Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
"I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman `
` may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical `
` reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong `
` piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband `
` is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away `
` from you?" `
` `
` "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." `
` `
` "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" `
` `
` "Very much so." `
` `
` "Was the window open?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then he might have called to you?" `
` `
` "He might." `
` `
` "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "A call for help, you thought?" `
` `
` "Yes. He waved his hands." `
` `
` "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the `
` unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" `
` `
` "It is possible." `
` `
` "And you thought he was pulled back?" `
` `
` "He disappeared so suddenly." `
` `
` "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the `
` room?" `
` `
` "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and `
` the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." `
` `
` "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his `
` ordinary clothes on?" `
` `
` "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare `
` throat." `
` `
` "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about `
` which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little `
` supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our `
` disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary `
` after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, `
` who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for `
` days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, `
` rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view `
` until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his `
` data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now `
` preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and `
` waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered `
` about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from `
` the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of `
` Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with `
` an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front `
` of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an `
` old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the `
` corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, `
` silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set `
` aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he `
` sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found `
` the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still `
` between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was `
` full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of `
` shag which I had seen upon the previous night. `
` `
` "Awake, Watson?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Game for a morning drive?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the `
` stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He `
` chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed `
` a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. `
` `
` As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one `
` was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly `
` finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was `
` putting in the horse. `
` `
` "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his `
` boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the `
` presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve `
` to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the `
` key of the affair now." `
` `
` "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. `
` `
` "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he `
` continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been `
` there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this `
` Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will `
` not fit the lock." `
` `
` We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into `
` the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and `
` trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both `
` sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country `
` carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but `
` the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as `
` some city in a dream. `
` `
` "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, `
` flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been `
` as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than `
` never to learn it at all." `
` `
` In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily `
` from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey `
` side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the `
` river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the `
` right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well `
` known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted `
` him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. `
` `
` "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." `
` `
` "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come `
` down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged `
` jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." `
` "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, `
` office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a `
` telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his `
` desk. `
` `
` "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" `
` `
` "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged `
` with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. `
` Clair, of Lee." `
` `
` "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." `
` `
` "So I heard. You have him here?" `
` `
` "In the cells." `
` `
` "Is he quiet?" `
` `
` "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." `
` `
` "Dirty?" `
` `
` "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his `
` face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been `
` settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you `
` saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." `
` `
` "I should like to see him very much." `
` `
` "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave `
` your bag." `
` `
` "No, I think that I'll take it." `
` `
` "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a `
` passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and `
` brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each `
` side. `
` `
` "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it `
` is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door `
` and glanced through. `
` `
` "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." `
` `
` We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his `
` face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and `
` heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his `
`
` may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical `
` reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong `
` piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband `
` is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away `
` from you?" `
` `
` "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." `
` `
` "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" `
` `
` "Very much so." `
` `
` "Was the window open?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then he might have called to you?" `
` `
` "He might." `
` `
` "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "A call for help, you thought?" `
` `
` "Yes. He waved his hands." `
` `
` "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the `
` unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" `
` `
` "It is possible." `
` `
` "And you thought he was pulled back?" `
` `
` "He disappeared so suddenly." `
` `
` "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the `
` room?" `
` `
` "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and `
` the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." `
` `
` "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his `
` ordinary clothes on?" `
` `
` "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare `
` throat." `
` `
` "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about `
` which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little `
` supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our `
` disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary `
` after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, `
` who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for `
` days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, `
` rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view `
` until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his `
` data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now `
` preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and `
` waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered `
` about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from `
` the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of `
` Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with `
` an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front `
` of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an `
` old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the `
` corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, `
` silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set `
` aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he `
` sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found `
` the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still `
` between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was `
` full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of `
` shag which I had seen upon the previous night. `
` `
` "Awake, Watson?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Game for a morning drive?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the `
` stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He `
` chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed `
` a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. `
` `
` As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one `
` was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly `
` finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was `
` putting in the horse. `
` `
` "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his `
` boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the `
` presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve `
` to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the `
` key of the affair now." `
` `
` "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. `
` `
` "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he `
` continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been `
` there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this `
` Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will `
` not fit the lock." `
` `
` We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into `
` the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and `
` trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both `
` sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country `
` carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but `
` the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as `
` some city in a dream. `
` `
` "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, `
` flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been `
` as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than `
` never to learn it at all." `
` `
` In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily `
` from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey `
` side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the `
` river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the `
` right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well `
` known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted `
` him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. `
` `
` "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." `
` `
` "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come `
` down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged `
` jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." `
` "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, `
` office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a `
` telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his `
` desk. `
` `
` "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" `
` `
` "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged `
` with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. `
` Clair, of Lee." `
` `
` "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." `
` `
` "So I heard. You have him here?" `
` `
` "In the cells." `
` `
` "Is he quiet?" `
` `
` "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." `
` `
` "Dirty?" `
` `
` "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his `
` face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been `
` settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you `
` saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." `
` `
` "I should like to see him very much." `
` `
` "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave `
` your bag." `
` `
` "No, I think that I'll take it." `
` `
` "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a `
` passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and `
` brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each `
` side. `
` `
` "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it `
` is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door `
` and glanced through. `
` `
` "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." `
` `
` We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his `
` face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and `
` heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his `
`