No. 6 The Adventure of the Black Peter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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at_the inquest, modifies any views which I_may_have formed .I had come to a theory of_the crime in_which I_can find no place for_this . have_you endeavoured to trace any of_the securities here mentioned ? "

" inquiries are now being made at_the offices, but I_fear that_the complete register of_the stockholders of_these south American concerns is in South_America, and_that some weeks must elapse before we_can trace the shares ."

Holmes had_been examining the cover of_the note- book with_his magnifying lens .

" surely there_is some discoloration here," said he .

" yes, sir, it_is a blood- stain . i_told you that I picked the book off the floor ."

" was_the blood- stain above or below ? "

" on_the side next the boards ."

" which proves, of_course, that_the book was dropped after_the crime was committed ."

" exactly, Mr Holmes .I appreciated that point, and I conjectured that_it_was dropped by_the murderer in_his hurried flight . it lay near the door ."

"I suppose that none of_these securities have_been found among_the property of_the dead man ? "

" no, sir ."

" have_you any reason to suspect robbery ? "

" no, sir . nothing seemed to_have_been touched ."

" dear me, it_is certainly a very interesting case . then there_was a knife, was there not ? "

"A sheath- knife, still in its sheath . it lay at_the feet of_the dead man .Mrs Carey has identified it as being her husband's property ."

Holmes was lost in thought for some_time .

" well," said he, at last, "I suppose I_shall_have to_come out and_have a look at it ."

Stanley Hopkins gave a cry of joy .

" thank_you, sir . that_will indeed be a weight off my mind ."

Holmes shook his finger at_the inspector .

" it would_have_been an easier task a week ago," said he ." but even now my visit may not be entirely fruitless .Watson, if_you_can spare the time i_should_be very_glad of your company . if_you_will call afour-wheeler, Hopkins, we_shall_be ready to start for forest row in a quarter of an hour ."

Alighting at_the small wayside station, we drove for some miles through_the remains of widespread woods, which were once part of_that great forest which for so_long held the Saxon invaders at bay -- the impenetrable "weald," for sixty years the bulwark of Britain . vast sections of it have_been cleared, for this_is_the seat of_the first iron-works of_the country, and_the trees have_been felled to smelt the ore . now the richer fields of_the north have absorbed the trade, and nothing save these ravaged groves and great scars in_the earth show the work of_the past . here in aclearing upon_the green slope of a hill stood a long, low stone house, approached by acurving drive running through_the fields . nearer the road, and surrounded on three sides by bushes, was a small outhouse, one window and_the door facing in_our direction . it was_the scene of_the murder !

Stanley Hopkins led us first to_the house, where he introduced us to a haggard, grey-haired woman, the widow of_the murdered man, whose gaunt and deep- lined face, with_the furtive look of terror in_the depths of her red-rimmed eyes, told of_the years of hardship and ill- usage which she had endured . with her was her daughter, a pale, fair-haired girl, whose eyes blazed defiantly at us as she told us that she was glad that her father was dead, and_that she blessed the hand which had struck him down . it_was a terrible household that black Peter Carey had made for himself, and it_was with a sense of relief that we_found ourselves in_the sunlight again and making our way along a path which had_been worn across the fields by_the feet of_the dead man .

the outhouse was_the simplest of dwellings, wooden- walled, shingle-roofed, one window beside the door and one on_the farther side . Stanley Hopkins drew the key from_his pocket, and had stooped to_the lock, when he paused with a look of attention and surprise upon his face .

" someone has_been tampering with it," he_said .

there could_be no_doubt of_the fact . the woodwork was cut and_the scratches showed white through_the paint, as if_they had_been that instant done .Holmes had_been examining the window .

" someone has tried to force this also . whoever it_was has failed to_make his way in . he_must_have been a very poor burglar ."

" this_is a most extraordinary thing," said the inspector; " I_could swear that_these marks were_not here yesterday evening ."

" some curious person from_the village, perhaps," I suggested .

" very unlikely . few of_them would dare to set foot in_the grounds, far less try to force their way into_the cabin . what do_you_think of it, Mr Holmes ? "

" i_think that fortune is very kind to_us ."

" you mean that_the person will come again ? "

" it_is very probable . he_came expecting to_find the door open . he tried to_get in with_the blade of a very_small penknife . he_could_not manage it . what would he do ? "

" come again next night with a more useful tool ."

