Adventure 2 of the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Adventure to the yellow face.
In publishing, these short sketches based upon the numerous
cases, in which my companions singular gifts have made us the
listeners to. And eventually the actors in
some strange drama. It is only natural that I should
dwell rather upon his successes than upon his failures.
And this not so much for the sake of his reputation.
For indeed, it was when he was at his wits end that his energy
and his versatility were most admirable.
But because where he failed it happened too often that no one
else succeeded and that the tail was left Forever Without a
conclusion now. And again, however, it chance
that even when he heard, the truth was still discovered.
I have noted have some half-dozen cases of the kind,
the adventure of the Musgrave ritual and that which are about
to recount other. Which present the strongest
features of Interest? Sherlock Holmes, as a man who
seldom took exercise for exercises.
Sake, few men were capable of Greater muscular effort and he
was undoubtedly, one of the finest boxes of his weight that
I've ever seen. But he looked Upon A nameless
bodily exertion as a waste of energy and he seldom bestirred
himself save when. There was some professional
object to be served. Then he was absolutely untiring
and indefatigable that he should have kept himself in training
under such. This is remarkable, but his diet
was usually of the sparest and his habits were simple to the
verge of austerity, save for the occasional use of cocaine.
He had no vices and he only turns the drug as a protest
against the monotony of existence, when cases were
scanty and the papers uninteresting.
One day in early spring, he had so far relaxed to go for a walk
with me, in the park, where the first faint shoots of green were
breaking out upon the Elms. And the sticky, spearheads of
the chestnuts were just beginning to burst into their
fivefold. Leaves for two hours.
We rambled about together in silence for the most part, as
befits. Two men who know each other
intimately. It was nearly five before we
were back in Baker Street, once more, Beg.
Pardon, sir said our page boy as he opened the door.
There's been a gentleman here asking for you, sir.
Holmes glanced reproachfully at me so much for afternoon.
Walks said he has this gentleman gone then.
Yes, sir. Didn't you ask him in?
Yes, sir. He came in.
How long did he wait? Half an hour sir?
He was a very restless gentleman at walking.
In a stamping all the time. He was here.
I was waiting outside the door sir, and I could hear him at
last. He outs into the passage and he
cries. That man never going to come.
Those were his very words sir. You only need to wait a little
longer says I Then I'll wait in the open air for.
I feel half-choked, says he will be back before long and we that
yep, Sandy outs. And all I could say wouldn't
hold him back. Well, you did your best said,
Holmes as we walked into our room.
It's very annoying, though. Watson.
I was badly in need of a case. And this looks from the man's
impatience as if it were of importance.
Hello. That's not your pipe on the
table. He must have left his behind
him. A nice old Briar with a good
long stem of what the tobacconist call Amber.
I wonder how many real Amber mouthpieces.
There are in London. Some people think that a fly in,
it is a sign. Well, he must have been
Disturbed in his mind to leave a pipe behind him which he
evidently values. Highly.
How do you know that he values? It?
Highly, I asked, well, I should put the original cost of the
pipe at seven six pints. Now I'd has you see been twice
mended once in the wooden stem. And once in the Amber each of
these men's done as You observe with silver Brands, must have
cost more than the pipe did. Originally the man must value
the pipe highly when he prefers to patch it up rather than buy a
new one with the same money. Anything else I asked for Holmes
was turning the pipe about in his hand and staring at it in
his peculiar pensive way. He held it up and tapped on it
with his long thin forefinger as a professor might who was
lecturing on a bone. Pipes are occasionally of
extraordinary interest said he nothing has more individuality
save, perhaps watches and bootlaces the indications here.
However, are neither very marked nor very important.
The owner is obviously a muscular man, left-handed, with
an excellent set of teeth careless in his habits.
And with no need to practise economy.
My friends throughout the information in a very offhand
way, but I saw that he cocked his eye at me to see if I had
followed his reasoning. You think a man must be
well-to-do if he smokes a seven Schilling pipe said I, this is
Grove in a mixture at eight Pence.
