Chapter 7 of a study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter 7 light in the darkness, the intelligence with which
lestrade greeted us with Soma mentis.
And so unexpected, that we were all three fairly dumbfounded
Gregson. Sprang out of his chair and
upset. The remainder is whiskey in
water. I stared in silence at Sherlock
Holmes, whose lips were compressed and his brows drawn
down over his eyes. Stangerson to he muttered.
The plot thickens. He was quite thick enough before
grumbles estrade taking a chair, are seem to have dropped into a
sort of Council of War. Are you, are you sure of this
piece of intelligence stammered Gregson?
I've just come from his room said lestrade.
I was the first to discover what had occurred.
We have been hearing gregson's view of the matter homes.
Observed. Would you mind letting us know
what you have seen and done? I have no objection lestrade
answered, seating himself are freely confess that I was of the
opinion that stangerson was concerned in the death of
drebber. This fresh development has shown
me that I was completely mistaken.
Full of the one idea. I set myself to find out what
had become of the secretary. They have been seen together at
Euston Station about 8:30 on the evening of the Third.
At 2:00 in the morning, drebber have been found in the Brixton
Road. The question, which confronted
me was to find out how stangerson have been employed
between 8:30 and the time of the crime and what had become of him
afterwards. I telegraphed to Liverpool,
given a description of the man and warning them to keep a watch
upon the American boats. I then set to work calling upon
all the hotels and lodging houses in the vicinity of
Houston. You see I argued if Trevor and
His companion to become separated the natural course for
the latter would be to put up somewhere in the vicinity for
the night and then to anger about the station again next
morning. They would be likely to agree on
some meeting place beforehand. Remarked Holmes.
As so it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday
evening in making inquiries entirely without a veil.
This morning. I began very early and at 8:00.
I reached halliday's private Hotel in Little George Street on
my inquiry as to whether I mr. Stangerson was living there.
They are. Once answered me in the
affirmative. No doubt, you are the gentleman
whom he was expecting. They said he's been waiting for
a gentleman for two days. Where is he now?
I asked he's upstairs in bed. He wishes to be called at 9:00.
I will go out and see him at once.
I said it seemed to me that my sudden appearance might shake
his nerves and lead him to say something unguarded, the boots
volunteered to show me the room. It was on the second floor.
And there was a small Corridor leading up to it, the boots
pointed out the door to me and was about to go downstairs
again. When I saw something that made
me feel sick eesh in spite of my 20 years experience from under
the door. They're curled a little red
ribbon of blood which had meandered across the passage and
formed a little pool along the skirt.
In at the other side. I gave a cry which brought the
boots back. He nearly fainted when he saw
it, the door was locked on the inside, but we put our shoulders
to it and knocked it in the window of the room was open and
beside the window. All that lay in the body of a
man in his nightdress. He was quite dead and had been
for some time for his limbs were rigid and cold when we turned
him over the boots, recognized him at once.
As being the same gentleman who had engaged a room under the
name of Joseph stangerson. The cause of death was a deep
stab in the left side, which must have penetrated the art and
now comes the strangest. Part of the affair.
What do you suppose is above the murdered?
Man. I felt a creeping of the Flesh
and a presentiment of coming horror even before Sherlock
Holmes answered. The word Rocca written in
letters of blood. He said that, was it said,
lestrade in an awestruck voice and we were all silent for a
while. There was something so
methodical and so incomprehensible about the Deeds
of this unknown assassin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness
to his crimes. My nerves, which were steady
enough on the field of battle tingled as I thought of it.
The man was seen said lestrade a milk boy passing on his way to
the dairy at them, to walk down the line, which leads from The
Muse at the back of the hotel. He noticed that a ladder which
usually lay there was raised against one of the windows of
the second floor, which was wide open after passing.
He looked back and saw a man, descend the ladder.
He came down so quietly and openly that the boy imagined him
to be some Carpenter or join her at Look in the hotel.
We took no particular notice of him Beyond thinking in his own
mind that it was early for him to be at work.
He has an impression. The man was tall at a reddish
face and was dressed in a long brownish coat.
He must have stayed in the room some little time.
After the murder for we found blood-stained water in the Basin
where he'd washed his hands and marks on the sheets, where he
deliberately wiped his knife. I glanced at homes on hearing
the description of the murderer, which tallied, so exactly with
his own there was, however, no trace of exultation or
satisfaction upon his face. Did you find nothing in the
room, which could furnish a clue to the murderer?
He asked, nothing stangerson, add drebber's person.
He's pocket by seems at. This was usual.
As he did, all the paying there was eight yard pounds in it, but
nothing had been taken, whatever.
Maltese of these extraordinary crimes robberies certainly not
one of them. There are no papers or memoranda
in the murdered Man's Pocket except a single telegram dated
from Cleveland about a month ago and containing the words.
