the adventure of the speckled band-第4章

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homely　little　room；　with　a　low　ceiling　and　a　gaping　fireplace；　after

the　fashion　of　old　country…houses。　A　brown　chest　of　drawers　stood　in

one　corner；　a　narrow　white…counterpaned　bed　in　another；　and　a

dressing　table　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　window。　These　articles；

with　two　small　wickerwork　chairs；　made　up　all　the　furniture　in　the

room　save　for　a　square　of　Wilton　carpet　in　the　centre。　The　boards

round　and　the　panelling　of　the　walls　were　of　brown；　worm…eaten　oak；　so

old　and　discoloured　that　it　may　have　dated　from　the　original

building　of　the　house。　Holmes　drew　one　of　the　chairs　into　a　corner　and

sat　silent；　while　his　eyes　travelled　round　and　round　and　up　and

down；　taking　in　every　detail　of　the　apartment。

　　〃Where　does　that　bell　communicate　with？〃　he　asked　at　last；

pointing　to　a　thick　bell…rope　which　hung　down　beside　the　bed；　the

tassel　actually　lying　upon　the　pillow。

　　〃It　goes　to　the　housekeeper's　room。〃

　　〃It　looks　newer　than　the　other　things？〃

　　〃Yes；　it　was　only　put　there　a　couple　of　years　ago。〃

　　〃Your　sister　asked　for　it　I　suppose？〃

　　〃No；　I　never　heard　of　her　using　it。　We　used　always　to　get　what　we

wanted　for　ourselves。〃

　　〃Indeed；　it　seemed　unnecessary　to　put　so　nice　a　bell…pull　there。　You

will　excuse　me　for　a　few　minutes　while　I　satisy　myself　as　to　this

floor。〃　He　threw　himself　down　upon　his　face　with　his　lens　in　his

hand　and　crawled　swiftly　backward　and　forward；　examining　minutely

the　cracks　between　the　boards。　Then　he　did　the　same　with　the　wood…work

with　which　the　chamber　was　panelled。　Finally　he　walked　over　to　the　bed

and　spent　some　time　in　staring　at　it　and　in　running　his　eye　up　and

down　the　wall。　Finally　he　took　the　bell…rope　in　his　hand　and　gave　it　a

brisk　tug。

　　〃Why；　it's　a　dummy；〃　said　he。

　　〃Won't　it　ring？〃

　　〃No；　it　is　not　even　attached　to　a　wire。　This　is　very　interesting。

You　can　see　now　that　it　is　fastened　to　a　hook　just　above　where　the

little　opening　for　the　ventilator　is。〃

　　〃How　very　absurd！　I　never　noticed　that　before。〃

　　〃Very　strange！〃　muttered　Holmes；　pulling　at　the　rope。　〃There　are　one

or　two　very　singular　points　about　this　room。　For　example；　what　a

fool　a　builder　must　be　to　open　a　ventilator　into　another　room；　when；

with　the　same　trouble；　he　might　have　communicated　with　the　outside

air！〃

　　〃That　is　also　quite　modern；〃　said　the　lady。

　　〃Done　about　the　same　time　as　the　bell…rope？〃　remarked　Holmes。

　　〃Yes；　there　were　several　little　changes　carried　out　about　that

time。〃

　　〃They　seem　to　have　been　of　a　most　interesting　character…dummy

bell…ropes；　and　ventilators　which　do　not　ventilate。　With　your

permission；　Miss　Stoner；　we　shall　now　carry　our　researches　into　the

inner　apartment。〃

　　Dr。　Grimesby　Roylott's　chamber　was　larger　than　that　of　his

stepdaughter；　but　was　as　plainly　furnished。　A　camp…bed；　a　small　wooden

shelf　full　of　books；　mostly　of　a　technical　character；　an　armchair

beside　the　bed；　a　plain　wooden　chair　against　the　wall；　a　round

table；　and　a　large　iron　safe　were　the　principal　things　which　met　the

eye。　Holmes　walked　slowly　round　and　examined　each　and　all　of　them　with

the　keenest　interest。

　　〃What's　in　here？〃　he　asked；　tapping　the　safe。

　　〃My　stepfather's　business　papers。〃

　　〃Oh！　you　have　seen　inside；　then？〃

　　〃Only　once；　some　years　ago。　I　remember　that　it　was　full　of　papers。〃

　　〃There　isn't　a　cat　in　it；　for　example？'

