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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Gables

Arthur Conan Doyle /Sherlock Holmes

I don't think that any of_my adventures with Mr Sherlock Holmes opened quite abruptly , dramatically , as_that which I associate with_the three Gables I had_not seen Holmes for some days and had idea of_the new channel into which his activities had_been directed he_was chatty mood that morning , however , and had just settled into_the well - worn low armchair one side of_the fire , while had curled down with_his pipe in_his mouth upon_the opposite chair , when our visitor arrived I had said that mad bull had arrived would give clearer impression what occurred

the door had flown open and huge Negro had burst into_the room would_have_been comic had_not_been terrific , for he_was dressed very loud gray check suit with flowing salmon -coloured tie his broad face and flattened nose were thrust forward , his sullen dark eyes , with smouldering gleam malice in_them , turned from one to_the other

" which you gen'l' men Masser Holmes ? " asked

Holmes raised his pipe with languid smile

"Oh ! 's you , is_it ? " said our visitor , coming with unpleasant , stealthy step round the angle of_the table " see here , Masser Holmes, you keep your hands out other folks' business leave folks manage their own affairs got that , Masser Holmes ? "

" keep talking," said Holmes " 's fine "

"Oh ! 's fine , is_it ? " growled the savage " won 't damn fine I_have trim you bit I've handled your kind before now , and_they didn't look fine when i_was through with_them look at_that , Masser Holmes ! "

swung huge knotted lump fist under friend 's nose Holmes examined closely with air great interest

" were you born ? " asked " did come degrees ? "

may have_been the icy coolness of_my friend , may the slight clatter which I_made I picked the poker any case , our visitor 's manner became less flamboyant

" well , I've given you fair warnin'," said "I've friend that 's interested out harrow way -- you_know what I'm meaning - and don't intend to_have buttin' by_you got that ? you ain't the law , and I ain't the law either , and if_you come I'll hand also Don't you forget "

"I've wanted meet you for some_time ," said Holmes "I won 't ask_you sit down , for I don't like the smell you , but aren't you Steve Dixie, the bruiser ? "

" that 's name , Masser Holmes, and you 'll get put through for sure if_you_give any lip "

" it_is certainly the last thing you_need ," said Holmes, staring our visitor 's hideous mouth " but was_the killing young Perkins outside the Holborn -- bar what ! you 're not going ? "

the Negro had sprung back , and_his face was leaden "I won 't listen such talk ," said " what have I to_do with_this 'ere Perkins, Masser Holmes ? i_was trainin' at_the bull ring Birmingham when_this boy done gone get into trouble "

" yes , you 'll tell the magistrate about_it , Steve," said Holmes "I've been watching you and Barney Stockdale --"

" help the lord ! Masser Holmes --"

" that 's enough get out I'll pick you when i_want you "

" good -mornin', Masser Holmes I_hope there ain't hard feelin's about_this 'ere visit ? "

" there_will_be unless you tell who sent you "

" why , there ain't secret about_that , Masser Holmes was_that same gen'l' man that you_have just done gone mention "

" and who set him to_it ? "

"S'elp I don't know , Masser Holmes just say , 'Steve, you see Mr Holmes, and tell him his life ain't safe down harrow way ' that 's the whole truth " without waiting for any further questioning, our visitor bolted out_of_the room almost precipitately had entered Holmes knocked out the ashes of_his pipe with quiet chuckle

" I_am_glad you were_not forced break his woolly head , Watson I observed your manoeuvres with_the poker but he_is really rather harmless fellow , great muscular , foolish , blustering baby , and easily cowed, as_you_have seen he_is one_of_the Spencer John gang and has taken part some dirty work late which I_may clear when I_have time his immediate principal , Barney, more astute person they specialize assaults, intimidation , and_the like what i_want to_know , who_is at_the back of_them on_this panicular occasion ? "

" but why they_want intimidate you ? "

" is_this harrow Weald case decides look into_the matter , for if_it_is worth anyone 's while to_take so_much trouble , there_must_be something in_it "

" but what_is ? "

" i_was going to_tell you when had this comic interlude here_is Mrs Maberley's note if_you care to_come with we_will wire her and out once "

dear_Mr SHERLOCK HOLMES [ I_read ]: I_have_had succession strange incidents occur to_me connection with_this house , and i_should much value your advice you_would find home any_time - morrow the house within short walk of_the Weald station I believe that late husband , Mortimer Maberley, was one your early clients yours faithfully, MARY MABERLEY

the address was " the three Gables, harrow Weald "

" so_that 's that ! " said Holmes " and now , if_you_can spare the time , Watson, we_will get upon our way "

short railway journey , and shorter drive , brought to_the house , brick and timber villa , standing its own acre undeveloped grassland three small projections above the upper windows made feeble attempt justify its name behind was grove melancholy , half - grown pines, and_the whole aspect of_the place was poor and depressing none the less , we_found the house to_be well furnished , and_the lady who received was most engaging elderly person , who bore every mark refinement and culture

"I remember your husband well , madam ," said Holmes, " though it_is some_years since used services some trifling matter "

" probably you_would_be more familiar with_the name of_my son Douglas "

Holmes looked her with great interest

" dear ! are_you the mother Douglas Maberley ? I_knew him slightly but of_course all London knew him what magnificent creature he_was ! where now ? "

