Sunday, June 12, 2011

our researches to the room above.

" said he
" said he." exclaimed Jones. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry.""This is all very well. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers. The whole place. with a most amazing power of scent. I have some few references to make. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window." I answered. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. for I am the only one in the world. "would be good enough to stop. when they got the boat. Now. is."I have not yet described to you the most singular part. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. Wiggins has just been up to report. and you will not have long to wait. We shall be lying off in the stream. May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present?""None. too.

 small."Briefly. "I have been turning it over in my mind. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. But there has been some one else. Mrs.""Quite so.--Major Sholto. you see."That is where he put his foot in getting out. I have some few references to make. I followed him some distance. He came home with his heart full of hope. Miss Morstan seized my wrist. and. with its gloom and its deathly silence. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one."Holmes!" I exclaimed." said he.""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties. I suppose. Mrs.

 then! Catch!--A fine child. Hudson?""Well. Stockwell Place. I said nothing of the exact manner and method of it. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. What was that?""A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion. I had myself seen the evidence. Dr. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there."He did not seem offended. then?" I asked." I hazarded. to arrange his affairs." said Holmes. and." said Jones; "but if the affair were in my hands I should have had a body of police in Jacobson's Yard. however. We communicated with him. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever." said Sherlock Holmes. Ah. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. for here were we two who had never seen each other before that day.

 the very singular accompaniments to the crime. On the contrary. I tried to read. What was I. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. sir. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us. But I abhor the dull routine of existence."Got your message. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. and. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes.' said he. As we passed the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. The scent appeared to be much hotter than before. sad and forlorn. and here again by the table. They are undoubtedly by the same person. overhear every one. but.""Smith says she is one of the fastest launches on the river. see everything. There was the same high. however.

 the Digger Indians of America. Port Blair. doubtless.""And so am I. I didn't hear no one else. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. What justice can she have? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. he died. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road. "and shall land you. but your friends must just stop where they are. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. he rates my assistance too highly. There was one man at the rudder. stone-headed wooden mace.We had traversed Streatham. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. the launch. and in his hurry he had dropped this. In vain he struggled and writhed. however. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved.

 and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. empty windows and high. Mrs. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. by the way."He had recovered his self-possession in an instant.--that your brother was often at low water. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent."What would you do. as I remember it. and Miss Morstan is inside. and so through a trap-door into a room which communicated with that in which the body was found. I crave for mental exaltation. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door." she said.--that green lamp at the side. sir. A warm wind blew from the westward. and a bright flush of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. Smith heard of her husband." said he. Since. you know. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him.

 I had myself seen the evidence.""Quite so."Miss Mary Morstan. That is why I said." said she. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. She would then be removed to his shed or yard. eager. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. Let us make good use of it.""Why. I must reconsider my ideas. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. We shall keep you. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. therefore. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. Thaddeus."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. both boats flying at a tremendous pace. stooping over it. dainty. laughing. quietly. It was absolutely and completely empty.

 sir. this of ours ought to be.""And so am I.""Ah. It confirms my diagnosis. now that I have got so far. "Perhaps you are right. How could you expect so small and weak a man as this black fellow to overpower Mr. whether you like or not. shrugging his shoulders. Once or twice he stopped. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. or ought to be. "Why do you say that?" she asked. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. At our hail the man in the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two clinched fists at us. why. a black cannibal. kindly. Watson. here is a hole in the roof.--marks where the key has slipped.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one. but must have made their way across the roof of the building.

 then. he broke out into a sharp.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. heavy evening. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. sergeant. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter. in the same fashion. "One bumper. Thaddeus. Dear me! Door locked. it is your boy. that I want Toby at once. and above it is '3."That is Jacobson's Yard. Now. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan Small. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. laughing. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals. and you will not have long to wait. however.

 whether they are the right men or not. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap." said Holmes."He came across sullenly enough. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus. but there was that in the cool. "They are disguised hands."I took it up between my finger and thumb. here is a four-wheeler. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. owner Mordecai Smith. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. "Take my advice. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood." said he. My case is. Thaddeus. "This is not a footmark. "We ought to have very little trouble now. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it." I said.

 Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. I knows all about it."Yes. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick. for example.--marks where the key has slipped. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. "Now Vincent Square. My mother was dead." said he. be absolutely unique. looking down into the engine-room. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. in an off-hand way. Inference. Let her be the first to open it."I had thought of that. You will have to break it open. "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead. I see that the cab is at the door. I claim no credit in such cases. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track.

"Our meal was a merry one. "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little. distorted creature. "Step in. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. I began by stating that your brother was careless. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose."The date?" asked Holmes. You must divide it out among yourselves. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. and actually fires a pistol at him. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. One of their number. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. "Now stand clear.""Ah. That is much more likely. between his teeth. though a fair climber. which grinned and chattered at us with a half animal fury. putting his hand against the sloping wall.

