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 toRODGERS.)
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. (ToHOLMES.) 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.)
RYLOTT: By the way, I had best warn you, Peters, not to go out till my boar-hound comes to know you. She’s not safe with strangers — not very safe with any one but myself.
HOLMES: I’ll remember, sir.
RYLOTT: Warn that girl of yours.
(Enter RODGERS.)
HOLMES: Yes, I will.
RYLOTT: Ah, Rodgers, you will hand your keys over to Peters. When you have done so, come to me in the study.
RODGERS: Yes, sir.
(RYLOTT goes into his study.)
HOLMES (after looking round): Well, I’m not so sure that I think so much of this place. Maybe you are the lucky one after all. I hope I am not doing you out of your job. I’d chuck it for two pins. If it wasn’t for Amelia I’d chuck it now.
RODGERS: If it wasn’t you it would be some one else. Old Rodgers is finished — used up. But he said he wanted to see me in the study. What do you think he wants with me in the study?
HOLMES: Maybe to thank you for your service; maybe to make you a parting present.
RODGERS: His eyes were hard as steel. What can he want with me? I get nervous these days, Mr. Peters. What was it he told me to do?
HOLMES: To hand over the keys. (Taking his overcoat off)
RODGERS: Yes, yes, the keys. (Taking out keys.) They are here, Mr. Peters. That’s the cellar key, Mr. Peters. Be careful about the cellar. That was the first time he struck me — when I mistook the claret for the Burgundy. He’s often hasty, but he always kept his hands off till then.
HOLMES: But the more I see of this place the less I fancy it. I’d be off to-night, but it’s not so easy these days to get a place if your papers ain’t in order. See here, Mr. Rodgers, I’d like to know a little more about my duties. The study is there, ain’t it?
RODGERS: Yes, he is there now, waiting — waiting for me.
HOLMES: Where is his room?
RODGERS: You see the passage yonder. Well, the first room you come to is the master’s bedroom; the next is Miss Enid’s —
HOLMES: I see. Well, now, could you take me along to the master’s room and show me any duties I have there?
RODGERS: The master’s room? No one ever goes into the master’s room. All the time I’ve been here I’ve never put my head inside the door.
HOLMES (surprised): What? no one at all?
RODGERS: Ali goes. Ali is the Indian valet. But no one else.
HOLMES: I wonder you never mistook the door and just walked in.
RODGERS: You couldn’t do that for the door is locked.
HOLMES: Oh! he locks his door does he? Dear me! None of the keys here any use, I suppose?
RODGERS: Don’t think of such a thing. What are you saying? Why should you wish to enter the master’s room?
HOLMES: I don’t want to enter it. The fewer rooms the less work. Why do you suppose he locks the door?
RODGERS: It is not for me nor for you to ask why the master does things. He chooses to do so. That is enough for us.
HOLMES: Well Mr. Rodgers if you’ll excuse my saying so, this old ‘ouse ‘as taken some of the spirit out of you. I’m sure I don’t wonder. I don’t see myself staying here very long. Wasn’t there some one died here not so long ago?
RODGERS: I’d rather not talk of it, Mr. Peters.
HOLMES: A woman died in the room next the doctor’s. The cabman was telling me as we drove up.
RODGERS: Don’t listen to them, Mr. Peters. The master would not like it. Here is Miss Enid and the Doctor wants me.
(Enter ENID from the bedroom wing)
ENID: Rodgers can I have a word with you?
RODGERS: Very sorry Miss Enid, the master wants me.
(RODGERS goes into the study)
ENID (to HOLMES): Are you — ?
HOLMES: I am Peters, Miss, the new butler
ENID: Oh! (Sits down beside table and writes)
(HOLMES crosses and stands behind the table. Pause)
Why do you stand there? Are you a spy set to watch me? Am I never to have one moment of privacy
?
HOLMES: I beg pardon, Miss.
ENID: I’m sorry if I have spoken bitterly. I have had enough to make me bitter.
HOLMES: I’m very sorry. Miss. I’m new to the place and don’t quite know where I am yet. May I ask Miss if your name is Stonor?
ENID: Yes. Why do you ask?
HOLMES: There was a lad at the station with a message for you.
ENID (rising): A message for me! Oh! it is what I want of All things on earth! Why did you not take it?
HOLMES: I did take it, Miss, it is here. (Hands her a note.)
ENID (tears it open, reads): “Fear nothing, and stay where you are. All will be right. Holmes.” Oh! it is a ray of sunshine in the darkness — such darkness. Tell me, Peters, who was this boy?
HOLMES: I don’t know, Miss — just a very ordinary nipper. The Doctor had gone on to the cab, and the boy touched my sleeve and asked me to give you this note in your own hand.
ENID: You said nothing to the Doctor.
HOLMES: Well, Miss, it seemed to be your business, not his. I just took it, and there it is.
ENID: God bless you for it. (She conceals the note in her bosom.)
HOLMES: I’m only a servant, Miss, but if I can be of any help to you, you must let me know.
(HOLMES goes into the bedroom wing.)
(ENID takes the note out of her bosom, reads it again, then hurriedly replaces it as RYLOTT and RODGERS re-enter.)
RYLOTT: Very good. You can go and pack your box.
RODGERS (cringing): Yes, sir. You won’t —
RYLOTT: That’s enough. Get away!
(RODGERS goes into the servants’ hall.)
(ENID sits at the tea-table.)
