No. 6 The Adventure of the Black Peter by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 6 The Adventure of the Black Peter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Peter

Arthur Conan Doyle

I_have never known friend to_be better form , both mental and physical , than in_the year '95 his increasing fame had brought with immense practice , and i_should_be guilty indiscretion I were even hint at_the identity some_of_the illustrious clients who crossed our humble threshold baker street Holmes, however , like all great artists, lived for_his art 's sake , and , save in_the case of_the duke Holdernesse, I_have seldom known him claim any large reward for_his inestimable services unworldly was -- capricious -- that frequently refused his help to_the powerful and wealthy where the problem made appeal to_his sympathies, while he_would devote weeks most intense application to_the affairs some humble client whose case presented those strange and dramatic qualities which appealed to_his imagination and challenged his ingenuity

in_this memorable year '95 curious and incongruous succession cases had engaged his attention , ranging from_his famous investigation of_the sudden death cardinal Tosca -- inquiry which_was carried out him at_the express desire of_his holiness the Pope -- down to_his arrest Wilson , the notorious canary - trainer , which removed plague - spot from_the east - end London on_the heels of_these two famous cases came the tragedy woodman 's Lee, and_the very obscure circumstances which surrounded the death captain Peter Carey record of_the doings Mr Sherlock Holmes would_be complete which did_not include some account of_this very unusual affair

during the first week July friend had_been absent often and so_long from_our lodgings that I_knew had something hand the fact that several rough - looking men called during that_time and inquired for captain Basil made understand that Holmes was working somewhere under one_of_the numerous disguises and names with_which concealed his own formidable identity had at_least five small refuges different parts London in_which he_was able to_change his personality he_said nothing of_his business to_me , and it_was not habit force confidence the first positive sign which he_gave of_the direction which his investigation was taking was extraordinary one had gone out before breakfast , and I had sat down mine , when strode into_the room , his hat upon his head and huge barbed - headed spear tucked like umbrella under his arm

" good gracious , Holmes ! " I cried " you don't mean to_say that you_have_been walking about London with_that thing ? "

"I drove to_the butcher 's and back "

" the butcher 's ? "

" and I return with excellent appetite there can_be question , dear Watson, of_the value exercise before breakfast but I_am prepared bet that you_will_not guess the form that has taken "

" i_will_not attempt "

chuckled poured out the coffee

" you_could_have looked into Allardyce's back shop you_would_have seen dead Pig swung from hook in_the ceiling, and gentleman in_his shirt -sleeves furiously stabbing with_this weapon I was_that energetic person , and I_have satisfied myself that exertion of_my strength can I transfix the Pig with single blow perhaps you_would care to_try ? "

" not for worlds but why were you doing this ? "

" because seemed to_me to_have indirect bearing upon_the mystery woodman 's Lee Ah, Hopkins, I got your wire last night , and I_have_been expecting you come and join "

our visitor was exceedingly alert man , thirty years_of_age , dressed quiet tweed suit , but retaining the erect bearing one who was accustomed official uniform I recognised him once Stanley Hopkins, young police inspector for whose future Holmes had high hopes, while turn professed the admiration and respect pupil for_the scientific methods of_the famous amateur Hopkins's brow was clouded, and sat down with air deep dejection

" , thank_you , sir I breakfasted before I_came round I spent the night town , for I_came yesterday report "

" and what had you report ? "

" failure , sir ; absolute failure "

" you have_made progress ? "

" none "

" dear ! I_must_have look at_the matter "

" i_wish heavens that you_would , Mr Holmes 's first big chance , and I_am wit 's end for goodness ' sake come down and lend hand "

" well , well , just happens that I_have already read all the available evidence , including the report of_the inquest , with some care by_the_way , what do_you make of_that tobacco - pouch found on_the scene of_the crime ? is_there clue there ? "

Hopkins looked surprised

" was_the man 's own pouch , sir his initials were inside and it_was seal - skin -- and old sealer "

" but had pipe "

" , sir , we_could find pipe ; indeed , smoked very little and yet he_might_have kept some tobacco for_his friends "

" no_doubt I only mention because I had_been handling the case I should_have_been inclined to_make that_the starting- point of_my investigation however , friend Dr Watson knows nothing this_matter , and i_should_be none the worse for hearing the sequence events once more just give_us some short sketch of_the essentials "

Stanley Hopkins drew slip paper from_his pocket

" I_have few dates here which will give_you the career of_the dead man , captain Peter Carey he_was born '45 -- fifty years_of_age he_was most daring and successful seal and whale Fisher 1883 commanded the steam sealer sea unicorn , Dundee had then had several voyages succession , and in_the following year , 1884, retired after_that travelled for_some_years , and finally bought small place called woodman 's Lee, near forest row , Sussex there has lived for six years, and there died just week ago - day

" there were some most singular points about_the man ordinary life he_was strict Puritan -- silent , gloomy fellow his household consisted of_his wife , his daughter , aged twenty, and two female servants these last were continually changing, for it_was never very cheery situation , and sometimes became past all bearing the man was intermittent drunkard , and when had the fit him he_was perfect fiend has_been known drive his wife and_his daughter out doors in_the middle of_the night , and flog them through_the park until the whole village outside the gates was aroused their screams

" he_was summoned once for savage assault upon_the old vicar , who had called upon him remonstrate with_him upon his conduct short , Mr Holmes, you_would far before_you found more dangerous man than Peter Carey, and I_have heard that bore the same character when commanded his ship he_was known in_the trade black Peter, and_the name was given him , not_only account of_his swarthy features and_the colour of_his huge beard , but for_the humours which were the terror all around him I_need not say that he_was loathed and avoided every_one of_his neighbours, and_that I_have_not heard one single word sorrow about his terrible end

