No. 4 The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 4 The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle
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" and what did you learn from_him ? "

" nothing "

" could throw light ? "

" none all i_was inclined to_think one_time that he_knew who had done and was screening him her , but I_am convinced now that he_is puzzled everyone else he_is_not very quick -witted youth , though comely look and , i_should think , sound heart "

" I_cannot admire his taste ," I remarked, " if_it_is indeed fact that he_was averse marriage with charming young lady as_this miss turner "

"Ah, thereby hangs rather painful tale this fellow madly , insanely , love with her , but some two years_ago , when he_was only lad, and before really knew her , for she had_been away five years boarding- school , what does the idiot but get into_the clutches barmaid Bristol and marry her registry office ? one knows word of_the matter , but you_can imagine how maddening must_be him to_be upbraided for not doing what he_would give his very eyes to_do , but what he_knows to_be absolutely impossible it_was sheer frenzy of_this sort which made him throw his hands into_the air when his father , their last interview , was goading him propose miss turner on_the other hand , had means supporting himself , and_his father , who was all accounts very hard man , would_have thrown him over utterly had known the truth it_was with_his barmaid wife that had spent the last three days Bristol, and_his father did_not know where he_was mark that point it_is importance good has_come out evil , however , for_the barmaid , finding from_the papers that he_is serious trouble and likely to_be hanged , has thrown him over utterly and has_written him to_say that she has husband already in_the Bermuda dockyard , that_there_is really tie between_them i_think that that bit news has consoled young McCarthy for all that has suffered "

" but he_is innocent , who has_done ? "

"Ah ! who ? i_would call your attention very particularly two points one that_the murdered man had appointment with someone at_the pool , and_that the someone could_not have_been his son , for_his son was away , and he_did_not know when he_would return the second man was heard cry 'Cooee ! ' before he_knew that his son had returned those are the crucial points upon_which the case depends and now let_us talk about George Meredith, if_you please , and we_shall leave all minor matters until - morrow "

there_was rain , Holmes had foretold , and_the morning broke bright and cloudless nine o'clock Lestrade called for_us with_the carriage , and set off for Hatherley farm and_the Boscombe pool

" there_is serious news this_morning ," Lestrade observed " it_is said that Mr turner , of_the hall , ill that his life despaired "

" elderly man , I presume ? " said Holmes

" about sixty; but his constitution has_been shattered his life abroad , and failing health for some_time this business has had very bad effect upon him he_was old friend McCarthy 's, and , I_may add , great benefactor him , for I_have learned that he_gave him Hatherley farm rent free "

" indeed ! that_is interesting," said Holmes

"Oh, yes ! hundred other ways has helped him everybody about here speaks of_his kindness him "

" really ! Does not strike you little singular that_this McCarthy , who appears have_had little of_his own , and to_have_been under such obligations turner , should still talk marrying his son turner 's daughter , who_is , presumably, heiress to_the estate , and_that in_such very cocksure manner , as_if were merely case proposal and all else would follow ? it_is_the more strange , since we_know that turner himself was averse to_the idea the daughter told as_much do_you not deduce something from_that ? "

" we_have got to_the deductions and_the inferences," said Lestrade, winking " I_find hard enough tackle facts, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies "

" you_are right ," said Holmes demurely ; " you_do find very hard tackle the facts "

"Anyhow, I_have grasped one fact which you seem to_find difficult to_get hold ," replied Lesbiade with some warmth

" and_that --"

" that McCarthy senior met his death from junior and_that all theories to_the contrary are the merest moonshine "

" well , moonshine brighter thing than fog ," said Holmes, laughing " but I_am very_much mistaken this_is_not Hatherley farm upon_the left "

" yes , that_is " it_was widespread , comfortable - looking building , two - storied , slate -roofed, with great yellow blotches lichen upon_the grey walls the drawn blinds and_the smokeless chimneys, however , gave stricken look , as_though the weight of_this horror still lay heavy upon called at_the door , when_the maid , Holmes's request , showed the boots which her master wore at_the_time of_his death , and also pair of_the son 's, though not the pair which had then had Having measured these very carefully from seven eight different points, Holmes desired to_be led to_the court - yard , from_which all followed the winding track which led Boscombe pool

Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he_was hot upon_such scent as_this men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician baker street would_have failed recognise him his face flushed and darkened his brows were drawn into two hard black lines, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with steely glitter his face was bent downward , his shoulders bowed , his lips compressed, and_the veins stood out like whipcord in_his long , sinewy neck his nostrils seemed dilate with purely animal lust for_the chase , and_his mind was absolutely concentrated upon_the matter before him that question remark fell unheeded upon his ears, , at_the most , only provoked quick , impatient snarl reply swiftly and silently he_made his way along the track which ran through_the meadows, and way of_the woods to_the Boscombe pool it_was damp , marshy ground , all that district , and there were marks many feet , both upon_the path and amid the short grass which bounded either side Sometimes Holmes would hurry , sometimes stop dead , and once he_made quite little detour into_the meadow Lestrade and I walked behind him , the detective indifferent and contemptuous , while I watched friend with_the interest which sprang from_the conviction that every_one of_his actions was directed towards definite end Josef Friedrich, 1906

