Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1079 page)

HOLMES
: Waiting for what?

ENID
: Waiting for my fiancé to leave. Waiting till he has me at his mercy. That room freezes my blood. Often I cannot sleep for horror.

WATSON
: What? He has changed your room? (
Rising from armchair
.)

ENID
: My old room is under repair.

WATSON
: You sleep, then, in the room where your sister died?

ENID
: In the same room. And other things have happened. The music has come again.

HOLMES
: The music? Tell me about this music.

ENID
: It came before my sister’s death. She spoke of it, and then I heard it myself the night she died. But it has come again. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I am terrified.

HOLMES
: There, there! you’ve had enough to break any one’s nerve. This — music — does it seem to be inside the house or outside?

ENID
: Indeed, I could not say.

HOLMES
: What is it like?

ENID
: A sort of soft, droning sound.

HOLMES
: Like a flute or pipe?

ENID
: Yes. It reminds me of my childhood in India.

HOLMES
: Ah — India?

ENID
: And there’s one other thing that puzzles me — my sister’s dying words — as she lay in my arms she gasped out two words.

HOLMES
: What were they?

ENID
: “Band” and “Speckled.”

HOLMES
: Band — speckled — and Indian music. You sleep with your door and window fastened?

ENID
: Yes, but so did poor Violet. It did not save her, and it may not save me.

HOLMES
: Could there be anything in the nature of secret doors or panels?

ENID
: No. I have searched again and again. There is nothing.

HOLMES
: And nothing peculiar in the room?

ENID
: No, I cannot say there is.

HOLMES
: I must really drop in and have a look at this most

interesting apartment. Suggestive — very suggestive. (
Pause
) When did you hear this music last?

ENID
: Last night.

HOLMES
: And your fiancé leaves to-day?

ENID
: He leaves to-day. What shall I do?

HOLMES
: Well, Miss Stonor, I take up your case. It presents features which commend it to me. You must put yourself into my hands.

ENID
: I do — unreservedly. (
Rising, and crossing to him
.)

HOLMES
(
to Watson
): It is a question whether we are justified in letting her return at All to Stoke Moran.

ENID
: I must return. At five o’clock my fiancé leaves, and I shall not see him again for months.

HOLMES
: Ah! that is a complication. Where is the A.B.C.? (
Finds it in umbrella stand
.) Stonehouse — Stowell — Stoke —

ENID
: I know my train, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES
: I was looking for mine.

ENID
: You are coming down?

HOLMES
: I shall not be content until I have seen this room of yours. Yes, that will do. I could get up to you between eleven and twelve, to-night. Would you have the goodness to leave your shutter open? The room is, I understand, upon the ground floor?

ENID
: Oh! Mr. Holmes, it is not safe. You cannot think of the danger.

HOLMES
: I have taken up your case, Miss Stonor, and this is part of it. Have you any friends in Stoke Moran?

ENID
: Mr. Armitage and his wife.

HOLMES
: That is most fortunate. Now, listen to me, Miss Stonor. When you have returned home certain circumstances may arise which will ensure your safety. In that case you will at Stoke Place until I come in the evening. On the other hand, things may miscarry, and you may not be safe. In that case I will so manage that a warning will reach you. You will then break from home and take refuge with the Armitages. Is that clear?

ENID
: Who will bring me the warning?

HOLMES
: I cannot say. But you have my assurance that it will come.

ENID
: Then, until it does, I will stay at Stoke Place.

HOLMES
: And should any new development occur you could always send me a telegram, could you not?

ENID
: Yes, I could do that.

HOLMES
: Then it is not goodbye, but au revoir.

(
Enter
BILLY
.)

What is it?

BILLY
: Please, Mr. Holmes, a gentleman to see you, at once.

HOLMES
: Who is he?

BILLY
: A very impatient gentleman, sir. It was all I could do to get him to stay in the waiting-room.

ENID
: Is he tall, dark, with a black beard, and a long white scar on his cheek?

BILLY
: That’s him, Miss.

ENID
: Oh, Mr. Holmes, what shall I do? He has followed me.

WATSON
: If he went to my rooms, my landlady had instructions to send any one on here.

HOLMES
: Exactly.

ENID
: Oh! I dare not meet him, I dare not. Can’t I slip out somehow?