" you_must_have read in_the account of_the inquest about_the man 's cabin , Mr Holmes; but perhaps your friend here has_not heard had built himself wooden outhouse -- always called ` the cabin ' -- few hundred yards from_his house , and it_was here that slept every night it_was little , single - roomed hut , sixteen feet ten kept the key in_his pocket , made his own bed , cleaned himself , and allowed other foot cross the threshold there_are small windows each side , which were covered curtains and never opened one_of_these windows was turned towards the high road , and when_the light burned in_it night the folk used point out each_other and wonder what black Peter was doing there that 's the window , Mr Holmes, which gave_us few bits positive evidence that came out at_the inquest

" you remember that stonemason , named slater , walking from forest row about one o'clock in_the morning -- two days before_the murder -- stopped passed the grounds and looked at_the square light still shining among_the trees swears that_the shadow man 's head turned sideways was clearly visible on_the blind , and that_this shadow was certainly not that Peter Carey, whom he_knew well was_that bearded man , but the beard was short and bristled forwards way very different from_that of_the captain he_says , but had_been two hours in_the public - house , and it_is some distance from_the road to_the window besides , this refers to_the Monday , and_the crime was_done upon_the Wednesday

" on_the Tuesday Peter Carey was one of_his blackest moods, flushed with drink and savage dangerous wild beast roamed about_the house , and_the women ran for_it when_they heard him coming late in_the evening went down to_his own hut about two o'clock the following morning his daughter , who slept with her window open , heard most fearful yell from_that direction , but it_was unusual thing for him bawl and shout when he_was drink , notice was taken rising seven one_of_the maids noticed that_the door of_the hut was open , but great was_the terror which the man caused that_it_was midday before anyone would venture down to_see what had become him Peeping into_the open door they saw sight which sent them flying with white faces village within hour i_was on_the spot and had taken over the case

" well , I_have fairly steady nerves, as_you_know , Mr Holmes, but I give_you word that I got shake when I put head into that little house it_was droning like harmonium with_the flies and bluebottles, and_the floor and walls were like slaughter - house had called cabin , and cabin it_was sure enough , for you_would_have thought that you were ship there_was bunk one end , sea - chest , maps and charts, of_the sea unicorn , line log -books shelf , all exactly one would expect to_find captain 's room and there in_the middle was_the man himself , his face twisted like lost soul torment , and_his great brindled beard stuck upwards in_his agony right through his broad breast steel harpoon had_been driven , and had sunk deep into_the wood of_the wall behind him he_was pinned like beetle card of_course , he_was quite dead , and from_the instant that had uttered that last yell agony

" I_know your methods, sir , and I applied them before I permitted anything to_be moved I examined most carefully the ground outside , and also the floor of_the room there were footmarks "

"Meaning that you saw none ? "

"I assure you , sir , that there were none "

" good Hopkins, I_have investigated many crimes, but I_have never yet seen one which_was committed flying creature long as_the criminal remains upon two legs so_long must there some indentation , some abrasion , some trifling displacement which can_be detected by_the scientific searcher it_is incredible that_this blood -bespattered room contained trace which could_have aided I understand , however , from_the inquest that there were some objects which you failed overlook ? "

the young inspector winced companion 's ironical comments

" i_was fool not to_call you at_the_time , Mr Holmes however , that 's past praying for now yes , there were several objects in_the room which called for special attention one was_the harpoon with_which the deed was committed had_been snatched down from rack on_the wall two others remained there , and there_was vacant place for_the third on_the stock was engraved `Ss sea unicorn , Dundee ' this seemed establish that_the crime done moment fury , and_that the murderer had seized the first weapon which came in_his way the fact crime was committed two in_the morning , and yet Peter Carey was fully dressed , suggested that had appointment with_the , which_is borne out by_the fact that bottle rum and two dirty glasses stood upon_the table "

" yes ," said Holmes; " i_think that both inferences are permissible was there any_other spirit but rum in_the room ? "

" yes ; there_was tantalus containing brandy and whisky on_the sea - chest it_is importance to_us , however , since_the decanters were full , and had therefore not been used "

" for all that its presence has some significance ," said Holmes " however , let_us hear some more about_the objects which seem to_you bear upon_the case "

" there_was this tobacco - pouch upon_the table "

" what part of_the table ? "

" lay in_the middle it_was coarse seal - skin -- the straight -haired skin , with leather thong bind inside was `P C ' on_the flap there_was half ounce strong ship 's tobacco in_it "

" excellent ! what more ? "

Stanley Hopkins drew from_his pocket drab - covered note - book the outside was rough and worn , the leaves discoloured on_the first page were written the initials "J H N " and_the date "1883 " Holmes laid on_the table and examined in_his minute way , while Hopkins and I gazed over each shoulder on_the second page were the printed letters "C P R ," and then came several sheets numbers another heading was Argentine, another Costa_Rica , and another San Paulo, each with pages signs and figures after

" what do_you make of_these ? " asked Holmes

" they appear to_be lists stock exchange securities i_thought that `J H N ' were the initials broker , and_that `C P R ' may have_been his client "

" try Canadian pacific railway ," said Holmes

Stanley Hopkins swore between his teeth and struck his thigh with_his clenched hand

" what fool I_have_been ! " cried " of_course , it_is as_you say then `J H N ' are the only initials we_have solve I_have already examined the old stock exchange lists, and I_can find one 1883 either in_the house among_the outside brokers whose initials correspond with_these yet I_feel that_the clue is_the most important one that I hold you_will admit , Mr Holmes, that_there_is possibility that_these initials are those of_the second person who was present -- other words, of_the murderer i_would also urge introduction into_the case document relating large masses valuable securities gives for_the first time some indication motive for_the crime "