No. 10 The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 10 The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Arthur Conan Doyle /Sherlock Holmes

when one considers that Mr Sherlock Holmes was active practice for twenty- three years, and_that during seventeen of_these i_was allowed cooperate with_him and to_keep notes of_his doings , it_will_be clear that I_have mass material command the problem has always been not to_find but to_choose there_is the long row year -books which fill shelf and there_are the dispatch -cases filled with documents, perfect quarry for_the student not_only crime but of_the and official scandals of_the late Victorian era Concerning these latter , I_may say that_the writers agonized letters, who beg honour of_their families the reputation famous forebears may not touched , have nothing fear the discretion and high sense professional honour which_have always distinguished friend are still work in_the choice of_these memoirs, and confidence will_be abused I deprecate , however , in_the strongest way the attempts been made lately to_get and destroy these papers the source outrages known , and if_they_are repeated I_have Mr Holmes's authority for saying that_the whole story concerning the politician , the lighthouse , and_the trained cormorant will_be given to_the public there_is at_least one reader who_will understand

it_is_not reasonable suppose that every_one_of_these cases gave Holmes the opportunity showing those curious gifts instinct and observation which I_have endeavoured set forth in_these memoirs Sometimes had with much effort pick the fruit , sometimes fell easily into his lap but the most terrible human tragedies were often involved those cases which brought him the fewest personal opportunities, and it_is one_of_these which I now desire record telling , I_have_made slight change name and place , but otherwise the facts are stated

one forenoon -- it_was late 1896 -- I received hurried note from Holmes asking for_my attendance when I arrived I_found him seated smoke - laden atmosphere , with elderly , motherly woman of_the buxom landlady type in_the corresponding chair front him

" this_is Mrs Merrilow, south Brixton," said friend with wave of_the hand " Mrs Merrilow does_not object tobacco , Watson, if_you_wish indulge your filthy habits Mrs Merrilow has interesting story to_tell which_may well lead further developments in_which your presence may_be useful "

" anything I_can --"

" you_will understand , Mrs Merrilow, that I come Mrs Ronder i_should prefer to_have witness make her that before arrive "

" lord bless you , Mr Holmes," said our visitor , " she is_that anxious to_see you that you_might bring the whole parish your heels ! "

" then we_shall come early in_the afternoon let_us_see that we_have our facts correct before start if_we over them it_will help Dr Watson understand the situation you say that Mrs Ronder has_been your lodger for seven years and_that you_have only once seen her face "

" and i_wish god I had_not ! " said Mrs Merrilow

" it_was , I understand , terribly mutilated "

" well , Mr Holmes, you_would hardly say it_was face all that 's how looked our milkman got glimpse her once peeping out_of_the upper window , and dropped his tin and_the milk all over the front garden that_is_the kind face it_is when I_saw her -- I happened her unawares -- she covered quick , and then she said , ' now , Mrs Merrilow, you_know last why is_that I never raise veil ' "

" do_you_know anything about her history ? "

" nothing all "

" did she give references when she came ? "

" , sir , but she gave hard cash , and plenty quarter 's rent right down on_the table advance and arguing about terms in_these times poor woman like can 't afford to_turn down chance like that "

" did she give any reason for choosing your house ? "

" mine stands well back from_the road and_is more private than most then , again , I only take_the one , and I_have family of_my own I reckon she had tried others and found that mine suited her best 's privacy she_is after , and she_is ready to_pay for_it "

" you say that she never showed her face from first last save on_the one accidental occasion well , it_is very remarkable story , most , and I don't wonder that you_want examined "

"I don't, Mr Holmes I_am quite satisfied so_long I get rent you_could_not_have quieter lodger , one who gives less trouble "

" then what has brought matters head ? "

" her health , Mr Holmes she seems_to_be wasting away and there 's something terrible her mind ' murder ! ' she cries ' murder ! ' and once I heard her : ' you cruel beast ! you monster ! ' she cried it_was in_the night , and fair rang through_the house and sent the shivers through I went her in_the morning ' Mrs Ronder,' I says , ' if_you_have anything that_is troubling your soul , there 's the clergy,' I says , ' and there 's the police between_them you_should get some help ' ' for god 's sake , not the police ! ' says she , ' and_the clergy can 't change what_is past and yet ,' she says , ' would ease mind someone knew the truth before I died ' ' well ,' says I, ' if_you won 't have the regulars, there_is this detective man what read about ' -beggin' your pardon , Mr Holmes and she , she fair jumped ' that 's the man ,' says she 'I wonder I never thought before bring him here , Mrs Merrilow, and won 't come , tell him I_am the wife Ronder's wild beast show say that , and give him the name Abbas Parva here it_is she wrote , Abbas Parva ' that_will bring him 's the man i_think he_is ' "

" and it_will , too ," remarked Holmes " very_good , Mrs Merrilow i_should like to_have little chat with Dr Watson that_will carry till lunch - time about three o'clock you_may expect to_see your house Brixton "

our visitor had sooner waddled out_of_the room -- other verb can describe Mrs Merrilow's method progression -- than Sherlock Holmes threw himself with fierce energy upon_the pile commonplace books in_the corner for_a_few_minutes there_was constant swish of_the leaves, and then with grunt satisfaction he_came upon what sought excited was that he_did_not rise , but sat floor like some strange Buddha, with crossed legs, the huge books all round him , and one open upon his knees

