Theoldwomanfacedroundandlookedkeenlyathimfromherlittlered-rimmedeyes。\"Thegentlemanaskedmefor_my_address,\"shesaid。\"Sallylivesinlodgingsat3,MayfieldPlace,Peckham。\"
\"Andyournameis——?\"
\"MynameisSawyer——her\'sisDennis,whichTomDennismarriedher——andasmart,cleanlad,too,aslongashe\'satsea,andnostewardinthecompanymorethoughtof;butwhenonshore,whatwiththewomenandwhatwithliquorshops——\"
\"Hereisyourring,Mrs。Sawyer,\"Iinterrupted,inobediencetoasignfrommycompanion;\"itclearlybelongstoyourdaughter,andIamgladtobeabletorestoreittotherightfulowner。\"
Withmanymumbledblessingsandprotestationsofgratitudetheoldcronepackeditawayinherpocket,andshuffledoffdownthestairs。SherlockHolmessprangtohisfeetthemomentthatshewasgoneandrushedintohisroom。
Hereturnedinafewsecondsenvelopedinanulsterandacravat。\"I\'llfollowher,\"hesaid,hurriedly;\"shemustbeanaccomplice,andwillleadmetohim。Waitupforme。\"
ThehalldoorhadhardlyslammedbehindourvisitorbeforeHolmeshaddescendedthestair。LookingthroughthewindowIcouldseeherwalkingfeeblyalongtheotherside,whileherpursuerdoggedhersomelittledistancebehind。\"Eitherhiswholetheoryisincorrect,\"Ithoughttomyself,\"orelsehewillbelednowtotheheartofthemystery。\"Therewasnoneedforhimtoaskmetowaitupforhim,forIfeltthatsleepwasimpossibleuntilIheardtheresultofhisadventure。
Itwascloseuponninewhenhesetout。Ihadnoideahowlonghemightbe,butIsatstolidlypuffingatmypipeandskippingoverthepagesofHenriMurger\'s\"ViedeBoheme。\"{12}
Teno\'clockpassed,andIheardthefootstepsofthemaidastheypatteredofftobed。Eleven,andthemorestatelytreadofthelandladypassedmydoor,boundforthesamedestination。
ItwascloseupontwelvebeforeIheardthesharpsoundofhislatch-key。TheinstantheenteredIsawbyhisfacethathehadnotbeensuccessful。Amusementandchagrinseemedtobestrugglingforthemastery,untiltheformersuddenlycarriedtheday,andheburstintoaheartylaugh。
\"Iwouldn\'thavetheScotlandYardersknowitfortheworld,\"
hecried,droppingintohischair;\"Ihavechaffedthemsomuchthattheywouldneverhaveletmeheartheendofit。
Icanaffordtolaugh,becauseIknowthatIwillbeevenwiththeminthelongrun。\"
\"Whatisitthen?\"Iasked。
\"Oh,Idon\'tmindtellingastoryagainstmyself。Thatcreaturehadgonealittlewaywhenshebegantolimpandshoweverysignofbeingfoot-sore。Presentlyshecametoahalt,andhailedafour-wheelerwhichwaspassing。Imanagedtobeclosetohersoastoheartheaddress,butIneednothavebeensoanxious,forshesangitoutloudenoughtobeheardattheothersideofthestreet,`Driveto13,DuncanStreet,Houndsditch,\'shecried。Thisbeginstolookgenuine,Ithought,andhavingseenhersafelyinside,Iperchedmyselfbehind。That\'sanartwhicheverydetectiveshouldbeanexpertat。Well,awaywerattled,andneverdrewreinuntilwereachedthestreetinquestion。Ihoppedoffbeforewecametothedoor,andstrolleddownthestreetinaneasy,loungingway。Isawthecabpullup。Thedriverjumpeddown,andIsawhimopenthedoorandstandexpectantly。Nothingcameoutthough。WhenIreachedhimhewasgropingaboutfranticallyintheemptycab,andgivingventtothefinestassortedcollectionofoathsthateverIlistenedto。Therewasnosignortraceofhispassenger,andIfearitwillbesometimebeforehegetshisfare。
