No. 10 The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 10 The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Pince-Nez

Arthur Conan Doyle

when I look at_the three massive manuscript volumes which contain our work for_the year 1894 I confess that_it_is very difficult for_me , out of_such wealth material , select the cases which are most interesting themselves and at_the same time most conducive display of_those peculiar powers for_which friend was famous I turn over the pages I_see notes upon_the repulsive story of_the red leech and_the terrible death Crosby the banker here also I_find account of_the Addleton tragedy and_the singular contents of_the ancient British barrow the famous smith - Mortimer succession case comes also within this period , and does the tracking and arrest Huret, the boulevard assassin -- exploit which won for Holmes autograph letter thanks from_the French president and_the order of_the legion Honour each of_these would furnish narrative , but on_the whole I_am opinion that none_of_them unite so_many singular points interest as_the episode Yoxley old place , which includes not_only the lamentable death young Willoughby smith , but also those subsequent developments which threw curious light upon_the causes of_the crime

it_was wild , tempestuous night towards the November Holmes and I sat together silence all the evening , engaged with powerful lens deciphering the remains of_the original inscription upon palimpsest , I deep recent treatise upon surgery outside the wind howled down baker street , while the rain beat fiercely against the windows it_was strange there in_the very depths of_the town , with ten miles man 's handiwork every side , to_feel the iron grip nature , and to_be conscious that to_the huge elemental forces all London was more than_the molehills that dot the fields I walked to_the window and looked out on_the deserted street the occasional lamps gleamed on_the expanse muddy road and shining pavement single cab was splashing its way from_the Oxford street end

" well , Watson, 's as_well we_have_not to_turn out - night ," said Holmes, laying aside his lens and rolling the palimpsest "I've done enough for_one sitting it_is trying work for_the eyes so_far I_can make out it_is nothing more exciting than abbey 's accounts dating from_the second half of_the fifteenth century Halloa ! halloa ! halloa ! what 's this ? "

Amid the droning of_the wind there had come the stamping horse 's hoofs and_the long grind wheel rasped against the kerb the cab which I had seen had pulled our door

" what can want ? " I ejaculated, man stepped out

" want ! he_wants and , poor Watson, want overcoats and cravats and goulashes, and every aid that man ever invented fight the weather wait bit , though ! there 's the cab off again ! there 's hope yet 'd have kept had wanted to_come run down , dear fellow , and open the door , for all virtuous folk have_been long bed "

when_the light of_the hall lamp fell upon our midnight visitor I had difficulty recognising him it_was young Stanley Hopkins, promising detective , whose career Holmes had several_times shown very practical interest

" ? " asked , eagerly

" come , dear_Sir ," said Holmes's voice from above " I_hope you_have designs upon on_such night as_this "

the detective mounted the stairs, and_our lamp gleamed upon his shining waterproof I helped him out while Holmes knocked blaze out_of_the logs in_the grate

" now , dear Hopkins, draw and warm your toes," said " here 's cigar , and_the doctor has prescription containing hot water and lemon which_is good medicine night like this must_be something important which_has brought you out in_such gale "

" it_is indeed , Mr Holmes I've had bustling afternoon , I promise you did you_see anything of_the Yoxley case in_the latest editions ? "

"I've seen nothing later than_the fifteenth century - day "

" well , it_was only paragraph , and all wrong at_that , you_have_not missed anything I haven 't let the grass grow under feet 's down Kent, seven miles from Chatham and three from_the railway line i_was wired for three -fifteen, reached Yoxley old place five, conducted investigation , was back Charing cross by_the last train , and straight to_you cab "

" which_means , I suppose , that you_are_not quite clear about_your case ? "

" means that I_can make neither head nor tail so_far I_can_see it_is just tangled business ever I handled , and yet first seemed simple that one couldn't wrong there 's motive , Mr Holmes that 's what bothers -- I_can 't put hand motive here 's man dead -- there 's denying that -- but , so_far I_can_see , reason earth why anyone should wish him harm "

Holmes lit his cigar and leaned back in_his chair

" let_us hear about_it ," said

"I've got facts pretty clear ," said Stanley Hopkins " all i_want now to_know what they all mean the story , so_far I_can make out , like this some_years_ago this country house , Yoxley old place , was taken elderly man , who gave the name professor Coram he_was invalid , keeping his bed half the time , and_the other half hobbling round the house with stick being pushed about_the grounds by_the gardener bath - chair he_was well liked by_the few neighbours who called upon him , and has_the reputation down there being very learned man his household used consist elderly housekeeper , Mrs marker , and maid , Susan Tarlton these have both been with_him since his arrival , and_they seem_to_be women excellent character the professor writing learned book , and he_found necessary about year ago engage secretary the first two that tried were_not successes; but the third , Mr Willoughby smith , very young man straight from_the university , seems to_have_been just what his employer wanted his work consisted writing all the morning to_the professor 's dictation , and usually spent the evening hunting references and passages which bore upon_the next_day 's work this Willoughby smith has nothing against him either boy Uppingham young man Cambridge I_have_seen his testimonials, and from_the first he_was decent , quiet , hardworking fellow , with weak spot him all and yet this_is_the lad who has met his death this_morning in_the professor 's study under circumstances which can point only murder "

the wind howled and screamed at_the windows Holmes and I drew closer to_the fire while the young inspector slowly and point point developed his singular narrative

