No. 12 The Adventures of the Copper Beeches by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 12 The Adventures of the Copper Beeches by Arthur Conan Doyle
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4]

" for two days after arrival at_the copper Beeches life was very quiet ; on_the third , Mrs Rucastle came down just after breakfast and whispered something her husband

"'Oh, yes ,' said , turning to_me , ' we_are very_much obliged to_you , miss hunter , for falling with_our whims so_far as_to cut your hair I assure you that_it has_not detracted in_the tiniest iota from your appearance we_shall now see how the electric - blue dress will become you you_will_find laid out upon_the bed your room , and if_you_would_be good to_put we_should both extremely obliged '

" the dress which I_found waiting for_me was peculiar shade blue it_was excellent material , sort beige , but bore unmistakable signs having been worn before could_not have_been better fit I had_been measured for_it both Mr and Mrs Rucastle expressed delight at_the look , which seemed quite exaggerated its vehemence they were waiting for_me in_the drawing- room , which_is very large room , stretching along the entire front of_the house , with three long windows reaching down to_the floor chair had_been placed to_the central window , with its back turned towards in_this i_was asked sit , and then Mr Rucastle, walking and down on_the other side of_the room , began to_tell series of_the funniest stories that I_have ever listened you_cannot imagine how comical he_was , and I laughed until i_was quite weary Mrs Rucastle, however , who has evidently sense humour, never so_much smiled , but sat with her hands her lap , and sad , anxious look upon her face after hour , Mr Rucastle suddenly remarked that_it_was time commence the duties of_the day , and_that I_might change dress and little Edward in_the nursery

" two days later this same performance was gone through under exactly similar circumstances again I changed dress , again I sat in_the window , and again I laughed very heartily at_the funny stories of_which employer had immense repertoire , and which he_told inimitably then handed yellow -backed novel , and moving chair little sideways , that own shadow might_not fall upon_the page , begged read aloud him I_read for about ten minutes, beginning in_the heart chapter , and then suddenly , in_the middle sentence , ordered cease and to_change dress Josef Friedrich, 1906

" you_can easily imagine , Mr Holmes, how curious I became as_to what the meaning of_this extraordinary performance could possibly they were always very careful , I observed , to_turn face away from_the window , so_that I became consumed with_the desire to_see what_was going behind back first seemed to_be impossible , but I soon devised means hand - mirror had_been broken , happy thought seized , and I concealed piece of_the glass handkerchief on_the next occasion , in_the midst of_my laughter , I put up_to eyes , and was able with little management to_see all that there_was behind I confess that i_was disappointed nothing at_least that was first impression at_the second glance , however , I perceived that man standing in_the Southampton road , small bearded man grey suit , who seemed to_be looking direction the road important highway , and there_are usually people there this man , however , was leaning against the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly I lowered handkerchief and glanced Mrs Rucastle to_find her eyes fixed upon with most searching gaze she said nothing , but I_am convinced that she had divined that I had mirror hand and had seen what_was behind she rose once

"'Jephro,' said she , ' there_is impertinent fellow upon_the road there who stares miss hunter '

"' friend yours , miss hunter ? ' asked

"' , I_know one in_these parts '

"' dear ! how very impertinent ! kindly turn round and motion him to_go away '

"' surely would_be better to_take notice '

"' , , we_should_have him loitering here always kindly turn round and wave him away like that '

" I_did i_was told , and at_the same instant Mrs Rucastle drew down the blind that was week ago, and from_that_time I_have_not sat again in_the window , nor have I worn the blue dress , nor seen the man in_the road "

" pray continue ," said Holmes " your narrative promises to_be most interesting one "

" you_will_find rather disconnected , I_fear , and there_may prove to_be little relation between_the different incidents of_which I speak on_the very first day that i_was at_the copper Beeches, Mr Rucastle took small outhouse which stands near the kitchen door as_we approached I heard the sharp rattling chain , and_the sound large animal moving about

"' look here ! ' said Mr Rucastle, showing slit between two planks ' not beauty ? '

"I looked through and was conscious two glowing eyes , and vague huddled in_the darkness

"'Don't frightened ,' said employer , laughing at_the start which I had given ' 's only Carlo, mastiff I call him mine , but really old Toller, groom , is_the only man who_can anything with_him him once day , and not too_much then , so_that he_is always keen mustard Toller lets him loose every night , and god help the trespasser whom lays his fangs upon for goodness ' sake don't you ever any pretext set your foot over the threshold night , for_it 's as_much as_your life worth '

" the warning was idle one , for two nights later I happened look out of_my bedroom window about two o'clock in_the morning it_was beautiful moonlight night , and_the lawn front of_the house was silvered over and almost bright day i_was standing, rapt in_the peaceful beauty of_the scene, when i_was aware that something was moving under the shadow of_the copper beeches emerged into_the moonshine I_saw what it_was it_was giant dog , large calf , tawny tinted , with hanging jowl , black muzzle , and huge projecting bones walked slowly across the lawn and vanished shadow upon_the other side that dreadful sentinel sent chill heart which I_do_not_think that any burglar could_have done

