and it

right.

woman whom he loved. But realised how crushing a mis-

how

all-important

was

rushed down, just as he was, in his bare

feet,

to set

opened

s\ â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

ARTHUR CAUGHT HIM."

the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran

where he could see a dark Burnwell

down

figure in the moonlight.

the lane,

Sir

George

away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the tried to get

coronet, and his opponent at the other.

In the

scuffle,

your son

and cut him over the eye. Then something suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet in struck

Sir George,

THE BERYL CORONET.

285

window, ascended to your room,

his hands, rushed back, closed the

and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the struggle, and was endeavouring to straighten it, when you appeared

upon the scene." "

gasped the banker.

Is it possible

You then roused

when he not

felt

explain

the true state

the

his anger

by calling him names

that he had deserved 3^our

certainly deserved

took

little

of affairs without betraying

view,

at his

and

however,

moment

warmest thanks.

enough consideration

chivalrous

at a

could

who

one

hands.

her

preserved

secret." *'

And

was why she shrieked and

that

coronet," cried Mr. I

And

have been.

minutes were

him

The dear

at the scene of "

my God

the

what a blind

fool

asking to be allowed to go out for

five

Holder. his

" Oh,

when she saw

fainted !

wanted to see if the missing piece H^ow cruelly I have misjudged the struggle. fellow

When

arrived at the house,"

once went very carefully round traces in the fallen

to observe

snow which might help me.

Holmes, "

were any

there

knew

that none

had

the evening before, and also that there had been a

since

strong frost to preserve impressions.

men's path, but found Just beyond

woman had

continued

it,

all

passed along the trades-

trampled down and indistinguishable.

however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a

stood and talked with a man, whose round impression

on one side showed that he had a wooden-leg. that they had been disturbed, for the

woman had

could even

tell

run back swiftly

was shown by the deep toe and light heel-marks, while Wooden-leg had waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which I took to be the police but when I got into the stable lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in front of me. *' There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways to the door, as

;

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

286

but the other had run swiftly, and, as his tread was marked in places over the depression of the boot,

was obvious that he had

them up, and found that they led to the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and, finall}^, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been hurt. When he came to the high road at the other end, I found that the pavement had been cleared, so there was an passed after the other.

end to that " the

followed

clue.

entering the house, however,

and framework of the

sill

examined, as you remember,

window with my

hall

could at once see that some one had passed out. the

outline of

coming to

in.

lens,

and

could distinguish

an instep where the wet foot had been placed

was then beginning

A man

what had occurred.

to be able to

form an opinion as

had waited outside the window,

some one had brought him the gems by your son, he had pursued the

;

the deed had been overseen

thief,

had struggled with him,

they had each tugged at the coronet, their united strength causing

which neither alone could have

injuries

with the prize, but had

was

far I

who was "

It is

clear.

left

The

effected.

a fragment in the grasp of his opponent.

question

now

brought him the coronet

was,

who was

the man, and

an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the

impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, truth.

had returned

Now,

knew

that

was not you who had brought But

so there only remained your niece and the maids.

why

the maids, their place

must be the it

if it

down,

were

should your son allow himself to be accused in

There could be no possible reason.

As he loved

his

was an excellent explanation why he should the more so as the secret was a disgraceful one. retain her secret When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and

cousin, however, there

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

how

she had fainted on seeing the coronet again,

became a "

conjecture

certainty.

And who could evidently, for who else

who was her

confederate

lover

could outweigh the love and gratitude which

IHE BERYL CORONET. she must feel to you

knew

2%-l

that you went out

little,

and that

was a very limited one. But among them was Sir George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots, and retained the missing gems. Even though he

your

knew

circle of friends

that Arthur had discovered him, he might

that he

was

still flatter

himself

CLAPPED A PISTOL TO HIS HEAD."

safe, for the lad

could not say a word without compro-

mising his own family. *'

Well, your

took next.

managed

expense

went

to pick

his master

own good in the

sense will

up an acquaintance with his

shillings,

measures

shape of a loafer to Sir George's house,

had cut his head the night

of six

suggest what

made

all

before,

valet, learned that

and

finall}^ at

the

sure by buying a pair of his

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

288

With

cast-off shoes.

these

journeyed down to Streatham, and

saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." *' I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," said Mr. Holder. *'

Precisely.

was

home and changed my

found that

clothes.

was a

had

my man,

delicate part

which

came I

had

saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, But when I gave him every of course, he denied everything. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster, and took down I knew my man, however, and a life-preserver from the wall. to play then, for

clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike.

Then he

became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give him a price for the stones he held a thousand pounds apiece. That brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. I've let them go at six hundred for said he, Why, dash it all

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the three

soon managed to get the address of the receiver

who had them, on promising him Off

tion.

set to

thousand apiece.

that

all

Then

but you shall not find

has indeed exceeded

must

have done him.

chaffering

got our stones

looked in upon your son, told him

was right, and eventually got^ to my bed about two o'clock, what I may call a really hard day's work." A day which has saved England from a great public scandal,"

said the banker, rising.

skill

much

him, and after

at a

after

that there would be no prosecu-

fly to

very heart.

" Sir,

cannot find words to thank you,

ungrateful for what you have done. all

that

have ever heard of

it.

Your

And now

dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which

As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes Not even your skill can inform me where she

to is

now." " is

think that

we may

safely say," returned

wherever Sir George Burnwell

whatever her sins punishment."

are, they will

is.

It is

Holmes, ''that she

equally certain, too, that

soon receive a more than sufficient

XII.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES. the

man who

loves art for

its

Holmes, tossing aside

Sherlock

sheet of The Daily Telegraphy

sake," remarked

the advertisement is

frequently in

its

and lowliest manifestations that the

least important

keenest pleasure

own

to be derived.

