Books at bedtime. The sign of the four. Chapter 9 A break in the chain.
It was late in the afternoon before I woke. Strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes
still sat exactly as I had left him, saved that he had laid aside his violin and was deep
in a book. He looked across at me as I stood, and I noticed that his face was dark and
troubled. "You have slept soundly," he said. "I feared that our talk would wake you. I
heard nothing," I answered. "Have you had fresh news, then?"
Unfortunately, no. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. I expected some definite
by this time. Wiggins has just been up to report. He says that no trace can be found
of the launch. It is a provoking check that every hour is of importance.
Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now and quite ready for another night's outing.
"Nope, we can do nothing. We can only wait. If we go ourselves, the message might come
in our absence and delay me caused. You can do what you will, but I must remain on guard.
Then I shall run over to Campbellwell and call upon Miss Cecil Foster. She asked for me
yesterday. Ah, on Miss Cecil Foster asked Ohms, with a twinkle of a smile in his eyes?"
"Well, of course. Miss Morston too. They were anxious to hear what happened. I would not
tell them too much," said Ohms. "Women are never to be entirely trusted, not the best
of them. I did not pause to argue over this atrocious statement. I should be back in an hour
or two, I remark. All right, good luck, but I say, if you are crossing the river, you may
as well return Toby. For I don't think it is all likely that we shall have any use of
her now."
I took our mongrel accordingly and left him, together with a half-sovereign at the old
naturalists in Pinchin Lane. At Campbellwell, I found Miss Morston a little wary after her
night's adventures, but very eager to hear the news. Mrs. Porrester II was full of curiosity.
I told them all that we had done, suppressing, however, the more dreadful parts of the tragedy.
Thus, although I spoke of Mr. Shaltos' death, I said nothing of the exact manner or method
of it. With all my emissions, however, there was enough to startle an amazem. It is a romance,
cried Mrs. Porrester, an injured lady, half a million in treasure, a black cannibal and a
wooden-legged ruffian. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked oil. And
who night errants to the rescue, and admits Miss Morston, with a bright glance at me.
"Why, Mary, your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. I don't think that you
are nearly excited enough. Just imagine would it must be to be so rich and to have the
world at your feet?"
It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart, to notice that she showed no sign of elation
at the prospect. On the contrary, she gave a toss of her proud head as though the matter
were on which she had small interest.
"It is," Mr. Shaltos said at her amancho, she said. "Nothing else is of any consequence,
but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout. It is arduated to
clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. It was evening before I left Canberwell,
and quite dark by the time I reached home. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair,
but he had disappeared. I looked out in the hope of seeing a note, but there was none."
I suppose that Mr. Shaltos Holmes has gone out, I said to Mrs. Huston, as she came up to
the low of the blinds. "No, sir. He has gone to his room, sir. Do you know, sir, sinking
her voice into an impressive whisper? I am afraid for his health."
"Why so, Mrs. Hudson?" "Well, he is that strange, sir. After you was gone, he walked and he
walked up and down and up and down until I was weary of the sound of his footsteps. Then
I heard him talking to himself and muttering, and every time the bell rang, he came out on
the stairhead with, "What is that, Mrs. Hudson?"
"And now, he has slammed off to his room, but I can hear him walking away the same as ever.
I hope he's not going to be ill, sir. I venture to say something to him about cooling
medicine, but he turned on me, sir, with such a look that I don't know how I ever got
out of the room. I don't think you have any cause to be uneasy, Mrs. Hudson, I answered.
I have seen him like this before. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him
rest in it. I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady, but I was myself somewhat uneasy
when through the long night I still, from time to time, heard the dulled sad of his tread,
and knew how his keen spirit was chaffing against this involuntary inaction."
At breakfast time, he looked worn and haggard with a little fleck of feverish colour upon
either cheek. "You are knocking yourself up, old man," I remarked. "I heard you marching
about in the night." "No, I could not sleep," he answered. "The infernal problem is consuming
me. It is too much to be balked by so petty and obstacle, when all else has been overcome."
