Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1080 page)

RYLOTT
: You shall not overcrow me with your insolence! I tell you now, and you, too, Dr. Watson, that you interfere with my affairs to your own danger. You have your warning.

HOLMES
: I’ll make a note of it.

RYLOTT
: And you refuse to tell me if Miss Stonor has been here?

HOLMES
: Don’t we seem to be travelling just a little in a circle?

RYLOTT
(
picking up hat from table
): Well, you can’t prevent me from finding out from her.

HOLMES
: Ah! there I must talk a little seriously to you Grimesby Rylott. You have mentioned this young lady, and I know something of her circumstances. I hold you responsible. My eye is on you sir and the Lord help you — the Lord help you if any harm befall her. Now leave this room, and take my warning with you.

RYLOTT
: You cursed fool! I may teach you both not to meddle with what does not concern you. Keep clear of Stoke Moran!

(
RYLOTT
goes out slamming the door
)

HOLMES
: I had a presentiment he would slam the door.

(
WATSON
rises
)

Stoke Moran must be less dull than many country villages. Quite a breezy old gentleman Watson. Well I must thank you for a pretty problem. What the exact danger may be which destroyed one sister and now threatens the other may be suspected, but cannot yet be defined. That is why I must visit the room.

WATSON
: I will come with you Holmes.

HOLMES
: My dear fellow you are no longer an unattached knight-errant. Dangerous quests are forbidden. What would Morstan say?

WATSON
: She would say that the man who would desert his friend would never make a good husband.

HOLMES
: Well, my dear Watson, it may be our last adventure together, so I welcome your co-operation.

WATSON
: Well, I’ll be off.

HOLMES
: You will leave Victoria to night at eleven fifteen, for Stoke Moran.

WATSON
: Good bye — I’ll see you at the station.

HOLMES
: Perhaps you will.

(
WATSON
goes
)

Perhaps you will! (
Rings
.) Perhaps you won’t! (
Stands near fire
.)

(
Enter
BILLY
)

BILLY
: Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: Ever been in love Billy?

BILLY
: Not of late years, sir.

HOLMES
: Too busy, eh?

BILLY
: Yes, Mr. Holmes.

HOLMES
: Same here. Got my bag there, Billy?

BILLY
: Yes, sir. (
Puts it on table
.)

HOLMES
: Put in that revolver.

BILLY
: Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: And the pipe and pouch.

BILLY
(
takes it from table
): Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: Got the dark lantern?

BILLY
: Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: The lens and the tape?

BILLY
: Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: Plaster of Paris, for prints?

BILLY
: Yes, sir.

HOLMES
: Oh, and the cocaine. (
Hands it
.)

BILLY
: Yes, sir. (
Throws it down
.)

HOLMES
: You young villain! you’ve broken it. (
Takes his ear and turns his head round
.) You’re a clever boy, Billy.

BILLY
: Yes, Mr. Holmes.

CURTAIN.

ACT II
I

SCENE
1

The Hall of Stoke Place

MRS
STAUNTON
is discovered at the back reading a telegram

MRS
STAUNTON
: Are you there Rodgers?

(
Enter
RODGERS
)

RODGERS
: Well, Mrs. Staunton.

MRS
STAUNTON
: I’ve had a telegram from the master. He will be here presently. He is bringing the new butler with him so you can hand over to night.

RODGERS
: To night, Mrs Staunton. It all seems very sudden.

MRS
STAUNTON
: Peters will need your room. That’s his name, Peters. He brings a young girl with him, his daughter. The attic will do for her. That will do Rodgers.

(
RODGERS
goes into the morning room
)

(
Enter
ENID
from the entrance hall
)

ENID
: Oh, Mrs Staunton.

MRS
STAUNTON
: Yes, Miss.

ENID
: Has any message come in my absence?

MRS
STAUNTON
: No, Miss.

ENID
: Let me know at once if any comes.

(
ENID
goes into the bedroom wing)

MRS
STAUNTON
: Yes Miss. A message! A message!

(
Enter
ALI
hurriedly
)

(
To him
) Well?

ALI
: Has she come back?

MRS
STAUNTON
: Yes, she is in her room.

ALI
: I see her meet Curtis Sahib. Then I lose her.

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Well, she has come back. I have heard from the master. She is not to go out any more. He will come soon. Until he does, we must hold her. She asked if there was a message for her. Who can she expect a message from? Ah — stand back, Ali, she’s coming.

(
ALI
stands at door to servants’ hall.
)

(
Re-enter
ENID
,
still dressed for walking
.)

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: I beg pardon, Miss, but what are you going to do?

ENID
: I am going down to the village. (
Crosses towards entrance hall
.)

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: What for?

ENID
: How dare you ask me such a question? What do you mean by it?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: I thought it was something we could do for you.

ENID
: It was not.

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Then I am sorry, Miss, but it can’t be done. The Doctor didn’t like you going to London to-day. His orders are that you should not go out again.

ENID
: How dare you? I am going out now.

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Get to the door, Ali! It’s no use, Miss, we must obey our orders. You don’t budge from here.

ENID
: What is the meaning of this?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: It is not for the likes of us to ask the meaning. The Doctor is a good master, but his servants have to obey him.

ENID
: I will go out. (
Tries to rush past.
)

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Lock the door, Ali.

(
ALI
locks the door to the entrance hall
.)

The other locks are locked as well. You needn’t try the windows, for Siva is loose. All right, Ali, give me the key — you can go!

(
ALI
goes into the servants’ hall
.)