OninquiringatNumber13wefoundthatthehousebelongedtoarespectablepaperhanger,namedKeswick,andthatnooneofthenameeitherofSawyerorDennishadeverbeenheardofthere。\"
\"Youdon\'tmeantosay,\"Icried,inamazement,\"thatthattottering,feebleoldwomanwasabletogetoutofthecabwhileitwasinmotion,withouteitheryouorthedriverseeingher?\"
\"Oldwomanbedamned!\"saidSherlockHolmes,sharply。
\"Weweretheoldwomentobesotakenin。Itmusthavebeenayoungman,andanactiveone,too,besidesbeinganincomparableactor。Theget-upwasinimitable。Hesawthathewasfollowed,nodoubt,andusedthismeansofgivingmetheslip。ItshowsthatthemanweareafterisnotaslonelyasIimaginedhewas,buthasfriendswhoarereadytorisksomethingforhim。Now,Doctor,youarelookingdone-up。
Takemyadviceandturnin。\"
Iwascertainlyfeelingveryweary,soIobeyedhisinjunction。
IleftHolmesseatedinfrontofthesmoulderingfire,andlongintothewatchesofthenightIheardthelow,melancholywailingsofhisviolin,andknewthathewasstillponderingoverthestrangeproblemwhichhehadsethimselftounravel。
CHAPTERVI。
TOBIASGREGSONSHOWSWHATHECANDO。
THEpapersnextdaywerefullofthe\"BrixtonMystery,\"
astheytermedit。Eachhadalongaccountoftheaffair,andsomehadleadersuponitinaddition。Therewassomeinformationinthemwhichwasnewtome。Istillretaininmyscrap-booknumerousclippingsandextractsbearinguponthecase。Hereisacondensationofafewofthem:——
The_DailyTelegraph_remarkedthatinthehistoryofcrimetherehadseldombeenatragedywhichpresentedstrangerfeatures。TheGermannameofthevictim,theabsenceofallothermotive,andthesinisterinscriptiononthewall,allpointedtoitsperpetrationbypoliticalrefugeesandrevolutionists。TheSocialistshadmanybranchesinAmerica,andthedeceasedhad,nodoubt,infringedtheirunwrittenlaws,andbeentrackeddownbythem。AfteralludingairilytotheVehmgericht,aquatofana,Carbonari,theMarchionessdeBrinvilliers,theDarwiniantheory,theprinciplesofMalthus,andtheRatcliffHighwaymurders,thearticleconcludedbyadmonishingtheGovernmentandadvocatingacloserwatchoverforeignersinEngland。
The_Standard_commenteduponthefactthatlawlessoutragesofthesortusuallyoccurredunderaLiberalAdministration。
Theyarosefromtheunsettlingofthemindsofthemasses,andtheconsequentweakeningofallauthority。ThedeceasedwasanAmericangentlemanwhohadbeenresidingforsomeweeksintheMetropolis。Hehadstayedattheboarding-houseofMadameCharpentier,inTorquayTerrace,Camberwell。
Hewasaccompaniedinhistravelsbyhisprivatesecretary,Mr。JosephStangerson。ThetwobadeadieutotheirlandladyuponTuesday,the4thinst。,anddepartedtoEustonStationwiththeavowedintentionofcatchingtheLiverpoolexpress。
Theywereafterwardsseentogetherupontheplatform。
NothingmoreisknownofthemuntilMr。Drebber\'sbodywas,asrecorded,discoveredinanemptyhouseintheBrixtonRoad,manymilesfromEuston。Howhecamethere,orhowhemethisfate,arequestionswhicharestillinvolvedinmystery。
