No. 11 The Adventure of the Naval Treaty by Arthur Conan Doyle
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]
so," said Holmes, imperturbably ." and now, lord Holdhurst, we_have already taken up too_much of your valuable time, and we_shall wish you good- day ."

" every success to your investigation, be the criminal who it may," answered the nobleman, as he bowed us out the door .

" he's a fine fellow," said Holmes, as_we came out into Whitehall ." but he has a struggle to_keep up his position . he_is far from rich and has many calls . you noticed, of_course, that his boots had_been resoled . now, Watson, I won't detain you from your legitimate work any longer . I_shall do nothing more to- day, unless I_have an answer to my cab advertisement . but i_should_be extremely obliged to_you if_you_would come down with me to Woking to- morrow, by_the same train which we took yesterday ."

I met him accordingly next morning and we travelled down to Woking together . he had had no answer to_his advertisement, he_said, and no fresh light had_been thrown upon_the case . he had, when he so willed it, the utter immobility of countenance of a red Indian, and I_could_not gather from_his appearance whether he_was satisfied or not with_the position of_the case . his conversation, I remember, was about_the Bertillon system of measurements, and he expressed his enthusiastic admiration of_the French savant .

we_found our client still under the charge of_his devoted nurse, but looking considerably better than before . he rose from_the sofa and greeted us without difficulty when we entered .

" any news ? " he asked, eagerly .

" my report, as I expected, is a negative one," said Holmes ." I_have_seen Forbes, and I_have_seen your uncle, and I_have set one_or_two trains of inquiry upon foot which_may lead to something ."

" you_have_not lost heart, then ? "

" by no means ."

" god bless you for saying that ! " cried miss Harrison ." if_we keep our courage and_our patience the truth must come out ."

" we_have more to_tell you than you_have for_us," said Phelps, reseating himself upon_the couch .

"I hoped you might_have something ."

" yes, we_have_had an adventure during the night, and one which might_have proved to_be a serious one ." his expression grew very grave as he spoke, and a look of something akin to fear sprang up in_his eyes ." do_you_know," said he, " that I begin to_believe that I_am the unconscious centre of some monstrous conspiracy, and_that my life is aimed at as_well as my honour ? "

"Ah ! " cried Holmes .

" it sounds incredible, for I_have_not, as far as I_know, an enemy in_the_world . yet from last night's experience I_can come to no other conclusion ."

" pray let me hear it ."

" you_must know that last night was_the very first night that I_have ever slept without a nurse in_the room . i_was so_much better that i_thought I_could dispense with one .I had a night- light burning, however . well, about two in_the morning I had sunk into a light sleep when i_was suddenly aroused by a slight noise . it_was like the sound which a mouse makes when it_is gnawing a plank, and I lay listening to_it for some_time under the impression that_it must come from_that cause . then it grew louder, and suddenly there came from_the window a sharp metallic snick .I sat up in amazement . there could_be no_doubt what the sounds were now . the first ones had_been caused by some one forcing an instrument through_the slit between_the sashes, and_the second by_the catch being pressed back .

" there_was a pause then for about ten minutes, as if_the person were waiting to_see whether the noise had awakened me . then I heard a gentle creaking as_the window was very slowly opened . I_could stand it no longer, for_my nerves are_not what they used to_be .I sprang out of bed and flung open the shutters .a man was crouching at_the window .I could_see little of him, for he_was gone like a flash . he_was wrapped in some sort of cloak which came across the lower part of_his face . one_thing only I_am_sure of, and_that is_that he had some weapon in_his hand . it looked to_me like a long knife .I distinctly saw the gleam of it as he turned to run ."

" this_is most interesting," said Holmes ." pray what did you_do then ? "

" i_should_have followed him through_the open window if I had_been stronger . as it_was, I rang the bell and roused the house . it took me some little time, for_the bell rings in_the kitchen and_the servants all sleep upstairs .I shouted, however, and_that brought Joseph down, and he roused the others . Joseph and_the groom found marks on_the bed outside the window, but the weather has_been so dry lately that_they found it hopeless to_follow the trail across the grass . there's a place, however, on_the wooden fence which skirts the road which shows signs, they tell me, as_if some one had got over, and had snapped the top of_the rail in doing_so . I_have said nothing to_the local police yet, for i_thought I had best have your opinion first ."

this tale of_our client's appeared to_have an extraordinary effect upon Sherlock Holmes . he rose from_his chair and paced about_the room in uncontrollable excitement .

