The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Part 10 (1/2)
”You see you begin, 'Whereas, at about a quarter to one on Tuesdayan attempt was made,' and so on It was at a quarter to twelve, as a matter of fact”
I was pained at the mistake, for I kne keenly Holmes would feel any slip of the kind It was his specialty to be accurate as to fact, but his recent illness had shaken hih to showhimself He was obviously embarrassed for an instant, while the Inspector raised his eyebrows, and Alec Cunninghaentleman corrected the mistake, however, and handed the paper back to Holmes
”Get it printed as soon as possible,” he said; ”I think your idea is an excellent one”
Holmes put the slip of paper carefully away into his pocket-book
”And now,” said he, ”it really would be a good thing that we should all go over the house together and lar did not, after all, carry anything aith hi, Holmes made an examination of the door which had been forced It was evident that a chisel or strong knife had been thrust in, and the lock forced back with it We could see the marks in the here it had been pushed in
”You don't use bars, then?” he asked
”We have never found it necessary”
”You don't keep a dog?”
”Yes, but he is chained on the other side of the house”
”When do the servants go to bed?”
”About ten”
”I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour”
”Yes”
”It is singular that on this particular night he should have been up Now, I should be very glad if you would have the kindness to show us over the house, Mr Cunninghae, with the kitchens branching away from it, led by a wooden staircase directly to the first floor of the house It ca opposite to a second more ornamental stair which ca opened the drawing-rooha keen note of the architecture of the house I could tell from his expression that he was on a hot scent, and yet I could not in the least i hiham with some impatience, ”this is surely very unnecessary That is my room at the end of the stairs, and ment whether it was possible for the thief to have co us”
”You et on a fresh scent, I fancy,” said the son with a rather malicious smile
”Still, I must ask you to humor me a little further I should like, for example, to see how far the s of the bedrooms command the front This, I understand is your son's room”--he pushed open the door--”and that, I presu when the alariven Where does theof that look out to?” He stepped across the bedroolanced round the other chamber
”I hope that you are satisfied now?” said Mr Cunningham, tartly
”Thank you, I think I have seen all that I wished”
”Then if it is really necessary we can go into my room”
”If it is not too ed his shoulders, and led the way into his own chamber, which was a plainly furnished and commonplace room As we moved across it in the direction of the , Holroup Near the foot of the bed stood a dish of oranges and a carafe of water As we passed it Holmes, to my unutterable astonishment, leaned over in front of lass smashed into a thousand pieces and the fruit rolled about into every corner of the room
”You've done it now, Watson,” said he, coolly ”A pretty mess you've an to pick up the fruit, understanding for some reason my companion desired me to take the blame upon s again
”Hullo!” cried the Inspector, ”where's he got to?”
Hol Alec Cunningham ”The fellow is off his head, in ot to!”
They rushed out of the roo at each other
”'Pon ree with Master Alec,” said the official ”It may be the effect of this illness, but it seems to me that--”
His words were cut short by a sudden screanized the voice of that ofThe cries, which had sunk down into a hoarse, inarticulate shouting, came from the room which we had first visited I dashed in, and on into the dressing-roo over the prostrate figure of Sherlock Hol his throat with both hands, while the elder see one of his wrists In an instant the three of us had torn theered to his feet, very pale and evidently greatly exhausted
”Arrest these e?”
”That oftheir coachman, William Kirwan”
The Inspector stared about him in bewilderment ”Oh, come now, Mr Holmes,” said he at last, ”I'm sure you don't really mean to--”
”Tut, man, look at their faces!” cried Holmes, curtly
Never certainly have I seen a plainer confession of guilt upon human countenances The older man seemed nuly-marked face The son, on the other hand, had dropped all that jaunty, dashi+ng style which had characterized hileamed in his dark eyes and distorted his handso to the door, he blew his whistle Two of his constables caham,” said he ”I trust that this may all prove to be an absurd mistake, but you can see that--Ah, would you? Drop it!” He struck out with his hand, and a revolver which the youngerclattered down upon the floor
”Keep that,” said Hol his foot upon it; ”you will find it useful at the trial But this is e really wanted” He held up a little crumpled piece of paper
”The remainder of the sheet!” cried the Inspector
”Precisely”
”And where was it?”
”Where I was sure it must be I'll make the whole matter clear to you presently I think, Colonel, that you and Watson ain in an hour at the furthest The Inspector and I must have a ith the prisoners, but you will certainly see ood as his word, for about one o'clock he rejoined us in the Colonel's sentleman, as introduced to inal burglary
”I wished Mr Acton to be present while I demonstrated this small matter to you,” said Holmes, ”for it is natural that he should take a keen interest in the details I aret the hour that you took in such a stormy petrel as I am”
”On the contrary,” answered the Colonel, ware to have been per I confess that they quite surpass my expectations, and that I am utterly unable to account for your result I have not yet seen the vestige of a clue”
”I am afraid that my explanation may disillusion you but it has always been my habit to hide none of my ht take an intelligent interest in the about which I had in the dressing-room, I think that I shall help th had been rather tried of late”