Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
`
` "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting `
` his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" `
` `
` The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on `
` one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself `
` and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. `
` `
` "What do you make of that, Watson?" `
` `
` "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be `
` tied." `
` `
` "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, `
` and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst `
` of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and `
` with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." `
` `
` I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as `
` it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We `
` had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss `
` Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he `
` roused himself from his reverie. `
` `
` "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should `
` absolutely follow my advice in every respect." `
` `
` "I shall most certainly do so." `
` `
` "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may `
` depend upon your compliance." `
` `
` "I assure you that I am in your hands." `
` `
` "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in `
` your room." `
` `
` Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. `
` `
` "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the `
` village inn over there?" `
` `
` "Yes, that is the Crown." `
` `
` "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a `
` headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him `
` retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, `
` undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then `
` withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want `
` into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in `
` spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, easily." `
` `
` "The rest you will leave in our hands." `
` `
` "But what will you do?" `
` `
` "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate `
` the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." `
` `
` "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," `
` said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. `
` `
` "Perhaps I have." `
` `
` "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's `
` death." `
` `
` "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." `
` `
` "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and `
` if she died from some sudden fright." `
` `
` "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more `
` tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if `
` Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. `
` Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, `
` you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers `
` that threaten you." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and `
` sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and `
` from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and `
` of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw `
` Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside `
` the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some `
` slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard `
` the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which `
` he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few `
` minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as `
` the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. `
` `
` "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the `
` gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you `
` to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." `
` `
` "Can I be of assistance?" `
` `
` "Your presence might be invaluable." `
` `
` "Then I shall certainly come." `
` `
` "It is very kind of you." `
` `
` "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms `
` than was visible to me." `
` `
` "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine `
` that you saw all that I did." `
` `
` "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose `
` that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." `
` `
` "You saw the ventilator, too?" `
` `
` "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to `
` have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a `
` rat could hardly pass through." `
` `
` "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to `
` Stoke Moran." `
` `
` "My dear Holmes!" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her `
` sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that `
` suggested at once that there must be a communication between the `
` two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been `
` remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." `
` `
` "But what harm can there be in that?" `
` `
` "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A `
` ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the `
` bed dies. Does not that strike you?" `
` `
` "I cannot as yet see any connection." `
` `
` "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened `
` like that before?" `
` `
` "I cannot say that I have." `
` `
` "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same `
` relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may `
` call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." `
` `
` "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. `
` We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible `
` crime." `
` `
` "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong `
` he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. `
` Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. `
` This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall `
` be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough `
` before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet `
` pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more `
` cheerful." `
` `
` `
` About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, `
` and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours `
` passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of `
` eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. `
` `
` "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it `
` comes from the middle window." `
` `
` As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, `
` explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, `
` and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A `
` moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing `
` in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us `
` through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. `
` `
` There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for `
` unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way `
` among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about `
` to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel `
` bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted `
` child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and `
` then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. `
` `
` "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" `
` `
` Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like `
` a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low `
` laugh and put his lips to my ear. `
` `
` "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." `
` `
`
` "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting `
` his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" `
` `
` The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on `
` one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself `
` and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. `
` `
` "What do you make of that, Watson?" `
` `
` "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be `
` tied." `
` `
` "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, `
` and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst `
` of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and `
` with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." `
` `
` I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as `
` it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We `
` had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss `
` Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he `
` roused himself from his reverie. `
` `
` "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should `
` absolutely follow my advice in every respect." `
` `
` "I shall most certainly do so." `
` `
` "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may `
` depend upon your compliance." `
` `
` "I assure you that I am in your hands." `
` `
` "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in `
` your room." `
` `
` Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. `
` `
` "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the `
` village inn over there?" `
` `
` "Yes, that is the Crown." `
` `
` "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a `
` headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him `
` retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, `
` undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then `
` withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want `
` into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in `
` spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, easily." `
` `
` "The rest you will leave in our hands." `
` `
` "But what will you do?" `
` `
` "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate `
` the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." `
` `
` "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," `
` said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. `
` `
` "Perhaps I have." `
` `
` "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's `
` death." `
` `
` "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." `
` `
` "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and `
` if she died from some sudden fright." `
` `
` "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more `
` tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if `
` Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. `
` Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, `
` you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers `
` that threaten you." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and `
` sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and `
` from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and `
` of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw `
` Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside `
` the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some `
` slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard `
` the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which `
` he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few `
` minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as `
` the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. `
` `
` "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the `
` gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you `
` to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." `
` `
` "Can I be of assistance?" `
` `
` "Your presence might be invaluable." `
` `
` "Then I shall certainly come." `
` `
` "It is very kind of you." `
` `
` "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms `
` than was visible to me." `
` `
` "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine `
` that you saw all that I did." `
` `
` "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose `
` that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." `
` `
` "You saw the ventilator, too?" `
` `
` "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to `
` have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a `
` rat could hardly pass through." `
` `
` "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to `
` Stoke Moran." `
` `
` "My dear Holmes!" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her `
` sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that `
` suggested at once that there must be a communication between the `
` two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been `
` remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." `
` `
` "But what harm can there be in that?" `
` `
` "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A `
` ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the `
` bed dies. Does not that strike you?" `
` `
` "I cannot as yet see any connection." `
` `
` "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened `
` like that before?" `
` `
` "I cannot say that I have." `
` `
` "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same `
` relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may `
` call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." `
` `
` "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. `
` We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible `
` crime." `
` `
` "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong `
` he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. `
` Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. `
` This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall `
` be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough `
` before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet `
` pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more `
` cheerful." `
` `
` `
` About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, `
` and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours `
` passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of `
` eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. `
` `
` "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it `
` comes from the middle window." `
` `
` As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, `
` explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, `
` and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A `
` moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing `
` in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us `
` through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. `
` `
` There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for `
` unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way `
` among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about `
` to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel `
` bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted `
` child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and `
` then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. `
` `
` "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" `
` `
` Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like `
` a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low `
` laugh and put his lips to my ear. `
` `
` "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." `
` `
`