Adventure 10 of the return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Adventure 10, the adventure of
the golden, pince-nez When I look at the three, massive
manuscript volumes, which contain our work for the year
1894, I confess that it is very difficult for me out of such a
wealth of material to select the cases which are most interesting
in themselves. And at the same time, most
conducive to a display of those peculiar powers for which my
friend was famous. As I turn over the pages.
I see my notes upon the repulsive, story of the red
leech and the terrible death of Crosby, the banker.
Here. Also, I find an account of the
adult in tragedy and the singular contents of the ancient
British Barrow, the famous Smith Mortimer, succession case comes
also within this period. And so does the tracking and
arrest of who wrecked the boulevard assassin and exploit,
which one for homes and autograph.
Letter of thanks from the French President and the Order of the
Legion of Honor, each of these would furnish a narrative.
But on the whole I am of opinion, that none of them
Unites States. How many singular points of
interest as the episode of yoxley old place which includes
not only the lamentable death of young Willoughby Smith, but also
those subsequent developments which through so curious alight
upon the causes of the crime. It was a wild tempestuous night
towards the close of November homes, and I sat together in
silence. All the evening.
He engaged with a powerful lens deciphering, the remains of the
original inscription Upon A palimpsest.
I deep, in a recent Treatise upon surgery outside the wind
howled down, Baker Street, while the rain beat fiercely against
the windows. It was strange there in the very
depths of the town with ten miles of man's handiwork.
On every side of us to feel the iron grip of Nature and to be
conscious that to the huge Elemental forces.
All London was no more than the mole Hills that dot the fields.
I walked to the window and looked out on the deserted
Street, the occasional lamps gleaned on the expanse of Muddy
Road and Shining pavement. A single cab was splashing its
way from the Oxford Street end. Well, Watson, it's as well.
We have not to turn out tonight. Said Holmes laying aside his
lens and rolling up the palimpsest.
I've done enough for one sitting it is trying work for the eyes
so far as I can make out. It is nothing more exciting than
in Abby's account dating from the second half of the 15th
century. Hello.
Hello.
What's this amid? The droning of the wind they had
come to stamping of a horse's Hooves and the long grind of a
wheel. Is it rasped against the curb?
The cab, which I had seen had pulled up at our door.
What can he want? I ejaculated, as a man stepped
out of it, one point he wants us and we my Paul Watson want
overcoats and cravats and galoshes.
And every Aid that man ever invented to fight the weather.
Wait a bit though. There's the cab off again.
There's hope yet. He'd have kept it.
If he had wanted us to Come run down my dear fellow and opened
the door for all virtuous folk have been long in bed.
When the light of the hall lamp fell Upon Our midnight visitor.
I had no difficulty in recognizing him.
It was young Stanley Hopkins, a promising, detective in whose
career homes. Had several times shown, a very
practical interest. Is he in?
He asked eagerly Come up. My dear sir.
Said, Holmes is voice from above.
I hope you have no designs upon such a night as this, the
detective mounted the stairs and our lamp gleamed upon his
shining waterproof. I helped him out of it while
Holmes knocked a blaze out of the logs in the Great.
Now my dear Hopkins draw up and warm your toes said he here's a
cigar and the doctor has a prescription containing hot
water and a lemon which is good medicine on a night.
Like this. It must be something important,
which has brought you out in such a gale.
It is indeed. Mr. Holmes.
I've had a bustling afternoon. I promise you.
Did you see anything of the oxy case in the latest additions?
I've seen nothing later than the 15th century.
Tree today, well is only a paragraph and all wrong at that.
So you have not missed anything. I haven't let the grass grow
under my feet. It's down in Kent, seven miles
from Chatham and three from the railway line.
I was wired for 315 reached. Yoxley old place at five
conducted. My investigation was back at
Charing Cross by the last train and straight to you by cab.
Which means I suppose that you're not quite clear about
your case. It means that I can make neither
head nor tail of it so far, as I can see, it is just as Tangled a
business as ever. I handled and yet at first, it
seems so simple. That one couldn't go wrong.
There's no motive. Mr. Holmes.
That's what bothers me. I can't put my hand on a motive.
He is that man. Dead.
There's no denying that there's a far as I can see.
No reason on Earth. Why anyone should wish you Mom?
Holmes with his cigar and leaned back in his chair.
Let us hear about. It said he I've got my fax
pretty clear said Stanley Hopkins.
All I want now is to know what they all mean the story so far
as I can make out is like this some years ago.
This country house. Yoxley old place was taken by an
elderly man, who gave the name of Professor Coram.
He was invalid keeping his bed off the time and the other half.
Hobbling around the house with a stick or being pushed about the
grounds by The Gardener in a bath chair.
He was well liked by the few neighbors, who called upon him
and he has a reputation down there of being a very learned
man. His household used to consist of
an elderly housekeeper. Mrs. Marker and of a maid Susan
Tarlton, these have both been with him since his arrival and
they seem to be women of excellent character.
The professor is writing to learn it book and he found it
necessary about a year ago to engage a secretary.
