Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. `
` Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the `
` seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford `
` for its centre. `
` `
` "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of `
` ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere `
` near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." `
` `
` "It was an hour's good drive." `
` `
` "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you `
` were unconscious?" `
` `
` "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having `
` been lifted and conveyed somewhere." `
` `
` "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have `
` spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. `
` Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." `
` `
` "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face `
` in my life." `
` `
` "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I `
` have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon `
` it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." `
` `
` "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. `
` `
` "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your `
` opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is `
` south, for the country is more deserted there." `
` `
` "And I say east," said my patient. `
` `
` "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are `
` several quiet little villages up there." `
` `
` "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, `
` and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up `
` any." `
` `
` "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty `
` diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do `
` you give your casting vote to?" `
` `
` "You are all wrong." `
` `
` "But we can't all be." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the `
` centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." `
` `
` "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. `
` `
` "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the `
` horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that `
` if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" `
` `
` "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet `
` thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature `
` of this gang." `
` `
` "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, `
` and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the `
` place of silver." `
` `
` "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," `
` said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by `
` the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could `
` get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that `
` showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this `
` lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." `
` `
` But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not `
` destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into `
` Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed `
` up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and `
` hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. `
` `
` "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off `
` again on its way. `
` `
` "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. `
` `
` "When did it break out?" `
` `
` "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, `
` and the whole place is in a blaze." `
` `
` "Whose house is it?" `
` `
` "Dr. Becher's." `
` `
` "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very `
` thin, with a long, sharp nose?" `
` `
` The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an `
` Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a `
` better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, `
` a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as `
` if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." `
` `
` The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all `
` hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low `
` hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in `
` front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in `
` the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to `
` keep the flames under. `
` `
` "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is `
` the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That `
` second window is the one that I jumped from." `
` `
` "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon `
` them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, `
` when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, `
` though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to `
` observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for `
` your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are `
` a good hundred miles off by now." `
` `
` And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this `
` no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the `
` sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a `
` peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very `
` bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but `
` there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' `
` ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their `
` whereabouts. `
` `
` The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements `
` which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a `
` newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. `
` About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and `
` they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, `
` and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save `
` some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of `
` the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so `
` dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored `
` in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have `
` explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been `
` already referred to. `
` `
` How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to `
` the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained `
` forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a `
` very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two `
` persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other `
` unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the `
` silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his `
` companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out `
` of the way of danger. `
` `
` "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return `
` once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I `
` have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what `
` have I gained?" `
` `
` "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of `
` value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the `
` reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your `
` existence." `
` `
` `
` `
` X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR `
` `
` The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have `
` long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles `
` in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have `
` eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the `
` gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to `
` believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to `
` the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a `
` considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no `
` memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of `
` this remarkable episode. `
` `
` It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I `
` was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came `
` home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table `
` waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather `
` had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and `
` the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as `
` a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. `
` With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had `
` surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, `
` saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and `
` lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the `
` envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's `
` noble correspondent could be. `
` `
` "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. `
` "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a `
` fish-monger and a tide-waiter." `
` `
` "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he `
` answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more `
` interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social `
`
` Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the `
` seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford `
` for its centre. `
` `
` "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of `
` ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere `
` near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." `
` `
` "It was an hour's good drive." `
` `
` "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you `
` were unconscious?" `
` `
` "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having `
` been lifted and conveyed somewhere." `
` `
` "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have `
` spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. `
` Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." `
` `
` "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face `
` in my life." `
` `
` "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I `
` have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon `
` it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." `
` `
` "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. `
` `
` "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your `
` opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is `
` south, for the country is more deserted there." `
` `
` "And I say east," said my patient. `
` `
` "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are `
` several quiet little villages up there." `
` `
` "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, `
` and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up `
` any." `
` `
` "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty `
` diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do `
` you give your casting vote to?" `
` `
` "You are all wrong." `
` `
` "But we can't all be." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the `
` centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." `
` `
` "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. `
` `
` "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the `
` horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that `
` if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" `
` `
` "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet `
` thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature `
` of this gang." `
` `
` "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, `
` and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the `
` place of silver." `
` `
` "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," `
` said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by `
` the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could `
` get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that `
` showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this `
` lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." `
` `
` But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not `
` destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into `
` Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed `
` up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and `
` hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. `
` `
` "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off `
` again on its way. `
` `
` "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. `
` `
` "When did it break out?" `
` `
` "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, `
` and the whole place is in a blaze." `
` `
` "Whose house is it?" `
` `
` "Dr. Becher's." `
` `
` "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very `
` thin, with a long, sharp nose?" `
` `
` The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an `
` Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a `
` better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, `
` a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as `
` if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." `
` `
` The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all `
` hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low `
` hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in `
` front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in `
` the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to `
` keep the flames under. `
` `
` "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is `
` the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That `
` second window is the one that I jumped from." `
` `
` "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon `
` them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, `
` when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, `
` though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to `
` observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for `
` your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are `
` a good hundred miles off by now." `
` `
` And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this `
` no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the `
` sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a `
` peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very `
` bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but `
` there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' `
` ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their `
` whereabouts. `
` `
` The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements `
` which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a `
` newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. `
` About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and `
` they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, `
` and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save `
` some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of `
` the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so `
` dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored `
` in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have `
` explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been `
` already referred to. `
` `
` How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to `
` the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained `
` forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a `
` very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two `
` persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other `
` unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the `
` silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his `
` companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out `
` of the way of danger. `
` `
` "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return `
` once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I `
` have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what `
` have I gained?" `
` `
` "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of `
` value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the `
` reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your `
` existence." `
` `
` `
` `
` X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR `
` `
` The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have `
` long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles `
` in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have `
` eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the `
` gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to `
` believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to `
` the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a `
` considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no `
` memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of `
` this remarkable episode. `
` `
` It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I `
` was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came `
` home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table `
` waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather `
` had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and `
` the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as `
` a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. `
` With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had `
` surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, `
` saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and `
` lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the `
` envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's `
` noble correspondent could be. `
` `
` "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. `
` "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a `
` fish-monger and a tide-waiter." `
` `
` "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he `
` answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more `
` interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social `
`