Adventure 8 in the Memoirs of Sherlock, Holmes by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain Adventure. 8, the resident patient glancing
over the somewhat incoherent series of Memoirs, which I have
endeavored to illustrate a few of the mental peculiarities of
my friend. Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
I have been struck by the difficulty, which I've
experienced in, picking out examples, which shell in every
way. Answer my purpose.
For in those cases in which Holmes has performed some tour
de force of analytical reasoning, and has demonstrated
the value of his peculiar methods of Investigation.
The facts themselves have often been so slight or so commonplace
that. I could not feel justified in
laying them before the public. On the other hand.
It has frequently happened that he has been concerned in some
research where the facts have been of the most remarkable and
dramatic character. But where the share, which he is
himself. In in determining, their causes
has been less pronounced than I as his biographer could wish.
The small matter which I have chronicled Under The Heading of
a study in scarlet and that other later, one connected with
the loss of the Gloria, Scott may serve as examples of this
Scylla and charybdis, which are forever.
Threatening the historian. It may be that in the business
of which I am now about to write the part, which my friend played
is not sufficiently accentuated. And yet the whole train of
circumstances is so remarkable that I Bring myself to emit
entirely from this series. It had been a close rainy day in
October. Our blinds were half drawn and
homes, lay curled up on the sofa, reading.
And rereading a letter which she had received by the morning.
Post for myself. My term of service in India had
trained me to stand heat, better than cold and a thermometer of
90 was no hardship, but the paper was uninteresting.
Parliament had risen. Everybody was out of town and I
yearned for The Glades of the new.
Rest. Well, the shingle of Southsea a
depleted bank account had caused me to postpone my holiday and as
to my companion, neither the country, nor the sea presented,
the slightest, attraction to him.
He loved to lie in the very center of five.
Millions of people with his filaments stretching out and
running through them, responsive to every little rumor or
suspicion of unsolved crime, appreciation of nature found no
place among his many gifts, and his own Lee change was when he
turned his mind from the evil doer of the town to track down
his brother of the country. Finding that Holmes was too
absorbed for conversation. I had tossed aside the baron
paper and leaning back in my chair.
I fell into a brown study suddenly my companions voice
broke in upon my thoughts. You are right, Watson said he,
it does seem a very Preposterous way of settling a dispute, most
Preposterous. I exclaimed and then suddenly
realizing how he had echoed the inmost thought of my soul.
I sat up in my chair and stared at him in blank.
Amazement. What is this homes?
I cried. This is beyond anything, which I
could have imagined. He laughed heartily at my
perplexity. You remember, said, he let some
little time ago when I read you, the passage in one of pose
sketches in which a close reason of follows.
The unspoken thought of His companion.
You're inclined to treat the matter as a tour de force of the
author on my remarking that I was constantly in the habit of
doing the same thing. You expressed incredulity.
Oh, no, perhaps not with your tongue, my dear Watson, but
certainly with your eyebrows. So when I saw you throw down
your paper and enter upon a train of thought, I was very
happy to have the opportunity of reading it off and eventually of
breaking into it as a proof that I had been in rapport with you.
But I was still far from satisfied.
In the example, which you read to me.
Said I the reason a drew his conclusions from the actions of
the man whom he observed if I remember right.
He stumbled over a heap of stones looked up at the stars
and so on but I've been seated quietly my chair and what Clues
can I have given you? You do yourself an injustice.
The features are given to man as the means by which he shall
Express his emotions and yours are Faithful Servants.
Do you mean to say that you read my train of thoughts, from my
features, your features and especially your eyes.
Perhaps, you cannot yourself recall how your reverie
commenced? No, I cannot.
Then I will tell you after throwing down your paper, which
was the action, which Drew my attention to you.
You sat for half a minute with a vacant expression.
Then your eyes fixed themselves upon your Framed picture of
General Gordon and I saw by the alteration in your face at a
train of thought have been started, but it did not lead
very far. Your eyes turned across to the
unframed portrait of Henry, Ward Beecher, which stands upon the
top of your books, you then glanced up at the wall.
And of course, your meaning was obvious.
You were thinking that if the portrait were framed, it would
just cover that bare space and correspond with Gordon's picture
over there. R.