Announced Holmes answered knocking a little out on his
palm as he might get an excellent smoke for half the
price. He has no need to practise
economy. And the other points.
He has been in the habit of lighting his pipe at lamps and
gas-jets and you can see that it is quite charred all down one
side, of course a match could not have done that.
Why should a man hold a match to the side of his pipe?
But you can't light. It's a lamp without getting the
Bold chard and it is all on the right side of the pipe from
that. I gather that he is a
left-handed, man. You hold your own pipe to the
lamp and see how naturally you being.
Right-handed, hold the left side to the flame.
You might do it once the other way, but not as a constancy.
This has always been held. So then he has bitten through
his Amber. It takes a muscular energetic,
fellow, and one with a good set of teeth to do that.
But if I'm not mistaken, I hear him upon the stair.
So we shall have something more interesting than his pipe to
study. An instant later our door opened
and a tall. Young man entered the room.
He was well, but quietly dressed in a dark gray suit, and carried
a brown wide awake in his hand. I should have put him at about
30 though. He was really some years older.
I beg your. Pardon said he with some
embarrassment. I suppose I should have knocked.
Yes, of course. I should have knocked.
The fact is that I'm a little upset and you must put it all
down to that. He passed his hand over his
forehead, like a man who is half dazed and then fell rather than
sat down upon a chair. I can see that you have not
slept for a night or two said Holmes in his easy, genial way
that tries a man's nerves more than work and more even than
pleasure. May, I ask how I can help you?
I wanted your advice sir. I don't know what to do.
And my whole life seems to have gone to pieces.
You wish to employ me as a Consulting.
Detective. Not that only, I want your
opinion as a judicious, man. As a man of the world.
I want to know what I want to do next.
I hope to God, you'll be able to tell me.
He spoke in little sharp jerky outbursts and it seemed to me
that to speak at all, was very painful to him.
And that his will all through was overriding his inclinations.
It's a very delicate thing said. He one does not like to speak of
one's domestic affairs to strangers.
It seems Dreadful to discuss the conduct of one's wife with two
men whom I've never seen before. It's horrible to have to do it.
But I've got to the end of my tether and I must have advice.
My dear, mr. Grant Munro began homes.
Our visitor. Sprang from his chair, what he
cried. You know, my name.
If you wish to preserve your Incognito said, Holmes smiling,
I would suggest that you cease to write your name upon the
lining of your hat or else that you turn the crown towards the
person whom you're addressing. I was about to say that my
friend and I have listened to a good, many strange secrets in
this room and that we've had the Good Fortune to bring peace to
many, troubled Souls. I trusted, we may do as much for
you. Might I beg you as time may
prove to be of importance, to furnish me with Facts of your
case without further delay. Our visitor again, passed his
hand over his forehead. As if he found it, bitterly hard
from every gesture and expression.
I could see that he was a reserved self-contained, man,
with a dash of pride in his nature, more likely to hide his
wounds than to expose them then suddenly with a fierce gesture
of his closed hand like one who throws Reserve to the winds.
He began. The facts are these said he.
I'm a married man and have been so for three years during that
time, my wife and I have loved each other as fondly and lived
as happily as any two that ever were joined.
We have not had a difference, not one in thought or word or
deed. And now, since last Monday,
there has suddenly sprung up a barrier between us and I find
that there is something in her life, and in her thought of
which, I know, as little as if she were the woman who brushes
by me in the street. We are estranged and I want to
know why. Now, there is one thing that I
want to impress upon you before I go any further.
Mr. Holmes, if he loves me, don't let there be any mistake
about that. She loves me with her whole
heart and soul, and never more than now.
I know it. I feel it.
I don't want to argue about that.
A man can tell easy enough when a woman loves him, but there's
this secret between us and we can never be the same until it
is cleared. Kindly, let me have the facts.
Mr. Monroe said, Holmes with some impatience.
I'll tell you what. I know about.
If he's history. She was a widow.
When I met her first though. Quite young only 25.