" if_you were all England ," said , "I don't suppose you_could find household more self - contained free from outside influences whole weeks would pass and not one_of_them past the garden gate the professor was buried in_his work and existed for nothing else young smith knew nobody in_the neighbourhood, and lived very_much his employer did the two women had nothing to_take them from_the house Mortimer the gardener , who wheels the bath - chair , army pensioner -- old Crimean man excellent character he_does_not live in_the house , but three - roomed cottage at_the other end of_the garden those are the only people that you_would find within_the grounds Yoxley old place at_the same time , the gate of_the garden hundred yards from_the main London Chatham road opens with latch , and there_is nothing to_prevent anyone from walking

" now i_will give_you the evidence Susan Tarlton, who is_the only person who_can say anything positive about_the_matter it_was in_the forenoon , between eleven and twelve she was engaged at_the moment hanging some curtains in_the upstairs front bedroom professor Coram was still bed , for when_the weather bad seldom rises before midday the housekeeper was busied with some work in_the back of_the house Willoughby smith had_been in_his bedroom , which uses sitting- room ; but the maid heard him at_that moment pass along the passage and descend to_the study immediately below her she did_not see him , but she says that she_could_not_be mistaken in_his quick , firm tread she did_not hear the study door , but minute later there_was dreadful cry in_the room below it_was wild , hoarse scream , strange and unnatural that_it might_have come either from man woman at_the same instant heavy thud , which shook the old house , and then all was silence the maid stood petrified for moment , and then , recovering her courage , she ran downstairs the study door was shut , and she opened inside young Mr Willoughby smith was stretched upon_the floor first she_could see injury , but she tried raise him she saw that blood was pouring from_the underside of_his neck it_was pierced very_small but very deep wound , which had divided the carotid artery the instrument with_which the injury had_been inflicted lay upon_the carpet beside him it_was one of_those small sealing- wax knives to_be found old - fashioned writing-tables, with ivory handle and stiff blade it_was part of_the fittings of_the professor 's own desk

" first the maid thought that young smith was already dead , but pouring some water from_the carafe over his forehead opened his eyes for instant ` the professor ,' murmured -- ` it_was she ' the maid prepared swear that_those were the exact words tried desperately to_say something else , and held his right hand in_the air then fell back dead

" in_the meantime the housekeeper had also arrived upon_the scene, but she was just too late catch the young man 's dying words leaving Susan with_the body , she hurried to_the professor 's room he_was sitting bed horribly agitated , for had heard enough to_convince him that something terrible had occurred Mrs marker prepared swear that_the was still in_his night - clothes , and , indeed , it_was impossible for him dress without the help Mortimer , whose orders were to_come twelve o'clock the professor declares that heard the distant cry , but that he_knows nothing more he_can give explanation of_the young man 's last words, ` the -- it_was she ,' but imagines that_they were the outcome delirium believes that Willoughby smith had_not enemy in_the_world , and can give reason for_the crime his first action was send Mortimer the gardener for_the local police little later the chief constable sent for_me nothing was moved before I got there , and strict orders were given that one should walk upon_the paths leading to_the house it_was splendid chance putting your theories into practice , Mr Sherlock Holmes there_was really nothing wanting "

" except Mr Sherlock Holmes," said companion , with somewhat bitter smile " well , let_us hear about_it what sort job did you make ? "

" I_must ask_you first , Mr Holmes, glance at_this rough plan , which will give_you general idea of_the position of_the professor 's study and_the various points of_the case it_will help_you following investigation "

unfolded the rough chart , which I here reproduce , and laid across Holmes's knee I rose , and , standing behind Holmes, I studied over his shoulder

" it_is very rough , of_course , and only deals with_the points which seem to_me to_be essential all the rest you_will_see later for_yourself now , first all , presuming that_the assassin entered the house , how did she come ? undoubtedly by_the garden path and_the back door , from_which there_is direct access to_the study any_other way would_have_been exceedingly complicated the escape must_have also been made along that line , for of_the two other exits from_the room one was blocked Susan she ran downstairs and_the other leads straight to_the professor 's bedroom I therefore directed attention once to_the garden path , which_was saturated with recent rain and would certainly show any footmarks

" examination showed that i_was dealing with cautious and expert criminal footmarks were to_be found on_the path there could_be question , however , that someone had passed along the grass border which lines the path , and_that had done in_order avoid leaving track I_could_not find anything in_the nature distinct impression , but the grass was trodden down and someone had undoubtedly passed could only have_been the murderer , since neither the gardener nor anyone else had_been there that morning and_the rain had only begun during the night "