NothingisknownofthewhereaboutsofStangerson。WearegladtolearnthatMr。LestradeandMr。Gregson,ofScotlandYard,arebothengageduponthecase,anditisconfidentlyanticipatedthatthesewell-knownofficerswillspeedilythrowlightuponthematter。
The_DailyNews_observedthattherewasnodoubtastothecrimebeingapoliticalone。ThedespotismandhatredofLiberalismwhichanimatedtheContinentalGovernmentshadhadtheeffectofdrivingtoourshoresanumberofmenwhomighthavemadeexcellentcitizensweretheynotsouredbytherecollectionofallthattheyhadundergone。Amongthesementherewasastringentcodeofhonour,anyinfringementofwhichwaspunishedbydeath。Everyeffortshouldbemadetofindthesecretary,Stangerson,andtoascertainsomeparticularsofthehabitsofthedeceased。Agreatstephadbeengainedbythediscoveryoftheaddressofthehouseatwhichhehadboarded——aresultwhichwasentirelyduetotheacutenessandenergyofMr。GregsonofScotlandYard。
SherlockHolmesandIreadthesenoticesovertogetheratbreakfast,andtheyappearedtoaffordhimconsiderableamusement。
\"Itoldyouthat,whateverhappened,LestradeandGregsonwouldbesuretoscore。\"
\"Thatdependsonhowitturnsout。\"
\"Oh,blessyou,itdoesn\'tmatterintheleast。Ifthemaniscaught,itwillbe_onaccount_oftheirexertions;ifheescapes,itwillbe_inspite_oftheirexertions。It\'sheadsIwinandtailsyoulose。Whatevertheydo,theywillhavefollowers。`Unsottrouvetoujoursunplussotquil\'admire。\'\"
\"Whatonearthisthis?\"Icried,foratthismomenttherecamethepatteringofmanystepsinthehallandonthestairs,accompaniedbyaudibleexpressionsofdisgustuponthepartofourlandlady。
\"It\'stheBakerStreetdivisionofthedetectivepoliceforce,\"saidmycompanion,gravely;andashespokethererushedintotheroomhalfadozenofthedirtiestandmostraggedstreetArabsthateverIclappedeyeson。
\"\'Tention!\"criedHolmes,inasharptone,andthesixdirtylittlescoundrelsstoodinalinelikesomanydisreputablestatuettes。\"InfutureyoushallsendupWigginsalonetoreport,andtherestofyoumustwaitinthestreet。
Haveyoufoundit,Wiggins?\"
\"No,sir,wehain\'t,\"saidoneoftheyouths。
\"Ihardlyexpectedyouwould。Youmustkeeponuntilyoudo。
Hereareyourwages。{13}Hehandedeachofthemashilling。
\"Now,offyougo,andcomebackwithabetterreportnexttime。\"
Hewavedhishand,andtheyscamperedawaydownstairslikesomanyrats,andweheardtheirshrillvoicesnextmomentinthestreet。
\"There\'smoreworktobegotoutofoneofthoselittlebeggarsthanoutofadozenoftheforce,\"Holmesremarked。
\"Themeresightofanofficial-lookingpersonsealsmen\'slips。Theseyoungsters,however,goeverywhereandheareverything。Theyareassharpasneedles,too;alltheywantisorganisation。\"
\"IsitonthisBrixtoncasethatyouareemployingthem?\"Iasked。
\"Yes;thereisapointwhichIwishtoascertain。Itismerelyamatteroftime。Hullo!wearegoingtohearsomenewsnowwithavengeance!HereisGregsoncomingdowntheroadwithbeatitudewrittenuponeveryfeatureofhisface。
Boundforus,Iknow。Yes,heisstopping。Thereheis!\"
Therewasaviolentpealatthebell,andinafewsecondsthefair-haireddetectivecameupthestairs,threestepsatatime,andburstintooursitting-room。
\"Mydearfellow,\"hecried,wringingHolmes\'unresponsivehand,\"congratulateme!Ihavemadethewholethingasclearasday。\"
