Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1078 page)

HOLMES
: I have not lost sight of it.

MONTAGUE
: That man Henderson was a bad man, Holmes, an evil liver and a corruption. Yes, sir, a corruption a danger. Who knows what passed between them? I’ve suspicions — I’ve always had my suspicions.

HOLMES
: So you said.

MONTAGUE
: Have you worked any further on that line, sir? Because, if you tell me from time to time how it is shaping, I may be able to give you a word in season.

HOLMES
: I have my eye on him — a very cunning rascal, as you say. We have not enough to arrest him on, but we work away in the hope.

MONTAGUE
: Good, Mr. Holmes, good! Watch him; you’ll get him, as safe as Judgment.

HOLMES
: I’ll let you know if anything comes of it. (
Rings
.)

MONTAGUE
(
rising
): That’s right, sir. Watch ‘im. I’m his brother, sir. It’s me that should know. It’s never out of my mind.

(
Enter
BILLY
.)

HOLMES
: Very good, Mr. Montague. Good-morning.

(
MONTAGUE
and
BILLY
go out
.)

Curious little murder, Watson; done for most inadequate motive. That was the murderer.

WATSON
: Good Heavens!

HOLMES
: My case is almost complete. Meanwhile I amuse him and myself by the pretended pursuit of the wrong man — an ancient device, Watson.

(
Re-enter
BILLY
.)

Well, any more?

BILLY
: Mr. Milverton is here, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES
: Show him in when I ring.

(
BILLY
goes out
.)

I am sorry to delay the business upon which you wished to consult me; but this, I hope, will be the last. You remember Milverton?

WATSON
: No.

HOLMES
: Ah! it was after your time. The most crawling reptile in London — the King of the Blackmailers — a cunning, ruthless devil. I have traced seventeen suicides to that man’s influence. It is he who is after the Duchess of Ferrers.

WATSON
: The beautiful Duchess, whose re-marriage is announced?

HOLMES
: Exactly. He has a letter which he thinks would break off the wedding. (
Rings
.) It is my task to regain it.

(
Enter
MILVERTON
.)

Well, Mr. Milverton. Pray take a seat.

MILVERTON
: Who is this?

HOLMES
: My friend, Dr. Watson. Do you mind?

MILVERTON
(
sitting
): Oh! I have no object in secrecy. It is your client’s reputation, not mine, which is at stake.

HOLMES
: Your reputation! Good Heavens! (
Crossing to fireplace and filling pipe from slipper
.)

MILVERTON
: Not much to lose there, is there, Mr. Holmes? I can’t be hurt. But she can. Hardly a fair fight, is it?

HOLMES
: What are the terms now? (
Filling pipe
.)

MILVERTON
: Steady at seven thousand. No money — no marriage.

HOLMES
: Suppose she tells the whole story to the Marquis? Then your letter is not worth sixpence. He would condone all. Come, now, what harm is in the letter?

MILVERTON
: Sprightly — very sprightly. However, it is purely a matter of business. If you think it is in the best interests of your client that the Marquis should see the letter — why, you would be very foolish to pay a large sum to regain it.

HOLMES
: The lady has no great resources.

MILVERTON
: But her marriage is a most suitable time for her friends and relations to make some little effort. I can assure you that this envelope would give more joy than all the tiaras and bracelets in Regent Street.

HOLMES
: No, it is impossible!

MILVERTON
: Dear me! Dear me! How unfortunate.

HOLMES
: It can profit you in no way to push matters to an end.

MILVERTON
: There you mistake. I have other cases maturing. If it were known that I had been severe on the Duchess the others would be more open to reason.

HOLMES
: Well, well, you give us till noon to-morrow? (
Rings
.)

MILVERTON
: But not an hour longer.

(Enter BILLY.)

HOLMES: We are at your mercy. Surely you won’t treat us too harshly?

MILVERTON: Not a minute longer. (Putting on hat.)

(BILLY and MILVERTON go out.)

Terrible! Terrible! A fumigator would be useful, eh, Watson — Pah!

WATSON
: What can you do?

HOLMES
: My dear Watson — what have I done? It is this gentleman’s cook who has honoured me. In the intervals of philandering, I have made an acquaintance with the lock on the safe. Mr. Milverton spent last night at his club; when he returns home he will find there has been a little burglary at The Battersea, and his precious letter is missing. (
Rings
.)

WATSON
: Holmes, you are splendid!

(
Enter
BILLY
.)

HOLMES
: Tut, tut! (
To
BILLY
.) Well, any more?

BILLY
: One lady, sir — just come — Miss Enid Stonor, of Stoke Moran.