A name them was mrs. Hebron.
She went out to America when she was young and lived in a town of
Atlanta, where she married this, Hebron who was a lawyer with a
good practice. They had one child, but the
yellow fever broke out badly in the place and both husband and
child. Died of it.
I've seen his death certificate, this sickened, her of America
and she came back to live with a maiden aunt at Pinner in
Middlesex. I may mention that her husband
had left her comfortably off and that she had a capital of about
4,500 pounds which have been so well invested by him.
That it returned an average of 7%.
She had only been six months at Pinner when I met her.
We fell in love with each other and we married a few weeks
afterwards. I'm a hot mess.
It myself. And as I have an income of seven
or eight hundred, we found ourselves comfortably off.
And took a nice 80 pound a year. Villa at norbury.
Our little place was very countrified considering that it
is so close to town. We had an inn and two houses, a
little above us and a single Cottage at the other side of the
field, which faces us and except those, there were no houses
until you got halfway to the station.
My business took me into town at certain Seasons, but in summer,
I had To do. And then in our country home, my
wife and I were just as happy as could be wished.
I tell you that there never was a shadow between us until this
accursed affair began. There's one thing I ought to
tell you. Before I go further, when we
married my wife made over all her property to me, rather
against my will. For I saw how awkward it would
be if my business Affairs went wrong.
However, she would have it. So, and it was done well, about
six weeks ago. She came Came to me.
Jack said she, when you took my money, you said that, if ever I
wanted any, I was to ask you for it, certainly said.
Hi. It's all your own.
Well, said, she, I want 100 pounds.
I was bit staggered at this fried imagined.
It was simply a new dress, or something of the kind that she
was after what on Earth for I asked.
Oh, said she in her playful way. You said that you only my Care
and bankers, never ask questions, you know, if you
really mean it, of course, you should have the money said I oh
yes, I really mean it and you won't tell me what you want it
for someday, perhaps but not just at present Jack.
So I had to be content with that though.
It was the first time that there had ever been.
Any secret between us, I gave her a check and never thought
any more of the matter. It may have nothing to do with
what came afterwards, but I thought it only right to mention
it. Well, I told you just now that
there is a cottage, not far from our house.
There is just a field between us, but to reach it, you have to
go along the road and then turn down a lane, just beyond it is a
nice little Grover, Scotch Furs, and I used to be very fond of
strolling down there for trees are always a neighborly, kind of
thing. The cottage had been standing
empty this eight months and it was a T4.
It was a pretty two-story place with an old-fashioned porch and
honeysuckle about it. I have stood many a time and
thought what a neat little Homestead it would make well
last Monday evening. I was taking a stroll down that
way when I met an empty van coming up the lane and saw a
pile of carpets and things lying about on the grass-plot beside
the porch. It was clear that the cottage
had at last been let I walked past it and wonder what sort of
folk they were who had come to live so near us.
And as I looked I suddenly became aware that her face was
watching me out of one of the upper windows.
I don't know what the was about that face.
Mr. Holmes, but it seemed to send a chill right down my back.
I was some little way off so that I could not make out the
features, but there was something unnatural and inhuman
about the face. That was the impression.
That I had. And I moved quickly for words to
get a nearer view of the person who was watching me.
But as I did so the face suddenly disappeared.
So suddenly that it seemed to have been plucked away into the
darkness of the room. I stood for five minutes
thinking the business over and trying to analyze my
Impressions. I could not tell if the face
with that of a man or a woman, it had been too far from me for
that, but it's color was watered impressed me most.
It was of a livid chalky white and with something set and rigid
about it, which was shockingly enough.
True. So Disturbed was I that I
determined to see a little more of the new inmates of the
cottage. I approached and knocked at the
door, which was instantly opened by a tall gaunt woman with a
harsh forbidding face. What may you be wanting?
She asked in a Northern accent? I'm your neighbor Over.
Yonder said I nodding towards my house.
I see that you've only just moved in.