JH is in Europe. There was no name appended to
the message and there was nothing else.
Holmes asked nothing of importance.
The man's novel with which he had read himself to sleep was
lying upon. On the bed.
And his pipe was on a chair beside him.
It was a glass of water on the table and on the windowsill a
small chip ointment box. Containing a couple of pills.
Sherlock Holmes, sprang from his chair with an exclamation of
delight. The last link, he cried
exultantly my case is complete. The two detectives stared at him
in amazement. I have now in my hands.
My companion said confidently all the threads which are formed
such a tangle. There are of course details to
be filled in but I'm a certain of all the main facts from the
time that drive has parted from stangerson at the station.
Up to the discovery of the body of the latter.
As if I'd seen them with my own eyes.
I will give you a proof of my knowledge.
Could you lay your hand upon those pills?
I have them said lestrade producing a small white box.
I took him and the purse and the telegram intending to have them
put in a place of safety at the police station.
It was a merest chance, my taking those pills for I'm bound
to say that I did not attach any importance to them.
It gives them here said Holmes now doctor turning to me are
those ordinary pills? They certainly were not, they
were of a pearly gray color small round and almost
transparent against the light. From the lightness and
transparency. I should imagine that there are
soluble in water. I remarked precisely so answered
Holmes. Now.
Would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil
of a terrier which has been bad so long and which the landlady
wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday.
I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arms.
It's labored breathing and glazing.
I showed that it was not far from its end indeed.
It's snow white muzzle proclaimed.
That is it already exceeded. The usual term of canine
existence. I placed it upon a cushion on
the rug. I will now cut one of these
pills into said, Holmes and drawing his penknife.
He suited the action to the word 1/2.
We return into the box for future purposes.
The other half. I will place in this wine glass
in which is a teaspoonful of water.
You perceive that our friend the doctor is right and that it
readily dissolves. This might be very interesting,
said lestrade in the injured tone of one who suspects that he
is being laughed at. I cannot see.
However, what it has to do with the death of mr.
Joseph stangerson, patience. My friend, patience, you will
find in time that it has everything to do with it.
I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable and
on presenting it to the dog. We find that he laps it up.
Readily enough. As he spoke, he turned the
contents of the wine glass into a sorcerer and placed it in
front of the terrier who speedily licked it, dry Sherlock
Holmes. Ernest demeanor had so far
convinced us that we all sat in silence, watching the animal
intently and expecting some startling effect.
Nonsuch appeared. However, the dog continue to lie
stretched upon the cushion breathing in a labored way, but
apparently neither the better nor the worst.
Stuffed homes are taking out his watch and as minute, followed
minute, without result, an expression of the utmost Chagrin
and disappointment appeared upon his features.
He nor his lip drummed, his fingers upon the table and
showed every other symptom of acute impatience.
So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely.
Sorry for him. While the two detectives Smile
derisively by no means displeased at this check, which
he had met. It it can't be a coincidence.
He cried at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up
and down the room. It is impossible that it should
be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected
in the case of drebber are actually found after the death
of stangerson. And yet they are inert.
What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of
reasoning. Can't have been false.
It is impossible and yet this wretched dog is none the worse.
Ah, I have it. I have it with a perfect shriek
of delight. He rushed to the Box, cut the
other pill into dissolved, it added milk and presented it to
the terrier. The unfortunate creatures,
tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened.
It before, it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb and layers,
rigid, and lifeless. As if it had been struck by
lightning. Sherlock, Holmes drew a long
breath and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
I should have more faith. He said, I ought to know by this
time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of
deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some
other interpretation of the two pills in that box.
One was of the most deadly poison and the other was
entirely harmless. I ought to have known that
before I ever saw the box at all.
This last statement appeared to me to be so startling that I
could hardly believe that he was in his sober senses.
There was the dead dog. However, to prove that his
conjectures had been correct. It seemed to me that the Mists
in my own mind, were gradually clearing away, and I began to
have a dim vague perception of the truth.
All this seems strange to you continued Holmes.
Because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry, to
grasp the importance of the single real clue, which was
presented to you. I had the Good Fortune to seize
upon that and everything which has occurred.
Since then, has served to confirm my original supposition
and indeed was the logical sequence of it.
Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case
more obscure have served to enlighten me.
And to strengthen my conclusions.
It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery.
The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious
because it presents no new or special features from which
deductions may be drawn. This murder would have been
infinitely. More difficult to unravel.
Had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the
roadway without any of these outre and Sensational
accompaniments, which have rendered.
It remarkable. These strange details far from
making the case more difficult have really had the effect of
making it less. So, Mr. Gregson heard listen to
this address with considerable impatience could contain himself
no longer. Look here.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He said we're all ready to
acknowledge that. You are smart, man.
