Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper `
` Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands `
` near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp `
` rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving `
` about. `
` `
` "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two `
` planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' `
` `
` "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a `
` vague figure huddled up in the darkness. `
` `
` "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start `
` which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, `
` but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do `
` anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, `
` so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose `
` every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs `
` upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your `
` foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life `
` is worth.' `
` `
` "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to `
` look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. `
` It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the `
` house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was `
` standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was `
` aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper `
` beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It `
` was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging `
` jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly `
` across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. `
` That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not `
` think that any burglar could have done. `
` `
` "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as `
` you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a `
` great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the `
` child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the `
` furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. `
` There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones `
` empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two `
` with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was `
` naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It `
` struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, `
` so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very `
` first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There `
` was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never `
` guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. `
` `
` "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, `
` and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing `
` obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in `
` the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the `
` contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two `
` tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was `
` it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at `
` all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, `
` and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that `
` I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had `
` locked. `
` `
` "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, `
` and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. `
` There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited `
` at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of `
` the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. `
` One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle `
` coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on `
` his face which made him a very different person to the round, `
` jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his `
` brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his `
` temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me `
` without a word or a look. `
` `
` "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the `
` grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I `
` could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four `
` of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the `
` fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I `
` strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle `
` came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. `
` `
` "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you `
` without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with `
` business matters.' `
` `
` "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, `
` 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one `
` of them has the shutters up.' `
` `
` "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled `
` at my remark. `
` `
` "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my `
` dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we `
` have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever `
` believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest `
` in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and `
` annoyance, but no jest. `
` `
` "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there `
` was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, `
` I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, `
` though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a `
` feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this `
` place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's `
` instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, `
` and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the `
` forbidden door. `
` `
` "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, `
` besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to `
` do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large `
` black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been `
` drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when `
` I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at `
` all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both `
` downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an `
` admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, `
` opened the door, and slipped through. `
` `
` "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and `
` uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. `
` Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third `
` of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and `
` cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so `
` thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through `
` them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it `
` had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked `
` at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with `
` stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was `
` not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the `
` shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from `
` beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was `
` a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the `
` passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it `
` might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room `
` and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little `
` slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, `
` unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My `
` overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran `
` as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the `
` skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, `
` and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting `
` outside. `
` `
` "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it `
` must be when I saw the door open.' `
` `
` "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. `
` `
` "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how `
` caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened `
` you, my dear young lady?' `
` `
` "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I `
` was keenly on my guard against him. `
` `
` "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. `
` 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was `
` frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in `
` there!' `
` `
` "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. `
` `
` "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. `
` `
` "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' `
` `
` "'I am sure that I do not know.' `
` `
` "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you `
` see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. `
` `
` "'I am sure if I had known--' `
` `
` "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over `
` that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into `
` a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a `
` demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' `
` `
` "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that `
` I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing `
` until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I `
` thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without `
` some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the `
` woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible `
` to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of `
` course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was `
` almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would `
` send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the `
` office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then `
` returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my `
` mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I `
` remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of `
` insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one `
` in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, `
` or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and `
` lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. `
` I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this `
`
` Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands `
` near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp `
` rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving `
` about. `
` `
` "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two `
` planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' `
` `
` "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a `
` vague figure huddled up in the darkness. `
` `
` "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start `
` which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, `
` but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do `
` anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, `
` so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose `
` every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs `
` upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your `
` foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life `
` is worth.' `
` `
` "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to `
` look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. `
` It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the `
` house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was `
` standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was `
` aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper `
` beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It `
` was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging `
` jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly `
` across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. `
` That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not `
` think that any burglar could have done. `
` `
` "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as `
` you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a `
` great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the `
` child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the `
` furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. `
` There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones `
` empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two `
` with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was `
` naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It `
` struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, `
` so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very `
` first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There `
` was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never `
` guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. `
` `
` "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, `
` and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing `
` obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in `
` the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the `
` contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two `
` tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was `
` it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at `
` all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, `
` and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that `
` I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had `
` locked. `
` `
` "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, `
` and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. `
` There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited `
` at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of `
` the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. `
` One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle `
` coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on `
` his face which made him a very different person to the round, `
` jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his `
` brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his `
` temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me `
` without a word or a look. `
` `
` "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the `
` grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I `
` could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four `
` of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the `
` fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I `
` strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle `
` came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. `
` `
` "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you `
` without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with `
` business matters.' `
` `
` "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, `
` 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one `
` of them has the shutters up.' `
` `
` "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled `
` at my remark. `
` `
` "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my `
` dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we `
` have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever `
` believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest `
` in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and `
` annoyance, but no jest. `
` `
` "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there `
` was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, `
` I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, `
` though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a `
` feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this `
` place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's `
` instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, `
` and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the `
` forbidden door. `
` `
` "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, `
` besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to `
` do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large `
` black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been `
` drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when `
` I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at `
` all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both `
` downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an `
` admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, `
` opened the door, and slipped through. `
` `
` "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and `
` uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. `
` Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third `
` of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and `
` cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so `
` thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through `
` them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it `
` had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked `
` at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with `
` stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was `
` not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the `
` shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from `
` beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was `
` a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the `
` passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it `
` might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room `
` and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little `
` slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, `
` unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My `
` overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran `
` as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the `
` skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, `
` and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting `
` outside. `
` `
` "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it `
` must be when I saw the door open.' `
` `
` "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. `
` `
` "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how `
` caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened `
` you, my dear young lady?' `
` `
` "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I `
` was keenly on my guard against him. `
` `
` "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. `
` 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was `
` frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in `
` there!' `
` `
` "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. `
` `
` "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. `
` `
` "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' `
` `
` "'I am sure that I do not know.' `
` `
` "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you `
` see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. `
` `
` "'I am sure if I had known--' `
` `
` "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over `
` that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into `
` a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a `
` demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' `
` `
` "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that `
` I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing `
` until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I `
` thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without `
` some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the `
` woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible `
` to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of `
` course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was `
` almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would `
` send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the `
` office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then `
` returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my `
` mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I `
` remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of `
` insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one `
` in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, `
` or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and `
` lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. `
` I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this `
`