Chapter 7 of a study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 7 light in the darkness, the intelligence with which lestrade greeted us with Soma mentis. And so unexpected, that we were all three fairly dumbfounded Gregson. Sprang out of his chair and upset. The remainder is whiskey in water. I stared in silence at Sherlock Holmes, whose lips were compressed and his brows drawn down over his eyes. Stangerson to he muttered.
The plot thickens. He was quite thick enough before grumbles estrade taking a chair, are seem to have dropped into a sort of Council of War. Are you, are you sure of this piece of intelligence stammered Gregson? I've just come from his room said lestrade. I was the first to discover what had occurred. We have been hearing gregson's view of the matter homes. Observed. Would you mind letting us know
what you have seen and done? I have no objection lestrade answered, seating himself are freely confess that I was of the opinion that stangerson was concerned in the death of drebber. This fresh development has shown me that I was completely mistaken. Full of the one idea. I set myself to find out what had become of the secretary. They have been seen together at Euston Station about 8:30 on the evening of the Third.
At 2:00 in the morning, drebber have been found in the Brixton Road. The question, which confronted me was to find out how stangerson have been employed between 8:30 and the time of the crime and what had become of him afterwards. I telegraphed to Liverpool, given a description of the man and warning them to keep a watch
upon the American boats. I then set to work calling upon all the hotels and lodging houses in the vicinity of Houston. You see I argued if Trevor and His companion to become separated the natural course for the latter would be to put up somewhere in the vicinity for the night and then to anger about the station again next morning. They would be likely to agree on some meeting place beforehand. Remarked Holmes.
As so it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday evening in making inquiries entirely without a veil. This morning. I began very early and at 8:00. I reached halliday's private Hotel in Little George Street on my inquiry as to whether I mr. Stangerson was living there. They are. Once answered me in the affirmative. No doubt, you are the gentleman whom he was expecting. They said he's been waiting for a gentleman for two days. Where is he now?
I asked he's upstairs in bed. He wishes to be called at 9:00. I will go out and see him at once. I said it seemed to me that my sudden appearance might shake his nerves and lead him to say something unguarded, the boots volunteered to show me the room. It was on the second floor. And there was a small Corridor leading up to it, the boots pointed out the door to me and was about to go downstairs
again. When I saw something that made me feel sick eesh in spite of my 20 years experience from under the door. They're curled a little red ribbon of blood which had meandered across the passage and formed a little pool along the skirt. In at the other side. I gave a cry which brought the boots back. He nearly fainted when he saw it, the door was locked on the inside, but we put our shoulders to it and knocked it in the window of the room was open and
beside the window. All that lay in the body of a man in his nightdress. He was quite dead and had been for some time for his limbs were rigid and cold when we turned him over the boots, recognized him at once. As being the same gentleman who had engaged a room under the name of Joseph stangerson. The cause of death was a deep stab in the left side, which must have penetrated the art and now comes the strangest. Part of the affair. What do you suppose is above the murdered?
Man. I felt a creeping of the Flesh and a presentiment of coming horror even before Sherlock Holmes answered. The word Rocca written in letters of blood. He said that, was it said, lestrade in an awestruck voice and we were all silent for a while. There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the Deeds of this unknown assassin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness to his crimes. My nerves, which were steady enough on the field of battle tingled as I thought of it.
The man was seen said lestrade a milk boy passing on his way to the dairy at them, to walk down the line, which leads from The Muse at the back of the hotel. He noticed that a ladder which usually lay there was raised against one of the windows of the second floor, which was wide open after passing. He looked back and saw a man, descend the ladder. He came down so quietly and openly that the boy imagined him to be some Carpenter or join her at Look in the hotel.
We took no particular notice of him Beyond thinking in his own mind that it was early for him to be at work. He has an impression. The man was tall at a reddish face and was dressed in a long brownish coat. He must have stayed in the room some little time. After the murder for we found blood-stained water in the Basin where he'd washed his hands and marks on the sheets, where he
deliberately wiped his knife. I glanced at homes on hearing the description of the murderer, which tallied, so exactly with his own there was, however, no trace of exultation or satisfaction upon his face. Did you find nothing in the room, which could furnish a clue to the murderer? He asked, nothing stangerson, add drebber's person. He's pocket by seems at. This was usual. As he did, all the paying there was eight yard pounds in it, but nothing had been taken, whatever.