It is

pleasant to

Watson, that you have so far grasped this truth that in these little records of our cases which you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much to the many causes celebres and sensational trials in which I have figured, but rather to to observe,

those incidents which

which have given room synthesis which

"And

may have been

for those faculties of

have made

yet," said

trivial

smiling,

themselves, but

deduction and of logical

special province."

" I

cannot quite hold myself absolved

from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against

records."

You have

erred, perhaps," he observed, taking

cinder with the tongs, and lighting with

up a glowing

the long cherrywood pipe

which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a disputatious rather than a meditative mood you have erred perhaps in at-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

'*'

into each of

your statements, instead

of confining yourself to the task of placing

upon record that severe

tempting to put colour and reasoning from cause to

life

effect

which

really the only notable

feature about the thing."

" I

seems

me that

have done you

remarked, with some coldness, for

which

had more than once observed

full justice in

was

the matter,"

repelled by the egotism

to be a strong factor in

friend's singular character.

" No, his wont,

it is

not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as was

thoughts rather than 20

words.

claim

iu.l ^^5

2^0

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

justice for

art,

Crime

beyond myself.

upon the

logic rather

because is

common.

an impersonal thing Logic

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a thing

Therefore

rare.

it is

than upon the crime that you should dwell.

You have degraded what should have been

a course of lectures into

a series of tales." It

was

a cold

morning

early spring, and

of the

breakfast on either side of a cheery street.

fire

down between

thick fog rolled

in the old

room

sat after in

Baker-

the lines of dun-coloured

houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, shapeless blurs

â&#x20AC;˘'Tx\KING UP A

GLOWING CINDER WITH THE TONGS.

through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was the white cloth, and glimmer of china and metal, not been cleared yet.

lit,

for

and shone on the table had

Sherlock Holmes had been silent

all

the

morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers, until at last, having apparently given up his search, he had

emerged

no very sweet temper to lecture

me upon

literary shortcomings. " At the same time," he remarked, after a pause, during which he had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, " you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of

these cases which you have been

so kind as to interest yourself in,

THE COPPER BEECHES. a

proportion do not treat of crime, in

fair

The small matter

which

Bohemia, the singular experience

But

the pale of the law.

and the

matters which are outside I

fear that

trivial."

The end may have been

so,"

but the methods

answered,

hold to have been novel and of interest." " Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great un-

observant public,

who

compositor by his

left

and deduction for the

practice,

seems

had

you are

trivial, I

shades of analysis

cannot blame you, at least criminal

and giving advice

this

my own

little

degenerating into an agency for recovering to

young

ladies from boarding-

have touched bottom

morning marks

zero point,

last, I

however.

fancy.

Read

Dear Mr. Holmes, â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I am

very anxious to consult you as to

should or should not accept a situation which has been

offered to

as governess.

do not inconvenience you.

shall call at half-past ten to-morrow,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Yours faithfully, "

liner

his tooth or a

was dated from Montague-place upon the preceding evening,

whether

if I

weaver by

tossed a crumpled letter across to me.

and ran thus *'

to be

think that

This note

Man, or As enterprise and originality.

lost all

schools.

tell

thumb, care about the

But, indeed,

lost lead pencils,

could hardly

days of the great cases are past.

man, has

all

lip,

avoiding the sensational,

you may have bordered on the "

help the King of

with the twisted

incident of the noble bachelor, were

all.

Miss Mary Sutherland, the

man

problem connected with the

legal sense, at

its

endeavoured

291

Do you know

the young lady

" I

Violet Hunter."

asked.

*'NotI." "

It is half-past

" Yes, and **

may

have no doubt that

her ring."

turn out to be of more interest than you think.

remember that the be a mere whim at

may

ten now."

affair first,

of the blue carbuncle,

You

which appeared

developed into a serious investigation.

to It

be so in this case also."

"Well, solved,

let

us hope so!

for here, unless

question."

But our doubts

am much

mistaken,

will very is

soon be

the person in

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

292

As he spoke the door opened, and a young lady entered the room. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick and with the brisk manner of a

face, freckled like a plover's ^gg^

woman who "

You

anything that

''but

in the world.

have had a very strange

sort

from

should do."

Miss

seat,

sure," said she, as

thought that perhaps you would be

me what

tell

make

have no parents or relations of any

Pray take a

her;

could ask advice,

kind enough to

troubling you,

to greet

experience, and as I

will excuse

companion rose

whom

own way

has had her

Hunter.

be happy to do

shall

can to serve you."

Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching fashion, and then composed himself with his lids drooping could see

and

that

his finger-tips together to listen to her story.

" I

have been a governess for

five

years," said she, " in the

family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the Colonel received an appointment at Halifax, in

Nova

children over to America with him, so that

a situation.

without success. to run short,

" There called

and

advertised,

last the little

was

Scotia,

and took

his

found myself without

answered advertisements, but

money which

wits' end as to

what

had saved began I

should do.

a well-known agency for governesses in the West-end

Westaway's, and there

used to

call

about once a week in

order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me.

Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an ante-room, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers, and sees whether she has anything which would Well, when

office as

usual, but

called last I

them.

was shown into the little Miss Stoper was not alone. A

week

found that

suit

man

with a very smiling face, and a great heavy chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat, sat at her prodigiously stout

elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very earnestly the ladies chair, "

who

entered.

and turned quickly

That

will do,' said

Capital! capital!'

he gave quite a jump in his

Miss Stoper

came

;

'I could not ask for anything better.

He seemed

quite enthusiastic, and rubbed his

THE COPPER BEECHES. hands together

in the

fortable-looking

man

You

such a com-

quite a pleasure to look at him. ?

he asked.

sir.'

As governess

'"Yes, "

was

are looking for a situation, miss

'''Yes,

He was

most genial fashion.

that

293

sir."