The first two that he tried. We're not successes, but the
third mr. Willoughby Smith a very young
man straight from. The University seems to have
been just what is employer wanted his work consisted in
writing all the morning to the professor's dictation.
And he usually spent the evening in hunting up references and
passages which bore upon the next day's work.
This Willoughby Smith. This has nothing against him
either. As a boy at upping.
Him more as a young man at Cambridge.
I've seen his testimonials and from the first he was a decent
quiet hard-working fellow with no weak spot in him at all.
And yet, this is the lad, who's met his death this morning in
the professor's study under circumstances, which can point
only to murder. The wind howled and screamed at
the windows Holmes and I drew closer to the fire while the
young inspector slowly and point-by-point developed his
singular narrative. If you were to search, all
England said he I suppose you could find a household more
self-contained or Freer from outside influences.
I'll weeks would pass and not one of them go past the garden
gate. The professor was buried in his
work and existed for nothing else.
Young Smith knew nobody in the neighborhood and the very much
as his employed it. The two women had nothing to
take them from the Aus Mortimer. The Gardener who wields the bass
chair is an army, pensioner an old Crimean man of excellent
character. He does not live in the house,
but in a three-room cottage at the other end of the garden,
those are the only people that you'd find within the grounds of
yoxley old place. At the same time.
The Gate of the garden is 100 yards from the main London to
Chatham Road. It opens with a latch and is
nothing to prevent anyone from walking in.
Now I'll give you the evidence of Susan tongue.
Who's the only person who can say anything positive about the
matter. It was in the forenoon between
11 and 12. She was engaged at the moment in
hanging some curtains in the upstairs, front bedroom.
Professor Coram was still in bed for when the weather's bad.
He seldom Rises before. Midday.
The housekeeper was busy. With some work, in the back of
the house, Willoughby Smith have been his bedroom, which he uses
as a sit-in. Vroom.
But the made heard him at that moment, pass along the passage
and descend to the study immediately below her.
She did not see him but she says that she could not be mistaken
in his quick. Firm tread.
She did not hear the study door closed, but I'm in here so late.
Oh, there was a dreadful cry in the room below.
He was a wild horse scream. So strange and unnatural that.
It might have come from either from a man or a woman.
At the same. Instant, there was a heavy thud,
which shook the old house and then all was silence.
The made stood petrified for a moment and then recovering her
courage. She ran downstairs.
The study door was shut and she opened it inside young.
Mr. Willoughby Smith was stretched upon the floor At
first. She couldn't see no injury, but
she tried to raise him. She saw that blood was pouring
from the underside of his neck. It was pierced by a very small
but very deep wound, which are divided, the Carotid artery, the
instrument with which the injury been inflicted lay upon the
carpet beside him. He was one of those small
sealing-wax knives to be found on all fashion writing tables,
with an ivory handle and a stiff blade as part of the fittings of
the professor's own desk. At first the Mets thought that
young Smith was already dead, but on pouring, some water from
the Quran. Over his forehead.
He only has eyes for an instant. The professor, he murmured.
It was she made is prepared to swear that those were the exact
words. He tried desperately to say
something else and he held his right hand up in the air and he
fell back dead. In the meantime, the housekeeper
had also arrived upon the scene, but she was just too late to
catch the young man's dying words, leaving Susan with the
body. She hurried to the professor's
room. He was sitting up in bed or
ably. Need for, he heard enough to
convince him. That something terrible had
occurred, mrs. Marker is prepared to swear that
the professor was still in his nightclothes and indeed it was
impossible for him to dress without the help of Mortimer
whose orders were to come at 12 o'clock and Professor declares
that he heard the distant cry, but he knows nothing more.
He can give no explanation of the young man's Last Words.
The professor it was she But imagines that they were the
outcome of delirium. He believes that Willoughby
Smith has not an enemy in the world and could give no reason
for the crime. His first action was to send
Mortimer The Gardener for the local police, a little later.
The chief Constable sent for me. Nothing was moved before I got
there and strict orders were given that no one would should
walk upon the path. Leading to the house.
It was a splendid chance of putting your theories into
practice. Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
It was really nothing wanting. Except mr.
Sherlock Holmes said, my companion with a somewhat bitter
smile. Well, let us hear about it.
What sort of a job did you make of it?
I must ask you first. Mr. Adams to glance at this
rough plan, which will give you a general idea of the position
of the professor's study and the various points of the case.
It'll help you in. Following my investigation.
He unfolded the rough chart, which I hear reproduce.
And he laid it across homes is knee.
I Rose and standing behind homes studied it over his shoulder is
very rough, of course, and it only deals with the points,
which seemed to me to be essential all the rest.
You'll see later for yourself. Now, first of all, presuming
that the Assassin entered the house.
How did he or she come in and out early by The Garden Path?
And the back door from which there's direct access to the
study. Any other way would have been
exceedingly complicated. He escaped must have also been
made along that line for the two other exits.
From the room one was blocked by Susan as she ran downstairs and
the other leads straight to the professor's.
Bedroom are therefore directed my attention at once, to the
Garden Path, which was saturated with recent rain and would
certainly show any footmarks. My examination.
