Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
`
` "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he `
` would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw `
` happened." `
` `
` "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" `
` `
` "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter `
` again." `
` `
` "And your father? Did you tell him?" `
` `
` "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had `
` happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, `
` what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of `
` the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my `
` money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, `
` there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about `
` money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what `
` could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me `
` half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She `
` pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob `
` heavily into it. `
` `
` "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and `
` I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the `
` weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind `
` dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel `
` vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." `
` `
` "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" `
` `
` "I fear not." `
` `
` "Then what has happened to him?" `
` `
` "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an `
` accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can `
` spare." `
` `
` "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. `
` "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." `
` `
` "Thank you. And your address?" `
` `
` "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." `
` `
` "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your `
` father's place of business?" `
` `
` "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers `
` of Fenchurch Street." `
` `
` "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will `
` leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given `
` you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it `
` to affect your life." `
` `
` "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be `
` true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." `
` `
` For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was `
` something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which `
` compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon `
` the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever `
` she might be summoned. `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips `
` still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, `
` and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down `
` from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a `
` counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with `
` the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of `
` infinite languor in his face. `
` `
` "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found `
` her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, `
` is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you `
` consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of `
` the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, `
` there were one or two details which were new to me. But the `
` maiden herself was most instructive." `
` `
` "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite `
` invisible to me," I remarked. `
` `
` "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to `
` look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring `
` you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of `
` thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. `
` Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe `
` it." `
` `
` "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a `
` feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads `
` sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her `
` dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little `
` purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and `
` were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't `
` observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a `
` general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, `
` easy-going way." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. `
` `
` "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have `
` really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed `
` everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and `
` you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general `
` impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My `
` first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is `
` perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you `
` observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most `
` useful material for showing traces. The double line a little `
` above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, `
` was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, `
` leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side `
` of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the `
` broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, `
` observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I `
` ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed `
` to surprise her." `
` `
` "It surprised me." `
` `
` "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and `
` interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots `
` which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were `
` really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and `
` the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower `
` buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and `
` fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly `
` dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, `
` it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." `
` `
` "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by `
` my friend's incisive reasoning. `
` `
` "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving `
` home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right `
` glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see `
` that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had `
` written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been `
` this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. `
` All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back `
` to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised `
` description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" `
` `
` I held the little printed slip to the light. `
` `
` "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman `
` named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; `
` strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in `
` the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted `
` glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, `
` in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert `
` chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over `
` elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in `
` Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" `
` `
` "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, `
` glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no `
` clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There `
` is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike `
` you." `
` `
` "They are typewritten," I remarked. `
` `
` "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the `
` neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you `
` see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is `
` rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive `
` --in fact, we may call it conclusive." `
` `
` "Of what?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it `
` bears upon the case?" `
` `
` "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able `
` to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were `
` instituted." `
` `
` "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, `
` which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the `
` other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking `
` him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow `
` evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the `
` male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the `
` answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem `
` upon the shelf for the interim." `
` `
` I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers `
` of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that `
` he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy `
` demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had `
` been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in `
`
` "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he `
` would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw `
` happened." `
` `
` "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" `
` `
` "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter `
` again." `
` `
` "And your father? Did you tell him?" `
` `
` "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had `
` happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, `
` what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of `
` the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my `
` money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, `
` there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about `
` money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what `
` could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me `
` half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She `
` pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob `
` heavily into it. `
` `
` "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and `
` I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the `
` weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind `
` dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel `
` vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." `
` `
` "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" `
` `
` "I fear not." `
` `
` "Then what has happened to him?" `
` `
` "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an `
` accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can `
` spare." `
` `
` "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. `
` "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." `
` `
` "Thank you. And your address?" `
` `
` "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." `
` `
` "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your `
` father's place of business?" `
` `
` "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers `
` of Fenchurch Street." `
` `
` "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will `
` leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given `
` you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it `
` to affect your life." `
` `
` "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be `
` true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." `
` `
` For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was `
` something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which `
` compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon `
` the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever `
` she might be summoned. `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips `
` still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, `
` and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down `
` from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a `
` counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with `
` the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of `
` infinite languor in his face. `
` `
` "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found `
` her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, `
` is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you `
` consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of `
` the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, `
` there were one or two details which were new to me. But the `
` maiden herself was most instructive." `
` `
` "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite `
` invisible to me," I remarked. `
` `
` "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to `
` look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring `
` you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of `
` thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. `
` Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe `
` it." `
` `
` "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a `
` feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads `
` sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her `
` dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little `
` purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and `
` were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't `
` observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a `
` general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, `
` easy-going way." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. `
` `
` "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have `
` really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed `
` everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and `
` you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general `
` impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My `
` first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is `
` perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you `
` observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most `
` useful material for showing traces. The double line a little `
` above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, `
` was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, `
` leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side `
` of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the `
` broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, `
` observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I `
` ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed `
` to surprise her." `
` `
` "It surprised me." `
` `
` "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and `
` interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots `
` which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were `
` really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and `
` the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower `
` buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and `
` fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly `
` dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, `
` it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." `
` `
` "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by `
` my friend's incisive reasoning. `
` `
` "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving `
` home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right `
` glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see `
` that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had `
` written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been `
` this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. `
` All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back `
` to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised `
` description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" `
` `
` I held the little printed slip to the light. `
` `
` "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman `
` named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; `
` strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in `
` the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted `
` glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, `
` in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert `
` chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over `
` elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in `
` Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" `
` `
` "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, `
` glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no `
` clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There `
` is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike `
` you." `
` `
` "They are typewritten," I remarked. `
` `
` "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the `
` neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you `
` see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is `
` rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive `
` --in fact, we may call it conclusive." `
` `
` "Of what?" `
` `
` "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it `
` bears upon the case?" `
` `
` "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able `
` to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were `
` instituted." `
` `
` "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, `
` which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the `
` other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking `
` him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow `
` evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the `
` male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the `
` answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem `
` upon the shelf for the interim." `
` `
` I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers `
` of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that `
` he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy `
` demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had `
` been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in `
`