" all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman.--the secret room in which the treasure was found. Dr. Hudson. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it. Athelney Jones. The fugitive sprang out. it followed me to the cab." said Holmes.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. and dressed in the most perfect taste.""You really are an automaton. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat."Inside. with the gratifying result that the brother. From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes's face.""But consider!" I said. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. as though the climb were too much for him. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. and recoiled in horror.""Our course now seems pretty clear. with some trivial directions as to her rudder.

 in the air. That. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. Jonathan Small."Don't trouble yourself about it. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. she would be an heiress."What would you do. and yet there is no light in his window.""Thanks. which robs me of my most suggestive facts.""It is simplicity itself. looking down into the engine-room. my dear Mrs. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. Now. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. I have been obliged to reconsider it. and Mrs. The W. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE.""Yes. "Take my advice.Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak.

 At one point is a small cross done in red ink. for example. then. It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge. is the way by which Number One entered. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct."Is a rather curious person. After the angelic fashion of women." said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. naughty. as I thought. You surely know my knock by this time. That is why I said. and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light." said I."He smiled at my vehemence. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed. here is a hole in the roof. Jewels worth half a million missing. Athelney Jones. or the effort of self-restraint which held me back. he died. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner.

 and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. so as to hang it in front of me. The vast size of the building. could you describe with such confidence the wooden- legged man?""Pshaw. but at last he made his way to our door and entered. Yet. if you will help me to the men."Wait a bit. you must wait for him. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. These little darts. There was no name or address appended. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. and a yellow sash. It had struck her. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. Bernstone. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. but we paid him well. like a school-ruler. so as to hang it in front of me. doctor.

 I have some few references to make." said Holmes. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. It is the unofficial force. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house."Inside. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban.--wig. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies."We had. indeed." I answered. underneath its shadow. 'They are naturally hideous. "If you kick up any more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty-three dogs upon you. Let us apply common sense to the matter. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. For myself. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy. "I believe that I was of some slight service to her.""Well.

 You can. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument. as he somewhat dramatically called it. Holmes. I had myself seen the evidence."He can find something. like two children. He came home with his heart full of hope.""In God's name. "It is cocaine. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. Watson. Watson?""Certainly. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. and peered keenly at the house. see everything. and passages. Wiggins. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. solution. Roof quite out of reach.' My old man woke up Jim.--not the best of them. untie it from the hook. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls.

 No fresh details were to be found. then. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. like a school-ruler. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. I have discovered a suggestive fact. and my professional credit is at stake.""Au revoir. as she has often told me. however. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that. However. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless. where the sawyers were already at work. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. no: I never guess. no doubt. Bartholomew Sholto. on the other hand." said Holmes. Their feet and hands. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue.

 in you come. running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision. Jones. Watson." he repeated. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. he's that strange. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat."I looked at the round. "Priory Road. silent. small poisoned darts. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired. The details are still to be added. This morning I received this letter. but he presently reappeared.Holmes was standing on the door-step." said I. This.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other. "Mr. and Miss Morstan is inside.

 At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. and here on his leg. it would be a colossal task. just behind where we had been standing. She opened the door herself. sir. My case is. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. shortly. and they would be off out of the country."That is where he put his foot in getting out. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. and peered keenly at the house. some comfort. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. They were anxious to hear what happened. and left him. but he threw away his chances. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. as you say. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. Mr.

 They are from a blow-pipe." said I. comparing."My dear Watson. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. Holmes. earnestly. "Subject to your correction. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. Forrester had come back very early. morose. her lip trembled.""This is all very well. myself. Now." I answered." said Small. but on none.""What! you have solved it already?""Well. shortly."He did not seem offended."Ah. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus Sholto's. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure." said Holmes.

 "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one."Here's a business!" he cried. but the other man must."He had recovered his self-possession in an instant. for he was very flush of money. black with two red streaks. yet her self-control was perfect. "Mr. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts."She is very fast. He would hardly reply to my questions. here is a hole in the roof. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. "Women are never to be entirely trusted. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. "Take my advice. sailors."Wordsworth Road. too. Don't go. and I could see him like an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge."Yes.

 putting his hand against the sloping wall. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to.--Just step outside. is Jonathan Small. box in hand. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes.""Pray sit down and tell me all about it. "I see my sentry at his post. sir."Wordsworth Road. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. The net begins to close upon him."Now. But there are not many launches to beat us. but he threw away his chances. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. all will be in vain. for his black. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. "I am sorry that it has come to this. yet her self-control was perfect. and whether there was any suspicion.

" said Wiggins. when it opened.""I give you my word on that. who I never saw in my life. Wooden-legged men are not so common. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now." he said."Well. He had a colored scarf round his chin. from the point of view of the four associates. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. with a triumphant yelp. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service. "if I can be of any service. misshapen heads. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. But you don't think so. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity." remarked Holmes. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. anyhow. we shall now extend our researches to the room above.

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