Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old `
` man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon `
` his knees, staring into the fire. `
` `
` As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe `
` for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. `
` `
` "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend `
` of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." `
` `
` There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and `
` peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and `
` unkempt, staring out at me. `
` `
` "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of `
` reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what `
` o'clock is it?" `
` `
` "Nearly eleven." `
` `
` "Of what day?" `
` `
` "Of Friday, June 19th." `
` `
` "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What `
` d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his `
` arms and began to sob in a high treble key. `
` `
` "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting `
` this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" `
` `
` "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here `
` a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll `
` go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. `
` Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have one waiting." `
` `
` "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I `
` owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." `
` `
` I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of `
` sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying `
` fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed `
` the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my `
` skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look `
` back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I `
` glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my `
` side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very `
` wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between `
` his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his `
` fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my `
` self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of `
` astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him `
` but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull `
` eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and `
` grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He `
` made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he `
` turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided `
` into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. `
` `
` "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" `
` `
` "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you `
` would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend `
` of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with `
` you." `
` `
` "I have a cab outside." `
` `
` "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he `
` appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should `
` recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to `
` say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait `
` outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." `
` `
` It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for `
` they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with `
` such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney `
` was once confined in the cab my mission was practically `
` accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better `
` than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular `
` adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a `
` few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him `
` out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a `
` very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, `
` and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two `
` streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. `
` Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and `
` burst into a hearty fit of laughter. `
` `
` "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added `
` opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little `
` weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical `
` views." `
` `
` "I was certainly surprised to find you there." `
` `
` "But not more so than I to find you." `
` `
` "I came to find a friend." `
` `
` "And I to find an enemy." `
` `
` "An enemy?" `
` `
` "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural `
` prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable `
` inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent `
` ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been `
` recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an `
` hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own `
` purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have `
` vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that `
` building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some `
` strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless `
` nights." `
` `
` "What! You do not mean bodies?" `
` `
` "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds `
` for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It `
` is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that `
` Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our `
` trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his `
` teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a `
` similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle `
` of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. `
` `
` "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through `
` the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from `
` its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" `
` `
` "If I can be of use." `
` `
` "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still `
` more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." `
` `
` "The Cedars?" `
` `
` "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I `
` conduct the inquiry." `
` `
` "Where is it, then?" `
` `
` "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." `
` `
` "But I am all in the dark." `
` `
` "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up `
` here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a `
` crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her `
` head. So long, then!" `
` `
` He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through `
` the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which `
` widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad `
` balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly `
` beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and `
` mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of `
` the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of `
` revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a `
` star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of `
` the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his `
` breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat `
` beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which `
` seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in `
` upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, `
` and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban `
` villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up `
` his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he `
` is acting for the best. `
` `
` "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes `
` you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great `
` thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are `
` not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear `
` little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." `
` `
` "You forget that I know nothing about it." `
` `
` "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before `
` we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can `
` get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I `
` can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case `
` clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a `
` spark where all is dark to me." `
` `
` "Proceed, then." `
` `
` "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee `
` a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have `
` plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very `
` nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made `
` friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter `
` of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no `
` occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into `
` town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon `
` Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of `
` age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very `
` affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know `
`
` man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon `
` his knees, staring into the fire. `
` `
` As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe `
` for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. `
` `
` "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend `
` of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." `
` `
` There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and `
` peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and `
` unkempt, staring out at me. `
` `
` "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of `
` reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what `
` o'clock is it?" `
` `
` "Nearly eleven." `
` `
` "Of what day?" `
` `
` "Of Friday, June 19th." `
` `
` "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What `
` d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his `
` arms and began to sob in a high treble key. `
` `
` "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting `
` this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" `
` `
` "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here `
` a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll `
` go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. `
` Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have one waiting." `
` `
` "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I `
` owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." `
` `
` I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of `
` sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying `
` fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed `
` the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my `
` skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look `
` back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I `
` glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my `
` side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very `
` wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between `
` his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his `
` fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my `
` self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of `
` astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him `
` but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull `
` eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and `
` grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He `
` made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he `
` turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided `
` into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. `
` `
` "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" `
` `
` "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you `
` would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend `
` of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with `
` you." `
` `
` "I have a cab outside." `
` `
` "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he `
` appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should `
` recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to `
` say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait `
` outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." `
` `
` It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for `
` they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with `
` such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney `
` was once confined in the cab my mission was practically `
` accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better `
` than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular `
` adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a `
` few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him `
` out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a `
` very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, `
` and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two `
` streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. `
` Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and `
` burst into a hearty fit of laughter. `
` `
` "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added `
` opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little `
` weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical `
` views." `
` `
` "I was certainly surprised to find you there." `
` `
` "But not more so than I to find you." `
` `
` "I came to find a friend." `
` `
` "And I to find an enemy." `
` `
` "An enemy?" `
` `
` "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural `
` prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable `
` inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent `
` ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been `
` recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an `
` hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own `
` purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have `
` vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that `
` building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some `
` strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless `
` nights." `
` `
` "What! You do not mean bodies?" `
` `
` "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds `
` for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It `
` is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that `
` Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our `
` trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his `
` teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a `
` similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle `
` of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. `
` `
` "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through `
` the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from `
` its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" `
` `
` "If I can be of use." `
` `
` "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still `
` more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." `
` `
` "The Cedars?" `
` `
` "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I `
` conduct the inquiry." `
` `
` "Where is it, then?" `
` `
` "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." `
` `
` "But I am all in the dark." `
` `
` "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up `
` here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a `
` crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her `
` head. So long, then!" `
` `
` He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through `
` the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which `
` widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad `
` balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly `
` beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and `
` mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of `
` the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of `
` revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a `
` star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of `
` the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his `
` breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat `
` beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which `
` seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in `
` upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, `
` and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban `
` villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up `
` his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he `
` is acting for the best. `
` `
` "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes `
` you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great `
` thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are `
` not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear `
` little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." `
` `
` "You forget that I know nothing about it." `
` `
` "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before `
` we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can `
` get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I `
` can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case `
` clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a `
` spark where all is dark to me." `
` `
` "Proceed, then." `
` `
` "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee `
` a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have `
` plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very `
` nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made `
` friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter `
` of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no `
` occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into `
` town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon `
` Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of `
` age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very `
` affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know `
`