Showed me that. I was dealing with a cautious
and expert criminal. No footmarks were to be found on
the path. There could be no question.
However that someone had passed along the grass border, which
lines the path and they done. So, in order to avoid leaving a
track, I couldn't find anything in the nature of a distinct
impression. The grass was trodden down and
someone had undoubtedly past. It could only have been the
murderer since neither, The Gardener nor anyone else had
been there that morning, and the rain had only begun during the
night. One moment said Holmes.
Where does this path lead to to the road?
How long is it a hundred yards or so?
At the point where the path passes through the gate?
You could surely pick up the tracks.
Unfortunately, the path was tiled at that point.
Well on the road itself now it was all trodden in Amaya.
Well, then these tracks upon the grass, where they coming or
going. It was impossible to say, it was
never any outline, a large foot or a small, you could not
distinguish. Holmes gave an ejaculation of
impatience. It has been pouring rain and
blowing a hurricane ever. Since said, he it will be harder
to read now than the palimpsest. Well, well, it can't be helped.
What did you do Hopkins after you'd made certain that you had
Certain of nothing. I think I made certain of a good
deal. Mr. Holmes.
I knew that someone had entered the house cautiously from
without our next examine the corridor.
It is lined with Cocoanut, matting and take no impression
of any kind. This brought me into the study
itself. It is a scantily furnished room.
The main article is a large writing table with a fixed
Bureau. This Bureau consists of a double
column of drawers with a central small cupboard between them.
The drawers were open. The cupboard locked the drawers.
It seems were always open and nothing of value is kept in.
And there were some papers of importance in the cupboard.
But there were no signs that this have been tampered with,
and Professor assures, me, that nothing was missing.
It is certain that no robbery has been committed.
I come now to the body of the young man was found near the
bureau and just to the left of it as Mark, grip on that chart.
The stabbed was on the right side of the neck and from behind
forward so that it's almost impossible that it could have
been self-inflicted unless he fell upon the knife said Holmes.
Exactly, the idea crossed my mind, but we found the knife
some feet away from the body. So that seems impossible.
Then of course there. The man's own dying words, and
finally, there was this very important piece of evidence,
which was found clasped in the Dead Man's right hand from his
pocket Stanley, Hopkins, drew a small paper packet.
He unfolded it and disclosed a golden pince-nez a, with two
broken ends of black silk cord dangling, from the end of it,
Willoughby Smith had excellent site.
He added it can be no question that this was snatched from the
face of the person of the Assassin.
Sherlock Holmes took the glasses into his hand and examine them
with the utmost attention and interest.
He held him on his nose endeavoured to read through them
went to the window and stared up the street with them looked at
the most minutely in the full light of the lamp.
And finally, with a chuckle seated himself at the table, and
wrote a few lines, upon a sheet of paper, which he tossed across
to Stanley Hopkins. That's the best I can do for you
said, he it may prove to be of some use.
Astonish detective, read the note aloud.
It ran as follows wanted a woman of good address, a tired, like a
lady. She has a remarkably thick nose
with eyes, which are set close upon either side of it.
She has a pocket, forehead appearing expression, and
probably rounded shoulders. There are indications that she
has had recourse to an optician at least twice during the last
few months, as her glasses are of remarkable strength and as
optician, Are not very numerous. There should be no difficulty in
tracing her. Holmes smiled at the
astonishment of Hopkins, which must have been reflected upon my
features. Surely, my deductions are
Simplicity itself. Said he it would be difficult to
name any articles, which afforded a finer field for
inference than a pair of glasses, especially so
remarkable a pair as these that they belong to a woman.
I infer from their delicacy. And also, of course, from the
last words of the dying man, as to her being a person of
refinement and well-dressed. They are, as you perceive
handsomely mounted in solid gold.
Old. And it is inconceivable that
anyone who wore such glasses could be slatternly.
In other respects. You will find that the clips are
too wide for your nose. Showing that the lady's nose was
very broad at the base. This sort of knows is usually a
short and course, one, but there is a sufficient number of
exceptions to prevent me from being dogmatic or from insisting
upon this point in my description.
My own face is a narrow one and yet I find that I cannot get my
eyes into the center nor near the center of these glasses.
Therefore, the lady's eyes are set very near to the sides of
the nose. You will perceive Watson that
the glasses are concave and unusual strength.
A lady whose Vision has been. So, extremely contracted all her
life is sure to have the physical characteristics of such
Vision, which are seen in the forehead, the eyelids and the
shoulders. Yes.
I said I can follow each of your arguments.
I confess, however, that I'm unable to understand how you
arrived at the Double visit to the optician, Holmes, took the
glasses in his hand. You will perceive he said the
clips are lined with tiny bands of cork to soften the pressure
upon the nose. One of these is discolored and
warned to some slight extent but the other is new.
Evident Lee one has fallen. And been replaced.
I should judge that the older of them has not been there for more
than a few months. They exactly correspond.
