Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1052 page)

(
MADGE
takes
ALICE
quickly and forces her to door as they speak.
)

MADGE
(
stopping to speak to
LARRABEE
and speaking out very distinctly
): She’s in poor health and can’t see anyone — you understand.

LARRABEE
:  Yes! yes! Lock her in the room — and stay by the door.

(
MADGE
and
ALICE
quickly go out.
LARRABEE
closes door at once and stands an instant, uncertain. Then he goes to and opens lid of box on wall seat, and gets a loaded club — an ugly looking weapon — and shoves it into
PRINCE’S
hand
.)

You get out there! (
Indicating
.) Keep quiet there till he gets in the house — then come round to the front.

PRINCE
:  I come round to the front after ‘e’s in the ‘ouse — that plain.

LARRABEE
:  Be ready for ‘im when he comes out! If he’s got the things in spite of us, I’ll give you two sharp whistles! If you don’t hear it, let him pass.

PRINCE
:  But if I do ‘ear the two whistles — ?

LARRABEE
:  Then let ‘im have it.

(
PRINCE
gets off at window, which he closes at once.
LARRABEE
moves rapidly, kicking door of desk shut as he passes. Stands at piano, leaning on it carelessly. Turns to
FORMAN
.)

Go on, answer the bell.

(
FORMAN
bows slightly and goes.
LARRABEE
strolls about trying to get into an assumption of coolness. Picks up book off piano.  Sound of heavy door closing outside. Brief pause. Enter
SHERLOCKHOLMES
,
hat and stick in hand — wearing a long coat or ulster, and gloves. He lingers in the archway, apparently seem nothing in particular, and slowly drawing off gloves. Then moves to the wall seat close at hand and sits.
)

(
Music stops
.)

(
After quite a time
LARRABEE
turns, throws book on piano, and saunters towards
HOLMES
in rather an ostentatious manner
.)

Mr. Holmes, I believe.

HOLMES
(
rises and turning to
LARRABEE
as if mildly surprised.
) Yes, sir.

LARRABEE
:  Who did you wish to see, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES
(
looking steadily at
LARRABEE
an instant. Speaks very quietly
): Thank you so much — I sent my card — by the butler.

LARRABEE
(
stands motionless an instant — after an instant pause
): Oh — very well.

(
Long pause. Enter
FORMAN
down stairs.
LARRABEE
moves up near piano and turns to hear what
FORMAN
says
.)

FORMAN
(
to
HOLMES
): Miss Faulkner begs Mr. Holmes to excuse her. She is not well enough to see anyone this evening.

(
HOLMES
takes out note-book and pencil and writes a word or two on a card or leaf of the book. Tears it out of book. Pulls out watch and glances at it. Hands the card to
FORMAN
,
taking off coat first.)

HOLMES
: Hand Miss Faulkner this — and say that I have —

LARRABEE
:  I beg your pardon, Mr. Holmes, but it’s quite useless — really.

HOLMES
:  Oh — I’m so sorry to hear it.

(
HOLMES
turns quietly to
LARRABEE
and looks at him
.
LARRABEE
i
s a trifle affected by
HOLMES’
quiet scrutiny
.)

LARRABEE
:  Yes — Miss Faulkner is — I regret to say — quite an invalid. She is unable to see anyone — her health is so poor.

HOLMES
:  Did it ever occur to you that she might be confined to the house too much?

(
An instant’s pause
.)

LARRABEE
(
suddenly in low threatening tone, but not too violent
): How does that concern you?

HOLMES
(
easily
): It doesn’t … I simply made the suggestion.

(
The two look at one another an instant.
HOLMES
turns quietly to
FORMAN
.)

That’s all. (
Motions him slightly
.) Go on. Take it up. (
FORMAN
goes out up stairway. After a moment
LARRABEE
turns, breaking into hearty laughter
.)

LARRABEE
:  Ha! ha! This is really too good. (
Strolling about laughing.
) Why, of course he can take up your card — or your note — or whatever it is, if you wish it so much; I was only trying to save You the trouble.

HOLMES
(
who has been watching him through foregoing speech
): Thanks — hardly any trouble at all to send a card. (
Seats himself in an easy languid way — picks up Punch
.)

LARRABEE
(
endeavours to be easy, careless and patronizing
) Do you know, Mr. Holmes, you interest me very much.

HOLMES
(
easily
): Ah!

LARRABEE
:  Upon my word, yes! We’ve all heard of your wonderful methods. (
Coming towards
HOLMES
.) Your marvellous insight — your ingenuity in picking up and following clues — an the astonishing manner in which you gain information from the most trifling details … Now, I dare say — in this brief moment or two you’ve discovered any number of things about me.