Ashadeofanxietyseemedtometocrossmycompanion\'sexpressiveface。
\"Doyoumeanthatyouareontherighttrack?\"heasked。
\"Therighttrack!Why,sir,wehavethemanunderlockandkey。\"
\"Andhisnameis?\"
\"ArthurCharpentier,sub-lieutenantinHerMajesty\'snavy,\"
criedGregson,pompously,rubbinghisfathandsandinflatinghischest。
SherlockHolmesgaveasighofrelief,andrelaxedintoasmile。
\"Takeaseat,andtryoneofthesecigars,\"hesaid。
\"Weareanxioustoknowhowyoumanagedit。Willyouhavesomewhiskeyandwater?\"
\"Idon\'tmindifIdo,\"thedetectiveanswered。
\"ThetremendousexertionswhichIhavegonethroughduringthelastdayortwohavewornmeout。Notsomuchbodilyexertion,youunderstand,asthestrainuponthemind。
Youwillappreciatethat,Mr。SherlockHolmes,forwearebothbrain-workers。\"
\"Youdometoomuchhonour,\"saidHolmes,gravely。
\"Letushearhowyouarrivedatthismostgratifyingresult。\"
Thedetectiveseatedhimselfinthearm-chair,andpuffedcomplacentlyathiscigar。Thensuddenlyheslappedhisthighinaparoxysmofamusement。
\"Thefunofitis,\"hecried,\"thatthatfoolLestrade,whothinkshimselfsosmart,hasgoneoffuponthewrongtrackaltogether。HeisafterthesecretaryStangerson,whohadnomoretodowiththecrimethanthebabeunborn。Ihavenodoubtthathehascaughthimbythistime。\"
TheideatickledGregsonsomuchthathelaugheduntilhechoked。
\"Andhowdidyougetyourclue?\"
\"Ah,I\'lltellyouallaboutit。Ofcourse,DoctorWatson,thisisstrictlybetweenourselves。ThefirstdifficultywhichwehadtocontendwithwasthefindingofthisAmerican\'santecedents。Somepeoplewouldhavewaiteduntiltheiradvertisementswereanswered,oruntilpartiescameforwardandvolunteeredinformation。ThatisnotTobiasGregson\'swayofgoingtowork。Yourememberthehatbesidethedeadman?\"
\"Yes,\"saidHolmes;\"byJohnUnderwoodandSons,129,CamberwellRoad。\"
Gregsonlookedquitecrest-fallen。
\"Ihadnoideathatyounoticedthat,\"hesaid。
\"Haveyoubeenthere?\"
\"No。\"
\"Ha!\"criedGregson,inarelievedvoice;\"youshouldneverneglectachance,howeversmallitmayseem。\"
\"Toagreatmind,nothingislittle,\"remarkedHolmes,sententiously。
\"Well,IwenttoUnderwood,andaskedhimifhehadsoldahatofthatsizeanddescription。Helookedoverhisbooks,andcameonitatonce。HehadsentthehattoaMr。Drebber,residingatCharpentier\'sBoardingEstablishment,TorquayTerrace。ThusIgotathisaddress。\"
\"Smart——verysmart!\"murmuredSherlockHolmes。
\"InextcalleduponMadameCharpentier,\"continuedthedetective。\"Ifoundherverypaleanddistressed。Herdaughterwasintheroom,too——anuncommonlyfinegirlsheis,too;shewaslookingredabouttheeyesandherlipstrembledasIspoketoher。Thatdidn\'tescapemynotice。
Ibegantosmellarat。Youknowthefeeling,Mr。SherlockHolmes,whenyoucomeupontherightscent——akindofthrillinyournerves。`HaveyouheardofthemysteriousdeathofyourlateboarderMr。EnochJ。Drebber,ofCleveland?\'Iasked。
\"Themothernodded。Shedidn\'tseemabletogetoutaword。
Thedaughterburstintotears。Ifeltmorethaneverthatthesepeopleknewsomethingofthematter。
\"`Atwhato\'clockdidMr。Drebberleaveyourhouseforthetrain?\'Iasked。
\"`Ateighto\'clock,\'shesaid,gulpinginherthroattokeepdownheragitation。`Hissecretary,Mr。Stangerson,saidthatthereweretwotrains——oneat9。15andoneat11。
