Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their `
` habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for `
` the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love `
` of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of `
` someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis `
` that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from `
` America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by `
` considering the formidable letters which were received by himself `
` and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those `
` letters?" `
` `
` "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the `
` third from London." `
` `
` "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" `
` `
` "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." `
` `
` "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that `
` the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was `
` on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the `
` case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and `
` its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. `
` Does that suggest anything?" `
` `
` "A greater distance to travel." `
` `
` "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." `
` `
` "Then I do not see the point." `
` `
` "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man `
` or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send `
` their singular warning or token before them when starting upon `
` their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign `
` when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a `
` steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. `
` But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those `
` seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which `
` brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the `
` writer." `
` `
` "It is possible." `
` `
` "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly `
` urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to `
` caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which `
` it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one `
` comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." `
` `
` "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless `
` persecution?" `
` `
` "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital `
` importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think `
` that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. `
` A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way `
` as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in `
` it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. `
` Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. `
` In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an `
` individual and becomes the badge of a society." `
` `
` "But of what society?" `
` `
` "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and `
` sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" `
` `
` "I never have." `
` `
` Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it `
` is," said he presently: `
` `
` "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to `
` the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret `
` society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the `
` Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local `
` branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, `
` Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was `
` used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of `
` the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country `
` of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually `
` preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic `
` but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some `
` parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this `
` the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might `
` fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would `
` unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and `
` unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the `
` society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a `
` case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with `
` impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the `
` perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite `
` of the efforts of the United States government and of the better `
` classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year `
` 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have `
` been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' `
` `
` "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that `
` the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the `
` disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may `
` well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his `
` family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. `
` You can understand that this register and diary may implicate `
` some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many `
` who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." `
` `
` "Then the page we have seen--" `
` `
` "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent `
` the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to `
` them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or `
` left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a `
` sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let `
` some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only `
` chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have `
` told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done `
` to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for `
` half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable `
` ways of our fellow-men." `
` `
` `
` It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a `
` subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the `
` great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came `
` down. `
` `
` "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I `
` foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of `
` young Openshaw's." `
` `
` "What steps will you take?" I asked. `
` `
` "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. `
` I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." `
` `
` "You will not go there first?" `
` `
` "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the `
` maid will bring up your coffee." `
` `
` As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and `
` glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a `
` chill to my heart. `
` `
` "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." `
` `
` "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it `
` done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. `
` `
` "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy `
` Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: `
` `
` "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H `
` Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and `
` a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and `
` stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it `
` was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was `
` given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was `
` eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman `
` whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his `
` pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. `
` It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch `
` the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and `
` the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge `
` of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body `
` exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that `
` the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, `
` which should have the effect of calling the attention of the `
` authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." `
` `
` We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and `
` shaken than I had ever seen him. `
` `
` "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty `
` feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal `
` matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my `
` hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that `
` I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair `
` and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a `
` flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and `
` unclasping of his long thin hands. `
` `
` "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could `
` they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the `
` direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too `
` crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, `
` we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" `
` `
` "To the police?" `
` `
` "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may `
` take the flies, but not before." `
` `
` All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in `
` the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes `
` had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he `
` entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, `
` and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, `
` washing it down with a long draught of water. `
` `
`
` habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for `
` the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love `
` of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of `
` someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis `
` that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from `
` America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by `
` considering the formidable letters which were received by himself `
` and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those `
` letters?" `
` `
` "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the `
` third from London." `
` `
` "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" `
` `
` "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." `
` `
` "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that `
` the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was `
` on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the `
` case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and `
` its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. `
` Does that suggest anything?" `
` `
` "A greater distance to travel." `
` `
` "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." `
` `
` "Then I do not see the point." `
` `
` "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man `
` or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send `
` their singular warning or token before them when starting upon `
` their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign `
` when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a `
` steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. `
` But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those `
` seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which `
` brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the `
` writer." `
` `
` "It is possible." `
` `
` "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly `
` urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to `
` caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which `
` it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one `
` comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." `
` `
` "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless `
` persecution?" `
` `
` "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital `
` importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think `
` that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. `
` A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way `
` as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in `
` it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. `
` Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. `
` In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an `
` individual and becomes the badge of a society." `
` `
` "But of what society?" `
` `
` "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and `
` sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" `
` `
` "I never have." `
` `
` Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it `
` is," said he presently: `
` `
` "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to `
` the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret `
` society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the `
` Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local `
` branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, `
` Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was `
` used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of `
` the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country `
` of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually `
` preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic `
` but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some `
` parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this `
` the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might `
` fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would `
` unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and `
` unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the `
` society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a `
` case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with `
` impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the `
` perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite `
` of the efforts of the United States government and of the better `
` classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year `
` 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have `
` been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' `
` `
` "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that `
` the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the `
` disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may `
` well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his `
` family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. `
` You can understand that this register and diary may implicate `
` some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many `
` who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." `
` `
` "Then the page we have seen--" `
` `
` "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent `
` the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to `
` them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or `
` left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a `
` sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let `
` some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only `
` chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have `
` told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done `
` to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for `
` half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable `
` ways of our fellow-men." `
` `
` `
` It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a `
` subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the `
` great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came `
` down. `
` `
` "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I `
` foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of `
` young Openshaw's." `
` `
` "What steps will you take?" I asked. `
` `
` "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. `
` I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." `
` `
` "You will not go there first?" `
` `
` "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the `
` maid will bring up your coffee." `
` `
` As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and `
` glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a `
` chill to my heart. `
` `
` "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." `
` `
` "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it `
` done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. `
` `
` "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy `
` Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: `
` `
` "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H `
` Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and `
` a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and `
` stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it `
` was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was `
` given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was `
` eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman `
` whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his `
` pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. `
` It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch `
` the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and `
` the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge `
` of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body `
` exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that `
` the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, `
` which should have the effect of calling the attention of the `
` authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." `
` `
` We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and `
` shaken than I had ever seen him. `
` `
` "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty `
` feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal `
` matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my `
` hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that `
` I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair `
` and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a `
` flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and `
` unclasping of his long thin hands. `
` `
` "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could `
` they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the `
` direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too `
` crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, `
` we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" `
` `
` "To the police?" `
` `
` "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may `
` take the flies, but not before." `
` `
` All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in `
` the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes `
` had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he `
` entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, `
` and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, `
` washing it down with a long draught of water. `
` `
`