So I gather that the lady went back to the same establishment
for the second by George. It's marvelous Pride, Hopkins in
an ecstasy of admiration to think that I'd all that
evidence. In my end and never knew it.
I had intended our to go, the round of the London, Opticians.
Of course, you would. Meanwhile have you anything?
I'm more to tell us about the case.
Nothing. Mr. Adams are think that, you
know, as much as I do, now, probably more we have had an
inquiry is made as to any stranger seen on The Country
Roads or at the railway station. We have heard of non what beats
me is the other ones of all object in the crime.
Not a ghost of a motive. Can anyone suggest There, I am
not in a position to help you but I suppose you want us to
come out tomorrow. If it's not asking too much, mr.
Holmes, there's a train from Charing Cross to Chatham at six
in the morning and we should be at yoxley old place between 8:00
and 9:00. Then we shall take it.
Your case has certainly some features of great interest and I
shall be delighted to look into it.
Well, it's nearly one and we had best get a few hours sleep.
I daresay you can manage. All right on the sofa in front
of the fire. I like my spirit lamp and give
you a cup of coffee. Before we The guy I'll have
blown itself out next day, but it was a bitter morning.
When we started Upon Our Journey.
We saw the cold winter sunrise over the dreary marshes of the
Thames. And the long Sullen reaches of
the river, which I shall ever associate with our pursuit of
the Andaman island in the earlier days of our Korea after
a long, and weary Journey. We alighted at a small station,
some miles from Chatham while a horse, was being put into a trap
at the local Inn. We snatched A hurried breakfast.
And so, we were all ready for the business.
When we at last arrived at yoxley old place a constable met
us at the Garden Gate. Well, Wilson, any news, no, sir.
Nothing. No reports of any stranger seen.
No, sir down at the station is certainly.
No Stranger. Are the came or went yesterday.
Have you made any inquiries made or ins and lodgings?
Yes, sir. There is no one that we cannot
account for. Well, it's only a reasonable
walk to Chatham. Anyone might stay there or take
a train without being observed. This is the Garden Path of which
I spoke. Mr. Ohms.
I'll pledge my word that there was no mark on it yesterday.
On which side with a marks on the grass.
This side, sir, this narrow margin of grass between the path
and the flower bed are can't see the traces, now, but they were
clear to me then. Yes.
Someone has passed along said,
Holmes, stooping over the grass border.
Our lady must have picked her steps carefully.
Mushy. Not since on the one side, she
would leave a track on the path and on the other an even clearer
one on the soft bed. Yes, sir.
She must have been a cool hand. I saw an intent.
Look pass over Holmes's face. You say that she must have come
back this way. Yes, sir.
There is no other on this strip of grass.
Certainly. Mr. Holmes.
Hmm. It was a very remarkable
performance. Very remarkable.
Well, I think we've exhausted the path.
Let us go farther. This Garden door is usually kept
open. I suppose then this visitor had
nothing to do, but to walk in the idea of murder was Should
have mind. Well, she would have provided
herself with some sort of weapon instead of having to pick this
knife off. The writing-table.
She Advanced along this Corridor leaving no traces upon the
Cocoanut matting then she found herself in this study.
How long was she there? We have no means of judging not
more than a few minutes. Sir.
I forgot to tell you that mrs. Marker.
The housekeeper had been in there.
Tidying. Not very long before about a
quarter of an hour. She She says, well, that gives
us a limit. Our lady enters this room.
And what does she do? She goes over to the
writing-table, more for, not for anything, in the drawers.
If there'd been anything worth her taking it would surely have
been locked up. No, it was for something in that
wooden Bureau. Hello.
What is that? Scratch upon the face of it.
Just hold a match Watson. Why did you not tell me of this
Hopkins? The mark which he was examining
began upon the brass work. On the right hand side of the
keyhole and extended for about 4 inches, where it has scratched
varnish from the surface. I noticed it mr.
Holmes, but you'll always find scratches around a keyhole.
This is recent quite recent, see how the brass shines where it is
cut an Old Scratch will be the same color as a surface.
Look at it Through My Lens is the varnish to like Earth on
each side of a Furrow is mrs. Marker there.
Sad-faced elderly woman came into the room.
Did you dust this Bureau yesterday morning?
Yes, sir. Did you notice this scratch?
No, sir. I did not.
I'm sure you didn't for a duster would have swept away.
Those shreds of varnish who has the key of this bureau.
If Professor keeps it on his watch chain.
Is it a simple key now, so, it's a chub key.
Be good, mrs. Marker, you can go now.
We are making a little progress. Lady enters the room advances to
the bureau and either opens it or tries to do.
So while she is thus engaged young Willoughby, Smith enters
the room in her hurry to withdraw the key.
She makes this scratch upon the door.
He seizes her and she snatching up the nearest object which
happens to be this knife strikes at him in order to make him.
Let go, his hold. The blow is a fatal one, he
falls and she escapes either with or without the object for
which she has. Come is Susan the made.
Their could anyone have got away through that door after the time
that you heard the cry Susan? Now, sir.