Hewastocatchthefirst。{14}
\"`Andwasthatthelastwhichyousawofhim?\'
\"Aterriblechangecameoverthewoman\'sfaceasIaskedthequestion。Herfeaturesturnedperfectlylivid。Itwassomesecondsbeforeshecouldgetoutthesingleword`Yes\'——andwhenitdidcomeitwasinahuskyunnaturaltone。
\"Therewassilenceforamoment,andthenthedaughterspokeinacalmclearvoice。
\"`Nogoodcanevercomeoffalsehood,mother,\'shesaid。
`Letusbefrankwiththisgentleman。We_did_seeMr。Drebberagain。\'
\"`Godforgiveyou!\'criedMadameCharpentier,throwingupherhandsandsinkingbackinherchair。`Youhavemurderedyourbrother。\'
\"`Arthurwouldratherthatwespokethetruth,\'thegirlansweredfirmly。
\"`Youhadbesttellmeallaboutitnow,\'Isaid。
`Half-confidencesareworsethannone。Besides,youdonotknowhowmuchweknowofit。\'
\"`Onyourheadbeit,Alice!\'criedhermother;andthen,turningtome,`Iwilltellyouall,sir。Donotimaginethatmyagitationonbehalfofmysonarisesfromanyfearlestheshouldhavehadahandinthisterribleaffair。
Heisutterlyinnocentofit。Mydreadis,however,thatinyoureyesandintheeyesofothershemayappeartobecompromised。Thathoweverissurelyimpossible。Hishighcharacter,hisprofession,hisantecedentswouldallforbidit。\'
\"`Yourbestwayistomakeacleanbreastofthefacts,\'
Ianswered。`Dependuponit,ifyoursonisinnocenthewillbenonetheworse。\'
\"`Perhaps,Alice,youhadbetterleaveustogether,\'shesaid,andherdaughterwithdrew。`Now,sir,\'shecontinued,`Ihadnointentionoftellingyouallthis,butsincemypoordaughterhasdiscloseditIhavenoalternative。Havingoncedecidedtospeak,Iwilltellyouallwithoutomittinganyparticular。\'
\"`Itisyourwisestcourse,\'saidI。
\"`Mr。Drebberhasbeenwithusnearlythreeweeks。Heandhissecretary,Mr。Stangerson,hadbeentravellingontheContinent。Inoticeda\"Copenhagen\"labeluponeachoftheirtrunks,showingthatthathadbeentheirlaststoppingplace。
Stangersonwasaquietreservedman,buthisemployer,Iamsorrytosay,wasfarotherwise。Hewascoarseinhishabitsandbrutishinhisways。Theverynightofhisarrivalhebecameverymuchtheworsefordrink,and,indeed,aftertwelveo\'clockinthedayhecouldhardlyeverbesaidtobesober。Hismannerstowardsthemaid-servantsweredisgustinglyfreeandfamiliar。Worstofall,hespeedilyassumedthesameattitudetowardsmydaughter,Alice,andspoketohermorethanonceinawaywhich,fortunately,sheistooinnocenttounderstand。Ononeoccasionheactuallyseizedherinhisarmsandembracedher——anoutragewhichcausedhisownsecretarytoreproachhimforhisunmanlyconduct。\'
\"`Butwhydidyoustandallthis,\'Iasked。`Isupposethatyoucangetridofyourboarderswhenyouwish。\'
\"Mrs。Charpentierblushedatmypertinentquestion。`WouldtoGodthatIhadgivenhimnoticeontheverydaythathecame,\'shesaid。`Butitwasasoretemptation。Theywerepayingapoundadayeach——fourteenpoundsaweek,andthisistheslackseason。Iamawidow,andmyboyintheNavyhascostmemuch。Igrudgedtolosethemoney。Iactedforthebest。Thislastwastoomuch,however,andIgavehimnoticetoleaveonaccountofit。Thatwasthereasonofhisgoing。\'
\"`Well?\'