" dead , Mr Holmes, dead ! he_was attache Rome, and died there pneumonia last month "

" I_am sorry one could_not connect death with_such man I_have never known anyone vitally alive lived intensely - every fibre him ! "

" too intensely, Mr Holmes that was_the ruin him you remember him he_was -- debonair and splendid you_did_not_see the moody , morose , brooding creature into which developed his heart was broken single month I seemed to_see gallant boy turn into worn - out cynical man "

"A love affair -- woman ? "

" fiend well , it_was not to_talk of_my poor lad that I asked you to_come , Mr Holmes "

"Dr Watson and I are your service "

" there_have been some very strange happenings I_have_been in_this house more than year now , and I wished lead retired life I_have_seen little of_my neighbours three days_ago I had call from man who said that he_was house agent he_said that_this house would exactly suit client of_his , and_that i_would part with money would_be object seemed to_me very strange there_are several empty houses on_the market which appear to_be equally eligible , but naturally i_was interested what he_said I therefore named price which_was five hundred pounds more than I_gave once closed with_the offer , but added that his client desired to_buy the furniture as_well and would I put price upon some_of_this from old home , and it_is , you_see , very_good , so_that I named good round sum to_this also once agreed I had always wanted travel , and_the bargain was good one that_it really seemed that i_should_be own mistress for_the rest of_my life

" yesterday the man arrived with_the agreement all drawn out luckily I showed Mr Sutro, lawyer , who lives harrow he_said to_me , ' this_is very strange document are_you aware that if_you sign you_could_not legally take anything out_of_the house -- not even your own private possessions ? ' when_the man came again in_the evening I pointed this out , and I_said that I meant only to_sell the furniture

" ' , , everything ,' said

" ' but clothes ? jewels ? '

" ' well , well , some concession might_be made for your personal effects but nothing shall out_of_the house unchecked client very liberal man , but has his fads and_his own way doing things it_is everything nothing with_him '

" ' then must_be nothing ,' said I and there the matter was left , but the whole thing seemed to_me to_be unusual that i_thought --"

here had very extraordinary interruption

Holmes raised his hand for silence then strode across the room , flung open the door , and dragged great gaunt woman whom had seized by_the shoulder she entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken , torn, squawking, out of_its coop

" leave alone ! what_are you a-doin' ? " she screeched

" why , Susan , what_is this ? "

" well , 'am, i_was comin' ask if_the visitors was stayin' for lunch when_this man jumped out "

" I_have_been listening her for_the_last five minutes, but did_not wish interrupt your most interesting narrative just little wheezy , Susan , are_you not ? you breathe too heavily for_that kind work "

Susan turned sulky but amazed face upon her captor " who you , anyhow, and what right have_you a-pullin' about like this ? "

" it_was merely that I wished ask question your presence did you , Mrs Maberley, mention anyone that you were going write to_me and consult ? "

" , Mr Holmes, I_did_not "

" who posted your letter ? "

" Susan did "

" exactly now , Susan , to_whom was_it that you wrote sent message to_say that your mistress was asking advice from ? "

" 's lie I_sent message "

" now , Susan , wheezy people may not live long , you_know 's wicked thing to_tell fibs whom did you tell ? "

" Susan ! " cried her mistress , "I believe you_are bad , treacherous woman I remember now that I_saw you speaking someone over the hedge "

" that was own business ," said the woman sullenly

" suppose I tell you that_it_was Barney Stockdale to_whom you spoke ? " said Holmes

" well , if_you_know , what do_you_want ask for ? "

" i_was not sure , but I_know now well now , Susan , it_will_be worth ten pounds to_you if_you_will tell who_is at_the back Barney "

" someone that could lay down thousand pounds for every ten you_have in_the_world "

" , rich man ? ; you smiled -- rich woman now we_have got so_far , you_may as_well give the name and earn the tenner "

"I'll see you hell first "

"Oh, Susan ! language ! "

" I_am clearing out here I've had enough you all I'll send for_my box - morrow " she flounced for_the door

" good -bye, Susan paregoric is_the stuff . . now ," continued , turning suddenly from lively severe when_the door had closed behind the flushed and angry woman , " this gang means business look how they play the game your letter to_me had the 10 P M postmark and yet Susan passes the word Barney Barney has time to_go to_his employer and get instructions; she -- I incline to_the latter from Susan 's grin when she thought I had blundered -- forms plan black Steve called , and I_am warned off eleven o'clock next morning that 's quick work , you_know "

" but what they_want ? "

" yes , that 's the question who had the house before_you ? "

"A retired sea captain called Ferguson "

" anything remarkable about him ? "

" not that ever I heard "

" i_was wondering whether could_have buried something of_course , when people bury treasure nowadays they_do in_the post - office bank but there_are always some lunatics about would_be dull world without them first i_thought some buried valuable but why , in_that case , should they_want your furniture ? you don't happen to_have Raphael first folio Shakespeare without knowing ? "

" , I don't think I_have anything rarer than crown derby tea - set "

" that_would hardly justify all this mystery besides , why should they not openly state what they_want ? if_they covet your tea - set , they_can surely offer price for_it without buying you out , lock , stock , and barrel , I_read , there_is something which you_do_not know that you_have , and which you_would_not give you_did know "