" the case worried at_the_time , Watson here are marginal notes to_prove I confess that I_could make nothing and yet i_was convinced that_the coroner was wrong have_you recollection of_the Abbas Parva tragedy ? "

" none , Holmes "

" and yet you were with then but certainly own impression was very superficial for there_was nothing to_go , and none_of_the parties had engaged services perhaps you_would care read the papers ? "

" could you not give_me the points ? "

" that_is very easily done it_will probably come back your memory I talk Ronder, of_course , was household word was_the rival Wombwell, and Sanger, one_of_the greatest showmen of_his day there_is evidence , however , that he_took drink , and_that both and_his show were on_the down grade at_the_time of_the great tragedy the caravan had halted for_the night Abbas Parva, which_is small village Berkshire, when_this horror occurred they were their way Wimbledon, travelling road , and_they were simply camping and not exhibiting, as_the place small one that_it would_not have paid them open

" they had among their exhibits very fine north African lion Sahara king was its name , and was_the habit , both Ronder and_his wife , to_give exhibitions inside its cage here , you_see , photograph of_the performance by_which you_will perceive that Ronder was huge porcine person and_that his wife was very magnificent woman it_was deposed at_the inquest that there had_been some signs that_the lion was dangerous , but , usual , familiarity begat contempt , and notice was taken of_the fact

" it_was usual for either Ronder his wife the lion night Sometimes one went , sometimes both , but they never allowed anyone else to_do_it , for they believed that so_long as_they were the food -carriers he_would regard them benefactors and would never molest them on_this particular night , seven years_ago , they both went , and very terrible happening followed , the details which_have never been made clear

" seems that_the whole camp was roused near midnight by_the roars of_the animal and_the screams of_the woman the different grooms and employees rushed from their tents, carrying lanterns, and their light awful sight was revealed Ronder lay, with_the back of_his head crushed and deep claw -marks across his scalp , some ten yards from_the cage , which_was open to_the door of_the cage lay Mrs Ronder upon her back , creature squatting and snarling above her had torn her face in_such fashion that_it_was never thought that she_could live several thc circus men , headed Leonardo, the strong man , and Griggs, the clown , drove the off with poles, upon_which sprang back into_the cage and was once locked how had got loose was mystery it_was conjectured that_the pair intended enter the cage , but that when_the door was loosed the creature bounded out upon them there_was other point interest in_the evidence save woman delirium agony kept screaming, ' coward ! coward ! ' she was carried back to_the van in_which they lived it_was six months before she was fit to_give , but the inquest was duly held, with_the obvious verdict death from misadventure "

" what alternative could_be conceived ? " said I

" you_may well say and yet there were one_or_two points which worried young Edmunds, of_the Berkshire constabulary smart lad that ! he_was sent later Allahabad that was how I_came into_the matter , for dropped and smoked pipe two over "

"A thin , yellow -haired man ? "

" exactly i_was sure you_would pick the trail presently "

" but what worried him ? "

" well , were both worried it_was deucedly difficult reconstruct the affair look from_the lion 's point view he_is liberated what does ? takes half dozen bounds forward , which brings him Ronder Ronder turns fly -- the claw -marks were on_the back of_his head -- but the lion strikes him down then , instead bounding and escaping, returns to_the woman , who was to_the cage , and knocks her over and chews her face then , again , those cries hers would seem imply that her husband had some way failed her what could the poor devil have_done help her ? you_see the difficulty ? "

" quite "

" and then there_was another thing comes back to_me now i_think over some evidence that just at_the_time the lion roared and_the woman screamed , man began shouting terror "

" this man Ronder, no_doubt "

" well , his skull was smashed you_would hardly expect hear_from_him again there were at_least two witnesses who spoke of_the cries man being mingled with those woman "

" i_should think the whole camp was crying out then as_to_the other points, i_think I_could suggest solution "

" i_should_be glad consider "

" the two were together , ten yards from_the cage , when_the lion got loose the man turned and was struck down the woman conceived the idea getting into_the cage and shutting the door it_was her only refuge she made for_it , and just she reached the beast bounded after her and knocked her over she was angry with her husband for having encouraged the beast 's rage turning if_they had faced they_might have cowed hence her cries ' coward ! ' "

" brilliant , Watson ! only_one flaw your diamond "

" what_is the flaw , Holmes ? "

" if_they were both ten paces from_the cage , how came the beast to_get loose ? "

" is_it possible that_they had some enemy who loosed ? "

" and why should attack them savagely when it_was in_the habit playing with_them , and doing tricks inside the cage ? "

" possibly the same enemy had done something enrage "

Holmes looked thoughtful and remained silence for some moments

" well , Watson, there_is this to_be said for your theory Ronder was man many enemies Edmunds told that in_his cups he_was horrible huge bully man , cursed and slashed everyone who came in_his way I expect those cries about monster , of_which our visitor has spoken , were nocturnal reminiscences of_the dear departed however , our speculations are futile until we_have all the facts there_is cold partridge on_the sideboard , Watson, and bottle Montrachet let_us renew our energies before we_make fresh call upon them "

when our hansom deposited at_the house Mrs Merrilow, we_found that plump lady blocking the open door her humble but retired abode it_was very clear that her chief preoccupation was lest she should lose valuable lodger , and she implored , before showing , to_say and nothing which could lead

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