So I thought that if I could be of any help to you in any way, I
will just ask you when we want. You said she and shut the door
in my face annoyed at the churlish rebuff.
My turned my back and walked home all evening though.
I tried to think of other things my mind would.
Turn to The Apparition at the window and the rudeness of the
woman. I determined to say nothing
about the former to my wife for. She is a nervous highly-strung
woman and I had no wish that she should share the unpleasant
impression which had been produced upon myself.
I remarked to her. However, before I fell asleep at
the cottage was now occupied to which you return no reply.
I am usually an extremely sound sleeper.
It has been a standing jest in the family that nothing could
ever wake me during the night. And yet somehow, on that
particular night, whether it may have been the slight excitement
produced by my little Adventure or not.
I know not, but I slept much more likely than usual.
Half in my dreams. I was dimly conscious but
something was going on in the room and gradually became aware
that my wife had dressed herself and was slipping on her mantle
and On it. My lips were parted to murmur
out some sleepy words of surprise or remonstrance at this
untimely preparation. When suddenly my half-opened
eyes fell upon her face illuminated by the candlelight
and astonishment. Held me dumb.
She wore an expression such as I had never seen before, such as I
should thought her incapable of assuming she was deadly pale and
breathing, fast, glancing furtively Towards the bed.
As she fastened her mantle to see if she had Disturbed me then
thinking that I was still asleep.
She slipped noiselessly from the room.
And an instant later. I heard a sharp creaking, which
could only come from the hinges of the front door.
I sat up in bed and wrapped my Knuckles against the rail to
make certain that I was truly awake that I took my watch from,
under the pillow. It was 3:00 in the morning.
What on this Earth could my wife be doing out on the country?
Road at three in the morning? I had sat for about 20 minutes.
Turning the thing over in my mind and trying to find some
possible explanation. The more I thought the more
extraordinary and inexplicable did it appear.
I was still puzzling over it. When I heard the door, gently
close again and her footsteps, coming up the stairs.
Where in the world have you been?
Fe, I asked as she entered. She gave a violent start, and a
kind of gasping cry. When I spoke and that cry, and
start troubled. Me more than all the rest for,
there was something, indescribably guilty about them.
My wife had always been a woman of a Frank and open Nature, and
it gave me a chill to see her slinking into her own room and
crying out and wincing, when her own husband spoke to her.
You wake Jack. She cried with a nervous, laugh.
Why I thought that nothing could wake you.
Where have you been? I asked more sternly.
I don't wonder that. You're surprised said she, and I
could see that her fingers were trembling as she undid the
fastenings of her mantle. Why I never remember having done
such a thing in my life before the fact is that I felt as
though I were choking and had a perfect longing for a breath of
fresh air. I really think that I should
have fainted if I had not gone out.
I stood at the door for a few minutes and now I'm quite myself
again, all the time. She was telling me this story.
She never once looked in my direction and her voice was
quite unlike her usual tones. It was evident to me that she
was saying what was false. I said nothing in reply, but
turned my face to the wall, sick at heart, with my mind filled
with a thousand, venomous doubts and suspicions.
What was it? That my wife was concealing from
me, where had she been during that strange Expedition?
I felt that I should have no peace until I knew and yet I
shrank from asking her again. After one.
She had told me what was false. All the rest of the night I
tossed and tumbled framing Theory after Theory, each more
unlikely than the last. I should have gone to the city
that day, but I was too Disturbed in my mind to be able
to pay attention to business matters.
My wife seemed to be as upset as myself and I could see from the
little questioning glances, which he kept shooting at me,
that she understood that I disbelieved her statement and
that she was at her Wits End, what to do.
We hardly exchanged a word during breakfast and immediately
afterwards. I went out for a walk.
But I might think the matter out in the fresh morning air.
I went as far as the Crystal Palace, spent an hour in the
grounds and was back in norbury by 1:00.
It happened. The, my way took me past the
cottage and I stopped for an instant to look at the windows.
And to see if I could catch a glimpse of the strange face,
which had looked out at me on the day before, as I stood
there. Imagine my surprise.
