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diff --git a/old/rholm11b.txt b/old/rholm11b.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e12a851 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rholm11b.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13777 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Return of Sherlock Holmes [Magazine Edition] + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + +-------------------------------------------------------------- +This edition of _The Return of Sherlock Holmes_ rholm10a.txt +is based on the PG etext rholm10.txt (prepared by Charles Keller +keller@ra.msstate.edu from a 1905 Doubleday-Collier edition) +and proof-read so as to duplicate the original publication +of these stories (using facsimiles) in The Strand Magazine +by Joanne Brown brownjm@admin1.unbsj.ca, Frank Sadowski +fsdw@db1.cc.rochester.edu, & Roger Squires rsquires@unm.edu. +Thanks also to The Hounds of the Internet (blocka@beloit.edu +for more info) for their assistance and encouragement. +-------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +I. -- The Adventure of the Empty House. + + +IT was in the spring of the year 1894 that all London was +interested, and the fashionable world dismayed, by the murder of +the Honourable Ronald Adair under most unusual and inexplicable +circumstances. The public has already learned those particulars +of the crime which came out in the police investigation; but a +good deal was suppressed upon that occasion, since the case for +the prosecution was so overwhelmingly strong that it was not +necessary to bring forward all the facts. Only now, at the end +of nearly ten years, am I allowed to supply those missing links +which make up the whole of that remarkable chain. The crime was +of interest in itself, but that interest was as nothing to me +compared to the inconceivable sequel, which afforded me the +greatest shock and surprise of any event in my adventurous life. +Even now, after this long interval, I find myself thrilling as +I think of it, and feeling once more that sudden flood of joy, +amazement, and incredulity which utterly submerged my mind. +Let me say to that public which has shown some interest in those +glimpses which I have occasionally given them of the thoughts +and actions of a very remarkable man that they are not to blame +me if I have not shared my knowledge with them, for I should +have considered it my first duty to have done so had I not been +barred by a positive prohibition from his own lips, which was +only withdrawn upon the third of last month. + +It can be imagined that my close intimacy with Sherlock Holmes +had interested me deeply in crime, and that after his +disappearance I never failed to read with care the various +problems which came before the public, and I even attempted more +than once for my own private satisfaction to employ his methods +in their solution, though with indifferent success. There was +none, however, which appealed to me like this tragedy of Ronald +Adair. As I read the evidence at the inquest, which led up to +a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons +unknown, I realized more clearly than I had ever done the loss +which the community had sustained by the death of Sherlock +Holmes. There were points about this strange business which +would, I was sure, have specially appealed to him, and the +efforts of the police would have been supplemented, or more +probably anticipated, by the trained observation and the alert +mind of the first criminal agent in Europe. All day as I drove +upon my round I turned over the case in my mind, and found no +explanation which appeared to me to be adequate. At the risk of +telling a twice-told tale I will recapitulate the facts as they +were known to the public at the conclusion of the inquest. + +The Honourable Ronald Adair was the second son of the Earl +of Maynooth, at that time Governor of one of the Australian +Colonies. Adair's mother had returned from Australia to +undergo the operation for cataract, and she, her son Ronald, +and her daughter Hilda were living together at 427, Park Lane. +The youth moved in the best society, had, so far as was known, +no enemies, and no particular vices. He had been engaged to Miss +Edith Woodley, of Carstairs, but the engagement had been broken +off by mutual consent some months before, and there was no sign +that it had left any very profound feeling behind it. For the +rest the man's life moved in a narrow and conventional circle, +for his habits were quiet and his nature unemotional. Yet it +was upon this easy-going young aristocrat that death came in +most strange and unexpected form between the hours of ten and +eleven-twenty on the night of March 30, 1894. + +Ronald Adair was fond of cards, playing continually, but never +for such stakes as would hurt him. He was a member of the +Baldwin, the Cavendish, and the Bagatelle card clubs. It was +shown that after dinner on the day of his death he had played +a rubber of whist at the latter club. He had also played there +in the afternoon. The evidence of those who had played with him +-- Mr. Murray, Sir John Hardy, and Colonel Moran -- showed that +the game was whist, and that there was a fairly equal fall of +the cards. Adair might have lost five pounds, but not more. +His fortune was a considerable one, and such a loss could not in +any way affect him. He had played nearly every day at one club +or other, but he was a cautious player, and usually rose a winner. +It came out in evidence that in partnership with Colonel Moran +he had actually won as much as four hundred and twenty pounds in +a sitting some weeks before from Godfrey Milner and Lord Balmoral. +So much for his recent history, as it came out at the inquest. + +On the evening of the crime he returned from the club exactly at +ten. His mother and sister were out spending the evening with a +relation. The servant deposed that she heard him enter the front +room on the second floor, generally used as his sitting-room. +She had lit a fire there, and as it smoked she had opened the window. +No sound was heard from the room until eleven-twenty, the hour of +the return of Lady Maynooth and her daughter. Desiring to say +good-night, she had attempted to enter her son's room. The door +was locked on the inside, and no answer could be got to their +cries and knocking. Help was obtained and the door forced. +The unfortunate young man was found lying near the table. +His head had been horribly mutilated by an expanding revolver +bullet, but no weapon of any sort was to be found in the room. +On the table lay two bank-notes for ten pounds each and seventeen +pounds ten in silver and gold, the money arranged in little piles +of varying amount. There were some figures also upon a sheet of +paper with the names of some club friends opposite to them, +from which it was conjectured that before his death he was +endeavouring to make out his losses or winnings at cards. + +A minute examination of the circumstances served only to make +the case more complex. In the first place, no reason could be +given why the young man should have fastened the door upon the +inside. There was the possibility that the murderer had done +this and had afterwards escaped by the window. The drop was at +least twenty feet, however, and a bed of crocuses in full bloom +lay beneath. Neither the flowers nor the earth showed any sign +of having been disturbed, nor were there any marks upon the +narrow strip of grass which separated the house from the road. +Apparently, therefore, it was the young man himself who had +fastened the door. But how did he come by his death? +No one could have climbed up to the window without leaving traces. +Suppose a man had fired through the window, it would indeed be a +remarkable shot who could with a revolver inflict so deadly a +wound. Again, Park Lane is a frequented thoroughfare, and there +is a cab-stand within a hundred yards of the house. No one had +heard a shot. And yet there was the dead man, and there the +revolver bullet, which had mushroomed out, as soft-nosed bullets +will, and so inflicted a wound which must have caused +instantaneous death. Such were the circumstances of the Park +Lane Mystery, which were further complicated by entire absence +of motive, since, as I have said, young Adair was not known to +have any enemy, and no attempt had been made to remove the money +or valuables in the room. + +All day I turned these facts over in my mind, endeavouring to +hit upon some theory which could reconcile them all, and to find +that line of least resistance which my poor friend had declared +to be the starting-point of every investigation. I confess that +I made little progress. In the evening I strolled across the +Park, and found myself about six o'clock at the Oxford Street +end of Park Lane. A group of loafers upon the pavements, all +staring up at a particular window, directed me to the house +which I had come to see. A tall, thin man with coloured +glasses, whom I strongly suspected of being a plain-clothes +detective, was pointing out some theory of his own, while the +others crowded round to listen to what he said. I got as near +him as I could, but his observations seemed to me to be absurd, +so I withdrew again in some disgust. As I did so I struck +against an elderly deformed man, who had been behind me, and I +knocked down several books which he was carrying. I remember +that as I picked them up I observed the title of one of them, +"The Origin of Tree Worship," and it struck me that the fellow +must be some poor bibliophile who, either as a trade or as a +hobby, was a collector of obscure volumes. I endeavoured to +apologize for the accident, but it was evident that these books +which I had so unfortunately maltreated were very precious +objects in the eyes of their owner. With a snarl of contempt +he turned upon his heel, and I saw his curved back and white +side-whiskers disappear among the throng. + +My observations of No. 427, Park Lane did little to clear up the +problem in which I was interested. The house was separated from +the street by a low wall and railing, the whole not more than +five feet high. It was perfectly easy, therefore, for anyone +to get into the garden, but the window was entirely inaccessible, +since there was no water-pipe or anything which could help the +most active man to climb it. More puzzled than ever I retraced +my steps to Kensington. I had not been in my study five minutes +when the maid entered to say that a person desired to see me. +To my astonishment it was none other than my strange old +book-collector, his sharp, wizened face peering out from a frame +of white hair, and his precious volumes, a dozen of them at least, +wedged under his right arm. + +"You're surprised to see me, sir," said he, in a strange, +croaking voice. + +I acknowledged that I was. + +"Well, I've a conscience, sir, and when I chanced to see you go +into this house, as I came hobbling after you, I thought to myself, +I'll just step in and see that kind gentleman, and tell him that +if I was a bit gruff in my manner there was not any harm meant, +and that I am much obliged to him for picking up my books." + +"You make too much of a trifle," said I. "May I ask how you +knew who I was?" + +"Well, sir, if it isn't too great a liberty, I am a neighbour +of yours, for you'll find my little bookshop at the corner of +Church Street, and very happy to see you, I am sure. Maybe you +collect yourself, sir; here's `British Birds,' and `Catullus,' +and `The Holy War' -- a bargain every one of them. With five +volumes you could just fill that gap on that second shelf. +It looks untidy, does it not, sir?" + +I moved my head to look at the cabinet behind me. When I turned +again Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my +study table. I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds +in utter amazement, and then it appears that I must have fainted +for the first and the last time in my life. Certainly a grey +mist swirled before my eyes, and when it cleared I found my +collar-ends undone and the tingling after-taste of brandy upon +my lips. Holmes was bending over my chair, his flask in his hand. + +"My dear Watson," said the well-remembered voice, "I owe you a +thousand apologies. I had no idea that you would be so affected." + +I gripped him by the arm. + +"Holmes!" I cried. "Is it really you? Can it indeed be that +you are alive? Is it possible that you succeeded in climbing +out of that awful abyss?" + +"Wait a moment," said he. "Are you sure that you are really +fit to discuss things? I have given you a serious shock by my +unnecessarily dramatic reappearance." + +"I am all right, but indeed, Holmes, I can hardly believe my +eyes. Good heavens, to think that you -- you of all men -- +should be standing in my study!" Again I gripped him by the +sleeve and felt the thin, sinewy arm beneath it. "Well, you're +not a spirit, anyhow," said I. "My dear chap, I am overjoyed +to see you. Sit down and tell me how you came alive out of +that dreadful chasm." + +He sat opposite to me and lit a cigarette in his old nonchalant +manner. He was dressed in the seedy frock-coat of the book +merchant, but the rest of that individual lay in a pile of white +hair and old books upon the table. Holmes looked even thinner +and keener than of old, but there was a dead-white tinge in his +aquiline face which told me that his life recently had not been +a healthy one. + +"I am glad to stretch myself, Watson," said he. "It is no joke +when a tall man has to take a foot off his stature for several +hours on end. Now, my dear fellow, in the matter of these +explanations we have, if I may ask for your co-operation, a hard +and dangerous night's work in front of us. Perhaps it would be +better if I gave you an account of the whole situation when that +work is finished." + +"I am full of curiosity. I should much prefer to hear now." + +"You'll come with me to-night?" + +"When you like and where you like." + +"This is indeed like the old days. We shall have time for a +mouthful of dinner before we need go. Well, then, about that +chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, for +the very simple reason that I never was in it." + +"You never were in it?" + +"No, Watson, I never was in it. My note to you was absolutely +genuine. I had little doubt that I had come to the end of my +career when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of the late +Professor Moriarty standing upon the narrow pathway which led to +safety. I read an inexorable purpose in his grey eyes. +I exchanged some remarks with him, therefore, and obtained his +courteous permission to write the short note which you +afterwards received. I left it with my cigarette-box and my +stick and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my +heels. When I reached the end I stood at bay. He drew no +weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me. +He knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to +revenge himself upon me. We tottered together upon the brink +of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the +Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very +useful to me. I slipped through his grip, and he with a +horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds and clawed the +air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not +get his balance, and over he went. With my face over the brink +I saw him fall for a long way. Then he struck a rock, bounded +off, and splashed into the water." + +I listened with amazement to this explanation, which Holmes +delivered between the puffs of his cigarette. + +"But the tracks!" I cried. "I saw with my own eyes that two +went down the path and none returned." + +"It came about in this way. The instant that the Professor had +disappeared it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky +chance Fate had placed in my way. I knew that Moriarty was not +the only man who had sworn my death. There were at least three +others whose desire for vengeance upon me would only be +increased by the death of their leader. They were all most +dangerous men. One or other would certainly get me. On the +other hand, if all the world was convinced that I was dead they +would take liberties, these men, they would lay themselves open, +and sooner or later I could destroy them. Then it would be time +for me to announce that I was still in the land of the living. +So rapidly does the brain act that I believe I had thought this +all out before Professor Moriarty had reached the bottom +of the Reichenbach Fall. + +"I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me. In your +picturesque account of the matter, which I read with great +interest some months later, you assert that the wall was sheer. +This was not literally true. A few small footholds presented +themselves, and there was some indication of a ledge. The cliff +is so high that to climb it all was an obvious impossibility, +and it was equally impossible to make my way along the wet path +without leaving some tracks. I might, it is true, have reversed +my boots, as I have done on similar occasions, but the sight of +three sets of tracks in one direction would certainly have +suggested a deception. On the whole, then, it was best that I +should risk the climb. It was not a pleasant business, Watson. +The fall roared beneath me. I am not a fanciful person, but +I give you my word that I seemed to hear Moriarty's voice +screaming at me out of the abyss. A mistake would have been fatal. +More than once, as tufts of grass came out in my hand or my foot +slipped in the wet notches of the rock, I thought that I was gone. +But I struggled upwards, and at last I reached a ledge several feet +deep and covered with soft green moss, where I could lie unseen +in the most perfect comfort. There I was stretched when you, +my dear Watson, and all your following were investigating in the most +sympathetic and inefficient manner the circumstances of my death. + +"At last, when you had all formed your inevitable and totally +erroneous conclusions, you departed for the hotel and I was left +alone. I had imagined that I had reached the end of my adventures, +but a very unexpected occurrence showed me that there were +surprises still in store for me. A huge rock, falling from above, +boomed past me, struck the path, and bounded over into the chasm. +For an instant I thought that it was an accident; but a moment later, +looking up, I saw a man's head against the darkening sky, and +another stone struck the very ledge upon which I was stretched, +within a foot of my head. Of course, the meaning of this was obvious. +Moriarty had not been alone. A confederate -- and even that one +glance had told me how dangerous a man that confederate was -- +had kept guard while the Professor had attacked me. From a distance, +unseen by me, he had been a witness of his friend's death and of my +escape. He had waited, and then, making his way round to the top of +the cliff, he had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed. + +"I did not take long to think about it, Watson. Again I saw +that grim face look over the cliff, and I knew that it was the +precursor of another stone. I scrambled down on to the path. +I don't think I could have done it in cold blood. It was a +hundred times more difficult than getting up. But I had no time +to think of the danger, for another stone sang past me as I hung +by my hands from the edge of the ledge. Halfway down I slipped, +but by the blessing of God I landed, torn and bleeding, upon the +path. I took to my heels, did ten miles over the mountains in +the darkness, and a week later I found myself in Florence with the +certainty that no one in the world knew what had become of me. + +"I had only one confidant -- my brother Mycroft. I owe you many +apologies, my dear Watson, but it was all-important that it +should be thought I was dead, and it is quite certain that you +would not have written so convincing an account of my unhappy +end had you not yourself thought that it was true. Several +times during the last three years I have taken up my pen to +write to you, but always I feared lest your affectionate regard +for me should tempt you to some indiscretion which would betray +my secret. For that reason I turned away from you this evening +when you upset my books, for I was in danger at the time, and +any show of surprise and emotion upon your part might have drawn +attention to my identity and led to the most deplorable and +irreparable results. As to Mycroft, I had to confide in him in +order to obtain the money which I needed. The course of events +in London did not run so well as I had hoped, for the trial of +the Moriarty gang left two of its most dangerous members, my own +most vindictive enemies, at liberty. I travelled for two years +in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhassa and +spending some days with the head Llama. You may have read of +the remarkable explorations of a Norwegian named Sigerson, but +I am sure that it never occurred to you that you were receiving +news of your friend. I then passed through Persia, looked in at +Mecca, and paid a short but interesting visit to the Khalifa at +Khartoum, the results of which I have communicated to the +Foreign Office. Returning to France I spent some months in a +research into the coal-tar derivatives, which I conducted in a +laboratory at Montpelier, in the South of France. Having +concluded this to my satisfaction, and learning that only one of +my enemies was now left in London, I was about to return when my +movements were hastened by the news of this very remarkable Park +Lane Mystery, which not only appealed to me by its own merits, +but which seemed to offer some most peculiar personal +opportunities. I came over at once to London, called in my own +person at Baker Street, threw Mrs. Hudson into violent hysterics, +and found that Mycroft had preserved my rooms and my papers +exactly as they had always been. So it was, my dear Watson, +that at two o'clock to-day I found myself in my old arm-chair in +my own old room, and only wishing that I could have seen my old +friend Watson in the other chair which he has so often adorned." + +Such was the remarkable narrative to which I listened on that +April evening -- a narrative which would have been utterly +incredible to me had it not been confirmed by the actual sight +of the tall, spare figure and the keen, eager face, which I had +never thought to see again. In some manner he had learned of my +own sad bereavement, and his sympathy was shown in his manner +rather than in his words. "Work is the best antidote to sorrow, +my dear Watson," said he, "and I have a piece of work for us +both to-night which, if we can bring it to a successful +conclusion, will in itself justify a man's life on this planet." +In vain I begged him to tell me more. "You will hear and see +enough before morning," he answered. "We have three years of +the past to discuss. Let that suffice until half-past nine, +when we start upon the notable adventure of the empty house." + +It was indeed like old times when, at that hour, I found myself +seated beside him in a hansom, my revolver in my pocket and the +thrill of adventure in my heart. Holmes was cold and stern and +silent. As the gleam of the street-lamps flashed upon his +austere features I saw that his brows were drawn down in thought +and his thin lips compressed. I knew not what wild beast we +were about to hunt down in the dark jungle of criminal London, +but I was well assured from the bearing of this master huntsman +that the adventure was a most grave one, while the sardonic +smile which occasionally broke through his ascetic gloom boded +little good for the object of our quest. + +I had imagined that we were bound for Baker Street, but Holmes +stopped the cab at the corner of Cavendish Square. I observed +that as he stepped out he gave a most searching glance to right +and left, and at every subsequent street corner he took the +utmost pains to assure that he was not followed. Our route was +certainly a singular one. Holmes's knowledge of the byways of +London was extraordinary, and on this occasion he passed rapidly, +and with an assured step, through a network of mews and stables +the very existence of which I had never known. We emerged at +last into a small road, lined with old, gloomy houses, which led +us into Manchester Street, and so to Blandford Street. Here he +turned swiftly down a narrow passage, passed through a wooden +gate into a deserted yard, and then opened with a key the back +door of a house. We entered together and he closed it behind us. + +The place was pitch-dark, but it was evident to me that it was +an empty house. Our feet creaked and crackled over the bare +planking, and my outstretched hand touched a wall from which the +paper was hanging in ribbons. Holmes's cold, thin fingers +closed round my wrist and led me forwards down a long hall, +until I dimly saw the murky fanlight over the door. Here Holmes +turned suddenly to the right, and we found ourselves in a large, +square, empty room, heavily shadowed in the corners, but faintly +lit in the centre from the lights of the street beyond. There was +no lamp near and the window was thick with dust, so that we could +only just discern each other's figures within. My companion put +his hand upon my shoulder and his lips close to my ear. + +"Do you know where we are?" he whispered. + +"Surely that is Baker Street," I answered, staring through the +dim window. + +"Exactly. We are in Camden House, which stands opposite to our +own old quarters." + +"But why are we here?" + +"Because it commands so excellent a view of that picturesque pile. +Might I trouble you, my dear Watson, to draw a little nearer to +the window, taking every precaution not to show yourself, +and then to look up at our old rooms -- the starting-point of so +many of our little adventures? We will see if my three years of +absence have entirely taken away my power to surprise you." + +I crept forward and looked across at the familiar window. +As my eyes fell upon it I gave a gasp and a cry of amazement. +The blind was down and a strong light was burning in the room. +The shadow of a man who was seated in a chair within was thrown in +hard, black outline upon the luminous screen of the window. +There was no mistaking the poise of the head, the squareness of +the shoulders, the sharpness of the features. The face was +turned half-round, and the effect was that of one of those black +silhouettes which our grandparents loved to frame. It was a +perfect reproduction of Holmes. So amazed was I that I threw +out my hand to make sure that the man himself was standing +beside me. He was quivering with silent laughter. + +"Well?" said he. + +"Good heavens!" I cried. "It is marvellous." + +"I trust that age doth not wither nor custom stale my infinite +variety,'" said he, and I recognised in his voice the joy and +pride which the artist takes in his own creation. "It really is +rather like me, is it not?" + +"I should be prepared to swear that it was you." + +"The credit of the execution is due to Monsieur Oscar Meunier, +of Grenoble, who spent some days in doing the moulding. It is a +bust in wax. The rest I arranged myself during my visit to +Baker Street this afternoon." + +"But why?" + +"Because, my dear Watson, I had the strongest possible reason +for wishing certain people to think that I was there when I was +really elsewhere." + +"And you thought the rooms were watched?" + +"I KNEW that they were watched." + +"By whom?" + +"By my old enemies, Watson. By the charming society whose leader +lies in the Reichenbach Fall. You must remember that they knew, +and only they knew, that I was still alive. Sooner or later they +believed that I should come back to my rooms. They watched them +continuously, and this morning they saw me arrive." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because I recognised their sentinel when I glanced out of my +window. He is a harmless enough fellow, Parker by name, +a garroter by trade, and a remarkable performer upon the Jew's +harp. I cared nothing for him. But I cared a great deal for +the much more formidable person who was behind him, the bosom +friend of Moriarty, the man who dropped the rocks over the cliff, +the most cunning and dangerous criminal in London. That is the +man who is after me to-night, Watson, and that is the man who is +quite unaware that we are after HIM." + +My friend's plans were gradually revealing themselves. +From this convenient retreat the watchers were being watched and +the trackers tracked. That angular shadow up yonder was the bait +and we were the hunters. In silence we stood together in the +darkness and watched the hurrying figures who passed and +repassed in front of us. Holmes was silent and motionless; +but I could tell that he was keenly alert, and that his eyes were +fixed intently upon the stream of passers-by. It was a bleak +and boisterous night, and the wind whistled shrilly down the +long street. Many people were moving to and fro, most of them +muffled in their coats and cravats. Once or twice it seemed to +me that I had seen the same figure before, and I especially +noticed two men who appeared to be sheltering themselves from +the wind in the doorway of a house some distance up the street. +I tried to draw my companion's attention to them, but he gave a +little ejaculation of impatience and continued to stare into the +street. More than once he fidgeted with his feet and tapped +rapidly with his fingers upon the wall. It was evident to me +that he was becoming uneasy and that his plans were not working +out altogether as he had hoped. At last, as midnight approached +and the street gradually cleared, he paced up and down the room +in uncontrollable agitation. I was about to make some remark to +him when I raised my eyes to the lighted window and again +experienced almost as great a surprise as before. I clutched +Holmes's arm and pointed upwards. + +"The shadow has moved!" I cried. + +It was, indeed, no longer the profile, but the back, which was +turned towards us. + +Three years had certainly not smoothed the asperities of his temper +or his impatience with a less active intelligence than his own. + +"Of course it has moved," said he. "Am I such a farcical +bungler, Watson, that I should erect an obvious dummy and expect +that some of the sharpest men in Europe would be deceived by it? +We have been in this room two hours, and Mrs. Hudson has made +some change in that figure eight times, or once in every quarter +of an hour. She works it from the front so that her shadow may +never be seen. Ah!" He drew in his breath with a shrill, +excited intake. In the dim light I saw his head thrown forward, +his whole attitude rigid with attention. Outside, the street +was absolutely deserted. Those two men might still be crouching +in the doorway, but I could no longer see them. All was still +and dark, save only that brilliant yellow screen in front of us +with the black figure outlined upon its centre. Again in the +utter silence I heard that thin, sibilant note which spoke of +intense suppressed excitement. An instant later he pulled me +back into the blackest corner of the room, and I felt his +warning hand upon my lips. The fingers which clutched me were +quivering. Never had I known my friend more moved, and yet the +dark street still stretched lonely and motionless before us. + +But suddenly I was aware of that which his keener senses had +already distinguished. A low, stealthy sound came to my ears, +not from the direction of Baker Street, but from the back of the +very house in which we lay concealed. A door opened and shut. +An instant later steps crept down the passage -- steps which +were meant to be silent, but which reverberated harshly through +the empty house. Holmes crouched back against the wall and I +did the same, my hand closing upon the handle of my revolver. +Peering through the gloom, I saw the vague outline of a man, +a shade blacker than the blackness of the open door. He stood +for an instant, and then he crept forward, crouching, menacing, +into the room. He was within three yards of us, this sinister +figure, and I had braced myself to meet his spring, before I +realized that he had no idea of our presence. He passed close +beside us, stole over to the window, and very softly and +noiselessly raised it for half a foot. As he sank to the level +of this opening the light of the street, no longer dimmed by the +dusty glass, fell full upon his face. The man seemed to be +beside himself with excitement. His two eyes shone like stars +and his features were working convulsively. He was an elderly +man, with a thin, projecting nose, a high, bald forehead, and a +huge grizzled moustache. An opera-hat was pushed to the back of +his head, and an evening dress shirt-front gleamed out through +his open overcoat. His face was gaunt and swarthy, scored with +deep, savage lines. In his hand he carried what appeared to be +a stick, but as he laid it down upon the floor it gave a +metallic clang. Then from the pocket of his overcoat he drew a +bulky object, and he busied himself in some task which ended +with a loud, sharp click, as if a spring or bolt had fallen into +its place. Still kneeling upon the floor he bent forward and +threw all his weight and strength upon some lever, with the +result that there came a long, whirling, grinding noise, ending +once more in a powerful click. He straightened himself then, +and I saw that what he held in his hand was a sort of gun, with +a curiously misshapen butt. He opened it at the breech, put +something in, and snapped the breech-block. Then, crouching +down, he rested the end of the barrel upon the ledge of the open +window, and I saw his long moustache droop over the stock and +his eye gleam as it peered along the sights. I heard a little +sigh of satisfaction as he cuddled the butt into his shoulder, +and saw that amazing target, the black man on the yellow ground, +standing clear at the end of his fore sight. For an instant he +was rigid and motionless. Then his finger tightened on the +trigger. There was a strange, loud whiz and a long, silvery +tinkle of broken glass. At that instant Holmes sprang like a +tiger on to the marksman's back and hurled him flat upon his +face. He was up again in a moment, and with convulsive strength +he seized Holmes by the throat; but I struck him on the head +with the butt of my revolver and he dropped again upon the floor. +I fell upon him, and as I held him my comrade blew a shrill call +upon a whistle. There was the clatter of running feet upon the +pavement, and two policemen in uniform, with one plain-clothes +detective, rushed through the front entrance and into the room. + +"That you, Lestrade?" said Holmes. + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes. I took the job myself. It's good to see you +back in London, sir." + +"I think you want a little unofficial help. Three undetected +murders in one year won't do, Lestrade. But you handled the +Molesey Mystery with less than your usual -- that's to say, you +handled it fairly well." + +We had all risen to our feet, our prisoner breathing hard, +with a stalwart constable on each side of him. Already a few +loiterers had begun to collect in the street. Holmes stepped up +to the window, closed it, and dropped the blinds. Lestrade had +produced two candles and the policemen had uncovered their lanterns. +I was able at last to have a good look at our prisoner. + +It was a tremendously virile and yet sinister face which was +turned towards us. With the brow of a philosopher above and the +jaw of a sensualist below, the man must have started with great +capacities for good or for evil. But one could not look upon his +cruel blue eyes, with their drooping, cynical lids, or upon the +fierce, aggressive nose and the threatening, deep-lined brow, +without reading Nature's plainest danger-signals. He took no heed +of any of us, but his eyes were fixed upon Holmes's face with an +expression in which hatred and amazement were equally blended. +"You fiend!" he kept on muttering. "You clever, clever fiend!" + +"Ah, Colonel!" said Holmes, arranging his rumpled collar; +"`journeys end in lovers' meetings,' as the old play says. +I don't think I have had the pleasure of seeing you since you +favoured me with those attentions as I lay on the ledge above +the Reichenbach Fall." + +The Colonel still stared at my friend like a man in a trance. +"You cunning, cunning fiend!" was all that he could say. + +"I have not introduced you yet," said Holmes. "This, gentlemen, +is Colonel Sebastian Moran, once of Her Majesty's Indian Army, +and the best heavy game shot that our Eastern Empire has ever +produced. I believe I am correct, Colonel, in saying that your +bag of tigers still remains unrivalled?" + +The fierce old man said nothing, but still glared at my companion; +with his savage eyes and bristling moustache he was wonderfully +like a tiger himself. + +"I wonder that my very simple stratagem could deceive so old +a shikari," said Holmes. "It must be very familiar to you. +Have you not tethered a young kid under a tree, lain above it +with your rifle, and waited for the bait to bring up your tiger? +This empty house is my tree and you are my tiger. You have +possibly had other guns in reserve in case there should be +several tigers, or in the unlikely supposition of your own aim +failing you. These," he pointed around, "are my other guns. +The parallel is exact." + +Colonel Moran sprang forward, with a snarl of rage, but the +constables dragged him back. The fury upon his face was +terrible to look at. + +"I confess that you had one small surprise for me," said Holmes. +"I did not anticipate that you would yourself make use of this +empty house and this convenient front window. I had imagined +you as operating from the street, where my friend Lestrade and +his merry men were awaiting you. With that exception all has +gone as I expected." + +Colonel Moran turned to the official detective. + +"You may or may not have just cause for arresting me," said he, +"but at least there can be no reason why I should submit to the +gibes of this person. If I am in the hands of the law let +things be done in a legal way." + +"Well, that's reasonable enough," said Lestrade. "Nothing +further you have to say, Mr. Holmes, before we go?" + +Holmes had picked up the powerful air-gun from the floor and +was examining its mechanism. + +"An admirable and unique weapon," said he, "noiseless and of +tremendous power. I knew Von Herder, the blind German mechanic, +who constructed it to the order of the late Professor Moriarty. +For years I have been aware of its existence, though I have +never before had the opportunity of handling it. I commend it +very specially to your attention, Lestrade, and also the bullets +which fit it." + +"You can trust us to look after that, Mr. Holmes," said Lestrade, +as the whole party moved towards the door. "Anything further to say?" + +"Only to ask what charge you intend to prefer?" + +"What charge, sir? Why, of course, the attempted murder of Mr. +Sherlock Holmes." + +"Not so, Lestrade. I do not propose to appear in the matter at all. +To you, and to you only, belongs the credit of the remarkable arrest +which you have effected. Yes, Lestrade, I congratulate you! With +your usual happy mixture of cunning and audacity you have got him." + +"Got him! Got whom, Mr. Holmes?" + +"The man that the whole force has been seeking in vain -- +Colonel Sebastian Moran, who shot the Honourable Ronald Adair +with an expanding bullet from an air-gun through the open window +of the second-floor front of No. 427, Park Lane, upon the 30th +of last month. That's the charge, Lestrade. And now, Watson, +if you can endure the draught from a broken window, I think that +half an hour in my study over a cigar may afford you some +profitable amusement." + + +Our old chambers had been left unchanged through the supervision +of Mycroft Holmes and the immediate care of Mrs. Hudson. +As I entered I saw, it is true, an unwonted tidiness, but the old +landmarks were all in their place. There were the chemical +corner and the acid-stained, deal-topped table. There upon a +shelf was the row of formidable scrap-books and books of reference +which many of our fellow-citizens would have been so glad to burn. +The diagrams, the violin-case, and the pipe-rack -- even the +Persian slipper which contained the tobacco -- all met my eyes +as I glanced round me. There were two occupants of the room -- +one Mrs. Hudson, who beamed upon us both as we entered; +the other the strange dummy which had played so important a part in +the evening's adventures. It was a wax-coloured model of my friend, +so admirably done that it was a perfect facsimile. It stood on a +small pedestal table with an old dressing-gown of Holmes's so draped +round it that the illusion from the street was absolutely perfect. + +"I hope you preserved all precautions, Mrs. Hudson?" said Holmes. + +"I went to it on my knees, sir, just as you told me." + +"Excellent. You carried the thing out very well. Did you observe +where the bullet went?" + +"Yes, sir. I'm afraid it has spoilt your beautiful bust, for it +passed right through the head and flattened itself on the wall. +I picked it up from the carpet. Here it is!" + +Holmes held it out to me. "A soft revolver bullet, as you +perceive, Watson. There's genius in that, for who would expect +to find such a thing fired from an air-gun. All right, Mrs. +Hudson, I am much obliged for your assistance. And now, Watson, +let me see you in your old seat once more, for there are +several points which I should like to discuss with you." + +He had thrown off the seedy frock-coat, and now he was the +Holmes of old in the mouse-coloured dressing-gown which he took +from his effigy. + +"The old shikari's nerves have not lost their steadiness nor his +eyes their keenness," said he, with a laugh, as he inspected the +shattered forehead of his bust. + +"Plumb in the middle of the back of the head and smack through +the brain. He was the best shot in India, and I expect that +there are few better in London. Have you heard the name?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Well, well, such is fame! But, then, if I remember aright, +you had not heard the name of Professor James Moriarty, who had +one of the great brains of the century. Just give me down my +index of biographies from the shelf." + +He turned over the pages lazily, leaning back in his chair and +blowing great clouds from his cigar. + +"My collection of M's is a fine one," said he. +"Moriarty himself is enough to make any letter illustrious, +and here is Morgan the poisoner, and Merridew of abominable memory, +and Mathews, who knocked out my left canine in the waiting-room +at Charing Cross, and, finally, here is our friend of to-night." + +He handed over the book, and I read: +"MORAN, SEBASTIAN, COLONEL. Unemployed. Formerly 1st Bengalore +Pioneers. Born London, 1840. Son of Sir Augustus Moran, C.B., +once British Minister to Persia. Educated Eton and Oxford. +Served in Jowaki Campaign, Afghan Campaign, Charasiab (despatches), +Sherpur, and Cabul. Author of `Heavy Game of the Western Himalayas,' +1881; `Three Months in the Jungle,' 1884. Address: Conduit Street. +Clubs: The Anglo-Indian, the Tankerville, the Bagatelle Card Club." + +On the margin was written, in Holmes's precise hand: +"The second most dangerous man in London." + +"This is astonishing," said I, as I handed back the volume. +"The man's career is that of an honourable soldier." + +"It is true," Holmes answered. "Up to a certain point he did +well. He was always a man of iron nerve, and the story is still +told in India how he crawled down a drain after a wounded +man-eating tiger. There are some trees, Watson, which grow to a +certain height and then suddenly develop some unsightly +eccentricity. You will see it often in humans. I have a theory +that the individual represents in his development the whole +procession of his ancestors, and that such a sudden turn to good +or evil stands for some strong influence which came into the +line of his pedigree. The person becomes, as it were, the +epitome of the history of his own family." + +"It is surely rather fanciful." + +"Well, I don't insist upon it. Whatever the cause, Colonel +Moran began to go wrong. Without any open scandal, he still made +India too hot to hold him. He retired, came to London, and +again acquired an evil name. It was at this time that he was +sought out by Professor Moriarty, to whom for a time he was +chief of the staff. Moriarty supplied him liberally with money +and used him only in one or two very high-class jobs which no +ordinary criminal could have undertaken. You may have some +recollection of the death of Mrs. Stewart, of Lauder, in 1887. +Not? Well, I am sure Moran was at the bottom of it; but nothing +could be proved. So cleverly was the Colonel concealed that +even when the Moriarty gang was broken up we could not +incriminate him. You remember at that date, when I called upon +you in your rooms, how I put up the shutters for fear of +air-guns? No doubt you thought me fanciful. I knew exactly +what I was doing, for I knew of the existence of this remarkable +gun, and I knew also that one of the best shots in the world +would be behind it. When we were in Switzerland he followed us +with Moriarty, and it was undoubtedly he who gave me that evil +five minutes on the Reichenbach ledge. + +"You may think that I read the papers with some attention during +my sojourn in France, on the look-out for any chance of laying +him by the heels. So long as he was free in London my life +would really not have been worth living. Night and day the +shadow would have been over me, and sooner or later his chance +must have come. What could I do? I could not shoot him at +sight, or I should myself be in the dock. There was no use +appealing to a magistrate. They cannot interfere on the +strength of what would appear to them to be a wild suspicion. +So I could do nothing. But I watched the criminal news, knowing +that sooner or later I should get him. Then came the death of +this Ronald Adair. My chance had come at last! Knowing what I +did, was it not certain that Colonel Moran had done it? He had +played cards with the lad; he had followed him home from the +club; he had shot him through the open window. There was not a +doubt of it. The bullets alone are enough to put his head in a +noose. I came over at once. I was seen by the sentinel, who +would, I knew, direct the Colonel's attention to my presence. He +could not fail to connect my sudden return with his crime and to +be terribly alarmed. I was sure that he would make an attempt +to get me out of the way AT ONCE, and would bring round his +murderous weapon for that purpose. I left him an excellent mark +in the window, and, having warned the police that they might be +needed -- by the way, Watson, you spotted their presence in that +doorway with unerring accuracy -- I took up what seemed to me to +be a judicious post for observation, never dreaming that he +would choose the same spot for his attack. Now, my dear Watson, +does anything remain for me to explain?" + +"Yes," said I. "You have not made it clear what was Colonel +Moran's motive in murdering the Honourable Ronald Adair." + +"Ah! my dear Watson, there we come into those realms of +conjecture where the most logical mind may be at fault. +Each may form his own hypothesis upon the present evidence, +and yours is as likely to be correct as mine." + +"You have formed one, then?" + +"I think that it is not difficult to explain the facts. +It came out in evidence that Colonel Moran and young Adair had +between them won a considerable amount of money. Now, Moran +undoubtedly played foul -- of that I have long been aware. +I believe that on the day of the murder Adair had discovered that +Moran was cheating. Very likely he had spoken to him privately, +and had threatened to expose him unless he voluntarily resigned +his membership of the club and promised not to play cards again. +It is unlikely that a youngster like Adair would at once make a +hideous scandal by exposing a well-known man so much older than +himself. Probably he acted as I suggest. The exclusion from +his clubs would mean ruin to Moran, who lived by his ill-gotten +card gains. He therefore murdered Adair, who at the time was +endeavouring to work out how much money he should himself return, +since he could not profit by his partner's foul play. He locked +the door lest the ladies should surprise him and insist upon knowing +what he was doing with these names and coins. Will it pass?" + +"I have no doubt that you have hit upon the truth." + +"It will be verified or disproved at the trial. Meanwhile, +come what may, Colonel Moran will trouble us no more, the famous +air-gun of Von Herder will embellish the Scotland Yard Museum, +and once again Mr. Sherlock Holmes is free to devote his life to +examining those interesting little problems which the complex +life of London so plentifully presents." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 26 NOVEMBER, 1903 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +II. -- The Adventure of the Norwood Builder. + + +"FROM the point of view of the criminal expert," said Mr. +Sherlock Holmes, "London has become a singularly uninteresting +city since the death of the late lamented Professor Moriarty." + +"I can hardly think that you would find many decent citizens +to agree with you," I answered. + +"Well, well, I must not be selfish," said he, with a smile, +as he pushed back his chair from the breakfast-table. +"The community is certainly the gainer, and no one the loser, +save the poor out-of-work specialist, whose occupation has gone. +With that man in the field one's morning paper presented +infinite possibilities. Often it was only the smallest trace, +Watson, the faintest indication, and yet it was enough to tell +me that the great malignant brain was there, as the gentlest +tremors of the edges of the web remind one of the foul spider +which lurks in the centre. Petty thefts, wanton assaults, +purposeless outrage -- to the man who held the clue all could +be worked into one connected whole. To the scientific student +of the higher criminal world no capital in Europe offered +the advantages which London then possessed. But now ----" +He shrugged his shoulders in humorous deprecation of the state +of things which he had himself done so much to produce. + +At the time of which I speak Holmes had been back for some months, +and I, at his request, had sold my practice and returned to share +the old quarters in Baker Street. A young doctor, named Verner, +had purchased my small Kensington practice, and given with +astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to +ask -- an incident which only explained itself some years later +when I found that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes's, and +that it was my friend who had really found the money. + +Our months of partnership had not been so uneventful as he had +stated, for I find, on looking over my notes, that this period +includes the case of the papers of Ex-President Murillo, and +also the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship FRIESLAND, which +so nearly cost us both our lives. His cold and proud nature was +always averse, however, to anything in the shape of public applause, +and he bound me in the most stringent terms to say no further word +of himself, his methods, or his successes -- a prohibition which, +as I have explained, has only now been removed. + +Mr. Sherlock Holmes was leaning back in his chair after his +whimsical protest, and was unfolding his morning paper in a +leisurely fashion, when our attention was arrested by a +tremendous ring at the bell, followed immediately by a hollow +drumming sound, as if someone were beating on the outer door +with his fist. As it opened there came a tumultuous rush into +the hall, rapid feet clattered up the stair, and an instant +later a wild-eyed and frantic young man, pale, dishevelled, +and palpitating, burst into the room. He looked from one to the +other of us, and under our gaze of inquiry he became conscious +that some apology was needed for this unceremonious entry. + +"I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes," he cried. "You mustn't blame me. +I am nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane." + +He made the announcement as if the name alone would explain both +his visit and its manner; but I could see by my companion's +unresponsive face that it meant no more to him than to me. + +"Have a cigarette, Mr. McFarlane," said he, pushing his case across. +"I am sure that with your symptoms my friend Dr. Watson here would +prescribe a sedative. The weather has been so very warm these +last few days. Now, if you feel a little more composed, I should +be glad if you would sit down in that chair and tell us very slowly +and quietly who you are and what it is that you want. You mentioned +your name as if I should recognise it, but I assure you that, +beyond the obvious facts that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, +a Freemason, and an asthmatic, I know nothing whatever about you." + +Familiar as I was with my friend's methods, it was not difficult +for me to follow his deductions, and to observe the untidiness of +attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-charm, and the breathing +which had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in amazement. + +"Yes, I am all that, Mr. Holmes, and in addition I am the most +unfortunate man at this moment in London. For Heaven's sake +don't abandon me, Mr. Holmes! If they come to arrest me before +I have finished my story, make them give me time so that I may +tell you the whole truth. I could go to gaol happy if I knew +that you were working for me outside." + +"Arrest you!" said Holmes. "This is really most grati -- most +interesting. On what charge do you expect to be arrested?" + +"Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas Oldacre, of Lower Norwood." + +My companion's expressive face showed a sympathy which was not, +I am afraid, entirely unmixed with satisfaction. + +"Dear me," said he; "it was only this moment at breakfast that +I was saying to my friend, Dr. Watson, that sensational cases had +disappeared out of our papers." + +Our visitor stretched forward a quivering hand and picked up the +DAILY TELEGRAPH, which still lay upon Holmes's knee. + +"If you had looked at it, sir, you would have seen at a glance +what the errand is on which I have come to you this morning. +I feel as if my name and my misfortune must be in every man's +mouth." He turned it over to expose the central page. "Here it +is, and with your permission I will read it to you. Listen to +this, Mr. Holmes. The head-lines are: `Mysterious Affair at +Lower Norwood. Disappearance of a Well-known Builder. Suspicion +of Murder and Arson. A Clue to the Criminal.' That is the clue +which they are already following, Mr. Holmes, and I know that it +leads infallibly to me. I have been followed from London Bridge +Station, and I am sure that they are only waiting for the warrant +to arrest me. It will break my mother's heart -- it will break +her heart!" He wrung his hands in an agony of apprehension, +and swayed backwards and forwards in his chair. + +I looked with interest upon this man, who was accused of being +the perpetrator of a crime of violence. He was flaxen-haired +and handsome in a washed-out negative fashion, with frightened +blue eyes and a clean-shaven face, with a weak, sensitive mouth. +His age may have been about twenty-seven; his dress and bearing +that of a gentleman. From the pocket of his light summer +overcoat protruded the bundle of endorsed papers which +proclaimed his profession. + +"We must use what time we have," said Holmes. "Watson, would +you have the kindness to take the paper and to read me the +paragraph in question?" + +Underneath the vigorous head-lines which our client had quoted +I read the following suggestive narrative:--- + + +Late last night, or early this morning, an incident occurred +at Lower Norwood which points, it is feared, to a serious crime. +Mr. Jonas Oldacre is a well-known resident of that suburb, +where he has carried on his business as a builder for many years. +Mr. Oldacre is a bachelor, fifty-two years of age, and lives in +Deep Dene House, at the Sydenham end of the road of that name. +He has had the reputation of being a man of eccentric habits, +secretive and retiring. For some years he has practically +withdrawn from the business, in which he is said to have amassed +considerable wealth. A small timber-yard still exists, however, +at the back of the house, and last night, about twelve o'clock, +an alarm was given that one of the stacks was on fire. The +engines were soon upon the spot, but the dry wood burned with +great fury, and it was impossible to arrest the conflagration +until the stack had been entirely consumed. Up to this point +the incident bore the appearance of an ordinary accident, but +fresh indications seem to point to serious crime. Surprise was +expressed at the absence of the master of the establishment from +the scene of the fire, and an inquiry followed, which showed +that he had disappeared from the house. An examination of his +room revealed that the bed had not been slept in, that a safe +which stood in it was open, that a number of important papers +were scattered about the room, and, finally, that there were +signs of a murderous struggle, slight traces of blood being +found within the room, and an oaken walking-stick, which also +showed stains of blood upon the handle. It is known that Mr. +Jonas Oldacre had received a late visitor in his bedroom upon +that night, and the stick found has been identified as the +property of this person, who is a young London solicitor named +John Hector McFarlane, junior partner of Graham and McFarlane, +of 426, Gresham Buildings, E.C. The police believe that they +have evidence in their possession which supplies a very +convincing motive for the crime, and altogether it cannot +be doubted that sensational developments will follow. + +LATER. -- It is rumoured as we go to press that Mr. John Hector +McFarlane has actually been arrested on the charge of the murder +of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. It is at least certain that a warrant has +been issued. There have been further and sinister developments +in the investigation at Norwood. Besides the signs of a +struggle in the room of the unfortunate builder it is now known +that the French windows of his bedroom (which is on the ground +floor) were found to be open, that there were marks as if some +bulky object had been dragged across to the wood-pile, and, +finally, it is asserted that charred remains have been found +among the charcoal ashes of the fire. The police theory is that +a most sensational crime has been committed, that the victim was +clubbed to death in his own bedroom, his papers rifled, and his +dead body dragged across to the wood-stack, which was then +ignited so as to hide all traces of the crime. The conduct of +the criminal investigation has been left in the experienced +hands of Inspector Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, who is following +up the clues with his accustomed energy and sagacity. + + +Sherlock Holmes listened with closed eyes and finger-tips +together to this remarkable account. + +"The case has certainly some points of interest," said he, +in his languid fashion. "May I ask, in the first place, +Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you are still at liberty, since +there appears to be enough evidence to justify your arrest?" + +"I live at Torrington Lodge, Blackheath, with my parents, +Mr. Holmes; but last night, having to do business very late +with Mr. Jonas Oldacre, I stayed at an hotel in Norwood, and +came to my business from there. I knew nothing of this affair +until I was in the train, when I read what you have just heard. +I at once saw the horrible danger of my position, and I hurried +to put the case into your hands. I have no doubt that I should +have been arrested either at my City office or at my home. +A man followed me from London Bridge Station, and I have no +doubt --- Great Heaven, what is that?" + +It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps +upon the stair. A moment later our old friend Lestrade +appeared in the doorway. Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse +of one or two uniformed policemen outside. + +"Mr. John Hector McFarlane?" said Lestrade. + +Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly face. + +"I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre, +of Lower Norwood." + +McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of despair, and sank into +his chair once more like one who is crushed. + +"One moment, Lestrade," said Holmes. "Half an hour more or less +can make no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to +give us an account of this very interesting affair, which might +aid us in clearing it up." + +"I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up," +said Lestrade, grimly. + +"None the less, with your permission, I should be much +interested to hear his account." + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me to refuse you anything, +for you have been of use to the force once or twice in the past, +and we owe you a good turn at Scotland Yard," said Lestrade. +"At the same time I must remain with my prisoner, and I am +bound to warn him that anything he may say will appear in +evidence against him." + +"I wish nothing better," said our client. "All I ask is that +you should hear and recognise the absolute truth." + +Lestrade looked at his watch. "I'll give you half an hour," +said he. + +"I must explain first," said McFarlane, "that I knew nothing of +Mr. Jonas Oldacre. His name was familiar to me, for many years +ago my parents were acquainted with him, but they drifted apart. +I was very much surprised, therefore, when yesterday, about +three o'clock in the afternoon, he walked into my office in the +City. But I was still more astonished when he told me the object +of his visit. He had in his hand several sheets of a note-book, +covered with scribbled writing -- here they are -- and he laid +them on my table. + +"`Here is my will,' said he. `I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast +it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.' + +"I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment +when I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his +property to me. He was a strange little, ferret-like man, with +white eyelashes, and when I looked up at him I found his keen +grey eyes fixed upon me with an amused expression. I could +hardly believe my own senses as I read the terms of the will; +but he explained that he was a bachelor with hardly any living +relation, that he had known my parents in his youth, and that he +had always heard of me as a very deserving young man, and was +assured that his money would be in worthy hands. Of course, +I could only stammer out my thanks. The will was duly finished, +signed, and witnessed by my clerk. This is it on the blue paper, +and these slips, as I have explained, are the rough draft. +Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed me that there were a number of +documents -- building leases, title-deeds, mortgages, scrip, +and so forth -- which it was necessary that I should see +and understand. He said that his mind would not be easy until +the whole thing was settled, and he begged me to come out to his +house at Norwood that night, bringing the will with me, and to +arrange matters. `Remember, my boy, not one word to your +parents about the affair until everything is settled. We will +keep it as a little surprise for them.' He was very insistent +upon this point, and made me promise it faithfully. + +"You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to +refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, +and all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular. +I sent a telegram home, therefore, to say that I had important +business on hand, and that it was impossible for me to say how +late I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told me that he would like me +to have supper with him at nine, as he might not be home before +that hour. I had some difficulty in finding his house, however, +and it was nearly half-past before I reached it. I found him ---" + +"One moment!" said Holmes. "Who opened the door?" + +"A middle-aged woman, who was, I suppose, his housekeeper." + +"And it was she, I presume, who mentioned your name?" + +"Exactly," said McFarlane. + +"Pray proceed." + +McFarlane wiped his damp brow and then continued his narrative:-- + +"I was shown by this woman into a sitting-room, where a frugal +supper was laid out. Afterwards Mr. Jonas Oldacre led me into +his bedroom, in which there stood a heavy safe. This he opened +and took out a mass of documents, which we went over together. +It was between eleven and twelve when we finished. He remarked +that we must not disturb the housekeeper. He showed me out +through his own French window, which had been open all this time." + +"Was the blind down?" asked Holmes. + +"I will not be sure, but I believe that it was only half down. +Yes, I remember how he pulled it up in order to swing open the +window. I could not find my stick, and he said, `Never mind, my +boy; I shall see a good deal of you now, I hope, and I will keep +your stick until you come back to claim it.' I left him there, +the safe open, and the papers made up in packets upon the table. +It was so late that I could not get back to Blackheath, so I +spent the night at the Anerley Arms, and I knew nothing more +until I read of this horrible affair in the morning." + +"Anything more that you would like to ask, Mr. Holmes?" +said Lestrade, whose eyebrows had gone up once or twice +during this remarkable explanation. + +"Not until I have been to Blackheath." + +"You mean to Norwood," said Lestrade. + +"Oh, yes; no doubt that is what I must have meant," said Holmes, +with his enigmatical smile. Lestrade had learned by more +experiences than he would care to acknowledge that that +razor-like brain could cut through that which was impenetrable +to him. I saw him look curiously at my companion. + +"I think I should like to have a word with you presently, +Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said he. "Now, Mr. McFarlane, two of +my constables are at the door and there is a four-wheeler +waiting." The wretched young man arose, and with a last +beseeching glance at us walked from the room. The officers +conducted him to the cab, but Lestrade remained. + +Holmes had picked up the pages which formed the rough draft +of the will, and was looking at them with the keenest interest +upon his face. + +"There are some points about that document, Lestrade, are there +not?" said he, pushing them over. + +The official looked at them with a puzzled expression. + +"I can read the first few lines, and these in the middle of +the second page, and one or two at the end. Those are as clear +as print," said he; "but the writing in between is very bad, +and there are three places where I cannot read it at all." + +"What do you make of that?" said Holmes. + +"Well, what do YOU make of it?" + +"That it was written in a train; the good writing represents +stations, the bad writing movement, and the very bad writing +passing over points. A scientific expert would pronounce at +once that this was drawn up on a suburban line, since nowhere +save in the immediate vicinity of a great city could there be so +quick a succession of points. Granting that his whole journey +was occupied in drawing up the will, then the train was an +express, only stopping once between Norwood and London Bridge." + +Lestrade began to laugh. + +"You are too many for me when you begin to get on your theories, +Mr. Holmes," said he. "How does this bear on the case?" + +"Well, it corroborates the young man's story to the extent that +the will was drawn up by Jonas Oldacre in his journey yesterday. +It is curious -- is it not? -- that a man should draw up so +important a document in so haphazard a fashion. It suggests +that he did not think it was going to be of much practical +importance. If a man drew up a will which he did not intend +ever to be effective he might do it so." + +"Well, he drew up his own death-warrant at the same time," +said Lestrade. + +"Oh, you think so?" + +"Don't you?" + +"Well, it is quite possible; but the case is not clear to me yet." + +"Not clear? Well, if that isn't clear, what COULD be clear? +Here is a young man who learns suddenly that if a certain older +man dies he will succeed to a fortune. What does he do? +He says nothing to anyone, but he arranges that he shall go out +on some pretext to see his client that night; he waits until +the only other person in the house is in bed, and then in the +solitude of a man's room he murders him, burns his body in the +wood-pile, and departs to a neighbouring hotel. The blood-stains +in the room and also on the stick are very slight. It is probable +that he imagined his crime to be a bloodless one, and hoped that +if the body were consumed it would hide all traces of the method +of his death -- traces which for some reason must have pointed +to him. Is all this not obvious?" + +"It strikes me, my good Lestrade, as being just a trifle too +obvious," said Holmes. "You do not add imagination to your +other great qualities; but if you could for one moment put +yourself in the place of this young man, would you choose the +very night after the will had been made to commit your crime? +Would it not seem dangerous to you to make so very close a +relation between the two incidents? Again, would you choose +an occasion when you are known to be in the house, when a servant +has let you in? And, finally, would you take the great pains +to conceal the body and yet leave your own stick as a sign +that you were the criminal? Confess, Lestrade, that all this +is very unlikely." + +"As to the stick, Mr. Holmes, you know as well as I do that +a criminal is often flurried and does things which a cool man +would avoid. He was very likely afraid to go back to the room. +Give me another theory that would fit the facts." + +"I could very easily give you half-a-dozen," said Holmes. +"Here, for example, is a very possible and even probable one. +I make you a free present of it. The older man is showing +documents which are of evident value. A passing tramp sees +them through the window, the blind of which is only half down. +Exit the solicitor. Enter the tramp! He seizes a stick, +which he observes there, kills Oldacre, and departs after +burning the body." + +"Why should the tramp burn the body?" + +"For the matter of that why should McFarlane?" + +"To hide some evidence." + +"Possibly the tramp wanted to hide that any murder at all had +been committed." + +"And why did the tramp take nothing?" + +"Because they were papers that he could not negotiate." + +Lestrade shook his head, though it seemed to me that his manner +was less absolutely assured than before. + +"Well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you may look for your tramp, +and while you are finding him we will hold on to our man. +The future will show which is right. Just notice this point, +Mr. Holmes: that so far as we know none of the papers were +removed, and that the prisoner is the one man in the world who +had no reason for removing them, since he was heir-at-law and +would come into them in any case." + +My friend seemed struck by this remark. + +"I don't mean to deny that the evidence is in some ways very +strongly in favour of your theory," said he. "I only wish to +point out that there are other theories possible. As you say, +the future will decide. Good morning! I dare say that in the +course of the day I shall drop in at Norwood and see how you +are getting on." + +When the detective departed my friend rose and made his +preparations for the day's work with the alert air of a man who +has a congenial task before him. + +"My first movement, Watson," said he, as he bustled into his +frock-coat, "must, as I said, be in the direction of Blackheath." + +"And why not Norwood?" + +"Because we have in this case one singular incident coming close +to the heels of another singular incident. The police are +making the mistake of concentrating their attention upon the +second, because it happens to be the one which is actually +criminal. But it is evident to me that the logical way to +approach the case is to begin by trying to throw some light upon +the first incident -- the curious will, so suddenly made, and to +so unexpected an heir. It may do something to simplify what +followed. No, my dear fellow, I don't think you can help me. +There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of +stirring out without you. I trust that when I see you in the +evening I will be able to report that I have been able to do +something for this unfortunate youngster who has thrown himself +upon my protection." + +It was late when my friend returned, and I could see by a glance +at his haggard and anxious face that the high hopes with which +he had started had not been fulfilled. For an hour he droned +away upon his violin, endeavouring to soothe his own ruffled +spirits. At last he flung down the instrument and plunged into +a detailed account of his misadventures. + +"It's all going wrong, Watson -- all as wrong as it can go. +I kept a bold face before Lestrade, but, upon my soul, I believe +that for once the fellow is on the right track and we are on the +wrong. All my instincts are one way and all the facts are the +other, and I much fear that British juries have not yet attained +that pitch of intelligence when they will give the preference to +my theories over Lestrade's facts." + +"Did you go to Blackheath?" + +"Yes, Watson, I went there, and I found very quickly that the +late lamented Oldacre was a pretty considerable black-guard. +The father was away in search of his son. The mother was at +home -- a little, fluffy, blue-eyed person, in a tremor of fear +and indignation. Of course, she would not admit even the +possibility of his guilt. But she would not express either +surprise or regret over the fate of Oldacre. On the contrary, +she spoke of him with such bitterness that she was unconsciously +considerably strengthening the case of the police, for, of course, +if her son had heard her speak of the man in this fashion it would +predispose him towards hatred and violence. `He was more like +a malignant and cunning ape than a human being,' said she, +`and he always was, ever since he was a young man.' + +"`You knew him at that time?' said I. + +"`Yes, I knew him well; in fact, he was an old suitor of mine. +Thank Heaven that I had the sense to turn away from him and +to marry a better, if a poorer, man. I was engaged to him, +Mr. Holmes, when I heard a shocking story of how he had turned +a cat loose in an aviary, and I was so horrified at his brutal +cruelty that I would have nothing more to do with him.' +She rummaged in a bureau, and presently she produced a photograph +of a woman, shamefully defaced and mutilated with a knife. +`That is my own photograph,' she said. `He sent it to me in +that state, with his curse, upon my wedding morning.' + +"`Well,' said I, `at least he has forgiven you now, since he has +left all his property to your son.' + +"`Neither my son nor I want anything from Jonas Oldacre, dead +or alive,' she cried, with a proper spirit. `There is a God +in Heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that same God who has punished that +wicked man will show in His own good time that my son's hands +are guiltless of his blood.' + +"Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at nothing which +would help our hypothesis, and several points which would make +against it. I gave it up at last and off I went to Norwood. + +"This place, Deep Dene House, is a big modern villa of staring +brick, standing back in its own grounds, with a laurel-clumped +lawn in front of it. To the right and some distance back from +the road was the timber-yard which had been the scene of the +fire. Here's a rough plan on a leaf of my note-book. This +window on the left is the one which opens into Oldacre's room. +You can look into it from the road, you see. That is about the +only bit of consolation I have had to-day. Lestrade was not +there, but his head constable did the honours. They had just +made a great treasure-trove. They had spent the morning raking +among the ashes of the burned wood-pile, and besides the charred +organic remains they had secured several discoloured metal +discs. I examined them with care, and there was no doubt that +they were trouser buttons. I even distinguished that one of +them was marked with the name of `Hyams,' who was Oldacre's +tailor. I then worked the lawn very carefully for signs and +traces, but this drought has made everything as hard as iron. +Nothing was to be seen save that some body or bundle had been +dragged through a low privet hedge which is in a line with the +wood-pile. All that, of course, fits in with the official +theory. I crawled about the lawn with an August sun on my back, +but I got up at the end of an hour no wiser than before. + +"Well, after this fiasco I went into the bedroom and examined +that also. The blood-stains were very slight, mere smears and +discolorations, but undoubtedly fresh. The stick had been removed, +but there also the marks were slight. There is no doubt about +the stick belonging to our client. He admits it. Footmarks of +both men could be made out on the carpet, but none of any third +person, which again is a trick for the other side. They were +piling up their score all the time and we were at a standstill. + +"Only one little gleam of hope did I get -- and yet it amounted +to nothing. I examined the contents of the safe, most of which +had been taken out and left on the table. The papers had been +made up into sealed envelopes, one or two of which had been +opened by the police. They were not, so far as I could judge, +of any great value, nor did the bank-book show that Mr. Oldacre +was in such very affluent circumstances. But it seemed to me +that all the papers were not there. There were allusions to +some deeds -- possibly the more valuable -- which I could not +find. This, of course, if we could definitely prove it, would +turn Lestrade's argument against himself, for who would steal +a thing if he knew that he would shortly inherit it? + +"Finally, having drawn every other cover and picked up no scent, +I tried my luck with the housekeeper. Mrs. Lexington is her +name, a little, dark, silent person, with suspicious and +sidelong eyes. She could tell us something if she would -- +I am convinced of it. But she was as close as wax. Yes, she +had let Mr. McFarlane in at half-past nine. She wished her +hand had withered before she had done so. She had gone to bed at +half-past ten. Her room was at the other end of the house, and +she could hear nothing of what passed. Mr. McFarlane had left +his hat, and to the best of her belief his stick, in the hall. +She had been awakened by the alarm of fire. Her poor, dear +master had certainly been murdered. Had he any enemies? +Well, every man had enemies, but Mr. Oldacre kept himself very +much to himself, and only met people in the way of business. +She had seen the buttons, and was sure that they belonged to the +clothes which he had worn last night. The wood-pile was very dry, +for it had not rained for a month. It burned like tinder, and by +the time she reached the spot nothing could be seen but flames. +She and all the firemen smelled the burned flesh from inside it. +She knew nothing of the papers, nor of Mr. Oldacre's private affairs. + +"So, my dear Watson, there's my report of a failure. And yet -- +and yet ---" -- he clenched his thin hands in a paroxysm of +conviction -- "I KNOW it's all wrong. I feel it in my bones. +There is something that has not come out, and that housekeeper +knows it. There was a sort of sulky defiance in her eyes, which +only goes with guilty knowledge. However, there's no good +talking any more about it, Watson; but unless some lucky chance +comes our way I fear that the Norwood Disappearance Case will +not figure in that chronicle of our successes which I foresee +that a patient public will sooner or later have to endure." + +"Surely," said I, "the man's appearance would go far with any jury?" + +"That is a dangerous argument, my dear Watson. You remember that +terrible murderer, Bert Stevens, who wanted us to get him off in '87? +Was there ever a more mild-mannered, Sunday-school young man?" + +"It is true." + +"Unless we succeed in establishing an alternative theory this +man is lost. You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can +now be presented against him, and all further investigation has +served to strengthen it. By the way, there is one curious +little point about those papers which may serve us as the +starting-point for an inquiry. On looking over the bank-book +I found that the low state of the balance was principally due +to large cheques which have been made out during the last year +to Mr. Cornelius. I confess that I should be interested to know +who this Mr. Cornelius may be with whom a retired builder has +such very large transactions. Is it possible that he has had +a hand in the affair? Cornelius might be a broker, but we have +found no scrip to correspond with these large payments. Failing +any other indication my researches must now take the direction +of an inquiry at the bank for the gentleman who has cashed these +cheques. But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end +ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will +certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard." + +I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night, +but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and harassed, +his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them. +The carpet round his chair was littered with cigarette-ends and +with the early editions of the morning papers. An open telegram +lay upon the table. + +"What do you think of this, Watson?" he asked, tossing it across. + +It was from Norwood, and ran as follows:-- + +"IMPORTANT FRESH EVIDENCE TO HAND. MCFARLANE'S GUILT DEFINITELY +ESTABLISHED. ADVISE YOU TO ABANDON CASE. -- LESTRADE." + +"This sounds serious," said I. + +"It is Lestrade's little cock-a-doodle of victory," Holmes answered, +with a bitter smile. "And yet it may be premature to abandon the +case. After all, important fresh evidence is a two-edged thing, +and may possibly cut in a very different direction to that which +Lestrade imagines. Take your breakfast, Watson, and we will go out +together and see what we can do. I feel as if I shall need your +company and your moral support to-day." + +My friend had no breakfast himself, for it was one of his +peculiarities that in his more intense moments he would permit +himself no food, and I have known him presume upon his iron +strength until he has fainted from pure inanition. "At present +I cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion," he would +say in answer to my medical remonstrances. I was not surprised, +therefore, when this morning he left his untouched meal behind +him and started with me for Norwood. A crowd of morbid +sightseers were still gathered round Deep Dene House, which was +just such a suburban villa as I had pictured. Within the gates +Lestrade met us, his face flushed with victory, his manner +grossly triumphant. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, have you proved us to be wrong yet? Have you +found your tramp?" he cried. + +"I have formed no conclusion whatever," my companion answered. + +"But we formed ours yesterday, and now it proves to be correct; +so you must acknowledge that we have been a little in front of +you this time, Mr. Holmes." + +"You certainly have the air of something unusual having occurred," +said Holmes. + +Lestrade laughed loudly. + +"You don't like being beaten any more than the rest of us do," +said he. "A man can't expect always to have it his own way, +can he, Dr. Watson? Step this way, if you please, gentlemen, +and I think I can convince you once for all that it was +John McFarlane who did this crime." + +He led us through the passage and out into a dark hall beyond. + +"This is where young McFarlane must have come out to get his hat +after the crime was done," said he. "Now, look at this." With +dramatic suddenness he struck a match and by its light exposed +a stain of blood upon the whitewashed wall. As he held the +match nearer I saw that it was more than a stain. It was the +well-marked print of a thumb. + +"Look at that with your magnifying glass, Mr. Holmes." + +"Yes, I am doing so." + +"You are aware that no two thumb marks are alike?" + +"I have heard something of the kind." + +"Well, then, will you please compare that print with this wax +impression of young McFarlane's right thumb, taken by my orders +this morning?" + +As he held the waxen print close to the blood-stain it did not +take a magnifying glass to see that the two were undoubtedly +from the same thumb. It was evident to me that our unfortunate +client was lost. + +"That is final," said Lestrade. + +"Yes, that is final," I involuntarily echoed. + +"It is final," said Holmes. + +Something in his tone caught my ear, and I turned to look at +him. An extraordinary change had come over his face. It was +writhing with inward merriment. His two eyes were shining like +stars. It seemed to me that he was making desperate efforts to +restrain a convulsive attack of laughter. + +"Dear me! Dear me!" he said at last. "Well, now, who would +have thought it? And how deceptive appearances may be, to be +sure! Such a nice young man to look at! It is a lesson to us +not to trust our own judgment, is it not, Lestrade?" + +"Yes, some of us are a little too much inclined to be cocksure, +Mr. Holmes," said Lestrade. The man's insolence was maddening, +but we could not resent it. + +"What a providential thing that this young man should press his +right thumb against the wall in taking his hat from the peg! +Such a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it." +Holmes was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle +of suppressed excitement as he spoke. "By the way, Lestrade, +who made this remarkable discovery?" + +"It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington, who drew the night +constable's attention to it." + +"Where was the night constable?" + +"He remained on guard in the bedroom where the crime was +committed, so as to see that nothing was touched." + +"But why didn't the police see this mark yesterday?" + +"Well, we had no particular reason to make a careful examination +of the hall. Besides, it's not in a very prominent place, +as you see." + +"No, no, of course not. I suppose there is no doubt that the +mark was there yesterday?" + +Lestrade looked at Holmes as if he thought he was going out of +his mind. I confess that I was myself surprised both at his +hilarious manner and at his rather wild observation. + +"I don't know whether you think that McFarlane came out of gaol +in the dead of the night in order to strengthen the evidence +against himself," said Lestrade. "I leave it to any expert in +the world whether that is not the mark of his thumb." + +"It is unquestionably the mark of his thumb." + +"There, that's enough," said Lestrade. "I am a practical man, +Mr. Holmes, and when I have got my evidence I come to my +conclusions. If you have anything to say you will find me +writing my report in the sitting-room." + +Holmes had recovered his equanimity, though I still seemed to +detect gleams of amusement in his expression. + +"Dear me, this is a very sad development, Watson, is it not?" +said he. "And yet there are singular points about it which +hold out some hopes for our client." + +"I am delighted to hear it," said I, heartily. "I was afraid +it was all up with him." + +"I would hardly go so far as to say that, my dear Watson. +The fact is that there is one really serious flaw in this +evidence to which our friend attaches so much importance." + +"Indeed, Holmes! What is it?" + +"Only this: that I KNOW that that mark was not there when +I examined the hall yesterday. And now, Watson, let us have +a little stroll round in the sunshine." + +With a confused brain, but with a heart into which some warmth +of hope was returning, I accompanied my friend in a walk round +the garden. Holmes took each face of the house in turn and +examined it with great interest. He then led the way inside and +went over the whole building from basement to attics. Most of +the rooms were unfurnished, but none the less Holmes inspected +them all minutely. Finally, on the top corridor, which ran +outside three untenanted bedrooms, he again was seized with +a spasm of merriment. + +"There are really some very unique features about this case, +Watson," said he. "I think it is time now that we took our +friend Lestrade into our confidence. He has had his little +smile at our expense, and perhaps we may do as much by him if +my reading of this problem proves to be correct. Yes, yes; +I think I see how we should approach it." + +The Scotland Yard inspector was still writing in the parlour +when Holmes interrupted him. + +"I understood that you were writing a report of this case," said he. + +"So I am." + +"Don't you think it may be a little premature? I can't help +thinking that your evidence is not complete." + +Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words. +He laid down his pen and looked curiously at him. + +"What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?" + +"Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen." + +"Can you produce him?" + +"I think I can." + +"Then do so." + +"I will do my best. How many constables have you?" + +"There are three within call." + +"Excellent!" said Holmes. "May I ask if they are all large, +able-bodied men with powerful voices?" + +"I have no doubt they are, though I fail to see what their +voices have to do with it." + +"Perhaps I can help you to see that and one or two other things +as well," said Holmes. "Kindly summon your men, and I will try." + +Five minutes later three policemen had assembled in the hall. + +"In the outhouse you will find a considerable quantity of straw," +said Holmes. "I will ask you to carry in two bundles of it. +I think it will be of the greatest assistance in producing the +witness whom I require. Thank you very much. I believe you +have some matches in your pocket, Watson. Now, Mr. Lestrade, +I will ask you all to accompany me to the top landing." + +As I have said, there was a broad corridor there, which ran outside +three empty bedrooms. At one end of the corridor we were all +marshalled by Sherlock Holmes, the constables grinning and Lestrade +staring at my friend with amazement, expectation, and derision +chasing each other across his features. Holmes stood before us +with the air of a conjurer who is performing a trick. + +"Would you kindly send one of your constables for two buckets +of water? Put the straw on the floor here, free from the wall +on either side. Now I think that we are all ready." + +Lestrade's face had begun to grow red and angry. + +"I don't know whether you are playing a game with us, +Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said he. "If you know anything, +you can surely say it without all this tomfoolery." + +"I assure you, my good Lestrade, that I have an excellent reason +for everything that I do. You may possibly remember that you +chaffed me a little some hours ago, when the sun seemed on your +side of the hedge, so you must not grudge me a little pomp and +ceremony now. Might I ask you, Watson, to open that window, +and then to put a match to the edge of the straw?" + +I did so, and, driven by the draught, a coil of grey smoke swirled +down the corridor, while the dry straw crackled and flamed. + +"Now we must see if we can find this witness for you, Lestrade. +Might I ask you all to join in the cry of `Fire!'? Now, then; +one, two, three ---" + +"Fire!" we all yelled. + +"Thank you. I will trouble you once again." + +"Fire!" + +"Just once more, gentlemen, and all together." + +"Fire!" The shout must have rung over Norwood. + +It had hardly died away when an amazing thing happened. A door +suddenly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the +end of the corridor, and a little, wizened man darted out of it, +like a rabbit out of its burrow. + +"Capital!" said Holmes, calmly. "Watson, a bucket of water over +the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you +with your principal missing witness, Mr. Jonas Oldacre." + +The detective stared at the new-comer with blank amazement. +The latter was blinking in the bright light of the corridor, +and peering at us and at the smouldering fire. It was an odious +face -- crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes +and white eyelashes. + +"What's this, then?" said Lestrade at last. "What have you +been doing all this time, eh?" + +Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrinking back from the furious +red face of the angry detective. + +"I have done no harm." + +"No harm? You have done your best to get an innocent man hanged. +If it wasn't for this gentleman here, I am not sure that you +would not have succeeded." + +The wretched creature began to whimper. + +"I am sure, sir, it was only my practical joke." + +"Oh! a joke, was it? You won't find the laugh on your side, +I promise you. Take him down and keep him in the sitting-room +until I come. Mr. Holmes," he continued, when they had gone, +"I could not speak before the constables, but I don't mind saying, +in the presence of Dr. Watson, that this is the brightest thing +that you have done yet, though it is a mystery to me how you did +it. You have saved an innocent man's life, and you have +prevented a very grave scandal, which would have ruined my +reputation in the Force." + +Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder. + +"Instead of being ruined, my good sir, you will find that +your reputation has been enormously enhanced. Just make +a few alterations in that report which you were writing, +and they will understand how hard it is to throw dust +in the eyes of Inspector Lestrade." + +"And you don't want your name to appear?" + +"Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps I shall get +the credit also at some distant day when I permit my zealous +historian to lay out his foolscap once more -- eh, Watson? +Well, now, let us see where this rat has been lurking." + +A lath-and-plaster partition had been run across the passage +six feet from the end, with a door cunningly concealed in it. +It was lit within by slits under the eaves. A few articles of +furniture and a supply of food and water were within, together +with a number of books and papers. + +"There's the advantage of being a builder," said Holmes, +as we came out. "He was able to fix up his own little +hiding-place without any confederate -- save, of course, +that precious housekeeper of his, whom I should lose no +time in adding to your bag, Lestrade." + +"I'll take your advice. But how did you know of this place, +Mr. Holmes?" + +"I made up my mind that the fellow was in hiding in the house. +When I paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter than +the corresponding one below, it was pretty clear where he was. +I thought he had not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of +fire. We could, of course, have gone in and taken him, but it +amused me to make him reveal himself; besides, I owed you a +little mystification, Lestrade, for your chaff in the morning." + +"Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me on that. But how +in the world did you know that he was in the house at all?" + +"The thumb-mark, Lestrade. You said it was final; and so it was, +in a very different sense. I knew it had not been there the day +before. I pay a good deal of attention to matters of detail, +as you may have observed, and I had examined the hall and was +sure that the wall was clear. Therefore, it had been put on +during the night." + +"But how?" + +"Very simply. When those packets were sealed up, Jonas Oldacre +got McFarlane to secure one of the seals by putting his thumb +upon the soft wax. It would be done so quickly and so naturally +that I dare say the young man himself has no recollection of it. +Very likely it just so happened, and Oldacre had himself no +notion of the use he would put it to. Brooding over the case in +that den of his, it suddenly struck him what absolutely damning +evidence he could make against McFarlane by using that thumb-mark. +It was the simplest thing in the world for him to take a wax +impression from the seal, to moisten it in as much blood as he +could get from a pin-prick, and to put the mark upon the wall +during the night, either with his own hand or with that of his +housekeeper. If you examine among those documents which he took +with him into his retreat I will lay you a wager that you find +the seal with the thumb-mark upon it." + +"Wonderful!" said Lestrade. "Wonderful! It's all as clear as +crystal, as you put it. But what is the object of this deep +deception, Mr. Holmes?" + +It was amusing to me to see how the detective's overbearing +manner had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions +of its teacher. + +"Well, I don't think that is very hard to explain. A very deep, +malicious, vindictive person is the gentleman who is now awaiting +us downstairs. You know that he was once refused by McFarlane's +mother? You don't! I told you that you should go to Blackheath +first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he would +consider it, has rankled in his wicked, scheming brain, and all +his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance. +During the last year or two things have gone against him -- +secret speculation, I think -- and he finds himself in a bad way. +He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he +pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine, +himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet, +but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some +provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double +existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this +money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere." + +"Well, that's likely enough." + +"It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all +pursuit off his track, and at the same time have an ample and +crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the +impression that he had been murdered by her only child. It was +a masterpiece of villainy, and he carried it out like a master. +The idea of the will, which would give an obvious motive for the +crime, the secret visit unknown to his own parents, the retention +of the stick, the blood, and the animal remains and buttons in the +wood-pile, all were admirable. It was a net from which it seemed +to me a few hours ago that there was no possible escape. But he +had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowledge of when to +stop. He wished to improve that which was already perfect -- +to draw the rope tighter yet round the neck of his unfortunate +victim -- and so he ruined all. Let us descend, Lestrade. +There are just one or two questions that I would ask him." + +The malignant creature was seated in his own parlour with a +policeman upon each side of him. + +"It was a joke, my good sir, a practical joke, nothing more," +he whined incessantly. "I assure you, sir, that I simply +concealed myself in order to see the effect of my disappearance, +and I am sure that you would not be so unjust as to imagine that +I would have allowed any harm to befall poor young Mr. McFarlane." + +"That's for a jury to decide," said Lestrade. "Anyhow, we shall +have you on a charge of conspiracy, if not for attempted murder." + +"And you'll probably find that your creditors will impound the +banking account of Mr. Cornelius," said Holmes. + +The little man started and turned his malignant eyes upon my friend. + +"I have to thank you for a good deal," said he. "Perhaps I'll +pay my debt some day." + +Holmes smiled indulgently. + +"I fancy that for some few years you will find your time very +fully occupied," said he. "By the way, what was it you put into +the wood-pile besides your old trousers? A dead dog, or rabbits, +or what? You won't tell? Dear me, how very unkind of you! +Well, well, I dare say that a couple of rabbits would account +both for the blood and for the charred ashes. If ever you write +an account, Watson, you can make rabbits serve your turn." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 26 DECEMBER, 1903 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +III. --- The Adventure of the Dancing Men. + + +HOLMES had been seated for some hours in silence with his long, +thin back curved over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing +a particularly malodorous product. His head was sunk upon his +breast, and he looked from my point of view like a strange, +lank bird, with dull grey plumage and a black top-knot. + +"So, Watson," said he, suddenly, "you do not propose to invest +in South African securities?" + +I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes's +curious faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate +thoughts was utterly inexplicable. + +"How on earth do you know that?" I asked. + +He wheeled round upon his stool, with a steaming test-tube +in his hand and a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes. + +"Now, Watson, confess yourself utterly taken aback," said he. + +"I am." + +"I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect." + +"Why?" + +"Because in five minutes you will say that it is all so +absurdly simple." + +"I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind." + +"You see, my dear Watson" -- he propped his test-tube in the +rack and began to lecture with the air of a professor addressing +his class -- "it is not really difficult to construct a series +of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each +simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all +the central inferences and presents one's audience with the +starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, +though possibly a meretricious, effect. Now, it was not really +difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left +forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did NOT propose +to invest your small capital in the goldfields." + +"I see no connection." + +"Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. +Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had +chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the +club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards to +steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. +4. You told me four weeks ago that Thurston had an option on some +South African property which would expire in a month, and which he +desired you to share with him. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my +drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose +to invest your money in this manner." + +"How absurdly simple!" I cried. + +"Quite so!" said he, a little nettled. "Every problem becomes +very childish when once it is explained to you. Here is an +unexplained one. See what you can make of that, friend Watson." +He tossed a sheet of paper upon the table and turned once more +to his chemical analysis. + +I looked with amazement at the absurd hieroglyphics upon the paper. + +"Why, Holmes, it is a child's drawing," I cried. + +"Oh, that's your idea!" + +"What else should it be?" + +"That is what Mr. Hilton Cubitt, of Riding Thorpe Manor, Norfolk, +is very anxious to know. This little conundrum came by the first +post, and he was to follow by the next train. There's a ring at the +bell, Watson. I should not be very much surprised if this were he." + +A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant later +there entered a tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gentleman, whose clear +eyes and florid cheeks told of a life led far from the fogs of +Baker Street. He seemed to bring a whiff of his strong, fresh, +bracing, east-coast air with him as he entered. Having shaken +hands with each of us, he was about to sit down when his eye +rested upon the paper with the curious markings, which I had +just examined and left upon the table. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, what do you make of these?" he cried. +"They told me that you were fond of queer mysteries, and I don't +think you can find a queerer one than that. I sent the paper on +ahead so that you might have time to study it before I came." + +"It is certainly rather a curious production," said Holmes. +"At first sight it would appear to be some childish prank. +It consists of a number of absurd little figures dancing across +the paper upon which they are drawn. Why should you attribute +any importance to so grotesque an object?" + +"I never should, Mr. Holmes. But my wife does. It is frightening +her to death. She says nothing, but I can see terror in her eyes. +That's why I want to sift the matter to the bottom." + +Holmes held up the paper so that the sunlight shone full upon it. +It was a page torn from a note-book. The markings were done in +pencil, and ran in this way:-- + +GRAPHIC + +Holmes examined it for some time, and then, folding it carefully up, +he placed it in his pocket-book. + +"This promises to be a most interesting and unusual case," said he. +"You gave me a few particulars in your letter, Mr. Hilton Cubitt, +but I should be very much obliged if you would kindly go over it +all again for the benefit of my friend, Dr. Watson." + +"I'm not much of a story-teller," said our visitor, nervously +clasping and unclasping his great, strong hands. "You'll just +ask me anything that I don't make clear. I'll begin at the time +of my marriage last year; but I want to say first of all that, +though I'm not a rich man, my people have been at Ridling Thorpe +for a matter of five centuries, and there is no better known +family in the County of Norfolk. Last year I came up to London +for the Jubilee, and I stopped at a boarding-house in Russell +Square, because Parker, the vicar of our parish, was staying in +it. There was an American young lady there -- Patrick was the +name -- Elsie Patrick. In some way we became friends, until +before my month was up I was as much in love as a man could be. +We were quietly married at a registry office, and we returned to +Norfolk a wedded couple. You'll think it very mad, Mr. Holmes, +that a man of a good old family should marry a wife in this +fashion, knowing nothing of her past or of her people; but if +you saw her and knew her it would help you to understand. + +"She was very straight about it, was Elsie. I can't say +that she did not give me every chance of getting out of it +if I wished to do so. `I have had some very disagreeable +associations in my life,' said she; `I wish to forget all about +them. I would rather never allude to the past, for it is very +painful to me. If you take me, Hilton, you will take a woman who +has nothing that she need be personally ashamed of; but you will +have to be content with my word for it, and to allow me to be +silent as to all that passed up to the time when I became yours. +If these conditions are too hard, then go back to Norfolk and +leave me to the lonely life in which you found me.' It was only +the day before our wedding that she said those very words to me. +I told her that I was content to take her on her own terms, and +I have been as good as my word. + +"Well, we have been married now for a year, and very happy we +have been. But about a month ago, at the end of June, I saw +for the first time signs of trouble. One day my wife received +a letter from America. I saw the American stamp. She turned +deadly white, read the letter, and threw it into the fire. +She made no allusion to it afterwards, and I made none, for a +promise is a promise; but she has never known an easy hour from +that moment. There is always a look of fear upon her face -- +a look as if she were waiting and expecting. She would do +better to trust me. She would find that I was her best friend. +But until she speaks I can say nothing. Mind you, she is a +truthful woman, Mr. Holmes, and whatever trouble there may have +been in her past life it has been no fault of hers. I am only +a simple Norfolk squire, but there is not a man in England who +ranks his family honour more highly than I do. She knows it well, +and she knew it well before she married me. She would never +bring any stain upon it -- of that I am sure. + +"Well, now I come to the queer part of my story. About a week +ago -- it was the Tuesday of last week -- I found on one of the +window-sills a number of absurd little dancing figures, like +these upon the paper. They were scrawled with chalk. I thought +that it was the stable-boy who had drawn them, but the lad swore +he knew nothing about it. Anyhow, they had come there during +the night. I had them washed out, and I only mentioned the +matter to my wife afterwards. To my surprise she took it very +seriously, and begged me if any more came to let her see them. +None did come for a week, and then yesterday morning I found +this paper lying on the sun-dial in the garden. I showed it to +Elsie, and down she dropped in a dead faint. Since then she has +looked like a woman in a dream, half dazed, and with terror +always lurking in her eyes. It was then that I wrote and sent +the paper to you, Mr. Holmes. It was not a thing that I could +take to the police, for they would have laughed at me, but you +will tell me what to do. I am not a rich man; but if there is +any danger threatening my little woman I would spend my last +copper to shield her." + +He was a fine creature, this man of the old English soil, +simple, straight, and gentle, with his great, earnest blue eyes +and broad, comely face. His love for his wife and his trust in +her shone in his features. Holmes had listened to his story +with the utmost attention, and now he sat for some time in +silent thought. + +"Don't you think, Mr. Cubitt," said he, at last, "that your best +plan would be to make a direct appeal to your wife, and to ask +her to share her secret with you?" + +Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head. + +"A promise is a promise, Mr. Holmes. If Elsie wished to tell +me she would. If not, it is not for me to force her confidence. +But I am justified in taking my own line -- and I will." + +"Then I will help you with all my heart. In the first place, +have you heard of any strangers being seen in your neighbourhood?" + +"No." + +"I presume that it is a very quiet place. Any fresh face would +cause comment?" + +"In the immediate neighbourhood, yes. But we have several small +watering-places not very far away. And the farmers take in lodgers." + +"These hieroglyphics have evidently a meaning. If it is a +purely arbitrary one it may be impossible for us to solve it. +If, on the other hand, it is systematic, I have no doubt that +we shall get to the bottom of it. But this particular sample +is so short that I can do nothing, and the facts which you have +brought me are so indefinite that we have no basis for an +investigation. I would suggest that you return to Norfolk, +that you keep a keen look-out, and that you take an exact copy +of any fresh dancing men which may appear. It is a thousand +pities that we have not a reproduction of those which were done +in chalk upon the window-sill. Make a discreet inquiry also as +to any strangers in the neighbourhood. When you have collected +some fresh evidence come to me again. That is the best advice +which I can give you, Mr. Hilton Cubitt. If there are any +pressing fresh developments I shall be always ready to run down +and see you in your Norfolk home." + +The interview left Sherlock Holmes very thoughtful, and several +times in the next few days I saw him take his slip of paper from +his note-book and look long and earnestly at the curious figures +inscribed upon it. He made no allusion to the affair, however, +until one afternoon a fortnight or so later. I was going out +when he called me back. + +"You had better stay here, Watson." + +"Why?" + +"Because I had a wire from Hilton Cubitt this morning -- you +remember Hilton Cubitt, of the dancing men? He was to reach +Liverpool Street at one-twenty. He may be here at any moment. +I gather from his wire that there have been some new incidents +of importance." + +We had not long to wait, for our Norfolk squire came straight from +the station as fast as a hansom could bring him. He was looking +worried and depressed, with tired eyes and a lined forehead. + +"It's getting on my nerves, this business, Mr. Holmes," said he, +as he sank, like a wearied man, into an arm-chair. "It's bad +enough to feel that you are surrounded by unseen, unknown folk, +who have some kind of design upon you; but when, in addition to +that, you know that it is just killing your wife by inches, then +it becomes as much as flesh and blood can endure. She's wearing +away under it -- just wearing away before my eyes." + +"Has she said anything yet?" + +"No, Mr. Holmes, she has not. And yet there have been times +when the poor girl has wanted to speak, and yet could not quite +bring herself to take the plunge. I have tried to help her; +but I dare say I did it clumsily, and scared her off from it. +She has spoken about my old family, and our reputation in the county, +and our pride in our unsullied honour, and I always felt it was +leading to the point; but somehow it turned off before we got there." + +"But you have found out something for yourself?" + +"A good deal, Mr. Holmes. I have several fresh dancing men +pictures for you to examine, and, what is more important, +I have seen the fellow." + +"What, the man who draws them?" + +"Yes, I saw him at his work. But I will tell you everything +in order. When I got back after my visit to you, the very first +thing I saw next morning was a fresh crop of dancing men. +They had been drawn in chalk upon the black wooden door of the +tool-house, which stands beside the lawn in full view of the +front windows. I took an exact copy, and here it is." +He unfolded a paper and laid it upon the table. Here is a copy +of the hieroglyphics:-- + +GRAPHIC + +"Excellent!" said Holmes. "Excellent! Pray continue." + +"When I had taken the copy I rubbed out the marks; +but two mornings later a fresh inscription had appeared. +I have a copy of it here":-- + +GRAPHIC + +Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight. + +"Our material is rapidly accumulating," said he. + +"Three days later a message was left scrawled upon paper, +and placed under a pebble upon the sun-dial. Here it is. +The characters are, as you see, exactly the same as the last one. +After that I determined to lie in wait; so I got out my revolver +and I sat up in my study, which overlooks the lawn and garden. +About two in the morning I was seated by the window, all being +dark save for the moonlight outside, when I heard steps behind +me, and there was my wife in her dressing-gown. She implored me +to come to bed. I told her frankly that I wished to see who it +was who played such absurd tricks upon us. She answered that it +was some senseless practical joke, and that I should not take +any notice of it. + +"`If it really annoys you, Hilton, we might go and travel, +you and I, and so avoid this nuisance.' + +"`What, be driven out of our own house by a practical joker?' +said I. `Why, we should have the whole county laughing at us.' + +"`Well, come to bed,' said she, `and we can discuss it +in the morning.' + +"Suddenly, as she spoke, I saw her white face grow whiter yet +in the moonlight, and her hand tightened upon my shoulder. +Something was moving in the shadow of the tool-house. I saw a +dark, creeping figure which crawled round the corner and +squatted in front of the door. Seizing my pistol I was rushing +out, when my wife threw her arms round me and held me with +convulsive strength. I tried to throw her off, but she clung +to me most desperately. At last I got clear, but by the time +I had opened the door and reached the house the creature was gone. +He had left a trace of his presence, however, for there on the +door was the very same arrangement of dancing men which had +already twice appeared, and which I have copied on that paper. +There was no other sign of the fellow anywhere, though I ran all +over the grounds. And yet the amazing thing is that he must have +been there all the time, for when I examined the door again in +the morning he had scrawled some more of his pictures under the +line which I had already seen." + +"Have you that fresh drawing?" + +"Yes; it is very short, but I made a copy of it, and here it is." + +Again he produced a paper. The new dance was in this form:-- + +GRAPHIC + +"Tell me," said Holmes -- and I could see by his eyes that +he was much excited -- "was this a mere addition to the first, +or did it appear to be entirely separate?" + +"It was on a different panel of the door." + +"Excellent! This is far the most important of all for our +purpose. It fills me with hopes. Now, Mr. Hilton Cubitt, +please continue your most interesting statement." + +"I have nothing more to say, Mr. Holmes, except that I was angry +with my wife that night for having held me back when I might +have caught the skulking rascal. She said that she feared that +I might come to harm. For an instant it had crossed my mind +that perhaps what she really feared was that HE might come to +harm, for I could not doubt that she knew who this man was and +what he meant by these strange signals. But there is a tone in +my wife's voice, Mr. Holmes, and a look in her eyes which forbid +doubt, and I am sure that it was indeed my own safety that was +in her mind. There's the whole case, and now I want your advice +as to what I ought to do. My own inclination is to put +half-a-dozen of my farm lads in the shrubbery, and when this +fellow comes again to give him such a hiding that he will leave +us in peace for the future." + +"I fear it is too deep a case for such simple remedies," +said Holmes. "How long can you stay in London?" + +"I must go back to-day. I would not leave my wife alone all night +for anything. She is very nervous and begged me to come back." + +"I dare say you are right. But if you could have stopped I +might possibly have been able to return with you in a day or +two. Meanwhile you will leave me these papers, and I think +that it is very likely that I shall be able to pay you a visit +shortly and to throw some light upon your case." + +Sherlock Holmes preserved his calm professional manner until our +visitor had left us, although it was easy for me, who knew him +so well, to see that he was profoundly excited. The moment that +Hilton Cubitt's broad back had disappeared through the door my +comrade rushed to the table, laid out all the slips of paper +containing dancing men in front of him, and threw himself into +an intricate and elaborate calculation. For two hours I watched +him as he covered sheet after sheet of paper with figures and +letters, so completely absorbed in his task that he had +evidently forgotten my presence. Sometimes he was making +progress and whistled and sang at his work; sometimes he was +puzzled, and would sit for long spells with a furrowed brow and +a vacant eye. Finally he sprang from his chair with a cry of +satisfaction, and walked up and down the room rubbing his hands +together. Then he wrote a long telegram upon a cable form. "If +my answer to this is as I hope, you will have a very pretty case +to add to your collection, Watson," said he. "I expect that we +shall be able to go down to Norfolk to-morrow, and to take our +friend some very definite news as to the secret of his annoyance." + +I confess that I was filled with curiosity, but I was aware that +Holmes liked to make his disclosures at his own time and in his +own way; so I waited until it should suit him to take me into +his confidence. + +But there was a delay in that answering telegram, and two days +of impatience followed, during which Holmes pricked up his ears +at every ring of the bell. On the evening of the second there +came a letter from Hilton Cubitt. All was quiet with him, +save that a long inscription had appeared that morning upon the +pedestal of the sun-dial. He inclosed a copy of it, which is +here reproduced:-- + +GRAPHIC + +Holmes bent over this grotesque frieze for some minutes, +and then suddenly sprang to his feet with an exclamation +of surprise and dismay. His face was haggard with anxiety. + +"We have let this affair go far enough," said he. +"Is there a train to North Walsham to-night?" + +I turned up the time-table. The last had just gone. + +"Then we shall breakfast early and take the very first in the +morning," said Holmes. "Our presence is most urgently needed. +Ah! here is our expected cablegram. One moment, Mrs. Hudson; +there may be an answer. No, that is quite as I expected. +This message makes it even more essential that we should not +lose an hour in letting Hilton Cubitt know how matters stand, +for it is a singular and a dangerous web in which our simple +Norfolk squire is entangled." + +So, indeed, it proved, and as I come to the dark conclusion of +a story which had seemed to me to be only childish and bizarre +I experience once again the dismay and horror with which I was +filled. Would that I had some brighter ending to communicate +to my readers, but these are the chronicles of fact, and I must +follow to their dark crisis the strange chain of events which +for some days made Ridling Thorpe Manor a household word through +the length and breadth of England. + +We had hardly alighted at North Walsham, and mentioned the name +of our destination, when the station-master hurried towards us. +"I suppose that you are the detectives from London?" said he. + +A look of annoyance passed over Holmes's face. + +"What makes you think such a thing?" + +"Because Inspector Martin from Norwich has just passed through. +But maybe you are the surgeons. She's not dead -- or wasn't by +last accounts. You may be in time to save her yet -- though it +be for the gallows." + +Holmes's brow was dark with anxiety. + +"We are going to Ridling Thorpe Manor," said he, "but we have +heard nothing of what has passed there." + +"It's a terrible business," said the station-master. "They are +shot, both Mr. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. She shot him and +then herself -- so the servants say. He's dead and her life +is despaired of. Dear, dear, one of the oldest families in the +County of Norfolk, and one of the most honoured." + +Without a word Holmes hurried to a carriage, and during the long +seven miles' drive he never opened his mouth. Seldom have I +seen him so utterly despondent. He had been uneasy during all +our journey from town, and I had observed that he had turned +over the morning papers with anxious attention; but now this +sudden realization of his worst fears left him in a blank +melancholy. He leaned back in his seat, lost in gloomy +speculation. Yet there was much around to interest us, +for we were passing through as singular a country-side as +any in England, where a few scattered cottages represented +the population of to-day, while on every hand enormous +square-towered churches bristled up from the flat, green +landscape and told of the glory and prosperity of old East +Anglia. At last the violet rim of the German Ocean appeared +over the green edge of the Norfolk coast, and the driver pointed +with his whip to two old brick and timber gables which projected +from a grove of trees. "That's Ridling Thorpe Manor," said he. + +As we drove up to the porticoed front door I observed in front +of it, beside the tennis lawn, the black tool-house and the +pedestalled sun-dial with which we had such strange associations. +A dapper little man, with a quick, alert manner and a waxed +moustache, had just descended from a high dog-cart. +He introduced himself as Inspector Martin, of the Norfolk +Constabulary, and he was considerably astonished when he heard +the name of my companion. + +"Why, Mr. Holmes, the crime was only committed at three this +morning. How could you hear of it in London and get to the spot +as soon as I?" + +"I anticipated it. I came in the hope of preventing it." + +"Then you must have important evidence of which we are ignorant, +for they were said to be a most united couple." + +"I have only the evidence of the dancing men," said Holmes. +"I will explain the matter to you later. Meanwhile, since it +is too late to prevent this tragedy, I am very anxious that I +should use the knowledge which I possess in order to ensure that +justice be done. Will you associate me in your investigation, +or will you prefer that I should act independently?" + +"I should be proud to feel that we were acting together, +Mr. Holmes," said the inspector, earnestly. + +"In that case I should be glad to hear the evidence and to +examine the premises without an instant of unnecessary delay." + +Inspector Martin had the good sense to allow my friend to do +things in his own fashion, and contented himself with carefully +noting the results. The local surgeon, an old, white-haired +man, had just come down from Mrs. Hilton Cubitt's room, and he +reported that her injuries were serious, but not necessarily +fatal. The bullet had passed through the front of her brain, +and it would probably be some time before she could regain +consciousness. On the question of whether she had been shot or +had shot herself he would not venture to express any decided +opinion. Certainly the bullet had been discharged at very close +quarters. There was only the one pistol found in the room, +two barrels of which had been emptied. Mr. Hilton Cubitt had +been shot through the heart. It was equally conceivable that he +had shot her and then himself, or that she had been the criminal, +for the revolver lay upon the floor midway between them. + +"Has he been moved?" asked Holmes. + +"We have moved nothing except the lady. We could not leave her +lying wounded upon the floor." + +"How long have you been here, doctor?" + +"Since four o'clock." + +"Anyone else?" + +"Yes, the constable here." + +"And you have touched nothing?" + +"Nothing." + +"You have acted with great discretion. Who sent for you?" + +"The housemaid, Saunders." + +"Was it she who gave the alarm?" + +"She and Mrs. King, the cook." + +"Where are they now?" + +"In the kitchen, I believe." + +"Then I think we had better hear their story at once." + +The old hall, oak-panelled and high-windowed, had been turned +into a court of investigation. Holmes sat in a great, +old-fashioned chair, his inexorable eyes gleaming out of his +haggard face. I could read in them a set purpose to devote his +life to this quest until the client whom he had failed to save +should at last be avenged. The trim Inspector Martin, the old, +grey-headed country doctor, myself, and a stolid village +policeman made up the rest of that strange company. + +The two women told their story clearly enough. They had been +aroused from their sleep by the sound of an explosion, which had +been followed a minute later by a second one. They slept in +adjoining rooms, and Mrs. King had rushed in to Saunders. +Together they had descended the stairs. The door of the study +was open and a candle was burning upon the table. Their master +lay upon his face in the centre of the room. He was quite dead. +Near the window his wife was crouching, her head leaning against +the wall. She was horribly wounded, and the side of her face +was red with blood. She breathed heavily, but was incapable of +saying anything. The passage, as well as the room, was full of +smoke and the smell of powder. The window was certainly shut +and fastened upon the inside. Both women were positive upon +the point. They had at once sent for the doctor and for the +constable. Then, with the aid of the groom and the stable-boy, +they had conveyed their injured mistress to her room. Both she +and her husband had occupied the bed. She was clad in her dress +-- he in his dressing-gown, over his night clothes. Nothing had +been moved in the study. So far as they knew there had never +been any quarrel between husband and wife. They had always +looked upon them as a very united couple. + +These were the main points of the servants' evidence. In answer +to Inspector Martin they were clear that every door was fastened +upon the inside, and that no one could have escaped from the +house. In answer to Holmes they both remembered that they were +conscious of the smell of powder from the moment that they ran +out of their rooms upon the top floor. "I commend that fact +very carefully to your attention," said Holmes to his +professional colleague. "And now I think that we are in a +position to undertake a thorough examination of the room." + +The study proved to be a small chamber, lined on three sides +with books, and with a writing-table facing an ordinary window, +which looked out upon the garden. Our first attention was given +to the body of the unfortunate squire, whose huge frame lay +stretched across the room. His disordered dress showed that he +had been hastily aroused from sleep. The bullet had been fired +at him from the front, and had remained in his body after +penetrating the heart. His death had certainly been instantaneous +and painless. There was no powder-marking either upon his +dressing-gown or on his hands. According to the country surgeon +the lady had stains upon her face, but none upon her hand. + +"The absence of the latter means nothing, though its presence +may mean everything," said Holmes. "Unless the powder from +a badly-fitting cartridge happens to spurt backwards, one may +fire many shots without leaving a sign. I would suggest that +Mr. Cubitt's body may now be removed. I suppose, doctor, +you have not recovered the bullet which wounded the lady?" + +"A serious operation will be necessary before that can be done. +But there are still four cartridges in the revolver. Two have +been fired and two wounds inflicted, so that each bullet can be +accounted for." + +"So it would seem," said Holmes. "Perhaps you can account also for +the bullet which has so obviously struck the edge of the window?" + +He had turned suddenly, and his long, thin finger was pointing +to a hole which had been drilled right through the lower +window-sash about an inch above the bottom. + +"By George!" cried the inspector. "How ever did you see that?" + +"Because I looked for it." + +"Wonderful!" said the country doctor. "You are certainly right, +sir. Then a third shot has been fired, and therefore a third +person must have been present. But who could that have been +and how could he have got away?" + +"That is the problem which we are now about to solve," said +Sherlock Holmes. "You remember, Inspector Martin, when the +servants said that on leaving their room they were at once +conscious of a smell of powder I remarked that the point was +an extremely important one?" + +"Yes, sir; but I confess I did not quite follow you." + +"It suggested that at the time of the firing the window as well +as the door of the room had been open. Otherwise the fumes of +powder could not have been blown so rapidly through the house. +A draught in the room was necessary for that. Both door and +window were only open for a very short time, however." + +"How do you prove that?" + +"Because the candle has not guttered." + +"Capital!" cried the inspector. "Capital!" + +"Feeling sure that the window had been open at the time of the +tragedy I conceived that there might have been a third person in +the affair, who stood outside this opening and fired through it. +Any shot directed at this person might hit the sash. I looked, +and there, sure enough, was the bullet mark!" + +"But how came the window to be shut and fastened?" + +"The woman's first instinct would be to shut and fasten the window. +But, halloa! what is this?" + +It was a lady's hand-bag which stood upon the study table -- +a trim little hand-bag of crocodile-skin and silver. Holmes +opened it and turned the contents out. There were twenty +fifty-pound notes of the Bank of England, held together by an +india-rubber band -- nothing else. + +"This must be preserved, for it will figure in the trial," said +Holmes, as he handed the bag with its contents to the inspector. +"It is now necessary that we should try to throw some light upon +this third bullet, which has clearly, from the splintering of +the wood, been fired from inside the room. I should like to see +Mrs. King, the cook, again. You said, Mrs. King, that you were +awakened by a LOUD explosion. When you said that, did you mean +that it seemed to you to be louder than the second one?" + +"Well, sir, it wakened me from my sleep, and so it is hard to judge. +But it did seem very loud." + +"You don't think that it might have been two shots fired almost +at the same instant?" + +"I am sure I couldn't say, sir." + +"I believe that it was undoubtedly so. I rather think, +Inspector Martin, that we have now exhausted all that this room +can teach us. If you will kindly step round with me, we shall +see what fresh evidence the garden has to offer." + +A flower-bed extended up to the study window, and we all broke +into an exclamation as we approached it. The flowers were +trampled down, and the soft soil was imprinted all over with +footmarks. Large, masculine feet they were, with peculiarly long, +sharp toes. Holmes hunted about among the grass and leaves like a +retriever after a wounded bird. Then, with a cry of satisfaction, +he bent forward and picked up a little brazen cylinder. + +"I thought so," said he; "the revolver had an ejector, and here +is the third cartridge. I really think, Inspector Martin, that +our case is almost complete." + +The country inspector's face had shown his intense amazement +at the rapid and masterful progress of Holmes's investigation. +At first he had shown some disposition to assert his own position; +but now he was overcome with admiration and ready to follow +without question wherever Holmes led. + +"Whom do you suspect?" he asked. + +"I'll go into that later. There are several points in this +problem which I have not been able to explain to you yet. +Now that I have got so far I had best proceed on my own lines, +and then clear the whole matter up once and for all." + +"Just as you wish, Mr. Holmes, so long as we get our man." + +"I have no desire to make mysteries, but it is impossible at the +moment of action to enter into long and complex explanations. +I have the threads of this affair all in my hand. Even if this +lady should never recover consciousness we can still reconstruct +the events of last night and ensure that justice be done. +First of all I wish to know whether there is any inn in this +neighbourhood known as `Elrige's'?" + +The servants were cross-questioned, but none of them had heard +of such a place. The stable-boy threw a light upon the matter +by remembering that a farmer of that name lived some miles off +in the direction of East Ruston. + +"Is it a lonely farm?" + +"Very lonely, sir." + +"Perhaps they have not heard yet of all that happened here +during the night?" + +"Maybe not, sir." + +Holmes thought for a little and then a curious smile played +over his face. + +"Saddle a horse, my lad," said he. "I shall wish you to take +a note to Elrige's Farm." + +He took from his pocket the various slips of the dancing men. +With these in front of him he worked for some time at the +study-table. Finally he handed a note to the boy, with +directions to put it into the hands of the person to whom it was +addressed, and especially to answer no questions of any sort +which might be put to him. I saw the outside of the note, +addressed in straggling, irregular characters, very unlike +Holmes's usual precise hand. It was consigned to Mr. Abe +Slaney, Elrige's Farm, East Ruston, Norfolk. + +"I think, inspector," Holmes remarked, "that you would do well +to telegraph for an escort, as, if my calculations prove to be +correct, you may have a particularly dangerous prisoner to +convey to the county gaol. The boy who takes this note could +no doubt forward your telegram. If there is an afternoon train +to town, Watson, I think we should do well to take it, as I have +a chemical analysis of some interest to finish, and this +investigation draws rapidly to a close." + +When the youth had been dispatched with the note, Sherlock +Holmes gave his instructions to the servants. If any visitor +were to call asking for Mrs. Hilton Cubitt no information should +be given as to her condition, but he was to be shown at once +into the drawing-room. He impressed these points upon them with +the utmost earnestness. Finally he led the way into the +drawing-room with the remark that the business was now out of our +hands, and that we must while away the time as best we might until +we could see what was in store for us. The doctor had departed +to his patients, and only the inspector and myself remained. + +"I think that I can help you to pass an hour in an interesting +and profitable manner," said Holmes, drawing his chair up to the +table and spreading out in front of him the various papers upon +which were recorded the antics of the dancing men. "As to you, +friend Watson, I owe you every atonement for having allowed your +natural curiosity to remain so long unsatisfied. To you, +inspector, the whole incident may appeal as a remarkable +professional study. I must tell you first of all the +interesting circumstances connected with the previous +consultations which Mr. Hilton Cubitt has had with me in Baker +Street." He then shortly recapitulated the facts which have +already been recorded. "I have here in front of me these +singular productions, at which one might smile had they not +proved themselves to be the fore-runners of so terrible a +tragedy. I am fairly familiar with all forms of secret +writings, and am myself the author of a trifling monograph upon +the subject, in which I analyze one hundred and sixty separate +ciphers; but I confess that this is entirely new to me. +The object of those who invented the system has apparently been +to conceal that these characters convey a message, and to give +the idea that they are the mere random sketches of children. + +"Having once recognised, however, that the symbols stood for +letters, and having applied the rules which guide us in all +forms of secret writings, the solution was easy enough. +The first message submitted to me was so short that it was +impossible for me to do more than to say with some confidence +that the symbol XXX stood for E. As you are aware, E is the +most common letter in the English alphabet, and it predominates +to so marked an extent that even in a short sentence one would +expect to find it most often. Out of fifteen symbols in the +first message four were the same, so it was reasonable to set +this down as E. It is true that in some cases the figure was +bearing a flag and in some cases not, but it was probable from +the way in which the flags were distributed that they were used +to break the sentence up into words. I accepted this as a +hypothesis, and noted that E was represented by XXX. + +"But now came the real difficulty of the inquiry. The order of +the English letters after E is by no means well marked, and any +preponderance which may be shown in an average of a printed +sheet may be reversed in a single short sentence. Speaking +roughly, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R, D, and L are the numerical +order in which letters occur; but T, A, O, and I are very nearly +abreast of each other, and it would be an endless task to try +each combination until a meaning was arrived at. I, therefore, +waited for fresh material. In my second interview with Mr. +Hilton Cubitt he was able to give me two other short sentences +and one message, which appeared -- since there was no flag -- +to be a single word. Here are the symbols. Now, in the single +word I have already got the two E's coming second and fourth in +a word of five letters. It might be `sever,' or `lever,' or +`never.' There can be no question that the latter as a reply +to an appeal is far the most probable, and the circumstances +pointed to its being a reply written by the lady. Accepting it +as correct, we are now able to say that the symbols XXX stand +respectively for N, V, and R. + +"Even now I was in considerable difficulty, but a happy thought +put me in possession of several other letters. It occurred to +me that if these appeals came, as I expected, from someone who +had been intimate with the lady in her early life, a combination +which contained two E's with three letters between might very +well stand for the name `ELSIE.' On examination I found that +such a combination formed the termination of the message which +was three times repeated. It was certainly some appeal to `Elsie.' +In this way I had got my L, S, and I. But what appeal could it be? +There were only four letters in the word which preceded `Elsie,' +and it ended in E. Surely the word must be `COME.' I tried all +other four letters ending in E, but could find none to fit the case. +So now I was in possession of C, O, and M, and I was in a position +to attack the first message once more, dividing it into words +and putting dots for each symbol which was still unknown. +So treated it worked out in this fashion:-- + + .M .ERE ..E SL.NE. + +"Now the first letter CAN only be A, which is a most useful +discovery, since it occurs no fewer than three times in this +short sentence, and the H is also apparent in the second word. +Now it becomes:-- + + AM HERE A.E SLANE. + +Or, filling in the obvious vacancies in the name:-- + + AM HERE ABE SLANEY. + +I had so many letters now that I could proceed with considerable +confidence to the second message, which worked out in this +fashion:-- + + A. ELRI.ES. + +Here I could only make sense by putting T and G for the missing +letters, and supposing that the name was that of some house or +inn at which the writer was staying." + +Inspector Martin and I had listened with the utmost interest to +the full and clear account of how my friend had produced results +which had led to so complete a command over our difficulties. + +"What did you do then, sir?" asked the inspector. + +"I had every reason to suppose that this Abe Slaney was an +American, since Abe is an American contraction, and since a +letter from America had been the starting-point of all the +trouble. I had also every cause to think that there was some +criminal secret in the matter. The lady's allusions to her past +and her refusal to take her husband into her confidence both +pointed in that direction. I therefore cabled to my friend, +Wilson Hargreave, of the New York Police Bureau, who has more +than once made use of my knowledge of London crime. I asked him +whether the name of Abe Slaney was known to him. Here is his +reply: `The most dangerous crook in Chicago.' On the very +evening upon which I had his answer Hilton Cubitt sent me the +last message from Slaney. Working with known letters it took +this form:-- + + ELSIE .RE.ARE TO MEET THY GO. + +The addition of a P and a D completed a message which showed me +that the rascal was proceeding from persuasion to threats, and +my knowledge of the crooks of Chicago prepared me to find that +he might very rapidly put his words into action. I at once came +to Norfolk with my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, but, unhappily, +only in time to find that the worst had already occurred." + +"It is a privilege to be associated with you in the handling of +a case," said the inspector, warmly. "You will excuse me, +however, if I speak frankly to you. You are only answerable to +yourself, but I have to answer to my superiors. If this Abe +Slaney, living at Elrige's, is indeed the murderer, and if he +has made his escape while I am seated here, I should certainly +get into serious trouble." + +"You need not be uneasy. He will not try to escape." + +"How do you know?" + +"To fly would be a confession of guilt." + +"Then let us go to arrest him." + +"I expect him here every instant." + +"But why should he come?" + +"Because I have written and asked him." + +"But this is incredible, Mr. Holmes! Why should he come because +you have asked him? Would not such a request rather rouse his +suspicions and cause him to fly?" + +"I think I have known how to frame the letter," said Sherlock +Holmes. "In fact, if I am not very much mistaken, here is the +gentleman himself coming up the drive." + +A man was striding up the path which led to the door. He was a +tall, handsome, swarthy fellow, clad in a suit of grey flannel, +with a Panama hat, a bristling black beard, and a great, +aggressive hooked nose, and flourishing a cane as he walked. +He swaggered up the path as if the place belonged to him, +and we heard his loud, confident peal at the bell. + +"I think, gentlemen," said Holmes, quietly, "that we had best +take up our position behind the door. Every precaution is +necessary when dealing with such a fellow. You will need your +handcuffs, inspector. You can leave the talking to me." + +We waited in silence for a minute -- one of those minutes which +one can never forget. Then the door opened and the man stepped +in. In an instant Holmes clapped a pistol to his head and Martin +slipped the handcuffs over his wrists. It was all done so swiftly +and deftly that the fellow was helpless before he knew that he was +attacked. He glared from one to the other of us with a pair of +blazing black eyes. Then he burst into a bitter laugh. + +"Well, gentlemen, you have the drop on me this time. I seem to +have knocked up against something hard. But I came here in +answer to a letter from Mrs. Hilton Cubitt. Don't tell me that she +is in this? Don't tell me that she helped to set a trap for me?" + +"Mrs. Hilton Cubitt was seriously injured and is at death's door." + +The man gave a hoarse cry of grief which rang through the house. + +"You're crazy!" he cried, fiercely. "It was he that was hurt, +not she. Who would have hurt little Elsie? I may have +threatened her, God forgive me, but I would not have touched +a hair of her pretty head. Take it back -- you! Say that she +is not hurt!" + +"She was found badly wounded by the side of her dead husband." + +He sank with a deep groan on to the settee and buried his face in +his manacled hands. For five minutes he was silent. Then he raised +his face once more, and spoke with the cold composure of despair. + +"I have nothing to hide from you, gentlemen," said he. +"If I shot the man he had his shot at me, and there's no murder +in that. But if you think I could have hurt that woman, then you +don't know either me or her. I tell you there was never a man +in this world loved a woman more than I loved her. I had a +right to her. She was pledged to me years ago. Who was this +Englishman that he should come between us? I tell you that I +had the first right to her, and that I was only claiming my own." + +"She broke away from your influence when she found the man that +you are," said Holmes, sternly. "She fled from America to avoid +you, and she married an honourable gentleman in England. +You dogged her and followed her and made her life a misery to her +in order to induce her to abandon the husband whom she loved and +respected in order to fly with you, whom she feared and hated. +You have ended by bringing about the death of a noble man and +driving his wife to suicide. That is your record in this +business, Mr. Abe Slaney, and you will answer for it to the law." + +"If Elsie dies I care nothing what becomes of me," said the +American. He opened one of his hands and looked at a note +crumpled up in his palm. "See here, mister, he cried, with a +gleam of suspicion in his eyes, "you're not trying to scare me +over this, are you? If the lady is hurt as bad as you say, who was +it that wrote this note?" He tossed it forwards on to the table. + +"I wrote it to bring you here." + +"You wrote it? There was no one on earth outside the Joint who +knew the secret of the dancing men. How came you to write it?" + +"What one man can invent another can discover," said Holmes. +There is a cab coming to convey you to Norwich, Mr. Slaney. +But, meanwhile, you have time to make some small reparation for +the injury you have wrought. Are you aware that Mrs. Hilton +Cubitt has herself lain under grave suspicion of the murder +of her husband, and that it was only my presence here and the +knowledge which I happened to possess which has saved her from +the accusation? The least that you owe her is to make it clear +to the whole world that she was in no way, directly or +indirectly, responsible for his tragic end." + +"I ask nothing better," said the American. "I guess the very +best case I can make for myself is the absolute naked truth." + +"It is my duty to warn you that it will be used against you," +cried the inspector, with the magnificent fair-play of the +British criminal law. + +Slaney shrugged his shoulders. + +"I'll chance that," said he. "First of all, I want you +gentlemen to understand that I have known this lady since she +was a child. There were seven of us in a gang in Chicago, and +Elsie's father was the boss of the Joint. He was a clever man, +was old Patrick. It was he who invented that writing, which +would pass as a child's scrawl unless you just happened to have +the key to it. Well, Elsie learned some of our ways; but she +couldn't stand the business, and she had a bit of honest money +of her own, so she gave us all the slip and got away to London. +She had been engaged to me, and she would have married me, +I believe, if I had taken over another profession; but she would +have nothing to do with anything on the cross. It was only +after her marriage to this Englishman that I was able to find +out where she was. I wrote to her, but got no answer. After +that I came over, and, as letters were no use, I put my messages +where she could read them. + +"Well, I have been here a month now. I lived in that farm, +where I had a room down below, and could get in and out every +night, and no one the wiser. I tried all I could to coax Elsie +away. I knew that she read the messages, for once she wrote an +answer under one of them. Then my temper got the better of me, +and I began to threaten her. She sent me a letter then, +imploring me to go away and saying that it would break her heart +if any scandal should come upon her husband. She said that she +would come down when her husband was asleep at three in the +morning, and speak with me through the end window, if I would +go away afterwards and leave her in peace. She came down and +brought money with her, trying to bribe me to go. This made +me mad, and I caught her arm and tried to pull her through the +window. At that moment in rushed the husband with his revolver +in his hand. Elsie had sunk down upon the floor, and we were +face to face. I was heeled also, and I held up my gun to scare +him off and let me get away. He fired and missed me. I pulled +off almost at the same instant, and down he dropped. I made +away across the garden, and as I went I heard the window shut +behind me. That's God's truth, gentlemen, every word of it, +and I heard no more about it until that lad came riding up with +a note which made me walk in here, like a jay, and give myself +into your hands." + +A cab had driven up whilst the American had been talking. +Two uniformed policemen sat inside. Inspector Martin rose +and touched his prisoner on the shoulder. + +"It is time for us to go." + +"Can I see her first?" + +"No, she is not conscious. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I only hope +that if ever again I have an important case I shall have the +good fortune to have you by my side." + +We stood at the window and watched the cab drive away. As I +turned back my eye caught the pellet of paper which the prisoner +had tossed upon the table. It was the note with which Holmes +had decoyed him. + +"See if you can read it, Watson," said he, with a smile. + +It contained no word, but this little line of dancing men:-- + +GRAPHIC + +"If you use the code which I have explained," said Holmes, +"you will find that it simply means `Come here at once.' I was +convinced that it was an invitation which he would not refuse, +since he could never imagine that it could come from anyone but +the lady. And so, my dear Watson, we have ended by turning the +dancing men to good when they have so often been the agents of +evil, and I think that I have fulfilled my promise of giving you +something unusual for your note-book. Three-forty is our train, +and I fancy we should be back in Baker Street for dinner. + + +Only one word of epilogue. The American, Abe Slaney, was +condemned to death at the winter assizes at Norwich; but his +penalty was changed to penal servitude in consideration of +mitigating circumstances, and the certainty that Hilton Cubitt +had fired the first shot. Of Mrs. Hilton Cubitt I only know +that I have heard she recovered entirely, and that she still +remains a widow, devoting her whole life to the care of the +poor and to the administration of her husband's estate. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 JANUARY, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +IV. --- The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist. + + +FROM the years 1894 to 1901 inclusive Mr. Sherlock Holmes was a +very busy man. It is safe to say that there was no public case +of any difficulty in which he was not consulted during those +eight years, and there were hundreds of private cases, some of +them of the most intricate and extraordinary character, in which +he played a prominent part. Many startling successes and a few +unavoidable failures were the outcome of this long period of +continuous work. As I have preserved very full notes of all +these cases, and was myself personally engaged in many of them, +it may be imagined that it is no easy task to know which I +should select to lay before the public. I shall, however, +preserve my former rule, and give the preference to those cases +which derive their interest not so much from the brutality of +the crime as from the ingenuity and dramatic quality of the +solution. For this reason I will now lay before the reader the +facts connected with Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of +Charlington, and the curious sequel of our investigation, which +culminated in unexpected tragedy. It is true that the +circumstances did not admit of any striking illustration of those +powers for which my friend was famous, but there were some +points about the case which made it stand out in those long +records of crime from which I gather the material for these +little narratives. + +On referring to my note-book for the year 1895 I find that it +was upon Saturday, the 23rd of April, that we first heard of +Miss Violet Smith. Her visit was, I remember, extremely +unwelcome to Holmes, for he was immersed at the moment in a very +abstruse and complicated problem concerning the peculiar +persecution to which John Vincent Harden, the well-known tobacco +millionaire, had been subjected. My friend, who loved above all +things precision and concentration of thought, resented anything +which distracted his attention from the matter in hand. And yet +without a harshness which was foreign to his nature it was +impossible to refuse to listen to the story of the young and +beautiful woman, tall, graceful, and queenly, who presented +herself at Baker Street late in the evening and implored his +assistance and advice. It was vain to urge that his time was +already fully occupied, for the young lady had come with the +determination to tell her story, and it was evident that nothing +short of force could get her out of the room until she had done +so. With a resigned air and a somewhat weary smile, Holmes +begged the beautiful intruder to take a seat and to inform us +what it was that was troubling her. + +"At least it cannot be your health," said he, as his keen eyes +darted over her; "so ardent a bicyclist must be full of energy." + +She glanced down in surprise at her own feet, and I observed the +slight roughening of the side of the sole caused by the friction +of the edge of the pedal. + +"Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes, and that has something +to do with my visit to you to-day." + +My friend took the lady's ungloved hand and examined it with as +close an attention and as little sentiment as a scientist would +show to a specimen. + +"You will excuse me, I am sure. It is my business," said he, +as he dropped it. "I nearly fell into the error of supposing +that you were typewriting. Of course, it is obvious that it is +music. You observe the spatulate finger-end, Watson, which is +common to both professions? There is a spirituality about the +face, however" -- he gently turned it towards the light -- "which +the typewriter does not generate. This lady is a musician." + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music." + +"In the country, I presume, from your complexion." + +"Yes, sir; near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey." + +"A beautiful neighbourhood and full of the most interesting +associations. You remember, Watson, that it was near there that +we took Archie Stamford, the forger. Now, Miss Violet, what has +happened to you near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey?" + +The young lady, with great clearness and composure, made the +following curious statement:-- + +"My father is dead, Mr. Holmes. He was James Smith, who +conducted the orchestra at the old Imperial Theatre. My mother +and I were left without a relation in the world except one +uncle, Ralph Smith, who went to Africa twenty-five years ago, +and we have never had a word from him since. When father died +we were left very poor, but one day we were told that there was +an advertisement in the TIMES inquiring for our whereabouts. You +can imagine how excited we were, for we thought that someone had +left us a fortune. We went at once to the lawyer whose name was +given in the paper. There we met two gentlemen, Mr. Carruthers +and Mr. Woodley, who were home on a visit from South Africa. +They said that my uncle was a friend of theirs, that he died +some months before in great poverty in Johannesburg, and that he +had asked them with his last breath to hunt up his relations and +see that they were in no want. It seemed strange to us that +Uncle Ralph, who took no notice of us when he was alive, should +be so careful to look after us when he was dead; but Mr. Carruthers +explained that the reason was that my uncle had just heard of the +death of his brother, and so felt responsible for our fate." + +"Excuse me," said Holmes; "when was this interview?" + +"Last December -- four months ago." + +"Pray proceed." + +"Mr. Woodley seemed to me to be a most odious person. +He was for ever making eyes at me -- a coarse, puffy-faced, +red-moustached young man, with his hair plastered down on each +side of his forehead. I thought that he was perfectly hateful -- +and I was sure that Cyril would not wish me to know such a person." + +"Oh, Cyril is his name!" said Holmes, smiling. + +The young lady blushed and laughed. + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes; Cyril Morton, an electrical engineer, +and we hope to be married at the end of the summer. Dear me, +how DID I get talking about him? What I wished to say was that +Mr. Woodley was perfectly odious, but that Mr. Carruthers, who +was a much older man, was more agreeable. He was a dark, sallow, +clean-shaven, silent person; but he had polite manners and a +pleasant smile. He inquired how we were left, and on finding +that we were very poor he suggested that I should come and teach +music to his only daughter, aged ten. I said that I did not +like to leave my mother, on which he suggested that I should go +home to her every week-end, and he offered me a hundred a year, +which was certainly splendid pay. So it ended by my accepting, +and I went down to Chiltern Grange, about six miles from +Farnham. Mr. Carruthers was a widower, but he had engaged +a lady-housekeeper, a very respectable, elderly person, called +Mrs. Dixon, to look after his establishment. The child was +a dear, and everything promised well. Mr. Carruthers was very +kind and very musical, and we had most pleasant evenings +together. Every week-end I went home to my mother in town. + +"The first flaw in my happiness was the arrival of the +red-moustached Mr. Woodley. He came for a visit of a week, +and oh, it seemed three months to me! He was a dreadful person, +a bully to everyone else, but to me something infinitely worse. +He made odious love to me, boasted of his wealth, said that if +I married him I would have the finest diamonds in London, and +finally, when I would have nothing to do with him, he seized me +in his arms one day after dinner -- he was hideously strong -- +and he swore that he would not let me go until I had kissed him. +Mr. Carruthers came in and tore him off from me, on which he +turned upon his own host, knocking him down and cutting his face +open. That was the end of his visit, as you can imagine. +Mr. Carruthers apologized to me next day, and assured me that +I should never be exposed to such an insult again. I have not +seen Mr. Woodley since. + +"And now, Mr. Holmes, I come at last to the special thing which +has caused me to ask your advice to-day. You must know that +every Saturday forenoon I ride on my bicycle to Farnham Station +in order to get the 12.22 to town. The road from Chiltern +Grange is a lonely one, and at one spot it is particularly so, +for it lies for over a mile between Charlington Heath upon one +side and the woods which lie round Charlington Hall upon the +other. You could not find a more lonely tract of road anywhere, +and it is quite rare to meet so much as a cart, or a peasant, +until you reach the high road near Crooksbury Hill. Two weeks +ago I was passing this place when I chanced to look back over +my shoulder, and about two hundred yards behind me I saw a man, +also on a bicycle. He seemed to be a middle-aged man, with +a short, dark beard. I looked back before I reached Farnham, +but the man was gone, so I thought no more about it. But you +can imagine how surprised I was, Mr. Holmes, when on my return +on the Monday I saw the same man on the same stretch of road. +My astonishment was increased when the incident occurred again, +exactly as before, on the following Saturday and Monday. +He always kept his distance and did not molest me in any way, +but still it certainly was very odd. I mentioned it to Mr. +Carruthers, who seemed interested in what I said, and told me +that he had ordered a horse and trap, so that in future I should +not pass over these lonely roads without some companion. + +"The horse and trap were to have come this week, but for some +reason they were not delivered, and again I had to cycle to the +station. That was this morning. You can think that I looked +out when I came to Charlington Heath, and there, sure enough, +was the man, exactly as he had been the two weeks before. +He always kept so far from me that I could not clearly see +his face, but it was certainly someone whom I did not know. +He was dressed in a dark suit with a cloth cap. The only thing +about his face that I could clearly see was his dark beard. +To-day I was not alarmed, but I was filled with curiosity, +and I determined to find out who he was and what he wanted. +I slowed down my machine, but he slowed down his. Then I stopped +altogether, but he stopped also. Then I laid a trap for him. +There is a sharp turning of the road, and I pedalled very +quickly round this, and then I stopped and waited. I expected +him to shoot round and pass me before he could stop. But he +never appeared. Then I went back and looked round the corner. +I could see a mile of road, but he was not on it. To make it +the more extraordinary, there was no side road at this point +down which he could have gone." + +Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands. "This case certainly +presents some features of its own," said he. "How much time +elapsed between your turning the corner and your discovery +that the road was clear?" + +"Two or three minutes." + +"Then he could not have retreated down the road, and you say +that there are no side roads?" + +"None." + +"Then he certainly took a footpath on one side or the other." + +"It could not have been on the side of the heath or I should +have seen him." + +"So by the process of exclusion we arrive at the fact that he +made his way towards Charlington Hall, which, as I understand, +is situated in its own grounds on one side of the road. +Anything else?" + +"Nothing, Mr. Holmes, save that I was so perplexed that I felt +I should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice." + +Holmes sat in silence for some little time. + +"Where is the gentleman to whom you are engaged?" he asked, +at last. + +"He is in the Midland Electrical Company, at Coventry." + +"He would not pay you a surprise visit?" + +"Oh, Mr. Holmes! As if I should not know him!" + +"Have you had any other admirers?" + +"Several before I knew Cyril." + +"And since?" + +"There was this dreadful man, Woodley, if you can call him +an admirer." + +"No one else?" + +Our fair client seemed a little confused. + +"Who was he?" asked Holmes. + +"Oh, it may be a mere fancy of mine; but it has seemed to me +sometimes that my employer, Mr. Carruthers, takes a great deal +of interest in me. We are thrown rather together. I play his +accompaniments in the evening. He has never said anything. +He is a perfect gentleman. But a girl always knows." + +"Ha!" Holmes looked grave. "What does he do for a living?" + +"He is a rich man." + +"No carriages or horses?" + +"Well, at least he is fairly well-to-do. But he goes into the +City two or three times a week. He is deeply interested in +South African gold shares." + +"You will let me know any fresh development, Miss Smith. I am +very busy just now, but I will find time to make some inquiries +into your case. In the meantime take no step without letting me +know. Good-bye, and I trust that we shall have nothing but good +news from you." + +"It is part of the settled order of Nature that such a girl +should have followers," said Holmes, as he pulled at his meditative +pipe, "but for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads. +Some secretive lover, beyond all doubt. But there are curious +and suggestive details about the case, Watson." + +"That he should appear only at that point?" + +"Exactly. Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants +of Charlington Hall. Then, again, how about the connection +between Carruthers and Woodley, since they appear to be men of +such a different type? How came they BOTH to be so keen upon +looking up Ralph Smith's relations? One more point. What sort +of a MENAGE is it which pays double the market price for a +governess, but does not keep a horse although six miles from the +station? Odd, Watson -- very odd!" + +"You will go down?" + +"No, my dear fellow, YOU will go down. This may be some +trifling intrigue, and I cannot break my other important +research for the sake of it. On Monday you will arrive early +at Farnham; you will conceal yourself near Charlington Heath; +you will observe these facts for yourself, and act as your +own judgment advises. Then, having inquired as to the occupants +of the Hall, you will come back to me and report. And now, +Watson, not another word of the matter until we have a few solid +stepping-stones on which we may hope to get across to our solution." + +We had ascertained from the lady that she went down upon the +Monday by the train which leaves Waterloo at 9.50, so I started +early and caught the 9.13. At Farnham Station I had no +difficulty in being directed to Charlington Heath. It was +impossible to mistake the scene of the young lady's adventure, +for the road runs between the open heath on one side and an old +yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded +with magnificent trees. There was a main gateway of +lichen-studded stone, each side pillar surmounted by mouldering +heraldic emblems; but besides this central carriage drive +I observed several points where there were gaps in the hedge +and paths leading through them. The house was invisible from +the road, but the surroundings all spoke of gloom and decay. + +The heath was covered with golden patches of flowering gorse, +gleaming magnificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine. +Behind one of these clumps I took up my position, so as to command +both the gateway of the Hall and a long stretch of the road upon +either side. It had been deserted when I left it, +but now I saw a cyclist riding down it from the opposite +direction to that in which I had come. He was clad in a dark +suit, and I saw that he had a black beard. On reaching the end +of the Charlington grounds he sprang from his machine and led it +through a gap in the hedge, disappearing from my view. + +A quarter of an hour passed and then a second cyclist appeared. +This time it was the young lady coming from the station. +I saw her look about her as she came to the Charlington hedge. +An instant later the man emerged from his hiding-place, sprang upon +his cycle, and followed her. In all the broad landscape those +were the only moving figures, the graceful girl sitting very +straight upon her machine, and the man behind her bending low +over his handle-bar, with a curiously furtive suggestion in +every movement. She looked back at him and slowed her pace. +He slowed also. She stopped. He at once stopped too, keeping two +hundred yards behind her. Her next movement was as unexpected +as it was spirited. She suddenly whisked her wheels round and +dashed straight at him! He was as quick as she, however, and +darted off in desperate flight. Presently she came back up the +road again, her head haughtily in the air, not deigning to take +any further notice of her silent attendant. He had turned also, +and still kept his distance until the curve of the road hid them +from my sight. + +I remained in my hiding-place, and it was well that I did so, +for presently the man reappeared cycling slowly back. +He turned in at the Hall gates and dismounted from his machine. +For some few minutes I could see him standing among the trees. +His hands were raised and he seemed to be settling his necktie. +Then he mounted his cycle and rode away from me down the drive +towards the Hall. I ran across the heath and peered through the +trees. Far away I could catch glimpses of the old grey building +with its bristling Tudor chimneys, but the drive ran through a +dense shrubbery, and I saw no more of my man. + +However, it seemed to me that I had done a fairly good morning's +work, and I walked back in high spirits to Farnham. The local +house-agent could tell me nothing about Charlington Hall, and +referred me to a well-known firm in Pall Mall. There I halted +on my way home, and met with courtesy from the representative. +No, I could not have Charlington Hall for the summer. +I was just too late. It had been let about a month ago. +Mr. Williamson was the name of the tenant. He was a respectable +elderly gentleman. The polite agent was afraid he could say no +more, as the affairs of his clients were not matters which he +could discuss. + +Mr. Sherlock Holmes listened with attention to the long report +which I was able to present to him that evening, but it did not +elicit that word of curt praise which I had hoped for and should +have valued. On the contrary, his austere face was even more +severe than usual as he commented upon the things that I had +done and the things that I had not. + +"Your hiding-place, my dear Watson, was very faulty. You should +have been behind the hedge; then you would have had a close view +of this interesting person. As it is you were some hundreds +of yards away, and can tell me even less than Miss Smith. +She thinks she does not know the man; I am convinced she does. +Why, otherwise, should he be so desperately anxious that she +should not get so near him as to see his features? You describe +him as bending over the handle-bar. Concealment again, you see. +You really have done remarkably badly. He returns to the house and +you want to find out who he is. You come to a London house-agent!" + +"What should I have done?" I cried, with some heat. + +"Gone to the nearest public-house. That is the centre of +country gossip. They would have told you every name, from the +master to the scullery-maid. Williamson! It conveys nothing to +my mind. If he is an elderly man he is not this active cyclist +who sprints away from that athletic young lady's pursuit. What +have we gained by your expedition? The knowledge that the +girl's story is true. I never doubted it. That there is a +connection between the cyclist and the Hall. I never doubted +that either. That the Hall is tenanted by Williamson. +Who's the better for that? Well, well, my dear sir, don't +look so depressed. We can do little more until next Saturday, +and in the meantime I may make one or two inquiries myself." + +Next morning we had a note from Miss Smith, recounting shortly +and accurately the very incidents which I had seen, but the pith +of the letter lay in the postscript:-- + +"I am sure that you will respect my confidence, Mr. Holmes, +when I tell you that my place here has become difficult owing +to the fact that my employer has proposed marriage to me. I am +convinced that his feelings are most deep and most honourable. +At the same time my promise is, of course, given. He took my +refusal very seriously, but also very gently. You can +understand, however, that the situation is a little strained." + +"Our young friend seems to be getting into deep waters," +said Holmes, thoughtfully, as he finished the letter. +"The case certainly presents more features of interest and +more possibility of development than I had originally thought. +I should be none the worse for a quiet, peaceful day in the +country, and I am inclined to run down this afternoon and test +one or two theories which I have formed." + +Holmes's quiet day in the country had a singular termination, +for he arrived at Baker Street late in the evening with a cut +lip and a discoloured lump upon his forehead, besides a general +air of dissipation which would have made his own person the +fitting object of a Scotland Yard investigation. He was +immensely tickled by his own adventures, and laughed heartily +as he recounted them. + +"I get so little active exercise that it is always a treat," +said he. "You are aware that I have some proficiency in the +good old British sport of boxing. Occasionally it is of +service. To-day, for example, I should have come to very +ignominious grief without it." + +I begged him to tell me what had occurred. + +"I found that country pub which I had already recommended to +your notice, and there I made my discreet inquiries. I was in +the bar, and a garrulous landlord was giving me all that I +wanted. Williamson is a white-bearded man, and he lives alone +with a small staff of servants at the Hall. There is some rumour +that he is or has been a clergyman; but one or two incidents of +his short residence at the Hall struck me as peculiarly +unecclesiastical. I have already made some inquiries at a +clerical agency, and they tell me that there WAS a man of that +name in orders whose career has been a singularly dark one. +The landlord further informed me that there are usually week-end +visitors -- `a warm lot, sir' -- at the Hall, and especially one +gentleman with a red moustache, Mr. Woodley by name, who was +always there. We had got as far as this when who should walk in +but the gentleman himself, who had been drinking his beer in the +tap-room and had heard the whole conversation. Who was I? +What did I want? What did I mean by asking questions? He had +a fine flow of language, and his adjectives were very vigorous. +He ended a string of abuse by a vicious back-hander which I failed +to entirely avoid. The next few minutes were delicious. It was +a straight left against a slogging ruffian. I emerged as you +see me. Mr. Woodley went home in a cart. So ended my country trip, +and it must be confessed that, however enjoyable, my day on the +Surrey border has not been much more profitable than your own." + +The Thursday brought us another letter from our client. + +"You will not be surprised, Mr. Holmes," said she, "to hear +that I am leaving Mr. Carruthers's employment. Even the high +pay cannot reconcile me to the discomforts of my situation. +On Saturday I come up to town and I do not intend to return. +Mr. Carruthers has got a trap, and so the dangers of the lonely +road, if there ever were any dangers, are now over. + +"As to the special cause of my leaving, it is not merely the +strained situation with Mr. Carruthers, but it is the +reappearance of that odious man, Mr. Woodley. He was always +hideous, but he looks more awful than ever now, for he appears +to have had an accident and he is much disfigured. I saw him +out of the window, but I am glad to say I did not meet him. +He had a long talk with Mr. Carruthers, who seemed much excited +afterwards. Woodley must be staying in the neighbourhood, for +he did not sleep here, and yet I caught a glimpse of him again +this morning slinking about in the shrubbery. I would sooner +have a savage wild animal loose about the place. I loathe and +fear him more than I can say. How CAN Mr. Carruthers endure +such a creature for a moment? However, all my troubles will be +over on Saturday." + +"So I trust, Watson; so I trust," said Holmes, gravely. +"There is some deep intrigue going on round that little woman, +and it is our duty to see that no one molests her upon that last +journey. I think, Watson, that we must spare time to run down +together on Saturday morning, and make sure that this curious +and inconclusive investigation has no untoward ending." + +I confess that I had not up to now taken a very serious view +of the case, which had seemed to me rather grotesque and bizarre +than dangerous. That a man should lie in wait for and follow +a very handsome woman is no unheard-of thing, and if he had so +little audacity that he not only dared not address her, but even +fled from her approach, he was not a very formidable assailant. +The ruffian Woodley was a very different person, but, except on +one occasion, he had not molested our client, and now he visited +the house of Carruthers without intruding upon her presence. +The man on the bicycle was doubtless a member of those week-end +parties at the Hall of which the publican had spoken; but who +he was or what he wanted was as obscure as ever. It was the +severity of Holmes's manner and the fact that he slipped a +revolver into his pocket before leaving our rooms which +impressed me with the feeling that tragedy might prove to +lurk behind this curious train of events. + +A rainy night had been followed by a glorious morning, and the +heath-covered country-side with the glowing clumps of flowering +gorse seemed all the more beautiful to eyes which were weary of +the duns and drabs and slate-greys of London. Holmes and I +walked along the broad, sandy road inhaling the fresh morning +air, and rejoicing in the music of the birds and the fresh +breath of the spring. From a rise of the road on the shoulder +of Crooksbury Hill we could see the grim Hall bristling out from +amidst the ancient oaks, which, old as they were, were still +younger than the building which they surrounded. Holmes pointed +down the long tract of road which wound, a reddish yellow band, +between the brown of the heath and the budding green of the +woods. Far away, a black dot, we could see a vehicle moving +in our direction. Holmes gave an exclamation of impatience. + +"I had given a margin of half an hour," said he. "If that is +her trap she must be making for the earlier train. I fear, +Watson, that she will be past Charlington before we can possibly +meet her." + +From the instant that we passed the rise we could no longer see +the vehicle, but we hastened onwards at such a pace that my +sedentary life began to tell upon me, and I was compelled to +fall behind. Holmes, however, was always in training, for he +had inexhaustible stores of nervous energy upon which to draw. +His springy step never slowed until suddenly, when he was a +hundred yards in front of me, he halted, and I saw him throw +up his hand with a gesture of grief and despair. At the same +instant an empty dog-cart, the horse cantering, the reins +trailing, appeared round the curve of the road and rattled +swiftly towards us. + +"Too late, Watson; too late!" cried Holmes, as I ran panting to +his side. "Fool that I was not to allow for that earlier train! +It's abduction, Watson -- abduction! Murder! Heaven knows what! +Block the road! Stop the horse! That's right. Now, jump in, +and let us see if I can repair the consequences of my own blunder." + +We had sprung into the dog-cart, and Holmes, after turning the +horse, gave it a sharp cut with the whip, and we flew back along +the road. As we turned the curve the whole stretch of road +between the Hall and the heath was opened up. I grasped +Holmes's arm. + +"That's the man!" I gasped. + +A solitary cyclist was coming towards us. His head was down +and his shoulders rounded as he put every ounce of energy that +he possessed on to the pedals. He was flying like a racer. +Suddenly he raised his bearded face, saw us close to him, and +pulled up, springing from his machine. That coal-black beard +was in singular contrast to the pallor of his face, and his eyes +were as bright as if he had a fever. He stared at us and at the +dog-cart. Then a look of amazement came over his face. + +"Halloa! Stop there!" he shouted, holding his bicycle to block +our road. "Where did you get that dog-cart? Pull up, man!" +he yelled, drawing a pistol from his side pocket. "Pull up, +I say, or, by George, I'll put a bullet into your horse." + +Holmes threw the reins into my lap and sprang down from the cart. + +"You're the man we want to see. Where is Miss Violet Smith?" +he said, in his quick, clear way. + +"That's what I am asking you. You're in her dog-cart. +You ought to know where she is." + +"We met the dog-cart on the road. There was no one in it. +We drove back to help the young lady." + +"Good Lord! Good Lord! what shall I do?" cried the stranger, +in an ecstasy of despair. "They've got her, that hellhound Woodley +and the blackguard parson. Come, man, come, if you really are +her friend. Stand by me and we'll save her, if I have to leave +my carcass in Charlington Wood." + +He ran distractedly, his pistol in his hand, towards a gap +in the hedge. Holmes followed him, and I, leaving the horse +grazing beside the road, followed Holmes. + +"This is where they came through," said he, pointing to the marks +of several feet upon the muddy path. "Halloa! Stop a minute! +Who's this in the bush?" + +It was a young fellow about seventeen, dressed like an ostler, +with leather cords and gaiters. He lay upon his back, his knees +drawn up, a terrible cut upon his head. He was insensible, but +alive. A glance at his wound told me that it had not penetrated +the bone. + +"That's Peter, the groom," cried the stranger. "He drove her. +The beasts have pulled him off and clubbed him. Let him lie; +we can't do him any good, but we may save her from the worst +fate that can befall a woman." + +We ran frantically down the path, which wound among the trees. +We had reached the shrubbery which surrounded the house when +Holmes pulled up. + +"They didn't go to the house. Here are their marks on the left +-- here, beside the laurel bushes! Ah, I said so!" + +As he spoke a woman's shrill scream -- a scream which vibrated +with a frenzy of horror -- burst from the thick green clump of +bushes in front of us. It ended suddenly on its highest note +with a choke and a gurgle. + +"This way! This way! They are in the bowling alley," cried the +stranger, darting through the bushes. "Ah, the cowardly dogs! +Follow me, gentlemen! Too late! too late! by the living Jingo!" + +We had broken suddenly into a lovely glade of greensward +surrounded by ancient trees. On the farther side of it, under +the shadow of a mighty oak, there stood a singular group of +three people. One was a woman, our client, drooping and faint, +a handkerchief round her mouth. Opposite her stood a brutal, +heavy-faced, red-moustached young man, his gaitered legs parted +wide, one arm akimbo, the other waving a riding-crop, his whole +attitude suggestive of triumphant bravado. Between them an +elderly, grey-bearded man, wearing a short surplice over a light +tweed suit, had evidently just completed the wedding service, +for he pocketed his prayer-book as we appeared and slapped the +sinister bridegroom upon the back in jovial congratulation. + +"They're married!" I gasped. + +"Come on!" cried our guide; "come on!" He rushed across the +glade, Holmes and I at his heels. As we approached, the lady +staggered against the trunk of the tree for support. +Williamson, the ex-clergyman, bowed to us with mock politeness, +and the bully Woodley advanced with a shout of brutal and +exultant laughter. + +"You can take your beard off, Bob," said he. "I know you right +enough. Well, you and your pals have just come in time for me +to be able to introduce you to Mrs. Woodley." + +Our guide's answer was a singular one. He snatched off the +dark beard which had disguised him and threw it on the ground, +disclosing a long, sallow, clean-shaven face below it. +Then he raised his revolver and covered the young ruffian, +who was advancing upon him with his dangerous riding-crop +swinging in his hand. + +"Yes," said our ally, "I AM Bob Carruthers, and I'll see this +woman righted if I have to swing for it. I told you what I'd do +if you molested her, and, by the Lord, I'll be as good as my word!" + +"You're too late. She's my wife!" + +"No, she's your widow." + +His revolver cracked, and I saw the blood spurt from the front +of Woodley's waistcoat. He spun round with a scream and fell +upon his back, his hideous red face turning suddenly to a +dreadful mottled pallor. The old man, still clad in his +surplice, burst into such a string of foul oaths as I have never +heard, and pulled out a revolver of his own, but before he could +raise it he was looking down the barrel of Holmes's weapon. + +"Enough of this," said my friend, coldly. "Drop that pistol! +Watson, pick it up! Hold it to his head! Thank you. You, +Carruthers, give me that revolver. We'll have no more violence. +Come, hand it over!" + +"Who are you, then?" + +"My name is Sherlock Holmes." + +"Good Lord!" + +"You have heard of me, I see. I will represent the official +police until their arrival. Here, you!" he shouted to a +frightened groom who had appeared at the edge of the glade. +"Come here. Take this note as hard as you can ride to Farnham." +He scribbled a few words upon a leaf from his note-book. "Give +it to the superintendent at the police-station. Until he comes +I must detain you all under my personal custody." + +The strong, masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic +scene, and all were equally puppets in his hands. Williamson +and Carruthers found themselves carrying the wounded Woodley +into the house, and I gave my arm to the frightened girl. +The injured man was laid on his bed, and at Holmes's request I +examined him. I carried my report to where he sat in the old +tapestry-hung dining-room with his two prisoners before him. + +"He will live," said I. + +"What!" cried Carruthers, springing out of his chair. "I'll go +upstairs and finish him first. Do you tell me that that girl, +that angel, is to be tied to Roaring Jack Woodley for life?" + +"You need not concern yourself about that," said Holmes. +"There are two very good reasons why she should under no +circumstances be his wife. In the first place, we are very safe +in questioning Mr. Williamson's right to solemnize a marriage." + +"I have been ordained," cried the old rascal. + +"And also unfrocked." + +"Once a clergyman, always a clergyman." + +"I think not. How about the license?" + +"We had a license for the marriage. I have it here in my pocket." + +"Then you got it by a trick. But in any case a forced marriage +is no marriage, but it is a very serious felony, as you will +discover before you have finished. You'll have time to think +the point out during the next ten years or so, unless I am +mistaken. As to you, Carruthers, you would have done better +to keep your pistol in your pocket." + +"I begin to think so, Mr. Holmes; but when I thought of all the +precaution I had taken to shield this girl -- for I loved her, +Mr. Holmes, and it is the only time that ever I knew what love +was -- it fairly drove me mad to think that she was in the power +of the greatest brute and bully in South Africa, a man whose +name is a holy terror from Kimberley to Johannesburg. Why, Mr. +Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but ever since that girl has +been in my employment I never once let her go past this house, +where I knew these rascals were lurking, without following her +on my bicycle just to see that she came to no harm. I kept my +distance from her, and I wore a beard so that she should not +recognise me, for she is a good and high-spirited girl, and she +wouldn't have stayed in my employment long if she had thought +that I was following her about the country roads." + +"Why didn't you tell her of her danger?" + +"Because then, again, she would have left me, and I couldn't +bear to face that. Even if she couldn't love me it was a great +deal to me just to see her dainty form about the house, and to +hear the sound of her voice." + +"Well," said I, "you call that love, Mr. Carruthers, +but I should call it selfishness." + +"Maybe the two things go together. Anyhow, I couldn't let her +go. Besides, with this crowd about, it was well that she should +have someone near to look after her. Then when the cable came +I knew they were bound to make a move." + +"What cable?" + +Carruthers took a telegram from his pocket. + +"That's it," said he. + +It was short and concise:-- + +"The old man is dead." + +"Hum!" said Holmes. "I think I see how things worked, and I can +understand how this message would, as you say, bring them to a +head. But while we wait you might tell me what you can." + +The old reprobate with the surplice burst into a volley of bad +language. + +"By Heaven," said he, "if you squeal on us, Bob Carruthers, +I'll serve you as you served Jack Woodley. You can bleat about +the girl to your heart's content, for that's your own affair, +but if you round on your pals to this plain-clothes copper +it will be the worst day's work that ever you did." + +"Your reverence need not be excited," said Holmes, lighting a +cigarette. "The case is clear enough against you, and all I ask +is a few details for my private curiosity. However, if there's +any difficulty in your telling me I'll do the talking, and then +you will see how far you have a chance of holding back your secrets. +In the first place, three of you came from South Africa on this +game -- you Williamson, you Carruthers, and Woodley." + +"Lie number one," said the old man; "I never saw either of +them until two months ago, and I have never been in Africa +in my life, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, +Mr. Busybody Holmes!" + +"What he says is true," said Carruthers. + +"Well, well, two of you came over. His reverence is our own +home-made article. You had known Ralph Smith in South Africa. +You had reason to believe he would not live long. You found out +that his niece would inherit his fortune. How's that -- eh?" + +Carruthers nodded and Williamson swore. + +"She was next-of-kin, no doubt, and you were aware that the old +fellow would make no will." + +"Couldn't read or write," said Carruthers. + +"So you came over, the two of you, and hunted up the girl. +The idea was that one of you was to marry her and the other have +a share of the plunder. For some reason Woodley was chosen as +the husband. Why was that?" + +"We played cards for her on the voyage. He won." + +"I see. You got the young lady into your service, and there +Woodley was to do the courting. She recognised the drunken +brute that he was, and would have nothing to do with him. +Meanwhile, your arrangement was rather upset by the fact that +you had yourself fallen in love with the lady. You could no +longer bear the idea of this ruffian owning her." + +"No, by George, I couldn't!" + +"There was a quarrel between you. He left you in a rage, +and began to make his own plans independently of you." + +"It strikes me, Williamson, there isn't very much that we can +tell this gentleman," cried Carruthers, with a bitter laugh. +"Yes, we quarreled, and he knocked me down. I am level with him +on that, anyhow. Then I lost sight of him. That was when he +picked up with this cast padre here. I found that they had set +up house-keeping together at this place on the line that she +had to pass for the station. I kept my eye on her after that, +for I knew there was some devilry in the wind. I saw them from +time to time, for I was anxious to know what they were after. +Two days ago Woodley came up to my house with this cable, which +showed that Ralph Smith was dead. He asked me if I would stand +by the bargain. I said I would not. He asked me if I would +marry the girl myself and give him a share. I said I would +willingly do so, but that she would not have me. He said, +`Let us get her married first, and after a week or two she may +see things a bit different.' I said I would have nothing to do +with violence. So he went off cursing, like the foul-mouthed +blackguard that he was, and swearing that he would have her yet. +She was leaving me this week-end, and I had got a trap to take +her to the station, but I was so uneasy in my mind that I +followed her on my bicycle. She had got a start, however, +and before I could catch her the mischief was done. The first +thing I knew about it was when I saw you two gentlemen driving +back in her dog-cart." + +Holmes rose and tossed the end of his cigarette into the grate. +"I have been very obtuse, Watson," said he. "When in your +report you said that you had seen the cyclist as you thought +arrange his necktie in the shrubbery, that alone should have +told me all. However, we may congratulate ourselves upon a +curious and in some respects a unique case. I perceive three +of the county constabulary in the drive, and I am glad to see +that the little ostler is able to keep pace with them; so it is +likely that neither he nor the interesting bridegroom will be +permanently damaged by their morning's adventures. I think, +Watson, that in your medical capacity you might wait upon Miss +Smith and tell her that if she is sufficiently recovered we +shall be happy to escort her to her mother's home. If she is +not quite convalescent you will find that a hint that we were +about to telegraph to a young electrician in the Midlands would +probably complete the cure. As to you, Mr. Carruthers, I think +that you have done what you could to make amends for your share +in an evil plot. There is my card, sir, and if my evidence can +be of help to you in your trial it shall be at your disposal." + + +In the whirl of our incessant activity it has often been +difficult for me, as the reader has probably observed, to round +off my narratives, and to give those final details which the +curious might expect. Each case has been the prelude to +another, and the crisis once over the actors have passed for +ever out of our busy lives. I find, however, a short note at +the end of my manuscripts dealing with this case, in which +I have put it upon record that Miss Violet Smith did indeed +inherit a large fortune, and that she is now the wife of Cyril +Morton, the senior partner of Morton & Kennedy, the famous +Westminster electricians. Williamson and Woodley were both +tried for abduction and assault, the former getting seven years +and the latter ten. Of the fate of Carruthers I have no record, +but I am sure that his assault was not viewed very gravely by +the Court, since Woodley had the reputation of being a most +dangerous ruffian, and I think that a few months were sufficient +to satisfy the demands of justice. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 FEBRUARY, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +V. --- The Adventure of the Priory School. + + +WE have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small +stage at Baker Street, but I cannot recollect anything more +sudden and startling than the first appearance of Thorneycroft +Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. His card, which seemed too small to +carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded him by a +few seconds, and then he entered himself -- so large, so pompous, +and so dignified that he was the very embodiment of self-possession +and solidity. And yet his first action when the door had closed +behind him was to stagger against the table, whence he slipped +down upon the floor, and there was that majestic figure prostrate +and insensible upon our bearskin hearthrug. + +We had sprung to our feet, and for a few moments we stared in +silent amazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage, which told +of some sudden and fatal storm far out on the ocean of life. +Then Holmes hurried with a cushion for his head and I with +brandy for his lips. The heavy white face was seamed with lines +of trouble, the hanging pouches under the closed eyes were +leaden in colour, the loose mouth drooped dolorously at the corners, +the rolling chins were unshaven. Collar and shirt bore the grime +of a long journey, and the hair bristled unkempt from the +well-shaped head. It was a sorely-stricken man who lay before us. + +"What is it, Watson?" asked Holmes. + +"Absolute exhaustion -- possibly mere hunger and fatigue," said I, +with my finger on the thready pulse, where the stream of life +trickled thin and small. + +"Return ticket from Mackleton, in the North of England," said Holmes, +drawing it from the watch-pocket. "It is not twelve o'clock yet. +He has certainly been an early starter." + +The puckered eyelids had begun to quiver, and now a pair of +vacant, grey eyes looked up at us. An instant later the man +had scrambled on to his feet, his face crimson with shame. + +"Forgive this weakness, Mr. Holmes; I have been a little +overwrought. Thank you, if I might have a glass of milk and +a biscuit I have no doubt that I should be better. I came +personally, Mr. Holmes, in order to ensure that you would return +with me. I feared that no telegram would convince you of the +absolute urgency of the case." + +"When you are quite restored ----" + +"I am quite well again. I cannot imagine how I came to be so weak. +I wish you, Mr. Holmes, to come to Mackleton with me by the next train." + +My friend shook his head. + +"My colleague, Dr. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy +at present. I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents, +and the Abergavenny murder is coming up for trial. Only a very +important issue could call me from London at present." + +"Important!" Our visitor threw up his hands. "Have you heard +nothing of the abduction of the only son of the Duke of Holdernesse?" + +"What! the late Cabinet Minister?" + +"Exactly. We had tried to keep it out of the papers, but there +was some rumour in the GLOBE last night. I thought it might +have reached your ears." + +Holmes shot out his long, thin arm and picked out Volume "H" +in his encyclopaedia of reference. + +"`Holdernesse, 6th Duke, K.G., P.C.' -- half the alphabet! +`Baron Beverley, Earl of Carston' -- dear me, what a list! +`Lord Lieutenant of Hallamshire since 1900. Married Edith, +daughter of Sir Charles Appledore, 1888. Heir and only child, +Lord Saltire. Owns about two hundred and fifty thousand acres. +Minerals in Lancashire and Wales. Address: Carlton House +Terrace; Holdernesse Hall, Hallamshire; Carston Castle, Bangor, +Wales. Lord of the Admiralty, 1872; Chief Secretary of State +for --' Well, well, this man is certainly one of the greatest +subjects of the Crown!" + +"The greatest and perhaps the wealthiest. I am aware, Mr. Holmes, +that you take a very high line in professional matters, and that +you are prepared to work for the work's sake. I may tell you, +however, that his Grace has already intimated that a cheque for five +thousand pounds will be handed over to the person who can tell him +where his son is, and another thousand to him who can name the man, +or men, who have taken him." + +"It is a princely offer," said Holmes. "Watson, I think that +we shall accompany Dr. Huxtable back to the North of England. +And now, Dr. Huxtable, when you have consumed that milk you +will kindly tell me what has happened, when it happened, +how it happened, and, finally, what Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable, +of the Priory School, near Mackleton, has to do with the matter, +and why he comes three days after an event -- the state of your +chin gives the date -- to ask for my humble services." + +Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits. The light had +come back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks as he set +himself with great vigour and lucidity to explain the situation. + +"I must inform you, gentlemen, that the Priory is a preparatory +school, of which I am the founder and principal. `Huxtable's +Sidelights on Horace' may possibly recall my name to your +memories. The Priory is, without exception, the best and most +select preparatory school in England. Lord Leverstoke, the Earl +of Blackwater, Sir Cathcart Soames -- they all have entrusted +their sons to me. But I felt that my school had reached its +zenith when, three weeks ago, the Duke of Holdernesse sent +Mr. James Wilder, his secretary, with the intimation that young +Lord Saltire, ten years old, his only son and heir, was about +to be committed to my charge. Little did I think that this +would be the prelude to the most crushing misfortune of my life. + +"On May 1st the boy arrived, that being the beginning of the +summer term. He was a charming youth, and he soon fell into +our ways. I may tell you -- I trust that I am not indiscreet, +but half-confidences are absurd in such a case -- that he was +not entirely happy at home. It is an open secret that the Duke's +married life had not been a peaceful one, and the matter had +ended in a separation by mutual consent, the Duchess taking up +her residence in the South of France. This had occurred very +shortly before, and the boy's sympathies are known to have been +strongly with his mother. He moped after her departure from +Holdernesse Hall, and it was for this reason that the Duke +desired to send him to my establishment. In a fortnight the boy +was quite at home with us, and was apparently absolutely happy. + +"He was last seen on the night of May 13th -- that is, +the night of last Monday. His room was on the second floor, +and was approached through another larger room in which two +boys were sleeping. These boys saw and heard nothing, so that +it is certain that young Saltire did not pass out that way. +His window was open, and there is a stout ivy plant leading to +the ground. We could trace no footmarks below, but it is sure +that this is the only possible exit. + +"His absence was discovered at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. +His bed had been slept in. He had dressed himself fully before +going off in his usual school suit of black Eton jacket and dark +grey trousers. There were no signs that anyone had entered the +room, and it is quite certain that anything in the nature of cries, +or a struggle, would have been heard, since Caunter, the elder boy +in the inner room, is a very light sleeper. + +"When Lord Saltire's disappearance was discovered I at once +called a roll of the whole establishment, boys, masters, +and servants. It was then that we ascertained that Lord Saltire +had not been alone in his flight. Heidegger, the German master, +was missing. His room was on the second floor, at the farther +end of the building, facing the same way as Lord Saltire's. +His bed had also been slept in; but he had apparently gone away +partly dressed, since his shirt and socks were lying on the floor. +He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy, for we could see +the marks of his feet where he had landed on the lawn. +His bicycle was kept in a small shed beside this lawn, +and it also was gone. + +"He had been with me for two years, and came with the best +references; but he was a silent, morose man, not very popular +either with masters or boys. No trace could be found of the +fugitives, and now on Thursday morning we are as ignorant as +we were on Tuesday. Inquiry was, of course, made at once at +Holdernesse Hall. It is only a few miles away, and we imagined +that in some sudden attack of home-sickness he had gone back +to his father; but nothing had been heard of him. The Duke is +greatly agitated -- and as to me, you have seen yourselves the +state of nervous prostration to which the suspense and the +responsibility have reduced me. Mr. Holmes, if ever you put +forward your full powers, I implore you to do so now, for never +in your life could you have a case which is more worthy of them." + +Sherlock Holmes had listened with the utmost intentness to the +statement of the unhappy schoolmaster. His drawn brows and the +deep furrow between them showed that he needed no exhortation to +concentrate all his attention upon a problem which, apart from +the tremendous interests involved, must appeal so directly to +his love of the complex and the unusual. He now drew out his +note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda. + +"You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner," said he, +severely. "You start me on my investigation with a very serious +handicap. It is inconceivable, for example, that this ivy and +this lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer." + +"I am not to blame, Mr. Holmes. His Grace was extremely +desirous to avoid all public scandal. He was afraid of +his family unhappiness being dragged before the world. +He has a deep horror of anything of the kind." + +"But there has been some official investigation?" + +"Yes, sir, and it has proved most disappointing. An apparent +clue was at once obtained, since a boy and a young man were +reported to have been seen leaving a neighbouring station by +an early train. Only last night we had news that the couple +had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no +connection whatever with the matter in hand. Then it was that +in my despair and disappointment, after a sleepless night, +I came straight to you by the early train." + +"I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false +clue was being followed up?" + +"It was entirely dropped." + +"So that three days have been wasted. The affair has been most +deplorably handled." + +"I feel it, and admit it." + +"And yet the problem should be capable of ultimate solution. +I shall be very happy to look into it. Have you been able to trace +any connection between the missing boy and this German master?" + +"None at all." + +"Was he in the master's class?" + +"No; he never exchanged a word with him so far as I know." + +"That is certainly very singular. Had the boy a bicycle?" + +"No." + +"Was any other bicycle missing?" + +"No." + +"Is that certain?" + +"Quite." + +"Well, now, you do not mean to seriously suggest that this +German rode off upon a bicycle in the dead of the night bearing +the boy in his arms?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then what is the theory in your mind?" + +"The bicycle may have been a blind. It may have been hidden +somewhere and the pair gone off on foot." + +"Quite so; but it seems rather an absurd blind, does it not? +Were there other bicycles in this shed?" + +"Several." + +"Would he not have hidden A COUPLE had he desired to give the +idea that they had gone off upon them?" + +"I suppose he would." + +"Of course he would. The blind theory won't do. But the +incident is an admirable starting-point for an investigation. +After all, a bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to destroy. +One other question. Did anyone call to see the boy on the day +before he disappeared?" + +"No." + +"Did he get any letters?" + +"Yes; one letter." + +"From whom?" + +"From his father." + +"Do you open the boys' letters?" + +"No." + +"How do you know it was from the father?" + +"The coat of arms was on the envelope, and it was addressed +in the Duke's peculiar stiff hand. Besides, the Duke remembers +having written." + +"When had he a letter before that?" + +"Not for several days." + +"Had he ever one from France?" + +"No; never. + +"You see the point of my questions, of course. Either the +boy was carried off by force or he went of his own free will. +In the latter case you would expect that some prompting from +outside would be needed to make so young a lad do such a thing. +If he has had no visitors, that prompting must have come in +letters. Hence I try to find out who were his correspondents." + +"I fear I cannot help you much. His only correspondent, +so far as I know, was his own father." + +"Who wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance. +Were the relations between father and son very friendly?" + +"His Grace is never very friendly with anyone. He is completely +immersed in large public questions, and is rather inaccessible +to all ordinary emotions. But he was always kind to the boy in +his own way." + +"But the sympathies of the latter were with the mother?" + +"Yes." + +"Did he say so?" + +"No." + +"The Duke, then?" + +"Good heavens, no!" + +"Then how could you know?" + +"I have had some confidential talks with Mr. James Wilder, +his Grace's secretary. It was he who gave me the information +about Lord Saltire's feelings." + +"I see. By the way, that last letter of the Duke's -- was it +found in the boy's room after he was gone?" + +"No; he had taken it with him. I think, Mr. Holmes, it is time +that we were leaving for Euston." + +"I will order a four-wheeler. In a quarter of an hour we shall +be at your service. If you are telegraphing home, Mr. Huxtable, +it would be well to allow the people in your neighbourhood to +imagine that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool, or +wherever else that red herring led your pack. In the meantime +I will do a little quiet work at your own doors, and perhaps +the scent is not so cold but that two old hounds like Watson +and myself may get a sniff of it." + + +That evening found us in the cold, bracing atmosphere of the +Peak country, in which Dr. Huxtable's famous school is situated. +It was already dark when we reached it. A card was lying on the +hall table, and the butler whispered something to his master, +who turned to us with agitation in every heavy feature. + +"The Duke is here," said he. "The Duke and Mr. Wilder are +in the study. Come, gentlemen, and I will introduce you." + +I was, of course, familiar with the pictures of the famous +statesman, but the man himself was very different from his +representation. He was a tall and stately person, scrupulously +dressed, with a drawn, thin face, and a nose which was +grotesquely curved and long. His complexion was of a dead +pallor, which was more startling by contrast with a long, +dwindling beard of vivid red, which flowed down over his white +waistcoat, with his watch-chain gleaming through its fringe. +Such was the stately presence who looked stonily at us from the +centre of Dr. Huxtable's hearthrug. Beside him stood a very +young man, whom I understood to be Wilder, the private +secretary. He was small, nervous, alert, with intelligent, +light-blue eyes and mobile features. It was he who at once, +in an incisive and positive tone, opened the conversation. + +"I called this morning, Dr. Huxtable, too late to prevent you +from starting for London. I learned that your object was to +invite Mr. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this +case. His Grace is surprised, Dr. Huxtable, that you should +have taken such a step without consulting him." + +"When I learned that the police had failed ----" + +"His Grace is by no means convinced that the police have failed." + +"But surely, Mr. Wilder ----" + +"You are well aware, Dr. Huxtable, that his Grace is particularly +anxious to avoid all public scandal. He prefers to take as few +people as possible into his confidence." + +"The matter can be easily remedied," said the brow-beaten doctor; +"Mr. Sherlock Holmes can return to London by the morning train." + +"Hardly that, Doctor, hardly that," said Holmes, in his +blandest voice. "This northern air is invigorating and pleasant, +so I propose to spend a few days upon your moors, and to occupy +my mind as best I may. Whether I have the shelter of your roof +or of the village inn is, of course, for you to decide." + +I could see that the unfortunate doctor was in the last stage +of indecision, from which he was rescued by the deep, sonorous +voice of the red-bearded Duke, which boomed out like a dinner-gong. + +"I agree with Mr. Wilder, Dr. Huxtable, that you would have done +wisely to consult me. But since Mr. Holmes has already been +taken into your confidence, it would indeed be absurd that we +should not avail ourselves of his services. Far from going to +the inn, Mr. Holmes, I should be pleased if you would come and +stay with me at Holdernesse Hall." + +"I thank your Grace. For the purposes of my investigation +I think that it would be wiser for me to remain at the scene +of the mystery." + +"Just as you like, Mr. Holmes. Any information which Mr. Wilder +or I can give you is, of course, at your disposal." + +"It will probably be necessary for me to see you at the Hall," +said Holmes. "I would only ask you now, sir, whether you have +formed any explanation in your own mind as to the mysterious +disappearance of your son?" + +"No, sir, I have not." + +"Excuse me if I allude to that which is painful to you, +but I have no alternative. Do you think that the Duchess +had anything to do with the matter?" + +The great Minister showed perceptible hesitation. + +"I do not think so," he said, at last. + +"The other most obvious explanation is that the child +has been kidnapped for the purpose of levying ransom. +You have not had any demand of the sort?" + +"No, sir." + +"One more question, your Grace. I understand that you wrote +to your son upon the day when this incident occurred." + +"No; I wrote upon the day before." + +"Exactly. But he received it on that day?" + +"Yes." + +"Was there anything in your letter which might have unbalanced +him or induced him to take such a step?" + +"No, sir, certainly not." + +"Did you post that letter yourself?" + +The nobleman's reply was interrupted by his secretary, +who broke in with some heat. + +"His Grace is not in the habit of posting letters himself," +said he. "This letter was laid with others upon the study table, +and I myself put them in the post-bag." + +"You are sure this one was among them?" + +"Yes; I observed it." + +"How many letters did your Grace write that day?" + +"Twenty or thirty. I have a large correspondence. +But surely this is somewhat irrelevant?" + +"Not entirely," said Holmes. + +"For my own part," the Duke continued, "I have advised the +police to turn their attention to the South of France. +I have already said that I do not believe that the Duchess would +encourage so monstrous an action, but the lad had the most +wrong-headed opinions, and it is possible that he may have fled +to her, aided and abetted by this German. I think, Dr. Huxtable, +that we will now return to the Hall." + +I could see that there were other questions which Holmes would +have wished to put; but the nobleman's abrupt manner showed that +the interview was at an end. It was evident that to his +intensely aristocratic nature this discussion of his intimate +family affairs with a stranger was most abhorrent, and that he +feared lest every fresh question would throw a fiercer light +into the discreetly shadowed corners of his ducal history. + +When the nobleman and his secretary had left, my friend flung +himself at once with characteristic eagerness into the +investigation. + +The boy's chamber was carefully examined, and yielded nothing +save the absolute conviction that it was only through the window +that he could have escaped. The German master's room and +effects gave no further clue. In his case a trailer of ivy had +given way under his weight, and we saw by the light of a lantern +the mark on the lawn where his heels had come down. That one +dint in the short green grass was the only material witness left +of this inexplicable nocturnal flight. + +Sherlock Holmes left the house alone, and only returned after +eleven. He had obtained a large ordnance map of the +neighbourhood, and this he brought into my room, where he laid +it out on the bed, and, having balanced the lamp in the middle +of it, he began to smoke over it, and occasionally to point out +objects of interest with the reeking amber of his pipe. + +"This case grows upon me, Watson," said he. "There are decidedly +some points of interest in connection with it. In this early +stage I want you to realize those geographical features which may +have a good deal to do with our investigation. + +GRAPHIC + +"Look at this map. This dark square is the Priory School. +I'll put a pin in it. Now, this line is the main road. +You see that it runs east and west past the school, and you +see also that there is no side road for a mile either way. +If these two folk passed away by road it was THIS road." + +"Exactly." + +"By a singular and happy chance we are able to some extent to +check what passed along this road during the night in question. +At this point, where my pipe is now resting, a country constable +was on duty from twelve to six. It is, as you perceive, the +first cross road on the east side. This man declares that he +was not absent from his post for an instant, and he is positive +that neither boy nor man could have gone that way unseen. +I have spoken with this policeman to-night, and he appears to +me to be a perfectly reliable person. That blocks this end. +We have now to deal with the other. There is an inn here, +the Red Bull, the landlady of which was ill. She had sent +to Mackleton for a doctor, but he did not arrive until morning, +being absent at another case. The people at the inn were alert +all night, awaiting his coming, and one or other of them seems +to have continually had an eye upon the road. They declare that +no one passed. If their evidence is good, then we are fortunate +enough to be able to block the west, and also to be able to say +that the fugitives did NOT use the road at all." + +"But the bicycle?" I objected. + +"Quite so. We will come to the bicycle presently. To continue +our reasoning: if these people did not go by the road, they +must have traversed the country to the north of the house or +to the south of the house. That is certain. Let us weigh the +one against the other. On the south of the house is, as you +perceive, a large district of arable land, cut up into small +fields, with stone walls between them. There, I admit that a +bicycle is impossible. We can dismiss the idea. We turn to the +country on the north. Here there lies a grove of trees, marked +as the `Ragged Shaw,' and on the farther side stretches a great +rolling moor, Lower Gill Moor, extending for ten miles and +sloping gradually upwards. Here, at one side of this +wilderness, is Holdernesse Hall, ten miles by road, but only six +across the moor. It is a peculiarly desolate plain. A few moor +farmers have small holdings, where they rear sheep and cattle. +Except these, the plover and the curlew are the only inhabitants +until you come to the Chesterfield high road. There is a church +there, you see, a few cottages, and an inn. Beyond that the +hills become precipitous. Surely it is here to the north that +our quest must lie." + +"But the bicycle?" I persisted. + +"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does +not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and +the moon was at the full. Halloa! what is this?" + +There was an agitated knock at the door, and an instant +afterwards Dr. Huxtable was in the room. In his hand he held +a blue cricket-cap, with a white chevron on the peak. + +"At last we have a clue!" he cried. "Thank Heaven! at last +we are on the dear boy's track! It is his cap." + +"Where was it found?" + +"In the van of the gipsies who camped on the moor. +They left on Tuesday. To-day the police traced them +down and examined their caravan. This was found." + +"How do they account for it?" + +"They shuffled and lied -- said that they found it on the +moor on Tuesday morning. They know where he is, the rascals! +Thank goodness, they are all safe under lock and key. Either +the fear of the law or the Duke's purse will certainly get out +of them all that they know." + +"So far, so good," said Holmes, when the doctor had at last +left the room. "It at least bears out the theory that it is +on the side of the Lower Gill Moor that we must hope for results. +The police have really done nothing locally, save the arrest +of these gipsies. Look here, Watson! There is a watercourse +across the moor. You see it marked here in the map. In some +parts it widens into a morass. This is particularly so in the +region between Holdernesse Hall and the school. It is vain to +look elsewhere for tracks in this dry weather; but at THAT point +there is certainly a chance of some record being left. I will +call you early to-morrow morning, and you and I will try if we +can throw some little light upon the mystery." + +The day was just breaking when I woke to find the long, thin form +of Holmes by my bedside. He was fully dressed, and had apparently +already been out. + +"I have done the lawn and the bicycle shed," said he. +"I have also had a ramble through the Ragged Shaw. Now, Watson, +there is cocoa ready in the next room. I must beg you to hurry, +for we have a great day before us." + +His eyes shone, and his cheek was flushed with the exhilaration +of the master workman who sees his work lie ready before him. +A very different Holmes, this active, alert man, from the +introspective and pallid dreamer of Baker Street. I felt, +as I looked upon that supple figure, alive with nervous energy, +that it was indeed a strenuous day that awaited us. + +And yet it opened in the blackest disappointment. With high +hopes we struck across the peaty, russet moor, intersected with +a thousand sheep paths, until we came to the broad, light-green +belt which marked the morass between us and Holdernesse. +Certainly, if the lad had gone homewards, he must have passed +this, and he could not pass it without leaving his traces. +But no sign of him or the German could be seen. With a darkening +face my friend strode along the margin, eagerly observant of +every muddy stain upon the mossy surface. Sheep-marks there +were in profusion, and at one place, some miles down, cows had +left their tracks. Nothing more. + +"Check number one," said Holmes, looking gloomily over the +rolling expanse of the moor. "There is another morass down +yonder and a narrow neck between. Halloa! halloa! halloa! +what have we here?" + +We had come on a small black ribbon of pathway. In the middle of it, +clearly marked on the sodden soil, was the track of a bicycle. + +"Hurrah!" I cried. "We have it." + +But Holmes was shaking his head, and his face was puzzled and +expectant rather than joyous. + +"A bicycle, certainly, but not THE bicycle," said he. +"I am familiar with forty-two different impressions left by tyres. +This, as you perceive, is a Dunlop, with a patch upon the outer cover. +Heidegger's tyres were Palmer's, leaving longitudinal stripes. +Aveling, the mathematical master, was sure upon the point. +Therefore, it is not Heidegger's track." + +"The boy's, then?" + +"Possibly, if we could prove a bicycle to have been in his +possession. But this we have utterly failed to do. This track, +as you perceive, was made by a rider who was going from the +direction of the school." + +"Or towards it?" + +"No, no, my dear Watson. The more deeply sunk impression is, +of course, the hind wheel, upon which the weight rests. +You perceive several places where it has passed across and +obliterated the more shallow mark of the front one. It was +undoubtedly heading away from the school. It may or may not +be connected with our inquiry, but we will follow it backwards +before we go any farther." + +We did so, and at the end of a few hundred yards lost the tracks +as we emerged from the boggy portion of the moor. Following the +path backwards, we picked out another spot, where a spring +trickled across it. Here, once again, was the mark of the +bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows. After +that there was no sign, but the path ran right on into Ragged +Shaw, the wood which backed on to the school. From this wood +the cycle must have emerged. Holmes sat down on a boulder and +rested his chin in his hands. I had smoked two cigarettes +before he moved. + +"Well, well," said he, at last. "It is, of course, possible +that a cunning man might change the tyre of his bicycle in order +to leave unfamiliar tracks. A criminal who was capable of such +a thought is a man whom I should be proud to do business with. +We will leave this question undecided and hark back to our +morass again, for we have left a good deal unexplored." + +We continued our systematic survey of the edge of the sodden +portion of the moor, and soon our perseverance was gloriously +rewarded. Right across the lower part of the bog lay a miry +path. Holmes gave a cry of delight as he approached it. +An impression like a fine bundle of telegraph wires ran down +the centre of it. It was the Palmer tyre. + +"Here is Herr Heidegger, sure enough!" cried Holmes, exultantly. +"My reasoning seems to have been pretty sound, Watson." + +"I congratulate you." + +"But we have a long way still to go. Kindly walk clear +of the path. Now let us follow the trail. I fear that +it will not lead very far." + +We found, however, as we advanced that this portion of the moor +is intersected with soft patches, and, though we frequently lost +sight of the track, we always succeeded in picking it up once more. + +"Do you observe," said Holmes, "that the rider is now +undoubtedly forcing the pace? There can be no doubt of it. +Look at this impression, where you get both tyres clear. +The one is as deep as the other. That can only mean that +the rider is throwing his weight on to the handle-bar, +as a man does when he is sprinting. By Jove! he has had a fall." + +There was a broad, irregular smudge covering some yards of the +track. Then there were a few footmarks, and the tyre reappeared +once more. + +"A side-slip," I suggested. + +Holmes held up a crumpled branch of flowering gorse. To my +horror I perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled +with crimson. On the path, too, and among the heather were dark +stains of clotted blood. + +"Bad!" said Holmes. "Bad! Stand clear, Watson! Not an +unnecessary footstep! What do I read here? He fell wounded, +he stood up, he remounted, he proceeded. But there is no other +track. Cattle on this side path. He was surely not gored by a +bull? Impossible! But I see no traces of anyone else. We must +push on, Watson. Surely with stains as well as the track to +guide us he cannot escape us now." + +Our search was not a very long one. The tracks of the tyre +began to curve fantastically upon the wet and shining path. +Suddenly, as I looked ahead, the gleam of metal caught my eye +from amid the thick gorse bushes. Out of them we dragged a +bicycle, Palmer-tyred, one pedal bent, and the whole front of it +horribly smeared and slobbered with blood. On the other side of +the bushes a shoe was projecting. We ran round, and there lay +the unfortunate rider. He was a tall man, full bearded, with +spectacles, one glass of which had been knocked out. The cause +of his death was a frightful blow upon the head, which had +crushed in part of his skull. That he could have gone on after +receiving such an injury said much for the vitality and courage +of the man. He wore shoes, but no socks, and his open coat +disclosed a night-shirt beneath it. It was undoubtedly the +German master. + +Holmes turned the body over reverently, and examined it with +great attention. He then sat in deep thought for a time, and I +could see by his ruffled brow that this grim discovery had not, +in his opinion, advanced us much in our inquiry. + +"It is a little difficult to know what to do, Watson," said he, +at last. "My own inclinations are to push this inquiry on, +for we have already lost so much time that we cannot afford to +waste another hour. On the other hand, we are bound to inform +the police of the discovery, and to see that this poor fellow's +body is looked after." + +"I could take a note back." + +"But I need your company and assistance. Wait a bit! +There is a fellow cutting peat up yonder. Bring him over here, +and he will guide the police." + +I brought the peasant across, and Holmes dispatched the +frightened man with a note to Dr. Huxtable. + +"Now, Watson," said he, "we have picked up two clues this morning. +One is the bicycle with the Palmer tyre, and we see what that +has led to. The other is the bicycle with the patched Dunlop. +Before we start to investigate that, let us try to realize what +we DO know so as to make the most of it, and to separate the +essential from the accidental." + +"First of all I wish to impress upon you that the boy certainly +left of his own free will. He got down from his window and he +went off, either alone or with someone. That is sure." + +I assented. + +"Well, now, let us turn to this unfortunate German master. +The boy was fully dressed when he fled. Therefore, he foresaw +what he would do. But the German went without his socks. +He certainly acted on very short notice." + +"Undoubtedly." + +"Why did he go? Because, from his bedroom window, he saw the +flight of the boy. Because he wished to overtake him and bring +him back. He seized his bicycle, pursued the lad, and in +pursuing him met his death." + +"So it would seem." + +"Now I come to the critical part of my argument. The natural +action of a man in pursuing a little boy would be to run after him. +He would know that he could overtake him. But the German does not +do so. He turns to his bicycle. I am told that he was an +excellent cyclist. He would not do this if he did not see that +the boy had some swift means of escape." + +"The other bicycle." + +"Let us continue our reconstruction. He meets his death five +miles from the school -- not by a bullet, mark you, which even +a lad might conceivably discharge, but by a savage blow dealt +by a vigorous arm. The lad, then, HAD a companion in his flight. +And the flight was a swift one, since it took five miles before +an expert cyclist could overtake them. Yet we survey the ground +round the scene of the tragedy. What do we find? A few cattle +tracks, nothing more. I took a wide sweep round, and there is no +path within fifty yards. Another cyclist could have had nothing +to do with the actual murder. Nor were there any human footmarks." + +"Holmes," I cried, "this is impossible." + +"Admirable!" he said. "A most illuminating remark. +It IS impossible as I state it, and therefore I must in some +respect have stated it wrong. Yet you saw for yourself. +Can you suggest any fallacy?" + +"He could not have fractured his skull in a fall?" + +"In a morass, Watson?" + +"I am at my wit's end." + +"Tut, tut; we have solved some worse problems. At least we have +plenty of material, if we can only use it. Come, then, and, +having exhausted the Palmer, let us see what the Dunlop with the +patched cover has to offer us." + +We picked up the track and followed it onwards for some distance; +but soon the moor rose into a long, heather-tufted curve, and we +left the watercourse behind us. No further help from tracks could +be hoped for. At the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop tyre +it might equally have led to Holdernesse Hall, the stately towers +of which rose some miles to our left, or to a low, grey village +which lay in front of us, and marked the position of the +Chesterfield high road. + +As we approached the forbidding and squalid inn, with the +sign of a game-cock above the door, Holmes gave a sudden groan +and clutched me by the shoulder to save himself from falling. +He had had one of those violent strains of the ankle which leave +a man helpless. With difficulty he limped up to the door, where +a squat, dark, elderly man was smoking a black clay pipe. + +"How are you, Mr. Reuben Hayes?" said Holmes. + +"Who are you, and how do you get my name so pat?" the countryman +answered, with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes. + +"Well, it's printed on the board above your head. It's easy to +see a man who is master of his own house. I suppose you haven't +such a thing as a carriage in your stables?" + +"No; I have not." + +"I can hardly put my foot to the ground." + +"Don't put it to the ground." + +"But I can't walk." + +"Well, then, hop." + +Mr. Reuben Hayes's manner was far from gracious, but Holmes took +it with admirable good-humour. + +"Look here, my man," said he. "This is really rather an awkward +fix for me. I don't mind how I get on." + +"Neither do I," said the morose landlord. + +"The matter is very important. I would offer you a sovereign +for the use of a bicycle." + +The landlord pricked up his ears. + +"Where do you want to go?" + +"To Holdernesse Hall." + +"Pals of the Dook, I suppose?" said the landlord, surveying our +mud-stained garments with ironical eyes. + +Holmes laughed good-naturedly. + +"He'll be glad to see us, anyhow." + +"Why?" + +"Because we bring him news of his lost son." + +The landlord gave a very visible start. + +"What, you're on his track?" + +"He has been heard of in Liverpool. They expect to get him +every hour." + +Again a swift change passed over the heavy, unshaven face. +His manner was suddenly genial. + +"I've less reason to wish the Dook well than most men," said he, +"for I was his head coachman once, and cruel bad he treated me. +It was him that sacked me without a character on the word of a +lying corn-chandler. But I'm glad to hear that the young lord +was heard of in Liverpool, and I'll help you to take the news +to the Hall." + +"Thank you," said Holmes. "We'll have some food first. +Then you can bring round the bicycle." + +"I haven't got a bicycle." + +Holmes held up a sovereign. + +"I tell you, man, that I haven't got one. I'll let you have two +horses as far as the Hall." + +"Well, well," said Holmes, "we'll talk about it when we've had +something to eat." + +When we were left alone in the stone-flagged kitchen it was +astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered. It was +nearly nightfall, and we had eaten nothing since early morning, +so that we spent some time over our meal. Holmes was lost in +thought, and once or twice he walked over to the window and +stared earnestly out. It opened on to a squalid courtyard. +In the far corner was a smithy, where a grimy lad was at work. +On the other side were the stables. Holmes had sat down again +after one of these excursions, when he suddenly sprang out of +his chair with a loud exclamation. + +"By Heaven, Watson, I believe that I've got it!" he cried. +"Yes, yes, it must be so. Watson, do you remember seeing any +cow-tracks to-day?" + +"Yes, several." + +"Where?" + +"Well, everywhere. They were at the morass, and again +on the path, and again near where poor Heidegger met his death." + +"Exactly. Well, now, Watson, how many cows did you see on the moor?" + +"I don't remember seeing any." + +"Strange, Watson, that we should see tracks all along our line, +but never a cow on the whole moor; very strange, Watson, eh?" + +"Yes, it is strange." + +"Now, Watson, make an effort; throw your mind back! +Can you see those tracks upon the path?" + +"Yes, I can." + +"Can you recall that the tracks were sometimes like that, +Watson" -- he arranged a number of bread-crumbs in this fashion +-- : : : : : -- "and sometimes like this" -- : . : . : . : . -- +"and occasionally like this" -- . ` . ` . ` . "Can you remember that?" + +"No, I cannot." + +"But I can. I could swear to it. However, we will go back at +our leisure and verify it. What a blind beetle I have been not +to draw my conclusion!" + +"And what is your conclusion?" + +"Only that it is a remarkable cow which walks, canters, and gallops. +By George, Watson, it was no brain of a country publican that +thought out such a blind as that! The coast seems to be clear, +save for that lad in the smithy. Let us slip out and see what +we can see." + +There were two rough-haired, unkempt horses in the tumble-down +stable. Holmes raised the hind leg of one of them and laughed aloud. + +"Old shoes, but newly shod -- old shoes, but new nails. This +case deserves to be a classic. Let us go across to the smithy." + +The lad continued his work without regarding us. I saw Holmes's +eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood +which was scattered about the floor. Suddenly, however, we +heard a step behind us, and there was the landlord, his heavy +eyebrows drawn over his savage eyes, his swarthy features +convulsed with passion. He held a short, metal-headed stick +in his hand, and he advanced in so menacing a fashion that I was +right glad to feel the revolver in my pocket. + +"You infernal spies!" the man cried. "What are you doing there?" + +"Why, Mr. Reuben Hayes," said Holmes, coolly, "one might think +that you were afraid of our finding something out." + +The man mastered himself with a violent effort, and his grim mouth +loosened into a false laugh, which was more menacing than his frown. + +"You're welcome to all you can find out in my smithy," said he. +"But look here, mister, I don't care for folk poking about my +place without my leave, so the sooner you pay your score and get +out of this the better I shall be pleased." + +"All right, Mr. Hayes -- no harm meant," said Holmes. +"We have been having a look at your horses, but I think I'll +walk after all. It's not far, I believe." + +"Not more than two miles to the Hall gates. That's the road +to the left." He watched us with sullen eyes until we had +left his premises. + +We did not go very far along the road, for Holmes stopped +the instant that the curve hid us from the landlord's view. + +"We were warm, as the children say, at that inn," said he. +"I seem to grow colder every step that I take away from it. +No, no; I can't possibly leave it." + +"I am convinced," said I, "that this Reuben Hayes knows +all about it. A more self-evident villain I never saw." + +"Oh! he impressed you in that way, did he? There are the horses, +there is the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting place, +this Fighting Cock. I think we shall have another look at it +in an unobtrusive way." + +A long, sloping hillside, dotted with grey limestone boulders, +stretched behind us. We had turned off the road, and were +making our way up the hill, when, looking in the direction +of Holdernesse Hall, I saw a cyclist coming swiftly along. + +"Get down, Watson!" cried Holmes, with a heavy hand upon my +shoulder. We had hardly sunk from view when the man flew past +us on the road. Amid a rolling cloud of dust I caught a glimpse +of a pale, agitated face -- a face with horror in every +lineament, the mouth open, the eyes staring wildly in front. +It was like some strange caricature of the dapper James Wilder +whom we had seen the night before. + +"The Duke's secretary!" cried Holmes. "Come, Watson, let us see +what he does." + +We scrambled from rock to rock until in a few moments we had +made our way to a point from which we could see the front door +of the inn. Wilder's bicycle was leaning against the wall +beside it. No one was moving about the house, nor could we +catch a glimpse of any faces at the windows. Slowly the +twilight crept down as the sun sank behind the high towers of +Holdernesse Hall. Then in the gloom we saw the two side-lamps +of a trap light up in the stable yard of the inn, and shortly +afterwards heard the rattle of hoofs, as it wheeled out into the +road and tore off at a furious pace in the direction of Chesterfield. + +"What do you make of that, Watson?" Holmes whispered. + +"It looks like a flight." + +"A single man in a dog-cart, so far as I could see. Well, it +certainly was not Mr. James Wilder, for there he is at the door." + +A red square of light had sprung out of the darkness. In the +middle of it was the black figure of the secretary, his head +advanced, peering out into the night. It was evident that he +was expecting someone. Then at last there were steps in the +road, a second figure was visible for an instant against the +light, the door shut, and all was black once more. Five minutes +later a lamp was lit in a room upon the first floor. + +"It seems to be a curious class of custom that is done by the +Fighting Cock," said Holmes. + +"The bar is on the other side." + +"Quite so. These are what one may call the private guests. +Now, what in the world is Mr. James Wilder doing in that den at +this hour of night, and who is the companion who comes to meet +him there? Come, Watson, we must really take a risk and try to +investigate this a little more closely." + +Together we stole down to the road and crept across to the +door of the inn. The bicycle still leaned against the wall. +Holmes struck a match and held it to the back wheel, and I +heard him chuckle as the light fell upon a patched Dunlop tyre. +Up above us was the lighted window. + +"I must have a peep through that, Watson. If you bend your back +and support yourself upon the wall, I think that I can manage." + +An instant later his feet were on my shoulders. +But he was hardly up before he was down again. + +"Come, my friend," said he, "our day's work has been quite long +enough. I think that we have gathered all that we can. It's a +long walk to the school, and the sooner we get started the better." + +He hardly opened his lips during that weary trudge across the moor, +nor would he enter the school when he reached it, but went on to +Mackleton Station, whence he could send some telegrams. +Late at night I heard him consoling Dr. Huxtable, prostrated by the +tragedy of his master's death, and later still he entered my room +as alert and vigorous as he had been when he started in the morning. +"All goes well, my friend," said he. "I promise that before +to-morrow evening we shall have reached the solution of the mystery." + + +At eleven o'clock next morning my friend and I were walking +up the famous yew avenue of Holdernesse Hall. We were ushered +through the magnificent Elizabethan doorway and into his Grace's +study. There we found Mr. James Wilder, demure and courtly, but +with some trace of that wild terror of the night before still +lurking in his furtive eyes and in his twitching features. + +"You have come to see his Grace? I am sorry; but the fact is +that the Duke is far from well. He has been very much upset +by the tragic news. We received a telegram from Dr. Huxtable +yesterday afternoon, which told us of your discovery." + +"I must see the Duke, Mr. Wilder." + +"But he is in his room." + +"Then I must go to his room." + +"I believe he is in his bed." + +"I will see him there." + +Holmes's cold and inexorable manner showed the secretary that +it was useless to argue with him. + +"Very good, Mr. Holmes; I will tell him that you are here." + +After half an hour's delay the great nobleman appeared. +His face was more cadaverous than ever, his shoulders had rounded, +and he seemed to me to be an altogether older man than he had been +the morning before. He greeted us with a stately courtesy and seated +himself at his desk, his red beard streaming down on to the table. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes?" said he. + +But my friend's eyes were fixed upon the secretary, who stood by +his master's chair. + +"I think, your Grace, that I could speak more freely in +Mr. Wilder's absence." + +The man turned a shade paler and cast a malignant glance at Holmes. + +"If your Grace wishes ----" + +"Yes, yes; you had better go. Now, Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?" + +My friend waited until the door had closed behind the +retreating secretary. + +"The fact is, your Grace," said he, "that my colleague, +Dr. Watson, and myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable +that a reward had been offered in this case. I should like +to have this confirmed from your own lips." + +"Certainly, Mr. Holmes." + +"It amounted, if I am correctly informed, to five thousand pounds +to anyone who will tell you where your son is?" + +"Exactly." + +"And another thousand to the man who will name the person +or persons who keep him in custody?" + +"Exactly." + +"Under the latter heading is included, no doubt, not only those +who may have taken him away, but also those who conspire to keep +him in his present position?" + +"Yes, yes," cried the Duke, impatiently. "If you do your work +well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you will have no reason to complain +of niggardly treatment." + +My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an appearance of +avidity which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes. + +"I fancy that I see your Grace's cheque-book upon the table," +said he. "I should be glad if you would make me out a cheque +for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps, for you +to cross it. The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, +are my agents." + +His Grace sat very stern and upright in his chair, and looked +stonily at my friend. + +"Is this a joke, Mr. Holmes? It is hardly a subject for pleasantry." + +"Not at all, your Grace. I was never more earnest in my life." + +"What do you mean, then?" + +"I mean that I have earned the reward. I know where your son is, +and I know some, at least, of those who are holding him." + +The Duke's beard had turned more aggressively red than ever +against his ghastly white face. + +"Where is he?" he gasped. + +"He is, or was last night, at the Fighting Cock Inn, about two +miles from your park gate." + +The Duke fell back in his chair. + +"And whom do you accuse?" + +Sherlock Holmes's answer was an astounding one. He stepped +swiftly forward and touched the Duke upon the shoulder. + +"I accuse YOU," said he. "And now, your Grace, I'll trouble you +for that cheque." + +Never shall I forget the Duke's appearance as he sprang up and +clawed with his hands like one who is sinking into an abyss. +Then, with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic self-command, +he sat down and sank his face in his hands. It was some minutes +before he spoke. + +"How much do you know?" he asked at last, without raising his head. + +"I saw you together last night." + +"Does anyone else besides your friend know?" + +"I have spoken to no one." + +The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened +his cheque-book. + +"I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write +your cheque, however unwelcome the information which you have +gained may be to me. When the offer was first made I little +thought the turn which events might take. But you and your +friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes?" + +"I hardly understand your Grace." + +"I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of +this incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. +I think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not?" + +But Holmes smiled and shook his head. + +"I fear, your Grace, that matters can hardly be arranged so easily. +There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for." + +"But James knew nothing of that. You cannot hold him +responsible for that. It was the work of this brutal ruffian +whom he had the misfortune to employ." + +"I must take the view, your Grace, that when a man embarks +upon a crime he is morally guilty of any other crime which +may spring from it." + +"Morally, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right. But surely not +in the eyes of the law. A man cannot be condemned for a murder +at which he was not present, and which he loathes and abhors +as much as you do. The instant that he heard of it he made +a complete confession to me, so filled was he with horror and +remorse. He lost not an hour in breaking entirely with the +murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must save him -- you must save +him! I tell you that you must save him!" The Duke had dropped +the last attempt at self-command, and was pacing the room with +a convulsed face and with his clenched hands raving in the air. +At last he mastered himself and sat down once more at his desk. +"I appreciate your conduct in coming here before you spoke to +anyone else," said he. "At least, we may take counsel how far +we can minimize this hideous scandal." + +"Exactly," said Holmes. "I think, your Grace, that this can +only be done by absolute and complete frankness between us. +I am disposed to help your Grace to the best of my ability; but +in order to do so I must understand to the last detail how the +matter stands. I realize that your words applied to Mr. James +Wilder, and that he is not the murderer." + +"No; the murderer has escaped." + +Sherlock Holmes smiled demurely. + +"Your Grace can hardly have heard of any small reputation which +I possess, or you would not imagine that it is so easy to escape me. +Mr. Reuben Hayes was arrested at Chesterfield on my information +at eleven o'clock last night. I had a telegram from the head +of the local police before I left the school this morning." + +The Duke leaned back in his chair and stared with amazement +at my friend. + +"You seem to have powers that are hardly human," said he. +"So Reuben Hayes is taken? I am right glad to hear it, +if it will not react upon the fate of James." + +"Your secretary?" + +"No, sir; my son." + +It was Holmes's turn to look astonished. + +"I confess that this is entirely new to me, your Grace. +I must beg you to be more explicit." + +"I will conceal nothing from you. I agree with you that +complete frankness, however painful it may be to me, is the +best policy in this desperate situation to which James's folly +and jealousy have reduced us. When I was a very young man, +Mr. Holmes, I loved with such a love as comes only once in +a lifetime. I offered the lady marriage, but she refused +it on the grounds that such a match might mar my career. +Had she lived I would certainly never have married anyone else. +She died, and left this one child, whom for her sake I have +cherished and cared for. I could not acknowledge the paternity +to the world; but I gave him the best of educations, and since +he came to manhood I have kept him near my person. He surprised +my secret, and has presumed ever since upon the claim which he +has upon me and upon his power of provoking a scandal, which +would be abhorrent to me. His presence had something to do with +the unhappy issue of my marriage. Above all, he hated my young +legitimate heir from the first with a persistent hatred. +You may well ask me why, under these circumstances, I still kept +James under my roof. I answer that it was because I could see +his mother's face in his, and that for her dear sake there was +no end to my long-suffering. All her pretty ways, too -- there +was not one of them which he could not suggest and bring back +to my memory. I COULD not send him away. But I feared so much +lest he should do Arthur -- that is, Lord Saltire -- a mischief +that I dispatched him for safety to Dr. Huxtable's school. + +"James came into contact with this fellow Hayes because the man +was a tenant of mine, and James acted as agent. The fellow was +a rascal from the beginning; but in some extraordinary way +James became intimate with him. He had always a taste for low +company. When James determined to kidnap Lord Saltire it was +of this man's service that he availed himself. You remember +that I wrote to Arthur upon that last day. Well, James opened +the letter and inserted a note asking Arthur to meet him in a +little wood called the Ragged Shaw, which is near to the school. +He used the Duchess's name, and in that way got the boy to come. +That evening James bicycled over -- I am telling you what he has +himself confessed to me -- and he told Arthur, whom he met in +the wood, that his mother longed to see him, that she was +awaiting him on the moor, and that if he would come back into +the wood at midnight he would find a man with a horse, who would +take him to her. Poor Arthur fell into the trap. He came to +the appointment and found this fellow Hayes with a led pony. +Arthur mounted, and they set off together. It appears -- though +this James only heard yesterday -- that they were pursued, +that Hayes struck the pursuer with his stick, and that the man +died of his injuries. Hayes brought Arthur to his public-house, +the Fighting Cock, where he was confined in an upper room, +under the care of Mrs. Hayes, who is a kindly woman, +but entirely under the control of her brutal husband. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, that was the state of affairs when I first +saw you two days ago. I had no more idea of the truth than you. +You will ask me what was James's motive in doing such a deed. +I answer that there was a great deal which was unreasoning and +fanatical in the hatred which he bore my heir. In his view he +should himself have been heir of all my estates, and he deeply +resented those social laws which made it impossible. At the +same time he had a definite motive also. He was eager that +I should break the entail, and he was of opinion that it lay +in my power to do so. He intended to make a bargain with me -- +to restore Arthur if I would break the entail, and so make it +possible for the estate to be left to him by will. He knew well +that I should never willingly invoke the aid of the police +against him. I say that he would have proposed such a bargain +to me, but he did not actually do so, for events moved too quickly +for him, and he had not time to put his plans into practice. + +"What brought all his wicked scheme to wreck was your discovery +of this man Heidegger's dead body. James was seized with horror +at the news. It came to us yesterday as we sat together in +this study. Dr. Huxtable had sent a telegram. James was so +overwhelmed with grief and agitation that my suspicions, which +had never been entirely absent, rose instantly to a certainty, +and I taxed him with the deed. He made a complete voluntary +confession. Then he implored me to keep his secret for three +days longer, so as to give his wretched accomplice a chance of +saving his guilty life. I yielded -- as I have always yielded +-- to his prayers, and instantly James hurried off to the +Fighting Cock to warn Hayes and give him the means of flight. +I could not go there by daylight without provoking comment, +but as soon as night fell I hurried off to see my dear Arthur. +I found him safe and well, but horrified beyond expression by the +dreadful deed he had witnessed. In deference to my promise, and +much against my will, I consented to leave him there for three +days under the charge of Mrs. Hayes, since it was evident that +it was impossible to inform the police where he was without +telling them also who was the murderer, and I could not see how +that murderer could be punished without ruin to my unfortunate +James. You asked for frankness, Mr. Holmes, and I have taken +you at your word, for I have now told you everything without +an attempt at circumlocution or concealment. Do you in turn +be as frank with me." + +"I will," said Holmes. "In the first place, your Grace, +I am bound to tell you that you have placed yourself in a most +serious position in the eyes of the law. You have condoned a +felony and you have aided the escape of a murderer; for I cannot +doubt that any money which was taken by James Wilder to aid his +accomplice in his flight came from your Grace's purse." + +The Duke bowed his assent. + +"This is indeed a most serious matter. Even more culpable in my +opinion, your Grace, is your attitude towards your younger son. +You leave him in this den for three days." + +"Under solemn promises ----" + +"What are promises to such people as these? You have no guarantee +that he will not be spirited away again. To humour your guilty +elder son you have exposed your innocent younger son to imminent +and unnecessary danger. It was a most unjustifiable action." + +The proud lord of Holdernesse was not accustomed to be so rated +in his own ducal hall. The blood flushed into his high forehead, +but his conscience held him dumb. + +"I will help you, but on one condition only. It is that you +ring for the footman and let me give such orders as I like." + +Without a word the Duke pressed the electric bell. +A servant entered. + +"You will be glad to hear," said Holmes, "that your young master +is found. It is the Duke's desire that the carriage shall go at +once to the Fighting Cock Inn to bring Lord Saltire home. + +"Now," said Holmes, when the rejoicing lackey had disappeared, +"having secured the future, we can afford to be more lenient +with the past. I am not in an official position, and there +is no reason, so long as the ends of justice are served, why I +should disclose all that I know. As to Hayes I say nothing. +The gallows awaits him, and I would do nothing to save him from +it. What he will divulge I cannot tell, but I have no doubt +that your Grace could make him understand that it is to his +interest to be silent. From the police point of view he will +have kidnapped the boy for the purpose of ransom. If they do +not themselves find it out I see no reason why I should prompt +them to take a broader point of view. I would warn your Grace, +however, that the continued presence of Mr. James Wilder in +your household can only lead to misfortune." + +"I understand that, Mr. Holmes, and it is already settled that +he shall leave me for ever and go to seek his fortune in Australia." + +"In that case, your Grace, since you have yourself stated that +any unhappiness in your married life was caused by his presence, +I would suggest that you make such amends as you can to the +Duchess, and that you try to resume those relations which have +been so unhappily interrupted." + +"That also I have arranged, Mr. Holmes. I wrote to the Duchess +this morning." + +"In that case," said Holmes, rising, "I think that my friend and +I can congratulate ourselves upon several most happy results +from our little visit to the North. There is one other small +point upon which I desire some light. This fellow Hayes had +shod his horses with shoes which counterfeited the tracks of cows. +Was it from Mr. Wilder that he learned so extraordinary a device?" + +The Duke stood in thought for a moment, with a look of intense +surprise on his face. Then he opened a door and showed us into +a large room furnished as a museum. He led the way to a glass +case in a corner, and pointed to the inscription. + +"These shoes," it ran, "were dug up in the moat of Holdernesse +Hall. They are for the use of horses; but they are shaped below +with a cloven foot of iron, so as to throw pursuers off the +track. They are supposed to have belonged to some of the +marauding Barons of Holdernesse in the Middle Ages." + +Holmes opened the case, and moistening his finger he passed it +along the shoe. A thin film of recent mud was left upon his skin. + +"Thank you," said he, as he replaced the glass. "It is the +second most interesting object that I have seen in the North." + +"And the first?" + +Holmes folded up his cheque and placed it carefully in his +note-book. "I am a poor man," said he, as he patted it +affectionately and thrust it into the depths of his inner pocket. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 MARCH, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +VI. --- The Adventure of Black Peter. + + +I HAVE never known my friend to be in better form, both mental +and physical, than in the year '95. His increasing fame had +brought with it an immense practice, and I should be guilty of +an indiscretion if I were even to hint at the identity of some +of the illustrious clients who crossed our humble threshold in +Baker Street. Holmes, however, like all great artists, lived +for his art's sake, and, save in the case of the Duke of +Holdernesse, I have seldom known him claim any large reward +for his inestimable services. So unworldly was he -- or so +capricious -- that he frequently refused his help to the +powerful and wealthy where the problem made no appeal to his +sympathies, while he would devote weeks of most intense +application to the affairs of some humble client whose case +presented those strange and dramatic qualities which appealed +to his imagination and challenged his ingenuity. + +In this memorable year '95 a curious and incongruous succession +of cases had engaged his attention, ranging from his famous +investigation of the sudden death of Cardinal Tosca -- an +inquiry which was carried out by him at the express desire of +His Holiness the Pope -- down to his arrest of Wilson, the +notorious canary-trainer, which removed a plague-spot from the +East-End of London. Close on the heels of these two famous +cases came the tragedy of Woodman's Lee, and the very obscure +circumstances which surrounded the death of Captain Peter Carey. +No record of the doings of Mr. Sherlock Holmes would be complete +which did not include some account of this very unusual affair. + +During the first week of July my friend had been absent so often +and so long from our lodgings that I knew he had something on +hand. The fact that several rough-looking men called during +that time and inquired for Captain Basil made me understand that +Holmes was working somewhere under one of the numerous disguises +and names with which he concealed his own formidable identity. +He had at least five small refuges in different parts of London in +which he was able to change his personality. He said nothing of +his business to me, and it was not my habit to force a confidence. +The first positive sign which he gave me of the direction +which his investigation was taking was an extraordinary one. +He had gone out before breakfast, and I had sat down to mine, +when he strode into the room, his hat upon his head and a huge +barbed-headed spear tucked like an umbrella under his arm. + +"Good gracious, Holmes!" I cried. "You don't mean to say +that you have been walking about London with that thing?" + +"I drove to the butcher's and back." + +"The butcher's?" + +"And I return with an excellent appetite. There can be no +question, my dear Watson, of the value of exercise before +breakfast. But I am prepared to bet that you will not guess +the form that my exercise has taken." + +"I will not attempt it." + +He chuckled as he poured out the coffee. + +"If you could have looked into Allardyce's back shop you would +have seen a dead pig swung from a hook in the ceiling, and a +gentleman in his shirt-sleeves furiously stabbing at it with +this weapon. I was that energetic person, and I have satisfied +myself that by no exertion of my strength can I transfix the pig +with a single blow. Perhaps you would care to try?" + +"Not for worlds. But why were you doing this?" + +"Because it seemed to me to have an indirect bearing upon the +mystery of Woodman's Lee. Ah, Hopkins, I got your wire last +night, and I have been expecting you. Come and join us." + +Our visitor was an exceedingly alert man, thirty years of age, +dressed in a quiet tweed suit, but retaining the erect bearing +of one who was accustomed to official uniform. I recognised him +at once as Stanley Hopkins, a young police inspector for whose +future Holmes had high hopes, while he in turn professed the +admiration and respect of a pupil for the scientific methods of +the famous amateur. Hopkins's brow was clouded, and he sat down +with an air of deep dejection. + +"No, thank you, sir. I breakfasted before I came round. +I spent the night in town, for I came up yesterday to report." + +"And what had you to report?" + +"Failure, sir; absolute failure." + +"You have made no progress?" + +"None." + +"Dear me! I must have a look at the matter." + +"I wish to heavens that you would, Mr. Holmes. It's my first +big chance, and I am at my wit's end. For goodness' sake come +down and lend me a hand." + +"Well, well, it just happens that I have already read all the +available evidence, including the report of the inquest, with +some care. By the way, what do you make of that tobacco-pouch +found on the scene of the crime? Is there no clue there?" + +Hopkins looked surprised. + +"It was the man's own pouch, sir. His initials were inside it. +And it was of seal-skin -- and he an old sealer." + +"But he had no pipe." + +"No, sir, we could find no pipe; indeed, he smoked very little. +And yet he might have kept some tobacco for his friends." + +"No doubt. I only mention it because if I had been handling the +case I should have been inclined to make that the starting-point +of my investigation. However, my friend Dr. Watson knows +nothing of this matter, and I should be none the worse for +hearing the sequence of events once more. Just give us some +short sketch of the essentials." + +Stanley Hopkins drew a slip of paper from his pocket. + +"I have a few dates here which will give you the career of the +dead man, Captain Peter Carey. He was born in '45 -- fifty +years of age. He was a most daring and successful seal and +whale fisher. In 1883 he commanded the steam sealer SEA UNICORN, +of Dundee. He had then had several successful voyages +in succession, and in the following year, 1884, he retired. +After that he travelled for some years, and finally he bought +a small place called Woodman's Lee, near Forest Row, in Sussex. +There he has lived for six years, and there he died just a week +ago to-day. + +"There were some most singular points about the man. +In ordinary life he was a strict Puritan -- a silent, gloomy +fellow. His household consisted of his wife, his daughter, +aged twenty, and two female servants. These last were continually +changing, for it was never a very cheery situation, and sometimes +it became past all bearing. The man was an intermittent drunkard, +and when he had the fit on him he was a perfect fiend. +He has been known to drive his wife and his daughter out of doors +in the middle of the night, and flog them through the park until +the whole village outside the gates was aroused by their screams. + +"He was summoned once for a savage assault upon the old vicar, +who had called upon him to remonstrate with him upon his +conduct. In short, Mr. Holmes, you would go far before you +found a more dangerous man than Peter Carey, and I have heard +that he bore the same character when he commanded his ship. +He was known in the trade as Black Peter, and the name was given +him, not only on account of his swarthy features and the colour +of his huge beard, but for the humours which were the terror of +all around him. I need not say that he was loathed and avoided +by every one of his neighbours, and that I have not heard one +single word of sorrow about his terrible end. + +"You must have read in the account of the inquest about the +man's cabin, Mr. Holmes; but perhaps your friend here has not +heard of it. He had built himself a wooden outhouse -- he +always called it `the cabin' -- a few hundred yards from his +house, and it was here that he slept every night. It was a +little, single-roomed hut, sixteen feet by ten. He kept the key +in his pocket, made his own bed, cleaned it himself, and allowed +no other foot to cross the threshold. There are small windows +on each side, which were covered by curtains and never opened. +One of these windows was turned towards the high road, and when +the light burned in it at night the folk used to point it out +to each other and wonder what Black Peter was doing in there. +That's the window, Mr. Holmes, which gave us one of the few bits +of positive evidence that came out at the inquest. + +"You remember that a stonemason, named Slater, walking from +Forest Row about one o'clock in the morning -- two days before +the murder -- stopped as he passed the grounds and looked at the +square of light still shining among the trees. He swears that +the shadow of a man's head turned sideways was clearly visible +on the blind, and that this shadow was certainly not that of +Peter Carey, whom he knew well. It was that of a bearded man, +but the beard was short and bristled forwards in a way very +different from that of the captain. So he says, but he had +been two hours in the public-house, and it is some distance from +the road to the window. Besides, this refers to the Monday, +and the crime was done upon the Wednesday. + +"On the Tuesday Peter Carey was in one of his blackest moods, +flushed with drink and as savage as a dangerous wild beast. +He roamed about the house, and the women ran for it when they +heard him coming. Late in the evening he went down to his own hut. +About two o'clock the following morning his daughter, who slept +with her window open, heard a most fearful yell from that +direction, but it was no unusual thing for him to bawl and shout +when he was in drink, so no notice was taken. On rising at +seven one of the maids noticed that the door of the hut was open, +but so great was the terror which the man caused that it +was midday before anyone would venture down to see what had +become of him. Peeping into the open door they saw a sight +which sent them flying with white faces into the village. +Within an hour I was on the spot and had taken over the case. + +"Well, I have fairly steady nerves, as you know, Mr. Holmes, +but I give you my word that I got a shake when I put my head into +that little house. It was droning like a harmonium with the +flies and bluebottles, and the floor and walls were like a +slaughter-house. He had called it a cabin, and a cabin it was +sure enough, for you would have thought that you were in a ship. +There was a bunk at one end, a sea-chest, maps and charts, +a picture of the SEA UNICORN, a line of log-books on a shelf, +all exactly as one would expect to find it in a captain's room. +And there in the middle of it was the man himself, his face twisted +like a lost soul in torment, and his great brindled beard stuck +upwards in his agony. Right through his broad breast a steel +harpoon had been driven, and it had sunk deep into the wood of +the wall behind him. He was pinned like a beetle on a card. +Of course, he was quite dead, and had been so from the instant +that he had uttered that last yell of agony. + +"I know your methods, sir, and I applied them. +Before I permitted anything to be moved I examined most +carefully the ground outside, and also the floor of the room. +There were no footmarks." + +"Meaning that you saw none?" + +"I assure you, sir, that there were none." + +"My good Hopkins, I have investigated many crimes, but I have +never yet seen one which was committed by a flying creature. +As long as the criminal remains upon two legs so long must there +be some indentation, some abrasion, some trifling displacement +which can be detected by the scientific searcher. It is +incredible that this blood-bespattered room contained no trace +which could have aided us. I understand, however, from the +inquest that there were some objects which you failed to overlook?" + +The young inspector winced at my companion's ironical comments. + +"I was a fool not to call you in at the time, Mr. Holmes. +However, that's past praying for now. Yes, there were several +objects in the room which called for special attention. +One was the harpoon with which the deed was committed. +It had been snatched down from a rack on the wall. +Two others remained there, and there was a vacant place for +the third. On the stock was engraved `Ss. SEA UNICORN, Dundee.' +This seemed to establish that the crime had been done in a moment +of fury, and that the murderer had seized the first weapon which +came in his way. The fact that the crime was committed at two +in the morning, and yet Peter Carey was fully dressed, suggested +that he had an appointment with the murderer, which is borne out +by the fact that a bottle of rum and two dirty glasses stood upon +the table." + +"Yes," said Holmes; "I think that both inferences are permissible. +Was there any other spirit but rum in the room?" + +"Yes; there was a tantalus containing brandy and whisky on the +sea-chest. It is of no importance to us, however, since the +decanters were full, and it had therefore not been used." + +"For all that its presence has some significance," said Holmes. +"However, let us hear some more about the objects which do seem +to you to bear upon the case." + +"There was this tobacco-pouch upon the table." + +"What part of the table?" + +"It lay in the middle. It was of coarse seal-skin -- +the straight-haired skin, with a leather thong to bind it. +Inside was `P.C.' on the flap. There was half an ounce of +strong ship's tobacco in it." + +"Excellent! What more?" + +Stanley Hopkins drew from his pocket a drab-covered note-book. +The outside was rough and worn, the leaves discoloured. +On the first page were written the initials "J.H.N." and the +date "1883." Holmes laid it on the table and examined it in +his minute way, while Hopkins and I gazed over each shoulder. +On the second page were the printed letters "C.P.R.," and then +came several sheets of numbers. Another heading was Argentine, +another Costa Rica, and another San Paulo, each with pages of +signs and figures after it. + +"What do you make of these?" asked Holmes. + +"They appear to be lists of Stock Exchange securities. +I thought that `J.H.N.' were the initials of a broker, +and that `C.P.R.' may have been his client." + +"Try Canadian Pacific Railway," said Holmes. + +Stanley Hopkins swore between his teeth and struck his thigh +with his clenched hand. + +"What a fool I have been!" he cried. "Of course, it is as +you say. Then `J.H.N.' are the only initials we have to solve. +I have already examined the old Stock Exchange lists, and I can +find no one in 1883 either in the House or among the outside +brokers whose initials correspond with these. Yet I feel that +the clue is the most important one that I hold. You will admit, +Mr. Holmes, that there is a possibility that these initials are +those of the second person who was present -- in other words, +of the murderer. I would also urge that the introduction into +the case of a document relating to large masses of valuable +securities gives us for the first time some indication of a +motive for the crime." + +Sherlock Holmes's face showed that he was thoroughly taken aback +by this new development. + +"I must admit both your points," said he. "I confess that this +note-book, which did not appear at the inquest, modifies any +views which I may have formed. I had come to a theory of the +crime in which I can find no place for this. Have you +endeavoured to trace any of the securities here mentioned?" + +"Inquiries are now being made at the offices, but I fear that +the complete register of the stockholders of these South +American concerns is in South America, and that some weeks must +elapse before we can trace the shares." + +Holmes had been examining the cover of the note-book with his +magnifying lens. + +"Surely there is some discolouration here," said he. + +"Yes, sir, it is a blood-stain. I told you that I picked +the book off the floor." + +"Was the blood-stain above or below?" + +"On the side next the boards." + +"Which proves, of course, that the book was dropped after +the crime was committed." + +"Exactly, Mr. Holmes. I appreciated that point, +and I conjectured that it was dropped by the murderer +in his hurried flight. It lay near the door." + +"I suppose that none of these securities have been found among +the property of the dead man?" + +"No, sir." + +"Have you any reason to suspect robbery?" + +"No, sir. Nothing seemed to have been touched." + +"Dear me, it is certainly a very interesting case. +Then there was a knife, was there not?" + +"A sheath-knife, still in its sheath. It lay at the feet +of the dead man. Mrs. Carey has identified it as being her +husband's property." + +Holmes was lost in thought for some time. + +"Well," said he, at last, "I suppose I shall have to come out +and have a look at it." + +Stanley Hopkins gave a cry of joy. + +"Thank you, sir. That will indeed be a weight off my mind." + +Holmes shook his finger at the inspector. + +"It would have been an easier task a week ago," said he. +"But even now my visit may not be entirely fruitless. Watson, +if you can spare the time I should be very glad of your company. +If you will call a four-wheeler, Hopkins, we shall be ready to +start for Forest Row in a quarter of an hour." + + +Alighting at the small wayside station, we drove for some miles +through the remains of widespread woods, which were once part of +that great forest which for so long held the Saxon invaders at +bay -- the impenetrable "weald," for sixty years the bulwark of +Britain. Vast sections of it have been cleared, for this is the +seat of the first iron-works of the country, and the trees have +been felled to smelt the ore. Now the richer fields of the +North have absorbed the trade, and nothing save these ravaged +groves and great scars in the earth show the work of the past. +Here in a clearing upon the green slope of a hill stood a long, +low stone house, approached by a curving drive running through +the fields. Nearer the road, and surrounded on three sides +by bushes, was a small outhouse, one window and the door facing +in our direction. It was the scene of the murder! + +Stanley Hopkins led us first to the house, where he introduced +us to a haggard, grey-haired woman, the widow of the murdered +man, whose gaunt and deep-lined face, with the furtive look of +terror in the depths of her red-rimmed eyes, told of the years +of hardship and ill-usage which she had endured. With her was +her daughter, a pale, fair-haired girl, whose eyes blazed +defiantly at us as she told us that she was glad that her father +was dead, and that she blessed the hand which had struck him +down. It was a terrible household that Black Peter Carey had +made for himself, and it was with a sense of relief that we +found ourselves in the sunlight again and making our way along +a path which had been worn across the fields by the feet of +the dead man. + +The outhouse was the simplest of dwellings, wooden-walled, +shingle-roofed, one window beside the door and one on the +farther side. Stanley Hopkins drew the key from his pocket, +and had stooped to the lock, when he paused with a look of +attention and surprise upon his face. + +"Someone has been tampering with it," he said. + +There could be no doubt of the fact. The woodwork was cut and +the scratches showed white through the paint, as if they had +been that instant done. Holmes had been examining the window. + +"Someone has tried to force this also. Whoever it was has failed +to make his way in. He must have been a very poor burglar." + +"This is a most extraordinary thing," said the inspector; +"I could swear that these marks were not here yesterday evening." + +"Some curious person from the village, perhaps," I suggested. + +"Very unlikely. Few of them would dare to set foot in the +grounds, far less try to force their way into the cabin. +What do you think of it, Mr. Holmes?" + +"I think that fortune is very kind to us." + +"You mean that the person will come again?" + +"It is very probable. He came expecting to find the door open. +He tried to get in with the blade of a very small penknife. +He could not manage it. What would he do?" + +"Come again next night with a more useful tool." + +"So I should say. It will be our fault if we are not there +to receive him. Meanwhile, let me see the inside of the cabin." + +The traces of the tragedy had been removed, but the furniture +within the little room still stood as it had been on the night +of the crime. For two hours, with most intense concentration, +Holmes examined every object in turn, but his face showed that +his quest was not a successful one. Once only he paused in his +patient investigation. + +"Have you taken anything off this shelf, Hopkins?" + +"No; I have moved nothing." + +"Something has been taken. There is less dust in this corner of +the shelf than elsewhere. It may have been a book lying on its +side. It may have been a box. Well, well, I can do nothing +more. Let us walk in these beautiful woods, Watson, and give a +few hours to the birds and the flowers. We shall meet you here +later, Hopkins, and see if we can come to closer quarters with +the gentleman who has paid this visit in the night." + +It was past eleven o'clock when we formed our little ambuscade. +Hopkins was for leaving the door of the hut open, but Holmes +was of the opinion that this would rouse the suspicions of the +stranger. The lock was a perfectly simple one, and only a +strong blade was needed to push it back. Holmes also suggested +that we should wait, not inside the hut, but outside it among +the bushes which grew round the farther window. In this way we +should be able to watch our man if he struck a light, and see +what his object was in this stealthy nocturnal visit. + +It was a long and melancholy vigil, and yet brought with it +something of the thrill which the hunter feels when he lies +beside the water pool and waits for the coming of the thirsty +beast of prey. What savage creature was it which might steal +upon us out of the darkness? Was it a fierce tiger of crime, +which could only be taken fighting hard with flashing fang and +claw, or would it prove to be some skulking jackal, dangerous +only to the weak and unguarded? + +In absolute silence we crouched amongst the bushes, waiting +for whatever might come. At first the steps of a few belated +villagers, or the sound of voices from the village, lightened +our vigil; but one by one these interruptions died away and an +absolute stillness fell upon us, save for the chimes of the +distant church, which told us of the progress of the night, +and for the rustle and whisper of a fine rain falling amid the +foliage which roofed us in. + +Half-past two had chimed, and it was the darkest hour which +precedes the dawn, when we all started as a low but sharp click +came from the direction of the gate. Someone had entered the +drive. Again there was a long silence, and I had begun to fear +that it was a false alarm, when a stealthy step was heard upon +the other side of the hut, and a moment later a metallic +scraping and clinking. The man was trying to force the lock! +This time his skill was greater or his tool was better, +for there was a sudden snap and the creak of the hinges. +Then a match was struck, and next instant the steady light from +a candle filled the interior of the hut. Through the gauze +curtain our eyes were all riveted upon the scene within. + +The nocturnal visitor was a young man, frail and thin, with a +black moustache which intensified the deadly pallor of his face. +He could not have been much above twenty years of age. I have +never seen any human being who appeared to be in such a pitiable +fright, for his teeth were visibly chattering and he was shaking +in every limb. He was dressed like a gentleman, in Norfolk +jacket and knickerbockers, with a cloth cap upon his head. +We watched him staring round with frightened eyes. Then he laid +the candle-end upon the table and disappeared from our view into +one of the corners. He returned with a large book, one of the +log-books which formed a line upon the shelves. Leaning on the +table he rapidly turned over the leaves of this volume until he +came to the entry which he sought. Then, with an angry gesture +of his clenched hand, he closed the book, replaced it in the +corner, and put out the light. He had hardly turned to leave +the hut when Hopkins's hand was on the fellow's collar, and I +heard his loud gasp of terror as he understood that he was +taken. The candle was re-lit, and there was our wretched +captive shivering and cowering in the grasp of the detective. +He sank down upon the sea-chest, and looked helplessly from one +of us to the other. + +"Now, my fine fellow," said Stanley Hopkins, "who are you, +and what do you want here?" + +The man pulled himself together and faced us with an effort +at self-composure. + +"You are detectives, I suppose?" said he. "You imagine I am +connected with the death of Captain Peter Carey. I assure you +that I am innocent." + +"We'll see about that," said Hopkins. +"First of all, what is your name?" + +"It is John Hopley Neligan." + +I saw Holmes and Hopkins exchange a quick glance. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"Can I speak confidentially?" + +"No, certainly not." + +"Why should I tell you?" + +"If you have no answer it may go badly with you at the trial." + +The young man winced. + +"Well, I will tell you," he said. "Why should I not? And yet +I hate to think of this old scandal gaining a new lease of life. +Did you ever hear of Dawson and Neligan?" + +I could see from Hopkins's face that he never had; but Holmes +was keenly interested. + +"You mean the West-country bankers," said he. "They failed +for a million, ruined half the county families of Cornwall, +and Neligan disappeared." + +"Exactly. Neligan was my father." + +At last we were getting something positive, and yet it seemed +a long gap between an absconding banker and Captain Peter Carey +pinned against the wall with one of his own harpoons. We all +listened intently to the young man's words. + +"It was my father who was really concerned. Dawson had retired. +I was only ten years of age at the time, but I was old enough to +feel the shame and horror of it all. It has always been said +that my father stole all the securities and fled. It is not +true. It was his belief that if he were given time in which to +realize them all would be well and every creditor paid in full. +He started in his little yacht for Norway just before the +warrant was issued for his arrest. I can remember that last +night when he bade farewell to my mother. He left us a list of +the securities he was taking, and he swore that he would come +back with his honour cleared, and that none who had trusted him +would suffer. Well, no word was ever heard from him again. +Both the yacht and he vanished utterly. We believed, my mother +and I, that he and it, with the securities that he had taken +with him, were at the bottom of the sea. We had a faithful +friend, however, who is a business man, and it was he who +discovered some time ago that some of the securities which my +father had with him have reappeared on the London market. +You can imagine our amazement. I spent months in trying to +trace them, and at last, after many doublings and difficulties, +I discovered that the original seller had been Captain Peter +Carey, the owner of this hut. + +"Naturally, I made some inquiries about the man. I found that +he had been in command of a whaler which was due to return from +the Arctic seas at the very time when my father was crossing to +Norway. The autumn of that year was a stormy one, and there was +a long succession of southerly gales. My father's yacht may +well have been blown to the north, and there met by Captain +Peter Carey's ship. If that were so, what had become of my +father? In any case, if I could prove from Peter Carey's +evidence how these securities came on the market it would be a +proof that my father had not sold them, and that he had no view +to personal profit when he took them. + +"I came down to Sussex with the intention of seeing the captain, +but it was at this moment that his terrible death occurred. +I read at the inquest a description of his cabin, in which it +stated that the old log-books of his vessel were preserved in it. +It struck me that if I could see what occurred in the month +of August, 1883, on board the SEA UNICORN, I might settle the +mystery of my father's fate. I tried last night to get at these +log-books, but was unable to open the door. To-night I tried +again, and succeeded; but I find that the pages which deal with +that month have been torn from the book. It was at that moment +I found myself a prisoner in your hands." + +"Is that all?" asked Hopkins. + +"Yes, that is all." His eyes shifted as he said it. + +"You have nothing else to tell us?" + +He hesitated. + +"No; there is nothing." + +"You have not been here before last night?" + +"No." + +"Then how do you account for THAT?" cried Hopkins, as he held up +the damning note-book, with the initials of our prisoner on the +first leaf and the blood-stain on the cover. + +The wretched man collapsed. He sank his face in his hands and +trembled all over. + +"Where did you get it?" he groaned. "I did not know. +I thought I had lost it at the hotel." + +"That is enough," said Hopkins, sternly. "Whatever else you +have to say you must say in court. You will walk down with me +now to the police-station. Well, Mr. Holmes, I am very much +obliged to you and to your friend for coming down to help me. +As it turns out your presence was unnecessary, and I would have +brought the case to this successful issue without you; but none +the less I am very grateful. Rooms have been reserved for you +at the Brambletye Hotel, so we can all walk down to the village +together." + +"Well, Watson, what do you think of it?" asked Holmes, +as we travelled back next morning. + +"I can see that you are not satisfied." + +"Oh, yes, my dear Watson, I am perfectly satisfied. At the same +time Stanley Hopkins's methods do not commend themselves to me. +I am disappointed in Stanley Hopkins. I had hoped for better +things from him. One should always look for a possible +alternative and provide against it. It is the first rule of +criminal investigation." + +"What, then, is the alternative?" + +"The line of investigation which I have myself been pursuing. +It may give us nothing. I cannot tell. But at least I shall +follow it to the end." + +Several letters were waiting for Holmes at Baker Street. +He snatched one of them up, opened it, and burst out into +a triumphant chuckle of laughter. + +"Excellent, Watson. The alternative develops. Have you +telegraph forms? Just write a couple of messages for me: +`Sumner, Shipping Agent, Ratcliff Highway. Send three men on, +to arrive ten to-morrow morning. -- Basil.' That's my name in +those parts. The other is: `Inspector Stanley Hopkins, 46, +Lord Street, Brixton. Come breakfast to-morrow at nine-thirty. +Important. Wire if unable to come. -- Sherlock Holmes.' +There, Watson, this infernal case has haunted me for ten days. +I hereby banish it completely from my presence. To-morrow +I trust that we shall hear the last of it for ever." + +Sharp at the hour named Inspector Stanley Hopkins appeared, +and we sat down together to the excellent breakfast which +Mrs. Hudson had prepared. The young detective was in high +spirits at his success. + +"You really think that your solution must be correct?" asked Holmes. + +"I could not imagine a more complete case." + +"It did not seem to me conclusive." + +"You astonish me, Mr. Holmes. What more could one ask for?" + +"Does your explanation cover every point?" + +"Undoubtedly. I find that young Neligan arrived at the +Brambletye Hotel on the very day of the crime. He came on +the pretence of playing golf. His room was on the ground-floor, +and he could get out when he liked. That very night he went down +to Woodman's Lee, saw Peter Carey at the hut, quarrelled with him, +and killed him with the harpoon. Then, horrified by what he had +done, he fled out of the hut, dropping the note-book which he +had brought with him in order to question Peter Carey about +these different securities. You may have observed that some of +them were marked with ticks, and the others -- the great +majority -- were not. Those which are ticked have been traced +on the London market; but the others presumably were still in +the possession of Carey, and young Neligan, according to his own +account, was anxious to recover them in order to do the right +thing by his father's creditors. After his flight he did not +dare to approach the hut again for some time; but at last he +forced himself to do so in order to obtain the information +which he needed. Surely that is all simple and obvious?" + +Holmes smiled and shook his head. + +"It seems to me to have only one drawback, Hopkins, and that +is that it is intrinsically impossible. Have you tried to drive +a harpoon through a body? No? Tut, tut, my dear sir, you must +really pay attention to these details. My friend Watson could +tell you that I spent a whole morning in that exercise. +It is no easy matter, and requires a strong and practised arm. +But this blow was delivered with such violence that the head of +the weapon sank deep into the wall. Do you imagine that this +anaemic youth was capable of so frightful an assault? Is he the +man who hobnobbed in rum and water with Black Peter in the dead +of the night? Was it his profile that was seen on the blind two +nights before? No, no, Hopkins; it is another and a more +formidable person for whom we must seek." + +The detective's face had grown longer and longer during Holmes's +speech. His hopes and his ambitions were all crumbling about him. +But he would not abandon his position without a struggle. + +"You can't deny that Neligan was present that night, Mr. Holmes. +The book will prove that. I fancy that I have evidence enough +to satisfy a jury, even if you are able to pick a hole in it. +Besides, Mr. Holmes, I have laid my hand upon MY man. As to +this terrible person of yours, where is he?" + +"I rather fancy that he is on the stair," said Holmes, serenely. +"I think, Watson, that you would do well to put that revolver +where you can reach it." He rose, and laid a written paper +upon a side-table. "Now we are ready," said he. + +There had been some talking in gruff voices outside, and now +Mrs. Hudson opened the door to say that there were three men +inquiring for Captain Basil. + +"Show them in one by one," said Holmes. + +The first who entered was a little ribston-pippin of a man, +with ruddy cheeks and fluffy white side-whiskers. Holmes had +drawn a letter from his pocket. + +"What name?" he asked. + +"James Lancaster." + +"I am sorry, Lancaster, but the berth is full. Here is half a +sovereign for your trouble. Just step into this room and wait +there for a few minutes." + +The second man was a long, dried-up creature, with lank hair and +sallow cheeks. His name was Hugh Pattins. He also received his +dismissal, his half-sovereign, and the order to wait. + +The third applicant was a man of remarkable appearance. +A fierce bull-dog face was framed in a tangle of hair and beard, +and two bold dark eyes gleamed behind the cover of thick, tufted, +overhung eyebrows. He saluted and stood sailor-fashion, turning +his cap round in his hands. + +"Your name?" asked Holmes. + +"Patrick Cairns." + +"Harpooner?" + +"Yes, sir. Twenty-six voyages." + +"Dundee, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And ready to start with an exploring ship?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What wages?" + +"Eight pounds a month." + +"Could you start at once?" + +"As soon as I get my kit." + +"Have you your papers?" + +"Yes, sir." He took a sheaf of worn and greasy forms from +his pocket. Holmes glanced over them and returned them. + +"You are just the man I want," said he. "Here's the agreement +on the side-table. If you sign it the whole matter will be settled." + +The seaman lurched across the room and took up the pen. + +"Shall I sign here?" he asked, stooping over the table. + +Holmes leaned over his shoulder and passed both hands over his neck. + +"This will do," said he. + +I heard a click of steel and a bellow like an enraged bull. +The next instant Holmes and the seaman were rolling on the +ground together. He was a man of such gigantic strength that, +even with the handcuffs which Holmes had so deftly fastened upon +his wrists, he would have very quickly overpowered my friend had +Hopkins and I not rushed to his rescue. Only when I pressed the +cold muzzle of the revolver to his temple did he at last +understand that resistance was vain. We lashed his ankles with +cord and rose breathless from the struggle. + +"I must really apologize, Hopkins," said Sherlock Holmes; +"I fear that the scrambled eggs are cold. However, you will +enjoy the rest of your breakfast all the better, will you not, +for the thought that you have brought your case to a triumphant +conclusion." + +Stanley Hopkins was speechless with amazement. + +"I don't know what to say, Mr. Holmes," he blurted out at last, +with a very red face. "It seems to me that I have been making +a fool of myself from the beginning. I understand now, what I +should never have forgotten, that I am the pupil and you are the +master. Even now I see what you have done, but I don't know how +you did it, or what it signifies." + +"Well, well," said Holmes, good-humouredly. "We all learn by +experience, and your lesson this time is that you should never +lose sight of the alternative. You were so absorbed in young +Neligan that you could not spare a thought to Patrick Cairns, +the true murderer of Peter Carey." + +The hoarse voice of the seaman broke in on our conversation. + +"See here, mister," said he, "I make no complaint of +being man-handled in this fashion, but I would have you call +things by their right names. You say I murdered Peter Carey; +I say I KILLED Peter Carey, and there's all the difference. +Maybe you don't believe what I say. Maybe you think I am just +slinging you a yarn." + +"Not at all," said Holmes. "Let us hear what you have to say." + +"It's soon told, and, by the Lord, every word of it is truth. +I knew Black Peter, and when he pulled out his knife I whipped +a harpoon through him sharp, for I knew that it was him or me. +That's how he died. You can call it murder. Anyhow, I'd as +soon die with a rope round my neck as with Black Peter's knife +in my heart." + +"How came you there?" asked Holmes. + +"I'll tell it you from the beginning. Just sit me up a little +so as I can speak easy. It was in '83 that it happened -- +August of that year. Peter Carey was master of the SEA UNICORN, +and I was spare harpooner. We were coming out of the ice-pack +on our way home, with head winds and a week's southerly gale, +when we picked up a little craft that had been blown north. +There was one man on her -- a landsman. The crew had thought +she would founder, and had made for the Norwegian coast in the +dinghy. I guess they were all drowned. Well, we took him on +board, this man, and he and the skipper had some long talks in +the cabin. All the baggage we took off with him was one tin box. +So far as I know, the man's name was never mentioned, and on the +second night he disappeared as if he had never been. It was +given out that he had either thrown himself overboard or fallen +overboard in the heavy weather that we were having. Only one +man knew what had happened to him, and that was me, for with my +own eyes I saw the skipper tip up his heels and put him over the +rail in the middle watch of a dark night, two days before we +sighted the Shetland lights. + +"Well, I kept my knowledge to +myself and waited to see what would come of it. When we got +back to Scotland it was easily hushed up, and nobody asked any +questions. A stranger died by an accident, and it was nobody's +business to inquire. Shortly after Peter Carey gave up the sea, +and it was long years before I could find where he was. +I guessed that he had done the deed for the sake of what was in +that tin box, and that he could afford now to pay me well for +keeping my mouth shut. + +"I found out where he was through a sailor man that had met him +in London, and down I went to squeeze him. The first night he +was reasonable enough, and was ready to give me what would make +me free of the sea for life. We were to fix it all two nights +later. When I came I found him three parts drunk and in a vile +temper. We sat down and we drank and we yarned about old times, +but the more he drank the less I liked the look on his face. +I spotted that harpoon upon the wall, and I thought I might +need it before I was through. Then at last he broke out at me, +spitting and cursing, with murder in his eyes and a great +clasp-knife in his hand. He had not time to get it from the +sheath before I had the harpoon through him. Heavens! what +a yell he gave; and his face gets between me and my sleep! +I stood there, with his blood splashing round me, and I waited +for a bit; but all was quiet, so I took heart once more. +I looked round, and there was the tin box on a shelf. I had as +much right to it as Peter Carey, anyhow, so I took it with me and +left the hut. Like a fool I left my baccy-pouch upon the table. + +"Now I'll tell you the queerest part of the whole story. +I had hardly got outside the hut when I heard someone coming, +and I hid among the bushes. A man came slinking along, +went into the hut, gave a cry as if he had seen a ghost, +and legged it as hard as he could run until he was out of sight. +Who he was or what he wanted is more than I can tell. +For my part I walked ten miles, got a train at Tunbridge Wells, +and so reached London, and no one the wiser. + +"Well, when I came to examine the box I found there was no money +in it, and nothing but papers that I would not dare to sell. +I had lost my hold on Black Peter, and was stranded in London +without a shilling. There was only my trade left. I saw these +advertisements about harpooners and high wages, so I went to +the shipping agents, and they sent me here. That's all I know, +and I say again that if I killed Black Peter the law should give +me thanks, for I saved them the price of a hempen rope." + +"A very clear statement," said Holmes, rising and lighting +his pipe. "I think, Hopkins, that you should lose no time +in conveying your prisoner to a place of safety. This room +is not well adapted for a cell, and Mr. Patrick Cairns occupies +too large a proportion of our carpet." + +"Mr. Holmes," said Hopkins, "I do not know how to express +my gratitude. Even now I do not understand how you attained +this result." + +"Simply by having the good fortune to get the right clue from +the beginning. It is very possible if I had known about this +note-book it might have led away my thoughts, as it did yours. +But all I heard pointed in the one direction. The amazing +strength, the skill in the use of the harpoon, the rum and +water, the seal-skin tobacco-pouch, with the coarse tobacco -- +all these pointed to a seaman, and one who had been a whaler. +I was convinced that the initials `P.C.' upon the pouch were +a coincidence, and not those of Peter Carey, since he seldom +smoked, and no pipe was found in his cabin. You remember that +I asked whether whisky and brandy were in the cabin. You said +they were. How many landsmen are there who would drink rum when +they could get these other spirits? Yes, I was certain it was +a seaman." + +"And how did you find him?" + +"My dear sir, the problem had become a very simple one. If it +were a seaman, it could only be a seaman who had been with him +on the SEA UNICORN. So far as I could learn he had sailed in no +other ship. I spent three days in wiring to Dundee, and at the +end of that time I had ascertained the names of the crew of the +SEA UNICORN in 1883. When I found Patrick Cairns among the +harpooners my research was nearing its end. I argued that the +man was probably in London, and that he would desire to leave +the country for a time. I therefore spent some days in the +East-end, devised an Arctic expedition, put forth tempting terms +for harpooners who would serve under Captain Basil -- and behold +the result!" + +"Wonderful!" cried Hopkins. "Wonderful!" + +"You must obtain the release of young Neligan as soon as possible," +said Holmes. "I confess that I think you owe him some apology. +The tin box must be returned to him, but, of course, the securities +which Peter Carey has sold are lost for ever. There's the cab, +Hopkins, and you can remove your man. If you want me for the trial, +my address and that of Watson will be somewhere in Norway -- +I'll send particulars later." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 APRIL, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +VII. --- The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. + + +IT is years since the incidents of which I speak took place, +and yet it is with diffidence that I allude to them. For a long +time, even with the utmost discretion and reticence, it would +have been impossible to make the facts public; but now the +principal person concerned is beyond the reach of human law, +and with due suppression the story may be told in such fashion +as to injure no one. It records an absolutely unique experience +in the career both of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and of myself. The +reader will excuse me if I conceal the date or any other fact +by which he might trace the actual occurrence. + +We had been out for one of our evening rambles, Holmes and I, +and had returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's +evening. As Holmes turned up the lamp the light fell upon +a card on the table. He glanced at it, and then, with an +ejaculation of disgust, threw it on the floor. +I picked it up and read:-- + + CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON, + APPLEDORE TOWERS, + AGENT. HAMPSTEAD. + +"Who is he?" I asked. + +"The worst man in London," Holmes answered, as he sat down and +stretched his legs before the fire. "Is anything on the back +of the card?" + +I turned it over. + +"Will call at 6.30 -- C.A.M.," I read. + +"Hum! He's about due. Do you feel a creeping, shrinking +sensation, Watson, when you stand before the serpents in the +Zoo and see the slithery, gliding, venomous creatures, with +their deadly eyes and wicked, flattened faces? Well, that's how +Milverton impresses me. I've had to do with fifty murderers in +my career, but the worst of them never gave me the repulsion +which I have for this fellow. And yet I can't get out of doing +business with him -- indeed, he is here at my invitation." + +"But who is he?" + +"I'll tell you, Watson. He is the king of all the blackmailers. +Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and +reputation come into the power of Milverton. With a smiling +face and a heart of marble he will squeeze and squeeze until he +has drained them dry. The fellow is a genius in his way, and +would have made his mark in some more savoury trade. His method +is as follows: He allows it to be known that he is prepared to +pay very high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth +or position. He receives these wares not only from treacherous +valets or maids, but frequently from genteel ruffians who have +gained the confidence and affection of trusting women. +He deals with no niggard hand. I happen to know that he paid +seven hundred pounds to a footman for a note two lines in length, +and that the ruin of a noble family was the result. Everything +which is in the market goes to Milverton, and there are hundreds +in this great city who turn white at his name. No one knows +where his grip may fall, for he is far too rich and far too +cunning to work from hand to mouth. He will hold a card back +for years in order to play it at the moment when the stake is +best worth winning. I have said that he is the worst man in +London, and I would ask you how could one compare the ruffian +who in hot blood bludgeons his mate with this man, who +methodically and at his leisure tortures the soul and wrings +the nerves in order to add to his already swollen money-bags?" + +I had seldom heard my friend speak with such intensity of feeling. + +"But surely," said I, "the fellow must be within the grasp +of the law?" + +"Technically, no doubt, but practically not. What would it +profit a woman, for example, to get him a few months' +imprisonment if her own ruin must immediately follow? His +victims dare not hit back. If ever he blackmailed an innocent +person, then, indeed, we should have him; but he is as cunning +as the Evil One. No, no; we must find other ways to fight him." + +"And why is he here?" + +"Because an illustrious client has placed her piteous case +in my hands. It is the Lady Eva Brackwell, the most beautiful +DEBUTANTE of last season. She is to be married in a fortnight +to the Earl of Dovercourt. This fiend has several imprudent +letters -- imprudent, Watson, nothing worse -- which were +written to an impecunious young squire in the country. +They would suffice to break off the match. Milverton will send +the letters to the Earl unless a large sum of money is paid him. +I have been commissioned to meet him, and -- to make the best +terms I can." + +At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street +below. Looking down I saw a stately carriage and pair, the +brilliant lamps gleaming on the glossy haunches of the noble +chestnuts. A footman opened the door, and a small, stout man +in a shaggy astrachan overcoat descended. A minute later he +was in the room. + +Charles Augustus Milverton was a man of fifty, with a large, +intellectual head, a round, plump, hairless face, a perpetual +frozen smile, and two keen grey eyes, which gleamed brightly +from behind broad, golden-rimmed glasses. There was something +of Mr. Pickwick's benevolence in his appearance, marred only by +the insincerity of the fixed smile and by the hard glitter of +those restless and penetrating eyes. His voice was as smooth +and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plump little +hand extended, murmuring his regret for having missed us at his +first visit. Holmes disregarded the outstretched hand and +looked at him with a face of granite. Milverton's smile +broadened; he shrugged his shoulders, removed his overcoat, +folded it with great deliberation over the back of a chair, +and then took a seat. + +"This gentleman?" said he, with a wave in my direction. +"Is it discreet? Is it right?" + +"Dr. Watson is my friend and partner." + +"Very good, Mr. Holmes. It is only in your client's interests +that I protested. The matter is so very delicate ----" + +"Dr. Watson has already heard of it." + +"Then we can proceed to business. You say that you are acting +for Lady Eva. Has she empowered you to accept my terms?" + +"What are your terms?" + +"Seven thousand pounds." + +"And the alternative?" + +"My dear sir, it is painful for me to discuss it; but if the +money is not paid on the 14th there certainly will be no +marriage on the 18th." His insufferable smile was more +complacent than ever. + +Holmes thought for a little. + +"You appear to me," he said, at last, "to be taking matters too +much for granted. I am, of course, familiar with the contents +of these letters. My client will certainly do what I may +advise. I shall counsel her to tell her future husband the +whole story and to trust to his generosity." + +Milverton chuckled. + +"You evidently do not know the Earl," said he. + +From the baffled look upon Holmes's face I could see clearly +that he did. + +"What harm is there in the letters?" he asked. + +"They are sprightly -- very sprightly," Milverton answered. +"The lady was a charming correspondent. But I can assure you +that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them. +However, since you think otherwise, we will let it rest at that. +It is purely a matter of business. If you think that it is in +the best interests of your client that these letters should +be placed in the hands of the Earl, then you would indeed be +foolish to pay so large a sum of money to regain them." +He rose and seized his astrachan coat. + +Holmes was grey with anger and mortification. + +"Wait a little," he said. "You go too fast. We would certainly +make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate a matter." + +Milverton relapsed into his chair. + +"I was sure that you would see it in that light," he purred. + +"At the same time," Holmes continued, "Lady Eva is not a wealthy +woman. I assure you that two thousand pounds would be a drain +upon her resources, and that the sum you name is utterly beyond +her power. I beg, therefore, that you will moderate your +demands, and that you will return the letters at the price I +indicate, which is, I assure you, the highest that you can get." + +Milverton's smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously. + +"I am aware that what you say is true about the lady's +resources," said he. "At the same time, you must admit that +the occasion of a lady's marriage is a very suitable time for +her friends and relatives to make some little effort upon her +behalf. They may hesitate as to an acceptable wedding present. +Let me assure them that this little bundle of letters would give +more joy than all the candelabra and butter-dishes in London." + +"It is impossible," said Holmes. + +"Dear me, dear me, how unfortunate!" cried Milverton, taking out +a bulky pocket-book. "I cannot help thinking that ladies are +ill-advised in not making an effort. Look at this!" He held up +a little note with a coat-of-arms upon the envelope. "That +belongs to -- well, perhaps it is hardly fair to tell the name +until to-morrow morning. But at that time it will be in the +hands of the lady's husband. And all because she will not find +a beggarly sum which she could get by turning her diamonds into +paste. It IS such a pity. Now, you remember the sudden end of +the engagement between the Honourable Miss Miles and Colonel +Dorking? Only two days before the wedding there was a +paragraph in the MORNING POST to say that it was all off. +And why? It is almost incredible, but the absurd sum of twelve +hundred pounds would have settled the whole question. +Is it not pitiful? And here I find you, a man of sense, +boggling about terms when your client's future and honour are +at stake. You surprise me, Mr. Holmes." + +"What I say is true," Holmes answered. "The money cannot be +found. Surely it is better for you to take the substantial sum +which I offer than to ruin this woman's career, which can profit +you in no way?" + +"There you make a mistake, Mr. Holmes. An exposure would profit +me indirectly to a considerable extent. I have eight or ten +similar cases maturing. If it was circulated among them that +I had made a severe example of the Lady Eva I should find all of +them much more open to reason. You see my point?" + +Holmes sprang from his chair. + +"Get behind him, Watson! Don't let him out! Now, sir, let us +see the contents of that note-book." + +Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the room, +and stood with his back against the wall. + +"Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes," he said, turning the front of his coat +and exhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which projected +from the inside pocket. "I have been expecting you to do +something original. This has been done so often, and what good +has ever come from it? I assure you that I am armed to the +teeth, and I am perfectly prepared to use my weapons, knowing +that the law will support me. Besides, your supposition that +I would bring the letters here in a note-book is entirely +mistaken. I would do nothing so foolish. And now, gentlemen, +I have one or two little interviews this evening, and it is a +long drive to Hampstead." He stepped forward, took up his coat, +laid his hand on his revolver, and turned to the door. I picked +up a chair, but Holmes shook his head and I laid it down again. +With bow, a smile, and a twinkle Milverton was out of the room, +and a few moments after we heard the slam of the carriage door +and the rattle of the wheels as he drove away. + +Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands buried deep in his +trouser pockets, his chin sunk upon his breast, his eyes fixed +upon the glowing embers. For half an hour he was silent and +still. Then, with the gesture of a man who has taken his +decision, he sprang to his feet and passed into his bedroom. +A little later a rakish young workman with a goatee beard and a +swagger lit his clay pipe at the lamp before descending into the +street. "I'll be back some time, Watson," said he, and vanished +into the night. I understood that he had opened his campaign +against Charles Augustus Milverton; but I little dreamed the +strange shape which that campaign was destined to take. + +For some days Holmes came and went at all hours in this attire, +but beyond a remark that his time was spent at Hampstead, +and that it was not wasted, I knew nothing of what he was doing. +At last, however, on a wild, tempestuous evening, when the wind +screamed and rattled against the windows, he returned from his +last expedition, and having removed his disguise he sat before +the fire and laughed heartily in his silent inward fashion. + +"You would not call me a marrying man, Watson?" + +"No, indeed!" + +"You'll be interested to hear that I am engaged." + +"My dear fellow! I congrat ----" + +"To Milverton's housemaid." + +"Good heavens, Holmes!" + +"I wanted information, Watson." + +"Surely you have gone too far?" + +"It was a most necessary step. I am a plumber with a rising +business, Escott by name. I have walked out with her each +evening, and I have talked with her. Good heavens, those talks! +However, I have got all I wanted. I know Milverton's house as +I know the palm of my hand." + +"But the girl, Holmes?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"You can't help it, my dear Watson. You must play your cards +as best you can when such a stake is on the table. However, +I rejoice to say that I have a hated rival who will certainly +cut me out the instant that my back is turned. What a splendid +night it is!" + +"You like this weather?" + +"It suits my purpose. Watson, I mean to burgle Milverton's +house to-night." + +I had a catching of the breath, and my skin went cold at the +words, which were slowly uttered in a tone of concentrated +resolution. As a flash of lightning in the night shows up in +an instant every detail of a wide landscape, so at one glance +I seemed to see every possible result of such an action -- the +detection, the capture, the honoured career ending in +irreparable failure and disgrace, my friend himself lying at +the mercy of the odious Milverton. + +"For Heaven's sake, Holmes, think what you are doing," I cried. + +"My dear fellow, I have given it every consideration. I am +never precipitate in my actions, nor would I adopt so energetic +and indeed so dangerous a course if any other were possible. +Let us look at the matter clearly and fairly. I suppose that +you will admit that the action is morally justifiable, though +technically criminal. To burgle his house is no more than to +forcibly take his pocket-book -- an action in which you were +prepared to aid me." + +I turned it over in my mind. + +"Yes," I said; "it is morally justifiable so long as our object +is to take no articles save those which are used for an illegal +purpose." + +"Exactly. Since it is morally justifiable I have only to +consider the question of personal risk. Surely a gentleman +should not lay much stress upon this when a lady is in most +desperate need of his help?" + +"You will be in such a false position." + +"Well, that is part of the risk. There is no other possible way +of regaining these letters. The unfortunate lady has not the +money, and there are none of her people in whom she could +confide. To-morrow is the last day of grace, and unless we can +get the letters to-night this villain will be as good as his +word and will bring about her ruin. I must, therefore, abandon +my client to her fate or I must play this last card. Between +ourselves, Watson, it's a sporting duel between this fellow +Milverton and me. He had, as you saw, the best of the first +exchanges; but my self-respect and my reputation are concerned +to fight it to a finish." + +"Well, I don't like it; but I suppose it must be," said I. +"When do we start?" + +"You are not coming." + +"Then you are not going," said I. "I give you my word of honour +-- and I never broke it in my life -- that I will take a cab +straight to the police-station and give you away unless you let +me share this adventure with you." + +"You can't help me." + +"How do you know that? You can't tell what may happen. +Anyway, my resolution is taken. Other people beside you +have self-respect and even reputations." + +Holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he clapped +me on the shoulder. + +"Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared the +same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended +by sharing the same cell. You know, Watson, I don't mind +confessing to you that I have always had an idea that I would +have made a highly efficient criminal. This is the chance of my +lifetime in that direction. See here!" He took a neat little +leather case out of a drawer, and opening it he exhibited +a number of shining instruments. "This is a first-class, +up-to-date burgling kit, with nickel-plated jemmy, diamond-tipped +glass-cutter, adaptable keys, and every modern improvement which +the march of civilization demands. Here, too, is my dark lantern. +Everything is in order. Have you a pair of silent shoes?" + +"I have rubber-soled tennis shoes." + +"Excellent. And a mask?" + +"I can make a couple out of black silk." + +"I can see that you have a strong natural turn for this sort +of thing. Very good; do you make the masks. We shall have some +cold supper before we start. It is now nine-thirty. At eleven +we shall drive as far as Church Row. It is a quarter of an +hour's walk from there to Appledore Towers. We shall be at work +before midnight. Milverton is a heavy sleeper and retires +punctually at ten-thirty. With any luck we should be back here +by two, with the Lady Eva's letters in my pocket." + +Holmes and I put on our dress-clothes, so that we might +appear to be two theatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street +we picked up a hansom and drove to an address in Hampstead. +Here we paid off our cab, and with our great-coats buttoned up, +for it was bitterly cold and the wind seemed to blow through us, +we walked along the edge of the Heath. + +"It's a business that needs delicate treatment," said Holmes. +"These documents are contained in a safe in the fellow's study, +and the study is the ante-room of his bed-chamber. On the other +hand, like all these stout, little men who do themselves well, +he is a plethoric sleeper. Agatha -- that's my FIANCEE -- says +it is a joke in the servants' hall that it's impossible to wake +the master. He has a secretary who is devoted to his interests +and never budges from the study all day. That's why we are +going at night. Then he has a beast of a dog which roams the +garden. I met Agatha late the last two evenings, and she locks +the brute up so as to give me a clear run. This is the house, +this big one in its own grounds. Through the gate -- now to +the right among the laurels. We might put on our masks here, +I think. You see, there is not a glimmer of light in any of +the windows, and everything is working splendidly." + +With our black silk face-coverings, which turned us into two of +the most truculent figures in London, we stole up to the silent, +gloomy house. A sort of tiled veranda extended along one side +of it, lined by several windows and two doors. + +"That's his bedroom," Holmes whispered. "This door opens +straight into the study. It would suit us best, but it is +bolted as well as locked, and we should make too much noise +getting in. Come round here. There's a greenhouse which +opens into the drawing-room." + +The place was locked, but Holmes removed a circle of glass and +turned the key from the inside. An instant afterwards he had +closed the door behind us, and we had become felons in the eyes +of the law. The thick, warm air of the conservatory and the +rich, choking fragrance of exotic plants took us by the throat. +He seized my hand in the darkness and led me swiftly past banks +of shrubs which brushed against our faces. Holmes had +remarkable powers, carefully cultivated, of seeing in the dark. +Still holding my hand in one of his he opened a door, and I was +vaguely conscious that we had entered a large room in which a +cigar had been smoked not long before. He felt his way among +the furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind us. +Putting out my hand I felt several coats hanging from the wall, +and I understood that I was in a passage. We passed along it, +and Holmes very gently opened a door upon the right-hand side. +Something rushed out at us and my heart sprang into my mouth, +but I could have laughed when I realized that it was the cat. +A fire was burning in this new room, and again the air was heavy +with tobacco smoke. Holmes entered on tiptoe, waited for me +to follow, and then very gently closed the door. We were in +Milverton's study, and a PORTIERE at the farther side showed +the entrance to his bedroom. + +It was a good fire, and the room was illuminated by it. +Near the door I saw the gleam of an electric switch, but it +was unnecessary, even if it had been safe, to turn it on. +At one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtain, which covered +the bay window we had seen from outside. On the other side was +the door which communicated with the veranda. A desk stood in the +centre, with a turning chair of shining red leather. Opposite +was a large bookcase, with a marble bust of Athene on the top. +In the corner between the bookcase and the wall there stood a +tall green safe, the firelight flashing back from the polished +brass knobs upon its face. Holmes stole across and looked at +it. Then he crept to the door of the bedroom, and stood with +slanting head listening intently. No sound came from within. +Meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise to secure our +retreat through the outer door, so I examined it. To my +amazement it was neither locked nor bolted! I touched Holmes +on the arm, and he turned his masked face in that direction. +I saw him start, and he was evidently as surprised as I. + +"I don't like it," he whispered, putting his lips to my very ear. +"I can't quite make it out. Anyhow, we have no time to lose." + +"Can I do anything?" + +"Yes; stand by the door. If you hear anyone come, bolt it +on the inside, and we can get away as we came. If they come +the other way, we can get through the door if our job is done, +or hide behind these window curtains if it is not. Do you +understand?" + +I nodded and stood by the door. My first feeling of fear had +passed away, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had +ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law instead of +its defiers. The high object of our mission, the consciousness +that it was unselfish and chivalrous, the villainous character +of our opponent, all added to the sporting interest of the +adventure. Far from feeling guilty, I rejoiced and exulted +in our dangers. With a glow of admiration I watched Holmes +unrolling his case of instruments and choosing his tool with the +calm, scientific accuracy of a surgeon who performs a delicate +operation. I knew that the opening of safes was a particular +hobby with him, and I understood the joy which it gave him to be +confronted with this green and gold monster, the dragon which +held in its maw the reputations of many fair ladies. Turning up +the cuffs of his dress-coat -- he had placed his overcoat on a +chair -- Holmes laid out two drills, a jemmy, and several +skeleton keys. I stood at the centre door with my eyes glancing +at each of the others, ready for any emergency; though, indeed, +my plans were somewhat vague as to what I should do if we were +interrupted. For half an hour Holmes worked with concentrated +energy, laying down one tool, picking up another, handling each +with the strength and delicacy of the trained mechanic. Finally +I heard a click, the broad green door swung open, and inside +I had a glimpse of a number of paper packets, each tied, sealed, +and inscribed. Holmes picked one out, but it was hard to read +by the flickering fire, and he drew out his little dark lantern, +for it was too dangerous, with Milverton in the next room, to +switch on the electric light. Suddenly I saw him halt, listen +intently, and then in an instant he had swung the door of the +safe to, picked up his coat, stuffed his tools into the pockets, +and darted behind the window curtain, motioning me to do the same. + +It was only when I had joined him there that I heard what had +alarmed his quicker senses. There was a noise somewhere within +the house. A door slammed in the distance. Then a confused, +dull murmur broke itself into the measured thud of heavy +footsteps rapidly approaching. They were in the passage outside +the room. They paused at the door. The door opened. There was +a sharp snick as the electric light was turned on. The door +closed once more, and the pungent reek of a strong cigar was +borne to our nostrils. Then the footsteps continued backwards +and forwards, backwards and forwards, within a few yards of us. +Finally, there was a creak from a chair, and the footsteps ceased. +Then a key clicked in a lock and I heard the rustle of papers. + +So far I had not dared to look out, but now I gently parted the +division of the curtains in front of me and peeped through. +From the pressure of Holmes's shoulder against mine I knew +that he was sharing my observations. Right in front of us, +and almost within our reach, was the broad, rounded back of +Milverton. It was evident that we had entirely miscalculated +his movements, that he had never been to his bedroom, but that +he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard room in the +farther wing of the house, the windows of which we had not seen. +His broad, grizzled head, with its shining patch of baldness, +was in the immediate foreground of our vision. He was leaning +far back in the red leather chair, his legs outstretched, a long +black cigar projecting at an angle from his mouth. He wore a +semi-military smoking jacket, claret-coloured, with a black +velvet collar. In his hand he held a long legal document, which +he was reading in an indolent fashion, blowing rings of tobacco +smoke from his lips as he did so. There was no promise of a +speedy departure in his composed bearing and his comfortable +attitude. + +I felt Holmes's hand steal into mine and give me a reassuring +shake, as if to say that the situation was within his powers and +that he was easy in his mind. I was not sure whether he had +seen what was only too obvious from my position, that the door +of the safe was imperfectly closed, and that Milverton might at +any moment observe it. In my own mind I had determined that if +I were sure, from the rigidity of his gaze, that it had caught +his eye, I would at once spring out, throw my great-coat +over his head, pinion him, and leave the rest to Holmes. +But Milverton never looked up. He was languidly interested +by the papers in his hand, and page after page was turned as he +followed the argument of the lawyer. At least, I thought, when +he has finished the document and the cigar he will go to his +room; but before he had reached the end of either there came +a remarkable development which turned our thoughts into quite +another channel. + +Several times I had observed that Milverton looked at his +watch, and once he had risen and sat down again, with a gesture +of impatience. The idea, however, that he might have an +appointment at so strange an hour never occurred to me until +a faint sound reached my ears from the veranda outside. +Milverton dropped his papers and sat rigid in his chair. +The sound was repeated, and then there came a gentle tap +at the door. Milverton rose and opened it. + +"Well," said he, curtly, "you are nearly half an hour late." + +So this was the explanation of the unlocked door and of the +nocturnal vigil of Milverton. There was the gentle rustle of +a woman's dress. I had closed the slit between the curtains as +Milverton's face had turned in our direction, but now I ventured +very carefully to open it once more. He had resumed his seat, +the cigar still projecting at an insolent angle from the corner +of his mouth. In front of him, in the full glare of the +electric light, there stood a tall, slim, dark woman, a veil +over her face, a mantle drawn round her chin. Her breath came +quick and fast, and every inch of the lithe figure was quivering +with strong emotion. + +"Well," said Milverton, "you've made me lose a good night's rest, +my dear. I hope you'll prove worth it. You couldn't come any +other time -- eh?" + +The woman shook her head. + +"Well, if you couldn't you couldn't. If the Countess is a +hard mistress you have your chance to get level with her now. +Bless the girl, what are you shivering about? That's right! +Pull yourself together! Now, let us get down to business." +He took a note from the drawer of his desk. "You say that +you have five letters which compromise the Countess d'Albert. +You want to sell them. I want to buy them. So far so good. +It only remains to fix a price. I should want to inspect the +letters, of course. If they are really good specimens --- +Great heavens, is it you?" + +The woman without a word had raised her veil and dropped the +mantle from her chin. It was a dark, handsome, clear-cut face +which confronted Milverton, a face with a curved nose, strong, +dark eyebrows shading hard, glittering eyes, and a straight, +thin-lipped mouth set in a dangerous smile. + +"It is I," she said; "the woman whose life you have ruined." + +Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated in his voice. "You were +so very obstinate," said he. "Why did you drive me to such +extremities? I assure you I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own +accord, but every man has his business, and what was I to do? +I put the price well within your means. You would not pay." + +"So you sent the letters to my husband, and he -- the noblest +gentleman that ever lived, a man whose boots I was never worthy +to lace -- he broke his gallant heart and died. You remember +that last night when I came through that door I begged and +prayed you for mercy, and you laughed in my face as you are +trying to laugh now, only your coward heart cannot keep your +lips from twitching? Yes, you never thought to see me here +again, but it was that night which taught me how I could meet +you face to face, and alone. Well, Charles Milverton, what have +you to say?" + +"Don't imagine that you can bully me," said he, rising to +his feet. "I have only to raise my voice, and I could call +my servants and have you arrested. But I will make allowance +for your natural anger. Leave the room at once as you came, +and I will say no more." + +The woman stood with her hand buried in her bosom, and the same +deadly smile on her thin lips. + +"You will ruin no more lives as you ruined mine. You will wring +no more hearts as you wrung mine. I will free the world of a +poisonous thing. Take that, you hound, and that! -- and that! +-- and that!" + +She had drawn a little, gleaming revolver, and emptied barrel +after barrel into Milverton's body, the muzzle within two feet +of his shirt front. He shrank away and then fell forward upon +the table, coughing furiously and clawing among the papers. +Then he staggered to his feet, received another shot, and rolled +upon the floor. "You've done me," he cried, and lay still. +The woman looked at him intently and ground her heel into his +upturned face. She looked again, but there was no sound or +movement. I heard a sharp rustle, the night air blew into the +heated room, and the avenger was gone. + +No interference upon our part could have saved the man from +his fate; but as the woman poured bullet after bullet into +Milverton's shrinking body I was about to spring out, when I +felt Holmes's cold, strong grasp upon my wrist. I understood +the whole argument of that firm, restraining grip -- that it was +no affair of ours; that justice had overtaken a villain; that we +had our own duties and our own objects which were not to be lost +sight of. But hardly had the woman rushed from the room when +Holmes, with swift, silent steps, was over at the other door. +He turned the key in the lock. At the same instant we heard +voices in the house and the sound of hurrying feet. The +revolver shots had roused the household. With perfect coolness +Holmes slipped across to the safe, filled his two arms with +bundles of letters, and poured them all into the fire. Again +and again he did it, until the safe was empty. Someone turned +the handle and beat upon the outside of the door. Holmes looked +swiftly round. The letter which had been the messenger of death +for Milverton lay, all mottled with his blood, upon the table. +Holmes tossed it in among the blazing papers. Then he drew the +key from the outer door, passed through after me, and locked it +on the outside. "This way, Watson," said he; "we can scale the +garden wall in this direction." + +I could not have believed that an alarm could have spread so +swiftly. Looking back, the huge house was one blaze of light. +The front door was open, and figures were rushing down the +drive. The whole garden was alive with people, and one fellow +raised a view-halloa as we emerged from the veranda and followed +hard at our heels. Holmes seemed to know the ground perfectly, +and he threaded his way swiftly among a plantation of small +trees, I close at his heels, and our foremost pursuer panting +behind us. It was a six-foot wall which barred our path, but he +sprang to the top and over. As I did the same I felt the hand +of the man behind me grab at my ankle; but I kicked myself free +and scrambled over a glass-strewn coping. I fell upon my face +among some bushes; but Holmes had me on my feet in an instant, +and together we dashed away across the huge expanse of Hampstead +Heath. We had run two miles, I suppose, before Holmes at last +halted and listened intently. All was absolute silence behind us. +We had shaken off our pursuers and were safe. + + +We had breakfasted and were smoking our morning pipe on the +day after the remarkable experience which I have recorded when +Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, very solemn and impressive, +was ushered into our modest sitting-room. + +"Good morning, Mr. Holmes," said he; "good morning. +May I ask if you are very busy just now?" + +"Not too busy to listen to you." + +"I thought that, perhaps, if you had nothing particular on hand, +you might care to assist us in a most remarkable case which +occurred only last night at Hampstead." + +"Dear me!" said Holmes. "What was that?" + +"A murder -- a most dramatic and remarkable murder. I know how +keen you are upon these things, and I would take it as a great +favour if you would step down to Appledore Towers and give us +the benefit of your advice. It is no ordinary crime. We have +had our eyes upon this Mr. Milverton for some time, and, between +ourselves, he was a bit of a villain. He is known to have held +papers which he used for blackmailing purposes. These papers +have all been burned by the murderers. No article of value was +taken, as it is probable that the criminals were men of good +position, whose sole object was to prevent social exposure." + +"Criminals!" said Holmes. "Plural!" + +"Yes, there were two of them. They were, as nearly as possible, +captured red-handed. We have their foot-marks, we have their +description; it's ten to one that we trace them. The first +fellow was a bit too active, but the second was caught by the +under-gardener and only got away after a struggle. He was a +middle-sized, strongly-built man -- square jaw, thick neck, +moustache, a mask over his eyes." + +"That's rather vague," said Sherlock Holmes. +"Why, it might be a description of Watson!" + +"It's true," said the inspector, with much amusement. +"It might be a description of Watson." + +"Well, I am afraid I can't help you, Lestrade," said Holmes. +"The fact is that I knew this fellow Milverton, that I +considered him one of the most dangerous men in London, and that +I think there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, +and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge. +No, it's no use arguing. I have made up my mind. My sympathies +are with the criminals rather than with the victim, and I will +not handle this case." + + +Holmes had not said one word to me about the tragedy which we +had witnessed, but I observed all the morning that he was in his +most thoughtful mood, and he gave me the impression, from his +vacant eyes and his abstracted manner, of a man who is striving +to recall something to his memory. We were in the middle of our +lunch when he suddenly sprang to his feet. "By Jove, Watson; +I've got it!" he cried. "Take your hat! Come with me!" +He hurried at his top speed down Baker Street and along Oxford +Street, until we had almost reached Regent Circus. Here on the +left hand there stands a shop window filled with photographs of +the celebrities and beauties of the day. Holmes's eyes fixed +themselves upon one of them, and following his gaze I saw the +picture of a regal and stately lady in Court dress, with a high +diamond tiara upon her noble head. I looked at that +delicately-curved nose, at the marked eyebrows, at the straight +mouth, and the strong little chin beneath it. Then I caught my +breath as I read the time-honoured title of the great nobleman +and statesman whose wife she had been. My eyes met those of Holmes, +and he put his finger to his lips as we turned away from the window. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 MAY, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +VIII. --- The Adventure of the Six Napoleons. + + +IT was no very unusual thing for Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, +to look in upon us of an evening, and his visits were welcome to +Sherlock Holmes, for they enabled him to keep in touch with all +that was going on at the police head-quarters. In return for +the news which Lestrade would bring, Holmes was always ready to +listen with attention to the details of any case upon which the +detective was engaged, and was able occasionally, without any +active interference, to give some hint or suggestion drawn from +his own vast knowledge and experience. + +On this particular evening Lestrade had spoken of the weather +and the newspapers. Then he had fallen silent, puffing +thoughtfully at his cigar. Holmes looked keenly at him. + +"Anything remarkable on hand?" he asked. + +"Oh, no, Mr. Holmes, nothing very particular." + +"Then tell me about it." + +Lestrade laughed. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, there is no use denying that there IS +something on my mind. And yet it is such an absurd business +that I hesitated to bother you about it. On the other hand, +although it is trivial, it is undoubtedly queer, and I know that +you have a taste for all that is out of the common. But in my +opinion it comes more in Dr. Watson's line than ours." + +"Disease?" said I. + +"Madness, anyhow. And a queer madness too! You wouldn't think +there was anyone living at this time of day who had such a +hatred of Napoleon the First that he would break any image of +him that he could see." + +Holmes sank back in his chair. + +"That's no business of mine," said he. + +"Exactly. That's what I said. But then, when the man commits +burglary in order to break images which are not his own, that +brings it away from the doctor and on to the policeman." + +Holmes sat up again. + +"Burglary! This is more interesting. Let me hear the details." + +Lestrade took out his official note-book and refreshed his +memory from its pages. + +"The first case reported was four days ago," said he. "It was +at the shop of Morse Hudson, who has a place for the sale of +pictures and statues in the Kennington Road. The assistant had +left the front shop for an instant when he heard a crash, and +hurrying in he found a plaster bust of Napoleon, which stood +with several other works of art upon the counter, lying shivered +into fragments. He rushed out into the road, but, although +several passers-by declared that they had noticed a man run out +of the shop, he could neither see anyone nor could he find any +means of identifying the rascal. It seemed to be one of those +senseless acts of Hooliganism which occur from time to time, +and it was reported to the constable on the beat as such. +The plaster cast was not worth more than a few shillings, +and the whole affair appeared to be too childish for any +particular investigation. + +"The second case, however, was more serious and also more +singular. It occurred only last night. + +"In Kennington Road, and within a few hundred yards of Morse +Hudson's shop, there lives a well-known medical practitioner, +named Dr. Barnicot, who has one of the largest practices upon +the south side of the Thames. His residence and principal +consulting-room is at Kennington Road, but he has a branch +surgery and dispensary at Lower Brixton Road, two miles away. +This Dr. Barnicot is an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon, and +his house is full of books, pictures, and relics of the French +Emperor. Some little time ago he purchased from Morse Hudson +two duplicate plaster casts of the famous head of Napoleon by +the French sculptor, Devine. One of these he placed in his +hall in the house at Kennington Road, and the other on the +mantelpiece of the surgery at Lower Brixton. Well, when Dr. +Barnicot came down this morning he was astonished to find that +his house had been burgled during the night, but that nothing +had been taken save the plaster head from the hall. It had been +carried out and had been dashed savagely against the garden +wall, under which its splintered fragments were discovered." + +Holmes rubbed his hands. + +"This is certainly very novel," said he. + +"I thought it would please you. But I have not got to the end +yet. Dr. Barnicot was due at his surgery at twelve o'clock, +and you can imagine his amazement when, on arriving there, +he found that the window had been opened in the night, and that +the broken pieces of his second bust were strewn all over the room. +It had been smashed to atoms where it stood. In neither case +were there any signs which could give us a clue as to the +criminal or lunatic who had done the mischief. Now, Mr. Holmes, +you have got the facts." + +"They are singular, not to say grotesque," said Holmes. +"May I ask whether the two busts smashed in Dr. Barnicot's +rooms were the exact duplicates of the one which was destroyed +in Morse Hudson's shop?" + +"They were taken from the same mould." + +"Such a fact must tell against the theory that the man who +breaks them is influenced by any general hatred of Napoleon. +Considering how many hundreds of statues of the great Emperor +must exist in London, it is too much to suppose such a +coincidence as that a promiscuous iconoclast should chance +to begin upon three specimens of the same bust." + +"Well, I thought as you do," said Lestrade. "On the other hand, +this Morse Hudson is the purveyor of busts in that part of +London, and these three were the only ones which had been in his +shop for years. So, although, as you say, there are many +hundreds of statues in London, it is very probable that these +three were the only ones in that district. Therefore, a local +fanatic would begin with them. What do you think, Dr. Watson?" + +"There are no limits to the possibilities of monomania," +I answered. "There is the condition which the modern French +psychologists have called the `idee fixe,' which may be trifling +in character, and accompanied by complete sanity in every other +way. A man who had read deeply about Napoleon, or who had +possibly received some hereditary family injury through the +great war, might conceivably form such an `idee fixe' and under +its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage." + +"That won't do, my dear Watson," said Holmes, shaking his head; +"for no amount of `idee fixe' would enable your interesting +monomaniac to find out where these busts were situated." + +"Well, how do YOU explain it?" + +"I don't attempt to do so. I would only observe that there is a +certain method in the gentleman's eccentric proceedings. For +example, in Dr. Barnicot's hall, where a sound might arouse the +family, the bust was taken outside before being broken, whereas +in the surgery, where there was less danger of an alarm, it was +smashed where it stood. The affair seems absurdly trifling, and +yet I dare call nothing trivial when I reflect that some of my +most classic cases have had the least promising commencement. +You will remember, Watson, how the dreadful business of the +Abernetty family was first brought to my notice by the depth +which the parsley had sunk into the butter upon a hot day. +I can't afford, therefore, to smile at your three broken busts, +Lestrade, and I shall be very much obliged to you if you will +let me hear of any fresh developments of so singular a chain +of events." + + +The development for which my friend had asked came in a quicker +and an infinitely more tragic form than he could have imagined. +I was still dressing in my bedroom next morning when there was +a tap at the door and Holmes entered, a telegram in his hand. +He read it aloud:-- + +"Come instantly, 131, Pitt Street, Kensington. -- Lestrade." + +"What is it, then?" I asked. + +"Don't know -- may be anything. But I suspect it is the +sequel of the story of the statues. In that case our friend, +the image-breaker, has begun operations in another quarter of +London. There's coffee on the table, Watson, and I have a cab +at the door." + +In half an hour we had reached Pitt Street, a quiet little +backwater just beside one of the briskest currents of London +life. No. 131 was one of a row, all flat-chested, respectable, +and most unromantic dwellings. As we drove up we found the +railings in front of the house lined by a curious crowd. +Holmes whistled. + +"By George! it's attempted murder at the least. Nothing less +will hold the London message-boy. There's a deed of violence +indicated in that fellow's round shoulders and outstretched +neck. What's this, Watson? The top steps swilled down and the +other ones dry. Footsteps enough, anyhow! Well, well, there's +Lestrade at the front window, and we shall soon know all about it." + +The official received us with a very grave face and showed us +into a sitting-room, where an exceedingly unkempt and agitated +elderly man, clad in a flannel dressing-gown, was pacing up and +down. He was introduced to us as the owner of the house -- +Mr. Horace Harker, of the Central Press Syndicate. + +"It's the Napoleon bust business again," said Lestrade. +"You seemed interested last night, Mr. Holmes, so I thought +perhaps you would be glad to be present now that the affair +has taken a very much graver turn." + +"What has it turned to, then?" + +"To murder. Mr. Harker, will you tell these gentlemen exactly +what has occurred?" + +The man in the dressing-gown turned upon us with a most +melancholy face. + +"It's an extraordinary thing," said he, "that all my life I have +been collecting other people's news, and now that a real piece +of news has come my own way I am so confused and bothered that +I can't put two words together. If I had come in here as a +journalist I should have interviewed myself and had two columns +in every evening paper. As it is I am giving away valuable copy +by telling my story over and over to a string of different people, +and I can make no use of it myself. However, I've heard your name, +Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and if you'll only explain this queer business +I shall be paid for my trouble in telling you the story." + +Holmes sat down and listened. + +"It all seems to centre round that bust of Napoleon which I +bought for this very room about four months ago. I picked it up +cheap from Harding Brothers, two doors from the High Street +Station. A great deal of my journalistic work is done at night, +and I often write until the early morning. So it was to-day. +I was sitting in my den, which is at the back of the top of the +house, about three o'clock, when I was convinced that I heard +some sounds downstairs. I listened, but they were not repeated, +and I concluded that they came from outside. Then suddenly, +about five minutes later, there came a most horrible yell -- the +most dreadful sound, Mr. Holmes, that ever I heard. It will +ring in my ears as long as I live. I sat frozen with horror for +a minute or two. Then I seized the poker and went downstairs. +When I entered this room I found the window wide open, and I at +once observed that the bust was gone from the mantelpiece. +Why any burglar should take such a thing passes my understanding, +for it was only a plaster cast and of no real value whatever. + +"You can see for yourself that anyone going out through that +open window could reach the front doorstep by taking a long +stride. This was clearly what the burglar had done, so I went +round and opened the door. Stepping out into the dark I nearly +fell over a dead man who was lying there. I ran back for a +light, and there was the poor fellow, a great gash in his throat +and the whole place swimming in blood. He lay on his back, his +knees drawn up, and his mouth horribly open. I shall see him in +my dreams. I had just time to blow on my police-whistle, and +then I must have fainted, for I knew nothing more until I found +the policeman standing over me in the hall." + +"Well, who was the murdered man?" asked Holmes. + +"There's nothing to show who he was," said Lestrade. "You shall +see the body at the mortuary, but we have made nothing of it up +to now. He is a tall man, sunburned, very powerful, not more +than thirty. He is poorly dressed, and yet does not appear to +be a labourer. A horn-handled clasp knife was lying in a pool +of blood beside him. Whether it was the weapon which did the +deed, or whether it belonged to the dead man, I do not know. +There was no name on his clothing, and nothing in his pockets +save an apple, some string, a shilling map of London, and a +photograph. Here it is." + +It was evidently taken by a snap-shot from a small camera. +It represented an alert, sharp-featured simian man with thick +eyebrows, and a very peculiar projection of the lower part of +the face like the muzzle of a baboon. + +"And what became of the bust?" asked Holmes, after a careful +study of this picture. + +"We had news of it just before you came. It has been found +in the front garden of an empty house in Campden House Road. +It was broken into fragments. I am going round now to see it. +Will you come?" + +"Certainly. I must just take one look round." He examined the +carpet and the window. "The fellow had either very long legs or +was a most active man," said he. "With an area beneath, it was +no mean feat to reach that window-ledge and open that window. +Getting back was comparatively simple. Are you coming with us +to see the remains of your bust, Mr. Harker?" + +The disconsolate journalist had seated himself at a writing-table. + +"I must try and make something of it," said he, "though I have +no doubt that the first editions of the evening papers are out +already with full details. It's like my luck! You remember +when the stand fell at Doncaster? Well, I was the only +journalist in the stand, and my journal the only one that had +no account of it, for I was too shaken to write it. And now +I'll be too late with a murder done on my own doorstep." + +As we left the room we heard his pen travelling shrilly over +the foolscap. + +The spot where the fragments of the bust had been found was only +a few hundred yards away. For the first time our eyes rested +upon this presentment of the great Emperor, which seemed to +raise such frantic and destructive hatred in the mind of the +unknown. It lay scattered in splintered shards upon the +grass. Holmes picked up several of them and examined them +carefully. I was convinced from his intent face and his +purposeful manner that at last he was upon a clue. + +"Well?" asked Lestrade. + +Holmes shrugged his shoulders. + +"We have a long way to go yet," said he. "And yet -- and yet -- +well, we have some suggestive facts to act upon. The possession +of this trifling bust was worth more in the eyes of this +strange criminal than a human life. That is one point. +Then there is the singular fact that he did not break it in the +house, or immediately outside the house, if to break it was his +sole object." + +"He was rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow. +He hardly knew what he was doing." + +"Well, that's likely enough. But I wish to call your attention +very particularly to the position of this house in the garden +of which the bust was destroyed." + +Lestrade looked about him. + +"It was an empty house, and so he knew that he would not be +disturbed in the garden." + +"Yes, but there is another empty house farther up the street +which he must have passed before he came to this one. Why did +he not break it there, since it is evident that every yard that +he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him?" + +"I give it up," said Lestrade. + +Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads. + +"He could see what he was doing here and he could not there. +That was his reason." + +"By Jove! that's true," said the detective. "Now that I come to +think of it, Dr. Barnicot's bust was broken not far from his red +lamp. Well, Mr. Holmes, what are we to do with that fact?" + +"To remember it -- to docket it. We may come on something +later which will bear upon it. What steps do you propose +to take now, Lestrade?" + +"The most practical way of getting at it, in my opinion, is to +identify the dead man. There should be no difficulty about +that. When we have found who he is and who his associates are, +we should have a good start in learning what he was doing in +Pitt Street last night, and who it was who met him and killed +him on the doorstep of Mr. Horace Harker. Don't you think so?" + +"No doubt; and yet it is not quite the way in which I should +approach the case." + +"What would you do, then?" + +"Oh, you must not let me influence you in any way! I suggest +that you go on your line and I on mine. We can compare notes +afterwards, and each will supplement the other." + +"Very good," said Lestrade. + +"If you are going back to Pitt Street you might see Mr. Horace +Harker. Tell him from me that I have quite made up my mind, +and that it is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with +Napoleonic delusions was in his house last night. It will be +useful for his article." + +Lestrade stared. + +"You don't seriously believe that?" + +Holmes smiled. + +"Don't I? Well, perhaps I don't. But I am sure that it will +interest Mr. Horace Harker and the subscribers of the Central +Press Syndicate. Now, Watson, I think that we shall find that +we have a long and rather complex day's work before us. +I should be glad, Lestrade, if you could make it convenient to +meet us at Baker Street at six o'clock this evening. Until then +I should like to keep this photograph found in the dead man's +pocket. It is possible that I may have to ask your company and +assistance upon a small expedition which will have be undertaken +to-night, if my chain of reasoning should prove to be correct. +Until then, good-bye and good luck!" + +Sherlock Holmes and I walked together to the High Street, where +he stopped at the shop of Harding Brothers, whence the bust had +been purchased. A young assistant informed us that Mr. Harding +would be absent until after noon, and that he was himself a +newcomer who could give us no information. Holmes's face +showed his disappointment and annoyance. + +"Well, well, we can't expect to have it all our own way, +Watson," he said, at last. "We must come back in the afternoon +if Mr. Harding will not be here until then. I am, as you have +no doubt surmised, endeavouring to trace these busts to their +source, in order to find if there is not something peculiar +which may account for their remarkable fate. Let us make for +Mr. Morse Hudson, of the Kennington Road, and see if he can +throw any light upon the problem." + +A drive of an hour brought us to the picture-dealer's +establishment. He was a small, stout man with a red face +and a peppery manner. + +"Yes, sir. On my very counter, sir," said he. "What we pay +rates and taxes for I don't know, when any ruffian can come in +and break one's goods. Yes, sir, it was I who sold Dr. Barnicot +his two statues. Disgraceful, sir! A Nihilist plot, that's +what I make it. No one but an Anarchist would go about breaking +statues. Red republicans, that's what I call 'em. Who did I +get the statues from? I don't see what that has to do with it. +Well, if you really want to know, I got them from Gelder and Co., +in Church Street, Stepney. They are a well-known house in the +trade, and have been this twenty years. How many had I? +Three -- two and one are three -- two of Dr. Barnicot's and one +smashed in broad daylight on my own counter. Do I know that +photograph? No, I don't. Yes, I do, though. Why, it's Beppo. +He was a kind of Italian piece-work man, who made himself useful +in the shop. He could carve a bit and gild and frame, and do +odd jobs. The fellow left me last week, and I've heard nothing +of him since. No, I don't know where he came from nor where he +went to. I have nothing against him while he was here. He was +gone two days before the bust was smashed." + +"Well, that's all we could reasonably expect to get from Morse +Hudson," said Holmes, as we emerged from the shop. "We have this +Beppo as a common factor, both in Kennington and in Kensington, +so that is worth a ten-mile drive. Now, Watson, let us make +for Gelder and Co., of Stepney, the source and origin of busts. +I shall be surprised if we don't get some help down there." + +In rapid succession we passed through the fringe of fashionable +London, hotel London, theatrical London, literary London, +commercial London, and, finally, maritime London, till we came +to a riverside city of a hundred thousand souls, where the +tenement houses swelter and reek with the outcasts of Europe. +Here, in a broad thoroughfare, once the abode of wealthy City +merchants, we found the sculpture works for which we searched. +Outside was a considerable yard full of monumental masonry. +Inside was a large room in which fifty workers were carving or +moulding. The manager, a big blond German, received us civilly, +and gave a clear answer to all Holmes's questions. A reference +to his books showed that hundreds of casts had been taken from +a marble copy of Devine's head of Napoleon, but that the three +which had been sent to Morse Hudson a year or so before had been +half of a batch of six, the other three being sent to Harding +Brothers, of Kensington. There was no reason why those six +should be different to any of the other casts. He could +suggest no possible cause why anyone should wish to destroy +them -- in fact, he laughed at the idea. Their wholesale price +was six shillings, but the retailer would get twelve or more. +The cast was taken in two moulds from each side of the face, and +then these two profiles of plaster of Paris were joined together +to make the complete bust. The work was usually done by +Italians in the room we were in. When finished the busts were +put on a table in the passage to dry, and afterwards stored. +That was all he could tell us. + +But the production of the photograph had a remarkable effect +upon the manager. His face flushed with anger, and his brows +knotted over his blue Teutonic eyes. + +"Ah, the rascal!" he cried. "Yes, indeed, I know him very well. +This has always been a respectable establishment, and the only +time that we have ever had the police in it was over this very +fellow. It was more than a year ago now. He knifed another +Italian in the street, and then he came to the works with the +police on his heels, and he was taken here. Beppo was his +name -- his second name I never knew. Serve me right for +engaging a man with such a face. But he was a good workman, +one of the best." + +"What did he get?" + +"The man lived and he got off with a year. I have no doubt he is +out now; but he has not dared to show his nose here. We have a +cousin of his here, and I dare say he could tell you where he is." + +"No, no," cried Holmes, "not a word to the cousin -- not a word, +I beg you. The matter is very important, and the farther I go +with it the more important it seems to grow. When you referred +in your ledger to the sale of those casts I observed that the +date was June 3rd of last year. Could you give me the date when +Beppo was arrested?" + +"I could tell you roughly by the pay-list," the manager +answered. "Yes," he continued, after some turning over of +pages, "he was paid last on May 20th." + +"Thank you," said Holmes. "I don't think that I need intrude +upon your time and patience any more." With a last word of +caution that he should say nothing as to our researches we +turned our faces westward once more. + +The afternoon was far advanced before we were able to snatch +a hasty luncheon at a restaurant. A news-bill at the entrance +announced "Kensington Outrage. Murder by a Madman," and the +contents of the paper showed that Mr. Horace Harker had got his +account into print after all. Two columns were occupied with +a highly sensational and flowery rendering of the whole incident. +Holmes propped it against the cruet-stand and read it while he ate. +Once or twice he chuckled. + +"This is all right, Watson," said he. "Listen to this: +`It is satisfactory to know that there can be no difference +of opinion upon this case, since Mr. Lestrade, one of the most +experienced members of the official force, and Mr. Sherlock +Holmes, the well-known consulting expert, have each come to the +conclusion that the grotesque series of incidents, which have +ended in so tragic a fashion, arise from lunacy rather than from +deliberate crime. No explanation save mental aberration can +cover the facts.' The Press, Watson, is a most valuable +institution if you only know how to use it. And now, if you +have quite finished, we will hark back to Kensington and see +what the manager of Harding Brothers has to say to the matter." + +The founder of that great emporium proved to be a brisk, +crisp little person, very dapper and quick, with a clear head +and a ready tongue. + +"Yes, sir, I have already read the account in the evening +papers. Mr. Horace Harker is a customer of ours. We supplied +him with the bust some months ago. We ordered three busts of +that sort from Gelder and Co., of Stepney. They are all sold now. +To whom? Oh, I dare say by consulting our sales book we could +very easily tell you. Yes, we have the entries here. One to +Mr. Harker, you see, and one to Mr. Josiah Brown, of Laburnum +Lodge, Laburnum Vale, Chiswick, and one to Mr. Sandeford, of +Lower Grove Road, Reading. No, I have never seen this face +which you show me in the photograph. You would hardly forget +it, would you, sir, for I've seldom seen an uglier. Have we any +Italians on the staff? Yes, sir, we have several among our +workpeople and cleaners. I dare say they might get a peep at +that sales book if they wanted to. There is no particular +reason for keeping a watch upon that book. Well, well, it's a +very strange business, and I hope that you'll let me know if +anything comes of your inquiries." + +Holmes had taken several notes during Mr. Harding's evidence, +and I could see that he was thoroughly satisfied by the turn +which affairs were taking. He made no remark, however, save +that, unless we hurried, we should be late for our appointment +with Lestrade. Sure enough, when we reached Baker Street the +detective was already there, and we found him pacing up and down +in a fever of impatience. His look of importance showed that +his day's work had not been in vain. + +"Well?" he asked. "What luck, Mr. Holmes?" + +"We have had a very busy day, and not entirely a wasted one," +my friend explained. "We have seen both the retailers and also +the wholesale manufacturers. I can trace each of the busts now +from the beginning." + +"The busts!" cried Lestrade. "Well, well, you have your own +methods, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and it is not for me to say a +word against them, but I think I have done a better day's work +than you. I have identified the dead man." + +"You don't say so?" + +"And found a cause for the crime." + +"Splendid!" + +"We have an inspector who makes a specialty of Saffron Hill and +the Italian quarter. Well, this dead man had some Catholic +emblem round his neck, and that, along with his colour, made me +think he was from the South. Inspector Hill knew him the moment +he caught sight of him. His name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples, +and he is one of the greatest cut-throats in London. +He is connected with the Mafia, which, as you know, is a secret +political society, enforcing its decrees by murder. Now you +see how the affair begins to clear up. The other fellow is +probably an Italian also, and a member of the Mafia. He has +broken the rules in some fashion. Pietro is set upon his track. +Probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man +himself, so that he may not knife the wrong person. He dogs +the fellow, he sees him enter a house, he waits outside for him, +and in the scuffle he receives his own death-wound. How is that, +Mr. Sherlock Holmes?" + +Holmes clapped his hands approvingly. + +"Excellent, Lestrade, excellent!" he cried. "But I didn't quite +follow your explanation of the destruction of the busts." + +"The busts! You never can get those busts out of your head. +After all, that is nothing; petty larceny, six months at the most. +It is the murder that we are really investigating, and I tell +you that I am gathering all the threads into my hands." + +"And the next stage?" + +"Is a very simple one. I shall go down with Hill to the Italian +quarter, find the man whose photograph we have got, and arrest +him on the charge of murder. Will you come with us?" + +"I think not. I fancy we can attain our end in a simpler way. +I can't say for certain, because it all depends -- well, it all +depends upon a factor which is completely outside our control. +But I have great hopes -- in fact, the betting is exactly two +to one -- that if you will come with us to-night I shall be able +to help you to lay him by the heels." + +"In the Italian quarter?" + +"No; I fancy Chiswick is an address which is more likely to find +him. If you will come with me to Chiswick to-night, Lestrade, +I'll promise to go to the Italian quarter with you to-morrow, +and no harm will be done by the delay. And now I think that a +few hours' sleep would do us all good, for I do not propose to +leave before eleven o'clock, and it is unlikely that we shall +be back before morning. You'll dine with us, Lestrade, and then +you are welcome to the sofa until it is time for us to start. +In the meantime, Watson, I should be glad if you would ring for +an express messenger, for I have a letter to send, and it is +important that it should go at once." + +Holmes spent the evening in rummaging among the files of the +old daily papers with which one of our lumber-rooms was packed. +When at last he descended it was with triumph in his eyes, +but he said nothing to either of us as to the result of his +researches. For my own part, I had followed step by step the +methods by which he had traced the various windings of this +complex case, and, though I could not yet perceive the goal +which we would reach, I understood clearly that Holmes expected +this grotesque criminal to make an attempt upon the two +remaining busts, one of which, I remembered, was at Chiswick. +No doubt the object of our journey was to catch him in the very +act, and I could not but admire the cunning with which my friend +had inserted a wrong clue in the evening paper, so as to give +the fellow the idea that he could continue his scheme with +impunity. I was not surprised when Holmes suggested that +I should take my revolver with me. He had himself picked up +the loaded hunting-crop which was his favourite weapon. + +A four-wheeler was at the door at eleven, and in it we drove to +a spot at the other side of Hammersmith Bridge. Here the cabman +was directed to wait. A short walk brought us to a secluded +road fringed with pleasant houses, each standing in its own +grounds. In the light of a street lamp we read "Laburnum Villa" +upon the gate-post of one of them. The occupants had evidently +retired to rest, for all was dark save for a fanlight over the +hall door, which shed a single blurred circle on to the garden +path. The wooden fence which separated the grounds from the +road threw a dense black shadow upon the inner side, and here +it was that we crouched. + +"I fear that you'll have a long wait," Holmes whispered. +"We may thank our stars that it is not raining. I don't think we +can even venture to smoke to pass the time. However, it's a two +to one chance that we get something to pay us for our trouble." + +It proved, however, that our vigil was not to be so long as +Holmes had led us to fear, and it ended in a very sudden and +singular fashion. In an instant, without the least sound to +warn us of his coming, the garden gate swung open, and a lithe, +dark figure, as swift and active as an ape, rushed up the garden +path. We saw it whisk past the light thrown from over the door +and disappear against the black shadow of the house. There was +a long pause, during which we held our breath, and then a very +gentle creaking sound came to our ears. The window was being +opened. The noise ceased, and again there was a long silence. +The fellow was making his way into the house. We saw the sudden +flash of a dark lantern inside the room. What he sought was +evidently not there, for again we saw the flash through another +blind, and then through another. + +"Let us get to the open window. We will nab him as he climbs out," +Lestrade whispered. + +But before we could move the man had emerged again. As he came +out into the glimmering patch of light we saw that he carried +something white under his arm. He looked stealthily all round +him. The silence of the deserted street reassured him. Turning +his back upon us he laid down his burden, and the next instant +there was the sound of a sharp tap, followed by a clatter and +rattle. The man was so intent upon what he was doing that he +never heard our steps as we stole across the grass plot. With +the bound of a tiger Holmes was on his back, and an instant +later Lestrade and I had him by either wrist and the handcuffs +had been fastened. As we turned him over I saw a hideous, +sallow face, with writhing, furious features, glaring up at us, +and I knew that it was indeed the man of the photograph whom we +had secured. + +But it was not our prisoner to whom Holmes was giving his +attention. Squatted on the doorstep, he was engaged in most +carefully examining that which the man had brought from the +house. It was a bust of Napoleon like the one which we had +seen that morning, and it had been broken into similar +fragments. Carefully Holmes held each separate shard to the +light, but in no way did it differ from any other shattered +piece of plaster. He had just completed his examination when +the hall lights flew up, the door opened, and the owner of the +house, a jovial, rotund figure in shirt and trousers, presented +himself. + +"Mr. Josiah Brown, I suppose?" said Holmes. + +"Yes, sir; and you, no doubt, are Mr. Sherlock Holmes? I had +the note which you sent by the express messenger, and I did +exactly what you told me. We locked every door on the inside +and awaited developments. Well, I'm very glad to see that you +have got the rascal. I hope, gentlemen, that you will come in +and have some refreshment." + +However, Lestrade was anxious to get his man into safe quarters, +so within a few minutes our cab had been summoned and we were +all four upon our way to London. Not a word would our captive +say; but he glared at us from the shadow of his matted hair, and +once, when my hand seemed within his reach, he snapped at it +like a hungry wolf. We stayed long enough at the police-station +to learn that a search of his clothing revealed nothing save a +few shillings and a long sheath knife, the handle of which bore +copious traces of recent blood. + +"That's all right," said Lestrade, as we parted. "Hill knows +all these gentry, and he will give a name to him. You'll find +that my theory of the Mafia will work out all right. But I'm +sure I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Holmes, for the +workmanlike way in which you laid hands upon him. I don't quite +understand it all yet." + +"I fear it is rather too late an hour for explanations," said +Holmes. "Besides, there are one or two details which are not +finished off, and it is one of those cases which are worth +working out to the very end. If you will come round once more +to my rooms at six o'clock to-morrow I think I shall be able to +show you that even now you have not grasped the entire meaning +of this business, which presents some features which make it +absolutely original in the history of crime. If ever I permit +you to chronicle any more of my little problems, Watson, +I foresee that you will enliven your pages by an account of +the singular adventure of the Napoleonic busts." + + +When we met again next evening Lestrade was furnished with much +information concerning our prisoner. His name, it appeared, was +Beppo, second name unknown. He was a well-known ne'er-do-well +among the Italian colony. He had once been a skilful sculptor +and had earned an honest living, but he had taken to evil +courses and had twice already been in gaol -- once for a petty +theft and once, as we had already heard, for stabbing a +fellow-countryman. He could talk English perfectly well. +His reasons for destroying the busts were still unknown, and he +refused to answer any questions upon the subject; but the police +had discovered that these same busts might very well have been +made by his own hands, since he was engaged in this class of +work at the establishment of Gelder and Co. To all this +information, much of which we already knew, Holmes listened with +polite attention; but I, who knew him so well, could clearly see +that his thoughts were elsewhere, and I detected a mixture of +mingled uneasiness and expectation beneath that mask which he +was wont to assume. At last he started in his chair and his +eyes brightened. There had been a ring at the bell. A minute +later we heard steps upon the stairs, and an elderly, red-faced +man with grizzled side-whiskers was ushered in. In his right +hand he carried an old-fashioned carpet-bag, which he placed +upon the table. + +"Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes here?" + +My friend bowed and smiled. "Mr. Sandeford, of Reading, I suppose?" +said he. + +"Yes, sir, I fear that I am a little late; but the trains were +awkward. You wrote to me about a bust that is in my possession." + +"Exactly." + +"I have your letter here. You said, `I desire to possess a copy +of Devine's Napoleon, and am prepared to pay you ten pounds for +the one which is in your possession.' Is that right?" + +"Certainly." + +"I was very much surprised at your letter, for I could not +imagine how you knew that I owned such a thing." + +"Of course you must have been surprised, but the explanation is +very simple. Mr. Harding, of Harding Brothers, said that they +had sold you their last copy, and he gave me your address." + +"Oh, that was it, was it? Did he tell you what I paid for it?" + +"No, he did not." + +"Well, I am an honest man, though not a very rich one. +I only gave fifteen shillings for the bust, and I think +you ought to know that before I take ten pounds from you." + +"I am sure the scruple does you honour, Mr. Sandeford. +But I have named that price, so I intend to stick to it." + +"Well, it is very handsome of you, Mr. Holmes. I brought the +bust up with me, as you asked me to do. Here it is!" He opened +his bag, and at last we saw placed upon our table a complete +specimen of that bust which we had already seen more than once +in fragments. + +Holmes took a paper from his pocket and laid a ten-pound note +upon the table. + +"You will kindly sign that paper, Mr. Sandeford, in the presence +of these witnesses. It is simply to say that you transfer every +possible right that you ever had in the bust to me. I am a +methodical man, you see, and you never know what turn events +might take afterwards. Thank you, Mr. Sandeford; here is your +money, and I wish you a very good evening." + +When our visitor had disappeared Sherlock Holmes's movements +were such as to rivet our attention. He began by taking a clean +white cloth from a drawer and laying it over the table. Then he +placed his newly-acquired bust in the centre of the cloth. +Finally, he picked up his hunting-crop and struck Napoleon a +sharp blow on the top of the head. The figure broke into +fragments, and Holmes bent eagerly over the shattered remains. +Next instant, with a loud shout of triumph, he held up one +splinter, in which a round, dark object was fixed like a plum +in a pudding. + +"Gentlemen," he cried, "let me introduce you to the famous +black pearl of the Borgias." + +Lestrade and I sat silent for a moment, and then, with a +spontaneous impulse, we both broke out clapping as at the +well-wrought crisis of a play. A flush of colour sprang to +Holmes's pale cheeks, and he bowed to us like the master +dramatist who receives the homage of his audience. It was at +such moments that for an instant he ceased to be a reasoning +machine, and betrayed his human love for admiration and +applause. The same singularly proud and reserved nature which +turned away with disdain from popular notoriety was capable +of being moved to its depths by spontaneous wonder and praise +from a friend. + +"Yes, gentlemen," said he, "it is the most famous pearl +now existing in the world, and it has been my good fortune, +by a connected chain of inductive reasoning, to trace it from +the Prince of Colonna's bedroom at the Dacre Hotel, where it was +lost, to the interior of this, the last of the six busts of +Napoleon which were manufactured by Gelder and Co., of Stepney. +You will remember, Lestrade, the sensation caused by the +disappearance of this valuable jewel, and the vain efforts of the +London police to recover it. I was myself consulted upon the +case; but I was unable to throw any light upon it. Suspicion +fell upon the maid of the Princess, who was an Italian, and it +was proved that she had a brother in London, but we failed to +trace any connection between them. The maid's name was Lucretia +Venucci, and there is no doubt in my mind that this Pietro who +was murdered two nights ago was the brother. I have been +looking up the dates in the old files of the paper, and I find +that the disappearance of the pearl was exactly two days before +the arrest of Beppo for some crime of violence, an event which +took place in the factory of Gelder and Co., at the very moment +when these busts were being made. Now you clearly see the +sequence of events, though you see them, of course, in the +inverse order to the way in which they presented themselves to +me. Beppo had the pearl in his possession. He may have stolen +it from Pietro, he may have been Pietro's confederate, he may +have been the go-between of Pietro and his sister. It is of no +consequence to us which is the correct solution. + +"The main fact is that he HAD the pearl, and at that moment, +when it was on his person, he was pursued by the police. +He made for the factory in which he worked, and he knew that +he had only a few minutes in which to conceal this enormously +valuable prize, which would otherwise be found on him when he +was searched. Six plaster casts of Napoleon were drying in +the passage. One of them was still soft. In an instant Beppo, +a skilful workman, made a small hole in the wet plaster, dropped +in the pearl, and with a few touches covered over the aperture +once more. It was an admirable hiding-place. No one could +possibly find it. But Beppo was condemned to a year's +imprisonment, and in the meanwhile his six busts were scattered +over London. He could not tell which contained his treasure. +Only by breaking them could he see. Even shaking would tell him +nothing, for as the plaster was wet it was probable that the +pearl would adhere to it -- as, in fact, it has done. Beppo did +not despair, and he conducted his search with considerable +ingenuity and perseverance. Through a cousin who works with +Gelder he found out the retail firms who had bought the busts. +He managed to find employment with Morse Hudson, and in that +way tracked down three of them. The pearl was not there. +Then, with the help of some Italian EMPLOYE, he succeeded in +finding out where the other three busts had gone. The first was +at Harker's. There he was dogged by his confederate, who held +Beppo responsible for the loss of the pearl, and he stabbed him +in the scuffle which followed." + +"If he was his confederate why should he carry his photograph?" +I asked. + +"As a means of tracing him if he wished to inquire about him +from any third person. That was the obvious reason. Well, +after the murder I calculated that Beppo would probably hurry +rather than delay his movements. He would fear that the police +would read his secret, and so he hastened on before they should +get ahead of him. Of course, I could not say that he had not +found the pearl in Harker's bust. I had not even concluded for +certain that it was the pearl; but it was evident to me that he +was looking for something, since he carried the bust past the +other houses in order to break it in the garden which had a lamp +overlooking it. Since Harker's bust was one in three the +chances were exactly as I told you, two to one against the pearl +being inside it. There remained two busts, and it was obvious +that he would go for the London one first. I warned the inmates +of the house, so as to avoid a second tragedy, and we went down +with the happiest results. By that time, of course, I knew +for certain that it was the Borgia pearl that we were after. +The name of the murdered man linked the one event with the other. +There only remained a single bust -- the Reading one -- and the +pearl must be there. I bought it in your presence from the +owner -- and there it lies." + +We sat in silence for a moment. + +"Well," said Lestrade, "I've seen you handle a good many cases, +Mr. Holmes, but I don't know that I ever knew a more workmanlike +one than that. We're not jealous of you at Scotland Yard. +No, sir, we are very proud of you, and if you come down to-morrow +there's not a man, from the oldest inspector to the youngest +constable, who wouldn't be glad to shake you by the hand." + +"Thank you!" said Holmes. "Thank you!" and as he turned away +it seemed to me that he was more nearly moved by the softer +human emotions than I had ever seen him. A moment later he was +the cold and practical thinker once more. "Put the pearl in the +safe, Watson," said he, "and get out the papers of the +Conk-Singleton forgery case. Good-bye, Lestrade. If any little +problem comes your way I shall be happy, if I can, to give you +a hint or two as to its solution." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 27 JUNE, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +IX. -- The Adventure of the Three Students. + + +IT was in the year '95 that a combination of events, into which +I need not enter, caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes and myself to spend +some weeks in one of our great University towns, and it was +during this time that the small but instructive adventure which +I am about to relate befell us. It will be obvious that any +details which would help the reader to exactly identify the +college or the criminal would be injudicious and offensive. +So painful a scandal may well be allowed to die out. With due +discretion the incident itself may, however, be described, since +it serves to illustrate some of those qualities for which my +friend was remarkable. I will endeavour in my statement to avoid +such terms as would serve to limit the events to any particular +place, or give a clue as to the people concerned. + +We were residing at the time in furnished lodgings close to a +library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious +researches in early English charters -- researches which led to +results so striking that they may be the subject of one of my +future narratives. Here it was that one evening we received a +visit from an acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames, tutor and lecturer +at the College of St. Luke's. Mr. Soames was a tall, spare man, +of a nervous and excitable temperament. I had always known him +to be restless in his manner, but on this particular occasion he +was in such a state of uncontrollable agitation that it was clear +something very unusual had occurred. + +"I trust, Mr. Holmes, that you can spare me a few hours of your +valuable time. We have had a very painful incident at St. Luke's, +and really, but for the happy chance of your being in the town, +I should have been at a loss what to do." + +"I am very busy just now, and I desire no distractions," +my friend answered. "I should much prefer that you called +in the aid of the police." + +"No, no, my dear sir; such a course is utterly impossible. +When once the law is evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this +is just one of those cases where, for the credit of the college, +it is most essential to avoid scandal. Your discretion is as +well known as your powers, and you are the one man in the world +who can help me. I beg you, Mr. Holmes, to do what you can." + +My friend's temper had not improved since he had been deprived +of the congenial surroundings of Baker Street. Without his +scrap-books, his chemicals, and his homely untidiness, he was +an uncomfortable man. He shrugged his shoulders in ungracious +acquiescence, while our visitor in hurried words and with much +excitable gesticulation poured forth his story. + +"I must explain to you, Mr. Holmes, that to-morrow is the first +day of the examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I am one +of the examiners. My subject is Greek, and the first of the +papers consists of a large passage of Greek translation which +the candidate has not seen. This passage is printed on the +examination paper, and it would naturally be an immense advantage +if the candidate could prepare it in advance. For this reason +great care is taken to keep the paper secret. + +"To-day about three o'clock the proofs of this paper arrived +from the printers. The exercise consists of half a chapter of +Thucydides. I had to read it over carefully, as the text must +be absolutely correct. At four-thirty my task was not yet +completed. I had, however, promised to take tea in a friend's +rooms, so I left the proof upon my desk. I was absent rather +more than an hour. + +"You are aware, Mr. Holmes, that our college doors are double +-- a green baize one within and a heavy oak one without. +As I approached my outer door I was amazed to see a key in it. +For an instant I imagined that I had left my own there, but on +feeling in my pocket I found that it was all right. The only +duplicate which existed, so far as I knew, was that which belonged +to my servant, Bannister, a man who has looked after my room +for ten years, and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion. +I found that the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room +to know if I wanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left +the key in the door when he came out. His visit to my room +must have been within a very few minutes of my leaving it. +His forgetfulness about the key would have mattered little +upon any other occasion, but on this one day it has produced +the most deplorable consequences. + +"The moment I looked at my table I was aware that someone had +rummaged among my papers. The proof was in three long slips. +I had left them all together. Now, I found that one of them was +lying on the floor, one was on the side table near the window, +and the third was where I had left it." + +Holmes stirred for the first time. + +"The first page on the floor, the second in the window, +the third where you left it," said he. + +"Exactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze me. How could you possibly +know that?" + +"Pray continue your very interesting statement." + +"For an instant I imagined that Bannister had taken the +unpardonable liberty of examining my papers. He denied it, +however, with the utmost earnestness, and I am convinced that +he was speaking the truth. The alternative was that someone +passing had observed the key in the door, had known that I was +out, and had entered to look at the papers. A large sum of money +is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one, and an +unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an +advantage over his fellows. + +"Bannister was very much upset by the incident. He had nearly +fainted when we found that the papers had undoubtedly been +tampered with. I gave him a little brandy and left him collapsed +in a chair while I made a most careful examination of the room. +I soon saw that the intruder had left other traces of his +presence besides the rumpled papers. On the table in the window +were several shreds from a pencil which had been sharpened. +A broken tip of lead was lying there also. Evidently the rascal +had copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil, +and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it." + +"Excellent!" said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour +as his attention became more engrossed by the case. +"Fortune has been your friend." + +"This was not all. I have a new writing-table with a fine +surface of red leather. I am prepared to swear, and so is +Bannister, that it was smooth and unstained. Now I found a +clean cut in it about three inches long -- not a mere scratch, +but a positive cut. Not only this, but on the table I found +a small ball of black dough, or clay, with specks of something +which looks like sawdust in it. I am convinced that these marks +were left by the man who rifled the papers. There were no footmarks +and no other evidence as to his identity. I was at my wits' +ends, when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me that you +were in the town, and I came straight round to put the matter +into your hands. Do help me, Mr. Holmes! You see my dilemma. +Either I must find the man or else the examination must be +postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this cannot +be done without explanation there will ensue a hideous scandal, +which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the +University. Above all things I desire to settle the matter +quietly and discreetly." + +"I shall be happy to look into it and to give you such advice +as I can," said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat. +"The case is not entirely devoid of interest. Had anyone visited +you in your room after the papers came to you?" + +"Yes; young Daulat Ras, an Indian student who lives on the same +stair, came in to ask me some particulars about the examination." + +"For which he was entered?" + +"Yes." + +"And the papers were on your table?" + +"To the best of my belief they were rolled up." + +"But might be recognised as proofs?" + +"Possibly." + +"No one else in your room?" + +"No." + +"Did anyone know that these proofs would be there?" + +"No one save the printer." + +"Did this man Bannister know?" + +"No, certainly not. No one knew." + +"Where is Bannister now?" + +"He was very ill, poor fellow. I left him collapsed +in the chair. I was in such a hurry to come to you." + +"You left your door open?" + +"I locked up the papers first." + +"Then it amounts to this, Mr. Soames, that unless the Indian +student recognised the roll as being proofs, the man who tampered +with them came upon them accidentally without knowing that they +were there." + +"So it seems to me." + +Holmes gave an enigmatic smile. + +"Well," said he, "let us go round. Not one of your cases, +Watson -- mental, not physical. All right; come if you want to. +Now, Mr. Soames -- at your disposal!" + + +The sitting-room of our client opened by a long, low, latticed +window on to the ancient lichen-tinted court of the old college. +A Gothic arched door led to a worn stone staircase. On the +ground floor was the tutor's room. Above were three students, +one on each story. It was already twilight when we reached the +scene of our problem. Holmes halted and looked earnestly at the +window. Then he approached it, and, standing on tiptoe with his +neck craned, he looked into the room. + +"He must have entered through the door. There is no opening +except the one pane," said our learned guide. + +"Dear me!" said Holmes, and he smiled in a singular way as he +glanced at our companion. "Well, if there is nothing to be +learned here we had best go inside." + +The lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his +room. We stood at the entrance while Holmes made an examination +of the carpet. + +"I am afraid there are no signs here," said he. "One could +hardly hope for any upon so dry a day. Your servant seems to +have quite recovered. You left him in a chair, you say; which +chair?" + +"By the window there." + +"I see. Near this little table. You can come in now. I have +finished with the carpet. Let us take the little table first. +Of course, what has happened is very clear. The man entered +and took the papers, sheet by sheet, from the central table. +He carried them over to the window table, because from there he +could see if you came across the courtyard, and so could effect +an escape." + +"As a matter of fact he could not," said Soames, "for I entered +by the side door." + +"Ah, that's good! Well, anyhow, that was in his mind. Let me +see the three strips. No finger impressions -- no! Well, he +carried over this one first and he copied it. How long would it +take him to do that, using every possible contraction? A quarter +of an hour, not less. Then he tossed it down and seized the +next. He was in the midst of that when your return caused him +to make a very hurried retreat -- VERY hurried, since he had not +time to replace the papers which would tell you that he had been +there. You were not aware of any hurrying feet on the stair as +you entered the outer door?" + +"No, I can't say I was." + +"Well, he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil, and had, +as you observe, to sharpen it again. This is of interest, +Watson. The pencil was not an ordinary one. It was above the +usual size, with a soft lead; the outer colour was dark blue, +the maker's name was printed in silver lettering, and the piece +remaining is only about an inch and a half long. Look for such a +pencil, Mr. Soames, and you have got your man. When I add that he +possesses a large and very blunt knife, you have an additional aid." + +Mr. Soames was somewhat overwhelmed by this flood of information. +"I can follow the other points," said he, "but really, in this +matter of the length ----" + +Holmes held out a small chip with the letters NN and a space of +clear wood after them. + +"You see?" + +"No, I fear that even now ----" + +"Watson, I have always done you an injustice. There are others. +What could this NN be? It is at the end of a word. +You are aware that Johann Faber is the most common maker's name. +Is it not clear that there is just as much of the pencil left +as usually follows the Johann?" He held the small table sideways +to the electric light. "I was hoping that if the paper on which +he wrote was thin some trace of it might come through upon this +polished surface. No, I see nothing. I don't think there is +anything more to be learned here. Now for the central table. +This small pellet is, I presume, the black, doughy mass you spoke +of. Roughly pyramidal in shape and hollowed out, I perceive. +As you say, there appear to be grains of sawdust in it. Dear me, +this is very interesting. And the cut -- a positive tear, I see. +It began with a thin scratch and ended in a jagged hole. I am +much indebted to you for directing my attention to this case, +Mr. Soames. Where does that door lead to?" + +"To my bedroom." + +"Have you been in it since your adventure?" + +"No; I came straight away for you." + +"I should like to have a glance round. What a charming, +old-fashioned room! Perhaps you will kindly wait a minute until +I have examined the floor. No, I see nothing. What about this +curtain? You hang your clothes behind it. If anyone were forced +to conceal himself in this room he must do it there, since the +bed is too low and the wardrobe too shallow. No one there, +I suppose?" + +As Holmes drew the curtain I was aware, from some little +rigidity and alertness of his attitude, that he was prepared for +an emergency. As a matter of fact the drawn curtain disclosed +nothing but three or four suits of clothes hanging from a line +of pegs. Holmes turned away and stooped suddenly to the floor. + +"Halloa! What's this?" said he. + +It was a small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like +the one upon the table of the study. Holmes held it out on his +open palm in the glare of the electric light. + +"Your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well +as in your sitting-room, Mr. Soames." + +"What could he have wanted there?" + +"I think it is clear enough. You came back by an unexpected +way, and so he had no warning until you were at the very door. +What could he do? He caught up everything which would betray +him and he rushed into your bedroom to conceal himself." + +"Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, do you mean to tell me that all the +time I was talking to Bannister in this room we had the man +prisoner if we had only known it?" + +"So I read it." + +"Surely there is another alternative, Mr. Holmes. I don't know +whether you observed my bedroom window?" + +"Lattice-paned, lead framework, three separate windows, +one swinging on hinge and large enough to admit a man." + +"Exactly. And it looks out on an angle of the courtyard +so as to be partly invisible. The man might have effected his +entrance there, left traces as he passed through the bedroom, +and, finally, finding the door open have escaped that way." + +Holmes shook his head impatiently. + +"Let us be practical," said he. "I understand you to say +that there are three students who use this stair and are +in the habit of passing your door?" + +"Yes, there are." + +"And they are all in for this examination?" + +"Yes." + +"Have you any reason to suspect any one of them more than +the others?" + +Soames hesitated. + +"It is a very delicate question," said he. "One hardly likes +to throw suspicion where there are no proofs." + +"Let us hear the suspicions. I will look after the proofs." + +"I will tell you, then, in a few words the character of the +three men who inhabit these rooms. The lower of the three is +Gilchrist, a fine scholar and athlete; plays in the Rugby team +and the cricket team for the college, and got his Blue for the +hurdles and the long jump. He is a fine, manly fellow. His +father was the notorious Sir Jabez Gilchrist, who ruined himself +on the turf. My scholar has been left very poor, but he is +hard-working and industrious. He will do well. + +"The second floor is inhabited by Daulat Ras, the Indian. +He is a quiet, inscrutable fellow, as most of those Indians are. +He is well up in his work, though his Greek is his weak subject. +He is steady and methodical. + +"The top floor belongs to Miles McLaren. He is a brilliant +fellow when he chooses to work -- one of the brightest +intellects of the University, but he is wayward, dissipated, +and unprincipled. He was nearly expelled over a card scandal +in his first year. He has been idling all this term, and he +must look forward with dread to the examination." + +"Then it is he whom you suspect?" + +"I dare not go so far as that. But of the three he is perhaps +the least unlikely." + +"Exactly. Now, Mr. Soames, let us have a look at your servant, +Bannister." + +He was a little, white-faced, clean-shaven, grizzly-haired +fellow of fifty. He was still suffering from this sudden +disturbance of the quiet routine of his life. His plump face +was twitching with his nervousness, and his fingers could not +keep still. + +"We are investigating this unhappy business, Bannister," +said his master. + +"Yes, sir." + +"I understand," said Holmes, "that you left your key in the door?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Was it not very extraordinary that you should do this on the +very day when there were these papers inside?" + +"It was most unfortunate, sir. But I have occasionally done +the same thing at other times." + +"When did you enter the room?" + +"It was about half-past four. That is Mr. Soames's tea time." + +"How long did you stay?" + +"When I saw that he was absent I withdrew at once." + +"Did you look at these papers on the table?" + +"No, sir; certainly not." + +"How came you to leave the key in the door?" + +"I had the tea-tray in my hand. I thought I would come back +for the key. Then I forgot." + +"Has the outer door a spring lock?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then it was open all the time?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Anyone in the room could get out?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"When Mr. Soames returned and called for you, you were very +much disturbed?" + +"Yes, sir. Such a thing has never happened during the many +years that I have been here. I nearly fainted, sir." + +"So I understand. Where were you when you began to feel bad?" + +"Where was I, sir? Why, here, near the door." + +"That is singular, because you sat down in that chair over +yonder near the corner. Why did you pass these other chairs?" + +"I don't know, sir. It didn't matter to me where I sat." + +"I really don't think he knew much about it, Mr. Holmes. +He was looking very bad -- quite ghastly." + +"You stayed here when your master left?" + +"Only for a minute or so. Then I locked the door and went +to my room." + +"Whom do you suspect?" + +"Oh, I would not venture to say, sir. I don't believe there +is any gentleman in this University who is capable of profiting +by such an action. No, sir, I'll not believe it." + +"Thank you; that will do," said Holmes. "Oh, one more word. +You have not mentioned to any of the three gentlemen whom you +attend that anything is amiss?" + +"No, sir; not a word." + +"You haven't seen any of them?" + +"No, sir." + +"Very good. Now, Mr. Soames, we will take a walk in the +quadrangle, if you please." + +Three yellow squares of light shone above us in the gathering +gloom. + +"Your three birds are all in their nests," said Holmes, looking up. +"Halloa! What's that? One of them seems restless enough." + +It was the Indian, whose dark silhouette appeared suddenly +upon his blind. He was pacing swiftly up and down his room. + +"I should like to have a peep at each of them," said Holmes. +"Is it possible?" + +"No difficulty in the world," Soames answered. "This set of +rooms is quite the oldest in the college, and it is not unusual +for visitors to go over them. Come along, and I will personally +conduct you." + +"No names, please!" said Holmes, as we knocked at Gilchrist's +door. A tall, flaxen-haired, slim young fellow opened it, and +made us welcome when he understood our errand. There were some +really curious pieces of mediaeval domestic architecture within. +Holmes was so charmed with one of them that he insisted on +drawing it on his note-book, broke his pencil, had to borrow one +from our host, and finally borrowed a knife to sharpen his own. +The same curious accident happened to him in the rooms of the +Indian -- a silent, little, hook-nosed fellow, who eyed us +askance and was obviously glad when Holmes's architectural +studies had come to an end. I could not see that in either +case Holmes had come upon the clue for which he was searching. +Only at the third did our visit prove abortive. The outer door +would not open to our knock, and nothing more substantial than +a torrent of bad language came from behind it. "I don't care +who you are. You can go to blazes!" roared the angry voice. +"To-morrow's the exam, and I won't be drawn by anyone." + +"A rude fellow," said our guide, flushing with anger as we +withdrew down the stair. "Of course, he did not realize that it +was I who was knocking, but none the less his conduct was very +uncourteous, and, indeed, under the circumstances rather +suspicious." + +Holmes's response was a curious one. + +"Can you tell me his exact height?" he asked. + +"Really, Mr. Holmes, I cannot undertake to say. He is taller +than the Indian, not so tall as Gilchrist. I suppose five foot +six would be about it." + +"That is very important," said Holmes. "And now, Mr. Soames, +I wish you good-night." + +Our guide cried aloud in his astonishment and dismay. "Good +gracious, Mr. Holmes, you are surely not going to leave me in +this abrupt fashion! You don't seem to realize the position. +To-morrow is the examination. I must take some definite action +to-night. I cannot allow the examination to be held if one of +the papers has been tampered with. The situation must be faced." + +"You must leave it as it is. I shall drop round early to-morrow +morning and chat the matter over. It is possible that I may +be in a position then to indicate some course of action. +Meanwhile you change nothing -- nothing at all." + +"Very good, Mr. Holmes." + +"You can be perfectly easy in your mind. We shall certainly +find some way out of your difficulties. I will take the black +clay with me, also the pencil cuttings. Good-bye." + +When we were out in the darkness of the quadrangle we again +looked up at the windows. The Indian still paced his room. +The others were invisible. + +"Well, Watson, what do you think of it?" Holmes asked, as we +came out into the main street. "Quite a little parlour game -- +sort of three-card trick, is it not? There are your three men. +It must be one of them. You take your choice. Which is yours?" + +"The foul-mouthed fellow at the top. He is the one with the +worst record. And yet that Indian was a sly fellow also. +Why should he be pacing his room all the time?" + +"There is nothing in that. Many men do it when they are trying +to learn anything by heart." + +"He looked at us in a queer way." + +"So would you if a flock of strangers came in on you when you +were preparing for an examination next day, and every moment was +of value. No, I see nothing in that. Pencils, too, and knives +-- all was satisfactory. But that fellow DOES puzzle me." + +"Who?" + +"Why, Bannister, the servant. What's his game in the matter?" + +"He impressed me as being a perfectly honest man." + +"So he did me. That's the puzzling part. Why should a +perfectly honest man -- well, well, here's a large stationer's. +We shall begin our researches here." + +There were only four stationers of any consequence in the town, +and at each Holmes produced his pencil chips and bid high for a +duplicate. All were agreed that one could be ordered, but that +it was not a usual size of pencil and that it was seldom kept in +stock. My friend did not appear to be depressed by his failure, +but shrugged his shoulders in half-humorous resignation. + +"No good, my dear Watson. This, the best and only final clue, +has run to nothing. But, indeed, I have little doubt that we can +build up a sufficient case without it. By Jove! my dear fellow, +it is nearly nine, and the landlady babbled of green peas at +seven-thirty. What with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and your +irregularity at meals, I expect that you will get notice to quit +and that I shall share your downfall -- not, however, before we +have solved the problem of the nervous tutor, the careless +servant, and the three enterprising students." + + +Holmes made no further allusion to the matter that day, though +he sat lost in thought for a long time after our belated dinner. +At eight in the morning he came into my room just as I finished +my toilet. + +"Well, Watson," said he, "it is time we went down to St. Luke's. +Can you do without breakfast?" + +"Certainly." + +"Soames will be in a dreadful fidget until we are able to tell +him something positive." + +"Have you anything positive to tell him?" + +"I think so." + +"You have formed a conclusion?" + +"Yes, my dear Watson; I have solved the mystery." + +"But what fresh evidence could you have got?" + +"Aha! It is not for nothing that I have turned myself out +of bed at the untimely hour of six. I have put in two hours' +hard work and covered at least five miles, with something +to show for it. Look at that!" + +He held out his hand. On the palm were three little pyramids +of black, doughy clay. + +"Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday!" + +"And one more this morning. It is a fair argument that wherever +No. 3 came from is also the source of Nos. 1 and 2. Eh, Watson? +Well, come along and put friend Soames out of his pain." + + +The unfortunate tutor was certainly in a state of pitiable +agitation when we found him in his chambers. In a few hours the +examination would commence, and he was still in the dilemma +between making the facts public and allowing the culprit to +compete for the valuable scholarship. He could hardly stand +still, so great was his mental agitation, and he ran towards +Holmes with two eager hands outstretched. + +"Thank Heaven that you have come! I feared that you had given it +up in despair. What am I to do? Shall the examination proceed?" + +"Yes; let it proceed by all means." + +"But this rascal ----?" + +"He shall not compete." + +"You know him?" + +"I think so. If this matter is not to become public we must +give ourselves certain powers, and resolve ourselves into a small +private court-martial. You there, if you please, Soames! Watson, +you here! I'll take the arm-chair in the middle. I think that +we are now sufficiently imposing to strike terror into a guilty +breast. Kindly ring the bell!" + +Bannister entered, and shrunk back in evident surprise and fear +at our judicial appearance. + +"You will kindly close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Bannister, +will you please tell us the truth about yesterday's incident?" + +The man turned white to the roots of his hair. + +"I have told you everything, sir." + +"Nothing to add?" + +"Nothing at all, sir." + +"Well, then, I must make some suggestions to you. When you sat +down on that chair yesterday, did you do so in order to conceal +some object which would have shown who had been in the room?" + +Bannister's face was ghastly. + +"No, sir; certainly not." + +"It is only a suggestion," said Holmes, suavely. "I frankly +admit that I am unable to prove it. But it seems probable +enough, since the moment that Mr. Soames's back was turned +you released the man who was hiding in that bedroom." + +Bannister licked his dry lips. + +"There was no man, sir." + +"Ah, that's a pity, Bannister. Up to now you may have spoken +the truth, but now I know that you have lied." + +The man's face set in sullen defiance. + +"There was no man, sir." + +"Come, come, Bannister!" + +"No, sir; there was no one." + +"In that case you can give us no further information. +Would you please remain in the room? Stand over there near +the bedroom door. Now, Soames, I am going to ask you to have +the great kindness to go up to the room of young Gilchrist, +and to ask him to step down into yours." + +An instant later the tutor returned, bringing with him the +student. He was a fine figure of a man, tall, lithe, and agile, +with a springy step and a pleasant, open face. His troubled blue +eyes glanced at each of us, and finally rested with an expression +of blank dismay upon Bannister in the farther corner. + +"Just close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Mr. Gilchrist, +we are all quite alone here, and no one need ever know one word +of what passes between us. We can be perfectly frank with each +other. We want to know, Mr. Gilchrist, how you, an honourable +man, ever came to commit such an action as that of yesterday?" + +The unfortunate young man staggered back and cast a look full +of horror and reproach at Bannister. + +"No, no, Mr. Gilchrist, sir; I never said a word -- never one +word!" cried the servant. + +"No, but you have now," said Holmes. "Now, sir, you must +see that after Bannister's words your position is hopeless, +and that your only chance lies in a frank confession." + +For a moment Gilchrist, with upraised hand, tried to control +his writhing features. The next he had thrown himself on his +knees beside the table and, burying his face in his hands, +he had burst into a storm of passionate sobbing. + +"Come, come," said Holmes, kindly; "it is human to err, +and at least no one can accuse you of being a callous criminal. +Perhaps it would be easier for you if I were to tell Mr. Soames +what occurred, and you can check me where I am wrong. Shall I +do so? Well, well, don't trouble to answer. Listen, and see +that I do you no injustice. + +"From the moment, Mr. Soames, that you said to me that no one, +not even Bannister, could have told that the papers were in +your room, the case began to take a definite shape in my mind. +The printer one could, of course, dismiss. He could examine the +papers in his own office. The Indian I also thought nothing of. +If the proofs were in a roll he could not possibly know what they +were. On the other hand, it seemed an unthinkable coincidence +that a man should dare to enter the room, and that by chance on +that very day the papers were on the table. I dismissed that. +The man who entered knew that the papers were there. How did +he know? + +"When I approached your room I examined the window. You amused +me by supposing that I was contemplating the possibility of +someone having in broad daylight, under the eyes of all these +opposite rooms, forced himself through it. Such an idea was +absurd. I was measuring how tall a man would need to be in order +to see as he passed what papers were on the central table. I am +six feet high, and I could do it with an effort. No one less +than that would have a chance. Already you see I had reason to +think that if one of your three students was a man of unusual +height he was the most worth watching of the three. + +"I entered and I took you into my confidence as to the +suggestions of the side table. Of the centre table I could make +nothing, until in your description of Gilchrist you mentioned +that he was a long-distance jumper. Then the whole thing came to +me in an instant, and I only needed certain corroborative proofs, +which I speedily obtained. + +"What happened was this. This young fellow had employed his +afternoon at the athletic grounds, where he had been practising +the jump. He returned carrying his jumping shoes, which are +provided, as you are aware, with several sharp spikes. As he +passed your window he saw, by means of his great height, these +proofs upon your table, and conjectured what they were. No harm +would have been done had it not been that as he passed your door +he perceived the key which had been left by the carelessness of +your servant. A sudden impulse came over him to enter and see +if they were indeed the proofs. It was not a dangerous exploit, +for he could always pretend that he had simply looked in to ask +a question. + +"Well, when he saw that they were indeed the proofs, it was +then that he yielded to temptation. He put his shoes on the +table. What was it you put on that chair near the window?" + +"Gloves," said the young man. + +Holmes looked triumphantly at Bannister. "He put his gloves on +the chair, and he took the proofs, sheet by sheet, to copy them. +He thought the tutor must return by the main gate, and that he +would see him. As we know, he came back by the side gate. +Suddenly he heard him at the very door. There was no possible +escape. He forgot his gloves, but he caught up his shoes and +darted into the bedroom. You observe that the scratch on that +table is slight at one side, but deepens in the direction of the +bedroom door. That in itself is enough to show us that the shoe +had been drawn in that direction and that the culprit had taken +refuge there. The earth round the spike had been left on the +table, and a second sample was loosened and fell in the bedroom. +I may add that I walked out to the athletic grounds this morning, +saw that tenacious black clay is used in the jumping-pit, and +carried away a specimen of it, together with some of the fine tan +or sawdust which is strewn over it to prevent the athlete from +slipping. Have I told the truth, Mr. Gilchrist?" + +The student had drawn himself erect. + +"Yes, sir, it is true," said he. + +"Good heavens, have you nothing to add?" cried Soames. + +"Yes, sir, I have, but the shock of this disgraceful exposure has +bewildered me. I have a letter here, Mr. Soames, which I wrote +to you early this morning in the middle of a restless night. +It was before I knew that my sin had found me out. Here it is, +sir. You will see that I have said, `I have determined not to go +in for the examination. I have been offered a commission in the +Rhodesian Police, and I am going out to South Africa at once."' + +"I am indeed pleased to hear that you did not intend to profit +by your unfair advantage," said Soames. "But why did you change +your purpose?" + +Gilchrist pointed to Bannister. + +"There is the man who set me in the right path," said he. + +"Come now, Bannister," said Holmes. "It will be clear to you +from what I have said that only you could have let this young +man out, since you were left in the room, and must have locked +the door when you went out. As to his escaping by that window, +it was incredible. Can you not clear up the last point in this +mystery, and tell us the reasons for your action?" + +"It was simple enough, sir, if you only had known; but with all +your cleverness it was impossible that you could know. Time was, +sir, when I was butler to old Sir Jabez Gilchrist, this young +gentleman's father. When he was ruined I came to the college as +servant, but I never forgot my old employer because he was down +in the world. I watched his son all I could for the sake of the +old days. Well, sir, when I came into this room yesterday when +the alarm was given, the very first thing I saw was Mr. Gilchrist's +tan gloves a-lying in that chair. I knew those gloves well, +and I understood their message. If Mr. Soames saw them the game +was up. I flopped down into that chair, and nothing would budge +me until Mr. Soames he went for you. Then out came my poor young +master, whom I had dandled on my knee, and confessed it all to me. +Wasn't it natural, sir, that I should save him, and wasn't it +natural also that I should try to speak to him as his dead father +would have done, and make him understand that he could not profit +by such a deed? Could you blame me, sir?" + +"No, indeed," said Holmes, heartily, springing to his feet. +"Well, Soames, I think we have cleared your little problem up, and +our breakfast awaits us at home. Come, Watson! As to you, sir, +I trust that a bright future awaits you in Rhodesia. For once you +have fallen low. Let us see in the future how high you can rise." +---------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 28 JULY, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE + +X. --- The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez. + + +WHEN I look at the three massive manuscript volumes which +contain our work for the year 1894 I confess that it is very +difficult for me, out of such a wealth of material, to select +the cases which are most interesting in themselves and at the +same time most conducive to a display of those peculiar powers +for which my friend was famous. As I turn over the pages I see +my notes upon the repulsive story of the red leech and the +terrible death of Crosby the banker. Here also I find an +account of the Addleton tragedy and the singular contents +of the ancient British barrow. The famous Smith-Mortimer +succession case comes also within this period, and so does +the tracking and arrest of Huret, the Boulevard assassin -- +an exploit which won for Holmes an autograph letter of thanks +from the French President and the Order of the Legion of Honour. +Each of these would furnish a narrative, but on the whole I am +of opinion that none of them unite so many singular points of +interest as the episode of Yoxley Old Place, which includes not +only the lamentable death of young Willoughby Smith, but also +those subsequent developments which threw so curious a light +upon the causes of the crime. + +It was a wild, tempestuous night towards the close of November. +Holmes and I sat together in silence all the evening, he engaged +with a powerful lens deciphering the remains of the original +inscription upon a palimpsest, I deep in a recent treatise upon +surgery. Outside the wind howled down Baker Street, while the +rain beat fiercely against the windows. It was strange there +in the very depths of the town, with ten miles of man's +handiwork on every side of us, to feel the iron grip of Nature, +and to be conscious that to the huge elemental forces all London +was no more than the molehills that dot the fields. +I walked to the window and looked out on the deserted street. +The occasional lamps gleamed on the expanse of muddy road and +shining pavement. A single cab was splashing its way from the +Oxford Street end. + +"Well, Watson, it's as well we have not to turn out to-night," +said Holmes, laying aside his lens and rolling up the palimpsest. +"I've done enough for one sitting. It is trying work for the eyes. +So far as I can make out it is nothing more exciting than an Abbey's +accounts dating from the second half of the fifteenth century. +Halloa! halloa! halloa! What's this?" + +Amid the droning of the wind there had come the stamping of a +horse's hoofs and the long grind of a wheel as it rasped against +the kerb. The cab which I had seen had pulled up at our door. + +"What can he want?" I ejaculated, as a man stepped out of it. + +"Want! He wants us. And we, my poor Watson, want overcoats and +cravats and goloshes, and every aid that man ever invented to +fight the weather. Wait a bit, though! There's the cab off again! +There's hope yet. He'd have kept it if he had wanted us to come. +Run down, my dear fellow, and open the door, for all virtuous +folk have been long in bed." + +When the light of the hall lamp fell upon our midnight visitor +I had no difficulty in recognising him. It was young Stanley +Hopkins, a promising detective, in whose career Holmes had +several times shown a very practical interest. + +"Is he in?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Come up, my dear sir," said Holmes's voice from above. +"I hope you have no designs upon us on such a night as this." + + +The detective mounted the stairs, and our lamp gleamed upon his +shining waterproof. I helped him out of it while Holmes +knocked a blaze out of the logs in the grate. + +"Now, my dear Hopkins, draw up and warm your toes," said he. +"Here's a cigar, and the doctor has a prescription containing hot +water and a lemon which is good medicine on a night like this. +It must be something important which has brought you out +in such a gale." + +"It is indeed, Mr. Holmes. I've had a bustling afternoon, +I promise you. Did you see anything of the Yoxley case in +the latest editions?" + +"I've seen nothing later than the fifteenth century to-day." + +"Well, it was only a paragraph, and all wrong at that, so you +have not missed anything. I haven't let the grass grow under +my feet. It's down in Kent, seven miles from Chatham and three +from the railway line. I was wired for at three-fifteen, reached +Yoxley Old Place at five, conducted my investigation, was back +at Charing Cross by the last train, and straight to you by cab." + +"Which means, I suppose, that you are not quite clear about your case?" + +"It means that I can make neither head nor tail of it. +So far as I can see it is just as tangled a business as ever I +handled, and yet at first it seemed so simple that one couldn't +go wrong. There's no motive, Mr. Holmes. That's what bothers +me -- I can't put my hand on a motive. Here's a man dead -- +there's no denying that -- but, so far as I can see, no reason +on earth why anyone should wish him harm." + +Holmes lit his cigar and leaned back in his chair. + +"Let us hear about it," said he. + +"I've got my facts pretty clear," said Stanley Hopkins. +"All I want now is to know what they all mean. The story, +so far as I can make it out, is like this. Some years ago this +country house, Yoxley Old Place, was taken by an elderly man, +who gave the name of Professor Coram. He was an invalid, +keeping his bed half the time, and the other half hobbling round +the house with a stick or being pushed about the grounds by the +gardener in a bath-chair. He was well liked by the few neighbours +who called upon him, and he has the reputation down there of +being a very learned man. His household used to consist of an +elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Marker, and of a maid, Susan Tarlton. +These have both been with him since his arrival, and they seem +to be women of excellent character. The Professor is writing +a learned book, and he found it necessary about a year ago to +engage a secretary. The first two that he tried were not +successes; but the third, Mr. Willoughby Smith, a very young man +straight from the University, seems to have been just what his +employer wanted. His work consisted in writing all the morning +to the Professor's dictation, and he usually spent the evening +in hunting up references and passages which bore upon the next +day's work. This Willoughby Smith has nothing against him +either as a boy at Uppingham or as a young man at Cambridge. +I have seen his testimonials, and from the first he was a decent, +quiet, hardworking fellow, with no weak spot in him at all. +And yet this is the lad who has met his death this morning in the +Professor's study under circumstances which can point only to murder." + +The wind howled and screamed at the windows. Holmes and I drew +closer to the fire while the young inspector slowly and point +by point developed his singular narrative. + +"If you were to search all England," said he, "I don't suppose +you could find a household more self-contained or free from +outside influences. Whole weeks would pass and not one of them +go past the garden gate. The Professor was buried in his work +and existed for nothing else. Young Smith knew nobody in the +neighbourhood, and lived very much as his employer did. The two +women had nothing to take them from the house. Mortimer the +gardener, who wheels the bath-chair, is an Army pensioner -- an +old Crimean man of excellent character. He does not live in the +house, but in a three-roomed cottage at the other end of the +garden. Those are the only people that you would find within +the grounds of Yoxley Old Place. At the same time, the gate +of the garden is a hundred yards from the main London to Chatham +road. It opens with a latch, and there is nothing to prevent +anyone from walking in. + +"Now I will give you the evidence of Susan Tarlton, who is the +only person who can say anything positive about the matter. +It was in the forenoon, between eleven and twelve. +She was engaged at the moment in hanging some curtains in +the upstairs front bedroom. Professor Coram was still in bed, +for when the weather is bad he seldom rises before midday. +The housekeeper was busied with some work in the back of the house. +Willoughby Smith had been in his bedroom, which he uses as a +sitting-room; but the maid heard him at that moment pass along +the passage and descend to the study immediately below her. +She did not see him, but she says that she could not be mistaken +in his quick, firm tread. She did not hear the study door close, +but a minute or so later there was a dreadful cry in the room below. +It was a wild, hoarse scream, so strange and unnatural that it +might have come either from a man or a woman. At the same instant +there was a heavy thud, which shook the old house, and then all +was silence. The maid stood petrified for a moment, and then, +recovering her courage, she ran downstairs. The study door was shut, +and she opened it. Inside young Mr. Willoughby Smith was stretched +upon the floor. At first she could see no injury, but as she tried +to raise him she saw that blood was pouring from the underside of +his neck. It was pierced by a very small but very deep wound, +which had divided the carotid artery. The instrument with which +the injury had been inflicted lay upon the carpet beside him. +It was one of those small sealing-wax knives to be found on +old-fashioned writing-tables, with an ivory handle and a stiff +blade. It was part of the fittings of the Professor's own desk. + +"At first the maid thought that young Smith was already dead, +but on pouring some water from the carafe over his forehead he +opened his eyes for an instant. `The Professor,' he murmured -- +`it was she.' The maid is prepared to swear that those were +the exact words. He tried desperately to say something else, +and he held his right hand up in the air. Then he fell back dead. + +"In the meantime the housekeeper had also arrived upon the scene, +but she was just too late to catch the young man's dying words. +Leaving Susan with the body, she hurried to the Professor's room. +He was sitting up in bed horribly agitated, for he had heard +enough to convince him that something terrible had occurred. +Mrs. Marker is prepared to swear that the Professor was still +in his night-clothes, and, indeed, it was impossible for him to +dress without the help of Mortimer, whose orders were to come +at twelve o'clock. The Professor declares that he heard the +distant cry, but that he knows nothing more. He can give no +explanation of the young man's last words, `The Professor -- +it was she,' but imagines that they were the outcome of delirium. +He believes that Willoughby Smith had not an enemy in the world, +and can give no reason for the crime. His first action was to +send Mortimer the gardener for the local police. A little later +the chief constable sent for me. Nothing was moved before I +got there, and strict orders were given that no one should walk +upon the paths leading to the house. It was a splendid chance +of putting your theories into practice, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. +There was really nothing wanting." + +"Except Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said my companion, with a somewhat +bitter smile. "Well, let us hear about it. What sort of job +did you make of it?" + +"I must ask you first, Mr. Holmes, to glance at this rough plan, +which will give you a general idea of the position of the +Professor's study and the various points of the case. +It will help you in following my investigation." + +He unfolded the rough chart, which I here reproduce, and he laid +it across Holmes's knee. I rose, and, standing behind Holmes, +I studied it over his shoulder. + + GRAPHIC + +"It is very rough, of course, and it only deals with the points +which seem to me to be essential. All the rest you will see +later for yourself. Now, first of all, presuming that the +assassin entered the house, how did he or she come in? +Undoubtedly by the garden path and the back door, from which +there is direct access to the study. Any other way would have +been exceedingly complicated. The escape must have also been +made along that line, for of the two other exits from the room +one was blocked by Susan as she ran downstairs and the other +leads straight to the Professor's bedroom. I therefore directed +my attention at once to the garden path, which was saturated +with recent rain and would certainly show any footmarks. + +"My examination showed me that I was dealing with a cautious +and expert criminal. No footmarks were to be found on the path. +There could be no question, however, that someone had passed +along the grass border which lines the path, and that he had +done so in order to avoid leaving a track. I could not find +anything in the nature of a distinct impression, but the grass +was trodden down and someone had undoubtedly passed. It could +only have been the murderer, since neither the gardener nor +anyone else had been there that morning and the rain had only +begun during the night." + +"One moment," said Holmes. "Where does this path lead to?" + +"To the road." + +"How long is it?" + +"A hundred yards or so." + +"At the point where the path passes through the gate you could +surely pick up the tracks?" + +"Unfortunately, the path was tiled at that point." + +"Well, on the road itself?" + +"No; it was all trodden into mire." + +"Tut-tut! Well, then, these tracks upon the grass, +were they coming or going?" + +"It was impossible to say. There was never any outline." + +"A large foot or a small?" + +"You could not distinguish." + +Holmes gave an ejaculation of impatience. + +"It has been pouring rain and blowing a hurricane ever since," +said he. "It will be harder to read now than that palimpsest. +Well, well, it can't be helped. What did you do, Hopkins, +after you had made certain that you had made certain of nothing?" + +"I think I made certain of a good deal, Mr. Holmes. +I knew that someone had entered the house cautiously from without. +I next examined the corridor. It is lined with cocoanut matting +and had taken no impression of any kind. This brought me into the +study itself. It is a scantily-furnished room. The main article +is a large writing-table with a fixed bureau. This bureau +consists of a double column of drawers with a central small +cupboard between them. The drawers were open, the cupboard locked. +The drawers, it seems, were always open, and nothing of value was +kept in them. There were some papers of importance in the cupboard, +but there were no signs that this had been tampered with, and the +Professor assures me that nothing was missing. It is certain that +no robbery has been committed. + +"I come now to the body of the young man. +It was found near the bureau, and just to the left of it, +as marked upon that chart. The stab was on the right side +of the neck and from behind forwards, so that it is almost +impossible that it could have been self-inflicted." + +"Unless he fell upon the knife," said Holmes. + +"Exactly. The idea crossed my mind. But we found the knife some +feet away from the body, so that seems impossible. Then, of course, +there are the man's own dying words. And, finally, there was this +very important piece of evidence which was found clasped in the +dead man's right hand." + +From his pocket Stanley Hopkins drew a small paper packet. +He unfolded it and disclosed a golden pince-nez, with two broken +ends of black silk cord dangling from the end of it. +"Willoughby Smith had excellent sight," he added. "There can be +no question that this was snatched from the face or the person +of the assassin." + +Sherlock Holmes took the glasses into his hand and examined +them with the utmost attention and interest. He held them on +his nose, endeavoured to read through them, went to the window +and stared up the street with them, looked at them most minutely +in the full light of the lamp, and finally, with a chuckle, +seated himself at the table and wrote a few lines upon a sheet +of paper, which he tossed across to Stanley Hopkins. + +"That's the best I can do for you," said he. +"It may prove to be of some use." + +The astonished detective read the note aloud. It ran as follows:-- + +"Wanted, a woman of good address, attired like a lady. +She has a remarkably thick nose, with eyes which are set close +upon either side of it. She has a puckered forehead, a peering +expression, and probably rounded shoulders. There are +indications that she has had recourse to an optician at least +twice during the last few months. As her glasses are of +remarkable strength and as opticians are not very numerous, +there should be no difficulty in tracing her." + +Holmes smiled at the astonishment of Hopkins, which must have +been reflected upon my features. + +"Surely my deductions are simplicity itself," said he. +"It would be difficult to name any articles which afford a finer +field for inference than a pair of glasses, especially so +remarkable a pair as these. That they belong to a woman I +infer from their delicacy, and also, of course, from the last +words of the dying man. As to her being a person of refinement +and well dressed, they are, as you perceive, handsomely mounted +in solid gold, and it is inconceivable that anyone who wore such +glasses could be slatternly in other respects. You will find +that the clips are too wide for your nose, showing that the +lady's nose was very broad at the base. This sort of nose is +usually a short and coarse one, but there are a sufficient number +of exceptions to prevent me from being dogmatic or from insisting +upon this point in my description. My own face is a narrow one, +and yet I find that I cannot get my eyes into the centre, or +near the centre, of these glasses. Therefore the lady's eyes +are set very near to the sides of the nose. You will perceive, +Watson, that the glasses are concave and of unusual strength. +A lady whose vision has been so extremely contracted all her +life is sure to have the physical characteristics of such vision, +which are seen in the forehead, the eyelids, and the shoulders." + +"Yes," I said, "I can follow each of your arguments. I confess, +however, that I am unable to understand how you arrive at the +double visit to the optician." + +Holmes took the glasses in his hand. + +"You will perceive," he said, "that the clips are lined with +tiny bands of cork to soften the pressure upon the nose. One of +these is discoloured and worn to some slight extent, but the +other is new. Evidently one has fallen off and been replaced. +I should judge that the older of them has not been there more +than a few months. They exactly correspond, so I gather that +the lady went back to the same establishment for the second." + +"By George, it's marvellous!" cried Hopkins, in an ecstasy of +admiration. "To think that I had all that evidence in my hand +and never knew it! I had intended, however, to go the round of +the London opticians." + +"Of course you would. Meanwhile, have you anything more to tell +us about the case?" + +"Nothing, Mr. Holmes. I think that you know as much as I do +now -- probably more. We have had inquiries made as to any +stranger seen on the country roads or at the railway station. +We have heard of none. What beats me is the utter want of all +object in the crime. Not a ghost of a motive can anyone suggest." + +"Ah! there I am not in a position to help you. But I suppose +you want us to come out to-morrow?" + +"If it is not asking too much, Mr. Holmes. There's a train from +Charing Cross to Chatham at six in the morning, and we should be +at Yoxley Old Place between eight and nine." + +"Then we shall take it. Your case has certainly some features +of great interest, and I shall be delighted to look into it. +Well, it's nearly one, and we had best get a few hours' sleep. +I dare say you can manage all right on the sofa in front of the +fire. I'll light my spirit-lamp and give you a cup of coffee +before we start." + + +The gale had blown itself out next day, but it was a bitter +morning when we started upon our journey. We saw the cold +winter sun rise over the dreary marshes of the Thames and the +long, sullen reaches of the river, which I shall ever associate +with our pursuit of the Andaman Islander in the earlier days of +our career. After a long and weary journey we alighted at a +small station some miles from Chatham. While a horse was being +put into a trap at the local inn we snatched a hurried breakfast, +and so we were all ready for business when we at last arrived +at Yoxley Old Place. A constable met us at the garden gate. + +"Well, Wilson, any news?" + +"No, sir, nothing." + +"No reports of any stranger seen?" + +"No, sir. Down at the station they are certain that no stranger +either came or went yesterday." + +"Have you had inquiries made at inns and lodgings?" + +"Yes, sir; there is no one that we cannot account for." + +"Well, it's only a reasonable walk to Chatham. Anyone might +stay there, or take a train without being observed. This is the +garden path of which I spoke, Mr. Holmes. I'll pledge my word +there was no mark on it yesterday." + +"On which side were the marks on the grass?" + +"This side, sir. This narrow margin of grass between the path +and the flower-bed. I can't see the traces now, but they were +clear to me then." + +"Yes, yes; someone has passed along," said Holmes, stooping over +the grass border. "Our lady must have picked her steps carefully, +must she not, since on the one side she would leave a track on +the path, and on the other an even clearer one on the soft bed?" + +"Yes, sir, she must have been a cool hand." + +I saw an intent look pass over Holmes's face. + +"You say that she must have come back this way?" + +"Yes, sir; there is no other." + +"On this strip of grass?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Holmes." + +"Hum! It was a very remarkable performance -- very remarkable. +Well, I think we have exhausted the path. Let us go farther. +This garden door is usually kept open, I suppose? Then this +visitor had nothing to do but to walk in. The idea of murder +was not in her mind, or she would have provided herself with +some sort of weapon, instead of having to pick this knife off +the writing-table. She advanced along this corridor, leaving no +traces upon the cocoanut matting. Then she found herself in this +study. How long was she there? We have no means of judging." + +"Not more than a few minutes, sir. I forgot to tell you that +Mrs. Marker, the housekeeper, had been in there tidying not very +long before -- about a quarter of an hour, she says." + +"Well, that gives us a limit. Our lady enters this room and +what does she do? She goes over to the writing-table. +What for? Not for anything in the drawers. If there had been +anything worth her taking it would surely have been locked up. +No; it was for something in that wooden bureau. Halloa! what +is that scratch upon the face of it? Just hold a match, Watson. +Why did you not tell me of this, Hopkins?" + +The mark which he was examining began upon the brass work on +the right-hand side of the keyhole, and extended for about four +inches, where it had scratched the varnish from the surface. + +"I noticed it, Mr. Holmes. But you'll always find scratches +round a keyhole." + +"This is recent, quite recent. See how the brass shines where +it is cut. An old scratch would be the same colour as the surface. +Look at it through my lens. There's the varnish, too, like earth +on each side of a furrow. Is Mrs. Marker there?" + +A sad-faced, elderly woman came into the room. + +"Did you dust this bureau yesterday morning?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you notice this scratch?" + +"No, sir, I did not." + +"I am sure you did not, for a duster would have swept away +these shreds of varnish. Who has the key of this bureau?" + +"The Professor keeps it on his watch-chain." + +"Is it a simple key?" + +"No, sir; it is a Chubb's key." + +"Very good. Mrs. Marker, you can go. Now we are making a +little progress. Our lady enters the room, advances to the +bureau, and either opens it or tries to do so. While she is +thus engaged young Willoughby Smith enters the room. In her +hurry to withdraw the key she makes this scratch upon the door. +He seizes her, and she, snatching up the nearest object, which +happens to be this knife, strikes at him in order to make him +let go his hold. The blow is a fatal one. He falls and she +escapes, either with or without the object for which she has +come. Is Susan the maid there? Could anyone have got away +through that door after the time that you heard the cry, Susan?" + +"No sir; it is impossible. Before I got down the stair I'd have +seen anyone in the passage. Besides, the door never opened, +for I would have heard it." + +"That settles this exit. Then no doubt the lady went out the +way she came. I understand that this other passage leads only +to the Professor's room. There is no exit that way?" + +"No, sir." + +"We shall go down it and make the acquaintance of the Professor. +Halloa, Hopkins! this is very important, very important indeed. +The Professor's corridor is also lined with cocoanut matting." + +"Well, sir, what of that?" + +"Don't you see any bearing upon the case? Well, well, I don't +insist upon it. No doubt I am wrong. And yet it seems to me to +be suggestive. Come with me and introduce me." + +We passed down the passage, which was of the same length as that +which led to the garden. At the end was a short flight of steps +ending in a door. Our guide knocked, and then ushered us into +the Professor's bedroom. + +It was a very large chamber, lined with innumerable volumes, +which had overflowed from the shelves and lay in piles in the +corners, or were stacked all round at the base of the cases. +The bed was in the centre of the room, and in it, propped up +with pillows, was the owner of the house. I have seldom seen a +more remarkable-looking person. It was a gaunt, aquiline face +which was turned towards us, with piercing dark eyes, which +lurked in deep hollows under overhung and tufted brows. His +hair and beard were white, save that the latter was curiously +stained with yellow around his mouth. A cigarette glowed amid +the tangle of white hair, and the air of the room was fetid +with stale tobacco-smoke. As he held out his hand to Holmes +I perceived that it also was stained yellow with nicotine. + +"A smoker, Mr. Holmes?" said he, speaking well-chosen English +with a curious little mincing accent. "Pray take a cigarette. +And you, sir? I can recommend them, for I have them +especially prepared by Ionides of Alexandria. He sends me a +thousand at a time, and I grieve to say that I have to arrange +for a fresh supply every fortnight. Bad, sir, very bad, but an +old man has few pleasures. Tobacco and my work -- that is all +that is left to me." + +Holmes had lit a cigarette, and was shooting little darting +glances all over the room. + +"Tobacco and my work, but now only tobacco," the old man exclaimed. +"Alas! what a fatal interruption! Who could have foreseen such a +terrible catastrophe? So estimable a young man! I assure you that +after a few months' training he was an admirable assistant. +What do you think of the matter, Mr. Holmes?" + +"I have not yet made up my mind." + +"I shall indeed be indebted to you if you can throw a light +where all is so dark to us. To a poor bookworm and invalid like +myself such a blow is paralyzing. I seem to have lost the +faculty of thought. But you are a man of action -- you are a +man of affairs. It is part of the everyday routine of your life. +You can preserve your balance in every emergency. We are +fortunate indeed in having you at our side." + +Holmes was pacing up and down one side of the room whilst the +old Professor was talking. I observed that he was smoking with +extraordinary rapidity. It was evident that he shared our +host's liking for the fresh Alexandrian cigarettes. + +"Yes, sir, it is a crushing blow," said the old man. "That is +my MAGNUM OPUS -- the pile of papers on the side table yonder. +It is my analysis of the documents found in the Coptic monasteries +of Syria and Egypt, a work which will cut deep at the very +foundations of revealed religion. With my enfeebled health +I do not know whether I shall ever be able to complete it now +that my assistant has been taken from me. Dear me, Mr. Holmes; +why, you are even a quicker smoker than I am myself." + +Holmes smiled. + +"I am a connoisseur," said he, taking another cigarette from the +box -- his fourth -- and lighting it from the stub of that which +he had finished. "I will not trouble you with any lengthy +cross-examination, Professor Coram, since I gather that you were +in bed at the time of the crime and could know nothing about it. +I would only ask this. What do you imagine that this poor +fellow meant by his last words: `The Professor -- it was she'?" + +The Professor shook his head. + +"Susan is a country girl," said he, "and you know the incredible +stupidity of that class. I fancy that the poor fellow murmured +some incoherent delirious words, and that she twisted them into +this meaningless message." + +"I see. You have no explanation yourself of the tragedy?" + +"Possibly an accident; possibly -- I only breathe it among +ourselves -- a suicide. Young men have their hidden troubles -- +some affair of the heart, perhaps, which we have never known. +It is a more probable supposition than murder." + +"But the eye-glasses?" + +"Ah! I am only a student -- a man of dreams. I cannot explain +the practical things of life. But still, we are aware, my friend, +that love-gages may take strange shapes. By all means take +another cigarette. It is a pleasure to see anyone appreciate +them so. A fan, a glove, glasses -- who knows what article may +be carried as a token or treasured when a man puts an end to his +life? This gentleman speaks of footsteps in the grass; but, after +all, it is easy to be mistaken on such a point. As to the knife, +it might well be thrown far from the unfortunate man as he fell. +It is possible that I speak as a child, but to me it seems that +Willoughby Smith has met his fate by his own hand." + +Holmes seemed struck by the theory thus put forward, and he +continued to walk up and down for some time, lost in thought +and consuming cigarette after cigarette. + +"Tell me, Professor Coram," he said, at last, "what is in that +cupboard in the bureau?" + +"Nothing that would help a thief. Family papers, letters from +my poor wife, diplomas of Universities which have done me honour. +Here is the key. You can look for yourself." + +Holmes picked up the key and looked at it for an instant; +then he handed it back. + +"No; I hardly think that it would help me," said he. "I should +prefer to go quietly down to your garden and turn the whole +matter over in my head. There is something to be said for the +theory of suicide which you have put forward. We must apologize +for having intruded upon you, Professor Coram, and I promise +that we won't disturb you until after lunch. At two o'clock +we will come again and report to you anything which may have +happened in the interval." + +Holmes was curiously distrait, and we walked up and down the +garden path for some time in silence. + +"Have you a clue?" I asked, at last. + +"It depends upon those cigarettes that I smoked," said he. +"It is possible that I am utterly mistaken. The cigarettes +will show me." + +"My dear Holmes," I exclaimed, "how on earth ----" + +"Well, well, you may see for yourself. If not, there's no harm +done. Of course, we always have the optician clue to fall back +upon, but I take a short cut when I can get it. Ah, here is the +good Mrs. Marker! Let us enjoy five minutes of instructive +conversation with her." + +I may have remarked before that Holmes had, when he liked, +a peculiarly ingratiating way with women, and that he very readily +established terms of confidence with them. In half the time +which he had named he had captured the housekeeper's goodwill, +and was chatting with her as if he had known her for years. + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes, it is as you say, sir. He does smoke +something terrible. All day and sometimes all night, sir. +I've seen that room of a morning -- well, sir, you'd have thought +it was a London fog. Poor young Mr. Smith, he was a smoker also, +but not as bad as the Professor. His health -- well, I don't +know that it's better nor worse for the smoking." + +"Ah!" said Holmes, "but it kills the appetite." + +"Well, I don't know about that, sir." + +"I suppose the Professor eats hardly anything?" + +"Well, he is variable. I'll say that for him." + +"I'll wager he took no breakfast this morning, and won't face +his lunch after all the cigarettes I saw him consume." + +"Well, you're out there, sir, as it happens, for he ate a remarkable +big breakfast this morning. I don't know when I've known him make +a better one, and he's ordered a good dish of cutlets for his lunch. +I'm surprised myself, for since I came into that room yesterday +and saw young Mr. Smith lying there on the floor I couldn't bear +to look at food. Well, it takes all sorts to make a world, and the +Professor hasn't let it take his appetite away." + +We loitered the morning away in the garden. Stanley Hopkins had +gone down to the village to look into some rumours of a strange +woman who had been seen by some children on the Chatham Road the +previous morning. As to my friend, all his usual energy seemed +to have deserted him. I had never known him handle a case in +such a half-hearted fashion. Even the news brought back by +Hopkins that he had found the children and that they had +undoubtedly seen a woman exactly corresponding with Holmes's +description, and wearing either spectacles or eye-glasses, failed +to rouse any sign of keen interest. He was more attentive when +Susan, who waited upon us at lunch, volunteered the information +that she believed Mr. Smith had been out for a walk yesterday +morning, and that he had only returned half an hour before the +tragedy occurred. I could not myself see the bearing of this +incident, but I clearly perceived that Holmes was weaving it +into the general scheme which he had formed in his brain. +Suddenly he sprang from his chair and glanced at his watch. +"Two o'clock, gentlemen," said he. "We must go up and have +it out with our friend the Professor." + +The old man had just finished his lunch, and certainly his empty +dish bore evidence to the good appetite with which his +housekeeper had credited him. He was, indeed, a weird figure +as he turned his white mane and his glowing eyes towards us. +The eternal cigarette smouldered in his mouth. He had been +dressed and was seated in an arm-chair by the fire. + +"Well, Mr. Holmes, have you solved this mystery yet?" He shoved +the large tin of cigarettes which stood on a table beside him +towards my companion. Holmes stretched out his hand at the same +moment, and between them they tipped the box over the edge. +For a minute or two we were all on our knees retrieving stray +cigarettes from impossible places. When we rose again I observed +that Holmes's eyes were shining and his cheeks tinged with colour. +Only at a crisis have I seen those battle-signals flying. + +"Yes," said he, "I have solved it." + +Stanley Hopkins and I stared in amazement. Something like a +sneer quivered over the gaunt features of the old Professor. + +"Indeed! In the garden?" + +"No, here." + +"Here! When?" + +"This instant." + +"You are surely joking, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. You compel me to tell +you that this is too serious a matter to be treated in such a fashion." + +"I have forged and tested every link of my chain, Professor Coram, +and I am sure that it is sound. What your motives are or what +exact part you play in this strange business I am not yet able to +say. In a few minutes I shall probably hear it from your own lips. +Meanwhile I will reconstruct what is past for your benefit, so that +you may know the information which I still require. + +"A lady yesterday entered your study. She came with the intention +of possessing herself of certain documents which were in your +bureau. She had a key of her own. I have had an opportunity +of examining yours, and I do not find that slight discolouration +which the scratch made upon the varnish would have produced. +You were not an accessory, therefore, and she came, so far as +I can read the evidence, without your knowledge to rob you." + +The Professor blew a cloud from his lips. "This is most +interesting and instructive," said he. "Have you no more to add? +Surely, having traced this lady so far, you can also say what has +become of her." + +"I will endeavour to do so. In the first place she was +seized by your secretary, and stabbed him in order to escape. +This catastrophe I am inclined to regard as an unhappy accident, +for I am convinced that the lady had no intention of inflicting +so grievous an injury. An assassin does not come unarmed. +Horrified by what she had done she rushed wildly away from the +scene of the tragedy. Unfortunately for her she had lost her +glasses in the scuffle, and as she was extremely short-sighted +she was really helpless without them. She ran down a corridor, +which she imagined to be that by which she had come -- both were +lined with cocoanut matting -- and it was only when it was too +late that she understood that she had taken the wrong passage +and that her retreat was cut off behind her. What was she to do? +She could not go back. She could not remain where she was. +She must go on. She went on. She mounted a stair, pushed open +a door, and found herself in your room." + +The old man sat with his mouth open staring wildly at Holmes. +Amazement and fear were stamped upon his expressive features. +Now, with an effort, he shrugged his shoulders and burst into +insincere laughter. + +"All very fine, Mr. Holmes," said he. "But there is one +little flaw in your splendid theory. I was myself in my room, +and I never left it during the day." + +"I am aware of that, Professor Coram." + +"And you mean to say that I could lie upon that bed and not +be aware that a woman had entered my room?" + +"I never said so. You WERE aware of it. You spoke with her. +You recognised her. You aided her to escape." + +Again the Professor burst into high-keyed laughter. +He had risen to his feet and his eyes glowed like embers. + +"You are mad!" he cried. "You are talking insanely. +I helped her to escape? Where is she now?" + +"She is there," said Holmes, and he pointed to a high bookcase +in the corner of the room. + +I saw the old man throw up his arms, a terrible convulsion +passed over his grim face, and he fell back in his chair. +At the same instant the bookcase at which Holmes pointed swung +round upon a hinge, and a woman rushed out into the room. +"You are right!" she cried, in a strange foreign voice. +"You are right! I am here." + +She was brown with the dust and draped with the cobwebs which +had come from the walls of her hiding-place. Her face, too, +was streaked with grime, and at the best she could never have been +handsome, for she had the exact physical characteristics which +Holmes had divined, with, in addition, a long and obstinate chin. +What with her natural blindness, and what with the change from +dark to light, she stood as one dazed, blinking about her to see +where and who we were. And yet, in spite of all these disadvantages, +there was a certain nobility in the woman's bearing, a gallantry +in the defiant chin and in the upraised head, which compelled +something of respect and admiration. Stanley Hopkins had laid +his hand upon her arm and claimed her as his prisoner, but she +waved him aside gently, and yet with an overmastering dignity +which compelled obedience. The old man lay back in his chair, +with a twitching face, and stared at her with brooding eyes. + +"Yes, sir, I am your prisoner," she said. "From where I stood +I could hear everything, and I know that you have learned the +truth. I confess it all. It was I who killed the young man. +But you are right, you who say it was an accident. I did not +even know that it was a knife which I held in my hand, for in my +despair I snatched anything from the table and struck at him to +make him let me go. It is the truth that I tell." + +"Madam," said Holmes, "I am sure that it is the truth. +I fear that you are far from well." + +She had turned a dreadful colour, the more ghastly under the +dark dust-streaks upon her face. She seated herself on the +side of the bed; then she resumed. + +"I have only a little time here," she said, "but I would have +you to know the whole truth. I am this man's wife. He is not +an Englishman. He is a Russian. His name I will not tell." + +For the first time the old man stirred. "God bless you, Anna!" +he cried. "God bless you!" + +She cast a look of the deepest disdain in his direction. +"Why should you cling so hard to that wretched life of yours, +Sergius?" said she. "It has done harm to many and good to +none -- not even to yourself. However, it is not for me to +cause the frail thread to be snapped before God's time. +I have enough already upon my soul since I crossed the threshold +of this cursed house. But I must speak or I shall be too late. + +"I have said, gentlemen, that I am this man's wife. He was +fifty and I a foolish girl of twenty when we married. It was +in a city of Russia, a University -- I will not name the place." + +"God bless you, Anna!" murmured the old man again. + +"We were reformers -- revolutionists -- Nihilists, you understand. +He and I and many more. Then there came a time of trouble, +a police officer was killed, many were arrested, evidence was +wanted, and in order to save his own life and to earn a great +reward my husband betrayed his own wife and his companions. +Yes, we were all arrested upon his confession. Some of us found +our way to the gallows and some to Siberia. I was among these +last, but my term was not for life. My husband came to England +with his ill-gotten gains, and has lived in quiet ever since, +knowing well that if the Brotherhood knew where he was not +a week would pass before justice would be done." + +The old man reached out a trembling hand and helped himself +to a cigarette. "I am in your hands, Anna," said he. +"You were always good to me." + +"I have not yet told you the height of his villainy," said she. +"Among our comrades of the Order there was one who was the +friend of my heart. He was noble, unselfish, loving -- all that +my husband was not. He hated violence. We were all guilty -- +if that is guilt -- but he was not. He wrote for ever dissuading +us from such a course. These letters would have saved him. +So would my diary, in which from day to day I had entered both +my feelings towards him and the view which each of us had taken. +My husband found and kept both diary and letters. He hid them, +and he tried hard to swear away the young man's life. In this +he failed, but Alexis was sent a convict to Siberia, where now, +at this moment, he works in a salt mine. Think of that, you +villain, you villain; now, now, at this very moment, Alexis, +a man whose name you are not worthy to speak, works and lives like +a slave, and yet I have your life in my hands and I let you go." + +"You were always a noble woman, Anna," said the old man, puffing +at his cigarette. + +She had risen, but she fell back again with a little cry of pain. + +"I must finish," she said. "When my term was over I set myself +to get the diary and letters which, if sent to the Russian +Government, would procure my friend's release. I knew that my +husband had come to England. After months of searching I +discovered where he was. I knew that he still had the diary, +for when I was in Siberia I had a letter from him once +reproaching me and quoting some passages from its pages. +Yet I was sure that with his revengeful nature he would never +give it to me of his own free will. I must get it for myself. +With this object I engaged an agent from a private detective firm, +who entered my husband's house as secretary -- it was your +second secretary, Sergius, the one who left you so hurriedly. +He found that papers were kept in the cupboard, and he got an +impression of the key. He would not go farther. He furnished +me with a plan of the house, and he told me that in the forenoon +the study was always empty, as the secretary was employed up here. +So at last I took my courage in both hands and I came down to +get the papers for myself. I succeeded, but at what a cost! + +"I had just taken the papers and was locking the cupboard when +the young man seized me. I had seen him already that morning. +He had met me in the road and I had asked him to tell me where +Professor Coram lived, not knowing that he was in his employ." + +"Exactly! exactly!" said Holmes. "The secretary came back and +told his employer of the woman he had met. Then in his last +breath he tried to send a message that it was she -- the she whom +he had just discussed with him." + +"You must let me speak," said the woman, in an imperative voice, +and her face contracted as if in pain. "When he had fallen +I rushed from the room, chose the wrong door, and found myself +in my husband's room. He spoke of giving me up. I showed him +that if he did so his life was in my hands. If he gave me to +the law I could give him to the Brotherhood. It was not that +I wished to live for my own sake, but it was that I desired to +accomplish my purpose. He knew that I would do what I said -- +that his own fate was involved in mine. For that reason +and for no other he shielded me. He thrust me into that dark +hiding-place, a relic of old days, known only to himself. +He took his meals in his own room, and so was able to give me +part of his food. It was agreed that when the police left +the house I should slip away by night and come back no more. +But in some way you have read our plans." She tore from the +bosom of her dress a small packet. "These are my last words," +said she; "here is the packet which will save Alexis. +I confide it to your honour and to your love of justice. +Take it! You will deliver it at the Russian Embassy. +Now I have done my duty, and ----" + +"Stop her!" cried Holmes. He had bounded across the room +and had wrenched a small phial from her hand. + +"Too late!" she said, sinking back on the bed. "Too late! +I took the poison before I left my hiding-place. My head swims! +I am going! I charge you, sir, to remember the packet." + + +"A simple case, and yet in some ways an instructive one," +Holmes remarked, as we travelled back to town. "It hinged from +the outset upon the pince-nez. But for the fortunate chance of +the dying man having seized these I am not sure that we could +ever have reached our solution. It was clear to me from the +strength of the glasses that the wearer must have been very +blind and helpless when deprived of them. When you asked me to +believe that she walked along a narrow strip of grass without +once making a false step I remarked, as you may remember, that +it was a noteworthy performance. In my mind I set it down as an +impossible performance, save in the unlikely case that she had a +second pair of glasses. I was forced, therefore, to seriously +consider the hypothesis that she had remained within the house. +On perceiving the similarity of the two corridors it became +clear that she might very easily have made such a mistake, +and in that case it was evident that she must have entered +the Professor's room. I was keenly on the alert, therefore, +for whatever would bear out this supposition, and I examined +the room narrowly for anything in the shape of a hiding-place. +The carpet seemed continuous and firmly nailed, so I dismissed +the idea of a trap-door. There might well be a recess behind +the books. As you are aware, such devices are common in old +libraries. I observed that books were piled on the floor at all +other points, but that one bookcase was left clear. This, then, +might be the door. I could see no marks to guide me, but the +carpet was of a dun colour, which lends itself very well to +examination. I therefore smoked a great number of those +excellent cigarettes, and I dropped the ash all over the space +in front of the suspected bookcase. It was a simple trick, but +exceedingly effective. I then went downstairs and I ascertained, +in your presence, Watson, without your perceiving the drift of my +remarks, that Professor Coram's consumption of food had increased +-- as one would expect when he is supplying a second person. +We then ascended to the room again, when, by upsetting the +cigarette-box, I obtained a very excellent view of the floor, +and was able to see quite clearly, from the traces upon the +cigarette ash, that the prisoner had, in our absence, come out +from her retreat. Well, Hopkins, here we are at Charing Cross, +and I congratulate you on having brought your case to a successful +conclusion. You are going to head-quarters, no doubt. I think, +Watson, you and I will drive together to the Russian Embassy." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 28 AUGUST, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +XI. --- The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter. + + +WE were fairly accustomed to receive weird telegrams at Baker +Street, but I have a particular recollection of one which reached +us on a gloomy February morning some seven or eight years ago and +gave Mr. Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour. It was +addressed to him, and ran thus:-- + +"Please await me. Terrible misfortune. Right wing three-quarter +missing; indispensable to morrow. -- OVERTON." + +"Strand post-mark and dispatched ten-thirty-six," said Holmes, +reading it over and over. "Mr. Overton was evidently considerably +excited when he sent it, and somewhat incoherent in consequence. +Well, well, he will be here, I dare say, by the time I have looked +through the TIMES, and then we shall know all about it. Even the +most insignificant problem would be welcome in these stagnant days." + +Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I had learned +to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience +that my companion's brain was so abnormally active that it was +dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work. +For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which +had threatened once to check his remarkable career. Now I knew +that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this +artificial stimulus, but I was well aware that the fiend was +not dead, but sleeping; and I have known that the sleep was a +light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have +seen the drawn look upon Holmes's ascetic face, and the brooding +of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes. Therefore I blessed this +Mr. Overton, whoever he might be, since he had come with his +enigmatic message to break that dangerous calm which brought more +peril to my friend than all the storms of his tempestuous life. + +As we had expected, the telegram was soon followed by its +sender, and the card of Mr. Cyril Overton, of Trinity College, +Cambridge, announced the arrival of an enormous young man, +sixteen stone of solid bone and muscle, who spanned the doorway +with his broad shoulders and looked from one of us to the other +with a comely face which was haggard with anxiety. + +"Mr. Sherlock Holmes?" + +My companion bowed. + +"I've been down to Scotland Yard, Mr. Holmes. +I saw Inspector Stanley Hopkins. He advised me to come to you. +He said the case, so far as he could see, was more in your line +than in that of the regular police." + +"Pray sit down and tell me what is the matter." + +"It's awful, Mr. Holmes, simply awful! I wonder my hair isn't grey. +Godfrey Staunton -- you've heard of him, of course? He's simply the +hinge that the whole team turns on. I'd rather spare two from the +pack and have Godfrey for my three-quarter line. Whether it's +passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there's no one to touch him; +and then, he's got the head and can hold us all together. +What am I to do? That's what I ask you, Mr. Holmes. +There's Moorhouse, first reserve, but he is trained as a half, +and he always edges right in on to the scrum instead of keeping +out on the touch-line. He's a fine place-kick, it's true, but, +then, he has no judgment, and he can't sprint for nuts. +Why, Morton or Johnson, the Oxford fliers, could romp round him. +Stevenson is fast enough, but he couldn't drop from the twenty-five +line, and a three-quarter who can't either punt or drop isn't worth +a place for pace alone. No, Mr. Holmes, we are done unless you can +help me to find Godfrey Staunton." + +My friend had listened with amused surprise to this long speech, +which was poured forth with extraordinary vigour and earnestness, +every point being driven home by the slapping of a brawny hand +upon the speaker's knee. When our visitor was silent Holmes +stretched out his hand and took down letter "S" of his +commonplace book. For once he dug in vain into that mine of +varied information. + +"There is Arthur H. Staunton, the rising young forger," +said he, "and there was Henry Staunton, whom I helped to hang, +but Godfrey Staunton is a new name to me." + +It was our visitor's turn to look surprised. + +"Why, Mr. Holmes, I thought you knew things," said he. +"I suppose, then, if you have never heard of Godfrey Staunton +you don't know Cyril Overton either?" + +Holmes shook his head good-humouredly. + +"Great Scot!" cried the athlete. "Why, I was first reserve +for England against Wales, and I've skippered the 'Varsity all +this year. But that's nothing! I didn't think there was a +soul in England who didn't know Godfrey Staunton, the crack +three-quarter, Cambridge, Blackheath, and five Internationals. +Good Lord! Mr. Holmes, where HAVE you lived?" + +Holmes laughed at the young giant's naive astonishment. + +"You live in a different world to me, Mr. Overton, a sweeter +and healthier one. My ramifications stretch out into many +sections of society, but never, I am happy to say, into amateur +sport, which is the best and soundest thing in England. However, +your unexpected visit this morning shows me that even in that +world of fresh air and fair play there may be work for me to do; +so now, my good sir, I beg you to sit down and to tell me slowly +and quietly exactly what it is that has occurred, and how you +desire that I should help you." + +Young Overton's face assumed the bothered look of the man who +is more accustomed to using his muscles than his wits; but by +degrees, with many repetitions and obscurities which I may omit +from his narrative, he laid his strange story before us. + + +"It's this way, Mr. Holmes. As I have said, I am the skipper +of the Rugger team of Cambridge 'Varsity, and Godfrey Staunton +is my best man. To-morrow we play Oxford. Yesterday we +all came up and we settled at Bentley's private hotel. At ten +o'clock I went round and saw that all the fellows had gone to +roost, for I believe in strict training and plenty of sleep to +keep a team fit. I had a word or two with Godfrey before he +turned in. He seemed to me to be pale and bothered. I asked him +what was the matter. He said he was all right -- just a touch +of headache. I bade him good-night and left him. Half an hour +later the porter tells me that a rough-looking man with a beard +called with a note for Godfrey. He had not gone to bed and the +note was taken to his room. Godfrey read it and fell back in a +chair as if he had been pole-axed. The porter was so scared that +he was going to fetch me, but Godfrey stopped him, had a drink of +water, and pulled himself together. Then he went downstairs, +said a few words to the man who was waiting in the hall, and the +two of them went off together. The last that the porter saw of +them, they were almost running down the street in the direction +of the Strand. This morning Godfrey's room was empty, his bed +had never been slept in, and his things were all just as I had +seen them the night before. He had gone off at a moment's notice +with this stranger, and no word has come from him since. I don't +believe he will ever come back. He was a sportsman, was Godfrey, +down to his marrow, and he wouldn't have stopped his training and +let in his skipper if it were not for some cause that was too +strong for him. No; I feel as if he were gone for good and we +should never see him again." + + +Sherlock Holmes listened with the deepest attention to this +singular narrative. + +"What did you do?" he asked. + +"I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had been heard +of him there. I have had an answer. No one has seen him." + +"Could he have got back to Cambridge?" + +"Yes, there is a late train -- quarter-past eleven." + +"But so far as you can ascertain he did not take it?" + +"No, he has not been seen." + +"What did you do next?" + +"I wired to Lord Mount-James." + +"Why to Lord Mount-James?" + +"Godfrey is an orphan, and Lord Mount-James is his nearest +relative -- his uncle, I believe." + +"Indeed. This throws new light upon the matter. +Lord Mount-James is one of the richest men in England." + +"So I've heard Godfrey say." + +"And your friend was closely related?" + +"Yes, he was his heir, and the old boy is nearly eighty -- +cram full of gout, too. They say he could chalk his billiard-cue +with his knuckles. He never allowed Godfrey a shilling in his +life, for he is an absolute miser, but it will all come to him +right enough." + +"Have you heard from Lord Mount-James?" + +"No." + +"What motive could your friend have in going to Lord Mount-James?" + +"Well, something was worrying him the night before, and if +it was to do with money it is possible that he would make for his +nearest relative who had so much of it, though from all I have +heard he would not have much chance of getting it. Godfrey was +not fond of the old man. He would not go if he could help it." + +"Well, we can soon determine that. If your friend was going +to his relative, Lord Mount-James, you have then to explain +the visit of this rough-looking fellow at so late an hour, +and the agitation that was caused by his coming." + +Cyril Overton pressed his hands to his head. "I can make +nothing of it," said he. + +"Well, well, I have a clear day, and I shall be happy to look +into the matter," said Holmes. "I should strongly recommend +you to make your preparations for your match without reference +to this young gentleman. It must, as you say, have been an +overpowering necessity which tore him away in such a fashion, +and the same necessity is likely to hold him away. Let us step +round together to this hotel, and see if the porter can throw +any fresh light upon the matter." + +Sherlock Holmes was a past-master in the art of putting a +humble witness at his ease, and very soon, in the privacy of +Godfrey Staunton's abandoned room, he had extracted all that +the porter had to tell. The visitor of the night before was not +a gentleman, neither was he a working man. He was simply what +the porter described as a "medium-looking chap"; a man of fifty, +beard grizzled, pale face, quietly dressed. He seemed himself +to be agitated. The porter had observed his hand trembling when +he had held out the note. Godfrey Staunton had crammed the note +into his pocket. Staunton had not shaken hands with the man in +the hall. They had exchanged a few sentences, of which the +porter had only distinguished the one word "time." Then they +had hurried off in the manner described. It was just half-past +ten by the hall clock. + +"Let me see," said Holmes, seating himself on Staunton's bed. +"You are the day porter, are you not?" + +"Yes, sir; I go off duty at eleven." + +"The night porter saw nothing, I suppose?" + +"No, sir; one theatre party came in late. No one else." + +"Were you on duty all day yesterday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you take any messages to Mr. Staunton?" + +"Yes, sir; one telegram." + +"Ah! that's interesting. What o'clock was this?" + +"About six." + +"Where was Mr. Staunton when he received it?" + +"Here in his room." + +"Were you present when he opened it?" + +"Yes, sir; I waited to see if there was an answer." + +"Well, was there?" + +"Yes, sir. He wrote an answer." + +"Did you take it?" + +"No; he took it himself." + +"But he wrote it in your presence?" + +"Yes, sir. I was standing by the door, and he with his +back turned at that table. When he had written it he said, +`All right, porter, I will take this myself.'" + +"What did he write it with?" + +"A pen, sir." + +"Was the telegraphic form one of these on the table?" + +"Yes, sir; it was the top one." + +Holmes rose. Taking the forms he carried them over to the +window and carefully examined that which was uppermost. + +"It is a pity he did not write in pencil," said he, throwing +them down again with a shrug of disappointment. "As you have no +doubt frequently observed, Watson, the impression usually goes +through -- a fact which has dissolved many a happy marriage. +However, I can find no trace here. I rejoice, however, +to perceive that he wrote with a broad-pointed quill pen, +and I can hardly doubt that we will find some impression upon +this blotting-pad. Ah, yes, surely this is the very thing!" + +He tore off a strip of the blotting-paper and turned towards +us the following hieroglyphic:-- + +GRAPHIC + +Cyril Overton was much excited. "Hold it to the glass!" he cried. + +"That is unnecessary," said Holmes. "The paper is thin, +and the reverse will give the message. Here it is." +He turned it over and we read:-- + +GRAPHIC + +"So that is the tail end of the telegram which Godfrey Staunton +dispatched within a few hours of his disappearance. +There are at least six words of the message which have escaped us; +but what remains -- `Stand by us for God's sake!' -- proves that +this young man saw a formidable danger which approached him, +and from which someone else could protect him. `US,' mark you! +Another person was involved. Who should it be but the pale-faced, +bearded man, who seemed himself in so nervous a state? +What, then, is the connection between Godfrey Staunton and the +bearded man? And what is the third source from which each of +them sought for help against pressing danger? Our inquiry has +already narrowed down to that." + +"We have only to find to whom that telegram is addressed," +I suggested. + +"Exactly, my dear Watson. Your reflection, though profound, +had already crossed my mind. But I dare say it may have come to +your notice that if you walk into a post-office and demand to +see the counterfoil of another man's message there may be some +disinclination on the part of the officials to oblige you. There +is so much red tape in these matters! However, I have no doubt +that with a little delicacy and finesse the end may be attained. +Meanwhile, I should like in your presence, Mr. Overton, to go +through these papers which have been left upon the table." + +There were a number of letters, bills, and note-books, which +Holmes turned over and examined with quick, nervous fingers and +darting, penetrating eyes. "Nothing here," he said, at last. +"By the way, I suppose your friend was a healthy young fellow -- +nothing amiss with him?" + +"Sound as a bell." + +"Have you ever known him ill?" + +"Not a day. He has been laid up with a hack, and once he +slipped his knee-cap, but that was nothing." + +"Perhaps he was not so strong as you suppose. I should think +he may have had some secret trouble. With your assent I will +put one or two of these papers in my pocket, in case they +should bear upon our future inquiry." + +"One moment! one moment!" cried a querulous voice, and we +looked up to find a queer little old man, jerking and twitching +in the doorway. He was dressed in rusty black, with a very +broad brimmed top-hat and a loose white necktie -- the whole +effect being that of a very rustic parson or of an undertaker's +mute. Yet, in spite of his shabby and even absurd appearance, +his voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a quick intensity +which commanded attention. + +"Who are you, sir, and by what right do you touch this +gentleman's papers?" he asked. + +"I am a private detective, and I am endeavouring to explain +his disappearance." + +"Oh, you are, are you? And who instructed you, eh?" + +"This gentleman, Mr. Staunton's friend, was referred to me +by Scotland Yard." + +"Who are you, sir?" + +"I am Cyril Overton." + +"Then it is you who sent me a telegram. My name is Lord Mount-James. +I came round as quickly as the Bayswater 'bus would bring me. +So you have instructed a detective?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And are you prepared to meet the cost?" + +"I have no doubt, sir, that my friend Godfrey, when we find him, +will be prepared to do that." + +"But if he is never found, eh? Answer me that!" + +"In that case no doubt his family ----" + +"Nothing of the sort, sir!" screamed the little man. +"Don't look to me for a penny -- not a penny! You understand that, +Mr. Detective! I am all the family that this young man has got, +and I tell you that I am not responsible. If he has any expectations +it is due to the fact that I have never wasted money, and I do +not propose to begin to do so now. As to those papers with which +you are making so free, I may tell you that in case there should +be anything of any value among them you will be held strictly +to account for what you do with them." + +"Very good, sir," said Sherlock Holmes. "May I ask in the +meanwhile whether you have yourself any theory to account for +this young man's disappearance?" + +"No, sir, I have not. He is big enough and old enough to look +after himself, and if he is so foolish as to lose himself I +entirely refuse to accept the responsibility of hunting for him." + +"I quite understand your position," said Holmes, with a +mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Perhaps you don't quite +understand mine. Godfrey Staunton appears to have been a poor +man. If he has been kidnapped it could not have been for +anything which he himself possesses. The fame of your wealth has +gone abroad, Lord Mount-James, and it is entirely possible that a +gang of thieves have secured your nephew in order to gain from him +some information as to your house, your habits, and your treasure." + +The face of our unpleasant little visitor turned as white as +his neckcloth. + +"Heavens, sir, what an idea! I never thought of such villainy! +What inhuman rogues there are in the world! But Godfrey is a +fine lad -- a staunch lad. Nothing would induce him to give +his old uncle away. I'll have the plate moved over to the bank +this evening. In the meantime spare no pains, Mr. Detective! +I beg you to leave no stone unturned to bring him safely back. +As to money, well, so far as a fiver, or even a tenner, goes, +you can always look to me." + +Even in his chastened frame of mind the noble miser could give +us no information which could help us, for he knew little of +the private life of his nephew. Our only clue lay in the +truncated telegram, and with a copy of this in his hand Holmes +set forth to find a second link for his chain. We had shaken off +Lord Mount-James, and Overton had gone to consult with the other +members of his team over the misfortune which had befallen them. + +There was a telegraph-office at a short distance from the hotel. +We halted outside it. + +"It's worth trying, Watson," said Holmes. "Of course, with +a warrant we could demand to see the counterfoils, but we have +not reached that stage yet. I don't suppose they remember faces +in so busy a place. Let us venture it." + +"I am sorry to trouble you," said he, in his blandest manner, +to the young woman behind the grating; "there is some small +mistake about a telegram I sent yesterday. I have had no answer, +and I very much fear that I must have omitted to put my name +at the end. Could you tell me if this was so?" + +The young woman turned over a sheaf of counterfoils. + +"What o'clock was it?" she asked. + +"A little after six." + +"Whom was it to?" + +Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at me. +"The last words in it were `for God's sake,'" he whispered, +confidentially; "I am very anxious at getting no answer." + +The young woman separated one of the forms. + +"This is it. There is no name," said she, smoothing it out +upon the counter. + +"Then that, of course, accounts for my getting no answer," +said Holmes. "Dear me, how very stupid of me, to be sure! +Good morning, miss, and many thanks for having relieved my mind." +He chuckled and rubbed his hands when we found ourselves in the +street once more. + +"Well?" I asked. + +"We progress, my dear Watson, we progress. I had seven +different schemes for getting a glimpse of that telegram, +but I could hardly hope to succeed the very first time." + +"And what have you gained?" + +"A starting-point for our investigation." He hailed a cab. +"King's Cross Station," said he. + +"We have a journey, then?" + +"Yes; I think we must run down to Cambridge together. +All the indications seem to me to point in that direction." + +"Tell me," I asked, as we rattled up Gray's Inn Road, +"have you any suspicion yet as to the cause of the disappearance? +I don't think that among all our cases I have known one where the +motives are more obscure. Surely you don't really imagine that +he may be kidnapped in order to give information against his +wealthy uncle?" + +"I confess, my dear Watson, that that does not appeal to +me as a very probable explanation. It struck me, however, +as being the one which was most likely to interest that +exceedingly unpleasant old person." + +"It certainly did that. But what are your alternatives?" + +"I could mention several. You must admit that it is curious +and suggestive that this incident should occur on the eve of this +important match, and should involve the only man whose presence +seems essential to the success of the side. It may, of course, +be coincidence, but it is interesting. Amateur sport is free +from betting, but a good deal of outside betting goes on among +the public, and it is possible that it might be worth someone's +while to get at a player as the ruffians of the turf get at a +race-horse. There is one explanation. A second very obvious one +is that this young man really is the heir of a great property, +however modest his means may at present be, and it is not +impossible that a plot to hold him for ransom might be concocted." + +"These theories take no account of the telegram." + +"Quite true, Watson. The telegram still remains the only +solid thing with which we have to deal, and we must not permit +our attention to wander away from it. It is to gain light upon +the purpose of this telegram that we are now upon our way to +Cambridge. The path of our investigation is at present obscure, +but I shall be very much surprised if before evening we have not +cleared it up or made a considerable advance along it." + +It was already dark when we reached the old University city. +Holmes took a cab at the station, and ordered the man to drive to +the house of Dr. Leslie Armstrong. A few minutes later we had +stopped at a large mansion in the busiest thoroughfare. We were +shown in, and after a long wait were at last admitted into the +consulting-room, where we found the doctor seated behind his table. + +It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my +profession that the name of Leslie Armstrong was unknown to me. +Now I am aware that he is not only one of the heads of the +medical school of the University, but a thinker of European +reputation in more than one branch of science. Yet even without +knowing his brilliant record one could not fail to be impressed +by a mere glance at the man, the square, massive face, the +brooding eyes under the thatched brows, and the granite moulding +of the inflexible jaw. A man of deep character, a man with an +alert mind, grim, ascetic, self-contained, formidable -- so I read +Dr. Leslie Armstrong. He held my friend's card in his hand, and +he looked up with no very pleased expression upon his dour features. + +"I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware +of your profession, one of which I by no means approve." + +"In that, doctor, you will find yourself in agreement with +every criminal in the country," said my friend, quietly. + +"So far as your efforts are directed towards the suppression +of crime, sir, they must have the support of every reasonable +member of the community, though I cannot doubt that the official +machinery is amply sufficient for the purpose. Where your +calling is more open to criticism is when you pry into the +secrets of private individuals, when you rake up family matters +which are better hidden, and when you incidentally waste the time +of men who are more busy than yourself. At the present moment, +for example, I should be writing a treatise instead of conversing +with you." + +"No doubt, doctor; and yet the conversation may prove more +important than the treatise. Incidentally I may tell you that +we are doing the reverse of what you very justly blame, and that +we are endeavouring to prevent anything like public exposure of +private matters which must necessarily follow when once the case +is fairly in the hands of the official police. You may look +upon me simply as an irregular pioneer who goes in front of the +regular forces of the country. I have come to ask you about +Mr. Godfrey Staunton." + +"What about him?" + +"You know him, do you not?" + +"He is an intimate friend of mine." + +"You are aware that he has disappeared?" + +"Ah, indeed!" There was no change of expression in the +rugged features of the doctor. + +"He left his hotel last night. He has not been heard of." + +"No doubt he will return." + +"To-morrow is the 'Varsity football match." + +"I have no sympathy with these childish games. The young +man's fate interests me deeply, since I know him and like him. +The football match does not come within my horizon at all." + +"I claim your sympathy, then, in my investigation of Mr. +Staunton's fate. Do you know where he is?" + +"Certainly not." + +"You have not seen him since yesterday?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Was Mr. Staunton a healthy man?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Did you ever know him ill?" + +"Never." + +Holmes popped a sheet of paper before the doctor's eyes. +"Then perhaps you will explain this receipted bill for thirteen +guineas, paid by Mr. Godfrey Staunton last month to Dr. Leslie +Armstrong of Cambridge. I picked it out from among the papers +upon his desk." + +The doctor flushed with anger. + +"I do not feel that there is any reason why I should render +an explanation to you, Mr. Holmes." + +Holmes replaced the bill in his note-book. "If you prefer +a public explanation it must come sooner or later," said he. +"I have already told you that I can hush up that which others +will be bound to publish, and you would really be wiser to +take me into your complete confidence." + +"I know nothing about it." + +"Did you hear from Mr. Staunton in London?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Dear me, dear me; the post-office again!" Holmes sighed, +wearily. "A most urgent telegram was dispatched to you from +London by Godfrey Staunton at six-fifteen yesterday evening -- +a telegram which is undoubtedly associated with his disappearance +-- and yet you have not had it. It is most culpable. I shall +certainly go down to the office here and register a complaint." + +Dr. Leslie Armstrong sprang up from behind his desk, and his +dark face was crimson with fury. + +"I'll trouble you to walk out of my house, sir," said he. +"You can tell your employer, Lord Mount-James, that I do not +wish to have anything to do either with him or with his agents. +No, sir, not another word!" He rang the bell furiously. +"John, show these gentlemen out!" A pompous butler ushered +us severely to the door, and we found ourselves in the street. +Holmes burst out laughing. + +"Dr. Leslie Armstrong is certainly a man of energy and +character," said he. "I have not seen a man who, if he turned +his talents that way, was more calculated to fill the gap left by +the illustrious Moriarty. And now, my poor Watson, here we are, +stranded and friendless in this inhospitable town, which we +cannot leave without abandoning our case. This little inn just +opposite Armstrong's house is singularly adapted to our needs. +If you would engage a front room and purchase the necessaries +for the night, I may have time to make a few inquiries." + +These few inquiries proved, however, to be a more lengthy +proceeding than Holmes had imagined, for he did not return to +the inn until nearly nine o'clock. He was pale and dejected, +stained with dust, and exhausted with hunger and fatigue. +A cold supper was ready upon the table, and when his needs were +satisfied and his pipe alight he was ready to take that half comic +and wholly philosophic view which was natural to him when his +affairs were going awry. The sound of carriage wheels caused him +to rise and glance out of the window. A brougham and pair of greys +under the glare of a gas-lamp stood before the doctor's door. + +"It's been out three hours," said Holmes; "started at half-past +six, and here it is back again. That gives a radius of ten or +twelve miles, and he does it once, or sometimes twice, a day." + +"No unusual thing for a doctor in practice." + +"But Armstrong is not really a doctor in practice. He is a +lecturer and a consultant, but he does not care for general +practice, which distracts him from his literary work. +Why, then, does he make these long journeys, which must be +exceedingly irksome to him, and who is it that he visits?" + +"His coachman ----" + +"My dear Watson, can you doubt that it was to him that I +first applied? I do not know whether it came from his own innate +depravity or from the promptings of his master, but he was rude +enough to set a dog at me. Neither dog nor man liked the look of +my stick, however, and the matter fell through. Relations were +strained after that, and further inquiries out of the question. +All that I have learned I got from a friendly native in the yard +of our own inn. It was he who told me of the doctor's habits and +of his daily journey. At that instant, to give point to his +words, the carriage came round to the door." + +"Could you not follow it?" + +"Excellent, Watson! You are scintillating this evening. +The idea did cross my mind. There is, as you may have observed, +a bicycle shop next to our inn. Into this I rushed, engaged a +bicycle, and was able to get started before the carriage was +quite out of sight. I rapidly overtook it, and then, keeping at +a discreet distance of a hundred yards or so, I followed its +lights until we were clear of the town. We had got well out on +the country road when a somewhat mortifying incident occurred. +The carriage stopped, the doctor alighted, walked swiftly back to +where I had also halted, and told me in an excellent sardonic +fashion that he feared the road was narrow, and that he hoped his +carriage did not impede the passage of my bicycle. Nothing could +have been more admirable than his way of putting it. I at once +rode past the carriage, and, keeping to the main road, I went on +for a few miles, and then halted in a convenient place to see if +the carriage passed. There was no sign of it, however, and so it +became evident that it had turned down one of several side roads +which I had observed. I rode back, but again saw nothing of the +carriage, and now, as you perceive, it has returned after me. +Of course, I had at the outset no particular reason to connect +these journeys with the disappearance of Godfrey Staunton, +and was only inclined to investigate them on the general grounds +that everything which concerns Dr. Armstrong is at present of +interest to us; but, now that I find he keeps so keen a look-out +upon anyone who may follow him on these excursions, the affair +appears more important, and I shall not be satisfied until +I have made the matter clear." + +"We can follow him to-morrow." + +"Can we? It is not so easy as you seem to think. You are +not familiar with Cambridgeshire scenery, are you? It does not +lend itself to concealment. All this country that I passed over +to-night is as flat and clean as the palm of your hand, and the +man we are following is no fool, as he very clearly showed +to-night. I have wired to Overton to let us know any fresh +London developments at this address, and in the meantime we can +only concentrate our attention upon Dr. Armstrong, whose name +the obliging young lady at the office allowed me to read upon +the counterfoil of Staunton's urgent message. He knows where +the young man is -- to that I'll swear -- and if he knows, +then it must be our own fault if we cannot manage to know also. +At present it must be admitted that the odd trick is in his +possession, and, as you are aware, Watson, it is not my habit +to leave the game in that condition." + +And yet the next day brought us no nearer to the solution of +the mystery. A note was handed in after breakfast, which Holmes +passed across to me with a smile. + +"Sir," it ran, "I can assure you that you are wasting your time +in dogging my movements. I have, as you discovered last night, +a window at the back of my brougham, and if you desire a +twenty-mile ride which will lead you to the spot from which you +started, you have only to follow me. Meanwhile, I can inform you +that no spying upon me can in any way help Mr. Godfrey Staunton, +and I am convinced that the best service you can do to that +gentleman is to return at once to London and to report to your +employer that you are unable to trace him. Your time in +Cambridge will certainly be wasted. + "Yours faithfully, + "LESLIE ARMSTRONG." + +"An outspoken, honest antagonist is the doctor," said Holmes. +"Well, well, he excites my curiosity, and I must really know +more before I leave him." + +"His carriage is at his door now," said I. "There he is stepping +into it. I saw him glance up at our window as he did so. +Suppose I try my luck upon the bicycle?" + +"No, no, my dear Watson! With all respect for your natural +acumen I do not think that you are quite a match for the worthy +doctor. I think that possibly I can attain our end by some +independent explorations of my own. I am afraid that I must +leave you to your own devices, as the appearance of TWO inquiring +strangers upon a sleepy countryside might excite more gossip than +I care for. No doubt you will find some sights to amuse you in +this venerable city, and I hope to bring back a more favourable +report to you before evening." + +Once more, however, my friend was destined to be disappointed. +He came back at night weary and unsuccessful. + +"I have had a blank day, Watson. Having got the doctor's +general direction, I spent the day in visiting all the villages +upon that side of Cambridge, and comparing notes with publicans +and other local news agencies. I have covered some ground: +Chesterton, Histon, Waterbeach, and Oakington have each been +explored and have each proved disappointing. The daily +appearance of a brougham and pair could hardly have been +overlooked in such Sleepy Hollows. The doctor has scored once +more. Is there a telegram for me?" + +"Yes; I opened it. Here it is: `Ask for Pompey from Jeremy +Dixon, Trinity College.' I don't understand it." + +"Oh, it is clear enough. It is from our friend Overton, +and is in answer to a question from me. I'll just send round +a note to Mr. Jeremy Dixon, and then I have no doubt that our +luck will turn. By the way, is there any news of the match?" + +"Yes, the local evening paper has an excellent account in its +last edition. Oxford won by a goal and two tries. The last +sentences of the description say: `The defeat of the Light Blues +may be entirely attributed to the unfortunate absence of the crack +International, Godfrey Staunton, whose want was felt at every +instant of the game. The lack of combination in the three-quarter +line and their weakness both in attack and defence more than +neutralized the efforts of a heavy and hard-working pack.'" + +"Then our friend Overton's forebodings have been justified," +said Holmes. "Personally I am in agreement with Dr. Armstrong, +and football does not come within my horizon. Early to bed to-night, +Watson, for I foresee that to-morrow may be an eventful day." + + +I was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next morning, +for he sat by the fire holding his tiny hypodermic syringe. +I associated that instrument with the single weakness of his +nature, and I feared the worst when I saw it glittering in his +hand. He laughed at my expression of dismay, and laid it upon +the table. + +"No, no, my dear fellow, there is no cause for alarm. It is +not upon this occasion the instrument of evil, but it will rather +prove to be the key which will unlock our mystery. On this +syringe I base all my hopes. I have just returned from a small +scouting expedition and everything is favourable. Eat a good +breakfast, Watson, for I propose to get upon Dr. Armstrong's +trail to-day, and once on it I will not stop for rest or food +until I run him to his burrow." + +"In that case," said I, "we had best carry our breakfast with us, +for he is making an early start. His carriage is at the door." + +"Never mind. Let him go. He will be clever if he can drive +where I cannot follow him. When you have finished come +downstairs with me, and I will introduce you to a detective who +is a very eminent specialist in the work that lies before us." + +When we descended I followed Holmes into the stable yard, where +he opened the door of a loose-box and led out a squat, lop-eared, +white-and-tan dog, something between a beagle and a foxhound. + +"Let me introduce you to Pompey," said he. "Pompey is the +pride of the local draghounds, no very great flier, as his build +will show, but a staunch hound on a scent. Well, Pompey, you may +not be fast, but I expect you will be too fast for a couple of +middle-aged London gentlemen, so I will take the liberty of +fastening this leather leash to your collar. Now, boy, come +along, and show what you can do." He led him across to the +doctor's door. The dog sniffed round for an instant, and then +with a shrill whine of excitement started off down the street, +tugging at his leash in his efforts to go faster. In half an hour, +we were clear of the town and hastening down a country road. + +"What have you done, Holmes?" I asked. + +"A threadbare and venerable device, but useful upon occasion. +I walked into the doctor's yard this morning and shot my +syringe full of aniseed over the hind wheel. A draghound will +follow aniseed from here to John o' Groat's, and our friend +Armstrong would have to drive through the Cam before he would +shake Pompey off his trail. Oh, the cunning rascal! +This is how he gave me the slip the other night." + +The dog had suddenly turned out of the main road into a +grass-grown lane. Half a mile farther this opened into another +broad road, and the trail turned hard to the right in the +direction of the town, which we had just quitted. The road took +a sweep to the south of the town and continued in the opposite +direction to that in which we started. + +"This DETOUR has been entirely for our benefit, then?" said +Holmes. "No wonder that my inquiries among those villages led +to nothing. The doctor has certainly played the game for all +it is worth, and one would like to know the reason for such +elaborate deception. This should be the village of Trumpington +to the right of us. And, by Jove! here is the brougham coming +round the corner. Quick, Watson, quick, or we are done!" + +He sprang through a gate into a field, dragging the +reluctant Pompey after him. We had hardly got under the shelter +of the hedge when the carriage rattled past. I caught a glimpse +of Dr. Armstrong within, his shoulders bowed, his head sunk on +his hands, the very image of distress. I could tell by my +companion's graver face that he also had seen. + +"I fear there is some dark ending to our quest," said he. +"It cannot be long before we know it. Come, Pompey! +Ah, it is the cottage in the field!" + +There could be no doubt that we had reached the end of our +journey. Pompey ran about and whined eagerly outside the gate +where the marks of the brougham's wheels were still to be seen. +A footpath led across to the lonely cottage. Holmes tied the dog +to the hedge, and we hastened onwards. My friend knocked at the +little rustic door, and knocked again without response. And yet +the cottage was not deserted, for a low sound came to our ears -- +a kind of drone of misery and despair, which was indescribably +melancholy. Holmes paused irresolute, and then he glanced back +at the road which we had just traversed. A brougham was coming +down it, and there could be no mistaking those grey horses. + +"By Jove, the doctor is coming back!" cried Holmes. "That +settles it. We are bound to see what it means before he comes." + +He opened the door and we stepped into the hall. The droning +sound swelled louder upon our ears until it became one long, +deep wail of distress. It came from upstairs. Holmes darted +up and I followed him. He pushed open a half-closed door +and we both stood appalled at the sight before us. + +A woman, young and beautiful, was lying dead upon the bed. +Her calm, pale face, with dim, wide-opened blue eyes, looked +upward from amid a great tangle of golden hair. At the foot of +the bed, half sitting, half kneeling, his face buried in the +clothes, was a young man, whose frame was racked by his sobs. +So absorbed was he by his bitter grief that he never looked +up until Holmes's hand was on his shoulder. + +"Are you Mr. Godfrey Staunton?" + +"Yes, yes; I am -- but you are too late. She is dead." + +The man was so dazed that he could not be made to understand +that we were anything but doctors who had been sent to his +assistance. Holmes was endeavouring to utter a few words of +consolation, and to explain the alarm which had been caused to +his friends by his sudden disappearance, when there was a step +upon the stairs, and there was the heavy, stern, questioning +face of Dr. Armstrong at the door. + +"So, gentlemen," said he, "you have attained your end, and +have certainly chosen a particularly delicate moment for your +intrusion. I would not brawl in the presence of death, but I can +assure you that if I were a younger man your monstrous conduct +would not pass with impunity." + +"Excuse me, Dr. Armstrong, I think we are a little at +cross-purposes," said my friend, with dignity. "If you could +step downstairs with us we may each be able to give some light +to the other upon this miserable affair." + +A minute later the grim doctor and ourselves were in the +sitting-room below. + +"Well, sir?" said he. + +"I wish you to understand, in the first place, that I am not +employed by Lord Mount-James, and that my sympathies in this +matter are entirely against that nobleman. When a man is lost it +is my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter +ends so far as I am concerned; and so long as there is nothing +criminal, I am much more anxious to hush up private scandals than +to give them publicity. If, as I imagine, there is no breach of +the law in this matter, you can absolutely depend upon my discretion +and my co-operation in keeping the facts out of the papers." + +Dr. Armstrong took a quick step forward and wrung Holmes by the hand. + +"You are a good fellow," said he. "I had misjudged you. +I thank Heaven that my compunction at leaving poor Staunton +all alone in this plight caused me to turn my carriage back, +and so to make your acquaintance. Knowing as much as you do, +the situation is very easily explained. A year ago Godfrey Staunton +lodged in London for a time, and became passionately attached to +his landlady's daughter, whom he married. She was as good as she +was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good. No man need +be ashamed of such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir to this +crabbed old nobleman, and it was quite certain that the news of +his marriage would have been the end of his inheritance. I knew +the lad well, and I loved him for his many excellent qualities. +I did all I could to help him to keep things straight. We did +our very best to keep the thing from everyone, for when once such +a whisper gets about it is not long before everyone has heard it. +Thanks to this lonely cottage and his own discretion, Godfrey has +up to now succeeded. Their secret was known to no one save to me +and to one excellent servant who has at present gone for +assistance to Trumpington. But at last there came a terrible +blow in the shape of dangerous illness to his wife. It was +consumption of the most virulent kind. The poor boy was half +crazed with grief, and yet he had to go to London to play this +match, for he could not get out of it without explanations which +would expose his secret. I tried to cheer him up by a wire, and +he sent me one in reply imploring me to do all I could. This was +the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way to have +seen. I did not tell him how urgent the danger was, for I knew +that he could do no good here, but I sent the truth to the girl's +father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey. +The result was that he came straight away in a state bordering on +frenzy, and has remained in the same state, kneeling at the end +of her bed, until this morning death put an end to her sufferings. +That is all, Mr. Holmes, and I am sure that I can rely upon your +discretion and that of your friend." + +Holmes grasped the doctor's hand. + +"Come, Watson," said he, and we passed from that house of grief +into the pale sunlight of the winter day. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 28 SEPTEMBER, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +XII. --- The Adventure of the Abbey Grange. + + +It was on a bitterly cold and frosty morning during the winter +of '97 that I was awakened by a tugging at my shoulder. It was +Holmes. The candle in his hand shone upon his eager, stooping +face and told me at a glance that something was amiss. + +"Come, Watson, come!" he cried. "The game is afoot. Not a word! +Into your clothes and come!" + +Ten minutes later we were both in a cab and rattling through the +silent streets on our way to Charing Cross Station. The first +faint winter's dawn was beginning to appear, and we could dimly +see the occasional figure of an early workman as he passed us, +blurred and indistinct in the opalescent London reek. Holmes +nestled in silence into his heavy coat, and I was glad to do the +same, for the air was most bitter and neither of us had broken +our fast. It was not until we had consumed some hot tea at the +station, and taken our places in the Kentish train, that we were +sufficiently thawed, he to speak and I to listen. Holmes drew a +note from his pocket and read it aloud:-- + + "Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent, + "3.30 a.m. +"MY DEAR MR. HOLMES, --- I should be very glad of your immediate +assistance in what promises to be a most remarkable case. +It is something quite in your line. Except for releasing the lady +I will see that everything is kept exactly as I have found it, +but I beg you not to lose an instant, as it is difficult to leave +Sir Eustace there. + "Yours faithfully, STANLEY HOPKINS." + +"Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on each occasion +his summons has been entirely justified," said Holmes. +"I fancy that every one of his cases has found its way into your +collection, and I must admit, Watson, that you have some power +of selection which atones for much which I deplore in your +narratives. Your fatal habit of looking at everything from the +point of view of a story instead of as a scientific exercise has +ruined what might have been an instructive and even classical +series of demonstrations. You slur over work of the utmost +finesse and delicacy in order to dwell upon sensational details +which may excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader." + +"Why do you not write them yourself?" I said, with some bitterness. + +"I will, my dear Watson, I will. At present I am, as you know, +fairly busy, but I propose to devote my declining years to the +composition of a text-book which shall focus the whole art of +detection into one volume. Our present research appears to be +a case of murder." + +"You think this Sir Eustace is dead, then?" + +"I should say so. Hopkins's writing shows considerable +agitation, and he is not an emotional man. Yes, I gather there +has been violence, and that the body is left for our inspection. +A mere suicide would not have caused him to send for me. +As to the release of the lady, it would appear that she has been +locked in her room during the tragedy. We are moving in high life, +Watson; crackling paper, `E.B.' monogram, coat-of-arms, +picturesque address. I think that friend Hopkins will live up +to his reputation and that we shall have an interesting +morning. The crime was committed before twelve last night." + +"How can you possibly tell?" + +"By an inspection of the trains and by reckoning the time. +The local police had to be called in, they had to communicate +with Scotland Yard, Hopkins had to go out, and he in turn had +to send for me. All that makes a fair night's work. +Well, here we are at Chislehurst Station, and we shall soon +set our doubts at rest." + +A drive of a couple of miles through narrow country lanes +brought us to a park gate, which was opened for us by an old +lodge-keeper, whose haggard face bore the reflection of some +great disaster. The avenue ran through a noble park, between +lines of ancient elms, and ended in a low, widespread house, +pillared in front after the fashion of Palladio. The central +part was evidently of a great age and shrouded in ivy, but the +large windows showed that modern changes had been carried out, +and one wing of the house appeared to be entirely new. +The youthful figure and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley +Hopkins confronted us in the open doorway. + +"I'm very glad you have come, Mr. Holmes. And you too, +Dr. Watson! But, indeed, if I had my time over again I +should not have troubled you, for since the lady has come to +herself she has given so clear an account of the affair that +there is not much left for us to do. You remember that +Lewisham gang of burglars?" + +"What, the three Randalls?" + +"Exactly; the father and two sons. It's their work. +I have not a doubt of it. They did a job at Sydenham a +fortnight ago, and were seen and described. Rather cool +to do another so soon and so near, but it is they, +beyond all doubt. It's a hanging matter this time." + +"Sir Eustace is dead, then?" + +"Yes; his head was knocked in with his own poker." + +"Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me." + +"Exactly -- one of the richest men in Kent. +Lady Brackenstall is in the morning-room. Poor lady, +she has had a most dreadful experience. She seemed half +dead when I saw her first. I think you had best see her +and hear her account of the facts. Then we will examine +the dining-room together." + +Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person. Seldom have I seen +so graceful a figure, so womanly a presence, and so beautiful +a face. She was a blonde, golden-haired, blue-eyed, and would, +no doubt, have had the perfect complexion which goes with such +colouring had not her recent experience left her drawn and +haggard. Her sufferings were physical as well as mental, for +over one eye rose a hideous, plum-coloured swelling, which her +maid, a tall, austere woman, was bathing assiduously with +vinegar and water. The lady lay back exhausted upon a couch, +but her quick, observant gaze as we entered the room, and the +alert expression of her beautiful features, showed that neither +her wits nor her courage had been shaken by her terrible +experience. She was enveloped in a loose dressing-gown of blue +and silver, but a black sequin-covered dinner-dress was hung +upon the couch beside her. + +"I have told you all that happened, Mr. Hopkins," she said, +wearily; "could you not repeat it for me? Well, if you think +it necessary, I will tell these gentlemen what occurred. +Have they been in the dining-room yet?" + +"I thought they had better hear your ladyship's story first." + +"I shall be glad when you can arrange matters. It is horrible +to me to think of him still lying there." She shuddered and +buried her face in her hands. As she did so the loose gown +fell back from her forearms. Holmes uttered an exclamation. + +"You have other injuries, madam! What is this?" +Two vivid red spots stood out on one of the white, round limbs. +She hastily covered it. + +"It is nothing. It has no connection with the hideous business +of last night. If you and your friend will sit down I will +tell you all I can. + +"I am the wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. I have been married +about a year. I suppose that it is no use my attempting to +conceal that our marriage has not been a happy one. +I fear that all our neighbours would tell you that, even if I +were to attempt to deny it. Perhaps the fault may be partly mine. +I was brought up in the freer, less conventional atmosphere of +South Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties and +its primness, is not congenial to me. But the main reason lies +in the one fact which is notorious to everyone, and that is that +Sir Eustace was a confirmed drunkard. To be with such a man for +an hour is unpleasant. Can you imagine what it means for a +sensitive and high-spirited woman to be tied to him for day and +night? It is a sacrilege, a crime, a villainy to hold that such +a marriage is binding. I say that these monstrous laws of yours +will bring a curse upon the land -- Heaven will not let such +wickedness endure." For an instant she sat up, her cheeks flushed, +and her eyes blazing from under the terrible mark upon her brow. +Then the strong, soothing hand of the austere maid drew her head +down on to the cushion, and the wild anger died away into +passionate sobbing. At last she continued:-- + +"I will tell you about last night. You are aware, perhaps, +that in this house all servants sleep in the modern wing. +This central block is made up of the dwelling-rooms, with the +kitchen behind and our bedroom above. My maid Theresa sleeps +above my room. There is no one else, and no sound could alarm +those who are in the farther wing. This must have been well +known to the robbers, or they would not have acted as they did. + +"Sir Eustace retired about half-past ten. The servants had +already gone to their quarters. Only my maid was up, and she +had remained in her room at the top of the house until I needed +her services. I sat until after eleven in this room, absorbed +in a book. Then I walked round to see that all was right before +I went upstairs. It was my custom to do this myself, for, +as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted. +I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the gun-room, +the billiard-room, the drawing-room, and finally the dining-room. +As I approached the window, which is covered with thick curtains, +I suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face and realized that it +was open. I flung the curtain aside and found myself face to +face with a broad-shouldered, elderly man who had just stepped +into the room. The window is a long French one, which really +forms a door leading to the lawn. I held my bedroom candle +lit in my hand, and, by its light, behind the first man I saw +two others, who were in the act of entering. I stepped back, +but the fellow was on me in an instant. He caught me first by +the wrist and then by the throat. I opened my mouth to scream, +but he struck me a savage blow with his fist over the eye, +and felled me to the ground. I must have been unconscious for +a few minutes, for when I came to myself I found that they +had torn down the bell-rope and had secured me tightly to the +oaken chair which stands at the head of the dining-room table. +I was so firmly bound that I could not move, and a handkerchief +round my mouth prevented me from uttering any sound. It was at +this instant that my unfortunate husband entered the room. +He had evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he came +prepared for such a scene as he found. He was dressed in his +shirt and trousers, with his favourite blackthorn cudgel in his +hand. He rushed at one of the burglars, but another -- it was +the elderly man -- stooped, picked the poker out of the grate, +and struck him a horrible blow as he passed. He fell without +a groan, and never moved again. I fainted once more, but again +it could only have been a very few minutes during which I was +insensible. When I opened my eyes I found that they had +collected the silver from the sideboard, and they had drawn +a bottle of wine which stood there. Each of them had a glass +in his hand. I have already told you, have I not, that one +was elderly, with a beard, and the others young, hairless lads. +They might have been a father with his two sons. They talked +together in whispers. Then they came over and made sure that +I was still securely bound. Finally they withdrew, closing +the window after them. It was quite a quarter of an hour +before I got my mouth free. When I did so my screams brought +the maid to my assistance. The other servants were soon alarmed, +and we sent for the local police, who instantly communicated +with London. That is really all that I can tell you, gentlemen, +and I trust that it will not be necessary for me to go over so +painful a story again." + +"Any questions, Mr. Holmes?" asked Hopkins. + +"I will not impose any further tax upon Lady Brackenstall's +patience and time," said Holmes. "Before I go into the +dining-room I should like to hear your experience." +He looked at the maid. + +"I saw the men before ever they came into the house," said she. +"As I sat by my bedroom window I saw three men in the moonlight +down by the lodge gate yonder, but I thought nothing of it at +the time. It was more than an hour after that I heard my +mistress scream, and down I ran, to find her, poor lamb, just as +she says, and him on the floor with his blood and brains over +the room. It was enough to drive a woman out of her wits, tied +there, and her very dress spotted with him; but she never wanted +courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of Adelaide, and Lady Brackenstall +of Abbey Grange hasn't learned new ways. You've questioned her +long enough, you gentlemen, and now she is coming to her own room, +just with her old Theresa, to get the rest that she badly needs." + +With a motherly tenderness the gaunt woman put her arm round her +mistress and led her from the room. + +"She has been with her all her life," said Hopkins. +"Nursed her as a baby, and came with her to England +when they first left Australia eighteen months ago. +Theresa Wright is her name, and the kind of maid you don't +pick up nowadays. This way, Mr. Holmes, if you please!" + +The keen interest had passed out of Holmes's expressive face, +and I knew that with the mystery all the charm of the case had +departed. There still remained an arrest to be effected, +but what were these commonplace rogues that he should soil his +hands with them? An abstruse and learned specialist who finds +that he has been called in for a case of measles would experience +something of the annoyance which I read in my friend's eyes. +Yet the scene in the dining-room of the Abbey Grange was +sufficiently strange to arrest his attention and to recall +his waning interest. + +It was a very large and high chamber, with carved oak ceiling, +oaken panelling, and a fine array of deer's heads and ancient +weapons around the walls. At the farther end from the door was +the high French window of which we had heard. Three smaller +windows on the right-hand side filled the apartment with cold +winter sunshine. On the left was a large, deep fireplace, with +a massive, over-hanging oak mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace +was a heavy oaken chair with arms and cross-bars at the bottom. +In and out through the open woodwork was woven a crimson cord, +which was secured at each side to the crosspiece below. +In releasing the lady the cord had been slipped off her, +but the knots with which it had been secured still remained. +These details only struck our attention afterwards, for our +thoughts were entirely absorbed by the terrible object which +lay upon the tiger-skin hearthrug in front of the fire. + +It was the body of a tall, well-made man, about forty years of +age. He lay upon his back, his face upturned, with his white +teeth grinning through his short black beard. His two clenched +hands were raised above his head, and a heavy blackthorn stick +lay across them. His dark, handsome, aquiline features were +convulsed into a spasm of vindictive hatred, which had set his +dead face in a terribly fiendish expression. He had evidently +been in his bed when the alarm had broken out, for he wore a +foppish embroidered night-shirt, and his bare feet projected from +his trousers. His head was horribly injured, and the whole room +bore witness to the savage ferocity of the blow which had struck +him down. Beside him lay the heavy poker, bent into a curve by +the concussion. Holmes examined both it and the indescribable +wreck which it had wrought. + +"He must be a powerful man, this elder Randall," he remarked. + +"Yes," said Hopkins. "I have some record of the fellow, +and he is a rough customer." + +"You should have no difficulty in getting him." + +"Not the slightest. We have been on the look-out for him, +and there was some idea that he had got away to America. +Now that we know the gang are here I don't see how they +can escape. We have the news at every seaport already, +and a reward will be offered before evening. What beats +me is how they could have done so mad a thing, knowing +that the lady could describe them, and that we could not +fail to recognise the description." + +"Exactly. One would have expected that they would have +silenced Lady Brackenstall as well." + +"They may not have realized," I suggested, "that she had +recovered from her faint." + +"That is likely enough. If she seemed to be senseless they +would not take her life. What about this poor fellow, Hopkins? +I seem to have heard some queer stories about him." + +"He was a good-hearted man when he was sober, but a perfect +fiend when he was drunk, or rather when he was half drunk, +for he seldom really went the whole way. The devil seemed +to be in him at such times, and he was capable of anything. +From what I hear, in spite of all his wealth and his title, +he very nearly came our way once or twice. There was a +scandal about his drenching a dog with petroleum and setting +it on fire -- her ladyship's dog, to make the matter worse -- +and that was only hushed up with difficulty. Then he threw +a decanter at that maid, Theresa Wright; there was trouble +about that. On the whole, and between ourselves, it will be +a brighter house without him. What are you looking at now?" + +Holmes was down on his knees examining with great attention the +knots upon the red cord with which the lady had been secured. +Then he carefully scrutinized the broken and frayed end where +it had snapped off when the burglar had dragged it down. + +"When this was pulled down the bell in the kitchen must have +rung loudly," he remarked. + +"No one could hear it. The kitchen stands right at the back +of the house." + +"How did the burglar know no one would hear it? How dared he +pull at a bell-rope in that reckless fashion?" + +"Exactly, Mr. Holmes, exactly. You put the very question which +I have asked myself again and again. There can be no doubt that +this fellow must have known the house and its habits. He must +have perfectly understood that the servants would all be in bed +at that comparatively early hour, and that no one could possibly +hear a bell ring in the kitchen. Therefore he must have been in +close league with one of the servants. Surely that is evident. +But there are eight servants, and all of good character." + +"Other things being equal," said Holmes, "one would suspect the +one at whose head the master threw a decanter. And yet that +would involve treachery towards the mistress to whom this woman +seems devoted. Well, well, the point is a minor one, and when +you have Randall you will probably find no difficulty in +securing his accomplice. The lady's story certainly seems to be +corroborated, if it needed corroboration, by every detail which +we see before us." He walked to the French window and threw it +open. "There are no signs here, but the ground is iron hard, +and one would not expect them. I see that these candles on the +mantelpiece have been lighted." + +"Yes; it was by their light and that of the lady's bedroom +candle that the burglars saw their way about." + +"And what did they take?" + +"Well, they did not take much -- only half-a-dozen articles of +plate off the sideboard. Lady Brackenstall thinks that they +were themselves so disturbed by the death of Sir Eustace that +they did not ransack the house as they would otherwise have done." + +"No doubt that is true. And yet they drank some wine, I understand." + +"To steady their own nerves." + +"Exactly. These three glasses upon the sideboard have been +untouched, I suppose?" + +"Yes; and the bottle stands as they left it." + +"Let us look at it. Halloa! halloa! what is this?" + +The three glasses were grouped together, all of them tinged +with wine, and one of them containing some dregs of bees-wing. +The bottle stood near them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay +a long, deeply-stained cork. Its appearance and the dust upon +the bottle showed that it was no common vintage which the +murderers had enjoyed. + +A change had come over Holmes's manner. He had lost his listless +expression, and again I saw an alert light of interest in his keen, +deep-set eyes. He raised the cork and examined it minutely. + +"How did they draw it?" he asked. + +Hopkins pointed to a half-opened drawer. In it lay some table +linen and a large cork-screw. + +"Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw was used?" + +"No; you remember that she was senseless at the moment when the +bottle was opened." + +"Quite so. As a matter of fact that screw was NOT used. +This bottle was opened by a pocket-screw, probably contained +in a knife, and not more than an inch and a half long. If you +examine the top of the cork you will observe that the screw was +driven in three times before the cork was extracted. It has never +been transfixed. This long screw would have transfixed it and +drawn it with a single pull. When you catch this fellow you will +find that he has one of these multiplex knives in his possession." + +"Excellent!" said Hopkins. + +"But these glasses do puzzle me, I confess. Lady Brackenstall +actually SAW the three men drinking, did she not?" + +"Yes; she was clear about that." + +"Then there is an end of it. What more is to be said? +And yet you must admit that the three glasses are very +remarkable, Hopkins. What, you see nothing remarkable! +Well, well, let it pass. Perhaps when a man has special +knowledge and special powers like my own it rather encourages +him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand. +Of course, it must be a mere chance about the glasses. +Well, good morning, Hopkins. I don't see that I can be of +any use to you, and you appear to have your case very clear. +You will let me know when Randall is arrested, and any further +developments which may occur. I trust that I shall soon have +to congratulate you upon a successful conclusion. Come, Watson, +I fancy that we may employ ourselves more profitably at home." + +During our return journey I could see by Holmes's face that +he was much puzzled by something which he had observed. +Every now and then, by an effort, he would throw off the +impression and talk as if the matter were clear, but then his +doubts would settle down upon him again, and his knitted brows +and abstracted eyes would show that his thoughts had gone back +once more to the great dining-room of the Abbey Grange in which +this midnight tragedy had been enacted. At last, by a sudden +impulse, just as our train was crawling out of a suburban station, +he sprang on to the platform and pulled me out after him. + +"Excuse me, my dear fellow," said he, as we watched the rear +carriages of our train disappearing round a curve; "I am sorry +to make you the victim of what may seem a mere whim, but on my +life, Watson, I simply CAN'T leave that case in this condition. +Every instinct that I possess cries out against it. +It's wrong -- it's all wrong -- I'll swear that it's wrong. +And yet the lady's story was complete, the maid's corroboration +was sufficient, the detail was fairly exact. What have I to put +against that? Three wine-glasses, that is all. But if I had +not taken things for granted, if I had examined everything with the +care which I would have shown had we approached the case DE NOVO +and had no cut-and-dried story to warp my mind, would I not then +have found something more definite to go upon? Of course I should. +Sit down on this bench, Watson, until a train for Chislehurst +arrives, and allow me to lay the evidence before you, imploring +you in the first instance to dismiss from your mind the idea that +anything which the maid or her mistress may have said must +necessarily be true. The lady's charming personality must not +be permitted to warp our judgment. + +"Surely there are details in her story which, if we looked at it +in cold blood, would excite our suspicion. These burglars made +a considerable haul at Sydenham a fortnight ago. Some account +of them and of their appearance was in the papers, and would +naturally occur to anyone who wished to invent a story in which +imaginary robbers should play a part. As a matter of fact, +burglars who have done a good stroke of business are, as a rule, +only too glad to enjoy the proceeds in peace and quiet without +embarking on another perilous undertaking. Again, it is unusual +for burglars to operate at so early an hour; it is unusual for +burglars to strike a lady to prevent her screaming, since one +would imagine that was the sure way to make her scream; it is +unusual for them to commit murder when their numbers are +sufficient to overpower one man; it is unusual for them to be +content with a limited plunder when there is much more within +their reach; and finally I should say that it was very unusual +for such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do all these +unusuals strike you, Watson?" + +"Their cumulative effect is certainly considerable, and yet each +of them is quite possible in itself. The most unusual thing of all, +as it seems to me, is that the lady should be tied to the chair." + +"Well, I am not so clear about that, Watson; for it is evident +that they must either kill her or else secure her in such a +way that she could not give immediate notice of their escape. +But at any rate I have shown, have I not, that there is a certain +element of improbability about the lady's story? And now +on the top of this comes the incident of the wine-glasses." + +"What about the wine-glasses?" + +"Can you see them in your mind's eye?" + +"I see them clearly." + +"We are told that three men drank from them. +Does that strike you as likely?" + +"Why not? There was wine in each glass." + +"Exactly; but there was bees-wing only in one glass. You must +have noticed that fact. What does that suggest to your mind?" + +"The last glass filled would be most likely to contain bees-wing." + +"Not at all. The bottle was full of it, and it is inconceivable +that the first two glasses were clear and the third heavily +charged with it. There are two possible explanations, and only +two. One is that after the second glass was filled the bottle +was violently agitated, and so the third glass received the +bees-wing. That does not appear probable. No, no; I am sure +that I am right." + +"What, then, do you suppose?" + +"That only two glasses were used, and that the dregs of +both were poured into a third glass, so as to give the false +impression that three people had been here. In that way all +the bees-wing would be in the last glass, would it not? Yes, +I am convinced that this is so. But if I have hit upon the