No. 4 The Adventure of the Three Gables by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 4 The Adventure of the Three Gables by Arthur Conan Doyle
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" nearly two "

" all the better during this long period one wants anything from_you now suddenly within three four days you_have urgent demands what would you gather from_that ? "

" can only mean ," said I, " that_the object , whatever may_be , has only just come into_the house "

" settled once again ," said Holmes " now , Mrs Maberley has any object just arrived ? "

" , I_have bought nothing new this year "

" indeed ! that_is very remarkable well , i_think had best let matters develop little further until we_have clearer data is_that lawyer yours capable man ? "

" Mr Sutro most capable "

" have_you another maid , was_the fair Susan , who has just banged your front door alone ? "

" I_have young girl "

" try and get Sutro to_spend night two in_the house you_might possibly want protection "

" against whom ? "

" who knows ? the matter certainly obscure I_can 't find what they_are after , I_must approach the matter from_the other end and try to_get at_the principal did this house - agent man give any address ? "

" simply his card and occupation Haines- Johnson , auctioneer and Valuer "

"I don't think we_shall find him in_the directory honest business men don't conceal their place well , you_will let know any fresh development I_have taken your case , and you_may rely upon that I_shall see through "

as_we passed through_the hall Holmes's eyes , which missed nothing , lighted upon several trunks and cases which were piled corner the labels shone out upon them

" 'Milano ' 'Lucerne ' these are from Italy "

" they_are poor Douglas's things "

" you_have_not unpacked them ? how long have_you had them ? "

" they arrived last week "

" but you said -- why , surely this might_be the missing link how we_know that_there_is not something value there ? "

" there could_not possibly , Mr Holmes poor Douglas had only his pay and small annuity what could have value ? "

Holmes was lost thought

" delay longer , Mrs Maberley," he_said last " have these things taken upstairs your bedroom examine them as_soon_as_possible and_see what they cohtain i_will come tomorrow and hear your report "

it_was quite evident that_the three Gables was under very surveillance , for as_we came round the high hedge at_the end of_the lane there_was the Negro prize -fighter standing in_the shadow came him quite suddenly , and grim and menacing looked in_that lonely place Holmes clapped his hand to_his pocket

"Lookin' for your gun , Masser Holmes ? "

" , for_my scent - bottle , Steve "

" you_are funny , Masser Holmes, ain't you ? "

" won 't funny for_you , Steve, I get after you I gave_you fair warning this_morning "

" well , Masser Holmes, I done gone think over what you said , and I don't want more talk about_that affair Masser Perkins S' pose I_can help_you , Masser Holmes, i_will "

" well , then , tell who_is behind you on_this job "

" help the lord ! Masser Holmes, i_told you the truth before I don't know boss Barney gives orders and_that 's all "

" well , just bear mind , Steve, that_the lady in_that house , and everything under that roof , under protection Don't forget "

" all right , Masser Holmes I'll remember "

"I've got him thoroughly frightened for_his own skin , Watson," Holmes remarked as_we walked " i_think he_would double - cross his employer he_knew who he_was it_was lucky I had some knowledge of_the Spencer John crowd , and_that Steve was one_of_them now , Watson, this_is case for Langdale pike , and I_am going to_see him now when I get back I_may_be clearer in_the matter "

I_saw more Holmes during the day , but I_could well imagine how spent , for Langdale pike was his human book reference upon all matters scandal this strange , languid creature spent his waking hours in_the bow window St James's street club and was_the receivingstation as_well as_the transmitter for all the gossip of_the metropolis he_made , it_was said , four- income by_the paragraphs which contributed every week to_the garbage papers which cater inquisitive public ever , far down in_the turbid depths London life , there_was some strange swirl eddy , it_was marked with automatic exactness by_this human dial upon_the surface Holmes discreetly helped Langdale knowledge , and occasion was helped turn

when I met friend in_his room early next morning , i_was conscious from_his bearing that all was well , but none the less most unpleasant surprise was awaiting took the shape of_the following

please come out once client 's house burgled in_the night police possession SUTRO

Holmes whistled " the drama has_come crisis , and quicker than I had expected there_is great driving- power at_the back of_this business , Watson, which_does not surprise after what I_have heard this Sutro, of_course , her lawyer I_made mistake , I_fear , not asking you to_spend the night guard this fellow has clearly proved broken reed well , there_is nothing for_it but another journey harrow Weald "

we_found the three Gables very different establishment to_the orderly household of_the previous day small group idlers had assembled at_the garden gate , while couple constables were examining the windows and_the geranium beds within met gray old gentleman , who introduced himself as_the lawyer together with bustling, rubicund inspector , who greeted Hoimes old friend

" well , Mr Holmes, chance for_you this_case , I'm afraid just common , ordinary burglary, and well within_the capacity of_the poor old police experts need apply "

" I_am_sure the case very_good hands," said Holmes " merely common burglary, you say ? "

" quite we_know pretty well who the men are and where to_find them is_that gang Barney Stockdale, with_the big nigger in_it -- they 've been seen about here "

" excellent ! what did they get ? "

" well , they don't seem to_have got much Mrs Maberley was chloroformed and_the house was -- Ah ! here_is_the lady herself "

our friend yesterday , looking very pale and ill , had entered the room , leaning upon little maidservant

" you_gave good advice , Mr Holmes," said she , smiling ruefully " alas , I_did_not take ! wish trouble Mr Sutro, and i_was unprotected "