HOLMES
: Nothing of consequence, Mr. Chetwood — I have scarcely more than asked myself why you rushed off and sent that  telegram in such a frightened hurry — what possible excuse you could have had for gulping down that tumbler of raw brandy at the “Lion’s Head” on the way back — why your friend with the auburn hair left so suddenly by the terrace window — and what there can possibly be about the safe in the lower part of that desk to cause you such painful anxiety.

(
Pause
.
LARRABEE
standing motionless looking at
HOLMES
. 
HOLMES
picks up paper and reads
.)

LARRABEE
:  Ha! ha! very good! Very good indeed! If those things were only true now, I’d be wonderfully impressed. It would absolutely —

(
He breaks off as
FORMAN
enters — coming down stairs. He quietly crosses to
LARRABEE
,
who is watching him, and extends salver with a note upon it.
HOLMES
is looking over paper languidly.
LARRABEE
takes note
.
FORMAN
retires
.)

You’ll excuse me, I trust.

(
HOLMES
remains silent, glancing over paper and looking quietly at
FORMAN
.
LARRABEE
reads the note hastily
.)

(
First a second’s thought after reading, as he sees that
HOLMES
is not observing him — then speaking.
) Ah — it’s from — er — Faulkner! Well really! She begs to be allowed to see — Mr. Holmes.  She absolutely implores it! (
HOLMES
looks slowly up as though scarcely interested
.) Well, I suppose I shall have to give way. (
Turns to
FORMAN
.) Judson!

FORMAN
: Sir.

LARRABEE
(e
mphasizing words in italics
):
Ask Miss Faulkner 
to come down to the drawing-room. Say that Mr. Holmes is waiting to see her.

FORMAN
: Yes, sir. (
Bows and goes out upstairs.
)

LARRABEE
(
trying to get on the free and easy style again
): It’s quite remarkable, upon my soul! May I ask — (
turns toward
HOLMES
) — if it’s not an impertinent question, what message you sent up that could have so aroused Miss Faulkner’s desire to come down?

HOLMES
(
looking up at
LARRABEE
innocently
): Merely that if she wasn’t down here in five minutes I’d go up.

LARRABEE
(
slightly knocked
): Oh, that was it!

HOLMES
: Quite so. (
Rises and takes his watch out.
) And unless I am greatly mistaken I hear the young lady on the stairs. In which case she has a minute and a half to spare. (
Moving by piano — taking opportunity to look at keys, music, etc
.)

(
Enter
MADGE LARRABEE
downstairs as if not quite strong. She has made her face pale, and steadies herself a little by columns, side of arch, furniture, etc., as she comes on, but not overdoing this. She gives the impression of a person a little weak, but endeavouring not to let it be seen.
)

LARRABEE
(
advancing to
MADGE
): Alice — or — that is, Miss Faulkner, let me introduce Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

(
HOLMES
is near piano
.
MADGE
goes a step to him with extended hand
.
HOLMES
meets
MADGE
and takes her hand in the utmost confidence
.)

MADGE
: Mr. Holmes! (
Coming toward him with extended hand
.)

HOLMES
(
meeting
MADGE
): Miss Faulkner!

MADGE
: I’m really most charmed to meet you — although it does look as if you had made me come down in spite of myself, doesn’t it? But it isn’t so at all, Mr. Holmes. I was more than anxious to come, only the doctor has forbidden me seeing anyone — but when Cousin Freddie said I might come, of course that fixed the responsibility on him, so I have a perfectly clear conscience.

HOLMES
:  I thank you very much for consenting to see me, Miss Faulkner, but regret that you were put to the trouble of making such a very rapid change of dress.

(
MADGE
slightest possible start, and recover at once
.)

MADGE
: Ye — yes! I did hurry a trifle, I confess. (
Crosses toward
LARRABEE
.) Mr. Holmes is quite living up to his reputation, isn’t he, Freddie?

LARRABEE
:  Yes … But he didn’t quite live up to it a moment ago.

MADGE
: Oh, didn’t he! I’m so sorry. (Sits on seat at foot of piano.)

LARRABEE
:  No. He’s been telling me the most astonishing things.

MADGE
:  And they weren’t true?

LARRABEE
:  Well hardly! (
HOLMES
sits in arm-chair.
) He wanted to know what there was about the safe in the lower part that desk that caused me such horrible anxiety! Ha! ha! ha!

MADGE
(
above
LARRABEE’S
laugh — to
HOLMES
): Why, this isn’t anything. (
To
LARRABEE
.) Is there?

LARRABEE
:  That’s just it! Ha! ha! ha! (
With a quick motion swings back the doors
) There’s a safe there, but nothing in it.

(
MADGE
joins him in laughter.
)