You full of me. Wonderfully, I exclaimed so far,
I could hardly have gone astray. But now your thoughts went back
to Beecher and you looked hard across.
As if you were studying the character in his features.
Then your eyes ceased pucker. But you continue to look across
when your face was thoughtful. You were recalling.
The incidents of beaches Korea. I was, well, aware that you
could not do this without thinking of the mission, which
he undertook on behalf of the At the time of the Civil War for, I
remember you expressing your passionate indignation at the
way in which he was received by the more turbulent of our
people. You felt so strongly about it as
I knew you could not think of Beecher without thinking of
that. Also, when a moment later, I saw
your eyes wander away from the picture.
I suspected that your mind had now turned to the Civil War and
when I observe that your lips set your eyes sparkled.
Your hands clinched. I was positive that you were
indeed thinking of the gallantry, which was shown by
both sides in that desperate struggle.
But then again your face, grew sadder, you shook your head, you
would dwelling upon the sadness and horror and useless waste of
life. Your hand stole towards your own
old wound, and a smile quivered on your lips, which showed me at
the ridiculous side of this method of settling International
questions had it forced itself upon your mind at this point.
I agreed with you that it was Preposterous and was glad to
find that all my deductions had been correct.
Absolutely said hi. And now that you've explained it
I confess that I'm as amazed as before.
It was very superficial, my dear Watson.
I assure you. I should not have intruded upon
your attention. Had you, not shown some in
credulity of the other day, but the evening is brought a breeze
with it. What do you say to a ramble
through London? I was weary of our little
sitting-room and gladly acquiesced.
The three hours. We strolled about together
watching the Ever Changing Kaleidoscope of life as it Ebbs
and flows through Fleet Street and the Strand, his
characteristic talk with its Keen.
Observance of detail and subtle power of inference.
Held me amused and enthralled. It was 10:00 before we reached
Baker Street. Again.
Our awesome was waiting at our door.
Hmm, a doctor's general practitioner.
Receive said Holmes not been long in practice, but has a good
deal to do. Come to consult us.
I fancy lucky. We came back.
I was sufficiently conversant with Holmes's methods to be able
to follow his reasoning and to see that the nature and state of
the various medical instruments in the Wicker Basket, which hung
in the Lamplight inside the broth.
Mm had given him the data for his Swift deduction.
The light in our window above showed that his late visit was
indeed intended for us. With some curiosity, as to what
could have sent a brother Medico to us at such an hour.
I followed Holmes into our Sanctum.
A pale taper faced man, with Sandy whiskers rose up from a
chair by the fire. As we entered his age, may not
have been more than three or four and thirty but his Haggard
expression and unhealthy Hugh told of a life which has sapped
his strength and robbed him of his youth.
His manner was nervous and shy like that of a sensitive
gentleman and the thin white hand, which he laid on the
mantelpiece, as Heroes was that of an architect.
Artists rather than of a surgeon, his dress was quiet and
somber, a black frock-coat, dark trousers and a touch of color
about his necktie. Good evening.
Doctor said, Holmes. Cheerily.
I am glad to see that you've only been waiting a very few
minutes. You spoke to my Coachman then
now it was the candle on the side table that told me.
Pray, resume your seat. And let me know how I can serve
you. My name is dr.
Percy trevelyan, said, our visitor and I live at 4:03 Brook
Street. Are you not the author of a
monograph upon obscure nervous? Lesions, I asked his pale cheeks
flushed with pleasure at hearing.
That his work was known to me. I so seldom hear of the work
that I thought it was quite dead.
Said, he my Publishers gave me most discouraging account of its
sale. You are yourself.
I presume a medical man, a retired army surgeon.
My own hobby has always been nervous disease.
I should wish to make it an absolute speciality.
But of course a man must take what you can get at first.
This however is beside the question.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes and I quite appreciate how valuable your
time is. Is the fact is that a very
singular train of events has occurred recently at my house in
Brook Street and tonight they came to such a head.
As I felt. It was quite impossible for me
to wait another hour before asking for your advice and
assistance Sherlock Holmes, sat down and lit his pipe.
