No. 12 The Adventure of the Abbey Grange by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 12 The Adventure of the Abbey Grange by Arthur Conan Doyle
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4]

-bye,

dinner was over , and_the table cleared before Holmes alluded to_the matter again had lit his pipe and held his slippered feet to_the cheerful blaze of_the fire suddenly looked his watch "I expect developments, Watson "

" when ? "

"Nowwithin few_minutes I dare say you thought I acted rather badly Stanley Hopkins just now ? "

"I trust your judgment "

"A very sensible reply , Watson you_must look this_way : what I_know unofficial , what he_knows I_have the right private judgment , but has none he_must disclose all , he_is traitor to_his service doubtful case i_would_not put him painful position , and I reserve information until own mind clear upon_the matter "

" but when will that ? "

" the time has_come you_will now present at_the last scene remarkable little drama "

there_was sound upon_the stairs, and_our door was opened admit fine specimen manhood ever passed through he_was very tall young man , golden mustached, blue - eyed , with skin which had_been burned tropical suns, and springy step , which showed that_the huge frame was active it_was strong closed the door behind him , and then stood with clenched hands and heaving breast , choking down some overmastering emotion

" sit down , captain Crocker you got ? "

our visitor sank into armchair and looked from one to_the other with questioning eyes "I got your , and I_came at_the hour you said I heard that you had_been down to_the office there_was getting away from_you let 's hear the worst what_are you going to_do with ? arrest ? speak out , man ! you_can 't sit there and play with like cat with mouse "

" give him cigar ," said Holmes " bite on_that , captain Crocker, and don't let your nerves run away with_you I should_not sit here smoking i_thought that you were common criminal , you_may_be_sure of_that frank with and we_may some good play tricks with , and I'll crush you "

" what do_you wish to_do ? "

" to_give_me true account all that happened at_the abbey grange last nighta true account , mind you , with nothing added and nothing taken off I_know so_much already that if_you one inch off the straight , I'll blow this police whistle from window and_the affair goes out of_my hands forever "

the sailor thought for little then struck his leg with_his great sunburned hand

"I'll chance ," cried "I believe you_are man your word , and white man , and I'll tell you the whole story but one_thing i_will say first so_far I_am concerned , I_regret nothing and I_fear nothing , and i_would do_it all again and proud of_the job Damn the beast , had as_many lives cat, he_would owe them all to_me ! but 's the lady , MaryMary Fraserfor never will I call her by_that accursed name when i_think getting her into trouble , I who_would give life just bring one smile her dear face , 's that that turns soul into water and yetand yetwhat less could I_do ? I'll tell you story , gentlemen , and then I'll ask_you , man man , what less could I_do ?

" I_must back bit you seem to_know everything , I expect that you_know that I met her when she was passenger and i_was first officer of_the rock GIBRALTAR from_the first day I met her , she was_the only woman to_me every day of_that voyage I loved her more , and many time since have I kneeled down in_the darkness of_the night watch and kissed the deck of_that ship because I_knew her dear feet had trod she was never engaged to_me she treated fairly ever woman treated man I_have complaint to_make it_was all love side , and all good comradeship and friendship hers when parted she was free woman , but I_could never again free man

" next_time I_came back from sea , I heard her marriage well , why shouldn't she marry whom she liked ? title and moneywho could carry them better than she ? she was born for all that_is beautiful and dainty I didn't grieve over her i_was not such selfish hound as_that I just rejoiced that good luck had come her way , and_that she had_not thrown herself away penniless sailor that 's how I loved Mary Fraser

