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?
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 III
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.)
Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) Page 947