You are very welcome to both said, he pray, let me have a
detailed account of what the circumstances are, which have
Disturbed you. One or two of them are so
trivial said, dr. Trevelyan that really I am
almost ashamed to mention them. But the matter is so
inexplicable and the recent turn which it has taken is so
elaborate that I shall Lay It All Before you and you shall
judge. What is essential and what is
not? I'm compelled to begin with, to
say something of my own college career.
I'm a London University man, you know, and I'm sure that you will
not think that I am unduly singing my own praises.
If I say that, my student career was considered by my professors
to be a very promising. One after I graduated, I
continue to devote myself to research occupying, a minor
position in King's College Hospital.
And I was fortunate enough to excite considerable interest by
my research into the pathology of catalepsy.
And finally, to win the Bruce Pinkerton prize and medal by the
monograph on nervous Legions to which your friend has just
alluded. I should not go too far.
If I were to say that there was a general impression at the time
that a distinguished career lay before me, but the one great
stumbling block, lay in my want of capital as you will readily
understand. A specialist who aims high is
compelled to start in one of a dozen streets, in the Cavendish
Square quarter, all of which entail enormous rents and
Furnishing expenses. Besides this preliminary outlay.
He must be prepared to keep himself.
For some years and to hire a presentable carriage and horse
to do, this was quite beyond my power and I could only hope that
by economy. I might in 10 years time, save
enough to enable me to put up my plate.
Suddenly. However, an unexpected incident
opened up quite a New Prospect to me.
This was a visit from a gentleman of the name of
blessington. Who was a complete stranger to
me. He came up to my room one
morning and And plunged into business.
In an instant. You are the same Percy trevelyan
who has had so distinguished a career and won.
A great prize lately said he, I bowed answer me.
Frankly. He continued for your fine.
It's your interest to do. So, you have all the cleverness
which makes a successful man. Have you the tact I could not
help smiling at the abruptness of the question.
I trust that I have my share. I said, any bad habits not drawn
towards drink. A really sir.
I cried quite, right. That's all right, but I was
bound to ask with all these qualities.
Why are you not in practice? I Shrugged my shoulders.
Come. Come said he in his bustling
way. It's the old story more in your
brains, and in your pocket, a Would you say if I were to start
you in Brook Street? I stared at him in astonishment.
Well, it's for my sake, not for yours.
He cried. I'll be perfectly Frank with
you. And if it suits you, it'll suit
me very well. I have a few thousands to invest
to see and I think I'll sink them in you.
But why I gasped? Well, it's just like any other
speculation and safer than most. What am I to do?
Then? I'll tell you, I'll take the
house furnish, it pay the maids and run the whole place.
All you have to do is just to wear out your chair in the
Consulting room. I'll let you have pocket money
and everything and you hand over to me, three-quarters of what
you earn and you keep the other quarter for yourself.
This was the strange proposal. Mr. Holmes with which the man
blessington approached me. I won't worry you with the
account of how we bargained and negotiated, it ended in my
moving into the house next lady day and starting in practice on
very much the same conditions as he had suggested.
He came himself to live with me in the character of a resident
patient. His heart was weak.
It appears and he needed constant medical supervision.
He turned the two best rooms of the first floor into a sitting
room and bedroom for himself. He was a man of singular habits,
shunning company, and very seldom going out.
His life was irregular, but in one respect, he was regularity
itself. Every evening at the same hour.
He walked into the Consulting room, examined, the books, put
down five and threatens for every Guinea that I had earned
and carry the rest off to the strongbox in his own room.
I may say with confidence that he never had occasion to regret
his speculation from the first. It was a success, a few good
cases and the reputation which I had one in the hospital brought
me rapidly to the front and during the last few years.
I have made him a rich man. So much.
Mr. Holmes, for my past history, and my relations with mr.
Blessington. It only remains for me now, to
tell you what has occurred to bring me here tonight.
Some weeks ago. Mr. Blessington came down to me
and as it seemed to me a state of considerable agitation, he
spoke of some burglary, which he said had been committed in the
West End and he appeared. I remember to be quite
unnecessarily excited about it. Declaring that a day should not
pass before we should add stronger bolts to our windows
and doors. For a week.