And you have your own methods are working.
We want something more, more than Theory, and preaching.
Now though. It's okay.
So taking the man. I've made my case out and it
seems I was wrong young sharp. Any a could not have been
engaged in this second Affair lestrade went after his man
stangerson and appears, it was wrong to you've thrown out in
Syria and into their and seem to know more than we do.
But the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask
you straight out how much you do know the business.
Can you name the man? Who did it?
All kind of help feeling that Gregson is right, sir.
Remark to lestrade we've both tried.
We both failed. You have remarked more than one
since I've been in the room that you had all the evidence which
you require surely. You're not up with old it, any
longer. Any delay in arresting the
Assassin? I observed might give him time
to perpetrate some fresh atrocity.
Thus pressed by us. All Holmes showed signs of
irresolution. He continued to walk up and down
the room with his head. Sunk on his chest and his brows
drawn down as was his habit. When lost in thought, there will
be no more murders. He said at last stopping
abruptly and facing us. You can put that consideration
out of the question. You've asked me if I know the
name of the Assassin. I do the mere knowing of his
name is a small thing. However compared with the power
of laying our hands upon him, this I expect very shortly to
do. I have good hopes of managing it
through my own Arrangements, but it is a thing which needs
delicate handling before we have a shrewd and desperate, man, to
deal with who is supported. As I have had occasion to prove
by another, who is as clever as himself.
As long as this man has no idea that anyone can, Have a clue.
There is some chance of securing him.
But if he had the slightest suspicion, he would change his
name and vanish in an instant among the four million,
inhabitants of this great City without meaning to hurt either
of your feelings. I am bound to say that I
consider these men to be more than a match for the official
force. And that is why I have not asked
your assistance. If I fail, I shall, of course,
incur all the blame due to this emission, but that I am
prepared. And for, at present, I'm ready
to promise that the instant that I can communicate with you
without endangering my own combinations.
I shall do so. Gregson and lestrade seem to be
far from Satisfied by this assurance.
Or by the depreciating allusion to the detective police.
The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair while
the others beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resentment.
Neither of them had time to speak.
However, before there was a tap at the door and the spokesman of
the street Arabs, young Wiggins introduced his insignificant and
unsavory person. Placer.
He said, touching his forelock. I have the cab downstairs.
Good boy, said Holmes blandly. Why don't you introduce this
pattern at Scotland? Yard be continued, taking a pair
of Steel handcuffs from a draw, see how beautifully the spring
works. They fastened in an instant.
The owl pattern is good enough, remark lestrade, if we can only
find the man to put them on, very good.
Very good said, Holmes. Smiling.
The cabman may as well help me with my boxes.
Just ask him to step up Wiggins. I was surprised to find my
companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a
journey since he had not said anything to me about it.
There was a small portmanteau in the room and this he pulled out
and began to strap. He was busily engaged at it.
When the cabman entered the room.
Just give me a help with his Buckle.
Cabman. He said, kneeling over his task
and never turning his head. The fellow came forward with a
somewhat Sullen, defiant are and put down his hands to assist at
that. Instant.
There was a sharp, click, the jangling of metal and Sherlock
Holmes. Sprang To His Feet.
Again gentleman. He cried with flashing eyes.
Let me introduce you to mr. Jefferson.
Hope the murderer of Enoch drebber and of Joseph
stangerson. The whole thing occurred in a
moment so quickly that I had no time to realize it.
I have a vivid recollection of that instant of Holmes's
triumphant expression and the Ring of his voice of the
cabman's dazed Savage face. As he glared at the glittering
handcuffs, which had appeared as if by Magic upon his wrists, for
a second or two. We might have been a group of
statues, then with an inarticulate Roar of Fury.
The prisoner wrenched himself, free from homes is grasp and
Held himself through the window would work and glass gave way
before him. But before he got quite through
Gregson lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him, like so many
stag hounds, he was dragged back into the room and then commenced
a terrific conflict, so powerful.
And so Fierce, was he that the four of us were shaken off
again. And again, he appeared to have
the convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit, his face
and hands with terribly. A mangled by his passes through
the glass. But loss of blood had no effect
in diminishing. His resistance was not until
lestrade. Succeeded in getting his hand,
inside his neckcloth and half strangling him that we made him
realize that his struggles were of no avail.
And even then we felt no security until we had pinioned
his feet as well as his hands that done.
We Rose to our feet breathless and panting.
We have his cab said, Sherlock Holmes.
It will serve to take him to Scotland Yard.
And now gentlemen, he continued with a pleasant smile.
We have reached the end of our little mystery.
You are very welcome to put any questions that you like to me
now. And there is no danger that I
will refuse to answer them. End of chapter 7 and part 1.