"Well, I never thought to see her again; but last voyage I was promoted,and the new boat was not yet launched, so I had to wait for a couple ofmonths with my people at Sydenham. One day out in a country lane I metTheresa Wright, her old maid. She told me about her, about him, abouteverything. I tell you, gentlemen, it nearly drove me mad. This drunkenhound, that he should dare to raise his hand to her whose boots he wasnot worthy to lick! I met Theresa again. Then I met Mary herself--andmet her again. Then she would meet me no more. But the other day I had anotice that I was to start on my voyage within a week, and I determinedthat I would see her once before I left. Theresa was always my friend,for she loved Mary and hated this villain almost as much as I did. Fromher I learned the ways of the house. Mary used to sit up reading in herown little room downstairs. I crept round there last night and scratchedat the window. At first she would not open to me, but in her heart Iknow that now she loves me, and she could not leave me in the frostynight. She whispered to me to come round to the big front window, andI found it open before me so as to let me into the dining-room. AgainI heard from her own lips things that made my blood boil, and againI cursed this brute who mishandled the woman that I loved. Well,gentlemen, I was standing with her just inside the window, in allinnocence, as Heaven is my judge, when he rushed like a madman into theroom, called her the vilest name that a man could use to a woman, andwelted her across the face with the stick he had in his hand. I hadsprung for the poker, and it was a fair fight between us. See here on myarm where his first blow fell. Then it was my turn, and I went throughhim as if he had been a rotten pumpkin. Do you think I was sorry? Not I!It was his life or mine, but far more than that it was his life or hers,for how could I leave her in the power of this madman? That was how Ikilled him. Was I wrong? Well, then, what would either of you gentlemenhave done if you had been in my position?"
"She had screamed when he struck her, and that brought old Theresa downfrom the room above. There was a bottle of wine on the sideboard, and Iopened it and poured a little between Mary's lips, for she was half deadwith the shock. Then I took a drop myself. Theresa was as cool asice, and it was her plot as much as mine. We must make it appear thatburglars had done the thing. Theresa kept on repeating our story to hermistress, while I swarmed up and cut the rope of the bell. Then I lashedher in her chair, and frayed out the end of the rope to make it looknatural, else they would wonder how in the world a burglar could havegot up there to cut it. Then I gathered up a few plates and pots ofsilver, to carry out the idea of a robbery, and there I left them withorders to give the alarm when I had a quarter of an hour's start. Idropped the silver into the pond and made off for Sydenham, feeling thatfor once in my life I had done a real good night's work. And that's thetruth and the whole truth, Mr. Holmes, if it costs me my neck."
Holmes smoked for some time in silence. Then he crossed the room andshook our visitor by the hand.
"That's what I think," said he. "I know that every word is true, for youhave hardly said a word which I did not know. No one but an acrobat or asailor could have got up to that bell-rope from the bracket, and no onebut a sailor could have made the knots with which the cord was fastenedto the chair. Only once had this lady been brought into contact withsailors, and that was on her voyage, and it was someone of her own classof life, since she was trying hard to shield him and so showing that sheloved him. You see how easy it was for me to lay my hands upon you whenonce I had started upon the right trail."
"I thought the police never could have seen through our dodge."
"And the police haven't; nor will they, to the best of my belief. Now,look here, Captain Croker, this is a very serious matter, though I amwilling to admit that you acted under the most extreme provocation towhich any man could be subjected. I am not sure that in defence of yourown life your action will not be pronounced legitimate. However, that isfor a British jury to decide. Meanwhile I have so much sympathy for youthat if you choose to disappear in the next twenty-four hours I willpromise you that no one will hinder you."
"And then it will all come out?"
"Certainly it will come out."
The sailor flushed with anger.
"What sort of proposal is that to make a man? I know enough of law tounderstand that Mary would be had as accomplice. Do you think I wouldleave her alone to face the music while I slunk away? No, sir; let themdo their worst upon me, but for Heaven's sake, Mr. Holmes, find some wayof keeping my poor Mary out of the courts."
Holmes for a second time held out his hand to the sailor.
"I was only testing you, and you ring true every time. Well, it is agreat responsibility that I take upon myself, but I have given Hopkinsan excellent hint, and if he can't avail himself of it I can do no more.See here, Captain Croker, we'll do this in due form of law. You are theprisoner. Watson, you are a British jury, and I never met a man who wasmore eminently fitted to represent one. I am the judge. Now, gentlemanof the jury, you have heard the evidence. Do you find the prisonerguilty or not guilty?"