And what

salary do you ask

"'I had four pounds a month

last place

with Colonel

Spence Munro.'

his fat '

How

Oh,

tut, tut

said

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; rank

air like a

sweating

man who

could any one offer so pitiful a

and accomplishments

accomplishments,

little

" 'Tut, tut!

The

sweating

hands out into the

attractions

CAPITAL "

point

is,

French, a

cried.

he cried, throwing

is in

sum

a boiling passion.

to a lady with

such

may

sir,

little

' !

be less

than you imagine,'

German, music and drawing

This

all

quite beside the question.

have you or have you not the bearing and deportment

There

of a lady

fitted for

the rearing of a child

it is

in a nutshell.

you have

who may some day

able part in the history of the country.

But

not,

you are not

play a consider-

you have, why, then

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

294

how

could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything

Your salary with me, madam, would commence at a hundred pounds a year.' *' You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, under the three figures

opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "

It is also

custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant

fashion until his eyes were just two

white creases of his face,

advance

salary beforehand, so that they

shining

little

my young

may meet any

amid the

slits,

ladies half their

expenses of

little

and their wardrobe.'

their journey

seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something un*'

made me wish

natural about the whole transaction which

more before

little

May

Hampshire.

live, sir

Charming

rural

said

The Copper Beeches,

place.

miles on the far side of Winchester.

five

quite committed myself.

ask where you

know

It is

the most lovely

my dear young lad}^, and the dearest old country house.' And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they

country, '*

would

be.'

'One

child

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one

dear

little

romper

you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper Three gone before you could wink smack smack '

back "

in his chair

was a

and laughed

his eyes into his

Smack

if !

leaned

head again.

amusement, laughter made me think that perhaps he was

little

but the father's

Oh,

just six years old.

startled at the nature of the child's

joking. '*

sole duties, then,'

asked,

are to take charge of a single

child

No, no, not the

sole,

not the sole,

dear young lady,' he

Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would suggest, to obey any little commands which my wife might give, provided always that they were such commands as a lady might

cried.

with propriety obey. **

You

should be happy to

Quite

so.

see no difficulty, heh?

make myself

useful.'

In dress now, for example

are faddy people,

THE COPPER BEECHES, you know

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; faddy, but kind-hearted.

we might Heh ?

dress which

whim. *'

you

No,' said

you were asked

wear any

give you, you would not object to our

little

considerably astonished at his words.

here, or

sit

295

sit

there, that

would not be

offensive to

"'Oh, ** Or *

no.'

to cut

your hair quite short before you come to

Holmes,

hair

tint of chestnut.

dream *'

somewhat It

of sacrificing

shadow pass over

luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar

considered artistic.

could not

in this off-hand fashion.

quite impossible,' said

eagerly out of his small eyes, and his face as

He had

could see a

spoke.

fancies

must be consulted.

And

so you won't cut your hair.?

*' *

No,

Ah, very well; then that quite

sir, I

really could not,'

answered

firmly.

settles

the matter.

because in other respects you would really have done very In that case. Miss Stoper,

nicely.

your young *'

Mr.

observe,

am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. It is a little of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, ladies'

fancy

pity,

As you may

ears.

has been

afraid that that

been watching **

could hardly believe

us.'

had best inspect a few more of

ladies.'

The manageress had

without a word to either of

much annoyance upon

sat all this while us,

busy with her papers

but she glanced at

her face that

me now

with so

could not help suspecting

that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. " Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books ? *

she

asked.

you please, Miss Stoper.'

"'Well,

really,

seems rather

useless,

since you refuse

m.ost excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply.

the

You can

hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such opening for

Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. " Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very foolish thing.

you.

After

all, if

these people had strange fads, and expected obedience

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

296

on the most extraordinaiy matters, they were at least ready to pay Very few governesses in England are getting for their eccentricity. a hundred a year.

what use was

Besides,

people are improved hy wearing

among the number. Next day I was inclined made a mistake, and by the day after I was

almost overcome

was

from the gentleman himself.

open,

still

have

Many

should be

had

to think that I

sure of

it.

had

go back to the agency and

pride, so far as to

inquire whether the place

and perhaps

short,

hair to

when

here,

and

received this letter I

will read

:—

you

" "

The Copper Beeches, near Winchester.

Dear Miss Hunter, — Miss

your address, and

reconsidered your

decision.

our fads

may

wife

you

wife

much

very anxious that you

attracted by

description of

are willing to give thirty pounds a quarter, or

recompense you

year, so as to

for

They

cause you.

any

little

120 a

are not very exacting after

all.

fond of a particular shade of electric blue, and would

wear such a dress indoors

belonging to I

inconvenience which

the morning.

not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as

would,

write from here to ask you whether you have

should come, for she has been you.

Stoper has very kindly given

we have one

dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia) which

should think,

or there, or

You need

fit

amusing yourself

cause you no inconvenience.

to sitting here

any manner indicated, that need As regards your hair, it is no doubt a in

pity, especially as I could not help

Then, as

you very well.

remarking

its

beauty during our

must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dogcart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Yours faithfully, short interview, but

afraid that I

—

*'That

and

my mind

the letter which is

made up

that

have just received, Mr. Holmes,

will accept

that before taking the final step,

Jephro Rucastle.'

it.

thought, however,

should like to submit the whole

matter to your consideration." " Well, Miss Hunter,

your mind

question," said Holmes, smiling.

made

up, that settles the

THE COPPER BEECHES. " But you would not advise ''

confess that

mine apply

see a sister of

What

"Ah,

to refuse

not the situation which

should like to

for."

the meaning of

have

297

data.

Mr. Holmes

all,

cannot

Perhaps you have

tell.

some opinion ? Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not

yourself formed **

possible that his wife

matter quiet for he humours

a lunatic, that

he desires to keep the fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that is

her fancies in

way

every

order

prevent an

outbreak." *'

That

a possible solution

—

in fact, as

matters stand,

the most probable one.

