A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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or Mr Lestrade will answer for_that . go on, though . what did you_do next ? "

Rance resumed his seat, without however losing his mystified expression ."I went back to_the gate and sounded my whistle . that brought Murcher and two more to_the spot ."

" was_the street empty then ? "

" well, it_was, as far as anybody that could_be of any good goes ."

" what do_you_mean ? "

the constable's features broadened into a grin ."I've seen many a drunk chap in my_time," he_said, " but never anyone so cryin' drunk as_that cove . he_was at_the gate when I_came out, a-leanin' up agin the railings, and a-singin' at_the pitch o' his lungs about columbine's new-fangled banner, or some such stuff . he couldn't stand, far less help ."

" what sort of a man was he ? " asked Sherlock Holmes .

John Rance appeared to_be somewhat irritated at_this digression ." he_was an uncommon drunk sort o' man," he_said ." he'd ha' found hisself in_the station if_we hadn't been so took up ."

" his face -- his dress -- didn't you notice them ? " Holmes broke in impatiently .

" i_should think I_did notice them, seeing that I had to prop him up -- me and Murcher between_us . he_was a long chap, with a red face, the lower part muffled round ----"

" that_will do," cried Holmes ." what became of him ? "

" we'd enough to_do without lookin' after him," the policeman said, in an aggrieved voice ."I'll wager he_found his way home all right ."

" how was he dressed ? "

"A brown overcoat ."

" had he a whip in_his hand ? "

"A whip -- no ."

" he_must_have left it behind," muttered my companion ." you didn't happen to_see or hear a cab after_that ? "

" no ."

" there's a half- sovereign for_you," my companion said, standing up and taking his hat ." I_am afraid, Rance, that you_will never rise in_the force . that head of yours should_be for use as_well as ornament . you might_have gained your sergeant's stripes last night . the man whom you held in your hands is_the man who holds the clue of_this mystery, and whom we_are seeking . there_is no use of arguing about_it now; I tell you that_it_is so . come along, doctor ."

we started off for_the cab together, leaving our informant incredulous, but obviously uncomfortable .

" the blundering fool," Holmes said, bitterly, as_we drove back to our lodgings ." just to_think of_his having such an incomparable bit of good luck, and not taking advantage of it ."

" I_am rather in_the dark still . it_is true that_the description of_this man tallies with your idea of_the second party in_this mystery . but why should he come back to_the house after leaving it ? that_is_not the way of criminals ."

" the ring, man, the ring: that was what he_came back for . if_we_have no other way of catching him, we_can always bait our line with_the ring . I_shall_have him, doctor -- I'll lay you two to one that I_have him . I_must thank_you_for it all .I might_not have_gone but for_you, and so have missed the finest study I ever came across: a study in scarlet, eh ? why shouldn't we use a little art jargon . there's the scarlet thread of murder running through_the colourless skein of life, and_our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it . and now for lunch, and then for Norman Neruda . her attack and her bowing are splendid . what's that little thing of Chopin's she plays so magnificently: Tra-la-la- lira- lira-lay ."

Leaning back in_the cab, this amateur bloodhound carolled away like a lark while I meditated upon_the many-sidedness of_the human mind .

chapter V .

our advertisement BRINGS a visitor .

our morning's exertions had_been too_much for_my weak health, and i_was tired out in_the afternoon . after Holmes' departure for_the concert, I lay down upon_the sofa and endeavoured to_get a couple of hours' sleep . it_was a useless attempt . my mind had_been too_much excited by all that had occurred, and_the strangest fancies and surmises crowded into_it . every time that I closed my eyes I_saw before me the distorted baboon- like countenance of_the murdered man . so sinister was_the impression which that face had produced upon me that I_found it difficult to_feel anything but gratitude for him who had removed its owner from_the world . if ever human features bespoke vice of_the most malignant type, they were certainly those of Enoch J .Drebber, of Cleveland . still I recognized that justice must_be_done, and_that the depravity of_the victim was no condonment {11} in_the eyes of_the law .

