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1"The rest you will leave in our hands." "But what will you do?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall
2investigate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your
3mind," said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Perhaps I have." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me
4what was the cause of my sister's death." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "You can at least
5tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if she died from some sudden fright." "No, I do not think so. I think
6that there was probably some more tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Dr. Roylott returned
7and saw us our journey would be in vain. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, you may rest
8assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in
9engaging a bedroom and sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from our window we could command
10a view of the avenue gate, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott
11drive past, his huge form looming up beside the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some slight
12difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of the Doctor's voice and saw the fury with
13which he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up
14among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together
15in the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of
16danger." "Can I be of assistance?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "Then I shall certainly come." "It is very kind
17of you." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me." "No, but I fancy
18that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you saw all that I did." "I saw nothing remarkable save the
19bell-rope, and what purpose that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "You saw the ventilator, too?"
20"Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small
21that a rat could hardly pass through." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Stoke Moran." "My
22dear Holmes!" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar.
23Now, of course that suggested at once that there must be a communication between the two rooms. It could only be a small
24one, or it would have been remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "But what harm can there be
25in that?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who
26sleeps in the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Did you observe anything very
27peculiar about that bed?" "No." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened like that before?" "I
28cannot say that I have." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same relative position to the
29ventilator and to the rope--or so we may call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Holmes," I cried,
30"I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible crime."
31"Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has
32knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes even deeper, but I think,
33Watson, that we shall be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough before the night is over; for
34goodness' sake let us have a quiet pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more cheerful." About nine
35o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours
36passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of
37us. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it comes from the middle window." As we passed out he
38exchanged a few words with the landlord, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it
39was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in
40our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. There was
41little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among the
42trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel
43bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs
44and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Holmes was for the
45moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh and
46put his lips to my ear. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." I had forgotten the strange pets
47which the Doctor affected. There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment. I
48confess that I felt easier in my mind when, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I found myself
49inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes round
50the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he
51whispered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words: "The least sound would
52be fatal to our plans." I nodded to show that I had heard. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the
53ventilator." I nodded again. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in case we
54should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair." I took out my revolver and laid it on the
55corner of the table. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By it he laid
56the box of matches and the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left in darkness. How shall I
57ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my
58companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The
59shutters cut off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. From outside came the occasional cry of a
60night-bird, and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the cheetah was indeed at
61liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long
62they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever
63might befall.
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