It is impossible. Before I get down, the stair at
have seen anyone in the passage, besides the door never opened or
I would have heard it. That settles this exit then no
doubt. The lady went out the way she
came. I understand that this other
passage leads only to the professor's room.
There is no exit that way. No sir.
We shall go down it and make the acquaintance of the professor.
Hello Hopkins. This is very important.
Very important indeed. The professor's Corridor is also
lined with Cocoanut matting. Well, so was that.
Don't you see any bearing upon the case?
Well, well, I don't insist upon it, no doubt, I'm wrong.
And yet, it seems to me to be suggestive, come with me and
introduced me. We passed down the passage,
which was of the same length as that, which were led to the
Garden. At the end was a short flight of
steps ending in a door. I'll guide knocked, and then I
should as into the professor's bedroom.
It was a very large chamber lined with innumerable volumes,
which had overflowed from the shelves and lay in piles in the
corners or were stacked all round at the base of the cases.
The bed was in the center of the room and in it.
Propped up with pillows, was the owner of the house.
I have seldom seen a more remarkable looking person.
It was a gaunt aquiline face, which was turned towards us with
piercing dark eyes, which lurked in Hollows under overhang and
tufted brows his hair and beard were white.
Save that the latter was curiously stained with yellow
around his mouth, a cigarette glowed amid, the tangle of white
hair and the air of the room was fitted with stale.
Tobacco smoke, as he held out his hand to homes.
I perceived that it was also stained with yellow nicotine.
A smoker. Mr. Holmes said, he speaking in
well-chosen English, with a curious little mincing accent,
pretty, take a cigarette and do sir.
I could recommend them for, I have them especially prepared by
Iron IDs of Alexandria. He sends me a thousand at a
time. And I agreed to say that I have
to arrange for a fresh Supply, every Fortnight bad, very bad,
but an old man has few Pleasures tobacco and my work.
That is all that is left to me. Homes are lit, a cigarette and
we're shooting little darting glances all over the room.
Tobacco and my work but now only tobacco, the old man exclaimed
alas. What a faithful Interruption who
could have foreseen such a terrible catastrophe.
So, estimable the young man, I assure you that after a few
months training, he was an admirable assistant.
What do you think of the matter? Mr. Holmes?
I have not yet made up my mind. I shall indeed be indebted to
you. If you can throw a light where
all is so dark to us to a poor Bookworm and invalid like
myself, such a blow is paralyzing.
I seem to have lost the faculty of thought but you are a man of
action. You are a man of Affairs.
It is part of the everyday, routine of your life.
You can preserve your balance in every emergency.
We are fortunate indeed in having you at our side.
Holmes was pacing up and down one side of the room.
Whilst the old Professor was talking.
I observed that he was smoking with extraordinary rapidity.
It was evident that he shared our hosts liking for the fresh
alexandrian, cigarettes. Yes, sir.
It is a crushing. Blow said the old man, that is
my magnum, opus, the pile of papers on the side-table Yonder.
It is my analysis of the documents found in the Coptic
monasteries of Syria. The Egypt a work which will cut
deep at the very Foundation of revealed.
Religion with my enfeebled health.
I do not know whether I shall ever be able to complete it.
Now that my assistant has been taken from me, dear me.
Mr. Holmes, why you are In a quicker smoker than I am myself,
Holmes, smiled. I am a connoisseur, said he
taking another cigarette from the box, his fourth and lighting
it from the stub of that, which he had finished.
I will not trouble you with any lengthy.
Cross-examination Professor Coram since I gather that you
were in bed at the time of the crime and could know nothing
about it. I would only ask this.
What do you imagine that this poor fellow meant by his last
words? It's the professor.
It was she a professor shook. His head.
Susan is a country. Girl, said he and, you know, the
incredible stupidity of that class.
I fancy that the poor fellow murmured.
Some incoherent Delirious words, and that she Twisted them into
this meaningless. Message.
I see you have no explanation yourself of the tragedy.
Possibly an accident. Possibly I only breathe it.
Among ourselves as suicide, young men have their hidden
troubles, some Affair of the heart perhaps which we have
never known. It is a more probable
supposition and murder, but the eyeglasses are I'm only a
student, a man of dreams. I cannot explain the Practical
things of life, but still we are aware my friend.
That loved gauges may take strength.
Shapes. By all means.
Take another cigarette. It is a pleasure to see anyone
appreciate them. So a fan, a glove glasses, who
knows what article may be carried as a token or treasured
when a man puts an end to his life.
This gentleman speaks of footsteps in the grass, but
after all, it is easy to be mistaken on such a point as to
the knife. It might well be thrown far from
the unfortunate man as he fell. It is possible that I speak as a
child. But to me, it seems that
Willoughby Smith has met his Fate by his own hand.
Holmes, seemed struck by the theory thus put forward, and he
continued to walk up and down for some time lost in thought
and consuming cigarette. After cigarette.
Tell me, Professor Coram. He said at last what, is in that
cupboard in the bureau? Nothing that would help a thief
family papers. Let us from my poor wife,
diplomas of universities, which have done me.
Honor. Here is the key you can look for
yourself. Holmes picked up the key and
looked at it for an instant. Then he handed it back.