But in any case it does not seem nice household for a young lady." " But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money "

to be a

Well, yes, of course the pay

Why

what makes me uneasy.

when they

good

— too

good.

That

should they give you £\2.o a year,

could have their pick for

£^0

There must be some

strong reason behind."

thought that

understand afterwards

much

stronger

" Oh, you

if I felt

may

I if

you the circumstances you would wanted your help. I should feel so

told I

that you were at the back of me."

carry that feeling

problem promises

that your

little

has come

my way

for

novel about some of

doubt or in danger

away with you.

assure you

to be the

most interesting which some months. There is something distinctly the features. If you should find yourself in "

danger do you foresee ? " Holmes shook his head gravely. " It would cease to be a danger if we could define it," said he. " But at any time, day or **

Danger

What

would bring me down to your help." is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the " I shall go down to Hampshire anxiety all swept from her face. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, night, a telegram

" That

sacrifice

morrow."

poor hair

With

to-night,

and

a few grateful words

start

for

Winchester

to-

Holmes she bade us

both good-night and bustled off upon her way. " At least," said I, as we heard her quick, firm step descending

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLATE S.

298 the stairs,

who

she seems to be a young lady

very well able

to take care of herself."

And

many days

are

she would need to be," said Holmes, gravely

much mistaken

we do not hear from her

before

*' ;

past."

was not very long before my A fortnight went by, during which It

friend's prediction I

human

experience this lonely

"HOLMES SHOOK

HIS

fulfilled.

thoughts

frequently found

turning in her direction, and wondering what of

was

woman had

strange strayed

side-alley into.

The

HEAD GRAVELY."

unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the

man were

a philanthropist or a villain,

powers to determine.

Holmes,

frequently for half an hour on

abstracted his

air,

but he

hand when

impatiently.

I I

end, with

was

quite beyond

observed that he knitted

make

it.

Data

data

sat

" he cried

And

yet he

sister of his

should

bricks without clay."

would always wind up by muttering that no ever have accepted such a situation.

brows and an

swept the matter away wath a wave

mentioned can't

THE COPPER BEECHES. which we eventually received came

The telegram night, just settling

was thinking

down

one

indulged

frequently

a retort

and

position

when

in,

of turning

those

when

a test-tube

and Holmes was

in,

researches

all-night

which

would leave him stooping over night, and find him in the same

breakfast

morning.

the

opened the yellow envelope, and then, glancing

threw

one

late

came down

299

message,

the

across to me,

Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back

to his chemical studies.

The summons was **

Please be at

the

midday to-morrow,"

and urgent one.

a brief '

Black Swan

said.

Hotel

Do come

Winchester

at "

Will you

come with me

There

That

Hunter."

asked Holmes, glancing up.

will

up, then."

a train at half-past nine," said

" It

Bradshaw. **

wit's end.

should wish to."

" Just look **

due at Winchester

glancing over

at 11.30."

Then perhaps as we may need

do very nicely.

analysis of the acetones,

had better postpone

to be at our best in

the morning."

we were

upon our way to the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he threw them down, and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with litile fleecy eleven o'clock the next day

white clouds drifting across from

well

w^est

east.

The sun

w^as

shining very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in

the

air,

which

countryside,

set

away

an edge to a man's

to the rolling hills

energy.

All

over the

around Aldershot, the

little

red and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amidst

the light green of the *'

new

foliage.

Are they not fresh and beautiful

enthusiasm of a

man

But Holmes shook his head gravely. Do you know, Watson," said he, " that

mind with

cried,

with

all

the

fresh from the fogs of Baker-street.

of a

a turn like

mine that

one of the curses

must look

at everything

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,

300

my own

with reference to

special

You

subject.

look

these

scattered houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. at

them, and the only thought which comes to

and

of their isolation,

of the

look

a feeling

may

impunity with which crime

committed there." *'

Good heavens

" I cried.

these dear old homesteads **

They always

Watson, founded

associate crime with

me with a certain horror. upon my experience, that the

fill

London do not present

alleys in

''Who would

belief,

lowest and vilest

more dreadful record

of sin than

does the smiling and beautiful countryside." **

You

horrify

" !

But the reason

pressure

can do in the town what the law cannot

opinion

There

The

very obvious.

no lane so

vile

public

accomplish.

that the scream of a tortured child, or

sympathy and indignation among the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is but a step between the crime and the dock. thud of a drunkard's blow, does not

the

beget

But look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.

Had

who

lady

this

Winchester,

appeals to

for

gone

help

should never have had a fear for her.

miles of country which makes the danger.

five

that she

" No.

Still,

live

It it

the

is is

clear

not personally threatened." If

she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get

away." " Quite so. *'

What

She has her freedom."

can

be the

matter, then

Can you suggest no

ex-

planation ? " I have devised seven

would cover the these

facts

separate explanations, each

as far as

we know them.

which

But which of

correct can only be determined by the fresh information

which we

shall no doubt find waiting for us.

Well, there

tower of the Cathedial, and we shall soon learn

Hunter has

The

all

that

the

Miss

to tell."

" Black

Swan

" is

an inn of repute

in the

High-street, at

THE COPPER BEECHES.

501

no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch awaited us upon the table. " I am so delighted that you have come," she said, earnestly. " It is so kind of you both but indeed I do not know what I ;

should do.

Your advice

" Pray

tell

will be altogether invaluable to

DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE COME.

us what has happened to you."

will do so,

and

must be quick,

Rucastle to be back before three.

town

me."

this morning,

though he

" Let us have everything

little

in its

for

have promised Mr.

got his leave to

knew

for

due order."

come

into

what purpose."