WATSON
: Ah! this is the case. (
Rising
.)

HOLMES
: I’ll ring, Billy.

(
BILLY
goes out
.)

Now, Watson! Stonor! Stonor! Surely I associate the name with something?

WATSON
: I told you of the case at the time. Sudden mysterious death of a girl at an old house in Stoke Moran, some two years ago.

HOLMES
: My dear fellow! it all comes back to me. An inquest was it not, with a string of most stupid and ineffectual witnesses.

WATSON
: I was one of them.

HOLMES
: Of course — so you were, so you were. I docketed the evidence. It introduced to my notice a gentleman of singular and most interesting personality. I have a few notes. (
Takes down a scrapbook from a row
.) Let’s see — it’s R — Ranter — Roma — Rylott! That’s our man. Fifty-five years of age, killed his khitmutgar in India; once in a madhouse, married money — wife died — distinguished surgeon. Well, Watson, what has the distinguished surgeon been up to now? (
Throwing scrapbook on divan
.)

WATSON
: Devilry, I fear.

HOLMES
: I have the case very clear in my mind.

WATSON
: Then you may remember that the death of the lady followed close upon her engagement?

HOLMES
: Exactly.

WATSON
: Miss Enid Stonor in turn became engaged, about a month ago, to a neighbour, Lieutenant Curtis.

HOLMES
: Ah!

WATSON
: Unhappily, the young man leaves for the Mediterranean to-day. She will henceforward be alone at Stoke Moran.

HOLMES
: I see.

WATSON
: And some circumstances have excited her alarm.

HOLMES
: I gather that the amiable stepfather stands to lose in case of a marriage.

WATSON
: That is so. Of course, supposing that Rylott did the other girl to death, it seems unlikely, on the face of it, that he would try it on again, as two sudden deaths in the house could hardly pass the coroner —

HOLMES
: No, no, Watson! you are making the mistake of putting your normal brain into Rylott’s abnormal being. The born criminal is often a monstrous egotist. His mind is unhinged from the beginning. What he wants he must have. Because he thinks a thing, it is right. Because he does a thing, it will escape detection. You can’t say a priori that he will take this view or that one. Perhaps we had best have the young lady in. (
Rings bell.
) My dear fellow, you’ll get into trouble if you go about righting the wrongs of distressed damsels. It won’t do, Watson, it really won’t.

(
Enter
ENID
.
WATSON
gets up and meets her.
)

WATSON
: How do you do, Miss Enid? This is my friend, Mr. Holmes, of whom I spoke.

(
HOLMES
shakes hands with
ENID
.)

HOLMES
: How do you do, Miss Stonor? Dear me! you must find a dog-cart a cold conveyance in this weather.

ENID
: A dog-cart, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES
: One can hardly fail to observe the tell-tale splashes on the left sleeve. A white horse and clay soil are indicated. But what is this? You are trembling. Do sit down.

ENID (
looking round and sitting on settee
): Tell me, Mr. Holmes, my stepfather has not been here?

HOLMES
: No.

ENID
: He saw me in the street. I dashed past him in a cab. he saw me; our eyes met, and he waved me to stop.

HOLMES
: Why is your stepfather in London?

ENID
: He came up on business.

HOLMES
: It would be interesting to know what the business was.

ENID
: It was to get a new butler. Rodgers, our old one, leave us, and a new butler is to come at once. I doubt if any servant would come to such a place.

HOLMES
: He may certainly find some difficulty. He would, no doubt, apply to an agent.

ENID
: At two o’clock, to Patterson and Green, of Cavendish Street.

HOLMES
: Exactly. I know them. But this is a digression, is it not? We get back to the fact that he saw you in the street?

ENID
: Yes, it was in Pall Mall. I fancy he followed me.

HOLMES
: Would he imagine you would come here?

ENID
: No, he would think I was going to Dr. Watson’s. He knows that Dr. Watson is my only friend in London.

HOLMES
: What has been Dr. Ryolott’s attitude towards you your engagement?

ENID
: He has been much kinder, because he knows I have one to protect me. But even so, there are moments — (
Raises her arm.
)

HOLMES
: Good Heavens!

ENID
: He does not realise his own strength. When he is angry he is like a fierce wild beast. Only last week he thrashed the blacksmith.

HOLMES
: He is welcome to the blacksmith, but not to my clients. This must not occur again. Does your fiancé know of this?

ENID
: I would not dare to tell him. He would do something dreadful. Besides, as I say, my stepfather has, on the whole, been kinder. But there is a look in his eyes, when I turn on him suddenly, that chills me to the bone. His kindness is from his head, not from his heart. I feel as if he were waiting — waiting —