Mr. Holmes, when the door suddenly opened, and my wife
walked out. I was struck dumb with
astonishment at the sight of her, but my emotions were
nothing to those which showed themselves upon her face.
When our eyes met. She seemed for an instant to
wish to shrink back inside the house again, and then seeing how
useless all concealment must be. She came forward with a very
white face and frightened eyes, which belied the smile upon her
lips. Ah, Jack, she said, I have just
been in to see if I can be of any assistance to our new
neighbors. Why do you look at me like that
Jack? You're not angry with me.
So said, I, this is where you went during the night.
What do you mean? She cried?
You came here? I am sure of it.
Who are these people that you should visit them at?
Such an hour? I have not been here before.
How can you tell me what, you know, is false.
I cried the very voice changes as you speak.
When have I ever had a secret from you.
I shall enter that Cottage and I shall probe, the matter to the
bottom. No, no.
Jack for God's sake, she gasped in uncontrollable emotion.
Then as I approached the door, she sees my sleeve.
And pulled me back with convulsive strength, implore you
not to do this Jack. She cried.
I swear that I will tell you everything someday, but nothing
but misery can come of it if you enter that Cottage.
Then as I tried to shake her off, she clung to me in a frenzy
of entreaty. Trust me, Jack.
She cried, trust me. Only this once.
You'll never have cause to regret it, you know, that I
would not have a secret from you, if it were not for your own
sake, our whole lives are at stake in this.
If you come home with me, all will be.
Well, if you force your way into that, Cottage all is over
between us. That was such an earnestness
such despair in her manner, but her words, arrested me and I
stood irresolute before the door.
I will trust you on one condition, and on one condition
only said I at last it is at this mystery comes to an end
from now, you are at Liberty to preserve your secret.
But you must promise me that there shall be no more nightly
visits. No more doings, which are kept
from my knowledge. I'm willing to forget those
which are passed. If you will promise that there
shall be no more in the future. I was sure that you would trust
me, she cried with a great sigh of relief.
It shall be just as you wish. Come away.
Oh, Come Away up to the house still pulling at my sleeve.
She led me away from the cottage as we went I glanced back and
there was that yellow livid face watching us out of the upper
window. What link could there be between
that creature and my wife or how could the coarse rough woman?
Whom I had seen the day before be connected with her.
It was a strange puzzle and yet I knew that my mind could never
know, he's again until I had solved it for two days after
this. I stayed at home and my wife
appeared to abide loyally by our engagement for as far as I know,
she never stood out of the house.
On the third day. However, I had ample evidence
that her solemn promise was not enough to hold her back from
this secret influence, which Drew her away from her husband,
and her Duty. I had gone into town on that
day, but I returned by the 240 instead of the 336, which is my
usual train, as I entered the house.
The maid ran into the hall with a startled face.
Where is your mistress? I asked, I think that she's gone
out for a walk. She answered.
My mind, was instantly filled with suspicion.
I rushed upstairs to make sure that she was not in the house as
I did. So I happened to glance out of
one of the upper windows. And so the maid with whom, I'd
just been speaking running across the field in the
direction of the cottage. Then of course, I saw exactly
what it all meant. My wife had gone over there and
at asked the servant to call her if I should return.
Tingling with anger. I rushed down and hurried across
determined to end the matter once and forever.
I saw my wife and made hurrying back along the lane, but I did
not stop to speak with them in the cottage later.
Secret which was casting a shadow over my life.
I vowed that come. What might it should be?
A secret no longer. I did not even knock when I
reached it, but turn the handle and rushed into the passage.
It was all still and quiet upon the ground.
Law in the kitchen. A kettle was singing on the fire
and a large black cat. Lay coiled up in the basket, but
there was no sign of the woman whom I had seen before I ran
into the other room, but it was equally deserted.
Then I rushed up the stairs only to find two other rooms empty
and deserted at the top. There was no one at all in the
whole house. The furniture and pictures were
of the most common and vulgar description.
