Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham `
` since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a `
` very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a `
` good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get `
` these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly `
` respectable self." `
` `
` I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for `
` satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, `
` and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He `
` hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of `
` the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his `
` congenial hunt. `
` `
` I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so `
` I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away `
` for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that `
` his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he `
` came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there `
` he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the `
` other, as fresh and trim as possible. `
` `
` "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but `
` you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this `
` morning." `
` `
` "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be `
` surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." `
` `
` It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the `
` change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally `
` of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, `
` while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered `
` with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than `
` his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into `
` the armchair which I pushed forward for him. `
` `
` "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said `
` he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without `
` a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured `
` age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, `
` Mary, has deserted me." `
` `
` "Deserted you?" `
` `
` "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was `
` empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to `
` her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had `
` married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was `
` thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers `
` in this note: `
` `
` "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, `
` and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune `
` might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my `
` mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must `
` leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is `
` provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will `
` be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in `
` death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' `
` `
` "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it `
` points to suicide?" `
` `
` "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible `
` solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of `
` your troubles." `
` `
` "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have `
` learned something! Where are the gems?" `
` `
` "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for `
` them?" `
` `
` "I would pay ten." `
` `
` "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. `
` And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? `
` Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." `
` `
` With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes `
` walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of `
` gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. `
` `
` With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. `
` `
` "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" `
` `
` The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and `
` he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. `
` `
` "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock `
` Holmes rather sternly. `
` `
` "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." `
` `
` "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that `
` noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I `
` should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to `
` have one." `
` `
` "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" `
` `
` "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." `
` `
` "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him `
` know that the truth is known." `
` `
` "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an `
` interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the `
` story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was `
` right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite `
` clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his `
` lips." `
` `
` "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary `
` mystery!" `
` `
` "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached `
` it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me `
` to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding `
` between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now `
` fled together." `
` `
` "My Mary? Impossible!" `
` `
` "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither `
` you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you `
` admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most `
` dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely `
` desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece `
` knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he `
` had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she `
` alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, `
` but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing `
` him nearly every evening." `
` `
` "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an `
` ashen face. `
` `
` "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. `
` Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, `
` slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which `
` leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right `
` through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the `
` coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he `
` bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but `
` there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all `
` other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had `
` hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming `
` downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you `
` about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, `
` which was all perfectly true. `
` `
` "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but `
` he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. `
` In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, `
` so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin `
` walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared `
` into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad `
` slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what `
` would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the `
` room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw `
` that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed `
` down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and `
` slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see `
` what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the `
` window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then `
` closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close `
` to where he stood hid behind the curtain. `
` `
` "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action `
` without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the `
` instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune `
` this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it `
` right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened `
` the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, `
` where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George `
` Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was `
` a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the `
` coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son `
` struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something `
` suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet `
` in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your `
` room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in `
` the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you `
` appeared upon the scene." `
` `
` "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. `
` `
` "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when `
` he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not `
` explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who `
` certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He `
` took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her `
` secret." `
` `
` "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the `
` coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have `
` been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! `
` The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the `
`
` since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a `
` very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a `
` good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get `
` these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly `
` respectable self." `
` `
` I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for `
` satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, `
` and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He `
` hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of `
` the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his `
` congenial hunt. `
` `
` I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so `
` I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away `
` for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that `
` his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he `
` came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there `
` he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the `
` other, as fresh and trim as possible. `
` `
` "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but `
` you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this `
` morning." `
` `
` "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be `
` surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." `
` `
` It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the `
` change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally `
` of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, `
` while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered `
` with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than `
` his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into `
` the armchair which I pushed forward for him. `
` `
` "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said `
` he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without `
` a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured `
` age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, `
` Mary, has deserted me." `
` `
` "Deserted you?" `
` `
` "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was `
` empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to `
` her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had `
` married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was `
` thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers `
` in this note: `
` `
` "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, `
` and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune `
` might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my `
` mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must `
` leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is `
` provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will `
` be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in `
` death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' `
` `
` "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it `
` points to suicide?" `
` `
` "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible `
` solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of `
` your troubles." `
` `
` "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have `
` learned something! Where are the gems?" `
` `
` "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for `
` them?" `
` `
` "I would pay ten." `
` `
` "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. `
` And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? `
` Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." `
` `
` With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes `
` walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of `
` gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. `
` `
` With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. `
` `
` "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" `
` `
` The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and `
` he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. `
` `
` "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock `
` Holmes rather sternly. `
` `
` "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." `
` `
` "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that `
` noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I `
` should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to `
` have one." `
` `
` "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" `
` `
` "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." `
` `
` "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him `
` know that the truth is known." `
` `
` "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an `
` interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the `
` story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was `
` right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite `
` clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his `
` lips." `
` `
` "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary `
` mystery!" `
` `
` "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached `
` it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me `
` to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding `
` between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now `
` fled together." `
` `
` "My Mary? Impossible!" `
` `
` "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither `
` you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you `
` admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most `
` dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely `
` desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece `
` knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he `
` had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she `
` alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, `
` but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing `
` him nearly every evening." `
` `
` "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an `
` ashen face. `
` `
` "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. `
` Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, `
` slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which `
` leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right `
` through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the `
` coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he `
` bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but `
` there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all `
` other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had `
` hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming `
` downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you `
` about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, `
` which was all perfectly true. `
` `
` "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but `
` he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. `
` In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, `
` so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin `
` walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared `
` into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad `
` slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what `
` would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the `
` room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw `
` that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed `
` down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and `
` slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see `
` what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the `
` window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then `
` closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close `
` to where he stood hid behind the curtain. `
` `
` "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action `
` without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the `
` instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune `
` this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it `
` right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened `
` the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, `
` where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George `
` Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was `
` a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the `
` coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son `
` struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something `
` suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet `
` in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your `
` room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in `
` the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you `
` appeared upon the scene." `
` `
` "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. `
` `
` "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when `
` he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not `
` explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who `
` certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He `
` took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her `
` secret." `
` `
` "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the `
` coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have `
` been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! `
` The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the `
`