Holmes

thrust his

long thin legs out towards the fire, and composed himself to listen. " In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole,

with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle.

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

302

But

only fair to them to say that. I

not easy in

my mind

cannot understand them, and

about them." "

What

Their reasons for their conduct.

just as

When

occurred.

and drove

here,

can you not understand

But you

shall have

all

came down Mr. Rucastle met me

his dogcart to

situated, but

said, beautifully

Copper Beeches. not beautiful in

It is, as

for

itself,

a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all stained

it is

and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which slopes

down

to the

Southampton high

which curves past This ground in front

road,

about a hundred yards from the front door. belongs to the house, 'but the woods

A clump

Southerton's preserves.

round are part of Lord immediately

of copper beeches

name to the place. by my employer, who was as amiable

door has given

in front of the hall

all

its

as was driven over ever, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which child. seemed to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker-street. Mrs. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, Rucastle is not mad. much younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should I

think, while he

conversation

Cc.n

hardly be

less

than

From

forty-five.

their

have gathered that they have been married about

seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by ihe

first

wife

was the daughter who has gone

Rucastle told

was

had an unreasoning aversion

that she

in private that the reason

to Philadelphia.

why to

them her stepmother. As she had

the daughter could not have been less than twenty, ima^-ine that her position

young

father's

feature.

reverse.

left

can quite

must have been uncomfortable with her

wife.

" Mrs. Rucastle seemed to as

Mr.

She

impressed

She was a nonentity.

to be colourless in

me It

neither

mind as well

favourably nor

was easy

see

that

the

she

was passionately devoted both to her husband and to her little Her light grey eyes wandered continually from one to the son. He other, noting every little want and forestalling it if possible.

was kind

to her also in his bluff boisterous fashion,

whole they seemed secret

sorrow,

this

and on the

happy couple. And yet she had some woman. She would often be lost in deep

to be a

THE COPPER BEECHES.

303

thought, with the saddest look upon her face.

More than once

have surprised her

was the

in tears.

creature.

disproportionately large.

His whole

an alternation between savage

talent in planning

indeed, he has

the capture of mice,

and

little birds,

insects.

would rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and,

seem

and gloomy intervals

amusement, and he shows quite remarkable

to be his one idea of

quite

appears to be spent in

life

of passion

fits

little

Giving pain to any creature weaker than himself seems

of sulking.

But

and so ill-natured a

spoilt

small for his age, with a head which

which weighed upon her mind,

disposition of her child

have never met so utterly

for I

have thought sometimes that

glad of

you

all details,"

story."

remarked

friend, "

whether they

to be relevant or not."

shall

do with

little to

try not

miss anything of importance.

unpleasant thing about the house, which struck

The one

at once,

was

the appearance and conduct of the servants. a

man and

his wife.

Toller, for that's his

There are only two, name, is a rough, uncouth

man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual smell of Twice since I have been with them he has been quite drink. drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as silent as Mrs. Rucastle, and much less amiable. They are a most unpleasant couple, but fortunately the nursery and

my own

spend most of

time in

room, which are next to each other

one corner of the building. " For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was very quiet on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after ;

breakfast and whispered something to her husband. *' '

to you.

yes,' said he,

Miss Hunter,

cut your hair. iota

turning to

' ;

are very

much

obliged

with our whims so far as to has not detracted in the tiniest

for falling in

assure you that

from your appearance.

shall

now

see

how

the electric

become you. You will find it laid out upon the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on

blue dress will

bed in

we should both

"The

be extremely obliged.'

dress which

shade of blue.

was

found waiting for

me was

of a peculiar

of excellent material, a sort of beige, but

bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before.

could not

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

304

have been a better

fit if

had been measured

for

it.

Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of quite exaggerated in its vehemence.

the drawing-room, which

They were waiting

with

windows reaching down

chair had been placed close to the central window,

back turned towards

its

for

a very large room, stretching along the

entire front of the house, with three long to the floor.

Both Mr. and which seemed

In this

it.

was

aske'd to

sit,

and

then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the other side of the

room, began to

a series of the funniest stories that

much

has evidently no sense of humour, never so

with her hands in her

sat

have

You cannot imagine how comical he was, and I was quite weary. Mrs. Rucastle, however, who

ever listened to.

laughed until

tell

lap,

as smiled, but

and a sad, anxious look upon her

After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle suddenly remarked that

face.

was time to commence the duties of

and that

the day,

dress,

and go

Edward

change

might

to little

the nur-

sery.

Two

this same

was

days later

performance

through

gone

under exactly similar circumstances. Again I

changed

again

sat

dress, in

the

window, and again

laughed very heartily the funny

which

stories

my employer

had an immense and

pertoire,

told

rc-

which

inimitably.

Then he handed me yellow - backed a novel,

and,

chair a

moving little

"i read for about ten minutes

sideways, that

my own shadow

might not

fall

COPPER BEECHES.

i'HE

upon the page, he begged me

to read aloud

365

to him.

read for

about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered

change "

to cease

and

dress.

You can

easily imagine,

what the meaning

as to

Mr. Holmes,

of this extraordinary

The}^ were always very careful,

possibly be.

how I

curious

became

performance could

observed, to turn

away from the window, so that I became consumed with the At first it seemed desire to see what was going on behind my back. My hand mirror to be impossible, but I soon devised a means.

face

had been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and piece of the glass in

midst of

laughter,

handkerchief.

put

concealed a

the next occasion, in the

handkerchief up to

eyes,

and

management to see all that there was behind me. I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. " At least, that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the railings which bordered our field, and was looking was

able with a little

earnestly up.

lowered

handkerchief, and glanced

Rucastle to find her eyes fixed upon

Mrs.

with a most searching gaze.

She said nothing, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my hand, and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. ''*Jephro,' said she, 'there

who

road there "

No No

stares

know no one

an impertinent fellow upon the

Miss Hunter.'

friend of yours. Miss ;

Hunter?

he asked.

in these parts.'

