Chapter 5 of the valley of fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 5, the
people of the drama. Have you seen all you wanted to
study asked white Mason as we re-entered the house, for the
time said, the inspector and Holmes nodded.
Then perhaps you would now, like to hear the evidence of some of
the people in the house. We could use the dining room.
Ames, please come yourself first and tell us what, you know, The
butler's account was a simple and the clear one and he gave a
convincing impression of sincerity.
He been engaged five years before when Douglas first came
to birlstone, he understood that mr.
Douglas was a rich gentleman who had made his money in America.
He'd been a kind and considerate, employer, not quite
what Ames was used to perhaps, but one can't have everything.
He never saw any signs of apprehension in mr.
Douglas on the contrary, he was the most Fearless man.
You'd ever known. He ordered a drawbridge to be
pulled up every night because it was the ancient custom of the
old house and he liked to keep the old ways up mr.
Douglas seldom went to London or left the village, but on the day
before the crime, he had been shopping at Tunbridge Wells.
He aims had observed some restlessness and excitement on
the part of mr. Douglas that day for, he had
seemed impatient and irritable which was unusual with him.
He had not gone to bed that night but it was in the pantry
at the back of the house. Putting away the silver, when he
heard the bell ring violently. He heard.
No shot. But it was hardly possibly would
as the pantry and kitchens were at the very back of the house.
And there were several closed doors.
And the long passage between the housekeeper had come out of her
room attracted by the violent. Ringing of the Bell, they had
gone to the front of the house together.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, he had seen mrs.
Douglas coming down it. No, she was not hurrying it.
It did not seem to him that she was particularly agitated just
as she reached the bottom of the stair.
Mr. Barker, had rushed out of the study.
He had stopped, mrs. Douglas, and begged her to go
back for God's sake. Go back to your room.
He cried. Poor Jack is dead.
You can do nothing for God's sake.
Go back. After some persuasion upon the
stairs. Mrs. Douglas had gone back.
She did not scream. She made no outcry, whatever,
mrs. Allen.
The housekeeper had taken her upstairs and stayed with her in
the bedroom Eames and mr. Barker had then returned to the
study where they had found everything exactly as the police
had seen it. The candle was not litter that
time at the lamp was burning. They had looked out of the
window but the night was very dark and nothing could Be seen
or heard they had then rushed out into the Hall where Ames had
turned The Windlass, which lowered the drawbridge mr.
Barker had. Then hurried off to get the
police. Such and its Essentials was the
evidence of the butler. The account of mrs.
Allen, the housekeeper was so far as it went, a corroboration
of that, of her fellow servant. The housekeeper's room was
rather nearer to the front of the house and the Pantry in
which aims had been working. She was preparing to go to bed
when the loud, ringing of the Bell had attracted her
attention. She was a little hard of hearing
perhaps that was why she had not heard the shot.
But in any case to study was a long way off, she remembered
hearing some sound which she imagined to be the Slamming of a
door that was a good deal earlier.
Half an hour at least before the ringing of the Bell.
When mr. Ames ran to the front.
She went with him. She saw mr.
Barker very pale and excited. Come out of the study, he
intercepted. Mrs. Douglas, who was coming
down the stairs? He entreated her to go back and
she answered him. But what she said, could not be
heard. Take her up.
Stay with her. He had said to mrs.
Allen. She therefore taken her to the
bedroom and endeavoured to soothe her.
She was greatly excited, trembling all over but made no
other attempt to go downstairs. She just sat in her dressing
gown by her bedroom fire with her head sunk in her hands mrs.
Allen stayed with her most of the night as to the other
servants, they had all gone to bed and the alarm did not reach
them until just before the police arrived. they slept at
the extreme back of the house and could not possibly have
heard anything so far the housekeeper could add nothing on
cross-examination Save Lamentations and expressions of
amazement Cecil Barker. Succeeded mrs.
Allen as a witness as to the occurrences of the night before
he had very little to add to what he had already told.
The police personally, he was convinced that the murderer had
escaped by the window, the blood stain was conclusive in his
opinion, on that point. Besides as the bridge was up,
there was no other possible way of escaping, he could not
explain what had become of the Assassin or why he had not taken
his bicycle. If It were indeed his.
He could not possibly have been drowned in the moat which was at
no place more than three feet deep in his own mind he had a
very definite theory about the murder.
Douglas was a reticent man and there were some chapters in his
life of which he never spoke. He had emigrated to America when
he was a very young man, he had prospered well and Barker had
first met him in California, where they have become Partners
in a successful mining claim at a place called Benito.
