The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Part 19 (1/2)
”You ht tell theht,” cried Phelps, as we began to o back to Briarbrae,” answered Holmes, and waved his hand to us cheerily as we shot out from the station
Phelps and I talked it over on our journey, but neither of us could devise a satisfactory reason for this new development
”I suppose he wants to find out solar it was For myself, I don't believe it was an ordinary thief”
”What is your own idea, then?”
”Upon my word, you may put it down to my weak nerves or not, but I believe there is so on aroundh-flown and absurd, but consider the facts! Why should a thief try to break in at a bedroom here there could be no hope of any plunder, and why should he co knife in his hand?”
”You are sure it was not a house-breaker's jimmy?”
”Oh, no, it was a knife I saw the flash of the blade quite distinctly”
”But why on earth should you be pursued with such animosity?”
”Ah, that is the question”
”Well, if Holmes takes the same view, that would account for his action, would it not? Presu that your theory is correct, if he can lay his hands upon theway towards finding who took the naval treaty It is absurd to suppose that you have two enemies, one of whom robs you, while the other threatens your life”
”But Hol to Briarbrae”
”I have known hi yet without a very good reason,” and with that our conversation drifted off on to other topics
But it was a weary day forillness, and his misfortune made him querulous and nervous In vain I endeavored to interest hi which roove He would always co, as to what Hol, what nee should have in thewore on his excitement became quite painful
”You have implicit faith in Holmes?” he asked
”I have seen hiht into anything quite so dark as this?”
”Oh, yes; I have known him solve questions which presented fewer clues than yours”
”But not where such large interests are at stake?”
”I don't know that To e he has acted on behalf of three of the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters”
”But you know him well, Watson He is such an inscrutable fellow that I never quite knohat to make of him Do you think he is hopeful? Do you think he expects to ”
”That is a bad sign”
”On the contrary, I have noticed that when he is off the trail he generally says so It is when he is on a scent and is not quite absolutely sure yet that it is the right one that he is most taciturn Now,ourselves nervous about theo to bed and so be fresh for whatever may await us to-morrow”
I was able at last to persuade h I knew from his excited manner that there was not much hope of sleep for hi half the nighta hundred theories, each of which was more i? Why had he asked Miss Harrison to remain in the sick-room all day? Why had he been so careful not to inform the people at Briarbrae that he intended to reelled my brains until I fell asleep in the endeavor to find some explanation which would cover all these facts
It was seven o'clock when I awoke, and I set off at once for Phelps's rooht His first question hether Holmes had arrived yet
”He'll be here when he promised,” said I, ”and not an instant sooner or later”
And ht a hanso in the e saw that his left hand athed in a bandage and that his face was very grim and pale He entered the house, but it was some little time before he came upstairs
”He looks like a beaten man,” cried Phelps
I was forced to confess that he was right ”After all,” said I, ”the clue of the roan
”I don't kno it is,” said he, ”but I had hoped for so much from his return But surely his hand was not tied up like that yesterday What can be the matter?”
”You are not wounded, Holmes?” I asked, as my friend entered the rooh s to us ”This case of yours, Mr Phelps, is certainly one of the darkest which I have ever investigated”
”I feared that you would find it beyond you”
”It has been a e tells of adventures,” said I ”Won't you tell us what has happened?”
”After breakfast, my dear Watson Remember that I have breathed thirtyI suppose that there has been no answer from my cabman advertisement? Well, well, we cannot expect to score every time”
The table was all laid, and just as I was about to ring Mrs Hudson entered with the tea and coffee A few ht in three covers, and we all drew up to the table, Holloomiest state of depression
”Mrs Hudson has risen to the occasion,” said Hol a dish of curried chicken ”Her cuisine is a little liood an idea of breakfast as a Scotch-wos,” I answered
”Good! What are you going to take, Mr Phelps--curried fowl or eggs, or will you help yourself?”
”Thank you I can eat nothing,” said Phelps
”Oh, come! Try the dish before you”
”Thank you, I would really rather not”
”Well, then,” said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle, ”I suppose that you have no objection to helping me?”