Dear me How very impertinent Kindly turn round, and motion to him to go away ** Surely it would be better to take no notice.' ** Kindly No, no, we should have him loitering here always. turn round, and wave him away like that.' " I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, *'

nor seen the

man

in the road."

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

o 06

Pray continue," said Holmes. a most interesting one." "

You

will

prove to be

little

speak.

find

and the sound as **

Look

between the

day that

first

*' '

which

said Mr. Rucastle,

he not a beauty

Copper Beeches, Mr.

showing

between

slit

looked through, and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and in the darkness.

Don't be frightened,' said I

had given.

but really old Toller,

thing with him. so that he night,

vs^as

animal moving about.

vague figure huddled up

of a

different

and there may incidents of which I

fear,

heard the sharp rattling of a chain,

it I

of a large

to be

outhouse which stands near the kitchen

to a small

in here

two planks. *'

relation

As we approached

door.

Your narrative promises

rather disconnected,

the very

Rucastle took

only Carlo,

It's

employer, laughing at the start

groom,

feed

mastiff.

call

him mine,

man who can do anyand not too much then,

the only

him once a

day,

always as keen as mustard.

and God help the trespasser

Toller lets

whom

him

loose every

he lays his fangs upon.

For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext

set

your foot over

the threshold at night, for it is as much as your life is worth.' " The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened

my bedroom window

to look out of

about two o'clock in the morning.

was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. It

when

standing, wrapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene,

aware that something was moving under the shadow beeches.

was

a giant

emerged

into the

dog, as large as

jowl, black muzzle,

moonshine calf,

tawny

and huge projecting bones.

was was

of the copper

saw what tinted,

of the

was.

with hanging

walked slowly

shadow upon the other sent a chill to my heart which

across the lawn and vanished into the

side.

That dreadful

silent sentinel

not think that any burglar could have done. "

And now

have a very strange experience

as you know, cut off

hair in

great coil at the bottom of

was

in bed,

began

London, and

trunk.

One

to tell you.

had placed

had,

in a

evening, after the child

amuse myself by examining the

my own

furniture of

There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones empty and I had filled the two first with my linen, open, the lower one locked. room, and by rearranging

little

things.

THE COPPER BEECHES. and, as

had

still

much

pack away,

not having the use of the third drawer.

307

was naturally annoyed struck

that

might

have been fastened by a mere oversight, so I took out my bunch of The very first key fitted to perfection, keys and tried to open it.

and I

There was only one thing in it, but drew the drawer open. It was my sure that you would never guess what it was.

coil of hair. 'â&#x20AC;˘'

tint,

took

up and examined

"I TOOK IT UP

itself

was

of the

AND EXAMINED

How

upon me.

of the

IT.

could

With trembling hands

locked in the drawer?

same peculiar

But then the impossibility

and the same thickness.

thing obtruded

it.

hair have

undid

been trunk,

turned out the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two tresses together, and I assure you they were identical.

Was

extraordinary?

not

nothing at

all

drawer, and

what

Puzzle as

meant.

w^ould,

could

make

returned the strange hair to the

said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles, as

felt

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

3o8

that

had put myself

wrong by opening a drawer which they

in the

had locked. *'

naturally observant, as you

Holmes, and

may have

soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in

There was one wing, however, which appeared not

head.

inhabited

all.

One

however, as

day,

to be

door which faced that which led into

quarters of the Tollers opened into this suite, but locked.

Mr.

remarked,

ascended the

the

was invariably

stair,

met Mr.

Rucastle coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a

made him a very different person to the whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were

look on his face which

round jovial his

red,

man

brow was

out at his temples with passion. past

anger, and

crinkled with

all

locked the door, and hurried

without a word or a look.

my curiosity so when I went out for a walk in my charge, I strolled round to the side from which

This aroused

the grounds with

;

could see the windows of this part of the house.

the veins stood

There were four

them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle came out of

me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. " 'Ah said he, *you must not think

without a word,

dear young lady.

rude

passed you

was pre-occupied with

business matters.' **

assured him that

was not

the way,' said

you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one

them has the shutters

He looked my remark. *'

dark room up there.

lady

we have come

jest in his eyes as

and annoyance, but no

Who

? '

seemed

me, a

hobbies,' said he.

But, dear

upon.

would have ever believed

was no

one of

up.'

surprised, and, as

Photography

offended.

little

have made

what an observant young

would have believed spoke

startled

it ?

in a jesting tone,

he looked at me.

Who

but there

read suspicion there,

jest.

" Well, Mr. Holmes, from the

moment

that I understood that

was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty there

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

THE COPPER BEECHES.

309

some good might come from my penetrating to this They talk of woman's instinct perhaps it was woman's which gave me that feeling. Atany rate, it was there; and I

feeling that

place.

;

instinct

was keenly on the look-out for any chance to pass the forbidden door. *' It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you Mr. Racastle, both Toller and his wife find something

that, besides

and

to do in these deserted rooms,

once saw him carrying a large

black linen bag with him through the door.

Recently he has been

drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk I

came

all

upstairs, there

that he had

was the key

left it

in the door.

when

have no doubt

Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both

there.

downstairs, and the child was with them, so that opportunity.

and,

;

had an admirable

turned the key gently in the lock, opened the door,

and slipped through. ** There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the further end.

