Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1053 page)

MADGE
(
as she laughs
): Really Mr. Holmes, that’s too grotesque, ha! ha!

(
HOLMES
,
seated in arm-chair among the cushions, regards
MADGE
and
LARRABEE
with a peculiar whimsical look
.)

LARRABEE
(
laughing
): Perhaps you’ll do better next time! (
Closes safe door.
)

MADGE
:  Yes, next time — (
HOLMES
is looking at them
.) You might try on me, Mr. Holmes. (
Looking playfully at
HOLMES
,
greatly enjoying the lark
.)

LARRABEE
:  Yes, what do you think of her?

HOLMES
:  It is very easy to discern one thing about Miss Faulkner — and that is, that she is particularly fond of the piano that her touch is exquisite, her expression wonderful, and her technique extraordinary. While she likes light music very well, she is extremely fond of some of the great masters, among whom are Chopin, Liszt. She plays a great deal indeed; I see it is her chief diversion — which makes it all the more remarkable that she has not touched the piano for three days.

(
Pause
.)

MADGE
(
turning to
LARRABEE
—
a trifle disconcerted by
HOLMES’S
last words, but nearly hiding it with success
): Why that’s quite surprising, isn’t it?

LARRABEE
:  Certainly better than he did for me.

HOLMES
(
rising
..): I am glad to somewhat repair my shattered reputation, and as a reward, will Miss Faulkner be so good as to play me something of which I am particularly fond?

MADGE
:  I shall be delighted — if I can. (
Looks questioningly at
HOLMES
.)

HOLMES
:  If you can! Something tells me that Chopin’s Prelude Number Fifteen is at your finger ends.

MADGE
: Oh yes! (
Rising and forgetting her illness, and going to keyboard — crossing in front of piano
): I can give you that.

HOLMES
:  It will please me so much.

MADGE
(
stopping suddenly as she is about to sit at piano
): But tell me, Mr. Holmes, how did you know so much about my playing — my expression — technique?

HOLMES
:  Your hands.

MADGE
:  And my preference for the composers you mentioned?

HOLMES
:  Your music-rack.

MADGE
:  How simple! But you said I hadn’t played for three days. How did —

HOLMES
: The keys.

MADGE
:  The keys?

HOLMES
:  A light layer of dust.

MADGE
: Dust! Oh dear! (
Quick business with handkerchief on keyboard
.) I never knew Terèse to forget before. (
To
HOLMES
.) You must think us very untidy, I’m sure.

HOLMES
:  Quite the reverse. I see from many things that you are not untidy in the least, and therefore I am compelled to conclude that the failure of Térêse is due to something else.

MADGE
(
a little under breath — and hesitatingly — yet compelled by
HOLMES’
pointed statement to ask)
: Wh — what?

HOLMES
:  To some unusual excitement or disturbance that has recently taken place in this house.

MADGE
(
after an instant’s pause
): You’re doing very well, Mr. Holmes, and you deserve your Chopin. (
Sits, makes preparation to play rather hurriedly in order to change the subject
.)

HOLMES
: Thanks.

(
LARRABEE
looks toward safe, far from easy in his mind, and leans on piano, giving HOLMES a glance as he turns to
MADGE
.
MADGE
strikes a few preliminary chords during above business and soon begins to play the composition spoken of. Shortly after the music begins, and while
LARRABEE
is looking to front or elsewhere,
HOLMES
reaches quietly back and pulls the bell crank.  No sound of bell heard, the music supposed to make it inaudible.  He then sinks into seat just at bell. After a short time
FORMAN
enters and stands waiting just in the archway.
LARRABEE
does not see
FORMAN
at first, but happening to turn discovers him standing there and speaks a warning word to
MADGE
under his breath. 
MADGE
,
hearing
LARRABEE
speak, looks up and sees
FORMAN
. 
She stops playing in the midst of a bar — a hesitating stop. Looks at
FORMAN
a moment.
)

MADGE
:  What are you doing here, Judson?

(
Brief pause because
FORMAN
seems surprised
.)

FORMAN
:  I came to see what was wanted, ma’am.

(
Brief pause.
)

MADGE
:  What was wanted?

(
Brief pause
.)

LARRABEE
: Nobody asked you to come here.

FORMAN
: I beg pardon, sir. I answered the bell.