He continued to be in a peculiar state of restlessness peering
continually out of the windows and ceasing to take the short
walk which had usually been the Prelude to his dinner from his
manner. It struck me that he was in
Mortal dread of something or somebody but when I questioned
him upon the point he became so offensive that I was compelled
to drop the subject. Gradually As Time, passed his
fears appeared to die away. And he had renewed his former
habits. When a fresh event, reduced him
to the pitiable state of prostration in which he Now
lies. What happened was this two days
ago. I received the letter which I
now read to you. Neither address.
No date is attached to it. A Russian.
Nobleman, who is now resident in England.
It runs would be glad to Avail himself of the Social assistance
of dr. Percy trevelyan.
He has been for some years of victim to cataleptic attacks on
which as is well. Known.
Dr. Trevelyan is an authority. He proposes to call at about
6:15 tomorrow evening. If dr.
Trevelyan will make it convenient to be at home.
This letter interested me deeply because the chief difficulty in
the study of catalepsy is the rareness of the disease, you may
believe then that I was in my Consulting room.
When at the appointed hour, the page showed in the patient.
He was an elderly, man. Sinned demure and commonplace,
by no means the conception one forms of a Russian nobleman.
I was much more struck by the appearance of His companion.
This was a tall young man. Surprisingly handsome with a
dark Fierce face and the lips and chest of a Hercules.
He had his hand under the others arm as they entered and helped
him to a chair with a tenderness, which one would
hardly have expected from his appearance.
You will, excuse me, coming in doctor, said he to me speaking
English with a slight lisp. This is my father and his health
is a matter of the most overwhelming importance to me.
I was touched by his filial anxiety.
You would perhaps care to remain during the consultation said.
I not for the world. He cried with a gesture of
horror. It is more painful to me than I
can express if I were to See, my father in one of those Dreadful
seizures. I'm convinced that I should
never survive it. My own nervous system is an
exceptionally sensitive one, with your permission.
I will remain in the waiting room while you go into my
father's case. To this, of course, I assented
and the young man, withdrew, the patient.
And I then plunged into a discussion of his case of which
I took exhaustive notes. He was not remarkable for
intelligence and his answers were frequently obscure, which I
attributed to his limited acquaintance with our language
suddenly. However, as I sat writing, he
ceased to give any answer at all to my inquiries and on my
turning towards him. I was shocked to see.
That he was sitting bolt upright in his chair staring at me with
a perfectly blank and rigid face.
He was again in the grip of his mysterious malady.
My first feeling as I've just said, was one of pity and horror
my second. I fear was rather a one of
professional satisfaction. I made notes of my patients
pulse and temperature tested the rigidity of his muscles and
examined. His reflexes.
There was nothing markedly abnormal in any of these
conditions which harmonize with my former experiences.
I had obtained good results in such cases, by the inhalation of
nitrite of amyl. And the president seemed an
admirable opportunity of testing its virtues.
The bottle was downstairs in my laboratory.
So leaving my patient seated in his chair.
I ran down to get it. There was some little delay in
finding it, five minutes. Let us say and then I returned.
Imagine my amazement to find the room, empty and the patient
gone. Of course.
My First Act was to run into the waiting room.
The sun had gone. Also the hall door had been
closed but not shut my page. Who admits patients is a new
boy? And by no means quick.
He waits downstairs and runs up to show patience out.
When I ring the consulting-room bell.
He had heard nothing and the affair remained a complete
mystery. Mr. Blessington came in from his
walk shortly afterwards, but I did not say anything to him upon
the subject for to tell the I have got in the way of late of
holding his little communication with him as possible.
Well, I never thought that I should see anything more of the
Russian and his son so you can imagine my amazement.
When at the very same hour, this evening.
They both came marching into my consulting-room, just as they
had done before I feel that I owe you a great, many apologies
for my abrupt departure. Yesterday, doctor said my
patient. I confess that I was very much
surprised that it said I Well, the fact is he remarked that
when I recover from these attacks, my mind is always very
clouded as to all that has gone before I woke up in a strange
room as it seemed to me and made my way out into the street in a
sort of Dazed way when you are absent.
And I said, the son seeing my father passed the door of the
waiting room, naturally thought that the consultation had come
to An end it was not until we had reached home that I began to
realize the true State of Affairs.