I know the men, the launch, everything, and yet I can get no good news. I have set other
agencies at work and used every means that my disposal. The whole river has been searched
on either side, but there is no news, nor has Mrs. Smith heard of her husband. I shall
come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttle the craft, but there are objections to that,
or that Mrs. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. No, I think that may be dismissed. I had inquiries
made, and there is a launch of that description. Could it have gone up the river? I have considered
that possibility too, and there is a search party who will work up as far as Richmond. If
no news comes today, I shall start off myself tomorrow and go for the men rather than the
boat, but surely, surely we shall have heard something. We did not, however, not a word came
to us, either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. There were articles in most of
the papers upon the Norwood tragedy. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate
thaddy's shoulder. No fresh details were to be found, however, in any of them, saved that
in inquest was to be held upon the following day. I walked over to Campbellwell in the evening
to report our ill-success to the ladies, and on my return I found homes dejected and somewhat
mirrored. He could hardly reply to my questions, and busyed himself all evening in the abtruse
chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors, ending
at last in a smell which barely drove me out of the apartment. Up to the small hours of
the morning I could hear the clinking of his test tubes which told me that he was still
engaged in his malodeurous experiments. In the early morning I woke with a start and was
surprised to find him standing by my bedside, clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea jacket
and a coarse red scarf around his neck. I am off down the river what's in said he. I've
been turning it over in my mind and I can see only one way out of it. It is worth trying
at all events. Surely I can come with you then said I? No. You can be much more useful.
If you will remain here with my representatives, I am loath to go for as is quiet on the
cards that some message may come during the day through Wiggins who was despondent about
it last night. I want you to open all notes and telegrams and to act on your own judgement
if any knew should come. Can I rely on you? Most certainly. I am afraid that you will not
be able to wire to me, for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself. If I am in luck
however, I may not be gone so very long, I shall have news of some sort before I get back.
I had heard nothing of him by breakfast time. On opening the standard however, I found
that there was a fresh illusion to the business. With reference to the upper norwood tragedy
remarked, "We have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex
and mysterious than was it originally supposed." Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite
impossible that Mr Thaddeus Shulto could have been in any way concerned in the matter.
He and the housekeeper Mrs Bernstein were both released yesterday evening. It is believed
however that the police have a clue as to the real culprits and that is being prosecuted
by Mr Atelny Jones of Scotland Yard with all his well-known energy and sagacity. Further
arrests may be expected at any moment. That is satisfactory so far as it goes, Thought
I. Friend Shulto is safe at any rate. I wonder what the fresh clue may be, though it seems
to be stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder.
I tossed the paper down upon the table, but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement
in the agony column. It ran in this way. Lost.
Whereas Mordekai Smith, Boatman and his son Jim left Smith Wharf at or about 3 o'clock
last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora, black with two red stripes, funnel black with
the white band. The sum of five pounds will be paid to anyone who can give information
to Mrs Smith at Smith's Wharf or at 221 B Baker Street as to the whereabouts of said Mordekai
Smith and the launch Aurora. This was clearly Holmes is doing. The Baker Street address
was enough to prove that. It struck me though as rather ingenious because it might be read
by the fugitives without their seeing it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her
missing husband.
It was a long day, every time that a knock came to the door or a sharp step passed in
the street. I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement.
I tried to read, but my thoughts would wander off to a strange quest until the illusorted
and vilianious pair whom we were put for touring. Could there be, I wondered, some radical
thought in my companions reasoning? Might he be suffering for some huge self deception?
Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon
faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong, and yet the keenest reason had made
occasionally be deceived. He was likely I thought to fall into error through the over-refinement
of his logic, his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a planer and
more commonplace one lay ready to hand. Yet on the other hand, I had myself seen the evidence
and I had heard the reasons for his deductions.
When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances, many of them triviling themselves,
but all tending in the same direction. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes
is explanations were incorrect, the true theory must be equally odd and startling.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, there was a loud peel at the bell, an authoritative voice
in the hall, and to my surprise, no less a person than Mr. Athenali Jones was shown up to
me. Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense
who had taken over the case so confidently up and nor would. His expression was downcast,
and his bearing me, and even apologetic.
"Good day, sir." "Good day," said he, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes as out, I understand."
"Yes, I cannot be sure when he will be back, but perhaps you would care to wait, take that
chair and try one of these cigars."
"Thank you, I don't mind if I do," said he, mopping his face with his red bandana hench
chief.
"And a whisky and solder?"
"Well, half a glass. It is very hot for this time of year, and I have a good deal to worry
and try me. You know my theory about this Norwood case. I remember that you expressed one."
"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it. I have had my neck drawn tightly around Mr.
Shulto's ear, when pop he went through the hole in the middle of it. He was able to prove
an alibi which could not be shaken."
On the time he left his brother's room, he was never out of sight of someone or another,
so it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap doors. It's a very dark case,
and my professional credit is at stake. I should be very glad of a little assistance.
We all need help sometimes, said I.