No, I hardly think that it would help me said he I should prefer
to go quietly down to your garden and turn the whole
matter. Over in my head.
There is something to be said for the theory of suicide which
you have put forward. We must apologize for having
intruded upon you, Professor Coram.
And I promise that we won't disturb you until after lunch at
2:00. We will come again and receive.
Report to you, anything, which may have happened in the
interval. Holmes was curious lead astray,
and we walked up and down the Garden Path for some time in
silence. Have your clue.
I asked at last. It depends upon those cigarettes
that I smoked said. He it is possible that I'm
utterly mistaken. The cigarettes will show me my
dear Holmes. I exclaimed how on Earth well,
well, you may see for yourself. If not, there's no harm done.
Of course. We always have the optician clue
to fall back upon, but I take a shortcut when I can get it.
Ah, here is the good mrs. Marker?
Let us enjoy five minutes of instructive conversation with
her. I may have remarked before that
Holmes had when he liked a peculiarly ingratiating way with
women. And that he very readily
established terms of confidence with them in half the time which
he had named, he had captured the housekeeper's Goodwill and
was chatting with her as if he had known her for years.
Yes, mr. Holmes.
It is as you say sir. He does smoke something,
terrible, all die, and sometimes all night Sir.
I've seen that room of a morning.
Well, sir, who'd have thought it was a London Fog.
Boy young. Mr. Smith.
He was a smoker also, but not as bad as a professor.
He is Health. Well, I don't know that it's
better nor worse for the smoking said Holmes, but it kills the
appetite. Well, I don't know about that,
sir. I suppose the professor eats
hardly anything. Well, he is variable.
I'll say that for him. I'll wager, he took no breakfast
this morning and won't face his lunch.
After all the cigarettes. I saw him consume.
Well, you're out there sir, as it happens. 48 a remarkable.
Big breakfast this morning. I don't know when I've known him
to make a better one and he's ordered a good dish of cutlets
for the lunch. I'm surprised myself for since I
came into that room yesterday and saw Young.
To Smith lying there on the floor.
I couldn't bear to look at Food. Well, it takes all sorts to make
a world and the professor hasn't let it take his appetite away.
We loitered the morning away in the garden Stanley Hopkins had
gone down to the Village to look into some rumors of a strange
woman, who had been seen by some children on the Chatham Road,
the previous morning. As to my friend, all his usual
energy seemed to have deserted him.
I'd never known him Handler case in such a half-hearted fashion.
Even the news brought back by Hopkins that he had found the
children and that they had undoubtedly seen a woman.
Exactly corresponding with Holmes's description and Neither
spectacles or eyeglasses failed to Rouse any sign of keen
interest. He was more attentive, when
Susan who waited upon us at lunch volunteer, the information
that she believed. Mr. Smith had been out for a
walk yesterday morning and that he had only returned half an
hour before the tragedy occurred.
I could not myself, see the bearing of this incident, but I
clearly perceived that Holmes was weaving it into the general
scheme, which he had formed in his brain.
Suddenly he sprang from his chair and glanced at his watch
2:00. Gentlemen, said he we must go up
and have it out with our friend, the professor.
The old man, I just finished his lunch and certainly his empty
dish, more evidence to the good appetite with which his
housekeeper had credited him. He was indeed a weird figure as
he turned his white Mane and his glowing eyes towards us.
The Eternal cigarette smouldered.
In his mouth. He had been dressed and was
seated in an armchair by the fire.
Well, mr. Holmes.
Have you solved this mystery at He shoved a large tin of
cigarettes, which stood on a table beside him towards my
companion. Holmes stretched out his hand at
the same moment and between them, they tipped the box, over
the edge for a minute or two. We were all on our knees
retrieving stray cigarettes from impossible places.
When we rose again, I observed Holmes's eyes were shining and
his cheeks tinged with color only at a crisis.
Have I seen those battle signals flying?
Yes. Said he I have solved it.
Stanley Hopkins, and I stared in amazement.
Something like a sneer quivered over the gaunt features of the
old professor. Indeed in the garden.
No here here. When this instant.
You are surely joking. Mr. Sherlock.
Holmes. You compel me to tell you that
this is too serious, a matter to be treated in.
Such a fashion. I have forged and tested every
link of my chain Professor Coram and I am sure that it is sound.
What's your motives are or what? Exact part to play in this
strange business? I'm not yet able to say in a few
minutes. I shall probably hear it from
your own lips. Meanwhile, I will reconstruct
what is past for your benefit so that you may know the
information, which I still require a lady yesterday,
entered your study. She came with the intention of
possessing herself of certain documents, which were in your
Bureau. She had a key of her own.
I have had an opportunity. Unity of examining yours.
And I do not find that slight discoloration, which the
scratch-made upon the varnish would have produced.
You were not an accessory. Therefore and she came so far as
I can read the evidence without your knowledge to rob you the
professor blew a cloud from his lips.
This is most interesting. And instructive said, he have
you no more to add surely having traced this lady so far.
You can also say what has become of her.
Her. I will endeavor to do.