Well said I laughing there is no harm done except that you
puzzled me terribly. So if you sir, would kindly step
into the waiting room. I shall be happy to continue our
consultation, which was brought to so abrupt and ending for half
an hour. So I discussed that Old
Gentleman symptoms with him. And then having prescribed for
him. I saw him go off upon the arm of
his son. I have told you that mr.
Blessington, generally. Roses hours a day for his
exercise. He came in shortly afterwards
and past upstairs. An instant later.
I heard him running down and he burst into my consulting-room.
Like a man who is mad with panic who has been in my room.
He cried. No one said, I it's a lie, he
held come up and look, I passed over the grossest of his
language. As he seemed half out of his
mind with fear when I went upstairs.
With him, he pointed to several Footprints upon the light
carpet. Do you mean to say?
Those are mine? He cried.
They were certainly very much larger than any which he could
have made and were evidently quite fresh.
It rained hard this afternoon, as you know, and my patients
were the only people who called. It must have been the case then
that the man in the waiting room, had for some unknown
reason while I was busy with the other ascended to the room of my
Patient. Nothing had been touched or
taken, but there were the footprints to prove that the
intrusion was an undoubted fact. Mr. Blessington seemed more
excited over the matter than I should have thought possible.
Though. Of course, it was enough to
disturb anybody's peace of mind. He actually sat crying in an
armchair and I could hardly get him to speak.
Coherently. It was his suggestion that I
should come round to you. And of course I at once, saw the
propriety of it for certainly the incident is a very singular
one though. He appears to completely over
eight, its importance. If you would only come back with
me and my brother, whom you would, at least be able to
soothe him though. I can hardly hope that you will
be able to explain this remarkable occurrence.
Sherlock Holmes would listen to this long narrative with an
intentness. Which showed me that his
interest was keenly aroused. His face was as impassive as
ever. But is Liz had dropped more
heavily over his eyes. And his smoke had curled up more
thickly from his pipe to emphasize each curious episode
in the doctors tale. As our visitor, concluded
Holmes, sprang up without a word.
Handyman. My hat picked his own from the
table and followed. Dr. Trevelyan to the door.
Within a quarter of an hour, we had been dropped at the door of
the Physicians. Residence in Brook Street, one
of those sombre flat-faced houses which one Associates with
the West End practice a small page admitted us.
And we began at once to ascend the Broadwell carpeted stare.
But a singular Interruption brought us to a standstill the
light at the top was suddenly whisked out.
And from the darkness, came a Reedy, quivering voice.
I have a pistol. It, cried.
I give you my word. If house fire.
If you come any nearer, this really grows outrageous, mr.
Blessington dried. Dr. Trevelyan 010.
It is. You doctor said the voice with a
great heave of relief, but those are the gentlemen.
Are they what they pretend to be.
We were conscious of a long scrutiny out of the darkness.
Yes. Yes.
It's all right. Said the voice at last, you can
come up and I'm sorry if my precautions of annoyed, you, he
real it. Thus tear gas as he spoke.
And we saw before, as a singular looking man, whose appearance as
well as his voice testified to his jangled nerves.
He was very fat, but it apparently at some time been
much fatter. So that the skin hung about his
face in loose pouches like the cheeks of a bloodhound.
He was of a sickly color and his thin, Sandy hair, seemed to
bristle up with the intensity of his emotion in his hand.
He held a pistol, but he thrust it into his pocket as we
Advanced. Good evening.
Mr. Holmes said he, I am sure I'm very much obliged to you.
For coming round. No one ever needed.
Your advice more than I do. I suppose that dr.
Trevelyan has told you of this most unwarrantable intrusion
into my rooms. Quite so said, Holmes, who are
these? Two men?
Mr. Blessington? And why do they wish to molest
you? Well, well said the resident
patient in a nervous, fashion, of course, it is hard to say
that you can hardly expect me to answer that.
Mr. Holmes. Do you mean that?
You don't know? Come in here.
If you, please just have the kindness to step in here?
He led the way into his bedroom which was large and comfortably
furnished. You see that said he pointing to
a big black box at the end of his bed.
I have never been a very rich man.