"Not guilty, my lord," said I.
"Vox populi, vox Dei. You are acquitted, Captain Croker. So long as thelaw does not find some other victim you are safe from me. Come backto this lady in a year, and may her future and yours justify us in thejudgment which we have pronounced this night."
*****
THE STRAND MAGAZINE Vol. 28 DECEMBER, 1904 THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
XIII.--The Adventure of the Second Stain.
I HAD intended "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange" to be the last ofthose exploits of my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, which I should evercommunicate to the public. This resolution of mine was not due to anylack of material, since I have notes of many hundreds of cases to whichI have never alluded, nor was it caused by any waning interest on thepart of my readers in the singular personality and unique methods ofthis remarkable man. The real reason lay in the reluctance which Mr.Holmes has shown to the continued publication of his experiences.So long as he was in actual professional practice the records ofhis successes were of some practical value to him; but since hehas definitely retired from London and betaken himself to study andbee-farming on the Sussex Downs, notoriety has become hateful to him,and he has peremptorily requested that his wishes in this matter shouldbe strictly observed. It was only upon my representing to him that Ihad given a promise that "The Adventure of the Second Stain" should bepublished when the times were ripe, and pointing out to him that it isonly appropriate that this long series of episodes should culminate inthe most important international case which he has ever been calledupon to handle, that I at last succeeded in obtaining his consent that acarefully-guarded account of the incident should at last be laid beforethe public. If in telling the story I seem to be somewhat vague incertain details the public will readily understand that there is anexcellent reason for my reticence.
It was, then, in a year, and even in a decade, that shall be nameless,that upon one Tuesday morning in autumn we found two visitors ofEuropean fame within the walls of our humble room in Baker Street. Theone, austere, high-nosed, eagle-eyed, and dominant, was none other thanthe illustrious Lord Bellinger, twice Premier of Britain. The other,dark, clear-cut, and elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and endowed withevery beauty of body and of mind, was the Right Honourable TrelawneyHope, Secretary for European Affairs, and the most rising statesman inthe country. They sat side by side upon our paper-littered settee,and it was easy to see from their worn and anxious faces that it wasbusiness of the most pressing importance which had brought them. ThePremier's thin, blue-veined hands were clasped tightly over the ivoryhead of his umbrella, and his gaunt, ascetic face looked gloomily fromHolmes to me. The European Secretary pulled nervously at his moustacheand fidgeted with the seals of his watch-chain.
"When I discovered my loss, Mr. Holmes, which was at eight o'clock thismorning, I at once informed the Prime Minister. It was at his suggestionthat we have both come to you."
"Have you informed the police?"
"No, sir," said the Prime Minister, with the quick, decisive manner forwhich he was famous. "We have not done so, nor is it possible that weshould do so. To inform the police must, in the long run, mean to informthe public. This is what we particularly desire to avoid."
"And why, sir?"
"Because the document in question is of such immense importance thatits publication might very easily--I might almost say probably--lead toEuropean complications of the utmost moment. It is not too much to saythat peace or war may hang upon the issue. Unless its recovery can beattended with the utmost secrecy, then it may as well not be recoveredat all, for all that is aimed at by those who have taken it is that itscontents should be generally known."
"I understand. Now, Mr. Trelawney Hope, I should be much obliged ifyou would tell me exactly the circumstances under which this documentdisappeared."
"That can be done in a very few words, Mr. Holmes. The letter--for itwas a letter from a foreign potentate--was received six days ago. Itwas of such importance that I have never left it in my safe, but I havetaken it across each evening to my house in Whitehall Terrace, and keptit in my bedroom in a locked despatch-box. It was there last night. Ofthat I am certain. I actually opened the box while I was dressing fordinner, and saw the document inside. This morning it was gone. Thedespatch-box had stood beside the glass upon my dressing-table allnight. I am a light sleeper, and so is my wife. We are both prepared toswear that no one could have entered the room during the night. And yetI repeat that the paper is gone."
"What time did you dine?"
"Half-past seven."
"How long was it before you went to bed?"
"My wife had gone to the theatre. I waited up for her. It was half-pasteleven before we went to our room."