So Kenyan, they done very well but Douglas had suddenly sold
out and started for England. He was a widower at that time
Barker had afterwards realized his money and come to live in
London. Thus they had renewed their
friendship Douglas had given him.
The impression that some danger was hanging over his head and he
had always looked upon his sudden departure from California
and also his renting a house in. So quiet, a place in England, as
being connected with this Peril, he imagined that some secret
society, some implacable organization was on Douglas's
track which would never rest until it killed him.
Some remarks of his had given him this idea though, he never
told him what the society was Nor how he had come to offend
it. He could only suppose that the
legend upon the placard had some reference to this secret
society. How long were you with and
Douglas in California? Asked, inspector MacDonald, five
years, all together, he was a bachelor, you see a widower.
Have you ever heard where his first wife came from?
No. I remember his saying that she
was of German extraction and I've seen her portrait, she was
a very beautiful woman, she died of typhoid the year before I met
him. You don't associate his past
with any particular part of America.
I have heard talk of Chicago. He knew that City well and it
worked there. I have heard him talk of the
coal and iron districts. He had traveled a good deal in
his time. Was he a politician?
Had this secret society to do with politics.
No, he cared nothing about politics.
You have no reason to think it was Criminal on the contrary.
I never met a straight. A man in my life was there
anything curious about his life in California.
He liked best to stay in to work at our claim in the mountains,
he would never go where other men were, if he could help it.
That's why I first thought someone was after him, then when
he left so suddenly for Europe, I made sure that it was so I
believe that he had a warning of some sort within a week of his
leaving half a dozen. Men were inquiring for him.
What sort of men? Well, they were a mighty
hard-looking crowd. He came up to the claim and
wanted to know where he was. I told them that he's gone to
Europe. No, I did not know where to find
him. They meant him.
No good. It was easy to see that were
these men, Americans Californians.
Well, I don't know about Californians.
They were Americans. All right, but they were not
minors. I don't know what Were was very
glad to see their backs that was six years ago, near a seven and
then you were together. Five years in California.
So that this business dates back a not less than 11 years at the
least. That is so, It must be a very
serious Feud that would be kept up with such earnestness.
For as long as that to be no light thing, that would give
rise to it. I think it's shadowed.
His whole life was never quite out of his mind.
But if a man had a dagger hanging over him, I knew what it
was. Don't you think it would turn to
the police for protection? Maybe it was some danger that he
could not be protected against, there's one thing you should
know. He always went about armed, his
revolver was never out of his pocket.
But by bad luck, he was in his dressing-gown and had left it in
the bedroom last night. Once the bridge was up, I guess,
he thought he was safe. I should like these dates.
A little clearer said McDonald. It is quite six years since
Douglas left California. You followed him next year.
Did you not? That is so and had been married
five years. You must have returned from the
time of his marriage. About a month before I was his
best, man. Did you know mrs.
Douglas before her marriage? No, I did not.
I had been away from England for 10 years, but you have seen a
good deal of her since Barker looked sternly at the detective.
I have seen a good deal of him since he answered if I have seen
her it is because you cannot visit a man without knowing his
wife. If you imagine there's any
connection, I imagine nothing. Mr. Barker I'm bound to make
every inquiry which can bear upon the case but I mean no
offense. Some inquiries are offensive.
Barker answered angrily. It's only the facts that we
want. It is in your interest in
everyone's interest that they should be cleared up.
Did mr. Douglas entirely approve.
Your friendship with his wife. Barca grew paler and is great.
Strong hands were clasped convulsively together.
You have no right to ask such questions.
He cried what has this to do with the matter you're
investigating I must repeat the question.
Well, I refuse to answer. You can refuse to answer, but
you must be aware. That your refusal is in itself.
An answer for you would not refuse if you had nothing to
conceal. Barker stood for a moment with
his face set grimly and is strong black eyebrows drawn low
in intense thought then he looked up with a smile.
Well, I guess you gentlemen are only doing your clear Duty after
all and I have no right to stand in the way of it.
I'd only ask you not to worry Miss Douglas over this matter
for she is enough upon her. Just now I may tell you that to
Port, Douglas had just one fault in the world.
And that was his jealousy. He was fond of Me.