　　〃No。　What　a　strange　idea！〃

　　〃Well；　look　at　this！〃　He　took　up　a　small　saucer　of　milk　which

stood　on　the　top　of　it。

　　〃No；　we　don't　keep　a　cat。　But　there　is　a　cheetah　and　a　baboon。〃

　　〃Ah；　yes；　of　course！　Well；　a　cheetah　is　just　a　big　cat；　and　yet　a

saucer　of　milk　does　not　go　very　far　in　satisfying　its　wants；　I

daresay。　There　is　one　point　which　I　should　wish　to　determine。〃　He

squatted　down　in　front　of　the　wooden　chair　and　examined　the　seat　of　it

with　the　greatest　attention。

　　〃Thank　you。　That　is　quite　settled；〃　said　he；　rising　and　putting

his　lens　in　his　pocket。　〃Hello！　Here　is　something　interesting！〃

　　The　object　which　had　caught　his　eye　was　a　small　dog　lash　hung　on　one

corner　of　the　bed。　The　lash；　however；　was　curled　upon　itself　and

tied　so　as　to　make　a　loop　of　whipcord。

　　〃What　do　you　make　of　that；　Watson？〃

　　〃It's　a　common　enough　lash。　But　I　don't　know　why　it　should　be　tied。〃

　　〃That　is　not　quite　so　common；　is　it？　Ah；　me！　it's　a　wicked　world；

and　when　a　clever　man　turns　his　brains　to　crime　it　is　the　worst　of

all。　I　think　that　I　have　seen　enough　now；　Miss　Stoner；　and　with　your

permission　we　shall　walk　out　upon　the　lawn。〃

　　I　had　never　seen　my　friend's　face　so　grim　or　his　brow　so　dark　as

it　was　when　we　turned　from　the　scene　of　this　investigation。　We　had

walked　several　times　up　and　down　the　lawn；　neither　Miss　Stoner　nor

myself　liking　to　break　in　upon　his　thoughts　before　he　roused　himself

from　his　reverie。

　　〃It　is　very　essential；　Miss　Stoner；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　should

absolutely　follow　my　advice　in　every　respect。〃

　　〃I　shall　most　certainly　do　so。〃

　　〃The　matter　is　too　serious　for　any　hesitation。　Your　life　may

depend　upon　your　compliance。〃

　　〃I　assure　you　that　I　am　in　your　hands。〃

　　〃In　the　first　place；　both　my　friend　and　I　must　spend　the　night　in

your　room。〃

　　Both　Miss　Stoner　and　I　gazed　at　him　in　astonishment。

　　〃Yes；　it　must　be　so。　Let　me　explain。　I　believe　that　that　is　the

village　inn　over　there？〃

　　〃Yes；　that　is　the　Crown。〃

　　〃Very　good。　Your　windows　would　be　visible　from　there？〃

　　〃Certainly。〃

　　〃You　must　confine　yourself　to　your　room；　on　pretence　of　a

headache；　when　your　stepfather　comes　back。　Then　when　you　hear　him

retire　for　the　night；　you　must　open　the　shutters　of　your　window；

undo　the　hasp；　put　your　lamp　there　as　a　signal　to　us；　and　then

withdraw　quietly　with　everything　which　you　are　likely　to　want　into　the

room　which　you　used　to　occupy。　I　have　no　doubt　that；　in　spite　of　the

repairs；　you　could　manage　there　for　one　night。〃

　　〃Oh；　yes；　easily。〃

　　〃The　rest　you　will　leave　in　our　hands。〃

　　〃But　what　will　you　do？〃

　　〃We　shall　spend　the　night　in　your　room；　and　we　shall　investigate　the

cause　of　this　noise　which　has　disturbed　you。〃

　　〃I　believe；　Mr。　Holmes；　that　you　have　already　made　up　your　mind；〃

said　Miss　Stoner；　laying　her　hand　upon　my　companion's　sleeve。

　　〃Perhaps　I　have。〃

　　〃Then；　for　pity's　sake；　tell　me　what　was　the　cause　of　my　sister's

death。〃

　　〃I　should　prefer　to　have　clearer　proofs　before　I　speak。〃

　　〃You　can　at　least　tell　me　whether　my　own　thought　is　correct；　and

if　she　died　from　some　sudden　fright。〃

　　〃No；　I　do　not　think　so。　I　think　that　there　was　probably　some　more

tangible　cause。　And　now；　Miss　Stoner；　we　must　leave　you；　for　if　Dr。

Roylott　returned　and　saw　us　our　journey　would　be　in　vain。　Good…bye；

and　be　brave；　for　if　you　will　do　what　I　have　told　you　rest　assured

that　we　shall　soon　drive　away　the　dangers　that　threaten　you。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　and　I　had　no　difficulty　in　engaging　a　bedroom　and