Maltese of these extraordinary crimes robberies certainly not one of them. There are no papers or memoranda in the murdered Man's Pocket except a single telegram dated from Cleveland about a month ago and containing the words. JH is in Europe. There was no name appended to the message and there was nothing else. Holmes asked nothing of importance. The man's novel with which he had read himself to sleep was lying upon. On the bed. And his pipe was on a chair beside him.
It was a glass of water on the table and on the windowsill a small chip ointment box. Containing a couple of pills. Sherlock Holmes, sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight. The last link, he cried exultantly my case is complete. The two detectives stared at him in amazement. I have now in my hands. My companion said confidently all the threads which are formed
such a tangle. There are of course details to be filled in but I'm a certain of all the main facts from the time that drive has parted from stangerson at the station. Up to the discovery of the body of the latter. As if I'd seen them with my own eyes. I will give you a proof of my knowledge. Could you lay your hand upon those pills? I have them said lestrade producing a small white box.
I took him and the purse and the telegram intending to have them put in a place of safety at the police station. It was a merest chance, my taking those pills for I'm bound to say that I did not attach any importance to them. It gives them here said Holmes now doctor turning to me are those ordinary pills? They certainly were not, they were of a pearly gray color small round and almost transparent against the light. From the lightness and transparency. I should imagine that there are
soluble in water. I remarked precisely so answered Holmes. Now. Would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday. I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arms. It's labored breathing and glazing. I showed that it was not far from its end indeed. It's snow white muzzle proclaimed. That is it already exceeded. The usual term of canine
existence. I placed it upon a cushion on the rug. I will now cut one of these pills into said, Holmes and drawing his penknife. He suited the action to the word 1/2. We return into the box for future purposes. The other half. I will place in this wine glass in which is a teaspoonful of water. You perceive that our friend the doctor is right and that it
readily dissolves. This might be very interesting, said lestrade in the injured tone of one who suspects that he is being laughed at. I cannot see. However, what it has to do with the death of mr. Joseph stangerson, patience. My friend, patience, you will find in time that it has everything to do with it. I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable and on presenting it to the dog. We find that he laps it up.
Readily enough. As he spoke, he turned the contents of the wine glass into a sorcerer and placed it in front of the terrier who speedily licked it, dry Sherlock Holmes. Ernest demeanor had so far convinced us that we all sat in silence, watching the animal intently and expecting some startling effect. Nonsuch appeared. However, the dog continue to lie stretched upon the cushion breathing in a labored way, but apparently neither the better nor the worst.
Stuffed homes are taking out his watch and as minute, followed minute, without result, an expression of the utmost Chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He nor his lip drummed, his fingers upon the table and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely. Sorry for him. While the two detectives Smile derisively by no means displeased at this check, which he had met. It it can't be a coincidence.
He cried at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room. It is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the case of drebber are actually found after the death of stangerson. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning. Can't have been false. It is impossible and yet this wretched dog is none the worse. Ah, I have it. I have it with a perfect shriek
of delight. He rushed to the Box, cut the other pill into dissolved, it added milk and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creatures, tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened. It before, it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb and layers, rigid, and lifeless. As if it had been struck by lightning. Sherlock, Holmes drew a long breath and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
I should have more faith. He said, I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation of the two pills in that box. One was of the most deadly poison and the other was entirely harmless. I ought to have known that before I ever saw the box at all. This last statement appeared to me to be so startling that I could hardly believe that he was in his sober senses.
There was the dead dog. However, to prove that his conjectures had been correct. It seemed to me that the Mists in my own mind, were gradually clearing away, and I began to have a dim vague perception of the truth. All this seems strange to you continued Holmes. Because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry, to grasp the importance of the single real clue, which was presented to you. I had the Good Fortune to seize upon that and everything which has occurred.
Since then, has served to confirm my original supposition and indeed was the logical sequence of it. Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case more obscure have served to enlighten me. And to strengthen my conclusions. It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery. The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious because it presents no new or special features from which deductions may be drawn. This murder would have been
infinitely. More difficult to unravel. Had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the roadway without any of these outre and Sensational accompaniments, which have rendered. It remarkable. These strange details far from making the case more difficult have really had the effect of making it less. So, Mr. Gregson heard listen to this address with considerable impatience could contain himself no longer. Look here. Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He said we're all ready to
acknowledge that. You are smart, man. And you have your own methods are working. We want something more, more than Theory, and preaching. Now though. It's okay. So taking the man. I've made my case out and it seems I was wrong young sharp. Any a could not have been engaged in this second Affair lestrade went after his man stangerson and appears, it was wrong to you've thrown out in Syria and into their and seem to know more than we do.
