Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this `
` morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and `
` Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the `
` evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you `
` all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you `
` could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should `
` do." `
` `
` Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. `
` My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in `
` his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon `
` his face. `
` `
` "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do `
` nothing with him." `
` `
` "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" `
` `
` "Yes, the wine-cellar." `
` `
` "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very `
` brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could `
` perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not `
` think you a quite exceptional woman." `
` `
` "I will try. What is it?" `
` `
` "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend `
` and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, `
` we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might `
` give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some `
` errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate `
` matters immensely." `
` `
` "I will do it." `
` `
` "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of `
` course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been `
` brought there to personate someone, and the real person is `
` imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this `
` prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice `
` Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to `
` America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, `
` figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very `
` possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of `
` course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you `
` came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some `
` friend of hers--possibly her fianc�--and no doubt, as you wore `
` the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your `
` laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, `
` that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer `
` desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent `
` him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly `
` clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of `
` the child." `
` `
` "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. `
` `
` "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining `
` light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the `
` parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have `
` frequently gained my first real insight into the character of `
` parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is `
` abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he `
` derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or `
` from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their `
` power." `
` `
` "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A `
` thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you `
` have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to `
` this poor creature." `
` `
` "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning `
` man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall `
` be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the `
` mystery." `
` `
` We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we `
` reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside `
` public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining `
` like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were `
` sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been `
` standing smiling on the door-step. `
` `
` "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is `
` Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring `
` on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates `
` of Mr. Rucastle's." `
` `
` "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now `
` lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black `
` business." `
` `
` We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a `
` passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss `
` Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the `
` transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but `
` without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence `
` Holmes' face clouded over. `
` `
` "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss `
` Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put `
` your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our `
` way in." `
` `
` It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united `
` strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There `
` was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a `
` basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner `
` gone. `
` `
` "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty `
` has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim `
` off." `
` `
` "But how?" `
` `
` "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He `
` swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the `
` end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did `
` it." `
` `
` "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not `
` there when the Rucastles went away." `
` `
` "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and `
` dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were `
` he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it `
` would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." `
` `
` The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at `
` the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy `
` stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the `
` wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and `
` confronted him. `
` `
` "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" `
` `
` The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open `
` skylight. `
` `
` "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies `
` and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll `
` serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he `
` could go. `
` `
` "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. `
` `
` "I have my revolver," said I. `
` `
` "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed `
` down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we `
` heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a `
` horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An `
` elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out `
` at a side door. `
` `
` "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been `
` fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" `
` `
` Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with `
` Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its `
` black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and `
` screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and `
` it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great `
` creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and `
` carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid `
` him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered `
` Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to `
` relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door `
` opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. `
` `
` "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. `
` `
` "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he `
` went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know `
` what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains `
` were wasted." `
` `
` "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. `
` Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." `
` `
` "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several `
` points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." `
` `
` "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done `
` so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's `
` police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the `
` one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend `
` too. `
`
` morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and `
` Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the `
` evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you `
` all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you `
` could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should `
` do." `
` `
` Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. `
` My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in `
` his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon `
` his face. `
` `
` "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do `
` nothing with him." `
` `
` "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" `
` `
` "Yes, the wine-cellar." `
` `
` "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very `
` brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could `
` perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not `
` think you a quite exceptional woman." `
` `
` "I will try. What is it?" `
` `
` "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend `
` and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, `
` we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might `
` give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some `
` errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate `
` matters immensely." `
` `
` "I will do it." `
` `
` "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of `
` course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been `
` brought there to personate someone, and the real person is `
` imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this `
` prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice `
` Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to `
` America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, `
` figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very `
` possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of `
` course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you `
` came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some `
` friend of hers--possibly her fianc�--and no doubt, as you wore `
` the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your `
` laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, `
` that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer `
` desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent `
` him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly `
` clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of `
` the child." `
` `
` "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. `
` `
` "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining `
` light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the `
` parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have `
` frequently gained my first real insight into the character of `
` parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is `
` abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he `
` derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or `
` from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their `
` power." `
` `
` "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A `
` thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you `
` have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to `
` this poor creature." `
` `
` "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning `
` man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall `
` be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the `
` mystery." `
` `
` We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we `
` reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside `
` public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining `
` like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were `
` sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been `
` standing smiling on the door-step. `
` `
` "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is `
` Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring `
` on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates `
` of Mr. Rucastle's." `
` `
` "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now `
` lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black `
` business." `
` `
` We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a `
` passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss `
` Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the `
` transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but `
` without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence `
` Holmes' face clouded over. `
` `
` "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss `
` Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put `
` your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our `
` way in." `
` `
` It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united `
` strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There `
` was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a `
` basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner `
` gone. `
` `
` "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty `
` has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim `
` off." `
` `
` "But how?" `
` `
` "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He `
` swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the `
` end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did `
` it." `
` `
` "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not `
` there when the Rucastles went away." `
` `
` "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and `
` dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were `
` he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it `
` would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." `
` `
` The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at `
` the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy `
` stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the `
` wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and `
` confronted him. `
` `
` "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" `
` `
` The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open `
` skylight. `
` `
` "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies `
` and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll `
` serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he `
` could go. `
` `
` "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. `
` `
` "I have my revolver," said I. `
` `
` "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed `
` down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we `
` heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a `
` horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An `
` elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out `
` at a side door. `
` `
` "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been `
` fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" `
` `
` Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with `
` Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its `
` black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and `
` screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and `
` it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great `
` creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and `
` carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid `
` him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered `
` Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to `
` relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door `
` opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. `
` `
` "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. `
` `
` "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he `
` went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know `
` what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains `
` were wasted." `
` `
` "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. `
` Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." `
` `
` "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several `
` points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." `
` `
` "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done `
` so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's `
` police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the `
` one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend `
` too. `
`