Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
`
` "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. `
` `
` The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He `
` is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own `
` strength." `
` `
` There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin `
` upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. `
` `
` "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a `
` thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide `
` upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If `
` we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for `
` us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your `
` stepfather?" `
` `
` "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some `
` most important business. It is probable that he will be away all `
` day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a `
` housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily `
` get her out of the way." `
` `
` "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" `
` `
` "By no means." `
` `
` "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" `
` `
` "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am `
` in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to `
` be there in time for your coming." `
` `
` "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some `
` small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and `
` breakfast?" `
` `
` "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have `
` confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you `
` again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her `
` face and glided from the room. `
` `
` "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, `
` leaning back in his chair. `
` `
` "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." `
` `
` "Dark enough and sinister enough." `
` `
` "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls `
` are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, `
` then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her `
` mysterious end." `
` `
` "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the `
` very peculiar words of the dying woman?" `
` `
` "I cannot think." `
` `
` "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of `
` a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, `
` the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has `
` an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying `
` allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner `
` heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of `
` those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its `
` place, I think that there is good ground to think that the `
` mystery may be cleared along those lines." `
` `
` "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" `
` `
` "I cannot imagine." `
` `
` "I see many objections to any such theory." `
` `
` "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going `
` to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are `
` fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of `
` the devil!" `
` `
` The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that `
` our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had `
` framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar `
` mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a `
` black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, `
` with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his `
` hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his `
` breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, `
` seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and `
` marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other `
` of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, `
` fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old `
` bird of prey. `
` `
` "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. `
` `
` "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my `
` companion quietly. `
` `
` "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." `
` `
` "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." `
` `
` "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I `
` have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" `
` `
` "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. `
` `
` "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man `
` furiously. `
` `
` "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my `
` companion imperturbably. `
` `
` "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step `
` forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! `
` I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." `
` `
` My friend smiled. `
` `
` "Holmes, the busybody!" `
` `
` His smile broadened. `
` `
` "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" `
` `
` Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most `
` entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for `
` there is a decided draught." `
` `
` "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with `
` my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! `
` I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped `
` swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with `
` his huge brown hands. `
` `
` "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and `
` hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the `
` room. `
` `
` "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am `
` not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him `
` that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke `
` he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, `
` straightened it out again. `
` `
` "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official `
` detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, `
` however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer `
` from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, `
` Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk `
` down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may `
` help us in this matter." `
` `
` `
` It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his `
` excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled `
` over with notes and figures. `
` `
` "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To `
` determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the `
` present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The `
` total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little `
` short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural `
` prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an `
` income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, `
` therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have `
` had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to `
` a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, `
` since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for `
` standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, `
` this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is `
` aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you `
` are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be `
` very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your `
` pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen `
` who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush `
` are, I think, all that we need." `
` `
` At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for `
` Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove `
` for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a `
` perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the `
` heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out `
` their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant `
` smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange `
` contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this `
` sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in `
` the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over `
` his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the `
` deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the `
` shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. `
` `
` "Look there!" said he. `
` `
` A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, `
` thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the `
` branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a `
` very old mansion. `
` `
` "Stoke Moran?" said he. `
`
` "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. `
` `
` The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He `
` is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own `
` strength." `
` `
` There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin `
` upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. `
` `
` "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a `
` thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide `
` upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If `
` we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for `
` us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your `
` stepfather?" `
` `
` "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some `
` most important business. It is probable that he will be away all `
` day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a `
` housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily `
` get her out of the way." `
` `
` "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" `
` `
` "By no means." `
` `
` "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" `
` `
` "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am `
` in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to `
` be there in time for your coming." `
` `
` "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some `
` small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and `
` breakfast?" `
` `
` "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have `
` confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you `
` again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her `
` face and glided from the room. `
` `
` "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, `
` leaning back in his chair. `
` `
` "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." `
` `
` "Dark enough and sinister enough." `
` `
` "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls `
` are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, `
` then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her `
` mysterious end." `
` `
` "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the `
` very peculiar words of the dying woman?" `
` `
` "I cannot think." `
` `
` "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of `
` a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, `
` the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has `
` an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying `
` allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner `
` heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of `
` those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its `
` place, I think that there is good ground to think that the `
` mystery may be cleared along those lines." `
` `
` "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" `
` `
` "I cannot imagine." `
` `
` "I see many objections to any such theory." `
` `
` "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going `
` to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are `
` fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of `
` the devil!" `
` `
` The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that `
` our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had `
` framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar `
` mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a `
` black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, `
` with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his `
` hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his `
` breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, `
` seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and `
` marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other `
` of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, `
` fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old `
` bird of prey. `
` `
` "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. `
` `
` "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my `
` companion quietly. `
` `
` "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." `
` `
` "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." `
` `
` "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I `
` have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" `
` `
` "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. `
` `
` "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man `
` furiously. `
` `
` "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my `
` companion imperturbably. `
` `
` "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step `
` forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! `
` I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." `
` `
` My friend smiled. `
` `
` "Holmes, the busybody!" `
` `
` His smile broadened. `
` `
` "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" `
` `
` Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most `
` entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for `
` there is a decided draught." `
` `
` "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with `
` my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! `
` I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped `
` swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with `
` his huge brown hands. `
` `
` "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and `
` hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the `
` room. `
` `
` "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am `
` not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him `
` that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke `
` he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, `
` straightened it out again. `
` `
` "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official `
` detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, `
` however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer `
` from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, `
` Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk `
` down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may `
` help us in this matter." `
` `
` `
` It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his `
` excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled `
` over with notes and figures. `
` `
` "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To `
` determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the `
` present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The `
` total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little `
` short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural `
` prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an `
` income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, `
` therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have `
` had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to `
` a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, `
` since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for `
` standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, `
` this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is `
` aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you `
` are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be `
` very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your `
` pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen `
` who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush `
` are, I think, all that we need." `
` `
` At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for `
` Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove `
` for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a `
` perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the `
` heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out `
` their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant `
` smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange `
` contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this `
` sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in `
` the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over `
` his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the `
` deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the `
` shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. `
` `
` "Look there!" said he. `
` `
` A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, `
` thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the `
` branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a `
` very old mansion. `
` `
` "Stoke Moran?" said he. `
`