Round

They each

which were open.

two windows

cheerless, with

with

thick

and third

this corner w^ere three doors in a line, the first

centre door

an empty room, dusty and

in the one,

and one

in the other, so

evening light glimmered

dirt that the

The

them.

led into

was

closed,

dimly through

and across the outside of

had

been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked at one

end to a ring

The door

in the wall,

itself

and fastened

was locked

at the other

with stout cord.

and the key was not there.

well,

This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the shuttered window outside,

and yet

room was not let in light

could see by the glimmer from beneath

sinister door,

that the

Evidently there was a skylight which

in darkness.

from above.

stood in the passage gazing at this

and wondering what secret

might

veil, I

suddenly

heard the sound of steps within the room, and saw a shadow pass

backwards and forwards against the

shone out from under the door. in

at the sight,

suddenly, and

Mr. Holmes.

turned and ran

were behind me, clutching

little

slit

dim

light

which

mad, unreasoning terror rose up

overstrung nerves failed

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ran as though some

at the skirt of

dress.

dreadful hand I

rushed down

the passage, through the door, and straight into the arms of Mr.

who was waiting

Rucastle,

" be

when

outside.

said he, smiling,

saw the door

open.'

was you,

then.

thought

must

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

310 "

Oh,

dear young lady

how

think

so frightened

panted.

— — was and

dear young lady

caressing and soothing his

manner

what has

frightened you, my dear young lady ? " But his voice was just a little too coaxing.

overdid

was keenly on my guard against him. " I wa§ foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' But it

so lonely

eerie in this

frightened

was

and

ran

Oh,

out again.

so dreadfully

it is

still

there

*''Only said

dim

that

light

it.

answered.

and

cannot

j'ou

that?'

looking at

he,

keenly.

'''Why, what do you think "

Why

think that

asked.

you

lock this

door

" '

sure that

do not know.' '"It

people out

keep

who have

business

there.

Do you

see

was

still

smiling in

the

most

amiable

manner. "

sure

had known "'on! I AM so frightened!' panted." " Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again—' here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon, i

I'll

" that

throw you I

to the mastiff.'

was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose I remember must have rushed past him into my room.

THE COPPER BEECHES. nothing until

Then

thought of you. Mr. Holmes.

without some advice.

woman,

the

servants, even

might have

fled

almost as strong as

over.

all

of the house, of the

down

would be

all

from the house, but

man,

They were

the child.

could only bring you

If I

bed trembling

could not live there longer

was frightened

the

horrible to me.

Of course

found myself lying on

311

curiosity

was

would send you a wire. I put the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then turned, feeling very

much

all

well.

My mind was soon -made up. on my hat and cloak, went down

fears.

to re-

came into my' mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of inseneasier.

and

sibility that evening,

knew

horrible doubt

that he

was

the only one in the

household who had any influence with the savage creature, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety, and lay awake half the night in

my joy

difficulty in getting

thought of seeing you.

at the

come

leave to

Winchester

into

this

had no

morning,

must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the evening, so that I must but

Now

look after the child.

Holmes, and

have told you

should be very glad

all

you could

adventures, Mr.

tell

me what

all

what I should do." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. My friend rose now, and paced up and down the room, his hands in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon his face. means, and, above

" Is Toller *'Yes.

all,

still

drunk

he asked.

heard his wife

tell

Mrs. Rucastle that she could do

nothing with him." ''That

And

well.

the Rucastles go out to-night?"

" Yes."

" Is there a cellar with a good strong lock '*

Yes, the wine cellar."

You seem

brave and sensible

girl.

have acted Miss

could perform one more feat

shall

be at the

through this matter

Hunter.

not think you a quite exceptional " I will try. What is it ? "

all

Do you

should not ask

like a

think that you of

you

did

o'clock,

woman."

Copper Beeches by seven

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

312 friend will,

and

The Rucastles

hope, be incapable.

might give the alarm.

some

be gone by that time, and Toller

will

There only remains Mrs. Toller, who you could send her into the cellar on

errand, and then turn the key

upon

her,

you would

facilitate

matters immensely."

will

it."

" Excellent course there

only one feasible

You have been

explanation.

brought there to personate some one, and the real person prisoned in this chamber. prisoner

is,

Rucastle,

remember

You were

America.

That

chosen,

im-

who

this

the daughter, Miss Alice

who was

right,

obvious.

have no doubt that

shall then look thoroughly into the affair.

said to

have gone to

resembling

her

Hers had been cut through which she has passed, and

off,

doubtless,

height, figure, and the colour of your hair.

some illness so, of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you came upon her tresses. The man in the road was, undoubtedly, some friend of hers possibly her fiance and no doubt as you wore the girl's dress, and were so like her, he was convinced from your laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer very possibly

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

The dog

desired his attentions.

is let

loose at night to prevent

from endeavouring to communicate with

The most

serious point in the case

What

fairly clear.

the disposition of the child."

on earth has that to do with

dear Watson, you

So much

her.

him

it ?

medical

ejaculated.

man

are

continually

gaining light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents.

Don't you see that the converse

frequently gained

first real

by studying their children. cruel,

merely

evil for

the poor girl

equally valid.

This

child's disposition is

is in

have

abnormally

and whether he derives

this

should suspect, or from his mother,

who

insight into the character of parents

for cruelty's sake,

his smiling father, as

from bodes

their power."

sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client.

thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor creature." **'

must be circumspect,

cunning man.

for

are dealing with

can do nothing until seveq o'clock.

very

ths^t

THE COPPER BEECHES, hour we shall be with you, and

313

will not be long before

solve

the mysteiy."

were as good as our word,

for

was

just seven

when we

reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wa^'side

The group

public-house.

burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were sufficient

of trees, with their dark leaves shining

mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling

on the doorstep. " Have you managed

it ?

asked Holmes.

came from somewhere downstairs. ''That *' Her husband lies snoring is Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of loud thudding noise

Mr. Rucastle's." **

You have done

Now

well indeed! " cried Holmes, with enthusiasm.

lead the way, and

end of this black

shall soon see the

business."

passed up the

stair,

unlocked the door, followed on down a

passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss

Holmes

Hunter had described.