No, man, could be fonder of a friend and he was devoted to his
wife. He loved me to come here and was
forever sending for me. And yet if his wife and I talked
together or there seemed any sympathy between us, a kind of
wave of jealousy, would pass over him, and he would be off
the handle and saying, the wildest Things in a moment more
than once, I've sworn off, coming for that reason and then
he would write me with such penitent imploring letters and I
just had to but you can take it from me gentlemen, if it was my
last word that no man ever had, a more loving faithful wife and
I can say, also no friend could be more loyal than I He was
spoken with fervor and feeling and yet inspector MacDonald
could not dismiss the subject, you are aware said he that the
Dead Man's wedding ring has been taken from his fingers.
So it appears said, Barker what do you mean by appears?
You know it, as a fact. The man seemed confused and
undecided. When I said appears, I meant
that it was conceivable that he had himself taken off the ring.
The mere fact that the ring should be absent, whoever may
have removed. It would suggest to anyone's
mind. Would it not that the marriage
and the tragedy were connected? Barca Shrugged, his broad
shoulders, I can't profess to say what it means he answered.
But if you mean to hint that it could reflect in any way upon
this lady's honor, his eyes, blazed for an instant.
And then with an evident effort, he got a grip upon his own
emotions. Well, you are on the wrong
track. That's all I don't know that I
have anything else to ask you at present said, McDonald coldly.
There was one, small Point, remarked Sherlock Holmes.
When you entered the room it was only a candle lighted on the
table was there. Not?
Yes, that was. So by its light, you saw that,
some terrible incident. Had occurred exactly you at once
rang, for help. Yes.
And it arrived, very speedily within a minute or two.
And yet, when they arrived, they found that the candle was out
and that the lamp had been lighted that seems very
remarkable. Again, Barker showed some signs
of indecision. I don't see that.
It was remarkable, mr. Holmes, he answered, after a
pause the candle through a very bad light.
My first thought was to get a better one.
My lamp was on the tables, so I lit it and blew out the candle.
Exactly. Holmes, Austin.
No further question and Barco with a deliberate look from one
to the other of us which had as it seemed to me something of
defiance in it turned and left the room.
Inspector MacDonald have sent up a note to the effect that he
would wait upon mrs. Douglas in her room but she had
replied that she would meet us in the dining room.
She entered now at all and beautiful woman of thirty
reserved and self-possessed to a remarkable degree.
Very Aunt from the tragic and distracted figure.
I had pictured. It is true that her face was
pale and drawn like that, with one who had enjoyed a great
shock but her manner was composed and the finely molded
hand, which she rested upon the edge of the table was as steady
as my own. Her sad, appealing eyes
travelled from one to the other of us with a curiously
inquisitive expression. That questioning gaze
transformed itself suddenly into abrupt speech.
Have you found anything out yet? She asked.
Was it my imagination that there was an undertone of fear, rather
than of Hope in the question, we have taken every possible step.
Mrs. Douglas said the inspector, you may rest assured that
nothing will be neglected spare no money she said in a dead even
tone. It is my desire that every
possible effort should be made. Perhaps you can tell us
something which may throw some light upon the matter, I fear
not but all I know. Is that your service?
We've heard from mr. Cecil Barker, you did not
actually see the UN ever in the room where the tragedy occurred.
No, he turned me back upon the stairs.
He begged me to return to my room, quite so you heard the
shot and yet at once, come down, I put on my dressing gown and
then came down, how long was it after hearing the shot that you
were stopped on the stair by mr. Barker.
It may have been a couple of minutes, it is so hard to reckon
time at such a moment. He implored me not to go on.
He assured me that, I could do nothing.
Then mrs. Allen the housekeeper, led me
upstairs again. It was all like some Dreadful
dream. Can you give us any idea how
long your husband have been downstairs before you heard the
shot? No, I cannot say he went from
his dressing room and I did not hear him go.
He did the round of the house every night for he was nervous a
fire. It is the only thing that I've
ever known him nervous of That is just the point, which I want
to come to mrs. Douglas, you have known your
husband only in England. Have you not?
Yes. We have been married five years.
Have you heard him speak of anything?
Which occurred in America and might bring some danger upon
him? This is Douglas thought
earnestly before she answered. Yes.
She said at last, I have always felt that there was a danger
hanging over him. He refused to discuss it with
me. It was not from want of
confidence in me. There was the most complete love
and confidence between us, but it was out of his desire to keep
all alarm away from me. He thought I should brood over
it if I knew all. And so he was silent.