" and now I_have very strange experience to_tell you I had , as_you_know , cut off hair London , and I had placed great coil at_the bottom of_my trunk one evening , after_the child was bed , I began amuse myself examining the furniture of_my room and rearranging own little things there_was old chest drawers in_the room , the two upper ones empty and open , the lower one locked I had filled the first two with linen and I had still much pack away i_was naturally annoyed not having the use of_the third drawer struck that_it might_have_been fastened mere oversight , i_took out bunch keys and tried open the very first key fitted perfection , and I drew the drawer open there_was only one_thing in_it , but I_am_sure that you_would never guess what it_was it_was coil hair

" i_took and examined it_was of_the same peculiar tint , and_the same thickness but then the impossibility of_the thing obtruded itself upon how could hair have_been locked in_the drawer ? with trembling hands I undid trunk , turned out the contents, and drew from_the bottom own hair I laid the two tresses together , and I assure you that_they were identical was_it not extraordinary ? puzzle i_would , I_could make nothing all what meant I returned the strange hair to_the drawer , and I_said nothing of_the matter to_the Rucastles I_felt that I had put myself in_the wrong opening drawer which they had locked

" I_am naturally observant , as_you_may_have remarked, Mr Holmes, and I soon had pretty good plan of_the whole house head there_was one wing , however , which appeared not to_be inhabited all door which faced that which led into_the quarters of_the Tollers opened into_this suite , but it_was invariably locked one day , however , I ascended the stair , I met Mr Rucastle coming out through_this door , his keys in_his hand , and look on_his face which made him very different person to_the round , jovial man to_whom i_was accustomed his cheeks were red , his brow was all crinkled with anger , and_the veins stood out his temples with passion locked the door and hurried past without word look

" this aroused curiosity , when I went out for walk in_the grounds with charge , I strolled round to_the side from_which I could_see the windows of_this part of_the house there were four of_them row , three of_which were simply dirty , while the fourth was shuttered they were evidently all deserted I and down , glancing them occasionally , Mr Rucastle came out to_me , looking merry and jovial ever

"'Ah ! ' said , ' you_must not think rude I passed you without word , dear young lady i_was preoccupied with business matters '

"I assured him that i_was not offended ' by_the_way ,' said I, ' you seem to_have quite suite spare rooms there , and one_of_them has_the shutters '

" looked surprised and , seemed to_me , little startled remark

"' photography one of_my hobbies,' said ' I_have_made dark room there but , dear ! what observant young lady we_have come upon who_would_have believed ? ever believed ? ' spoke jesting tone , but there_was jest in_his eyes looked I_read suspicion there and annoyance , but jest

" well , Mr Holmes, from_the moment that I understood that there_was something about_that suite rooms which i_was not to_know , i_was all fire to_go over them it_was not mere curiosity , though I_have of_that it_was more feeling duty --a feeling that some good might come from penetrating to_this place they talk woman 's instinct ; perhaps it_was woman 's which gave_me that feeling any rate , it_was there , and i_was keenly on_the lookout for any chance to_pass the forbidden door

" it_was only yesterday that_the chance came I_may tell you that , besides Mr Rucastle, both Toller and_his wife find something to_do in_these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying large black linen bag with_him through_the door recently has_been drinking hard , and yesterday evening he_was very drunk ; and when I_came upstairs there_was the key in_the door I_have no_doubt all that had left there Mr and Mrs Rucastle were both downstairs , and_the child was with_them , so_that I had admirable opportunity I turned the key gently in_the lock , opened the door , and slipped through

" there_was little passage front , unpapered and uncarpeted , which turned right angle at_the farther end round this corner were three doors line , the first and third of_which were open they each led into empty room , dusty and cheerless , with two windows in_the one and one in_the other , thick with dirt that_the evening light glimmered dimly through them the centre door was closed , and across the outside had_been fastened one_of_the broad bars iron bed , padlocked one end ring in_the wall , and at_the other with stout cord the door itself was locked as_well , and_the key was not there this barricaded door corresponded clearly with_the shuttered window outside , and yet I could_see by_the glimmer from beneath that_the room was not darkness Evidently there_was skylight which let light from above I stood in_the passage gazing at_the sinister door and wondering what secret might veil , I suddenly heard the sound steps within_the room and saw shadow pass backward and forward against the little slit dim light which shone out from under the door mad , unreasoning terror rose at_the sight , Mr Holmes overstrung nerves failed suddenly , and I turned and ran--ran as_though some dreadful hand were behind clutching at_the skirt of_my dress I rushed down the passage , through_the door , and straight into_the arms Mr Rucastle, who was waiting outside

"' ,' said , smiling, ' it_was you , then i_thought that_it must_be when I_saw the door open '

"'Oh, I_am frightened ! ' I panted

"' dear young lady ! dear young lady ! '-- you_cannot think how caressing and soothing his manner was --' and what has frightened you , dear young lady ? '

" but his voice was just little too coaxing overdid i_was keenly guard against him

"' i_was foolish enough to_go into_the empty wing ,' I answered ' but it_is lonely and eerie in_this dim light that i_was frightened and ran out again Oh, it_is dreadfully still there ! '

"' only that ? ' said , looking keenly

"' why , what did you_think ? ' I asked

"' why do_you_think

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4]