" well , I never thought to_see her again , but last voyage i_was promoted , and_the new boat was not yet launched, I had wait for couple months with people Sydenham one day out country lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid she told all about her , about him , about everything I tell you , gentlemen , nearly drove mad this drunken hound , that he_should dare raise his hand her , whose boots he_was not worthy lick ! I met Theresa again then I met Mary herself and met her again then she_would meet more but the other day I had notice that i_was start voyage within week , and I determined that i_would see her once before I left Theresa was always friend , for she loved Mary and hated this villain almost as_much I_did from her I learned the ways of_the house Mary used sit reading her own little room downstairs I crept round there last night and scratched at_the window first she_would not open to_me , but her heart I_know that now she loves , and she_could_not leave in_the frosty night she whispered to_me to_come round to_the big front window , and I_found open before , as_to let into_the dining- room again I heard from her own lips things that made blood boil , and again I cursed this brute who mishandled the woman I loved well , gentlemen , i_was standing with her just inside the window , all innocence , god judge , when rushed like madman into_the room , called her the vilest name that man could use woman , and welted her across the face with_the stick had in_his hand I had sprung for_the poker , and it_was fair fight between_us see here , arm , where his first blow fell then it_was turn , and I went through him as_if had_been rotten pumpkin do_you_think i_was sorry ? not I ! it_was his life mine , but far more than that , it_was his life hers , for how could I leave her in_the power of_this madman ? that was how I killed him was I wrong ? well , then , what would either you gentlemen have_done , if_you had_been position ? "

" she had screamed when struck her , and_that brought old Theresa down from_the room above there_was bottle wine on_the sideboard , and I opened and poured little between Mary's lips, for she was half dead with shock then i_took drop myself Theresa was cool ice , and it_was her plot as_much mine we_must make appear that burglars had done the thing Theresa kept repeating our story her mistress , while I swarmed and cut the rope of_the bell then I lashed her her chair , and frayed out the end of_the rope to_make look natural , else they_would wonder how in_the_world burglar could_have got there cut then I gathered few plates and pots silver , carry out the idea of_the robbery , and there I left them , with orders to_give the alarm when I had quarter hour 's start I dropped the silver into_the pond , and made off for Sydenham, feeling that for once life I had done real good night 's work and_that 's the truth and_the whole truth , Mr Holmes, if_it costs neck "

Holmes smoked for some_time silence then crossed the room , and shook our visitor by_the hand

" that 's what i_think ," said " I_know that every word true , for you_have hardly said word which I_did_not know one but acrobat sailor could_have got to_that bell - rope from_the bracket , and one but sailor made the knots with_which the cord was fastened to_the chair only once had this lady been brought into contact with sailors, and_that was her voyage , and it_was someone her own class life , since she was trying hard shield him , and showing that she loved him you_see how easy it_was for_me lay hands upon you when once I had started upon_the right trail "

" i_thought the police never could_have seen through our dodge "

" and_the police haven 't, nor will they , to_the best of_my belief now , look here , captain Crocker, this_is very serious matter , though I_am willing admit that you acted under the most extreme provocation to_which any man could_be subjected I_am not sure that defense your own life your action will_not_be pronounced legitimate however , that_is for British jury decide meanwhile I_have so_much sympathy for_you that , if_you choose disappear in_the next twenty-four hours, i_will promise you that one will hinder you "

" and then it_will all come out ? "

" certainly it_will come out "

the sailor flushed with anger

" what sort proposal is_that to_make man ? I_know enough law understand that Mary would_be held accomplice do_you_think i_would leave her alone to_face the music while I slunk away ? , sir , let them their worst upon , but for heaven 's sake , Mr Holmes, find some way keeping poor Mary out_of_the courts "

Holmes for second time held out his hand to_the sailor

" i_was only testing you , and you ring true every time well , it_is great responsibility that I take upon myself , but I_have_given Hopkins excellent hint and he_can 't avail himself I_can more see here , captain Crocker, 'll do_this due form law you_are the prisoner Watson, you_are British jury , and I never met man who was more eminently fitted represent one I_am the judge now , gentleman of_the jury , you_have heard the evidence do_you find the guilty not guilty ? "

" not guilty , lord ," said I

"VOX POPULI, VOX DEI you_are acquitted , captain Crocker so_long as_the law does_not find some other victim you_are safe from come back to_this lady year , and may her future and yours justify in_the judgment which we_have pronounced this night ! "

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4]