\"`MyheartgrewlightwhenIsawhimdriveaway。Mysonisonleavejustnow,butIdidnottellhimanythingofallthis,forhistemperisviolent,andheispassionatelyfondofhissister。WhenIclosedthedoorbehindthemaloadseemedtobeliftedfrommymind。Alas,inlessthananhourtherewasaringatthebell,andIlearnedthatMr。Drebberhadreturned。Hewasmuchexcited,andevidentlytheworsefordrink。Heforcedhiswayintotheroom,whereIwassittingwithmydaughter,andmadesomeincoherentremarkabouthavingmissedhistrain。HethenturnedtoAlice,andbeforemyveryface,proposedtoherthatsheshouldflywithhim。\"Youareofage,\"hesaid,\"andthereisnolawtostopyou。Ihavemoneyenoughandtospare。Nevermindtheoldgirlhere,butcomealongwithmenowstraightaway。Youshalllivelikeaprincess。\"PoorAlicewassofrightenedthatsheshrunkawayfromhim,buthecaughtherbythewristandendeavouredtodrawhertowardsthedoor。Iscreamed,andatthatmomentmysonArthurcameintotheroom。WhathappenedthenIdonotknow。Iheardoathsandtheconfusedsoundsofascuffle。Iwastooterrifiedtoraisemyhead。
WhenIdidlookupIsawArthurstandinginthedoorwaylaughing,withastickinhishand。\"Idon\'tthinkthatfinefellowwilltroubleusagain,\"hesaid。\"Iwilljustgoafterhimandseewhathedoeswithhimself。\"Withthosewordshetookhishatandstartedoffdownthestreet。
ThenextmorningweheardofMr。Drebber\'smysteriousdeath。\'
\"ThisstatementcamefromMrs。Charpentier\'slipswithmanygaspsandpauses。AttimesshespokesolowthatIcouldhardlycatchthewords。Imadeshorthandnotesofallthatshesaid,however,sothatthereshouldbenopossibilityofamistake。\"
\"It\'squiteexciting,\"saidSherlockHolmes,withayawn。
\"Whathappenednext?\"
\"WhenMrs。Charpentierpaused,\"thedetectivecontinued,\"Isawthatthewholecasehungupononepoint。FixingherwithmyeyeinawaywhichIalwaysfoundeffectivewithwomen,Iaskedheratwhathourhersonreturned。
\"`Idonotknow,\'sheanswered。
\"`Notknow?\'
\"`No;hehasalatch-key,andhelethimselfin。\'
\"`Afteryouwenttobed?\'
\"`Yes。\'
\"`Whendidyougotobed?\'
\"`Abouteleven。\'
\"`Soyoursonwasgoneatleasttwohours?\'
\"`Yes。\'
\"`Possiblyfourorfive?\'
\"`Yes。\'
\"`Whatwashedoingduringthattime?\'
\"`Idonotknow,\'sheanswered,turningwhitetoherverylips。
\"Ofcourseafterthattherewasnothingmoretobedone。
IfoundoutwhereLieutenantCharpentierwas,tooktwoofficerswithme,andarrestedhim。WhenItouchedhimontheshoulderandwarnedhimtocomequietlywithus,heansweredusasboldasbrass,`IsupposeyouarearrestingmeforbeingconcernedinthedeathofthatscoundrelDrebber,\'
hesaid。Wehadsaidnothingtohimaboutit,sothathisalludingtoithadamostsuspiciousaspect。\"
\"Very,\"saidHolmes。
\"HestillcarriedtheheavystickwhichthemotherdescribedhimashavingwithhimwhenhefollowedDrebber。Itwasastoutoakcudgel。\"
\"Whatisyourtheory,then?\"
\"Well,mytheoryisthathefollowedDrebberasfarastheBrixtonRoad。Whenthere,afreshaltercationarosebetweenthem,inthecourseofwhichDrebberreceivedablowfromthestick,inthepitofthestomach,perhaps,whichkilledhimwithoutleavinganymark。Thenightwassowetthatnoonewasabout,soCharpentierdraggedthebodyofhisvictimintotheemptyhouse。Astothecandle,andtheblood,andthewritingonthewall,andthering,theymayallbesomanytrickstothrowthepoliceontothewrongscent。\"