So, in the first place. She was seized by your secretary
and stabbed him. In order to escape this
catastrophe. I'm inclined to regard as an
unhappy accident for. I am convinced that the lady had
no intention of inflicting. So, Grievous an injury, an
assassin does not come unarmed horrified by what she had done.
She rushed wildly away from the scene of the tragedy.
Unfortunately, for her, she had lost her glasses in the scuffle.
And as she was extremely short-sighted.
She was really helpless without them.
She ran down a corridor, which she imagined to be that, by
which he had come both were lined with Cocoanut matting, and
it was only when it was too late that she understood that she had
taken the wrong passage. And that her retreat was cut off
behind her. What was she to do?
She could not go back. She could not remain where she
Was, she must go on, she went on, she mounted a stair pushed
open, a door and found herself in your room.
The old man, sat with his mouth open, staring wildly at Holmes,
amazement, and fear was stamped upon his expressive features.
Now, with an effort. He Shrugged his shoulders and
burst into, insincere laughter, all very fine.
Mr. Holmes said he but there is one little flaw in your
splendid. A theory, I was myself in my
room and I never left it during the day.
I am aware of that to Professor Coram, and you'll need to say
that I could be a pain that bed and not to be aware.
There's a woman that entered my room.
I never said, so you were aware of it.
You spoke with her, you recognized her, you aided her to
escape again. The professor burst into heike
laughter. He had risen to his feet and his
eyes glowed like a who are mad. He cried, you are talking in,
sadly. I helped her to escape.
Where is she now? She is there said Holmes, and he
pointed to a hype. Case in the corner of the room.
I saw the old man, throw up his arms, a terrible convulsion
passed over his Grim face and he fell back in his chair at the
same instant. The bookcase at which Holmes
pointed swung round upon a hinge and a woman rushed out into the
room. You are right.
She cried in a strange foreign voice.
You are right. I am here.
She was brown with a dust and draped with the cobwebs, which
had come from the walls of her home.
Hiding Place her face to was streaked with Grime and at the
best, she could never have been handsome for.
She had the exact physical characteristics which Holmes had
divined with, in addition, along and obstinate chin.
Watch with her natural blindness and what with the change from
dark to light. She stood as one dazed blinking
about her to see where and who we were.
And yet, in spite of all these disadvantages, there was a
certain nobility in the woman's bearing, a gallantry in the
defiant chin and in the upraised head, which compelled something
of respect and admiration. Stanley Hopkins had laid his
hand upon her arm and claimed her as his prisoner, but she
waved him aside gently and yet with an overmastering dignity,
which compelled, obedience the old man, lay back in his chair
with a twitching face and stared at her with brooding eyes.
Yes, sir. I am your prisoner.
She said, from Where I Stood, I could hear everything and I know
that you have learned the truth. I confess it all.
It was I who Kill the young man, but you are right you say it was
an accident. I did not even know that it was
a knife which I held in my hand for in my despair.
I snatched anything from the table and struck at him to make
him. Let me go.
It is the truth that I tell. Madam said, Holmes.
I am sure that it is the truth. I fear that you are far from.
Well, she had turned the Dreadful color.
The more ghastly under the dark dust streaks, upon her face.
She seated herself on the side of the bed.
Then she resumed I have only a little time here.
She said, but I would have, you know, the whole truth.
I am this man's wife. He is not an Englishman.
He is a Russian his name. I will not tell, but the first
time, the old man stirred God bless you Ana.
He cried. God bless you.
She cast a look at the deepest disdain in his Direction.
Why should you cling so hard to that wretched?
Life of yours. Sergius said she, it has done
harm to many and Good To None, not even to yourself.
However, it is not for me to caused the frail, thread to be
snapped before God's time. I have enough already upon.
My soul since I crossed the threshold of this curse it
house, but I must speak or I shall be too late.
I have said, gentleman that I am this man's wife.
He was 50 and I are foolish girl of 20.
When we are married. It was in a city of Russia, our
University. I will not name the place.
God bless you, Ana moment. The old man.
Again. We were reformers revolutionists
nihilists. You understand he and And many
more then there came a time of trouble.
A police officer was killed, many were arrested evidence was
wanted and in order to save his own life and to earn a great
reward. My husband betrayed, his own
wife and his companions. Yes.
We were all arrested upon his confession.
Some of us found our way to The Gallows and some to Siberia.
I was among these last but my term was not for life.
My husband came to England with his ill-gotten gains and has
lived in quiet ever since knowing.
Well, that, if the Brotherhood knew where he was not a week,
would pass before, Justice would be done the old man reached out
a trembling hand and helped himself to a cigarette.
I am in your hands and said he you were always good to me.
I have not yet told you the height of his villainy said she
Among our comrades of the order, there was one who was the friend
of my heart. He was Noble unselfish.
Loving all that. My husband was not.
He hated violence. We were all guilty.
If that is guilt, but he was not.
He wrote forever, dissuading us from such a course.
These letters would have saved him.
So, what my diary in, which from today, I had entered both my
feelings towards him and the view which each Of us had taken
my husband found and kept both diary and letters.