But the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask you straight out how much you do know the business. Can you name the man? Who did it? All kind of help feeling that Gregson is right, sir. Remark to lestrade we've both tried. We both failed. You have remarked more than one since I've been in the room that you had all the evidence which you require surely. You're not up with old it, any longer. Any delay in arresting the
Assassin? I observed might give him time to perpetrate some fresh atrocity. Thus pressed by us. All Holmes showed signs of irresolution. He continued to walk up and down the room with his head. Sunk on his chest and his brows drawn down as was his habit. When lost in thought, there will be no more murders. He said at last stopping abruptly and facing us. You can put that consideration out of the question. You've asked me if I know the name of the Assassin. I do the mere knowing of his
name is a small thing. However compared with the power of laying our hands upon him, this I expect very shortly to do. I have good hopes of managing it through my own Arrangements, but it is a thing which needs delicate handling before we have a shrewd and desperate, man, to deal with who is supported. As I have had occasion to prove by another, who is as clever as himself. As long as this man has no idea that anyone can, Have a clue. There is some chance of securing him.
But if he had the slightest suspicion, he would change his name and vanish in an instant among the four million, inhabitants of this great City without meaning to hurt either of your feelings. I am bound to say that I consider these men to be more than a match for the official force. And that is why I have not asked your assistance. If I fail, I shall, of course, incur all the blame due to this emission, but that I am
prepared. And for, at present, I'm ready to promise that the instant that I can communicate with you without endangering my own combinations. I shall do so. Gregson and lestrade seem to be far from Satisfied by this assurance. Or by the depreciating allusion to the detective police. The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair while the others beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resentment. Neither of them had time to speak.
However, before there was a tap at the door and the spokesman of the street Arabs, young Wiggins introduced his insignificant and unsavory person. Placer. He said, touching his forelock. I have the cab downstairs. Good boy, said Holmes blandly. Why don't you introduce this pattern at Scotland? Yard be continued, taking a pair of Steel handcuffs from a draw, see how beautifully the spring works. They fastened in an instant.
The owl pattern is good enough, remark lestrade, if we can only find the man to put them on, very good. Very good said, Holmes. Smiling. The cabman may as well help me with my boxes. Just ask him to step up Wiggins. I was surprised to find my companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a journey since he had not said anything to me about it. There was a small portmanteau in the room and this he pulled out and began to strap. He was busily engaged at it.
When the cabman entered the room. Just give me a help with his Buckle. Cabman. He said, kneeling over his task and never turning his head. The fellow came forward with a somewhat Sullen, defiant are and put down his hands to assist at that. Instant. There was a sharp, click, the jangling of metal and Sherlock Holmes. Sprang To His Feet. Again gentleman. He cried with flashing eyes. Let me introduce you to mr. Jefferson. Hope the murderer of Enoch drebber and of Joseph
stangerson. The whole thing occurred in a moment so quickly that I had no time to realize it. I have a vivid recollection of that instant of Holmes's triumphant expression and the Ring of his voice of the cabman's dazed Savage face. As he glared at the glittering handcuffs, which had appeared as if by Magic upon his wrists, for a second or two. We might have been a group of statues, then with an inarticulate Roar of Fury.
The prisoner wrenched himself, free from homes is grasp and Held himself through the window would work and glass gave way before him. But before he got quite through Gregson lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him, like so many stag hounds, he was dragged back into the room and then commenced a terrific conflict, so powerful. And so Fierce, was he that the four of us were shaken off again. And again, he appeared to have the convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit, his face
and hands with terribly. A mangled by his passes through the glass. But loss of blood had no effect in diminishing. His resistance was not until lestrade. Succeeded in getting his hand, inside his neckcloth and half strangling him that we made him realize that his struggles were of no avail. And even then we felt no security until we had pinioned his feet as well as his hands that done. We Rose to our feet breathless and panting. We have his cab said, Sherlock Holmes.
It will serve to take him to Scotland Yard. And now gentlemen, he continued with a pleasant smile. We have reached the end of our little mystery. You are very welcome to put any questions that you like to me now. And there is no danger that I will refuse to answer them. End of chapter 7 and part 1.