Save in the one chamber at the window of Which I had seen the
strange face, that was comfortable, and elegant, and
all my suspicions Rose into a fierce bitter.
Flame. When I saw that on the
mantelpiece stood, a copy of full-length, photograph, of my
wife, which have been taken at my request.
Only three months ago. I stayed long enough to make
certain that the house was absolutely empty.
Then I left it feeling await at my heart such as I had never had
before. My wife came out into the Hall
as I entered my house, but I was too hurt and angry to speak with
her and pushing past her. I made my way into my study.
She followed me. However, before I could close
the door. I'm so sorry that I broke.
My promise. Jack said she, but if you knew
all the circumstances, I am sure that she would forgive me.
Tell me, everything. Then said I, I cannot Jack.
I cannot she cried until you tell me who it is.
That has been living in that Cottage and who it is to whom
you have. Given that photograph.
They can never be any confidence between us said.
I and breaking away from her. I left the house.
That was yesterday. Mr. Holmes, and I have not seen
her since nor. Do I know anything more about
this strange business. It is the first shadow that has
come between us and it has so shaken me that I do not know
what I should do for the best. Suddenly this morning.
It occurred to me that you were the man to advise me.
So I have hurried to you now. And I place myself unreservedly
in your hands. If there is any point, which I
have not made, clear, pray question me about it, but above
all tell me quickly. What I am to do for this misery
is more than I can bear. Holmes and I had listened with
the utmost interest to this extraordinary statement, which
have been delivered in the jerky broken fashion of a man who is
under the influence of extreme emotions.
My companion sat silent for some time with his chin, upon his
hand, lost in thought, tell me said he at last.
Could you swear that this was a man's face?
Which you saw at the window each time that I saw it.
I was some Distance away from it.
So that it is impossible for me to say.
You appear, however, to have been disagreeably impressed by
it. It seemed to be of an unnatural
color and have a strange rigidity about the features.
When I approached it vanished with a jerk.
How long is it since your wife asked you for a hundred pounds,
nearly two months. Have you ever seen a photograph
of her first husband? Know, there was a great fire at
Atlanta very shortly after his death and all her papers were
destroyed. And yet she had a certificate of
death. You say that you saw it.
Yes. She got a duplicate after the
fire. Did you ever meet anyone who
knew her in America? No, did she ever talk of
revisiting the place know or get letters from it?
No, thank you. I should like to think over the
matter a little now if the cottage is now permanently
deserted. We may have some difficulty.
If on the other hand as I fancy, is more likely the inmates were
warned of your coming and left before you entered yesterday.
And they may be back now and we should clear it all up.
Easily. Let me advise you then to return
to norbury and to examine the windows of the cottage.
Again. If you have reason to believe
that it is inhabited, do not force your way in, but send a
wire to my friend. And me, we should be with you
within an hour of receiving it, and we shall then very soon get
to the bottom of the business. And if it is still empty in that
case, I shall come out tomorrow and talk it over with you.
Goodbye and above all, do not fret until you know, that you
really have a cause for it. I am afraid that this is a bad
business. Watson said my companion, as he
returned after accompanying. Mr. Grant Munro to the door.
What do you make of it? It had an ugly sound.
I answered. Yes.
There's black male in it or I'm much mistaken.
And who is the blackmailer? Well, it must be the creature
who lives in the only comfortable room in the place
and has her photograph above his fireplace.
Upon my word Watson. There is something very
attractive about that livid face at the window and I would not
have missed the case for world's.
You have a theory. Yes, a provisional one, but I
shall be surprised. If it does not turn out to be
correct. This?
Woman's first husband is in that Cottage.
Why do you think? So, how else can we explain her
frenzied anxiety that her second one should not enter it.
The facts as I read them or something like this, this woman
was married in America. Her husband developed some
hateful qualities or shall we say that he contracted some
loathsome disease and became a leper or an imbecile.
She flies from him at last returns to England changes, her
name and starts her life as she thinks a fresh.
