Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1066 page)

PARSONS
: She didn’t say sir.  Only she said it was of the hutmost himportance to ‘er, if you could see ‘er, sir.

WATSON
: Is she there in the hall?

PARSONS
: Yes sir.

WATSON
:  Very well — I was going to walk for the exercise — I can take a cab.

PARSONS
:  Then you’ll see the lady, sir.

WATSON
: Yes. (
PARSONS
turns to go.
WATSON
continues his preparations
.) And call a cab for me at the same time — have it wait.

PARSONS
:  Yes, sir.

(
PARSONS
goes out. Pause.
PARSONS
appears, ushering in a lady — and goes when she has entered. Enter
MADGE LARRABEE
.  Her manner is entirely different from that of the former scenes. She is an impetuous gushing society lady with trouble on her mind
)

MADGE
(
as she comes in
): Ah! Doctor — it’s awfully good of you to see me. I know what a busy man you must be but I’m in such trouble — oh, it’s really too dreadful — You’ll excuse my troubling you in this way, won’t you?

WATSON
: Don’t speak of it, madam.

MADGE
:  Oh, thank you so much! For it did look frightful my coming in like this — but I’m not alone — oh no! — I left my maid in the cab — I’m Mrs. H. de Witte Seaton — (
Trying to find card-case.
) Dear me — I didn’t bring my card-case — or if I did I lost it.

WATSON
:  Don’t trouble about a card, Mrs. Seaton. (
With gesture to indicate chair
.)

MADGE
:  Oh, thank you. (
Sitting as she continues to talk.
) You don’t know what I’ve been through this evening — trying to find some one who could tell me what to do. (
WATSON
sits in chair at desk
.) It’s something that’s happened, doctor — it has just simply happened — I know that it wasn’t his fault! I know it!

WATSON
: Whose fault?

MADGE
:  My brother’s — my poor, dear, youngest brother — he couldn’t have done such a thing, he simply couldn’t and —

WATSON
: Such a thing as what, Mrs. Seaton?

MADGE
:  As to take the plans of our defences at Gibraltar from the Admiralty Offices. They think he stole them, doctor — and they’ve arrested him for it — you see, he works there. He was the only one who knew about them in the whole office — because they trusted him so. He was to make copies and — Oh, doctor, it’s really too dreadful! (
Overcome, she takes out her handkerchief and wipes her eyes. This must all be perfectly natural, and not in the least particular overdone.
)

WATSON
:  I’m very sorry, Mrs. Seaton —

MADGE
(
mixed up with sobs
): Oh, thank you so much! They said you were Mr. Holmes’s friend — several people told me that, several — they advised me to ask you where I could find him — and everything depends on it, doctor — everything.

WATSON
: Holmes, of course. He’s just the one you want.

MADGE
:  That’s it! He’s just the one — and there’s hardly any time left! They’ll take my poor brother away to prison to-morrow! (
Shows signs of breaking down again
.)

WATSON
: There, there, Mrs. Seaton — pray control yourself.

MADGE
(
choking down sobs
): Now what would you advise me to do?

WATSON
: I’d go to Mr. Holmes at once.

MADGE
: But I’ve been. I’ve been and he wasn’t there!

WATSON
: You went to his house?

MADGE
: Yes — in Baker Street. That’s why I came to you! They said he might be here!

WATSON
: No — he isn’t here! (
Turns away slightly
)

(
MADGE
looks deeply discouraged
)

MADGE
: But don’t you expect him some time this evening?

WATSON
: No (
Shaking head
) There’s no possibility of his coming — so far as I know.

MADGE
: But couldn’t you get him to come? (
Pause
) It would be such a great favour to me — I’m almost worn out with going about — and with this dreadful anxiety! If you could get word to him — (
sees that
WATSON
is looking at her strangely and sharply
) — to come.

(
Brief pause
)

WATSON
(
rising — rather hard voice
): I could not get him to come madam. And I beg you to excuse me I am going out myself — (
looks at watch
) — on urgent business. (
Rings bell
.)

MADGE
(
rising
) Oh certainly! Don t let me detain you! And you think I had better call at his house again?

WATSON
(
coldly
): That will be the wisest thing to do.

MADGE
: Oh, thank you so much. (
Extends her hand
.) You don t know how you’ve encouraged me!