Your friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man, sir, said he, in a husky and confidential
voice. He's a man who is not to be beat. I have known that young man go into a good many
cases, but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is a regular
in his methods, and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories, but on the whole, I think
he would have made a most promising officer, and I don't care who knows it. I've had a
wire from him this morning by which I understand that he has got some clue to this shaltoe
business. Here is the message. He took the telegram out of his pocket and handed it to
me. It was dated from popular at 12 o'clock. Go to Baker Street at once, it said, "If
I have not returned, wait for me. I am close on the track of the shaltoe gang. You can
come with us tonight if you want to be in at the finish." This sounds well. He is evidently
picked up the cent against it, I. Then he has been at fault two exclaim chains with evidence
satisfaction. Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. Of course, this may prove to be
a false alarm, but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. But
there is someone at the door, perhaps this is he. A heavy step was heard ascending the stair
with a great wheezing and a rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath.
Once or twice he stopped, I saw the climb were too much for him, but at last he made his
way to our door and entered. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard.
He was an aged man, clad in seafaring garb, with an old pea jacket buttoned up to his throat.
His back was bowed and his knees were shaky and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. As
he leaned upon a thick, open cudgel, his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into
his lungs. He had a coloured scarf around his chin, and I could see little of his face,
a pair of keen dark eyes, over hung by bushy white brows and a long grey side whiskers.
Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen
into the years of poverty. "Why is it my man?" I asked. He looked about him in the slow methodical
fashion of old age. "Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he.
"No, but I am acting for him. You can tell me any message you have for him."
"It was to him himself, I was to tell it," said he. "But I tell you that I am acting for him.
Was it about more to kiesmith's boat?" "Yes, I know where it is, and I know where the men is,
he is after, and I know where the treasure is. I know all about it. And tell me, and I shall let him know."
"It was to him, I was to tell it," he repeated, with the petulant, obstinacy of a very old man.
"Well, you must wait for him." "No, no, I ain't going to lose a whole day to please no one.
If Mr. Holmes ain't here, then Mr. Holmes must find it all out for himself. I don't care
about the look of either of you, and I won't tell a word."
He shuffled towards the door, but a thinly jones got in front of him.
"Wait a bit, my friend," said he. "You have important information, and you must not walk off.
We shall keep you, whether you like to or not until our friend returns."
The old man made a little run towards the door, but as a thinly jones put his broad back up
against it, he recognised the uselessness of resistance.
Pretty sort of treatment there, so he cried, stamping his stick. "I come here to see a gentleman,
and you too, who I've never seen in my life, sees me and treat me in this fashion."
"You will be none the worse," I said. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time.
Sit here on the sofa, and you will not have a long to wait."
He came across suddenly enough and seeed himself with a face resting on his hands.
"Jones and I" resumed our cigars, and our talk. Suddenly, however, Holmes' voice broke in a
pond. "I think that you might offer me a cigar too," he said. "We're both started in our chairs."
There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quite amusement. "Homers, I explained.
You're here, but where is the old man?" Here is the old man, said he, holding out a heap of white
hair. Here he is, wig, whiskers, eyebrows and all. I thought my disguise was pretty good,
but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. "You rogue," cried Jones, highly delighted.
"You would have made an actor, and a rare one. You had a proper workhorse cough,
and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pounds a week."
"I thought I knew the glint of your eye, though. You didn't get away from us so easily," he said.
"I've been working in that get-up all day," said he, lighting his cigar. "You see,
a good many other criminal classes begin to know me, especially since our friend here took to
publishing some of my cases, so I can only go on the wall path under some simple disguise like this."
"You got my wire?" "Yes, that was what brought me here."
"Has your case prospered?" "It has all come to nothing. I have had to release two of my prisoners,
and there is no evidence against the other two." "Never mind. We shall give you or two others in
the place of them, but you must put yourself under my orders. You are welcome to all the official
credit, but you must act on the line that I point out. Is that agreed?"
"Intirely. If you will help me to the men." "Well, then, in the first place, I shall want a
fast police boat, a steam launch, to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock."
"That is easily managed. There is always one about there, but I can step across the road in
telephone to make sure. Then, I shall want two starch men in case of resistance."
"There will be two or three in the boat, what else?" "When we secure the men, we shall get the
treasure. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young
lady, to whom half of it is rightfully belonging. Let her be the first person to open it."
"Hey Watson, it would be a great pleasure to me." "Rather in a regular proceedings," said
Joan, shaking his head. "However, the whole thing is regular, and I suppose we must wink at it."
"The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official
investigation." "Certainly. That is easily managed." "One other point. I should very much like to have
a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself. You know, I like the work,
the detail of my cases out, but is there no objection to me having an unofficial interview with him?"
"Either here in my rooms or elsewhere, as long as he is efficiently guarding."
"Well, you are the master of this situation. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this
Jonathan Small. However, if you can catch him, I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him."
"That is understood then. Perfectly. Is there anything else?"
"Only that I insist upon you dining with this. It will be ready in half an hour. I have oysters and
a brace of grouse, with something a little choice in white wines." "Watson, you have never yet
recognized my merits as a housekeeper."