HOLMES
: I see no reason why you should stay. Billy, show the lady out by the side passage.

BILLY
: Don’t be alarmed, Miss, I’ll see you through.

(
BILLY
and
ENID
go out.
)

WATSON
: This fellow is dangerous, Holmes. You may need a weapon.

HOLMES
: There’s something of the kind in that drawer at your right.

(
Enter
BILLY
.)

BILLY
: Shall I stay when I show him in, Mr. Holmes?

HOLMES
: Why so?

BILLY
: An ugly customer, Mr.. Holmes.

HOLMES
: Tut, tut! show him up.

(
BILLY
goes out
.)

Well, Watson I must thank you for a most interesting morning. You are certainly the stormy petrel of crime.

(
Enter
DR
RYLOTT
)

RYLOTT
: This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes I believe.

HOLMES
: Your belief is justified.

RYLOTT
: I have reason to think that you have taken unsolicited interest in my affairs.

HOLMES
: Your name being — ?

RYLOTT
: My name, sir, is Grimesby Rylott — Doctor Grimesby Rylott, of Stoke Moran. (
Throws down card
.)

HOLMES
: A pretty place, I hear! And obviously good for the lungs.

RYLOTT
: Sir, you are trifling with me. I have come here to ask whether you have had a visit from my stepdaughter, Miss Enid Stonor —

HOLMES
: The first law in my profession, Doctor, is never to answer questions.

RYLOTT
: Sir, you shall answer me.

HOLMES
: We could do with warmer weather.

RYLOTT
: I insist upon an answer.

HOLMES
: But I hear the crocuses are coming on.

RYLOTT
: Curse your crocuses! I’ve heard of you, you meddling busybody. And you, Dr. Watson — I expected to find you here. What do you mean by interfering with my lawful affairs?

WATSON
: So long as they are lawful, Dr. Rylott, no one is likely to interfere with them.

RYLOTT
: Now look here, Mr. Holmes, perhaps I may seem to you a little hot-headed —

HOLMES
: Dear me, Dr. Rylott, what put that idea into your head?

RYLOTT
: I apologize if I have seemed rude — (
Sitting
)

HOLMES
: Robust — a little robust — nothing more.

RYLOTT
: I wish to put the matter to you as man to man. You know what girls are, how sudden and unreasonable their prejudices may be. Imagine, sir, how hurt I should feel to be distrusted by one whom I have loved.

HOLMES
: You have my deep sympathy, Dr. Rylott.

RYLOTT
(
pleased
): Ah!

HOLMES
: You are a most unfortunate man. There was that tragedy two years ago —

RYLOTT
: Yes, indeed!

HOLMES
: I think I could help you in that matter.

RYLOTT
: How so?

HOLMES
: As a friend, and without a fee.

RYLOTT
: You are very good.

HOLMES
: I am very busy, but your case seems so hard that I will put everything aside to assist you.

RYLOTT
: In what way, sir?

HOLMES
: I will come down at once, examine the room in which the tragedy occurred, and see if such small faculties as I possess can throw any light upon the matter.

RYLOTT
: Sir, this is an intolerable liberty. (
Rising
.)

HOLMES
: What! you don’t want help?

RYLOTT
: It is intolerable, I say. What I ask you to do — what I order you to do is to leave my affairs alone. Alone, sir — do you hear me?

HOLMES
: You are perfectly audible.

RYLOTT
: I’ll have no interference — none! Don’t dare to meddle with me. D’you hear, the pair of you? You — Holmes, I’m warning you.

HOLMES
(
looking at his watch
): I fear I must end this interview. Time flies when one is chatting. Life has its duties as well as its pleasures, Doctor.

RYLOTT
: Insolent rascal! I’ll — I’ll — (
Turns to the grate and picks up the poker
.)

(
WATSON
jumps up
.)

HOLMES
: No, Watson, no! It does need poking, but perhaps you would put on a few coals first.

RYLOTT
: You laugh at me? You don’t know the man you are dealing with. You think that my strength fails because my hair is turned. I was the strongest man in India once. See that! (
Bends the poker and throws it down at
HOLMES’
feet.
) I am not a safe man to play with, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES
: Nor am I a safe man to play with, Dr. Rylott. Let me see — what were we talking about before the Sandow performance?