the more i_thought of it the more extraordinary did my companion's hypothesis, that_the man had_been poisoned, appear .I remembered how he had sniffed his lips, and had no_doubt that he had detected something which had given rise to_the idea . then, again, if_not poison, what had caused the man's death, since there_was neither wound nor marks of strangulation ? but, on_the other hand, whose blood was_that which lay so thickly upon_the floor ? there were no signs of a struggle, nor had the victim any weapon with_which he_might_have wounded an antagonist . as long as all these questions were unsolved, I_felt that sleep would_be no easy matter, either for Holmes or myself . his quiet self- confident manner convinced me that he had already formed a theory which explained all the facts, though what it_was I_could_not for an instant conjecture .

he_was very late in returning -- so late, that I_knew that_the concert could_not have detained him all the time . dinner was on_the table before he appeared .

" it_was magnificent," he_said, as he_took his seat ." do_you remember what Darwin says about music ? he claims that_the power of producing and appreciating it existed among_the human race long before_the power of speech was arrived at . perhaps that_is why we_are so subtly influenced by_it . there_are vague memories in_our souls of_those misty centuries when_the world was in its childhood ."

" that's rather a broad idea," I remarked .

" one's ideas must_be as broad as nature if_they_are to interpret nature," he answered ." what's the matter ? you're not looking quite yourself . this Brixton road affair has upset you ."

" to_tell the truth, it has," I_said ."I ought_to_be more case- hardened after my afghan experiences . I_saw my own comrades hacked to pieces at Maiwand without losing my nerve ."

" I_can understand . there_is a mystery about_this which stimulates the imagination; where there_is no imagination there_is no horror . have_you seen the evening paper ? "

" no ."

" it gives a fairly good account of_the affair . it does_not mention the fact that when_the man was raised up, a woman's wedding ring fell upon_the floor . it_is just as_well it does_not ."

" why ? "

" look at_this advertisement," he answered ."I had one sent to every paper this_morning immediately after_the affair ."

he threw the paper across to_me and I glanced at_the place indicated . it was_the first announcement in_the " found" column ." in Brixton road, this_morning," it ran, "a plain gold wedding ring, found in_the roadway between_the ` white Hart' tavern and Holland grove . apply Dr .Watson, 221B, baker street, between eight and nine this evening ."

" excuse my using your_name," he_said ." if I used my own some_of_these dunderheads would recognize it, and want to meddle in_the affair ."

" that_is all right," I answered ." but supposing anyone applies, I_have no ring ."

"Oh yes, you_have," said he, handing me one ." this_will do very_well . it_is almost a facsimile ."

" and who do_you expect will answer this advertisement ."

" why, the man in_the brown coat -- our florid friend with_the square toes . if he_does_not come himself he_will send an accomplice ."

" would he not consider it as too dangerous ? "

" not at all . if_my view of_the case is correct, and I_have every reason to_believe that_it_is, this man would rather risk anything than lose the ring .According to my notion he dropped it while stooping over Drebber's body, and did_not miss it at_the_time . after leaving the house he discovered his loss and hurried back, but found the police already in possession, owing to_his own folly in leaving the candle burning . he had to pretend to_be drunk in_order to allay the suspicions which might_have_been aroused by his appearance at_the gate . now put yourself in_that man's place . on thinking the matter over, it must_have occurred to him that_it_was possible that he had lost the ring in_the road after leaving the house . what would he do, then ? he_would eagerly look out for_the evening papers in_the hope of seeing it among_the articles found . his eye, of_course, would light upon_this . he_would_be overjoyed . why should he fear a trap ? there would_be no reason in_his eyes why the finding of_the ring should_be connected with_the murder . he_would come . he_will come . you shall see him within an hour ? "

" and then ? " I asked .

"Oh, you_can leave me to deal with_him then . have_you any arms ? "

" I_have my old service revolver and a few cartridges ."

" you had better clean it and load it . he_will_be a desperate man, and though I_shall take him unawares, it_is as_well to_be ready for anything ."

