Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in `
` the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler `
` photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the `
` Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with `
` the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle `
` indeed which he could not unravel. `
` `
` I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the `
` conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would `
` find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up `
` to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary `
` Sutherland. `
` `
` A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own `
` attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at `
` the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six `
` o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a `
` hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too `
` late to assist at the d�nouement of the little mystery. I found `
` Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin `
` form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable `
` array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell `
` of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the `
` chemical work which was so dear to him. `
` `
` "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. `
` `
` "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." `
` `
` "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. `
` `
` "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. `
` There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said `
` yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback `
` is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." `
` `
` "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss `
` Sutherland?" `
` `
` The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet `
` opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the `
` passage and a tap at the door. `
` `
` "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said `
` Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at `
` six. Come in!" `
` `
` The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some `
` thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a `
` bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and `
` penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of `
` us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a `
` slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. `
` `
` "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that `
` this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an `
` appointment with me for six o'clock?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not `
` quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland `
` has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far `
` better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite `
` against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, `
` impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily `
` controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I `
` did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the `
` official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family `
` misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless `
` expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" `
` `
` "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to `
` believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." `
` `
` Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am `
` delighted to hear it," he said. `
` `
` "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has `
` really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless `
` they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some `
` letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one `
` side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that `
` in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and `
` a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other `
` characteristics, but those are the more obvious." `
` `
` "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, `
` and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing `
` keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. `
` `
` "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, `
` Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another `
` little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its `
` relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some `
` little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come `
` from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not `
` only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will `
` observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen `
` other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." `
` `
` Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I `
` cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," `
` he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know `
` when you have done it." `
` `
` "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in `
` the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" `
` `
` "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips `
` and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. `
` `
` "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There `
` is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too `
` transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that `
` it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's `
` right! Sit down and let us talk it over." `
` `
` Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a `
` glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he `
` stammered. `
` `
` "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, `
` Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a `
` petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the `
` course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." `
` `
` The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his `
` breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up `
` on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands `
` in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, `
` than to us. `
` `
` "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her `
` money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the `
` daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable `
` sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have `
` made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. `
` The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate `
` and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with `
` her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would `
` not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would `
` mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her `
` stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of `
` keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of `
` people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not `
` answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and `
` finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain `
` ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an `
` idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the `
` connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, `
` covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with `
` a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice `
` into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the `
` girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off `
` other lovers by making love himself." `
` `
` "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never `
` thought that she would have been so carried away." `
` `
` "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very `
` decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that `
` her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never `
` for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the `
` gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the `
` loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began `
` to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as `
` far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There `
` were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the `
` girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the `
` deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys `
` to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to `
` bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it `
` would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and `
` prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to `
` come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and `
` hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening `
` on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss `
` Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to `
` his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not `
` listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, `
` and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished `
` away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a `
` four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of `
` events, Mr. Windibank!" `
` `
` Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes `
` had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold `
` sneer upon his pale face. `
` `
` "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you `
` are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is `
` you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing `
` actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door `
` locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal `
` constraint." `
` `
` "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking `
` and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who `
` deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a `
` friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" `
` he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon `
` the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but `
`
` the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler `
` photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the `
` Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with `
` the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle `
` indeed which he could not unravel. `
` `
` I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the `
` conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would `
` find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up `
` to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary `
` Sutherland. `
` `
` A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own `
` attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at `
` the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six `
` o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a `
` hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too `
` late to assist at the d�nouement of the little mystery. I found `
` Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin `
` form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable `
` array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell `
` of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the `
` chemical work which was so dear to him. `
` `
` "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. `
` `
` "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." `
` `
` "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. `
` `
` "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. `
` There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said `
` yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback `
` is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." `
` `
` "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss `
` Sutherland?" `
` `
` The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet `
` opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the `
` passage and a tap at the door. `
` `
` "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said `
` Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at `
` six. Come in!" `
` `
` The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some `
` thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a `
` bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and `
` penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of `
` us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a `
` slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. `
` `
` "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that `
` this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an `
` appointment with me for six o'clock?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not `
` quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland `
` has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far `
` better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite `
` against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, `
` impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily `
` controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I `
` did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the `
` official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family `
` misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless `
` expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" `
` `
` "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to `
` believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." `
` `
` Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am `
` delighted to hear it," he said. `
` `
` "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has `
` really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless `
` they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some `
` letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one `
` side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that `
` in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and `
` a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other `
` characteristics, but those are the more obvious." `
` `
` "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, `
` and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing `
` keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. `
` `
` "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, `
` Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another `
` little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its `
` relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some `
` little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come `
` from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not `
` only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will `
` observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen `
` other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." `
` `
` Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I `
` cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," `
` he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know `
` when you have done it." `
` `
` "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in `
` the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" `
` `
` "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips `
` and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. `
` `
` "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There `
` is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too `
` transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that `
` it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's `
` right! Sit down and let us talk it over." `
` `
` Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a `
` glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he `
` stammered. `
` `
` "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, `
` Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a `
` petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the `
` course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." `
` `
` The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his `
` breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up `
` on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands `
` in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, `
` than to us. `
` `
` "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her `
` money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the `
` daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable `
` sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have `
` made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. `
` The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate `
` and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with `
` her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would `
` not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would `
` mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her `
` stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of `
` keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of `
` people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not `
` answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and `
` finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain `
` ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an `
` idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the `
` connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, `
` covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with `
` a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice `
` into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the `
` girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off `
` other lovers by making love himself." `
` `
` "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never `
` thought that she would have been so carried away." `
` `
` "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very `
` decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that `
` her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never `
` for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the `
` gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the `
` loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began `
` to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as `
` far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There `
` were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the `
` girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the `
` deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys `
` to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to `
` bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it `
` would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and `
` prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to `
` come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and `
` hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening `
` on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss `
` Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to `
` his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not `
` listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, `
` and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished `
` away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a `
` four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of `
` events, Mr. Windibank!" `
` `
` Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes `
` had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold `
` sneer upon his pale face. `
` `
` "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you `
` are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is `
` you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing `
` actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door `
` locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal `
` constraint." `
` `
` "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking `
` and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who `
` deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a `
` friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" `
` he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon `
` the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but `
`