(
WATSON
withdraws his hand as he still looks at her.  Enter
PARSONS
He stands at door
)

Well — good night doctor

(
WATSON
simply bows coldly.
MADGE
turns to go. The crash of a capsizing vehicle followed by excited shouts of men is heard. This effect must be as if outside the house with doors closed and not close at hand.
MADGE
stops suddenly on hearing the crash and all shouts.
WATSON
looks at
PARSONS
.)

WATSON
: What’s that Parsons?

PARSONS
: I really can’t say sir but it sounded to me like a haccident.

MADGE
(
turning to
WATSON
): Oh dear! I do hope it isn’t anything serious! It affects me terribly to know that anyone is hurt.

WATSON
: Probably nothing more than a broken-down cab. See what it is, Parsons.

(
Bell and knock.
MADGE
turns and looks toward door again, anxiously
PARSONS
turns to go. Sudden vigorous ringing of door bell, followed by the sound of a knocker violently used
.)

PARSONS
: There’s the bell, sir! There’s somebody ‘urt, sir, an’ they’re a-wantin’ you!

WATSON
: Well, don’t allow anybody to come in! (
Looks at watch
.) I have no more time. (
Hurriedly gathers papers up.
)

PARSONS
:  Very well, sir. (
Goes leaving door open
.)

(
MADGE
turns from looking off at door, and looks at
WATSON
anxiously. Looks toward door again
.)

MADGE
:  But they’re coming in, doctor. (
Retreats backward
.)

WATSON
(
moving toward door
): Parsons! Parsons!

(
Sound of voices. Following speeches outside are not in rotation, but jumbled together, so that it is all over very quickly
.)

VOICE
(
outside
): We ‘ad to bring ‘im in, man.

VOICE
(
outside
): There’s nowhere else to go!

PARSONS
(
outside
): The doctor can’t see anybody.

VOICE
(
outside
): Well let the old gent lay ‘ere awhile can’t yer. It’s common decency. Wot ‘ave yer got a red lamp ‘angin’ outside yer bloomin’ door for?

VOICE
(
outside
): Yes! yes! let him stay.

(
Enter
PARSONS
at door. Door closes and noise stops
.)

PARSONS
: They would bring ‘im in, sir. It’s an old gentleman as was ‘urt a bit w’en the cab upset!

MADGE
:  Oh!

(
Sound of groans, etc. outside, and the old gentleman whining out complaints and threats
.)

WATSON
: Let them put him here. (
Indicating operating chair.
) And send at once for Doctor Anstruther.

PARSONS
:  Yes, sir!

WATSON
: Help him in Parsons.

(
PARSONS
goes out
)

MADGE
: Oh doctor isn’t it frightful.

WATSON
(
turning to centre door
): Mrs Seaton if you will be so good as to step this way, you can reach the hall, by taking the first door to your left.

MADGE
(
hesitating
): But I — I may be of some use doctor.

WATSON
(
with a trifle of impatience
) None whatever (
Holds door open
.)

MADGE
: But doctor — I must see the poor fellow — I haven’t the power to go!

WATSON
(
facing
MADGE
): Madam, I believe you have some ulterior motive in coming here! You will kindly —

(
Enter at door a white-haired old gentleman in black clerical clothes, white tie, etc., assisted by
PARSONS
and the
DRIVER
. He limps as though his leg were hurt. His coat is soiled. His hat is soiled as if it had rolled in the street. 
MADGE
has retired above desk and watches old gent closely from there without moving. 
WATSON
turns toward the party as they come in.
)

HOLMES
(
as he comes in
): Oh, oh! (
He limps so that he hardly touches his right foot to floor
)

PARSONS
(
as he helps
HOLMES
in
): This way, sir! Be careful of the sill, sir! That’s it. (
Etc
.)

DRIVER
(
as he comes in, and also beginning outside before entrance
): Now we’ll go in ‘ere. You’ll see the doctor an’ it’ll be all right.

HOLMES
: No, it won’t be all right.

DRIVER
: It was a haccident. You cawn’t ‘elp a haccident.

HOLMES
: Yes, you can.

DRIVER
: He was on the wrong side of the street. I turned hup — (
Etc
.)

PARSONS
:  Now over to this chair. (
Indicating operating chair
).

HOLMES
(
pushing back and trying to stop at the desk chair
) No, I’ll sit here.

PARSONS
: No, this is the chair, sir.

HOLMES
: Don’t I know where I want to sit?

DRIVER
(
impatiently
): You’ll sit ‘ere. (
They lead him up to operating chair
.)

DRIVER
(
as they lead him up
): Now, the doctor’ll have a look at ye. ‘Ere’s the doctor.

HOLMES
: That isn’t a doctor.