LARRABEE
(
becoming savage
): What bell?

FORMAN
: The drawing-room bell, sir.

LARRABEE
(
threateningly
): What do you mean, you blockhead!

FORMAN
: I’m quite sure it rang, sir.

LARRABEE
(
loud voice
): Well, I tell you it did not ring!

(
Pause. The
LARRABEES
look angrily at
FORMAN
.)

HOLMES
(
quietly — after slight pause — clear incisive voice.
): Your butler is right Mr. Chetwood — the bell did ring.

(
Brief pause.
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
looking at
HOLMES
.)

LARRABEE
:  How do you know?

HOLMES
:  I rang it.

(
MADGE
rises
.)

LARRABEE
(
roughly
): What do you want?

(
HOLMES
rises, takes card from case or pocket.
)

HOLMES
:  I want to send my card to Miss Faulkner. (
Gives card to
FORMAN
.)

(
FORMAN
stands apparently paralysed.
)

LARRABEE
(
angrily — approaching
HOLMES
): What right have you to ring for servants and give orders in my house?

HOLMES
(
turning on
LARRABEE
): What right have you to prevent my cards from reaching their destination — and how does it happen that you and this woman are resorting to trickery and deceit to prevent me from seeing Alice Faulkner? (T
he situation is held an instant and then he turns quietly to
FORMAN
.) Through some trifling oversight, Judson, neither of the cards I handed you have been delivered. See that this error — does not occur again.

(
FORMAN
stands, apparently uncertain what to do.
)

FORMAN
: My orders, sir —

HOLMES
(
quick — sharp
): Ah! you have orders! (
A sudden sharp glance at
LARRABEE
and back in an instant
.)

FORMAN
:  I can’t say, sir, as I —

HOLMES
(
quickly breaking in
): You were told not to deliver my card!

LARRABEE
(
step or two up
): What business is this of yours, I’d like to know?

HOLMES
:  I shall satisfy your curiosity on that point in a very short time.

LARRABEE
:  Yes — and you’ll find out in a very short time that it isn’t safe to meddle with me! It wouldn’t be any trouble at all for me to throw you out into the street.

HOLMES
(
sauntering easily towards him — shaking finger ominously
): Possibly not — but trouble would swiftly follow such an experiment on your part.

LARRABEE
:  It’s a cursed lucky thing for you I’m not armed.

HOLMES
:  Yes — well, when Miss Faulkner comes down you can go and arm yourself.

LARRABEE
: Arm myself! I’ll call the police! And what’s more, I’ll do it now.

(
HOLMES
steps down and faces
LARRABEE
)

HOLMES
:  You will not do it now. You will remain where you are until the lady I came here to see has entered this room.

LARRABEE
:  What makes you so sure of that?

HOLMES
(
in his face
) Because you will infinitely prefer to avoid an investigation of your very suspicious conduct Mr. James Larrabee —

(
A sharp start from both
LARRABEE
and
MADGE
on hearing
HOLMES
address the former by his proper name
.)

 
— an investigation that shall certainly take place if you or your wife presume further to interfere with my business (
Turns to
FORMAN
.) As for you, my man — it gives me great pleasure recall the features of an old acquaintance. Your recent connection with the signing of another man’s name to a small piece of paper has made your presence at Bow Street much desired. You either deliver that card to Miss Faulkner at once — or you sleep in the police station to night.  It is a matter of small consequence to me which you do. (
Turns and strolls near fire, picking book from mantelpiece — and sits
)

(
FORMAN
stands motionless but torn with conflicting fears)

FORMAN
(
finally in a low painful voice — whispers hoarse
): Shall I go sir?

(
MADGE
moves to near
LARRABEE
,
at piano.
)

LARRABEE
:  Go on. Take up the card — it makes no difference to me.

MADGE
(q
uick sharp aside to
LARRABEE
): If she comes down can’t he get them away from her?

LARRABEE
(
to
MADGE
) If he does Sid Prince is waiting for him outside.

(
FORMAN
appearing to be greatly relieved, turns and goes out up stairs with
HOLMES’
card
.)

(
Pathetic music, very pp
.)

(
A pause — no one moves
.)

(
Enter
ALICE FAULKNER
.
She comes down a little — very weak — looking at
LARRABEE
,
then seeing
HOLMES
for first time.
)