I went to my bedroom and followed his advice . when I returned with_the pistol the table had_been cleared, and Holmes was engaged in_his favourite occupation of scraping upon his violin .

" the plot thickens," he_said, as I entered; " I_have just had an answer to my American telegram . my view of_the case is_the correct one ."

" and_that is ? " I asked eagerly .

" my fiddle would_be the better for new strings," he remarked ." put your pistol in your pocket . when_the fellow comes speak to him in an ordinary way . leave the rest to_me .Don't frighten him by looking at him too hard ."

" it_is eight o'clock now," I_said, glancing at my watch .

" yes . he_will probably be here in_a_few_minutes . open the door slightly . that_will do . now put the key on_the inside . thank_you ! this_is a queer old book I picked up at a stall yesterday -- `De Jure inter Gentes' -- published in Latin at liege in_the Lowlands, in 1642 .Charles' head was still firm on_his shoulders when_this little brown-backed volume was struck off ."

" who is_the printer ? "

"Philippe de Croy, whoever he_may_have been . on_the fly- leaf, in very faded ink, is written `Ex libris Guliolmi Whyte .' I wonder who William Whyte was . some pragmatical seventeenth century lawyer, I suppose . his writing has a legal twist about_it . here comes our man, i_think ."

as he spoke there_was a sharp ring at_the bell .Sherlock Holmes rose softly and moved his chair in_the direction of_the door . we heard the servant pass along the hall, and_the sharp click of_the latch as she opened it .

"Does Dr .Watson live here ? " asked a clear but rather harsh voice . we_could_not hear the servant's reply, but the door closed, and some one began to ascend the stairs . the footfall was an uncertain and shuffling one .a look of surprise passed over the face of_my companion as he listened to_it . it came slowly along the passage, and there_was a feeble tap at_the door .

" come in," I cried .

at my summons, instead of_the man of violence whom we expected, a very old and wrinkled woman hobbled into_the apartment . she appeared to_be dazzled by_the sudden blaze of light, and after dropping acurtsey, she stood blinking at us with her bleared eyes and fumbling in her pocket with nervous, shaky fingers .I glanced at my companion, and_his face had assumed such a disconsolate expression that_it_was all I_could do to_keep my countenance .

the old crone drew out an evening paper, and pointed at our advertisement ." it's this as has brought me, good gentlemen," she said, dropping another curtsey; "a gold wedding ring in_the Brixton road . it belongs to my girl sally, as was married only this_time twelvemonth, which her husband is steward aboard a Union boat, and what he'd say if he come 'ome and found her without her ring is more than I_can think, he being short enough at_the best o' times, but more especially when he has_the drink . if_it please you, she went to_the circus last night along with ----"

" is_that her ring ? " I asked .

" the lord be thanked ! " cried the old woman; " sally will_be a glad woman this night . that's the ring ."

" and what may your address be ? " I inquired, taking up a pencil .

"13, Duncan street, Houndsditch .a weary way from here ."

" the Brixton road does_not lie between any circus and Houndsditch," said Sherlock Holmes sharply .

the old woman faced round and looked keenly at him from her little red-rimmed eyes ." the gentleman asked me for_my address," she said ." sally lives in lodgings at 3, Mayfield place, Peckham ."

" and your_name is ---- ? "

" my name is Sawyer -- her's is Dennis, which Tom Dennis married her -- and a smart, clean lad, too, as long as he's at sea, and no steward in_the company more thought of; but when on shore, what with_the women and what with liquor shops ----"

" here_is your ring, Mrs Sawyer," I interrupted, in obedience to a sign from my companion; " it clearly belongs to your daughter, and I_am_glad to_be_able to restore it to_the rightful owner ."

with many mumbled blessings and protestations of gratitude the old crone packed it away in her pocket, and shuffled off down the stairs .Sherlock Holmes sprang to_his feet the moment that she was gone and rushed into his room . he returned in a few seconds enveloped in an ulster and a cravat ."I'll follow her," he_said, hurriedly; " she_must be an accomplice, and will lead me to him

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18]