She has been married three years and believes that her position
is quite secure, having shown her husband to death.
Because of some man whose name she has assumed when suddenly,
her whereabouts is discovered by her first husband, or we may
suppose, by some unscrupulous woman who is attached herself to
the invalid. They write to the wife and
threatened to come and expose her.
She asked for 100 pounds and Endeavors to buy them off.
They come in spite of it. And when the husband mentions
casually to the wife, that there are newcomers in the cottage,
she knows in Some way that they are her pursuers she waits until
her, husband is asleep. And then she rushes down to
Endeavour to persuade them to leave her in peace.
Having no success. She goes again next morning and
her husband meets her. As he has told us as she comes
out. She promises him then not to go
there again, but two days afterwards.
The hope of getting rid of those.
Dreadful neighbors was too strong for her and she made
another attempt taking With her, the photograph, which had
probably been demanded from her in the midst of this interview.
The maid rushed in to say that the master had come home on
which the wife knowing that he would come straight down to the
cottage. Hurried the inmates out the back
door into the Grove of fir trees, probably, which was
mentioned, as a standing near. In this way, he found the place
deserted. I shall be very much surprised.
However, if it is still. So when he recognizes it this
evening, what do you think of my theory?
It is all surmise, but at least it covers all the facts when new
facts, come to our knowledge, which cannot be covered by it.
It will be time enough to reconsider it.
We can do nothing more until we have a message from our friend
at norbury, but we had not very long time to wait for that.
It came just as we had finished our tea.
The cottage is still tenanted. It said have seen the face again
at the window will meet to the 7 o'clock train and will take no
steps until you arrived. He was waiting on the platform
when we stepped out and we could see in the light of the station
lamps that he was very pale and quivering with agitation.
They'll still there. Mr. Holmes said he laying his
hand, hard upon my friends sleeve.
I saw lights in the cottage. As I came down.
We shall settle it. Now once and for all, what is
your plan then asked Holmes? As you walk down the dark
tree-lined Road. I'm going to force my way in and
see for myself. Who is in the house.
I wish you both to be there as Witnesses.
You are quite determined to do this, in spite of your wife's
warning, that it is better, that you should not solve the
mystery. Yes.
I'm determined. Well, I think that you are in
the right, any truth is better than indefinite doubt.
We had better go up at once. Of course legally.
We are putting ourselves hopelessly in the wrong, but I
think that it is worth it. It was a very dark night.
And a thin rain began to fall as we turn from The High Road into
a narrow Lane deeply. Rutted with Hedges on either
side. Mr. Grant Munro pushed in
patiently forward. However, and we stumbled after
him as best we could. There are the lights of my
house. He murmured pointing to a
glimmer among the trees and here is the cottage which I'm going
to enter. We turned a corner in the lane
as he spoke and there was the building close beside us a
yellow bar, falling across the black.
Foreground showed that the door was not quite closed, and one
window in the upper story was brightly illuminated.
As we looked, we saw a dark blur moving across the blind.
There's a creature cried Grant Munro.
You can see for yourselves that someone is there now follow me
and which will soon know. All, We approached the door, but
suddenly a woman appeared out of the Shadow and stood in the
golden track of the Lamplight. I could not see her face in the
darkness, but her arms were thrown out in an attitude of
entreaty for God's sake. Don't jack.
She cried. I had a presentiment that you
would come this evening, think better of it.
Dear. Trust me again, and you will
never have cause to regret it. I've trusted you too long.
Fe He cried sternly, leave. Go of me.
I must pass through my friends and I are going to settle this
matter once and forever. He pushed her to one side and we
followed closely after him as he threw the door.
Open an old woman ran out in front of him and tried to Bar
his passage, but he thrust her back and an instant afterwards.
We were all upon the stairs, Grant Munro rushed into the
lighted room at the top and we entered at his heels.
It was a cozy. Well furnished apartment with
two candles burning upon the table and to upon the
mantelpiece in the corner, stooping over a desk nurse at
what appeared to be a little girl.