true +explanation of this one small phenomenon, then in an instant the +case rises from the commonplace to the exceedingly remarkable, +for it can only mean that Lady Brackenstall and her maid have +deliberately lied to us, that not one word of their story is to +be believed, that they have some very strong reason for covering +the real criminal, and that we must construct our case for +ourselves without any help from them. That is the mission which +now lies before us, and here, Watson, is the Chislehurst train." + +The household of the Abbey Grange were much surprised at our +return, but Sherlock Holmes, finding that Stanley Hopkins had +gone off to report to head-quarters, took possession of the +dining-room, locked the door upon the inside, and devoted +himself for two hours to one of those minute and laborious +investigations which formed the solid basis on which his +brilliant edifices of deduction were reared. Seated in a +corner like an interested student who observes the demonstration +of his professor, I followed every step of that remarkable research. +The window, the curtains, the carpet, the chair, the rope -- each +in turn was minutely examined and duly pondered. The body of +the unfortunate baronet had been removed, but all else remained +as we had seen it in the morning. Then, to my astonishment, +Holmes climbed up on to the massive mantelpiece. Far above his +head hung the few inches of red cord which were still attached +to the wire. For a long time he gazed upward at it, and then in +an attempt to get nearer to it he rested his knee upon a wooden +bracket on the wall. This brought his hand within a few inches +of the broken end of the rope, but it was not this so much as +the bracket itself which seemed to engage his attention. +Finally he sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction. + +"It's all right, Watson," said he. "We have got our case -- +one of the most remarkable in our collection. But, dear me, +how slow-witted I have been, and how nearly I have committed +the blunder of my lifetime! Now, I think that with a few +missing links my chain is almost complete." + +"You have got your men?" + +"Man, Watson, man. Only one, but a very formidable person. +Strong as a lion -- witness the blow that bent that poker. +Six foot three in height, active as a squirrel, dexterous +with his fingers; finally, remarkably quick-witted, for this +whole ingenious story is of his concoction. Yes, Watson, +we have come upon the handiwork of a very remarkable individual. +And yet in that bell-rope he has given us a clue which should +not have left us a doubt." + +"Where was the clue?" + +"Well, if you were to pull down a bell-rope, Watson, where would +you expect it to break? Surely at the spot where it is attached +to the wire. Why should it break three inches from the top as +this one has done?" + +"Because it is frayed there?" + +"Exactly. This end, which we can examine, is frayed. He was +cunning enough to do that with his knife. But the other end is +not frayed. You could not observe that from here, but if you +were on the mantelpiece you would see that it is cut clean off +without any mark of fraying whatever. You can reconstruct what +occurred. The man needed the rope. He would not tear it down +for fear of giving the alarm by ringing the bell. What did he do? +He sprang up on the mantelpiece, could not quite reach it, +put his knee on the bracket -- you will see the impression in the +dust -- and so got his knife to bear upon the cord. I could not +reach the place by at least three inches, from which I infer +that he is at least three inches a bigger man than I. Look at +that mark upon the seat of the oaken chair! What is it?" + +"Blood." + +"Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone puts the lady's story out +of court. If she were seated on the chair when the crime was +done, how comes that mark? No, no; she was placed in the chair +AFTER the death of her husband. I'll wager that the black dress +shows a corresponding mark to this. We have not yet met our +Waterloo, Watson, but this is our Marengo, for it begins in +defeat and ends in victory. I should like now to have a few +words with the nurse Theresa. We must be wary for awhile, +if we are to get the information which we want." + +She was an interesting person, this stern Australian nurse. +Taciturn, suspicious, ungracious, it took some time before +Holmes's pleasant manner and frank acceptance of all that she +said thawed her into a corresponding amiability. She did not +attempt to conceal her hatred for her late employer. + +"Yes, sir, it is true that he threw the decanter at me. +I heard him call my mistress a name, and I told him that he +would not dare to speak so if her brother had been there. +Then it was that he threw it at me. He might have thrown a +dozen if he had but left my bonny bird alone. He was for ever +illtreating her, and she too proud to complain. She will not +even tell me all that he has done to her. She never told me +of those marks on her arm that you saw this morning, but I know +very well that they come from a stab with a hat-pin. +The sly fiend -- Heaven forgive me that I should speak of him so, +now that he is dead, but a fiend he was if ever one walked the earth. +He was all honey when first we met him, only eighteen months ago, +and we both feel as if it were eighteen years. She had only just +arrived in London. Yes, it was her first voyage -- she had never +been from home before. He won her with his title and his money +and his false London ways. If she made a mistake she has paid +for it, if ever a woman did. What month did we meet him? Well, +I tell you it was just after we arrived. We arrived in June, +and it was July. They were married in January of last year. +Yes, she is down in the morning-room again, and I have no doubt +she will see you, but you must not ask too much of her, for she +has gone through all that flesh and blood will stand." + +Lady Brackenstall was reclining on the same couch, but looked +brighter than before. The maid had entered with us, and began +once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow. + +"I hope," said the lady, "that you have not come to +cross-examine me again?" + +"No," Holmes answered, in his gentlest voice, "I will not cause +you any unnecessary trouble, Lady Brackenstall, and my whole +desire is to make things easy for you, for I am convinced that +you are a much-tried woman. If you will treat me as a friend +and trust me you may find that I will justify your trust." + +"What do you want me to do?" + +"To tell me the truth." + +"Mr. Holmes!" + +"No, no, Lady Brackenstall, it is no use. You may have heard +of any little reputation which I possess. I will stake it all +on the fact that your story is an absolute fabrication." + +Mistress and maid were both staring at Holmes with pale faces +and frightened eyes. + +"You are an impudent fellow!" cried Theresa. "Do you mean to +say that my mistress has told a lie?" + +Holmes rose from his chair. + +"Have you nothing to tell me?" + +"I have told you everything." + +"Think once more, Lady Brackenstall. Would it not be better +to be frank?" + +For an instant there was hesitation in her beautiful face. +Then some new strong thought caused it to set like a mask. + +"I have told you all I know." + +Holmes took his hat and shrugged his shoulders. "I am sorry," +he said, and without another word we left the room and the +house. There was a pond in the park, and to this my friend +led the way. It was frozen over, but a single hole was left +for the convenience of a solitary swan. Holmes gazed at it and +then passed on to the lodge gate. There he scribbled a short +note for Stanley Hopkins and left it with the lodge-keeper. + +"It may be a hit or it may be a miss, but we are bound to do +something for friend Hopkins, just to justify this second visit," +said he. "I will not quite take him into my confidence yet. +I think our next scene of operations must be the shipping office +of the Adelaide-Southampton line, which stands at the end of +Pall Mall, if I remember right. There is a second line of +steamers which connect South Australia with England, but we +will draw the larger cover first." + +Holmes's card sent in to the manager ensured instant attention, +and he was not long in acquiring all the information which he +needed. In June of '95 only one of their line had reached a +home port. It was the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, their largest and best +boat. A reference to the passenger list showed that Miss Fraser +of Adelaide, with her maid, had made the voyage in her. The +boat was now on her way to Australia, somewhere to the south of +the Suez Canal. Her officers were the same as in '95, with one +exception. The first officer, Mr. Jack Croker, had been made a +captain and was to take charge of their new ship, the BASS ROCK, +sailing in two days' time from Southampton. He lived at Sydenham, +but he was likely to be in that morning for instructions, if we +cared to wait for him. + +No; Mr. Holmes had no desire to see him, but would be glad to +know more about his record and character. + +His record was magnificent. There was not an officer in the +fleet to touch him. As to his character, he was reliable on +duty, but a wild, desperate fellow off the deck of his ship, +hot-headed, excitable, but loyal, honest, and kind-hearted. +That was the pith of the information with which Holmes left the +office of the Adelaide-Southampton company. Thence he drove to +Scotland Yard, but instead of entering he sat in his cab with +his brows drawn down, lost in profound thought. Finally he +drove round to the Charing Cross telegraph office, sent off a +message, and then, at last, we made for Baker Street once more. + +"No, I couldn't do it, Watson," said he, as we re-entered our +room. "Once that warrant was made out nothing on earth would +save him. Once or twice in my career I feel that I have done +more real harm by my discovery of the criminal than ever he had +done by his crime. I have learned caution now, and I had rather +play tricks with the law of England than with my own conscience. +Let us know a little more before we act." + +Before evening we had a visit from Inspector Stanley Hopkins. +Things were not going very well with him. + +"I believe that you are a wizard, Mr. Holmes. I really do +sometimes think that you have powers that are not human. +Now, how on earth could you know that the stolen silver was +at the bottom of that pond?" + +"I didn't know it." + +"But you told me to examine it." + +"You got it, then?" + +"Yes, I got it." + +"I am very glad if I have helped you." + +"But you haven't helped me. You have made the affair far more +difficult. What sort of burglars are they who steal silver and +then throw it into the nearest pond?" + +"It was certainly rather eccentric behaviour. I was merely +going on the idea that if the silver had been taken by persons +who did not want it, who merely took it for a blind as it were, +then they would naturally be anxious to get rid of it." + +"But why should such an idea cross your mind?" + +"Well, I thought it was possible. When they came out through +the French window there was the pond, with one tempting little +hole in the ice, right in front of their noses. Could there be +a better hiding-place?" + +"Ah, a hiding-place -- that is better!" cried Stanley Hopkins. +"Yes, yes, I see it all now! It was early, there were folk +upon the roads, they were afraid of being seen with the silver, +so they sank it in the pond, intending to return for it when +the coast was clear. Excellent, Mr. Holmes -- that is better +than your idea of a blind." + +"Quite so; you have got an admirable theory. I have no doubt +that my own ideas were quite wild, but you must admit that they +have ended in discovering the silver." + +"Yes, sir, yes. It was all your doing. But I have had +a bad set-back." + +"A set-back?" + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes. The Randall gang were arrested in New York +this morning." + +"Dear me, Hopkins! That is certainly rather against your +theory that they committed a murder in Kent last night." + +"It is fatal, Mr. Holmes, absolutely fatal. Still, there are +other gangs of three besides the Randalls, or it may be some +new gang of which the police have never heard." + +"Quite so; it is perfectly possible. What, are you off?" + +"Yes, Mr. Holmes; there is no rest for me until I have got to the +bottom of the business. I suppose you have no hint to give me?" + +"I have given you one." + +"Which?" + +"Well, I suggested a blind." + +"But why, Mr. Holmes, why?" + +"Ah, that's the question, of course. But I commend the idea +to your mind. You might possibly find that there was something +in it. You won't stop for dinner? Well, good-bye, and let us +know how you get on." + +Dinner was over and the table cleared before Holmes alluded to +the matter again. He had lit his pipe and held his slippered +feet to the cheerful blaze of the fire. Suddenly he looked at +his watch. + +"I expect developments, Watson." + +"When?" + +"Now -- within a few minutes. I dare say you thought I acted +rather badly to Stanley Hopkins just now?" + +"I trust your judgment." + +"A very sensible reply, Watson. You must look at it this way: +what I know is unofficial; what he knows is official. I have +the right to private judgment, but he has none. He must disclose +all, or he is a traitor to his service. In a doubtful case I +would not put him in so painful a position, and so I reserve my +information until my own mind is clear upon the matter." + +"But when will that be?" + +"The time has come. You will now be present at the last scene +of a remarkable little drama." + +There was a sound upon the stairs, and our door was opened to +admit as fine a specimen of manhood as ever passed through it. +He was a very tall young man, golden-moustached, blue-eyed, +with a skin which had been burned by tropical suns, and a springy +step which showed that the huge frame was as active as it was +strong. He closed the door behind him, and then he stood with +clenched hands and heaving breast, choking down some +overmastering emotion. + +"Sit down, Captain Croker. You got my telegram?" + +Our visitor sank into an arm-chair and looked from one to the +other of us with questioning eyes. + +"I got your telegram, and I came at the hour you said. I heard +that you had been down to the office. There was no getting away +from you. Let's hear the worst. What are you going to do with me? +Arrest me? Speak out, man! You can't sit there and play with me +like a cat with a mouse." + +"Give him a cigar," said Holmes. "Bite on that, Captain Croker, +and don't let your nerves run away with you. I should not sit +here smoking with you if I thought that you were a common criminal, +you may be sure of that. Be frank with me, and we may do some good. +Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you." + +"What do you wish me to do?" + +"To give me a true account of all that happened at the Abbey +Grange last night -- a TRUE account, mind you, with nothing added +and nothing taken off. I know so much already that if you go +one inch off the straight I'll blow this police whistle from my +window and the affair goes out of my hands for ever." + +The sailor thought for a little. Then he struck his leg with +his great, sun-burned hand. + +"I'll chance it," he cried. "I believe you are a man of your +word, and a white man, and I'll tell you the whole story. +But one thing I will say first. So far as I am concerned I regret +nothing and I fear nothing, and I would do it all again and be +proud of the job. Curse the beast, if he had as many lives as a +cat he would owe them all to me! But it's the lady, Mary -- +Mary Fraser -- for never will I call her by that accursed name. +When I think of getting her into trouble, I who would give my life +just to bring one smile to her dear face, it's that that turns my +soul into water. And yet -- and yet -- what less could I do? +I'll tell you my story, gentlemen, and then I'll ask you as man +to man what less could I do. + +"I must go back a bit. You seem to know everything, so I expect +that you know that I met her when she was a passenger and I was +first officer of the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR. From the first day I +met her she was the only woman to me. Every day of that voyage +I loved her more, and many a time since have I kneeled down in +the darkness of the night watch and kissed the deck of that ship +because I knew her dear feet had trod it. She was never engaged +to me. She treated me as fairly as ever a woman treated a man. +I have no complaint to make. It was all love on my side, and +all good comradeship and friendship on hers. When we parted she +was a free woman, but I could never again be a free man. + +"Next time I came back from sea I heard of her marriage. +Well, why shouldn't she marry whom she liked? Title and money -- +who could carry them better than she? She was born for all +that is beautiful and dainty. I didn't grieve over her marriage. +I was not such a selfish hound as that. I just rejoiced that good +luck had come her way, and that she had not thrown herself away +on a penniless sailor. That's how I loved Mary Fraser. + +"Well, I never thought to see her again; but last voyage I was +promoted, and the new boat was not yet launched, so I had to +wait for a couple of months with my people at Sydenham. +One day out in a country lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid. +She told me about her, about him, about everything. I tell you, +gentlemen, it nearly drove me mad. This drunken hound, that he +should dare to raise his hand to her whose boots he was not worthy +to lick! I met Theresa again. Then I met Mary herself -- +and met her again. Then she would meet me no more. But the +other day I had a notice that I was to start on my voyage within +a week, and I determined that I would see her once before I left. +Theresa was always my friend, for she loved Mary and hated this +villain almost as much as I did. From her I learned +the ways of the house. Mary used to sit up reading in her own +little room downstairs. I crept round there last night and +scratched at the window. At first she would not open to me, +but in her heart I know that now she loves me, and she could not +leave me in the frosty night. She whispered to me to come round +to the big front window, and I found it open before me so as to +let me into the dining-room. Again I heard from her own lips +things that made my blood boil, and again I cursed this brute +who mishandled the woman that I loved. Well, gentlemen, I was +standing with her just inside the window, in all innocence, +as Heaven is my judge, when he rushed like a madman into the room, +called her the vilest name that a man could use to a woman, and +welted her across the face with the stick he had in his hand. +I had sprung for the poker, and it was a fair fight between us. +See here on my arm where his first blow fell. Then it was my +turn, and I went through him as if he had been a rotten pumpkin. +Do you think I was sorry? Not I! It was his life or mine, +but far more than that it was his life or hers, for how could I +leave her in the power of this madman? That was how I killed him. +Was I wrong? Well, then, what would either of you gentlemen +have done if you had been in my position?" + +"She had screamed when he struck her, and that brought old +Theresa down from the room above. There was a bottle of wine +on the sideboard, and I opened it and poured a little between +Mary's lips, for she was half dead with the shock. Then I took +a drop myself. Theresa was as cool as ice, and it was her plot +as much as mine. We must make it appear that burglars had done +the thing. Theresa kept on repeating our story to her mistress, +while I swarmed up and cut the rope of the bell. Then I lashed +her in her chair, and frayed out the end of the rope to make it +look natural, else they would wonder how in the world a burglar +could have got up there to cut it. Then I gathered up a few +plates and pots of silver, to carry out the idea of a robbery, +and there I left them with orders to give the alarm when I had +a quarter of an hour's start. I dropped the silver into the +pond and made off for Sydenham, feeling that for once in my life +I had done a real good night's work. And that's the truth and +the whole truth, Mr. Holmes, if it costs me my neck." + +Holmes smoked for some time in silence. Then he crossed +the room and shook our visitor by the hand. + +"That's what I think," said he. "I know that every word is +true, for you have hardly said a word which I did not know. +No one but an acrobat or a sailor could have got up to that +bell-rope from the bracket, and no one but a sailor could have +made the knots with which the cord was fastened to the chair. +Only once had this lady been brought into contact with sailors, +and that was on her voyage, and it was someone of her own class +of life, since she was trying hard to shield him and so showing +that she loved him. You see how easy it was for me to lay my +hands upon you when once I had started upon the right trail." + +"I thought the police never could have seen through our dodge." + +"And the police haven't; nor will they, to the best of my belief. +Now, look here, Captain Croker, this is a very serious matter, +though I am willing to admit that you acted under the most extreme +provocation to which any man could be subjected. I am not sure +that in defence of your own life your action will not be pronounced +legitimate. However, that is for a British jury to decide. +Meanwhile I have so much sympathy for you that if you choose to +disappear in the next twenty-four hours I will promise you that +no one will hinder you." + +"And then it will all come out?" + +"Certainly it will come out." + +The sailor flushed with anger. + +"What sort of proposal is that to make a man? I know enough +of law to understand that Mary would be had as accomplice. +Do you think I would leave her alone to face the music while +I slunk away? No, sir; let them do their worst upon me, +but for Heaven's sake, Mr. Holmes, find some way of keeping +my poor Mary out of the courts." + +Holmes for a second time held out his hand to the sailor. + +"I was only testing you, and you ring true every time. +Well, it is a great responsibility that I take upon myself, +but I have given Hopkins an excellent hint, and if he can't +avail himself of it I can do no more. See here, Captain Croker, +we'll do this in due form of law. You are the prisoner. +Watson, you are a British jury, and I never met a man who was +more eminently fitted to represent one. I am the judge. +Now, gentleman of the jury, you have heard the evidence. +Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty, my lord," said I. + +"Vox populi, vox Dei. You are acquitted, Captain Croker. +So long as the law does not find some other victim you are +safe from me. Come back to this lady in a year, and may her +future and yours justify us in the judgment which we have +pronounced this night." +--------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + THE STRAND MAGAZINE + Vol. 28 DECEMBER, 1904 + THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. + By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. + +XIII. --- The Adventure of the Second Stain. + + +I HAD intended "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" to be the +last of those exploits of my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, which +I should ever communicate to the public. This resolution of +mine was not due to any lack of material, since I have notes of +many hundreds of cases to which I have never alluded, nor was it +caused by any waning interest on the part of my readers in the +singular personality and unique methods of this remarkable man. +The real reason lay in the reluctance which Mr. Holmes has shown +to the continued publication of his experiences. So long as he +was in actual professional practice the records of his successes +were of some practical value to him; but since he has definitely +retired from London and betaken himself to study and bee-farming +on the Sussex Downs, notoriety has become hateful to him, and he +has peremptorily requested that his wishes in this matter should +be strictly observed. It was only upon my representing to him +that I had given a promise that "The Adventure of the Second +Stain" should be published when the times were ripe, and +pointing out to him that it is only appropriate that this long +series of episodes should culminate in the most important +international case which he has ever been called upon to handle, +that I at last succeeded in obtaining his consent that a +carefully-guarded account of the incident should at last be laid +before the public. If in telling the story I seem to be +somewhat vague in certain details the public will readily +understand that there is an excellent reason for my reticence. + + +It was, then, in a year, and even in a decade, that shall be +nameless, that upon one Tuesday morning in autumn we found two +visitors of European fame within the walls of our humble room +in Baker Street. The one, austere, high-nosed, eagle-eyed, +and dominant, was none other than the illustrious Lord Bellinger, +twice Premier of Britain. The other, dark, clear-cut, and +elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and endowed with every beauty +of body and of mind, was the Right Honourable Trelawney Hope, +Secretary for European Affairs, and the most rising statesman +in the country. They sat side by side upon our paper-littered +settee, and it was easy to see from their worn and anxious faces +that it was business of the most pressing importance which had +brought them. The Premier's thin, blue-veined hands were +clasped tightly over the ivory head of his umbrella, and his +gaunt, ascetic face looked gloomily from Holmes to me. +The European Secretary pulled nervously at his moustache and +fidgeted with the seals of his watch-chain. + +"When I discovered my loss, Mr. Holmes, which was at eight +o'clock this morning, I at once informed the Prime Minister. +It was at his suggestion that we have both come to you." + +"Have you informed the police?" + +"No, sir," said the Prime Minister, with the quick, decisive +manner for which he was famous. "We have not done so, nor is +it possible that we should do so. To inform the police must, +in the long run, mean to inform the public. This is what we +particularly desire to avoid." + +"And why, sir?" + +"Because the document in question is of such immense importance +that its publication might very easily -- I might almost say +probably -- lead to European complications of the utmost moment. +It is not too much to say that peace or war may hang upon the +issue. Unless its recovery can be attended with the utmost +secrecy, then it may as well not be recovered at all, for all +that is aimed at by those who have taken it is that its contents +should be generally known." + +"I understand. Now, Mr. Trelawney Hope, I should be much +obliged if you would tell me exactly the circumstances under +which this document disappeared." + +"That can be done in a very few words, Mr. Holmes. +The letter -- for it was a letter from a foreign potentate -- +was received six days ago. It was of such importance that I have +never left it in my safe, but I have taken it across each evening +to my house in Whitehall Terrace, and kept it in my bedroom in a +locked despatch-box. It was there last night. Of that I am +certain. I actually opened the box while I was dressing for +dinner, and saw the document inside. This morning it was gone. +The despatch-box had stood beside the glass upon my dressing-table +all night. I am a light sleeper, and so is my wife. We are both +prepared to swear that no one could have entered the room during +the night. And yet I repeat that the paper is gone." + +"What time did you dine?" + +"Half-past seven." + +"How long was it before you went to bed?" + +"My wife had gone to the theatre. I waited up for her. +It was half-past eleven before we went to our room." + +"Then for four hours the despatch-box had lain unguarded?" + +"No one is ever permitted to enter that room save the housemaid +in the morning, and my valet, or my wife's maid, during the rest +of the day. They are both trusty servants who have been with us +for some time. Besides, neither of them could possibly have +known that there was anything more valuable than the ordinary +departmental papers in my despatch-box." + +"Who did know of the existence of that letter?" + +"No one in the house." + +"Surely your wife knew?" + +"No, sir; I had said nothing to my wife until I missed the +paper this morning." + +The Premier nodded approvingly. + +"I have long known, sir, how high is your sense of public duty," +said he. "I am convinced that in the case of a secret of this +importance it would rise superior to the most intimate domestic ties." + +The European Secretary bowed. + +"You do me no more than justice, sir. Until this morning I have +never breathed one word to my wife upon this matter." + +"Could she have guessed?" + +"No, Mr. Holmes, she could not have guessed -- nor could anyone +have guessed." + +"Have you lost any documents before?" + +"No, sir." + +"Who is there in England who did know of the existence of this letter?" + +"Each member of the Cabinet was informed of it yesterday; +but the pledge of secrecy which attends every Cabinet meeting +was increased by the solemn warning which was given by the Prime +Minister. Good heavens, to think that within a few hours I +should myself have lost it!" His handsome face was distorted +with a spasm of despair, and his hands tore at his hair. +For a moment we caught a glimpse of the natural man, impulsive, +ardent, keenly sensitive. The next the aristocratic mask was +replaced, and the gentle voice had returned. "Besides the +members of the Cabinet there are two, or possibly three, +departmental officials who know of the letter. No one else +in England, Mr. Holmes, I assure you." + +"But abroad?" + +"I believe that no one abroad has seen it save the man who wrote it. +I am well convinced that his Ministers -- that the usual official +channels have not been employed." + +Holmes considered for some little time. + +"Now, sir, I must ask you more particularly what this document is, +and why its disappearance should have such momentous consequences?" + +The two statesmen exchanged a quick glance and the Premier's +shaggy eyebrows gathered in a frown. + +"Mr. Holmes, the envelope is a long, thin one of pale blue colour. +There is a seal of red wax stamped with a crouching lion. +It is addressed in large, bold handwriting to ---" + +"I fear, sir," said Holmes, "that, interesting and indeed +essential as these details are, my inquiries must go more to the +root of things. What WAS the letter?" + +"That is a State secret of the utmost importance, and I fear +that I cannot tell you, nor do I see that it is necessary. +If by the aid of the powers which you are said to possess you +can find such an envelope as I describe with its enclosure, +you will have deserved well of your country, and earned any +reward which it lies in our power to bestow." + +Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile. + +"You are two of the most busy men in the country," said he, +"and in my own small way I have also a good many calls upon me. +I regret exceedingly that I cannot help you in this matter, +and any continuation of this interview would be a waste of time." + +The Premier sprang to his feet with that quick, fierce gleam of +his deep-set eyes before which a Cabinet has cowered. "I am not +accustomed, sir ----" he began, but mastered his anger and +resumed his seat. For a minute or more we all sat in silence. +Then the old statesman shrugged his shoulders. + +"We must accept your terms, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right, +and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act unless we +give you our entire confidence." + +"I agree with you, sir," said the younger statesman. + +"Then I will tell you, relying entirely upon your honour and +that of your colleague, Dr. Watson. I may appeal to your +patriotism also, for I could not imagine a greater misfortune +for the country than that this affair should come out." + +"You may safely trust us." + +"The letter, then, is from a certain foreign potentate who has +been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this +country. It has been written hurriedly and upon his own +responsibility entirely. Inquiries have shown that his +Ministers know nothing of the matter. At the same time it is +couched in so unfortunate a manner, and certain phrases in it +are of so provocative a character, that its publication would +undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of feeling in this +country. There would be such a ferment, sir, that I do not +hesitate to say that within a week of the publication of that +letter this country would be involved in a great war." + +Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the +Premier. + +"Exactly. It was he. And it is this letter -- this letter which +may well mean the expenditure of a thousand millions and the +lives of a hundred thousand men -- which has become lost in this +unaccountable fashion." + +"Have you informed the sender?" + +"Yes, sir, a cipher telegram has been despatched." + +"Perhaps he desires the publication of the letter." + +"No, sir, we have strong reason to believe that he already +understands that he has acted in an indiscreet and hot-headed +manner. It would be a greater blow to him and to his country +than to us if this letter were to come out." + +"If this is so, whose interest is it that the letter should +come out? Why should anyone desire to steal it or to publish it?" + +"There, Mr. Holmes, you take me into regions of high +international politics. But if you consider the European +situation you will have no difficulty in perceiving the motive. +The whole of Europe is an armed camp. There is a double league +which makes a fair balance of military power. Great Britain +holds the scales. If Britain were driven into war with one +confederacy, it would assure the supremacy of the other +confederacy, whether they joined in the war or not. Do you follow?" + +"Very clearly. It is then the interest of the enemies of this +potentate to secure and publish this letter, so as to make a +breach between his country and ours?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And to whom would this document be sent if it fell into the +hands of an enemy?" + +"To any of the great Chancelleries of Europe. It is probably +speeding on its way thither at the present instant as fast as +steam can take it." + +Mr. Trelawney Hope dropped his head on his chest and groaned +aloud. The Premier placed his hand kindly upon his shoulder. + +"It is your misfortune, my dear fellow. No one can blame you. +There is no precaution which you have neglected. +Now, Mr. Holmes, you are in full possession of the facts. +What course do you recommend?" + +Holmes shook his head mournfully. + +"You think, sir, that unless this document is recovered there +will be war?" + +"I think it is very probable." + +"Then, sir, prepare for war." + +"That is a hard saying, Mr. Holmes." + +"Consider the facts, sir. It is inconceivable that it was taken +after eleven-thirty at night, since I understand that Mr. Hope +and his wife were both in the room from that hour until the loss +was found out. It was taken, then, yesterday evening between +seven-thirty and eleven-thirty, probably near the earlier hour, +since whoever took it evidently knew that it was there and would +naturally secure it as early as possible. Now, sir, if a +document of this importance were taken at that hour, where can +it be now? No one has any reason to retain it. It has been +passed rapidly on to those who need it. What chance have we now +to overtake or even to trace it? It is beyond our reach." + +The Prime Minister rose from the settee. + +"What you say is perfectly logical, Mr. Holmes. I feel that the +matter is indeed out of our hands." + +"Let us presume, for argument's sake, that the document was +taken by the maid or by the valet ----" + +"They are both old and tried servants." + +"I understand you to say that your room is on the second floor, +that there is no entrance from without, and that from within no +one could go up unobserved. It must, then, be somebody in the +house who has taken it. To whom would the thief take it? +To one of several international spies and secret agents, whose +names are tolerably familiar to me. There are three who may be +said to be the heads of their profession. I will begin my +research by going round and finding if each of them is at his +post. If one is missing -- especially if he has disappeared +since last night -- we will have some indication as to where +the document has gone." + +"Why should he be missing?" asked the European Secretary. +"He would take the letter to an Embassy in London, as likely as not." + +"I fancy not. These agents work independently, and their +relations with the Embassies are often strained." + +The Prime Minister nodded his acquiescence. + +"I believe you are right, Mr. Holmes. He would take so valuable +a prize to head-quarters with his own hands. I think that your +course of action is an excellent one. Meanwhile, Hope, +we cannot neglect all our other duties on account of this one +misfortune. Should there be any fresh developments during the +day we shall communicate with you, and you will no doubt let us +know the results of your own inquiries." + +The two statesmen bowed and walked gravely from the room. + +When our illustrious visitors had departed Holmes lit his pipe +in silence, and sat for some time lost in the deepest thought. +I had opened the morning paper and was immersed in a sensational +crime which had occurred in London the night before, when my +friend gave an exclamation, sprang to his feet, and laid his +pipe down upon the mantelpiece. + +"Yes," said he, "there is no better way of approaching it. +The situation is desperate, but not hopeless. Even now, +if we could be sure which of them has taken it, it is just +possible that it has not yet passed out of his hands. +After all, it is a question of money with these fellows, +and I have the British Treasury behind me. If it's on the +market I'll buy it -- if it means another penny on the income-tax. +It is conceivable that the fellow might hold it back to see what +bids come from this side before he tries his luck on the other. +There are only those three capable of playing so bold a game; +there are Oberstein, La Rothiere, and Eduardo Lucas. +I will see each of them." + +I glanced at my morning paper. + +"Is that Eduardo Lucas of Godolphin Street?" + +"Yes." + +"You will not see him." + +"Why not?" + +"He was murdered in his house last night." + +My friend has so often astonished me in the course of our +adventures that it was with a sense of exultation that I +realized how completely I had astonished him. He stared in +amazement, and then snatched the paper from my hands. This was +the paragraph which I had been engaged in reading when he rose +from his chair:-- + + + "MURDER IN WESTMINSTER. + +"A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16, +Godolphin Street, one of the old-fashioned and secluded rows of +eighteenth-century houses which lie between the river and the +Abbey, almost in the shadow of the great Tower of the Houses of +Parliament. This small but select mansion has been inhabited +for some years by Mr. Eduardo Lucas, well known in society +circles both on account of his charming personality and because +he has the well-deserved reputation of being one of the best +amateur tenors in the country. Mr. Lucas is an unmarried man, +thirty-four years of age, and his establishment consists of +Mrs. Pringle, an elderly housekeeper, and of Mitton, his valet. +The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house. +The valet was out for the evening, visiting a friend at Hammersmith. +From ten o'clock onwards Mr. Lucas had the house to himself. +What occurred during that time has not yet transpired, but at +a quarter to twelve Police-constable Barrett, passing along +Godolphin Street, observed that the door of No. 16 was ajar. +He knocked, but received no answer. Perceiving a light in +the front room he advanced into the passage and again knocked, +but without reply. He then pushed open the door and entered. +The room was in a state of wild disorder, the furniture being +all swept to one side, and one chair lying on its back in the +centre. Beside this chair, and still grasping one of its legs, +lay the unfortunate tenant of the house. He had been stabbed +to the heart and must have died instantly. The knife with which +the crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger, plucked +down from a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the +walls. Robbery does not appear to have been the motive of the +crime, for there had been no attempt to remove the valuable +contents of the room. Mr. Eduardo Lucas was so well known and +popular that his violent and mysterious fate will arouse painful +interest and intense sympathy in a wide-spread circle of friends." + +"Well, Watson, what do you make of this?" asked Holmes, +after a long pause. + +"It is an amazing coincidence." + +"A coincidence! Here is one of the three men whom we had named +as possible actors in this drama, and he meets a violent death +during the very hours when we know that that drama was being +enacted. The odds are enormous against its being coincidence. +No figures could express them. No, my dear Watson, the two +events are connected -- MUST be connected. It is for us to find +the connection." + +"But now the official police must know all." + +"Not at all. They know all they see at Godolphin Street. +They know -- and shall know -- nothing of Whitehall Terrace. +Only WE know of both events, and can trace the relation between them. +There is one obvious point which would, in any case, have turned +my suspicions against Lucas. Godolphin Street, Westminster, +is only a few minutes' walk from Whitehall Terrace. The other +secret agents whom I have named live in the extreme West-end. +It was easier, therefore, for Lucas than for the others to +establish a connection or receive a message from the European +Secretary's household -- a small thing, and yet where events are +compressed into a few hours it may prove essential. +Halloa! what have we here?" + +Mrs. Hudson had appeared with a lady's card upon her salver. +Holmes glanced at it, raised his eyebrows, and handed it over to me. + +"Ask Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope if she will be kind enough to +step up," said he. + +A moment later our modest apartment, already so distinguished +that morning, was further honoured by the entrance of the most +lovely woman in London. I had often heard of the beauty of the +youngest daughter of the Duke of Belminster, but no description +of it, and no contemplation of colourless photographs, had +prepared me for the subtle, delicate charm and the beautiful +colouring of that exquisite head. And yet as we saw it that +autumn morning, it was not its beauty which would be the first +thing to impress the observer. The cheek was lovely, but it +was paled with emotion; the eyes were bright, but it was the +brightness of fever; the sensitive mouth was tight and drawn in +an effort after self-command. Terror -- not beauty -- was what +sprang first to the eye as our fair visitor stood framed for an +instant in the open door. + +"Has my husband been here, Mr. Holmes?" + +"Yes, madam, he has been here." + +"Mr. Holmes, I implore you not to tell him that I came here." +Holmes bowed coldly, and motioned the lady to a chair. + +"Your ladyship places me in a very delicate position. +I beg that you will sit down and tell me what you desire; +but I fear that I cannot make any unconditional promise." + +She swept across the room and seated herself with her back +to the window. It was a queenly presence -- tall, graceful, +and intensely womanly. + +"Mr. Holmes," she said, and her white-gloved hands clasped and +unclasped as she spoke -- "I will speak frankly to you in the +hope that it may induce you to speak frankly in return. There +is complete confidence between my husband and me on all matters +save one. That one is politics. On this his lips are sealed. +He tells me nothing. Now, I am aware that there was a most +deplorable occurrence in our house last night. I know that a +paper has disappeared. But because the matter is political my +husband refuses to take me into his complete confidence. Now it +is essential -- essential, I say -- that I should thoroughly +understand it. You are the only other person, save only these +politicians, who knows the true facts. I beg you, then, +Mr. Holmes, to tell me exactly what has happened and what it +will lead to. Tell me all, Mr. Holmes. Let no regard for your +client's interests keep you silent, for I assure you that his +interests, if he would only see it, would be best served by +taking me into his complete confidence. What was this paper +which was stolen?" + +"Madam, what you ask me is really impossible." + +She groaned and sank her face in her hands. + +"You must see that this is so, madam. If your husband thinks +fit to keep you in the dark over this matter, is it for me, who +has only learned the true facts under the pledge of professional +secrecy, to tell what he has withheld? It is not fair to ask it. +It is him whom you must ask." + +"I have asked him. I come to you as a last resource. But without +your telling me anything definite, Mr. Holmes, you may do a great +service if you would enlighten me on one point." + +"What is it, madam?" + +"Is my husband's political career likely to suffer through +this incident?" + +"Well, madam, unless it is set right it may certainly have +a very unfortunate effect." + +"Ah!" She drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts +are resolved. + +"One more question, Mr. Holmes. From an expression which my +husband dropped in the first shock of this disaster I understood +that terrible public consequences might arise from the loss of +this document." + +"If he said so, I certainly cannot deny it." + +"Of what nature are they?" + +"Nay, madam, there again you ask me more than I can possibly answer." + +"Then I will take up no more of your time. I cannot blame you, +Mr. Holmes, for having refused to speak more freely, and you on +your side will not, I am sure, think the worse of me because +I desire, even against his will, to share my husband's anxieties. +Once more I beg that you will say nothing of my visit." +She looked back at us from the door, and I had a last impression +of that beautiful haunted face, the startled eyes, and the drawn +mouth. Then she was gone. + +"Now, Watson, the fair sex is your department," said Holmes, +with a smile, when the dwindling frou-frou of skirts had ended +in the slam of the front door. "What was the fair lady's game? +What did she really want?" + +"Surely her own statement is clear and her anxiety very natural." + +"Hum! Think of her appearance, Watson -- her manner, +her suppressed excitement, her restlessness, her tenacity +in asking questions. Remember that she comes of a caste +who do not lightly show emotion." + +"She was certainly much moved." + +"Remember also the curious earnestness with which she assured +us that it was best for her husband that she should know all. +What did she mean by that? And you must have observed, Watson, +how she manoeuvred to have the light at her back. She did not +wish us to read her expression." + +"Yes; she chose the one chair in the room." + +"And yet the motives of women are so inscrutable. You remember +the woman at Margate whom I suspected for the same reason. +No powder on her nose -- that proved to be the correct solution. +How can you build on such a quicksand? Their most trivial action +may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend +upon a hairpin or a curling-tongs. Good morning, Watson." + +"You are off?" + +"Yes; I will wile away the morning at Godolphin Street with our +friends of the regular establishment. With Eduardo Lucas lies +the solution of our problem, though I must admit that I have not +an inkling as to what form it may take. It is a capital mistake +to theorize in advance of the facts. Do you stay on guard, my +good Watson, and receive any fresh visitors. I'll join you at +lunch if I am able." + + +All that day and the next and the next Holmes was in a mood +which his friends would call taciturn, and others morose. +He ran out and ran in, smoked incessantly, played snatches on +his violin, sank into reveries, devoured sandwiches at irregular +hours, and hardly answered the casual questions which I put to +him. It was evident to me that things were not going well with +him or his quest. He would say nothing of the case, and it was +from the papers that I learned the particulars of the inquest, +and the arrest with the subsequent release of John Mitton, +the valet of the deceased. The coroner's jury brought in the +obvious "Wilful Murder," but the parties remained as unknown as +ever. No motive was suggested. The room was full of articles +of value, but none had been taken. The dead man's papers had +not been tampered with. They were carefully examined, +and showed that he was a keen student of international politics, +an indefatigable gossip, a remarkable linguist, and an untiring +letter-writer. He had been on intimate terms with the leading +politicians of several countries. But nothing sensational was +discovered among the documents which filled his drawers. As to +his relations with women, they appeared to have been promiscuous +but superficial. He had many acquaintances among them, but few +friends, and no one whom he loved. His habits were regular, +his conduct inoffensive. His death was an absolute mystery, +and likely to remain so. + +As to the arrest of John Mitton, the valet, it was a counsel +of despair as an alternative to absolute inaction. But no case +could be sustained against him. He had visited friends in +Hammersmith that night. The ALIBI was complete. It is true +that he started home at an hour which should have brought him +to Westminster before the time when the crime was discovered, +but his own explanation that he had walked part of the way +seemed probable enough in view of the fineness of the night. +He had actually arrived at twelve o'clock, and appeared to be +overwhelmed by the unexpected tragedy. He had always been on +good terms with his master. Several of the dead man's +possessions -- notably a small case of razors -- had been found in +the valet's boxes, but he explained that they had been presents +from the deceased, and the housekeeper was able to corroborate +the story. Mitton had been in Lucas's employment for three +years. It was noticeable that Lucas did not take Mitton on the +Continent with him. Sometimes he visited Paris for three months +on end, but Mitton was left in charge of the Godolphin Street +house. As to the housekeeper, she had heard nothing on the +night of the crime. If her master had a visitor he had himself +admitted him. + +So for three mornings the mystery remained, so far as I could +follow it in the papers. If Holmes knew more he kept his own +counsel, but, as he told me that Inspector Lestrade had taken +him into his confidence in the case, I knew that he was in +close touch with every development. Upon the fourth day there +appeared a long telegram from Paris which seemed to solve the +whole question. + +"A discovery has just been made by the Parisian police," said +the DAILY TELEGRAPH, "which raises the veil which hung round the +tragic fate of Mr. Eduardo Lucas, who met his death by violence +last Monday night at Godolphin Street, Westminster. Our readers +will remember that the deceased gentleman was found stabbed in +his room, and that some suspicion attached to his valet, but +that the case broke down on an ALIBI. Yesterday a lady, who has +been known as Mme. Henri Fournaye, occupying a small villa in +the Rue Austerlitz, was reported to the authorities by her +servants as being insane. An examination showed that she had +indeed developed mania of a dangerous and permanent form. +On inquiry the police have discovered that Mme. Henri Fournaye +only returned from a journey to London on Tuesday last, and there +is evidence to connect her with the crime at Westminster. +A comparison of photographs has proved conclusively that M. Henri +Fournaye and Eduardo Lucas were really one and the same person, +and that the deceased had for some reason lived a double life +in London and Paris. Mme. Fournaye, who is of Creole origin, +is of an extremely excitable nature, and has suffered in the +past from attacks of jealousy which have amounted to frenzy. +It is conjectured that it was in one of these that she committed +the terrible crime which has caused such a sensation in London. +Her movements upon the Monday night have not yet been traced, +but it is undoubted that a woman answering to her description +attracted much attention at Charing Cross Station on Tuesday +morning by the wildness of her appearance and the violence of +her gestures. It is probable, therefore, that the crime was +either committed when insane, or that its immediate effect was +to drive the unhappy woman out of her mind. At present she +is unable to give any coherent account of the past, and the +doctors hold out no hopes of the re-establishment of her reason. +There is evidence that a woman, who might have been Mme. Fournaye, +was seen for some hours on Monday night watching the house in +Godolphin Street." + +"What do you think of that, Holmes?" I had read the account +aloud to him, while he finished his breakfast. + +"My dear Watson," said he, as he rose from the table and paced +up and down the room, "you are most long-suffering, but if I +have told you nothing in the last three days it is because there +is nothing to tell. Even now this report from Paris does not +help us much." + +"Surely it is final as regards the man's death." + +"The man's death is a mere incident -- a trivial episode -- in +comparison with our real task, which is to trace this document +and save a European catastrophe. Only one important thing has +happened in the last three days, and that is that nothing has +happened. I get reports almost hourly from the Government, +and it is certain that nowhere in Europe is there any sign of +trouble. Now, if this letter were loose -- no, it CAN'T be +loose -- but if it isn't loose, where can it be? Who has it? +Why is it held back? That's the question that beats in my brain +like a hammer. Was it, indeed, a coincidence that Lucas should +meet his death on the night when the letter disappeared? +Did the letter ever reach him? If so, why is it not among his +papers? Did this mad wife of his carry it off with her? If so, +is it in her house in Paris? How could I search for it without +the French police having their suspicions aroused? It is a case, +my dear Watson, where the law is as dangerous to us as the +criminals are. Every man's hand is against us, and yet the +interests at stake are colossal. Should I bring it to a +successful conclusion it will certainly represent the crowning +glory of my career. Ah, here is my latest from the front!" +He glanced hurriedly at the note which had been handed in. +"Halloa! Lestrade seems to have observed something of interest. +Put on your hat, Watson, and we will stroll down together to +Westminster." + +It was my first visit to the scene of the crime -- a high, dingy, +narrow-chested house, prim, formal, and solid, like the century +which gave it birth. Lestrade's bulldog features gazed out at +us from the front window, and he greeted us warmly when a big +constable had opened the door and let us in. The room into +which we were shown was that in which the crime had been +committed, but no trace of it now remained, save an ugly, +irregular stain upon the carpet. This carpet was a small square +drugget in the centre of the room, surrounded by a broad expanse +of beautiful, old-fashioned wood-flooring in square blocks +highly polished. Over the fireplace was a magnificent trophy +of weapons, one of which had been used on that tragic night. +In the window was a sumptuous writing-desk, and every detail of +the apartment, the pictures, the rugs, and the hangings, all +pointed to a taste which was luxurious to the verge of effeminacy. + +"Seen the Paris news?" asked Lestrade. + +Holmes nodded. + +"Our French friends seem to have touched the spot this time. +No doubt it's just as they say. She knocked at the door -- +surprise visit, I guess, for he kept his life in water-tight +compartments. He let her in -- couldn't keep her in the street. +She told him how she had traced him, reproached him, one thing +led to another, and then with that dagger so handy the end soon +came. It wasn't all done in an instant, though, for these +chairs were all swept over yonder, and he had one in his hand as +if he had tried to hold her off with it. We've got it all clear +as if we had seen it." + +Holmes raised his eyebrows. + +"And yet you have sent for me?" + +"Ah, yes, that's another matter -- a mere trifle, but the sort +of thing you take an interest in -- queer, you know, and what +you might call freakish. It has nothing to do with the main +fact -- can't have, on the face of it." + +"What is it, then?" + +"Well, you know, after a crime of this sort we are very careful +to keep things in their position. Nothing has been moved. +Officer in charge here day and night. This morning, as the man +was buried and the investigation over -- so far as this room is +concerned -- we thought we could tidy up a bit. This carpet. +You see, it is not fastened down; only just laid there. We had +occasion to raise it. We found ----" + +"Yes? You found ----" + +Holmes's face grew tense with anxiety. + +"Well, I'm sure you would never guess in a hundred years what we +did find. You see that stain on the carpet? Well, a great deal +must have soaked through, must it not?" + +"Undoubtedly it must." + +"Well, you will be surprised to hear that there is no stain on +the white woodwork to correspond." + +"No stain! But there must ----" + +"Yes; so you would say. But the fact remains that there isn't." + +He took the corner of the carpet in his hand and, turning it over, +he showed that it was indeed as he said. + +"But the underside is as stained as the upper. It must have +left a mark." + +Lestrade chuckled with delight at having puzzled the famous expert. + +"Now I'll show you the explanation. There IS a second stain, +but it does not correspond with the other. See for yourself." +As he spoke he turned over another portion of the carpet, and +there, sure enough, was a great crimson spill upon the square +white facing of the old-fashioned floor. "What do you make of +that, Mr. Holmes?" + +"Why, it is simple enough. The two stains did correspond, +but the carpet has been turned round. As it was square and +unfastened it was easily done." + +"The official police don't need you, Mr. Holmes, to tell them +that the carpet must have been turned round. That's clear enough, +for the stains lie above each other -- if you lay it over this way. +But what I want to know is, who shifted the carpet, and why?" + +I could see from Holmes's rigid face that he was vibrating with +inward excitement. + +"Look here, Lestrade," said he, "has that constable in the +passage been in charge of the place all the time?" + +"Yes, he has." + +"Well, take my advice. Examine him carefully. Don't do it +before us. We'll wait here. You take him into the back room. +You'll be more likely to get a confession out of him alone. +Ask him how he dared to admit people and leave them alone in this +room. Don't ask him if he has done it. Take it for granted. +Tell him you KNOW someone has been here. Press him. Tell him +that a full confession is his only chance of forgiveness. +Do exactly what I tell you!" + +"By George, if he knows I'll have it out of him!" cried Lestrade. +He darted into the hall, and a few moments later his bullying +voice sounded from the back room. + +"Now, Watson, now!" cried Holmes, with frenzied eagerness. +All the demoniacal force of the man masked behind that listless +manner burst out in a paroxysm of energy. He tore the drugget +from the floor, and in an instant was down on his hands and +knees clawing at each of the squares of wood beneath it. +One turned sideways as he dug his nails into the edge of it. +It hinged back like the lid of a box. A small black cavity +opened beneath it. Holmes plunged his eager hand into it, +and drew it out with a bitter snarl of anger and disappointment. +It was empty. + +"Quick, Watson, quick! Get it back again!" The wooden lid was +replaced, and the drugget had only just been drawn straight when +Lestrade's voice was heard in the passage. He found Holmes +leaning languidly against the mantelpiece, resigned and patient, +endeavouring to conceal his irrepressible yawns. + +"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Holmes. I can see that you are +bored to death with the whole affair. Well, he has confessed, +all right. Come in here, MacPherson. Let these gentlemen hear +of your most inexcusable conduct." + +The big constable, very hot and penitent, sidled into the room. + +"I meant no harm, sir, I'm sure. The young woman came to the +door last evening -- mistook the house, she did. And then we +got talking. It's lonesome, when you're on duty here all day." + +"Well, what happened then?" + +"She wanted to see where the crime was done -- had read about +it in the papers, she said. She was a very respectable, +well-spoken young woman, sir, and I saw no harm in letting her +have a peep. When she saw that mark on the carpet, down she +dropped on the floor, and lay as if she were dead. I ran to the +back and got some water, but I could not bring her to. Then I +went round the corner to the Ivy Plant for some brandy, and by +the time I had brought it back the young woman had recovered and +was off -- ashamed of herself, I dare say, and dared not face me." + +"How about moving that drugget?" + +"Well, sir, it was a bit rumpled, certainly, when I came back. +You see, she fell on it, and it lies on a polished floor with +nothing to keep it in place. I straightened it out afterwards." + +"It's a lesson to you that you can't deceive me, Constable +MacPherson," said Lestrade, with dignity. "No doubt you thought +that your breach of duty could never be discovered, and yet a +mere glance at that drugget was enough to convince me that +someone had been admitted to the room. It's lucky for you, +my man, that nothing is missing, or you would find yourself in +Queer Street. I'm sorry to have called you down over such a +petty business, Mr. Holmes, but I thought the point of the second +stain not corresponding with the first would interest you." + +"Certainly, it was most interesting. Has this woman only been +here once, constable?" + +"Yes, sir, only once." + +"Who was she?" + +"Don't know the name, sir. Was answering an advertisement about +type-writing, and came to the wrong number -- very pleasant, +genteel young woman, sir." + +"Tall? Handsome?" + +"Yes, sir; she was a well-grown young woman. I suppose you +might say she was handsome. Perhaps some would say she was +very handsome. `Oh, officer, do let me have a peep!' says she. +She had pretty, coaxing ways, as you might say, and I thought there +was no harm in letting her just put her head through the door." + +"How was she dressed?" + +"Quiet, sir -- a long mantle down to her feet." + +"What time was it?" + +"It was just growing dusk at the time. They were lighting the +lamps as I came back with the brandy." + +"Very good," said Holmes. "Come, Watson, I think that we have +more important work elsewhere." + +As we left the house Lestrade remained in the front room, +while the repentant constable opened the door to let us out. +Holmes turned on the step and held up something in his hand. +The constable stared intently. + +"Good Lord, sir!" he cried, with amazement on his face. +Holmes put his finger on his lips, replaced his hand in his +breast-pocket, and burst out laughing as we turned down the street. +"Excellent!" said he. "Come, friend Watson, the curtain rings +up for the last act. You will be relieved to hear that there +will be no war, that the Right Honourable Trelawney Hope will +suffer no set-back in his brilliant career, that the indiscreet +Sovereign will receive no punishment for his indiscretion, that +the Prime Minister will have no European complication to deal +with, and that with a little tact and management upon our part +nobody will be a penny the worse for what might have been a very +ugly incident." + +My mind filled with admiration for this extraordinary man. + +"You have solved it!" I cried. + +"Hardly that, Watson. There are some points which are as dark +as ever. But we have so much that it will be our own fault if +we cannot get the rest. We will go straight to Whitehall +Terrace and bring the matter to a head." + +When we arrived at the residence of the European Secretary it +was for Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope that Sherlock Holmes inquired. +We were shown into the morning-room. + +"Mr. Holmes!" said the lady, and her face was pink with her +indignation, "this is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon +your part. I desired, as I have explained, to keep my visit to +you a secret, lest my husband should think that I was intruding +into his affairs. And yet you compromise me by coming here and +so showing that there are business relations between us." + +"Unfortunately, madam, I had no possible alternative. I have +been commissioned to recover this immensely important paper. +I must therefore ask you, madam, to be kind enough to place +it in my hands." + +The lady sprang to her feet, with the colour all dashed in an +instant from her beautiful face. Her eyes glazed -- she +tottered -- I thought that she would faint. Then with a grand +effort she rallied from the shock, and a supreme astonishment +and indignation chased every other expression from her features. + +"You -- you insult me, Mr. Holmes." + +"Come, come, madam, it is useless. Give up the letter." + +She darted to the bell. + +"The butler shall show you out." + +"Do not ring, Lady Hilda. If you do, then all my earnest efforts +to avoid a scandal will be frustrated. Give up the letter and +all will be set right. If you will work with me I can arrange +everything. If you work against me I must expose you." + +She stood grandly defiant, a queenly figure, her eyes fixed upon +his as if she would read his very soul. Her hand was on the +bell, but she had forborne to ring it. + +"You are trying to frighten me. It is not a very manly thing, +Mr. Holmes, to come here and browbeat a woman. You say that you +know something. What is it that you know?" + +"Pray sit down, madam. You will hurt yourself there if you fall. +I will not speak until you sit down. Thank you." + +"I give you five minutes, Mr. Holmes." + +"One is enough, Lady Hilda. I know of your visit to Eduardo +Lucas, of your giving him this document, of your ingenious +return to the room last night, and of the manner in which you +took the letter from the hiding-place under the carpet." + +She stared at him with an ashen face and gulped twice before she +could speak. + +"You are mad, Mr. Holmes -- you are mad!" she cried, at last. + +He drew a small piece of cardboard from his pocket. It was the +face of a woman cut out of a portrait. + +"I have carried this because I thought it might be useful," +said he. "The policeman has recognised it." + +She gave a gasp and her head dropped back in the chair. + +"Come, Lady Hilda. You have the letter. The matter may +still be adjusted. I have no desire to bring trouble to you. +My duty ends when I have returned the lost letter to your husband. +Take my advice and be frank with me; it is your only chance." + +Her courage was admirable. Even now she would not own defeat. + +"I tell you again, Mr. Holmes, that you are under some absurd +illusion." + +Holmes rose from his chair. + +"I am sorry for you, Lady Hilda. I have done my best for you; +I can see that it is all in vain." + +He rang the bell. The butler entered. + +"Is Mr. Trelawney Hope at home?" + +"He will be home, sir, at a quarter to one." + +Holmes glanced at his watch. + +"Still a quarter of an hour," said he. "Very good, I shall wait." + +The butler had hardly closed the door behind him when Lady Hilda +was down on her knees at Holmes's feet, her hands out-stretched, +her beautiful face upturned and wet with her tears. + +"Oh, spare me, Mr. Holmes! Spare me!" she pleaded, in a frenzy +of supplication. "For Heaven's sake, don't tell him! I love +him so! I would not bring one shadow on his life, and this I +know would break his noble heart." + +Holmes raised the lady. "I am thankful, madam, that you have +come to your senses even at this last moment! There is not an +instant to lose. Where is the letter?" + +She darted across to a writing-desk, unlocked it, and drew out +a long blue envelope. + +"Here it is, Mr. Holmes. Would to Heaven I had never seen it!" + +"How can we return it?" Holmes muttered. "Quick, quick, +we must think of some way! Where is the despatch-box?" + +"Still in his bedroom." + +"What a stroke of luck! Quick, madam, bring it here!" + +A moment later she had appeared with a red flat box in her hand. + +"How did you open it before? You have a duplicate key? +Yes, of course you have. Open it!" + +From out of her bosom Lady Hilda had drawn a small key. +The box flew open. It was stuffed with papers. Holmes thrust +the blue envelope deep down into the heart of them, between +the leaves of some other document. The box was shut, locked, +and returned to the bedroom. + +"Now we are ready for him," said Holmes; "we have still ten +minutes. I am going far to screen you, Lady Hilda. In return +you will spend the time in telling me frankly the real meaning +of this extraordinary affair." + +"Mr. Holmes, I will tell you everything," cried the lady. +"Oh, Mr. Holmes, I would cut off my right hand before I gave him +a moment of sorrow! There is no woman in all London who loves her +husband as I do, and yet if he knew how I have acted -- how I have +been compelled to act -- he would never forgive me. For his own +honour stands so high that he could not forget or pardon a lapse +in another. Help me, Mr. Holmes! My happiness, his happiness, +our very lives are at stake!" + +"Quick, madam, the time grows short!" + +"It was a letter of mine, Mr. Holmes, an indiscreet letter +written before my marriage -- a foolish letter, a letter of an +impulsive, loving girl. I meant no harm, and yet he would have +thought it criminal. Had he read that letter his confidence +would have been for ever destroyed. It is years since I wrote it. +I had thought that the whole matter was forgotten. Then at last +I heard from this man, Lucas, that it had passed into his hands, +and that he would lay it before my husband. I implored his mercy. +He said that he would return my letter if I would bring him a +certain document which he described in my husband's despatch-box. +He had some spy in the office who had told him of its existence. +He assured me that no harm could come to my husband. Put yourself +in my position, Mr. Holmes! What was I to do?" + +"Take your husband into your confidence." + +"I could not, Mr. Holmes, I could not! On the one side seemed +certain ruin; on the other, terrible as it seemed to take my +husband's paper, still in a matter of politics I could not +understand the consequences, while in a matter of love and trust +they were only too clear to me. I did it, Mr. Holmes! I took +an impression of his key; this man Lucas furnished a duplicate. +I opened his despatch-box, took the paper, and conveyed it to +Godolphin Street." + +"What happened there, madam?" + +"I tapped at the door as agreed. Lucas opened it. I followed +him into his room, leaving the hall door ajar behind me, for I +feared to be alone with the man. I remember that there was a +woman outside as I entered. Our business was soon done. He had +my letter on his desk; I handed him the document. He gave me +the letter. At this instant there was a sound at the door. +There were steps in the passage. Lucas quickly turned back the +drugget, thrust the document into some hiding-place there, and +covered it over. + +"What happened after that is like some fearful dream. +I have a vision of a dark, frantic face, of a woman's voice, +which screamed in French, `My waiting is not in vain. At last, +at last I have found you with her!' There was a savage struggle. +I saw him with a chair in his hand, a knife gleamed in hers. +I rushed from the horrible scene, ran from the house, and only +next morning in the paper did I learn the dreadful result. +That night I was happy, for I had my letter, and I had not seen +yet what the future would bring. + +"It was the next morning that I realized that I had only +exchanged one trouble for another. My husband's anguish at the +loss of his paper went to my heart. I could hardly prevent +myself from there and then kneeling down at his feet and telling +him what I had done. But that again would mean a confession of +the past. I came to you that morning in order to understand the +full enormity of my offence. From the instant that I grasped it +my whole mind was turned to the one thought of getting back my +husband's paper. It must still be where Lucas had placed it, +for it was concealed before this dreadful woman entered the +room. If it had not been for her coming, I should not have +known where his hiding-place was. How was I to get into the +room? For two days I watched the place, but the door was never +left open. Last night I made a last attempt. What I did and +how I succeeded, you have already learned. I brought the paper +back with me, and thought of destroying it since I could see no +way of returning it, without confessing my guilt to my husband. +Heavens, I hear his step upon the stair!" + +The European Secretary burst excitedly into the room. + +"Any news, Mr. Holmes, any news?" he cried. + +"I have some hopes." + +"Ah, thank heaven!" His face became radiant. "The Prime +Minister is lunching with me. May he share your hopes? He has +nerves of steel, and yet I know that he has hardly slept since +this terrible event. Jacobs, will you ask the Prime Minister +to come up? As to you, dear, I fear that this is a matter of +politics. We will join you in a few minutes in the dining-room." + +The Prime Minister's manner was subdued, but I could see by +the gleam of his eyes and the twitchings of his bony hands +that he shared the excitement of his young colleague. + +"I understand that you have something to report, Mr. Holmes?" + +"Purely negative as yet," my friend answered. "I have inquired +at every point where it might be, and I am sure that there is no +danger to be apprehended." + +"But that is not enough, Mr. Holmes. We cannot live for ever +on such a volcano. We must have something definite." + +"I am in hopes of getting it. That is why I am here. +The more I think of the matter the more convinced I am +that the letter has never left this house." + +"Mr. Holmes!" + +"If it had it would certainly have been public by now." + +"But why should anyone take it in order to keep it in his house?" + +"I am not convinced that anyone did take it." + +"Then how could it leave the despatch-box?" + +"I am not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch-box." + +"Mr. Holmes, this joking is very ill-timed. You have my +assurance that it left the box." + +"Have you examined the box since Tuesday morning?" + +"No; it was not necessary." + +"You may conceivably have overlooked it." + +"Impossible, I say." + +"But I am not convinced of it; I have known such things to happen. +I presume there are other papers there. Well, it may have got +mixed with them." + +"It was on the top." + +"Someone may have shaken the box and displaced it." + +"No, no; I had everything out." + +"Surely it is easily decided, Hope," said the Premier. +"Let us have the despatch-box brought in." + +The Secretary rang the bell. + +"Jacobs, bring down my despatch-box. This is a farcical waste +of time, but still, if nothing else will satisfy you, it shall +be done. Thank you, Jacobs; put it here. I have always had the +key on my watch-chain. Here are the papers, you see. Letter +from Lord Merrow, report from Sir Charles Hardy, memorandum from +Belgrade, note on the Russo-German grain taxes, letter from +Madrid, note from Lord Flowers -- good heavens! what is this? +Lord Bellinger! Lord Bellinger!" + +The Premier snatched the blue envelope from his hand. + +"Yes, it is it -- and the letter is intact. Hope, I congratulate you." + +"Thank you! Thank you! What a weight from my heart. But this +is inconceivable -- impossible. Mr. Holmes, you are a wizard, +a sorcerer! How did you know it was there?" + +"Because I knew it was nowhere else." + +"I cannot believe my eyes!" He ran wildly to the door. +"Where is my wife? I must tell her that all is well. +Hilda! Hilda!" we heard his voice on the stairs. + +The Premier looked at Holmes with twinkling eyes. + +"Come, sir," said he. "There is more in this than meets the eye. +How came the letter back in the box?" + +Holmes turned away smiling from the keen scrutiny of those +wonderful eyes. + +"We also have our diplomatic secrets," said he, and picking up +his hat he turned to the door. +--------------------------------------------------------------- + +End of Project Gutenberg etext of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" +[Magazine Edition] + + diff --git a/old/rholm11b.zip b/old/rholm11b.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebbf82f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rholm11b.zip |