" so i_should say . it_will_be our fault if we_are_not there to receive him . meanwhile, let me see the inside of_the cabin ."

the traces of_the tragedy had_been removed, but the furniture within_the little room still stood as it had_been on_the night of_the crime . for two hours, with most intense concentration, Holmes examined every object in turn, but his face showed that his quest was not a successful one . once only he paused in_his patient investigation .

" have_you taken anything off this shelf, Hopkins ? "

" no; I_have moved nothing ."

" something has_been taken . there_is less dust in_this corner of_the shelf than elsewhere . it may have_been a book lying on its side . it may have_been a box . well, well, I_can do nothing more . let_us walk in_these beautiful woods, Watson, and give a few hours to_the birds and_the flowers . we_shall meet you here later, Hopkins, and_see if_we_can come to closer quarters with_the gentleman who has paid this visit in_the night ."

it_was past eleven o'clock when we formed our little ambuscade .Hopkins was for leaving the door of_the hut open, but Holmes was of_the opinion that this_would rouse the suspicions of_the stranger . the lock was a perfectly simple one, and only a strong blade was needed to push it back .Holmes also suggested that we_should wait, not inside the hut, but outside it among_the bushes which grew round the farther window . in_this_way we_should_be able to watch our man if he struck a light, and_see what his object was in_this stealthy nocturnal visit .

it_was a long and melancholy vigil, and yet brought with it something of_the thrill which the hunter feels when he lies beside the water pool and waits for_the coming of_the thirsty beast of prey . what savage creature was_it which might steal upon us out_of_the darkness ? was_it a fierce tiger of crime, which could only be taken fighting hard with flashing fang and claw, or would it prove to_be some skulking jackal, dangerous only to_the weak and unguarded ?

in absolute silence we crouched amongst the bushes, waiting for whatever might come . at first the steps of a few belated villagers, or the sound of voices from_the village, lightened our vigil; but one by one these interruptions died away and an absolute stillness fell upon us, save for_the chimes of_the distant church, which told us of_the progress of_the night, and for_the rustle and whisper of a fine rain falling amid the foliage which roofed us in .

half- past two had chimed, and it was_the darkest hour which precedes the dawn, when we all started as a low but sharp click came from_the direction of_the gate . someone had entered the drive . again there_was a long silence, and I had begun to fear that_it_was a false alarm, when astealthy step was heard upon_the other side of_the hut, and a moment later a metallic scraping and clinking . the man was trying to force the lock ! this_time his skill was greater or his tool was better, for there_was a sudden snap and_the creak of_the hinges . then a match was struck, and next instant the steady light from a candle filled the interior of_the hut . through_the gauze curtain our eyes were all riveted upon_the scene within .

the nocturnal visitor was a young man, frail and thin, with a black moustache which intensified the deadly pallor of_his face . he_could_not have_been much above twenty years_of_age . I_have never seen any human being who appeared to_be in_such a pitiable fright, for_his teeth were visibly chattering and he_was shaking in every limb . he_was dressed like a gentleman, in Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers, with a cloth cap upon his head . we watched him staring round with frightened eyes . then he laid the candle- end upon_the table and disappeared from_our view into one_of_the corners . he returned with a large book, one_of_the log-books which formed a line upon_the shelves .Leaning on_the table he rapidly turned over the leaves of_this volume until he_came to_the entry which he sought . then, with an angry gesture of_his clenched hand, he closed the book, replaced it in_the corner, and put out the light . he had hardly turned to leave the hut when Hopkins's hand was on_the fellow's collar, and I heard his loud gasp of terror as he understood that he_was taken . the candle was re-lit, and there_was our wretched captive shivering and cowering in_the grasp of_the detective . he sank down upon_the sea- chest, and looked helplessly from one of us to_the other .

" now, my fine fellow," said Stanley Hopkins, " who_are you, and what do_you_want here ? "

the man pulled himself together and faced us with an effort at self- composure .

" you_are detectives, I suppose ? " said he ." you imagine I_am connected with_the death of captain Peter Carey .I assure you that I_am innocent ."

" we'll see about_that," said Hopkins ." first of all, what_is your_name ? "

" it_is John Hopley Neligan ."

I_saw Holmes and Hopkins exchange a quick glance .