\"Welldone!\"saidHolmesinanencouragingvoice。\"Really,Gregson,youaregettingalong。Weshallmakesomethingofyouyet。\"
\"IflattermyselfthatIhavemanageditratherneatly,\"
thedetectiveansweredproudly。\"Theyoungmanvolunteeredastatement,inwhichhesaidthatafterfollowingDrebbersometime,thelatterperceivedhim,andtookacabinordertogetawayfromhim。Onhiswayhomehemetanoldshipmate,andtookalongwalkwithhim。Onbeingaskedwherethisoldshipmatelived,hewasunabletogiveanysatisfactoryreply。
Ithinkthewholecasefitstogetheruncommonlywell。WhatamusesmeistothinkofLestrade,whohadstartedoffuponthewrongscent。Iamafraidhewon\'tmakemuchof{15}
Why,byJove,here\'stheverymanhimself!\"
ItwasindeedLestrade,whohadascendedthestairswhileweweretalking,andwhonowenteredtheroom。Theassuranceandjauntinesswhichgenerallymarkedhisdemeanouranddresswere,however,wanting。Hisfacewasdisturbedandtroubled,whilehisclothesweredisarrangedanduntidy。HehadevidentlycomewiththeintentionofconsultingwithSherlockHolmes,foronperceivinghiscolleagueheappearedtobeembarrassedandputout。Hestoodinthecentreoftheroom,fumblingnervouslywithhishatanduncertainwhattodo。
\"Thisisamostextraordinarycase,\"hesaidatlast——
\"amostincomprehensibleaffair。\"
\"Ah,youfinditso,Mr。Lestrade!\"criedGregson,triumphantly。\"Ithoughtyouwouldcometothatconclusion。
HaveyoumanagedtofindtheSecretary,Mr。JosephStangerson?\"
\"TheSecretary,Mr。JosephStangerson,\"saidLestradegravely,\"wasmurderedatHalliday\'sPrivateHotelaboutsixo\'clockthismorning。\"
CHAPTERVII。
LIGHTINTHEDARKNESS。
THEintelligencewithwhichLestradegreeteduswassomomentousandsounexpected,thatwewereallthreefairlydumfoundered。Gregsonsprangoutofhischairandupsettheremainderofhiswhiskeyandwater。IstaredinsilenceatSherlockHolmes,whoselipswerecompressedandhisbrowsdrawndownoverhiseyes。
\"Stangersontoo!\"hemuttered。\"Theplotthickens。\"
\"Itwasquitethickenoughbefore,\"grumbledLestrade,takingachair。\"Iseemtohavedroppedintoasortofcouncilofwar。\"
\"Areyou——areyousureofthispieceofintelligence?\"
stammeredGregson。
\"Ihavejustcomefromhisroom,\"saidLestrade。
\"Iwasthefirsttodiscoverwhathadoccurred。\"
\"WehavebeenhearingGregson\'sviewofthematter,\"Holmesobserved。\"Wouldyoumindlettingusknowwhatyouhaveseenanddone?\"
\"Ihavenoobjection,\"Lestradeanswered,seatinghimself。
\"IfreelyconfessthatIwasoftheopinionthatStangersonwasconcernedinthedeathofDrebber。ThisfreshdevelopmenthasshownmethatIwascompletelymistaken。
Fulloftheoneidea,IsetmyselftofindoutwhathadbecomeoftheSecretary。TheyhadbeenseentogetheratEustonStationabouthalf-pasteightontheeveningofthethird。AttwointhemorningDrebberhadbeenfoundintheBrixtonRoad。ThequestionwhichconfrontedmewastofindouthowStangersonhadbeenemployedbetween8。30andthetimeofthecrime,andwhathadbecomeofhimafterwards。
ItelegraphedtoLiverpool,givingadescriptionoftheman,andwarningthemtokeepawatchupontheAmericanboats。