"Misfortunes never come single," said Phelps, smiling, though it_was evident that his adventure had somewhat shaken him .

" you_have certainly had your share," said Holmes ." do_you_think you_could walk round the house with me ? "

"Oh, yes, i_should like a little sunshine . Joseph will come, too ."

" and I also," said miss Harrison .

" I_am afraid not," said Holmes, shaking his head ." i_think I_must ask_you to remain sitting exactly where you_are ."

the young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure . her brother, however, had joined us and we set off all four together . we passed round the lawn to_the outside of_the young diplomatist's window . there were, as he had said, marks upon_the bed, but they were hopelessly blurred and vague .Holmes stopped over them for an instant, and then rose shrugging his shoulders .

"I don't think any_one could make much of_this," said he ." let_us go round the house and_see why this particular room was chose by_the burglar . i_should_have thought those larger windows of_the drawing- room and dining- room would_have had more attractions for him ."

" they_are more visible from_the road," suggested Mr Joseph Harrison .

"Ah, yes, of_course . there_is a door here which he_might_have attempted . what_is it for ? "

" it_is_the side entrance for trades- people . of_course_it_is locked at night ."

" have_you ever had an alarm like this before ? "

" never," said our client .

" do_you keep plate in_the house, or anything to attract burglars ? "

" nothing of value ."

Holmes strolled round the house with_his hands in_his pockets and a negligent air which_was unusual with_him .

" by_the_way," said he to Joseph Harrison, " you found some place, I understand, where the fellow scaled the fence . let_us_have a look at_that ! "

the plump young man led us to a spot where the top of one_of_the wooden rails had_been cracked .a small fragment of_the wood was hanging down .Holmes pulled it off and examined it critically .

" do_you_think that was_done last night ? it looks rather old, does it not ? "

" well, possibly so ."

" there_are no marks of any_one jumping down upon_the other side . no, I fancy we_shall get no help here . let_us go back to_the bedroom and talk the matter over ."

Percy Phelps was walking very slowly, leaning upon_the arm of_his future brother-in-law .Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn, and we were at_the open window of_the bedroom long before_the others came up .

" miss Harrison," said Holmes, speaking with_the utmost intensity of manner, " you_must stay where you_are all day . let nothing prevent you from staying where you_are all day . it_is of_the utmost importance ."

" certainly, if_you_wish it, Mr Holmes," said the girl in astonishment .

" when_you go to bed lock the door of_this room on_the outside and keep the key . promise to do_this ."

" but Percy ? "

" he_will come to London with_us ."

" and am I to remain here ? "

" it_is for_his sake . you_can serve him . quick ! promise ! "

she gave a quick nod of assent just as_the other two came up .

" why do_you sit moping there, Annie ? " cried her brother ." come out into_the sunshine ! "

" no, thank_you, Joseph . I_have a slight headache and this room is deliciously cool and soothing ."

" what do_you propose now, Mr Holmes ? " asked our client .

" well, in investigating this minor affair we_must not lose sight of_our main inquiry . it would_be a very great help to_me if_you_would come up_to London with_us ."

" at once ? "

" well, as_soon_as you conveniently can . say in an hour ."

" I_feel quite strong enough, if I_can really be of any help ."

" the greatest possible ."

" perhaps you_would like me the stay there to- night ? "

" i_was just going to propose it ."