How did you know it then? Mrs. Douglas face lit with a
quick smile. Can a husband ever carry about a
secret, all his life? And a woman who loves him have
no suspicion of it. I knew it by his refusal to talk
about some episodes in his American life, I knew it by
certain precautions. He tuck I knew it by certain
words, he let fall I knew it. By the way he looked at
unexpected strangers, I was perfectly certain that he had
some powerful enemies and he believed they were on his track
and that he was always on. Guard against them.
I was so sure of it that for years I have been terrified if
ever he came home later than was expected.
Might I ask asked Holmes what the words were which attracted
your attention. The valley of fear, the lady
answered. That was an expression.
He had used, when I questioned him, I have been in the valley
of fear. I am not out of it, yet.
Are we never to get out of the valley of fear?
I have asked him when I've seen him more serious than usual?
Sometimes, I think that we never shall, he has answered.
Shirley asked him what he meant by the valley of fear.
I did, but his face would become very grave and he would shake
his head. It is bad enough.
That one of us should have been in its shadow.
He said, please God, it shall never fall upon you to some real
Valley in which he had lived and in which something terrible had
occurred to him of that, I'm certain, but I can tell you no
more, And he never mentioned any names.
Yes, he was delirious with fever once when he had his hunting
accident three years ago. Then I remember that there was a
name that came continually to his lips.
He spoke it with anger and a sort of a horror McGinty was the
name bodymaster McGinty I asked him when he recovered who
bodymaster McGinty was and whose body?
He was Master of never of mind. Thank God.
He answered with a laugh. And that was all I could get
from him, but there is a connection between bodymaster
McGinty and the valley of fear. There is one other point said,
inspector MacDonald, you met mr. Douglas in a boarding house in
London. Did you not and became engaged
in there? Was there any romance anything
secret or mysterious about the wedding?
There was romance, there is always romance.
There was nothing mysterious. He had no rival.
No, I was quite free. You have heard no doubt that his
wedding ring has been taken. Does that suggest anything to
you suppose? That some enemy is old life?
Attracting down and committed his crime.
What possible reason could you have for taking his wedding
ring? For an instant, I could have
sworn that the faintest shadow of a smile flickered over the
woman's lips. I really can't tell she
answered. It is certainly a most
extraordinary thing. Well will not detain, you any
longer and we're sorry to have put you to this trouble at such
a time. So the inspector, there are some
other points no doubt but we can refer to you as they arise.
She arose. And I was, again, conscious of
that quick, questioning glance with, which she had, just
surveyed us. What impression has my evidence
made upon you? The question might as well have
been spoken then with a bow she swept from the room.
She's a beautiful woman. A very beautiful woman, said,
McDonald thoughtfully after the door had closed behind her.
This man Barca has certainly been down here, a good deal.
He's a man who might be attractive to a woman.
He admits that, the dead man was jealous, and maybe he knew best
himself, what cause he had for jealousy.
Then there's that wedding ring. You can't get past that the man
who tears a wedding ring off a dead man's.
What do you say to that, mr. Holmes My friend had sat with
his head upon his hands sunk in the deepest thought now Heroes
and rang the bell. Eames.
He said when the butler entered. Where is mr.
Cecil Barker? Now all-seater.
He came back in a moment to say that Barca was in the garden.
Can you remember Ames what? Mr. Barker had on his feet last
night when they joined him in the study?
Yes mr. Holmes.
He had a pair of bedroom slippers are brought in his
boots when he went for the police.
Where are the slippers now? They're still under the chair
in. No.
All Very good Ames. It is of course, important for
us to know which tracks maybe mr.
Barker's. And which from outside is, Sir
are my say that I know is that the slippers were stained with
blood. So indeed were my own, that is
natural enough considering the condition of the room, very
good. Ames, we will ring if we want
you. A few minutes later, we were in
the study, Holmes had brought with him, the carpet slippers
from the hall, as Ames had observed.
The soles of both were dark with blood.
Strange moment Holmes as he stood in the light of the window
and examined the minutely. Very strange indeed stooping
with one of his quick feline pounces he placed a slipper up
on the blood mark on the sill it exactly correspond.
The inspector was transfigured with excitement.
His native accent rattled like a stick upon railings, man.
He cried. There's not a doubt of it.
Barker has just marked a window himself as a good deal.
Broader than any boot, Mark, I mind.
You said it was a split foot and here's the explanation but
what's the game is Stones? What's the game?
Hi. What's the game?
My friend repeated thoughtfully, white Mason chuckled and rubbed
his fat hands together in his professional satisfaction.
I said it was a snorter. He cried and a real snorter it
is End of chapter 5. End of chapter 5.