Ithensettoworkcallinguponallthehotelsandlodging-housesinthevicinityofEuston。Yousee,IarguedthatifDrebberandhiscompanionhadbecomeseparated,thenaturalcourseforthelatterwouldbetoputupsomewhereinthevicinityforthenight,andthentohangaboutthestationagainnextmorning。\"
\"Theywouldbelikelytoagreeonsomemeeting-placebeforehand,\"
remarkedHolmes。
\"Soitproved。Ispentthewholeofyesterdayeveninginmakingenquiriesentirelywithoutavail。ThismorningI
beganveryearly,andateighto\'clockIreachedHalliday\'sPrivateHotel,inLittleGeorgeStreet。OnmyenquiryastowhetheraMr。Stangersonwaslivingthere,theyatonceansweredmeintheaffirmative。
\"`Nodoubtyouarethegentlemanwhomhewasexpecting,\'
theysaid。`Hehasbeenwaitingforagentlemanfortwodays。\'
\"`Whereishenow?\'Iasked。
\"`Heisupstairsinbed。Hewishedtobecalledatnine。\'
\"`Iwillgoupandseehimatonce,\'Isaid。
\"Itseemedtomethatmysuddenappearancemightshakehisnervesandleadhimtosaysomethingunguarded。TheBootsvolunteeredtoshowmetheroom:itwasonthesecondfloor,andtherewasasmallcorridorleadinguptoit。TheBootspointedoutthedoortome,andwasabouttogodownstairsagainwhenIsawsomethingthatmademefeelsickish,inspiteofmytwentyyears\'experience。Fromunderthedoortherecurledalittleredribbonofblood,whichhadmeanderedacrossthepassageandformedalittlepoolalongtheskirtingattheotherside。Igaveacry,whichbroughttheBootsback。Henearlyfaintedwhenhesawit。Thedoorwaslockedontheinside,butweputourshoulderstoit,andknockeditin。Thewindowoftheroomwasopen,andbesidethewindow,allhuddledup,laythebodyofamaninhisnightdress。Hewasquitedead,andhadbeenforsometime,forhislimbswererigidandcold。Whenweturnedhimover,theBootsrecognizedhimatonceasbeingthesamegentlemanwhohadengagedtheroomunderthenameofJosephStangerson。
Thecauseofdeathwasadeepstabintheleftside,whichmusthavepenetratedtheheart。Andnowcomesthestrangestpartoftheaffair。Whatdoyousupposewasabovethemurderedman?\"
Ifeltacreepingoftheflesh,andapresentimentofcominghorror,evenbeforeSherlockHolmesanswered。
\"ThewordRACHE,writteninlettersofblood,\"hesaid。
\"Thatwasit,\"saidLestrade,inanawe-struckvoice;
andwewereallsilentforawhile。
Therewassomethingsomethodicalandsoincomprehensibleaboutthedeedsofthisunknownassassin,thatitimpartedafreshghastlinesstohiscrimes。Mynerves,whichweresteadyenoughonthefieldofbattletingledasIthoughtofit。
\"Themanwasseen,\"continuedLestrade。\"Amilkboy,passingonhiswaytothedairy,happenedtowalkdownthelanewhichleadsfromthemewsatthebackofthehotel。Henoticedthataladder,whichusuallylaythere,wasraisedagainstoneofthewindowsofthesecondfloor,whichwaswideopen。
Afterpassing,helookedbackandsawamandescendtheladder。Hecamedownsoquietlyandopenlythattheboyimaginedhimtobesomecarpenterorjoineratworkinthehotel。Hetooknoparticularnoticeofhim,beyondthinkinginhisownmindthatitwasearlyforhimtobeatwork。Hehasanimpressionthatthemanwastall,hadareddishface,andwasdressedinalong,brownishcoat。Hemusthavestayedintheroomsomelittletimeafterthemurder,forwefoundblood-stainedwaterinthebasin,wherehehadwashedhishands,andmarksonthesheetswherehehaddeliberatelywipedhisknife。\"