Then he

transverse bar.

without success.

trust

that

our

way " It

and removed the

cord

from within, and

at the silence

over.

are not too late," said he.

Hunter, that we had better go put your shoulder to

the

the various keys in the lock, but

tried

No sound came

Holmes' face clouded "

cut

it,

and we

think. Miss

Now, Watson, wbetlicr we cannot make

without you.

shall see

in."

old rickety door, and gave at once before our united

was an

strength.

Together we rushed into the room.

There was no furniture save a a basketful of linen.

The

little

was empty.

pallet bed, a small table,

skylight above

was

and

open, and the prisoner

gone.

"There has been some

villainy

here,"

said

Holmes;

''this

beauty has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions, and has carried his victim off." " But how

" ?

"Through the skylight. We shall soon He swung himself up on to the roof. it."

see

how he managed

" Ah, yes," he cried,

" here's the end of a long light ladder against the eaves.

how he

did it,"

That

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.

314 " But there

when

it is

impossible," said Miss Hunter,

has come back and done I

were he whose step it

was not

the ladder

the Rucastles went away."

and dangerous man. that

would be as well

The words were at the door of the

now upon

for

you

you that he

tell

should not be very

hear

it.

much

the stair.

have your

â&#x20AC;˘''YOU villain!' said he.

fat

a clover

surprised I

think,

this

Watson,

pistol ready."

hardly out of his mouth before a

room, a very

man

appeared

and burly man, with a heavy

whePvE's

your daughter?'"

Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confronted him. stick in his hand.

You villain The fat man

said he,

cast

his

where's your daughter

eyes

" ?

round, and then up at the

open

skylight. *'

for

Spies and thieves

power.

I'll

ask you that," he shrieked, *'you thieves!

to !

have caught you, have

serve you

as hard as he could go.

I ?

turned and clattered

You down

are in

the

stairs?

THE COPPER BEECHES,

315

" He's gone for the dog! " cried Miss Hunter.

have

â&#x20AC;˘'

Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and

down the we heard

revolver," said

elderly

all

rushed

had hardly reached the hall when the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony,

stairs together.

with a horrible worrying sound which

man

was dreadful

to listen to.

with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering

out at a side door. **

My God

" he cried.

not been fed for two days.

Holmes and

Some one has

Quick, quick, or

RUNNING

UP,

BLEW

muzzle buried

it fell

be too late

over with

There was the huge famished

Running

keen white teeth

its

up, still

while he writhed

blew

its

meeting

brains out,

in the great

With much labour we separated them, and

creases of his neck.

carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house.

him upon the drawing-room Toller to bear the news to his pain.

and a

gaunt

tall,

were

" Mrs. Toller

all

sofa,

laid

and having despatched the sobered

what I could to relieve assembled round him when the door opened,

woman !

BRAINS OUT.'

in Rucastle's throat,

and screamed upon the ground.

and

it'll

It's

rushed out, and round the angle of the house,

with Toller hurrying behind us. brute, its black

ITS

loosed the dog.

" cried

his wife,

did

entered the room.

Miss Hunter,

ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES.

3i6

" Yes, miss.

Mr. Rucastle

he went up to you.

let

Ah, miss,

what you were planning,

for

out

when he came back

me know

a pity you didn't let

it is

before

would have told you that your pains

were wasted." "

" said

Holmes, lookingly keenly

at her.

It is clear

that

Mrs. Toller knows more about this matter than any one else." " Yes,

do,

sir, I

''Then, pray

sit

points on which

and

ready enough to

down, and

us hear

let

must confess that

tell

it,

what

know."

for there are several

still in

the dark."

make it clear to you," said she; ''and I'd have done so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend too. " She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that her father married again. She was slighted like, and will soon

had no say

until after she

anything

;

but

met Mr. Fowler

never really became bad for her

at a friend's house.

own by

well as

will,

but she was

so quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a

word about

could learn. Miss Alice had rights of her

them, but just

left

everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands.

he was safe with her

;

when

but

coming forward, who would ask him, then her father thought

there

was

for all

He knew

a chance of a husband

that

the law would give

time to put a stop on

He wanted

it.

her to sign a paper so that whether she married or not, he could use her money. until

When

she wouldn't do

it,

he kept on worrying her

she got brain fever, and for six weeks was at death's door.

Then she

got better at

last,

all

worn

beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't

to a

shadow, and with her

make no change

her young

man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." " Ah," said Holmes, " I think that what you have been good enough to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce this

all

that remains.

Mr. Rucastle then,

system of imprisonment?

presume, took to

" Yes, sir." " And brought Miss Hunter

down from London

rid of the disagreeable persistence of

order to get

Mr. Fowler."

" That was it, sir." " But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seamen should be, blockaded the house, and, having met you, succeeded by

THE COPPER BEECHES, certain arguments,

metallic or

317

otherwise, in convincing you that

your interests were the same as his."

Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman,"

said Mrs. Toller, serenely.

And

in this

way he managed

that your good

man

no want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready

when your master had gone out." " You have it, sir, just as it happened." I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. *'

should have

at the

moment

Toller," said Holmes,

" for you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us.

And

here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so

think,

Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a questionable one."

And

thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the

copper beeches in front of the door.

was always

a broken

They

devoted wife.

know

much

man, kept still live

alive solely

through the care of his

with their old servants,

of Rucastle's past

part from them.

Mr. Rucastle survived, but

life

that he finds

who it

probably

difficult to

Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were married, by

Southampton the day after their flight, and he is now the holder of a Government appointment in the Island of As to Miss Violent Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather Mauritius. special license, in

disappointment, manifested no further interest in her

when

once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems, and she

now

the head of a private school at Walsall, where

that she has

met with considerable success.

THE END.

believe

UNWIN CKOTHEKS, LONDON AND CHILWORTH.

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