He hit them and he tried hard to swear away, the young man's life
in this, he failed. But Alexis was sent a convict to
Siberia. Well now at this moment he works
in a salt mine think of that you villain you villain.
Now now at this very moment, Alexis a man whose name you are
not worthy to speak. Seek works and lives like a
slave and yet, I have your life in my hands and I let you go.
You were always a noble woman. Hannah said the old man puffing
at his cigarette, she had risen, but she fell back again with a
little cry of pain. I must finish.
She said, when my term was over, I set myself to get the diary
and letters which is sent to the Russian government would
procure, my friends release. I knew that my husband had come
to England after months of searching.
I discovered, where he was. I knew that he still had the
diary for when I was in Siberia. I had a letter from him.
Once we're approaching me and quoting some passages from his
Pages yet. I was sure that with his revenge
for nature. He would never give it to me of
his own free will. I must get it for myself with
this object? I engaged an agent from a
private detective. Who entered my husband's house
as a secretary? It was your second secretary.
Sergius. The one who left you, so
horridly. He found that papers were kept
in the cupboard and he got an impression of the key.
He would not go farther. He furnished me with a plan of
the house and he told me that in the forenoon.
The study was always empty as a secretary was employed up here.
So at last, I took my courage in both hands and I came down to
get the papers for myself, I succeeded.
But at what a cost I had just taken the paper and was locking
the cupboard. When the young man seized me.
I had seen him already that the morning.
He had met me on the road, and I'd asked him to tell me where
Professor Coram lived not knowing that he was in his
employ. Exactly.
So, Holmes.
The secretary came back and told his employer of the woman he had
met then in his last breath. He tried to send a message that
it was, she the she whom he had just discussed with him.
You must let me speak said, the woman in an imperative voice and
her face contracted as if in pain when he had the Fallen.
I rushed from the room, chose the wrong door and found myself
in my husband's room. He spoke of giving me up.
So I showed him that if he did, so his life was in my hands.
If he gave me to the law, I could give him to the
Brotherhood. It was not that I wish to live
for my own sake, but it was that I desire to accomplish my
purpose. He knew that I would do what I
said, that his own fate was involved in mind for that
reason. And for no other, he shielded
me. He thrust me into that dark
hiding place. A relic of all days known only
to himself. He took his meals in his own
room. And so I was able to give me
part of his food. It was agreed that when the
police left the house I should slip away by night and come
back. No more.
But in some way you have read outlands.
She tore from the bosom of her dress, a small packet.
These are my last words said she here is the packet which was
save. Alexis.
I confide it to your honor and to your love of Justice.
Take It. You will deliver it at the
Russian Embassy. Now, I have done my duty and
stop her cried Holmes. He had bounded across the room
and a drenched. A small file from her hand, too
late. She said sinking back on the
bed, too late. I took the poison before I left
my Hiding Place. My head swims.
I'm going, I charged you sir to remember the packet.
A simple case and yet in some ways and instructive one Holmes
remarked, as we traveled back to town, it hinged from the outset
upon the pants nay, but for the unfortunate chance of the dying,
man, having seized, these are not sure that we could have ever
reached our solution. It was clear to me from the
strength of the glasses that the wearer must have been very blind
and helpless. When deprived of them.
When you asked me to believe that she walked along a narrow
strip of Grass without once making a false step.
I remarked, as you may remember that it was a noteworthy
performance in my mind. I sit it down as an impossible
performance. Save in the unlikely case that
she had a second pair of glasses.
I was forced, therefore, to consider seriously the
hypothesis that she had remained within the house on perceiving,
the similarity of the two corridors.
It became clear that she might very easily have made such a
mistake. And in that case, it was evident
that she must have entered the professor's room.
I was keenly on the alert, therefore for whatever would
bear out this supposition and I examined.
The room narrowly for anything in the shape of a hiding place.
The carpet seemed continuous and firmly nailed.
So, I dismissed the idea of a trapdoor.
They might, well, be a recess behind the books as you are
aware. Such devices are common in Old
libraries. Observe the books were piled on
the floor at all other points, but the one book case was left
clear. This then might be the door.
I could see no marks to guide me, but the carpet was a done
color which lends itself very well to examination.
I therefore, smoked a great number of those.
Excellent cigarettes. And I dropped the ash all over
the space in front of the suspected bookcase.
He was a simple trick, but exceedingly effective.
I then went downstairs and I ascertained in your presence
Watson without you're perceiving.
The drift of my remarks that Professor chorim's consumption
of food had increased as one would expect when he is
supplying a second person. We then ascended to the room.
Again, when by upsetting the cigarette box.
I obtained a very excellent view of the floor and was able to see
quite clearly from the traces upon the cigarette Ash that the
prisoner had in our absence come out from her Retreat.
Well, Hopkins. Here.
We are at Charing Cross and I congratulate you on having
brought your case to a successful conclusion.
You're going to headquarters. No doubt.
I think Watson you and and I will drive together to the
Russian Embassy. End of the adventure of the
golden pince-nez.