Mr. Holmes never made but one investment in my life as dr.
Trevelyan would tell you but I don't believe in Bankers.
I would never trust a banker. Mr. Holmes between ourselves
what little I have is in that box so you can understand what
it means to me when Known people Force themselves into my rooms
Holmes looked at blessington in his questioning way and shook
his head. I cannot possibly advise you.
If you try to deceive me said he but I have told you everything
Holmes turned on his heel with a gesture of disgust.
Good night. Dr. Trevelyan said he and no
advice for me. Cried blessington in a breaking
voice. My advice to you sir is to speak
the truth. A minute later.
We were in the street and walking for home.
We had crossed Oxford Street and were halfway down Harley Street
before I could get a word from my companion.
Sorry to bring you out on such a Fool's errand Watson.
He said, at last it is an interesting case to at the
bottom of it. I can make little of it.
I confessed. Well, it is quite evident that
there are two men more perhaps but at least two who are
determined for some reason to get at this fellow blessington.
I have no doubt in my mind that both on the first time, on the
second occasion that young man penetrated to blessington's
room. While his Confederate by an
ingenious device, kept the doctor from interfering and the
catalepsy a fraudulent imitation Watson, though.
I should hardly dare to hint as much to our Specialists.
It is a very easy complaint to imitate.
I have done it myself and then by the purest, chance
blessington was out on each occasion there.
Reason for choosing so unusual an hour for a consultation.
Ian was obviously to ensure that there should be no other patient
in the waiting room. It just happened.
However that this hour coincided with blessington's
constitutional, which seems to show that they were not very
well acquainted with his daily routine.
Of course, if they had been merely after plunder, they would
at least have made some attempt to search for it.
Besides I can read in a man's eye, when it is his own skin,
that he is frightened for, it is inconceivable that this fellow
Could have made two such a vindictive enemies as these
appear to be without knowing of it.
I hold it there for, to be certain that he does know who
these men are. And that for reasons of his own.
He suppresses it. It is just possible that
tomorrow may find him in a more communicative mood, is a, not
one alternative. I suggested grotesquely
improbable, no doubt, but still just conceivable.
Might the whole story of the cataleptic Russian and his son,
be a concoction of doctor drove aliens who has for his own
purposes, been in blessington's rooms.
I saw in The Gaslight that Holmes wore, an amused Smile At
This. Brilliant departure of mine.
My dear fellow said he it was one of the first Solutions which
occurred to me, but I was soon able to corroborate.
The doctors tail. This young man has left prints
upon the stair carpet which made it quite Superfluous for me to
ask to see those which had made in the room.
When I tell you that his shoes were square-toed instead of
being pointed like blehh. Interns and were quite an inch
and a third longer than the doctors you will acknowledge
that there can be no doubt as to his individuality, but we may
sleep on it. Now for I shall be surprised.
If we do not hear something further from Brook Street in the
morning, Sherlock Holmes is prophecy was soon fulfilled and
in a dramatic fashion at 7:30 next morning, in the first
glimmer of daylight. I found him standing by my
bedside in his dressing gown. There's a problem waiting for
us. Watson said he, what's the
matter? Then the Brook Street business.
Any fresh news tragic, but ambiguous said he pulling up the
blind. Look at this, a sheet from a
notebook with for God's sake. Come at once.
PT scrawled upon it in pencil. Our friend.
The doctor was hard, put to it when he wrote this, come along
my dear fellow for it. Urgent call in a quarter of an
hour. So, we were back at the
Physicians house. He came running out to meet us
with a face of Horror. Oh, such a business.
He cried with his hands to his temples.
What then Lexington has committed suicide Holmes
whistled. Yes, he hanged himself during
the night. We had entered and the doctor
had preceded us into what was evidently his waiting room.
I really hardly know what I'm doing.
He cried. The police are already upstairs.
It has shaken me most dreadfully.
When did you find out? He has a cup of tea taken into
him early every morning. When the maid entered about
seven there. The unfortunate fellow was
hanging in the middle of the room.
He had tied his cord to the hook on which the heavy lamp used to
hang and he had jumped off from the top of the very box that you
showed us yesterday home. Stood for a moment in deep
thought, with your permission said he at last.