Her face was turned away as we entered but we could see that
she was dressed in a red frock and that she had long white
gloves on as she whisked round to us.
I gave a cry of surprise and horror the face, which she
turned towards us was of the strangest.
Livid. Tint and the features were
absolutely devoid of any expression.
An instant later. The mystery was explained homes
with a laugh. Passed his hand behind the
child's ear, a mask peeled off from her countenance.
And there was a little coal. Black negress, with all her
white teeth flashing, in amusement at our amazed faces.
I burst out laughing out of sympathy with a merriment, but
Grant Munro stood staring. His hand clutching his throat,
my God. He cried.
What can be the meaning of this. I will tell you the meaning of
it, cried, the lady, sweeping into the room with a proud set
face. You have forced me against my
own judgment to tell you, and now, we must both make the best
of it. My husband died at Atlanta.
My child survived your child. She drew a large silver locket
from her bosom. You have never seen this open.
I understood that. It did not open.
She touched a spring and the front hinged back.
There was a portrait within of a man strikingly handsome and
intelligent looking but barring unmistakable signs upon his
features of his African descent. This is John Hebron of Atlanta
said, the lady and a nobler man. Never walked the earth.
I cut myself off from my race in order to Wed him, but never once
Us while he lived. Did I for an instant regret it?
It was our Misfortune, but our only child took after his people
rather than mine. It is often.
So in such matches and little, lucy is darker father.
Never her father was but dark or Fair.
She is my own dear little girly and her mother's pet.
The little creature ran across at the words and nestled up
against the ladies dress. When I left her in America, she
continued. It was only because her health
was weak and the change might have done her harm.
She was given to the care of a faithful Scotch woman who had
once been a servant never for an instant.
Did I dream of disowning her as my child, but when chance
through you in my way Jack and I learned to love you.
I feared to tell you about my child.
God forgive me. I feared that I should lose you
and I had not the courage to Tell you I had to choose between
you. And in my weakness.
I turned away from my own little girl for three years.
I have kept her existence, a secret from you, but I heard
from the nurse. And I knew that all was well
with her at last. However, there came an
overwhelming desire to see the child once more.
I struggled against it, but in vain though, I knew the danger.
I determined to have the child over if it were.
But for a few weeks. I sent a hundred pounds to the
nurse and I gave her instructions about this Cottage,
so that she might come as a neighbor without my appearing to
be in any way connected with her.
I pushed my precautions so far as to order her to keep the
child in the house during the daytime, and to cover up her
little face, and hands. So that, even those who might
see her at the window, should not gossip about there being a
black child in the neighborhood. If I'd been less cautious, I
might have been more wise, but I was half crazy with fear that
you should learn the truth. It was you who told me first
that the cottage was occupied. I should have waited for the
morning, but I could not sleep for excitement.
And so at last I slipped out knowing how difficult it is to
wake you, but you saw me go and that was the beginning of my
troubles. Next day.
You had my secret at your mercy, but you nobly refrain from
pursuing your advantage three days later.
However, the nurse and child only.
Escape from the back door as you rushed in, at the front one, and
now tonight you at last, no, all.
And I asked you what is to become of us, my child and me.
She clasped her hands and waited for an answer.
It was a long 10 minutes before Grant Munro broke the silence.
And when his answer came, it was one of which I love to think he
lifted the little child kissed her and then still carrying her.
He held his other hand out to his wife and turned towards the
door. We can talk it over more
comfortably at home. Said he I'm not a very good man
Fe but think that I'm a better one than you have given me
credit for Holmes, and I followed them down the lane and
my friend plucked my sleeve. As we came out.
I think said he, but we shall be of more use in London than in
norbury. Not another word.
Did he say of the case until late that night when he was
turning away with his lighted? Candle for his bedroom.
Watson said he if it should ever strike you that I'm getting a
little overconfident in my powers or giving less pains to a
case than it. Deserves.
Kindly whisper norbury in my ear and I shall be infinitely
obliged to you. End of the yellow face.