Now, Miss, do what the Doctor wishes. That’s my advice to you.

(
She exits into the servants’ hall.
)

(
ENID
waits until she has gone; then she rushes across to the writing-table and scribbles a telegram
.)

(
RODGERS
enters from the morning-room
.)

ENID
: Oh, Rodgers —

RODGERS
: Yes, Miss.

ENID
: Come here, Rodgers!

(
RODGERS
comes down.
)

I want to speak to you. I hear that you are leaving us. I wanted say how sorry I am.

RODGERS
: God bless you, Miss Enid. My heart is sore to part with you. All the kindness I’ve ever had in this house has from poor Miss Violet and you.

ENID
: Rodgers, if ever I have done anything for you, you can repay it now a hundredfold.

RODGERS
: Nothing against the master, Miss Enid! Don’t ask to do anything against the master.

ENID
: How can you love him?

RODGERS
: Love him! No, no, I don’t love him, Miss Enid. But I fear him — oh! I fear him. One glance of his eyes seems to cut me — to pierce me like a sword. I wouldn’t even listen to anything against him, for I feel it would come round to him, and then — then — !

ENID
: What can he do to you?

RODGERS
: Oh, I couldn’t, Miss Enid — don’t ask me. What a man! what a man! Has he a child in his room, Miss Enid?

ENID
: A child?

RODGERS
: Yes — the milk — who drinks the milk? He drinks no milk. Every morning I take up the jug of milk. And the music, who is it he plays the music to?

ENID
: Music! You have heard it, too. I’m so frightened. I’m in danger. I know I’m in danger. (
Rising
.)

RODGERS
: In danger, Miss Enid?

ENID
: And you can save me.

RODGERS
: Oh, Miss Enid, I couldn’t — I couldn’t — I have no nerve. I couldn’t.

ENID
: All I want you to do is to take a telegram.

RODGERS
: A telegram, Miss Enid?

ENID
: They won’t let me out, and yet I must send it.

RODGERS
: Perhaps they won’t let me out.

ENID
: You could wait a little, and then slip away to the office.

RODGERS
: What is the telegram, Miss Enid? Say it slowly. My poor old head is not as clear as it used to be.

ENID
: Give it to the clerk.

RODGERS
: No, no, I must be sure it is nothing against the master.

ENID
: It is my business — only mine. Your master’s name is not even mentioned. See — it is to Mr. Sherlock Holmes — he is a friend of mine — Baker Street, London. “Come to me as soon as you can. Please hurry.” That is All. Dear Rodgers, it means so much to me — please — please take it for me.

RODGERS
: I can’t understand things like I used.

ENID
: Oh! do take it, Rodgers! You said yourself that I had always been kind to you. You will take it, won’t you? (
Holds out telegram to
RODGERS
.)

RODGERS
: Yes, yes, I will take it, Miss Enid. (
Takes telegram and puts it in his pocket
.)

ENID
: Oh! you don’t know what a service you are doing. It may save me — it may save my going all the way to town.

RODGERS
: Well, well, of course I will take it. What’s that?

(
Wheels heard outside
.)

(
Enter
MRS
.
STAUNTON
and
ALI
.)

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Quick, Ali! get the door unlocked. He won’t like to be kept waiting. Rodgers, be ready to receive your master.

ENID
(
to
RODGERS
): Don’t forget — as soon as you can.

(
She goes into the bedroom wing, followed by
MRS
.
STAUNTON
.)

(
Wheels stop.
)

(
ALI
throws open the hall door and salaams. Enter
RYLOTT
,
followed by
HOLMES,
disguised as Peters, the new butler, who is followed by
BILLY
,
disguised as a young girl, with a big hat-box
.)

RYLOTT
: (
taking off things and handing them to
ALI
): Where is Miss Enid? Did she return?

ALI
: Yes, sir, she is in her room.

RYLOTT
: Ah! (
To
RODGERS
.) What! still here.

RODGERS
: I had some hopes, sir —

RYLOTT
: Get away! Lay the supper! I’ll deal with you presently.

(
RODGERS
goes into the servants’ hall
.)

Ali, you can go also. Show this young girl to the kitchen. (
To
HOLMES
.) What is her name?

HOLMES
: Amelia — the same as her mother’s.

RYLOTT
: Go to the kitchen, child, and make yourself useful.

(
ALI
goes out, followed by
BILLY
.)

(
To
HOLMES
.) Now, my man, we may as well understand each other first as last. I’m a man who stands no nonsense in my own house. I give good pay, but I exact good service. Do you understand?

HOLMES
: Yes, sir.

RYLOTT
: I’ve had a man for some time, but he is old and useless. I want a younger man to keep the place in order. Rodgers will show you the cellar and the other things you should know. You take over from to-morrow morning.

HOLMES
: Very good, sir. I’m sure, sir, it was very good of you to take me with such an encumbrance as my poor little orphaned Amelia.

RYLOTT
: I’ve taken you not only with a useless encumbrance but without references and without a character. Why have I done that? Because I expect I shall get better service out of you. Where are you to find a place if you lose this one? Don’t you forget it.

HOLMES
: I won’t forget, sir. I’ll do all I can. If I can speak to your late butler, sir, I have no doubt he will soon show me my duties.

RYLOTT
: Very good. (
Rings bell
.)

(
Enter
MRS
.
STAUNTON
from the bedroom wing
.)

Mrs. Staunton, tell Rodgers I want him. By the way, where is Siva?

MRS
.
STAUNTON
: Loose in the park, sir.

(
She goes into the servants’ hall
.)