the Boscombe pool , which_is little reed - girt sheet water some fifty yards across , situated at_the boundary between_the Hatherley farm and_the private park of_the wealthy Mr turner above the woods which lined upon_the farther side could_see the red , jutting pinnacles which marked the site of_the rich landowner 's dwelling on_the Hatherley side of_the pool the woods grew very thick , and there_was narrow belt sodden grass twenty paces across between_the edge of_the trees land the reeds which lined the lake Lestrade showed the exact spot which the body had_been found , and , indeed , moist was_the ground , that I_could plainly see the traces which left by_the fall of_the stricken man Holmes, I could_see his eager face and peering eyes , very many_other things were to_be read upon_the trampled grass ran round , like dog who_is picking scent , and then turned upon companion

" what did you into_the pool for ? " asked

"I fished about with rake i_thought there_might_be some weapon other trace but how earth --"

"Oh, tut, tut ! I_have time ! that left foot yours with its inward twist all over the place mole could trace , and there vanishes among_the reeds Oh, how simple would all have_been had I been here before_they came like herd buffalo and wallowed all over here_is where the party with_the lodge - keeper came , and they_have covered all tracks for six eight feet round the body but here are three separate tracks of_the same feet " drew out lens and lay down upon his waterproof to_have better view , talking all the time rather himself than to_us " these are young McCarthy 's feet twice he_was walking, and once ran swiftly , that_the soles are deeply marked and_the heels hardly visible that bears out his story ran when he_saw his father on_the ground then here are the father 's feet paced and down what_is this , then ? it_is_the butt - end of_the gun as_the son stood listening and this ? Ha, ha ! what have here ? Tiptoes ! tiptoes ! square , too , quite unusual boots ! they_come , they , again -- of_course that was for_the cloak now where did from ? " ran and down , sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until were well within_the edge of_the wood and under the shadow great beech , the largest tree in_the neighbourhood Holmes traced his way to_the farther side of_this and lay down once more upon his face with little cry satisfaction for_a_long_time remained there , turning over the leaves and dried sticks, gathering what seemed to_me to_be dust into envelope and examining with_his lens not_only the ground but even the bark of_the tree far he_could reach jagged stone was lying among_the moss , and this also carefully examined and retained then followed pathway through_the wood until he_came to_the highroad , where all traces were lost

" it_has_been case considerable interest ," remarked, returning to_his natural manner "I fancy that_this grey house on_the right must_be the lodge i_think that i_will and_have word with Moran, and perhaps write little note Having done that , we_may drive back our luncheon you_may walk to_the cab , and I_shall_be with_you presently "

it_was about ten minutes before regained our cab and drove back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with_him the stone which had picked in_the wood

" this_may interest you , Lestrade," remarked, holding out " the murder was_done with "

" I_see marks "

" there_are none "

" how do_you_know , then ? "

" the grass was growing under had only lain there few_days there_was sign place whence had_been taken corresponds with_the injuries there_is sign any_other weapon "

" and_the murderer ? "

" tall man , left - handed , limps with_the right leg , wears thick - soled shooting-boots and grey cloak , smokes Indian cigars, uses cigar - holder , and carries blunt pen - knife in_his pocket there_are several_other indications, but these may_be enough aid in_our "

Lestrade laughed " I_am afraid that I_am still sceptic," he_said "Theories are all very_well , but we_have deal with hard - headed British jury "

"Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly " you work your own method , and I_shall work mine I_shall_be busy this afternoon , and shall probably return London by_the evening train "

" and leave your case unfinished ? "

" , finished "

" but the mystery ? "

" it_is solved "

" who was_the criminal , then ? "

" the gentleman I describe "

" but who_is ? "

" surely would_not_be difficult to_find out this_is_not such populous neighbourhood "

Lestrade shrugged his shoulders " I_am practical man ," he_said , " and I really cannot undertake to_go about_the country looking for left - handed gentleman with game leg i_should become the laughing- stock Scotland yard "

" all right ," said Holmes quietly " I_have_given you the chance here are your lodgings good -bye I_shall drop you line before I leave "

Having left Lestrade his rooms, drove our hotel , where we_found lunch upon_the table Holmes was silent and buried thought with pained expression upon his face , one who finds himself perplexing position

" look here , Watson," he_said when_the cloth was cleared " just sit down in_this chair and let preach to_you for little I don't know quite what to_do , and i_should value your advice light cigar and let expound "

" pray do_so "

" well , now , considering this_case there_are two points about young McCarthy 's narrative which struck both instantly , although they impressed in_his favour and you against him one was_the fact that his father should , according to_his account , cry 'Cooee ! ' before seeing him the other was his singular dying reference rat mumbled several words, you understand , but that was all that caught the son 's ear now from_this double point our research must commence , and we_will begin presuming that what the lad says absolutely true "

" what of_this 'Cooee ! ' then ? "

" well , obviously could_not have_been meant for_the son the son , far he_knew , was Bristol it_was mere chance that he_was within earshot the 'Cooee ! ' was meant attract the attention whoever was_that had the appointment with but 'Cooee' distinctly Australian cry , and one which_is used between Australians there_is

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