" what_are you doing here ? "

" can I speak confidentially ? "

" no, certainly not ."

" why should I tell you ? "

" if_you_have no answer it may go badly with_you at_the trial ."

the young man winced .

" well, i_will tell you," he_said ." why should I not ? and yet I hate to_think of_this old scandal gaining a new lease of life . did you ever hear of Dawson and Neligan ? "

I could_see from Hopkins's face that he never had; but Holmes was keenly interested .

" you mean the west- country bankers," said he ." they failed for a million, ruined half the county families of Cornwall, and Neligan disappeared ."

" exactly .Neligan was my father ."

at last we were getting something positive, and yet it seemed a long gap between an absconding banker and captain Peter Carey pinned against the wall with one of_his own harpoons . we all listened intently to_the young man's words .

" it_was my father who was really concerned . Dawson had retired . i_was only ten years_of_age at_the_time, but i_was old enough to_feel the shame and horror of it all . it has always been said that my father stole all the securities and fled . it_is_not true . it_was his belief that if he were given time in_which to realise them all would_be well and every creditor paid in full . he started in_his little yacht for Norway just before_the warrant was issued for_his arrest . I_can remember that last night when he bade farewell to my mother . he left us a list of_the securities he_was taking, and he swore that he_would come back with_his honour cleared, and_that none who had trusted him would suffer . well, no word was ever heard from_him again . both the yacht and he vanished utterly . we believed, my mother and I, that he and it, with_the securities that he had taken with_him, were at_the bottom of_the sea . we had a faithful friend, however, who_is a business man, and it_was he who discovered some_time_ago that some_of_the securities which my father had with_him have reappeared on_the London market . you_can imagine our amazement .I spent months in trying to trace them, and at last, after many doublings and difficulties, I discovered that_the original seller had_been captain Peter Carey, the owner of_this hut .

" naturally, I_made some inquiries about_the man . I_found that he had_been in command of a whaler which_was due to return from_the arctic seas at_the very time when my father was crossing to Norway . the autumn of_that year was a stormy one, and there_was a long succession of southerly gales . my father's yacht may well have_been blown to_the north, and there met by captain Peter Carey's ship . if_that were so, what had become of_my father ? in any case, if I_could prove from Peter Carey's evidence how these securities came on_the market it would_be a proof that my father had_not sold them, and_that he had no view to personal profit when he_took them .

" I_came down to Sussex with_the intention of seeing the captain, but it_was at_this moment that his terrible death occurred . I_read at_the inquest a description of_his cabin, in_which it stated that_the old log-books of_his vessel were preserved in_it . it struck me that if I could_see what occurred in_the month of August, 1883, on board the sea unicorn, I_might settle the mystery of_my father's fate .I tried last night to_get at_these log-books, but was unable to open the door . to- night I tried again, and succeeded; but I_find that_the pages which deal with_that month have_been torn from_the book . it_was at_that moment I_found myself a prisoner in your hands ."

" is_that all ? " asked Hopkins .

" yes, that_is all ." his eyes shifted as he_said it .

" you_have nothing else to_tell us ? "

he hesitated .

" no; there_is nothing ."

" you_have_not_been here before last night ? "

" no ."

" then how do_you account for_that ? " cried Hopkins, as he held up the damning note- book, with_the initials of_our prisoner on_the first leaf and_the blood- stain on_the cover .

the wretched man collapsed . he sank his face in_his hands and trembled all over .

" where did you get it ? " he groaned ." I_did_not know . i_thought I had lost it at_the hotel ."

" that_is enough," said Hopkins, sternly ." whatever else you_have to_say you_must say in court . you_will walk down with me now to_the police- station . well, Mr Holmes, I_am very_much obliged to_you and to your friend for coming down to help me . as it turns out your presence was unnecessary, and i_would_have brought the case to_this successful issue without you; but none the less I_am very grateful .Rooms have_been reserved for_you at_the Brambletye hotel, so we_can all walk down to_the village together ."

" well, Watson, what do_you_think of it ? " asked Holmes, as_we travelled back next morning .

" I_can_see that you_are_not satisfied ."

"Oh, yes, my dear Watson, I_am perfectly satisfied . at_the same time Stanley Hopkins's methods do_not commend themselves to_me . I_am disappointed in Stanley Hopkins .I had hoped for better things from_him .

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