Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but `
` here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat `
` myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he `
` could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, `
` the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. `
` James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. `
` `
` "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he `
` threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will `
` rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and `
` ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not `
` entirely devoid of interest." `
` `
` "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I `
` remarked. `
` `
` "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. `
` Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious `
` conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really `
` profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the `
` stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, `
` but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was `
` suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, `
` which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My `
` suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in `
` typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his `
` handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even `
` the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, `
` together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same `
` direction." `
` `
` "And how did you verify them?" `
` `
` "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I `
` knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed `
` description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the `
` result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I `
` sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me `
` whether it answered to the description of any of their `
` travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the `
` typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business `
` address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his `
` reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but `
` characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from `
` Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the `
` description tallied in every respect with that of their employ�, `
` James Windibank. Voil� tout!" `
` `
` "And Miss Sutherland?" `
` `
` "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old `
` Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger `
` cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' `
` There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much `
` knowledge of the world." `
` `
` `
` `
` ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY `
` `
` We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the `
` maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran `
` in this way: `
` `
` "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from `
` the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. `
` Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. `
` Leave Paddington by the 11:15." `
` `
` "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. `
` "Will you go?" `
` `
` "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at `
` present." `
` `
` "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking `
` a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, `
` and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." `
` `
` "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained `
` through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack `
` at once, for I have only half an hour." `
` `
` My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the `
` effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were `
` few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a `
` cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock `
` Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt `
` figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey `
` travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. `
` `
` "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It `
` makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on `
` whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless `
` or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall `
` get the tickets." `
` `
` We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of `
` papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged `
` and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until `
` we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a `
` gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. `
` `
` "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. `
` `
` "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." `
` `
` "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just `
` been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the `
` particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those `
` simple cases which are so extremely difficult." `
` `
` "That sounds a little paradoxical." `
` `
` "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a `
` clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more `
` difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they `
` have established a very serious case against the son of the `
` murdered man." `
` `
` "It is a murder, then?" `
` `
` "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for `
` granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into `
` it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have `
` been able to understand it, in a very few words. `
` `
` "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in `
` Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a `
` Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned `
` some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he `
` held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was `
` also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the `
` colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to `
` settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. `
` Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his `
` tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect `
` equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, `
` a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same `
` age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have `
` avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to `
` have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of `
` sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the `
` neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. `
` Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the `
` least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the `
` families. Now for the facts. `
` `
` "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at `
` Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the `
` Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out `
` of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been `
` out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told `
` the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of `
` importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came `
` back alive. `
` `
` "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a `
` mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One `
` was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was `
` William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both `
` these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The `
` game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. `
` McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the `
` same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the `
` father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was `
` following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in `
` the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. `
` `
` "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, `
` the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly `
` wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the `
` edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of `
` the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the `
` woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she `
` saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. `
` McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a `
` violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very `
` strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his `
` hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their `
` violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached `
` home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near `
` Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to `
` fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came `
` running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead `
` in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was `
` much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right `
` hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On `
` following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the `
` grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated `
` blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as `
` might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's `
` gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the `
` body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly `
` arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned `
` at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the `
` magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next `
` Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out `
` before the coroner and the police-court." `
` `
` "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If `
`
` here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat `
` myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he `
` could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, `
` the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. `
` James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. `
` `
` "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he `
` threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will `
` rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and `
` ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not `
` entirely devoid of interest." `
` `
` "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I `
` remarked. `
` `
` "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. `
` Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious `
` conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really `
` profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the `
` stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, `
` but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was `
` suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, `
` which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My `
` suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in `
` typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his `
` handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even `
` the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, `
` together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same `
` direction." `
` `
` "And how did you verify them?" `
` `
` "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I `
` knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed `
` description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the `
` result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I `
` sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me `
` whether it answered to the description of any of their `
` travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the `
` typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business `
` address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his `
` reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but `
` characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from `
` Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the `
` description tallied in every respect with that of their employ�, `
` James Windibank. Voil� tout!" `
` `
` "And Miss Sutherland?" `
` `
` "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old `
` Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger `
` cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' `
` There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much `
` knowledge of the world." `
` `
` `
` `
` ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY `
` `
` We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the `
` maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran `
` in this way: `
` `
` "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from `
` the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. `
` Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. `
` Leave Paddington by the 11:15." `
` `
` "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. `
` "Will you go?" `
` `
` "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at `
` present." `
` `
` "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking `
` a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, `
` and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." `
` `
` "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained `
` through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack `
` at once, for I have only half an hour." `
` `
` My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the `
` effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were `
` few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a `
` cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock `
` Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt `
` figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey `
` travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. `
` `
` "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It `
` makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on `
` whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless `
` or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall `
` get the tickets." `
` `
` We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of `
` papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged `
` and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until `
` we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a `
` gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. `
` `
` "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. `
` `
` "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." `
` `
` "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just `
` been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the `
` particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those `
` simple cases which are so extremely difficult." `
` `
` "That sounds a little paradoxical." `
` `
` "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a `
` clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more `
` difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they `
` have established a very serious case against the son of the `
` murdered man." `
` `
` "It is a murder, then?" `
` `
` "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for `
` granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into `
` it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have `
` been able to understand it, in a very few words. `
` `
` "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in `
` Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a `
` Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned `
` some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he `
` held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was `
` also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the `
` colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to `
` settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. `
` Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his `
` tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect `
` equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, `
` a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same `
` age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have `
` avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to `
` have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of `
` sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the `
` neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. `
` Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the `
` least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the `
` families. Now for the facts. `
` `
` "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at `
` Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the `
` Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out `
` of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been `
` out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told `
` the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of `
` importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came `
` back alive. `
` `
` "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a `
` mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One `
` was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was `
` William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both `
` these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The `
` game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. `
` McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the `
` same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the `
` father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was `
` following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in `
` the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. `
` `
` "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, `
` the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly `
` wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the `
` edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of `
` the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the `
` woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she `
` saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. `
` McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a `
` violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very `
` strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his `
` hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their `
` violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached `
` home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near `
` Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to `
` fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came `
` running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead `
` in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was `
` much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right `
` hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On `
` following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the `
` grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated `
` blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as `
` might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's `
` gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the `
` body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly `
` arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned `
` at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the `
` magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next `
` Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out `
` before the coroner and the police-court." `
` `
` "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If `
`