Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
`
` For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy `
` brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring `
` with frightened eyes at his accuser. `
` `
` "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I `
` could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. `
` Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case `
` complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the `
` Countess of Morcar's?" `
` `
` "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a `
` crackling voice. `
` `
` "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of `
` sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has `
` been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous `
` in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the `
` making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man `
` Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter `
` before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. `
` What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's `
` room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he `
` should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled `
` the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man `
` arrested. You then--" `
` `
` Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my `
` companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. `
` "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I `
` never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll `
` swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's `
` sake, don't!" `
` `
` "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well `
` to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this `
` poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." `
` `
` "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the `
` charge against him will break down." `
` `
` "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account `
` of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came `
` the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies `
` your only hope of safety." `
` `
` Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you `
` it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been `
` arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get `
` away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment `
` the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my `
` room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. `
` I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's `
` house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton `
` Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there `
` every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; `
` and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down `
` my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me `
` what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I `
` had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went `
` into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would `
` be best to do. `
` `
` "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and `
` has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met `
` me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they `
` could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to `
` me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind `
` to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my `
` confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. `
` But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had `
` gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be `
` seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat `
` pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at `
` the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly `
` an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the `
` best detective that ever lived. `
` `
` "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the `
` pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she `
` was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in `
` it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in `
` the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big `
` one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill `
` open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger `
` could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass `
` along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped `
` and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the `
` matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and `
` fluttered off among the others. `
` `
` "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. `
` `
` "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I `
` was feeling which was the fattest.' `
` `
` "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we `
` call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six `
` of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen `
` for the market.' `
` `
` "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, `
` I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' `
` `
` "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we `
` fattened it expressly for you.' `
` `
` "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. `
` `
` "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it `
` you want, then?' `
` `
` "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the `
` flock.' `
` `
` "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' `
` `
` "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird `
` all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was `
` a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed `
` until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My `
` heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I `
` knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, `
` rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There `
` was not a bird to be seen there. `
` `
` "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. `
` `
` "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' `
` `
` "'Which dealer's?' `
` `
` "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' `
` `
` "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same `
` as the one I chose?' `
` `
` "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never `
` tell them apart.' `
` `
` "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my `
` feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the `
` lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they `
` had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always `
` answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. `
` Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself `
` a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which `
` I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into `
` convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. `
` `
` There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and `
` by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the `
` edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. `
` `
` "Get out!" said he. `
` `
` "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" `
` `
` "No more words. Get out!" `
` `
` And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon `
` the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running `
` footfalls from the street. `
` `
` "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his `
` clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their `
` deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; `
` but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must `
` collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just `
` possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong `
` again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and `
` you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of `
` forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and `
` whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you `
` will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin `
` another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief `
` feature." `
` `
` `
` `
` VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND `
` `
` On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I `
` have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend `
` Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number `
` merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did `
` rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of `
` wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation `
` which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. `
` Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which `
` presented more singular features than that which was associated `
` with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. `
` The events in question occurred in the early days of my `
` association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors `
` in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them `
` upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the `
` time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by `
` the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It `
` is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I `
` have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the `
` death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even `
`
` For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy `
` brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring `
` with frightened eyes at his accuser. `
` `
` "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I `
` could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. `
` Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case `
` complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the `
` Countess of Morcar's?" `
` `
` "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a `
` crackling voice. `
` `
` "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of `
` sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has `
` been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous `
` in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the `
` making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man `
` Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter `
` before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. `
` What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's `
` room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he `
` should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled `
` the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man `
` arrested. You then--" `
` `
` Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my `
` companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. `
` "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I `
` never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll `
` swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's `
` sake, don't!" `
` `
` "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well `
` to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this `
` poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." `
` `
` "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the `
` charge against him will break down." `
` `
` "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account `
` of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came `
` the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies `
` your only hope of safety." `
` `
` Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you `
` it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been `
` arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get `
` away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment `
` the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my `
` room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. `
` I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's `
` house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton `
` Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there `
` every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; `
` and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down `
` my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me `
` what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I `
` had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went `
` into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would `
` be best to do. `
` `
` "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and `
` has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met `
` me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they `
` could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to `
` me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind `
` to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my `
` confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. `
` But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had `
` gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be `
` seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat `
` pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at `
` the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly `
` an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the `
` best detective that ever lived. `
` `
` "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the `
` pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she `
` was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in `
` it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in `
` the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big `
` one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill `
` open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger `
` could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass `
` along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped `
` and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the `
` matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and `
` fluttered off among the others. `
` `
` "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. `
` `
` "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I `
` was feeling which was the fattest.' `
` `
` "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we `
` call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six `
` of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen `
` for the market.' `
` `
` "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, `
` I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' `
` `
` "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we `
` fattened it expressly for you.' `
` `
` "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. `
` `
` "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it `
` you want, then?' `
` `
` "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the `
` flock.' `
` `
` "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' `
` `
` "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird `
` all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was `
` a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed `
` until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My `
` heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I `
` knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, `
` rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There `
` was not a bird to be seen there. `
` `
` "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. `
` `
` "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' `
` `
` "'Which dealer's?' `
` `
` "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' `
` `
` "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same `
` as the one I chose?' `
` `
` "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never `
` tell them apart.' `
` `
` "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my `
` feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the `
` lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they `
` had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always `
` answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. `
` Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself `
` a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which `
` I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into `
` convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. `
` `
` There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and `
` by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the `
` edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. `
` `
` "Get out!" said he. `
` `
` "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" `
` `
` "No more words. Get out!" `
` `
` And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon `
` the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running `
` footfalls from the street. `
` `
` "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his `
` clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their `
` deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; `
` but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must `
` collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just `
` possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong `
` again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and `
` you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of `
` forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and `
` whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you `
` will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin `
` another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief `
` feature." `
` `
` `
` `
` VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND `
` `
` On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I `
` have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend `
` Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number `
` merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did `
` rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of `
` wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation `
` which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. `
` Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which `
` presented more singular features than that which was associated `
` with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. `
` The events in question occurred in the early days of my `
` association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors `
` in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them `
` upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the `
` time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by `
` the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It `
` is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I `
` have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the `
` death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even `
`