I should like to go upstairs and look into the matter.
We both ascended followed by the doctor.
It was a dreadful sight which met us as we entered the bedroom
door. I have spoken of the impression
of flabbiness, which this man blessington, conveyed as he
dangled from the hook. It was exaggerated and
intensified until he was scarce. Human.
In his appearance. The neck was drawn out like a
plucked chickens, making the rest of him seem the more obese
and unnatural by contrast. He was clad only in his Long
night dress, and his swollen ankles and ungainly feet
protruded starkly from beneath. It beside him, stood, a
smart-looking Police. Inspector who was taking notes
in a pocketbook. Oh, mr.
Holmes said he heartily as my friend, entered on delighted to
see you. Good morning Lana and said
Holmes, you won't think me an intruder.
I'm sure have you heard of the events which led up to this
affair. Yeah, I heard something of them.
Have you formed any opinion? As far as I can?
See, the man has been driven out of his senses.
By fry, the bed has been well, slept in.
You see, there's his impression deep enough.
It's about 5:00 in the morning. You know, that suicides are most
common. That would be about is time for
hanging himself. It seems to be in a very
deliberate, a fair. I should say that he's been dead
about three hours judging by the rigidity of the muscles.
So, I noticed anything peculiar about the room asked, Holmes
found a screwdriver and some screws on the wash-hand stand
seems to have smoked heavily during the night to hear a for
cigar ends that I picked out of the fireplace.
Hmm, said, Holmes. Have you got his cigar holder?
Now I've seen on his cigar case then.
Yes. It was in his coat pocket.
Holmes opened it and smelled a single cigar, which it
contained. This is an Ivana and these
others are cigars of the peculiar sort which are imported
by the Dutch from their East Indian colonies.
They usually wrapped in straw, you know, and are thinner for
their length than any other brand.
He picked up the four ends and examine them with his pocket
lens to of these have been smoked from a holder and to
without said he To have been cut by a not very sharp knife.
And to have had the ends bitten off by a set of excellent teeth.
This is no suicide. Mr. Lana.
It is a very deeply planned and cold-blooded murder.
Impossible, cried, the inspector.
And why, why should anyone murder a man in?
So clumsy? A fashion as by hanging him,
that is what we have to find out.
How could they gained through the front door?
It was barred in the morning. Then it was barred after them.
How do, you know, I saw their traces?
Excuse me, a moment, and I may be able to give you some further
information. Mation about it.
He went over to the door and turning the lock.
He examined it in his methodical way.
Then he took out the key, which was on the inside and inspected.
That also the bed, the carpet, the chairs, the mantelpiece, the
dead body, and the Rope were each in turn examined until at
last, he professed himself satisfied and with my aide and
that of the inspector cut down The Wretched object and laid it
reverently under a sheet. How about this rope?
He asked, it is cut off. This said dr.
Trevelyan drawing a large coil from under the bed.
He was morbidly nervous of fire and always kept his beside him
so that he might Escape by the window in case the stairs were
burning. That supposed to save them
trouble said Holmes thoughtfully.
Yes, the actual facts are very plain and I shall be surprised.
If, by the afternoon, I cannot give you the reasons for them as
well. I will take this photograph of
blessington, which I see upon the mantelpiece, as it may help
me in my inquiries, but you have told us nothing cried the
doctor. Oh, there can be no doubt as to
the sequence of events, said Holmes, there were a of the
minute, the young man, the old man, and a third to whose
identity. I have no clue.
The first two, I need, hardly remark are the same who
masqueraded as the Russian count and his son so we can give a
very full description of them. They were admitted by a
Confederate inside the house. If I might offer you a word of
advice, inspector, it would be to arrest the page who has?
I understand, has only recently come into your service doctor.
The young chimp cannot be found. Said, dr.
Trevelyan the maid and the cook have just been searching for
him. Holmes Shrugged, his shoulders.
He has played a, not unimportant part in this drama said he the
three men having ascended the stairs, which they did on tiptoe
the elder, man. First, the younger man, s and
the unknown man in the rear. My dear Holmes, I jack elated.
Oh, there could be no question as to the superimposing of the
footmarks. I had the advantage of learning,
which was which last night they ascended, then to mr.