sitting…room　at　the　Crown　Inn。　They　were　on　the　upper　floor；　and

from　our　window　we　could　command　a　view　of　the　avenue　gate；　and　of　the

inhabited　wing　of　Stoke　Moran　Manor　House。　At　dusk　we　saw　Dr。　Grimesby

Roylott　drive　past；　his　huge　form　looming　up　beside　the　little

figure　of　the　lad　who　drove　him。　The　boy　had　some　slight　difficulty　in

undoing　the　heavy　iron　gates；　and　we　heard　the　hoarse　roar　of　the

doctor's　voice　and　saw　the　fury　with　which　he　shook　his　clinched　fists

at　him。　The　trap　drove　on；　and　a　few　minutes　later　we　saw　a　sudden

light　spring　up　among　the　trees　as　the　lamp　was　lit　in　one　of　the

sitting…rooms。

　　〃Do　you　know；　Watson；〃　said　Holmes　as　we　sat　together　in　the

gathering　darkness；　〃I　have　really　some　scruples　as　to　taking　you

to…night。　There　is　a　distinct　element　of　danger。〃

　　〃Can　I　be　of　assistance？〃

　　〃Your　presence　might　be　invaluable。〃

　　〃Then　I　shall　certainly　come。〃

　　〃It　is　very　kind　of　you。〃

　　〃You　speak　of　danger。　You　have　evidently　seen　more　in　these　rooms

than　was　visible　to　me。〃

　　〃No；　but　I　fancy　that　I　may　have　deduced　a　little　more。　I　imagine

that　you　saw　all　that　I　did。〃

　　〃I　saw　nothing　remarkable　save　the　bell…rope；　and　what　purpose

that　could　answer　I　confess　is　more　than　I　can　imagine。〃

　　〃You　saw　the　ventilator；　too？〃

　　〃Yes；　but　I　do　not　think　that　it　is　such　a　very　unusual　thing　to

have　a　small　opening　between　two　rooms。　It　was　so　small　that　a　rat

could　hardly　pass　through。〃

　　〃I　knew　that　we　should　find　a　ventilator　before　ever　we　came　to

Stoke　Moran。〃

　　〃My　dear　Holmes！〃

　　〃Oh；　yes；　I　did。　You　remember　in　her　statement　she　said　that　her

sister　could　smell　Dr。　Roylott's　cigar。　Now；　of　course　that

suggested　at　once　that　there　must　be　a　communication　between　the　two

rooms。　It　could　only　be　a　small　one；　or　would　have　been　remarked

upon　at　the　coroner's　inquiry。　I　deduced　a　ventilator。〃

　　〃But　what　harm　can　there　be　in　that？〃

　　〃Well；　there　is　at　least　a　curious　coincidence　of　dates。　A

ventilator　is　made；　a　cord　is　hung；　and　a　lady　who　sleeps　in　the　bed

dies。　Does　not　that　strike　you？〃

　　〃I　cannot　as　yet　see　any　connection。〃

　　〃Did　you　observe　anything　very　peculiar　about　that　bed？〃

　　〃No。〃

　　〃It　was　clamped　to　the　floor。　Did　you　ever　see　a　bed　fastened　like

that　before？〃

　　〃I　cannot　say　that　I　have。〃

　　〃The　lady　could　not　move　her　bed。　It　must　always　be　in　the　same

relative　position　to　the　ventilator　and　to　the　rope…or　so　we　may

call　it；　since　it　was　clearly　never　meant　for　a　bell…pull。〃

　　〃Holmes；〃　I　cried；　〃I　seem　to　see　dimly　what　you　are　hinting　at。

We　are　only　just　in　time　to　prevent　some　subtle　and　horrible　crime。〃

　　〃Subtle　enough　and　horrible　enough。　When　a　doctor　does　go　wrong　he

is　the　first　of　criminals。　He　has　nerve　and　he　has　knowledge。　Palmer

and　Pritchard　were　among　the　heads　of　their　profession。　This　man

strikes　even　deeper；　but　I　think；　Watson；　that　we　shall　be　able　to

strike　deeper　still。　But　we　shall　have　horrors　enough　before　the　night

is　over；　for　goodness'　sake　let　us　have　a　quiet　pipe　and　turn　our

minds　for　a　few　hours　to　something　more　cheerful。〃



　　About　nine　o'clock　the　light　among　the　trees　was　extinguished；　and

all　was　dark　in　the　direction　of　the　Manor　House。　Two　hours　passed

slowly　away；　and　then；　suddenly；　just　at　the　stroke　of　eleven；　a

single　bright　light　shone　out　right　in　front　of　us。

　　〃That　is　our　signal；〃　said　Holmes；　springing　to　his　feet；　〃it

comes　from　the　middle　window。〃

　　As　we　passed　out　he　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the　landlord；

explaining　that　we　were　going　on　a　late　visit　to　an　acquaintance；

and　that　it　was　possible　that　we　might　spend　the　night　there。　A　moment

later　we　were　out　on　the　dark　road；　a　chill　wind　blowing　in　our　faces；

and　one　yellow　light　twinkling　in　front　of　us　through　the　gloom　to

guide　us　on　our　sombre　errand。

　　There　was　little　difficulty　in　entering　the　grounds；　for

unrepaired　breaches　gaped　in　the　old　park　wall。　Making　our　way　among

the　trees；　we　reached　the　lawn；　crossed　it；　and　were　about　to　enter

through　the　window　when　out　from　a　clump　of　laurel　bushes　there　darted

what　seemed　to　be　a　hideous　and　distorted　child；　who　threw　itself　upon

the　grass　with　writhing　limbs　and　then　ran　swiftly　acros