"I only heard this_morning ," the lawyer explained

" Mr Holmes advised to_have some friend in_the house I neglected his advice , and I_have paid for_it "

" you look wretchedly ill ," said Holmes " perhaps you_are hardly equal telling what occurred "

" it_is all here ," said the inspector , tapping bulky notebook

" still , if_the lady is_not too exhausted --"

" there_is really little to_tell I_have no_doubt that wicked Susan had planned entrance for_them they_must_have known the house inch i_was conscious for moment of_the chloroform rag which_was thrust over mouth , but I_have notion how long I_may_have been senseless when I woke, one man was at_the bedside and another was rising with bundle in_his hand from among son 's baggage , partially opened and littered over the floor before he_could get away I sprang and seized him "

" you took big risk ," said the inspector

"I clung him , but shook off , and_the other may_have struck , for I_can remember more Mary the maid heard the noise and began screaming out_of_the window that brought the police , but the rascals had got away "

" what did they take ? "

" well , I don't think there_is anything value missing I_am_sure there_was nothing son 's trunks "

" did the men leave clue ? "

" there_was one sheet paper which I_may_have torn from_the man that I grasped it_was lying all crumpled on_the floor it_is son 's handwriting "

" which_means that_it_is not much use ," said the inspector " now if_it had_been in_the burglar 's --"

" exactly ," said Holmes " what rugged common sense ! none the less , i_should_be curious to_see "

the inspector drew folded sheet foolscap from_his pocketbook

"I never pass anything , however trifling," said with some pomposity " that_is advice to_you , Mr Holmes twentyfive years' experience I_have learned lesson there_is always the chance finger -marks something "

Holmes inspected the sheet paper

" what do_you make , inspector ? "

" seems_to_be the end some queer novel , so_far I_can_see "

" may certainly prove to_be the end queer tale ," said Holmes " you_have noticed the number on_the top of_the page it_is two hundred and forty-five where are the odd two hundred and forty-four pages ? "

" well , I suppose the burglars got those much good may them ! "

" seems queer thing break into house in_order steal such papers as_that Does suggest anything to_you , inspector ? "

" yes , sir , suggests that their hurry the rascals just grabbed what came first hand i_wish them joy what they got "

" why should they son 's things ? " asked Mrs Maberley

" well , they found nothing valuable downstairs , they tried their luck upstairs that_is how I_read what do_you make , Mr Holmes ? "

" I_must think over , inspector come to_the window , Watson " then , as_we stood together , read over the fragment paper began in_the middle sentence and ran like this :

" . face bled considerably from_the cuts and blows, but it_was nothing to_the bleeding of_his heart he_saw that lovely face , the face for_which had_been prepared sacrifice his very life , looking out his agony and humilia- tion she smiled -- yes , heaven ! she smiled , like the heartless fiend she was , looked her it_was at_that moment that love died and hate was born man must live for something it_is_not for your embrace , lady , then shall surely for your undoing and complete revenge "

" queer grammar ! " said Holmes with smile handed the paper back to_the inspector " did you notice how the ' ' suddenly changed ' ' ? the writer was carried away his own story that imagined himself at_the supreme moment to_be the hero "

" seemed mighty poor stuff ," said the inspector replaced in_his book " what ! are_you off , Mr Holmes ? "

"I don't think there_is anything more for_me to_do now that_the case in_such capable hands by_the_way , Mrs Maberley, did you say you wished travel ? "

" has always been dream , Mr Holmes "

" where would you like to_go -- Cairo, Madeira, the Riviera ? "

"Oh I had the money i_would round the world "

" quite round the world well , good - morning I_may drop you line in_the evening " as_we passed the window I caught glimpse of_the inspector 's smile and shake of_the head " these clever fellows have always touch madness " that was what I_read in_the 's smile

" now , Watson, we_are at_the last lap of_our little journey ," said Holmes when were back in_the roar central London once more " i_think had best clear the matter once , and would_be well that you_should come with , for_it safer to_have witness when_you_are dealing with_such lady Isadora Klein "

had taken cab and were speeding some address Grosvenor square Holmes had_been sunk thought , but roused himself suddenly

" by_the_way , Watson, I suppose you_see all clearly ? "

" , I_can 't say that I_do I only gather that we_are going to_see the lady who_is behind all this mischief "

" exactly ! but does the name Isadora Klein convey nothing to_you ? she was , of_course , the celebrated beauty there_was never woman touch her she_is pure Spanish , the real blood of_the masterfui Conquistadors, and her people have_been leaders Pernambuco for generations she married the aged German sugar king , Klein, and presently found herself the richest as_well as_the most lovely widow upon earth then there_was interval adventure when she pleased her own tastes she had several lovers, and Douglas Maberley, one_of_the_most striking men London , was one_of_them it_was all accounts more than with_him he_was not society butterfly but strong , proud man who gave and expected all but she is_the 'belle dame sans merci' fiction when her caprice satisfied the matter ended , and if_the other party in_the matter can 't take her word for_it she knows how bring home him "

" then that was his own story --"

"Ah ! you_are piecing together now I hear that she_is about marry the young duke Lomond, who_might almost her son his grace 's might overlook the age , but big scandal would_be different matter , it_is imperative -- Ah ! here we_are "

it_was one_of_the finest corner -houses of_the west end machine - like footman took our cards and returned with word that_the lady

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