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1"When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this
2old doctor, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an interest in preventing his
3stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic
4clang, which might have been caused by one of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place, I
5think that there is good ground to think that the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "But what, then, did the
6gipsies do?" "I cannot imagine." "I see many objections to any such theory." "And so do I. It is precisely for that
7reason that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fatal, or if they may be
8explained away. But what in the name of the devil!" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that
9our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a
10peculiar mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of
11high gaiters, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hat actually brushed the cross bar of
12the doorway, and his breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles,
13burned yellow with the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of us, while his
14deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bird of
15prey. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my
16companion quietly. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a
17seat." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been saying to
18you?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old
19man furiously. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my companion imperturbably. "Ha! You put me
20off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! I
21have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." My friend smiled. "Holmes, the busybody!" His smile broadened.
22"Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most entertaining," said he.
23"When you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught." "I will go when I have had my say. Don't you dare to
24meddle with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See
25here." He stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands. "See that you
26keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the room.
27"He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have
28shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a
29sudden effort, straightened it out again. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective
30force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer
31from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I
32shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter." It was nearly one
33o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with
34notes and figures. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To determine its exact meaning I have been
35obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the
36time of the wife's death was little short of £ 1,100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £
37750. Each daughter can claim an income of £ 250, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had
38married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent.
39My morning's work has not been wasted, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the
40way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is aware that
41we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be
42very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with
43gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need." At Waterloo we
44were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove for four or five
45miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens.
46The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell
47of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this
48sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled
49down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started,
50tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Look there!" said he. A heavily timbered park stretched up in
51a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted out the grey gables
52and high roof-tree of a very old mansion. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott,"
53remarked the driver. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is where we are going." "There's the
54village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the
55house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the footpath over the fields. There it is, where the
56lady is walking." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading his eyes. "Yes, I think we had
57better do as you suggest." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead. "I thought it
58as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some
59definite business. It may stop his gossip. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as our word."
60Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so
61eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town,
62and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening." "We have had the pleasure of making the Doctor's acquaintance,"
63said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened.
64"Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "So it appears." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am
65safe from him. What will he say when he returns?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more
66cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you
67away to your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which
68we are to examine."
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