Blessington's room. The door of which they found to
be locked with the help of a wire.
However, they forced round. The key even without the lens,
you'll perceive by the scratches on this Ward where the pressure
was applied on entering the room.
Their first proceeding must have been to gag mister.
Singleton he may have been asleep or he may have been so
paralyzed with Terror as to have been unable to cry out.
These walls are thick and it is conceivable that his shriek if
he had time to utter, one was unheard.
Having secured him. It is evident to me that a
consultation of some sort was held.
Probably it was something in the nature of a Judicial proceeding.
It must have lasted for some time for it was then that these
cigars were smoked. The older man sat in that wicker
chair. It was he who used a
cigar-holder the younger man sat Over Yonder, he knocked his Ash
off against the chest of drawers, the third fellow paced
up and down. And I think set up right in the
bed. But of that I cannot be
absolutely certain. Well, it ended by they're taking
blessington and hanging him. The matter was so pre-arranged
that it is my belief that they brought with them some sort of
block or pulley, which might serve as a Gallows that
screwdriver. And those screws were, as I
conceive for fixing it up seeing the hook.
However, they naturally save themselves, the trouble, having
finished their work, they made off.
Off. And the door was barred behind
them by their Confederate weird. All listened with the deepest
interest to this sketch of the knights doings, which Holmes had
deduced from signs. So, subtle and minut that even
when he had pointed them out to us, we could scarcely follow him
in his reasoning. The inspector hurried away on
the instant to make inquiries about the page while Holmes and
I returned to Baker Street for breakfast.
I'll be back by three said he when we'd finished our meal both
the inspector and the doctor will meet me here at that hour
and I hope by that time to have cleared up any little obscurity,
which the case may still present.
Our visitors arrived at the appointed time, but it was a
quarter to four before my friend put in an appearance from his
expression as he entered. However, I could see that all
had gone. Well with him.
Any news inspector, we've got the boys sir.
Excellent. And I have got the men.
You have got them. We cried all three.
Well, at least I have got their identity.
This so-called blessington is as I expected, well, known at
headquarters and so are his assailants.
Their names are Biddle, Haywood and Moffat, the Worthington Bank
gang cried. The inspector precisely said,
Holmes, then blessington must have been certain exactly said
Holmes. Why that makes it as clear as
Crystal. So Inspector, but trevelyan and
I looked at each other in bewilderment.
You must surely remember the great Worthington Bank business
said Holmes five men were in it these four and a fifth called
Cartwright Tobin. The caretaker was murdered and
the thieves got away with 7,000 pounds.
This was in 1875. They were all five arrested.
But the evidence against them was by no means conclusive.
This blessington or Sutton who was the worst of the gang?
Turned Informer on his It is Cartwright was hanged and the
other three got 15 years of Peace when they got out the
other day, which was some years before their full term.
They set themselves. As you perceive to hunt down the
traitor and to avenge the death of their comrade upon him twice.
They try to get it him and failed a third time.
You see it came off. Is there anything further?
Which I can explain? Dr. Trevelyan?
I think you've made it all. Remarkably clear said, the
doctor. Oh, no doubt the day on which he
was perturbed, was the day when he had seen of their release in
the newspapers. Quite so his talk about a
burglary was the merest blind but why could he not tell you
this? Well, my dear sir.
Knowing the vindictive character of his old Associates.
He was trying to hide his own identity from everybody.
As long as he could, his secret was a shameful one.
And he could not bring himself to divulge it.
However, retches he was he was still living under the shield of
British law and I have no doubt inspector that you will see
that. Though, that Shield might fail
to guard The Sword of Justice is still there to avenge such with
a singular circumstances in connection with the resident
patient. And the Brook Street doctor from
that night. Nothing has been seen of the
three murderers by the police, and it is surmised at Scotland
Yard that they were among the passengers.
Ginger's of the ill-fated steamer Nora creina, which was
lost some years ago with all hands upon the Portuguese Coast,
some leagues to the north of a Porto.
The proceedings against the page broke down for want of evidence
and the Brook Street mystery, as it was called, has never until
now been fully dealt with in any public print.
End of the resident patient. End of the resident patient.