" then, if_my friend of_the night comes to revisit me, he_will_find the bird flown . we_are all in your hands, Mr Holmes, and you_must tell us exactly what you_would like done . perhaps you_would prefer that Joseph came wit us so as_to look after me ? "

"Oh, no; my friend Watson is a medical man, you_know, and he'll look after you . we'll have our lunch here, if_you_will permit us, and then we_shall al three set off for town together ."

it_was arranged as he suggested, though miss Harrison excused herself from leaving the bedroom, in accordance with Holmes's suggestion . what the object of_my friend's manoeuvres was I_could_not conceive, unless it were to_keep the lady away from Phelps, who, rejoiced by his returning health and by_the prospect of action, lunched with_us in_the dining- room .Holmes had still more startling surprise for_us, however, for, after accompanying us down to_the station and seeing us into our carriage, he calmly announced that he had no intention of leaving Woking .

" there_are one_or_two small points which i_should desire to clear up before I go," said he ." your absence, Mr Phelps, will in some ways rather assist me .Watson, when_you reach London you_would oblige me by driving at once to baker street with_our friend here, and remaining with_him until I_see you again . it_is fortunate that you_are old school-fellows, as_you_must_have much to_talk over .Mr Phelps can_have the spare bedroom to- night, and_I_will_be with_you in_time for breakfast, for there_is a train which will take me into Waterloo at eight ."

" but how about our investigation in London ? " asked Phelps, ruefully .

" we_can do_that to- morrow . i_think that just at present I_can_be of more immediate use here ."

" you_might tell them at Briarbrae that I_hope to_be back to- morrow night," cried Phelps, as_we began to move from_the platform .

"I hardly expect to_go back to Briarbrae," answered Holmes, and waved his hand to_us cheerily as_we shot out from_the station .

Phelps and i_talked it over on_our journey, but neither of us could devise a satisfactory reason for_this new development .

"I suppose he_wants to_find out some clue as_to_the burglary last night, if a burglar it_was . for_myself, I don't believe it_was an ordinary thief ."

" what_is your own idea, then ? "

" upon my word, you_may put it down to my weak nerves or not, but I believe there_is some deep political intrigue going on around me, and_that for some reason that passes my understanding my life is aimed at by_the conspirators . it sounds high- flown and absurd, but consider the fats ! why should a thief try to break in at a bedroom window, where there could_be no hope of any plunder, and why should he come with a long knife in_his hand ? "

" you_are_sure it_was not a house- breaker's jimmy ? "

"Oh, no, it_was a knife . I_saw the flash of_the blade quite distinctly ."

" but why on earth should you be pursued with_such animosity ? "

"Ah, that_is_the question ."

" well, if Holmes takes the same view, that_would account for_his action, would it not ? Presuming that your theory is correct, if he_can lay his hands upon_the man who threatened you last night he_will_have gone a long way towards finding who took the naval treaty . it_is absurd to suppose that you_have two enemies, one of whom robs you, while the other threatens your life ."

" but Holmes said that he_was not going to Briarbrae ."

" I_have known him for some_time," said I, " but I never knew him do anything yet without a very_good reason," and with_that our conversation drifted off on to other topics .

but it_was a weary day for_me .Phelps was still weak after his long illness, and_his misfortune made him querulous and nervous . in vain I endeavoured to interest him in Afghanistan, in India, in social questions, in anything which might take his mind out_of_the groove . he_would always come back to_his lost treaty, wondering, guessing, speculating, as_to what Holmes was doing, what steps lord Holdhurst was taking, what news we_should_have in_the morning . as_the evening wore on_his excitement became quite painful .

" you_have implicit faith in Holmes ? " he asked .

" I_have_seen him do some remarkable things ."

" but he never brought light into anything quite so dark as_this ? "

"Oh, yes; I_have known him solve questions which presented fewer clues than yours ."

" but not where such large interests are at stake ? "

"I don't know that . to my certain knowledge he has acted on_behalf of three of_the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters ."

" but you_know him well, Watson . he_is such an inscrutable fellow that I never quite know what to_make of him . do_you_think he_is hopeful ? do_you_think he expects to_make a success of it ? "

" he has said nothing ."

" that_is a bad sign ."

" on_the contrary, I_have noticed that when he_is off the trail he generally says so . it_is when he_is on a scent and is_not quite absolutely sure yet that_it_is the right one that he_is most taciturn . now, my dear fellow, we_can't help matter by making ourselves nervous about_them, so let me implore you to_go to bed and so be fresh

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]