(Comes over to ENID.) There you are! I want a word or two with you. What the devil do you mean by slipping off to London the moment my back was turned? And what did you do when you got there?
ENID: I went there on my own business.
RYLOTT: Oh! on your own business, was it? Perhaps what you call your own business may prove to be my business also. Who did you see? Come, woman, tell me!
ENID: It was my own business. I am of age. You have no claim to control me.
RYLOTT: I know exactly where you went. You went to the rooms of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, where you met Dr. Watson, who had advised you to go there. Was it not so?
ENID: I will answer no questions. If I did as you say, I was within my rights.
RYLOTT: What have you been saying about me? What did you go to consult Mr. Holmes about?
(ENID remains silent)
D’you hear? What did you go about? By God, I’ll find a way to make you speak! (Seizes her by the arm) Come!
(Enter HOLMES)
HOLMES: Yes, sir?
RYLOTT: I did not ring for you.
HOLMES: I thought you called.
RYLOTT: Get out of this! What do you mean?
HOLMES: I beg your pardon, sir.
(He goes into the servants hall)
(RYLOTT goes to the door of the servants hall, looks through, then returns)
RYLOTT: Look here Enid, let us be sensible. I was too hot now. But you must realise the situation. Your wisest and safest course is complete submission. If you do what I tell you, there be no friction between us.
ENID: What do you wish me to do?
RYLOTT: Your marriage will complicate the arrangement which was come to at your mother’s death. I want you of own free will to bind yourself to respect it. Come Enid, you would not wish that your happiness should cause loss and even penury to me. I am an elderly man. I have had losses too, which make it the more necessary that I should preserve what is left. If you will sign a little deed it will be best for both of us.
ENID: I have promised to sign nothing until a lawyer has seen it.
RYLOTT: Promised? Promised whom?
ENID: I promised my fiancée.
RYLOTT: Oh! you did, did you? But why should lawyers come between you and me, Enid? I beg you — I urge you to do what I ask (Opening out papers before her)
ENID: No, no. I cannot. I will not.
RYLOTT: Very good! Tell me the truth, Enid. I won’t be angry. What are your suspicions of me?
ENID: I have no suspicions.
RYLOTT: Did I not receive your fiancé with civility?
ENID: Yes, you did.
RYLOTT: Have I not, on the whole, been kind to you all this winter?
ENID: Yes, you have.
RYLOTT: Then, tell me, child, why do you suspect me?
ENID: I don’t suspect you.
RYLOTT: Why do you send out messages to get help against me?
ENID: I don’t understand you.
RYLOTT: Don’t you send out for help? Tell me the truth, child.
ENID: No.
RYLOTT (with a yell): You damned little liar! (Bangs the telegram down before her.) What was this telegram that you gave to Rodgers?
(ENID sinks back, half fainting.)
Ah! you infernal young hypocrite. Shall I read it to you? “Come to me as soon as you can. Please hurry.” What did you mean by that? What did you mean, I say? (Clutching her arm.) None of your lies — out with it.
ENID: Keep your hands off me, you coward!
RYLOTT: Answer me — answer me, then!
ENID: I will answer you! I believe that you murdered my mother by your neglect. I believe that in some way you drove my sister to her grave. Now, I am certain that you mean to do the same to me. You’re a murderer — a murderer! We were left to your care — helpless girls. You have ill-used us — you have tortured us — now you have murdered one of us, and you would do the same to me. You are a coward, a monster, a man fit only for the gallows!
RYLOTT: You’ll pay for this, you little devil! Get to your room.
ENID: I will. I’m not without friends, as you may find.
RYLOTT: You’ve got some plot against me. What have you been arranging in London? What is it? (Clutches her.)
ENID: Let me go!
RYLOTT: What did you tell them? By God, I’ll twist your head off your shoulders if you cross me! (Seizes her by the neck.)
ENID: Help! Help!
(Enter HOLMES.)
HOLMES: Hands off, Dr. Rylott.
(RYLOTT releases ENID.)
You had best go to your room, young lady. I’ll see that you are not molested. Go at once, I tell you, go.
RYLOTT: You infernal villain. I’ll soon settle you.
(After ENID goes out, he runs to a rack at the side, gets a whip, opens the hall door, stands near it with his whip.)
Now, then, out you go! By George, you’ll remember Stoke Moran.
HOLMES: Excuse me, sir, but is that a whip?
RYLOTT: You’ll soon see what it is.
HOLMES: I am afraid I must ask you to put it down.
RYLOTT: Oh, indeed! must you? (Comes forward to him.)
HOLMES (taking out a revolver): Yes, sir! You’ll please put down that whip.
RYLOTT (falling back): You villain!
HOLMES: Stand right back, sir. I’ll take no risks with a man like you. Right back, I say! Thank you, sir.
RYLOTT: Rodgers! Ali! My gun!
(He runs into his study.)
HOLMES: Hurry up, Billy! No time to lose.
(Enter BILLY, as Amelia, from the servants’ hall.)
BILLY: Yes, Mr. Holmes.
(HOLMES and BILLY go out through the entrance hall.)
(Several shots are heard outside. RYLOTT rushes in from his study with his gun.)
(Enter ALl — running in from outside.)
ALI: Stop, Sahib, stop!
RYLOTT: What were those shots?
ALI: The new butler, sir. He shoot Siva!
RYLOTT: Shot my dog! By God, I’ll teach him! (Rushes toward door.)
Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) Page 948