Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
"No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in `
` the stable lane now." `
` `
` "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he `
` hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, `
` that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, `
` that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." `
` `
` "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may `
` prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the `
` snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing `
` Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" `
` `
` "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." `
` `
` "You heard nothing yourself last night?" `
` `
` "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard `
` that, and I came down." `
` `
` "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you `
` fasten all the windows?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Were they all fastened this morning?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked `
` to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" `
` `
` "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and `
` who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." `
` `
` "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her `
` sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." `
` `
` "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the `
` banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with `
` the coronet in his hands?" `
` `
` "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this `
` girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I `
` presume?" `
` `
` "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I `
` met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." `
` `
` "Do you know him?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. `
` His name is Francis Prosper." `
` `
` "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to `
` say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" `
` `
` "Yes, he did." `
` `
` "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" `
` `
` Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive `
` black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you `
` know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in `
` Holmes' thin, eager face. `
` `
` "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall `
` probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps `
` I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." `
` `
` He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at `
` the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. `
` This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill `
` with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," `
` said he at last. `
` `
` The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little `
` chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. `
` Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. `
` `
` "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. `
` `
` "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the `
` lumber-room." `
` `
` "Have you it here?" `
` `
` "That is it on the dressing-table." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. `
` `
` "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did `
` not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must `
` have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem `
` he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the `
` jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I `
` have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, `
` where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. `
` `
` "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which `
` corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I `
` beg that you will break it off." `
` `
` The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," `
` said he. `
` `
` "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but `
` without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though `
` I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my `
` time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do `
` you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would `
` be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this `
` happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard `
` nothing of it?" `
` `
` "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." `
` `
` "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, `
` Miss Holder?" `
` `
` "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." `
` `
` "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" `
` `
` "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." `
` `
` "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary `
` luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault `
` if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your `
` permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations `
` outside." `
` `
` He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any `
` unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an `
` hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet `
` heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. `
` `
` "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. `
` Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my `
` rooms." `
` `
` "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" `
` `
` "I cannot tell." `
` `
` The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he `
` cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" `
` `
` "My opinion is in no way altered." `
` `
` "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was `
` acted in my house last night?" `
` `
` "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow `
` morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to `
` make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to `
` act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you `
` place no limit on the sum I may draw." `
` `
` "I would give my fortune to have them back." `
` `
` "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. `
` Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here `
` again before evening." `
` `
` It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up `
` about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than `
` I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward `
` journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always `
` glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in `
` despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our `
` rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in `
` a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned `
` up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he `
` was a perfect sample of the class. `
` `
` "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass `
` above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, `
` Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in `
` this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I `
` shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few `
` hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, `
` sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this `
` rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. `
` `
` I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in `
` excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his `
` hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a `
` cup of tea. `
` `
` "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." `
` `
` "Where to?" `
` `
` "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time `
` before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be `
` late." `
` `
` "How are you getting on?" `
` `
` "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham `
`
` the stable lane now." `
` `
` "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he `
` hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, `
` that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, `
` that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." `
` `
` "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may `
` prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the `
` snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing `
` Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" `
` `
` "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." `
` `
` "You heard nothing yourself last night?" `
` `
` "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard `
` that, and I came down." `
` `
` "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you `
` fasten all the windows?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Were they all fastened this morning?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked `
` to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" `
` `
` "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and `
` who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." `
` `
` "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her `
` sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." `
` `
` "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the `
` banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with `
` the coronet in his hands?" `
` `
` "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this `
` girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I `
` presume?" `
` `
` "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I `
` met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." `
` `
` "Do you know him?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. `
` His name is Francis Prosper." `
` `
` "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to `
` say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" `
` `
` "Yes, he did." `
` `
` "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" `
` `
` Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive `
` black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you `
` know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in `
` Holmes' thin, eager face. `
` `
` "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall `
` probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps `
` I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." `
` `
` He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at `
` the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. `
` This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill `
` with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," `
` said he at last. `
` `
` The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little `
` chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. `
` Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. `
` `
` "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. `
` `
` "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the `
` lumber-room." `
` `
` "Have you it here?" `
` `
` "That is it on the dressing-table." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. `
` `
` "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did `
` not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must `
` have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem `
` he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the `
` jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I `
` have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, `
` where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. `
` `
` "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which `
` corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I `
` beg that you will break it off." `
` `
` The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," `
` said he. `
` `
` "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but `
` without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though `
` I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my `
` time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do `
` you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would `
` be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this `
` happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard `
` nothing of it?" `
` `
` "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." `
` `
` "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, `
` Miss Holder?" `
` `
` "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." `
` `
` "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" `
` `
` "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." `
` `
` "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary `
` luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault `
` if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your `
` permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations `
` outside." `
` `
` He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any `
` unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an `
` hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet `
` heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. `
` `
` "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. `
` Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my `
` rooms." `
` `
` "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" `
` `
` "I cannot tell." `
` `
` The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he `
` cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" `
` `
` "My opinion is in no way altered." `
` `
` "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was `
` acted in my house last night?" `
` `
` "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow `
` morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to `
` make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to `
` act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you `
` place no limit on the sum I may draw." `
` `
` "I would give my fortune to have them back." `
` `
` "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. `
` Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here `
` again before evening." `
` `
` It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up `
` about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than `
` I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward `
` journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always `
` glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in `
` despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our `
` rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in `
` a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned `
` up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he `
` was a perfect sample of the class. `
` `
` "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass `
` above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, `
` Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in `
` this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I `
` shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few `
` hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, `
` sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this `
` rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. `
` `
` I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in `
` excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his `
` hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a `
` cup of tea. `
` `
` "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." `
` `
` "Where to?" `
` `
` "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time `
` before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be `
` late." `
` `
` "How are you getting on?" `
` `
` "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham `
`