venhoursIpliedmytrade,andwhenIreturnedhomeintheeveningIfoundtomysurprisethatIhadreceivednolessthan26s.4d.
“Iwrotemyarticlesandthoughtlittlemoreofthematteruntil,sometimelater,Ibackedabillforafriendandhadawritserveduponmefor￡25.Iwasatmywit’sendwheretogetthemoney,butasuddenideacametome.Ibeggedafortnight’sgracefromthecreditor,askedforaholidayfrommyemployers,andspentthetimeinbeggingintheCityundermydisguise.IntendaysIhadthemoneyandhadpaidthedebt.
“Well,youcanimaginehowharditwastosettledowntoarduousworkat￡2aweekwhenIknewthatIcouldearnasmuchinadaybysmearingmyfacewithalittlepaint,layingmycapontheground,andsittingstill.Itwasalongfightbetweenmyprideandthemoney,butthedollarswonatlast,andIthrewupreportingandsatdayafterdayinthecornerwhichIhadfirstchosen,inspiringpitybymyghastlyfaceandfillingmypocketswithcoppers.Onlyonemanknewmysecret.HewasthekeeperofalowdeninwhichIusedtolodgeinSwandamLane,whereIcouldeverymorningemergeasasqualidbeggarandintheeveningstransformmyselfintoawell-dressedmanabouttown.Thisfellow,aLascar,waswellpaidbymeforhisrooms,sothatIknewthatmysecretwassafeinhispossession.
“Well,verysoonIfoundthatIwassavingconsiderablesumsofmoney.IdonotmeanthatanybeggarinthestreetsofLondoncouldearn￡700ayear—whichislessthanmyaveragetakings—butIhadexceptionaladvantagesinmypowerofmakingup,andalsoinafacilityofrepartee,whichimprovedbypracticeandmademequitearecognisedcharacterintheCity.Alldayastreamofpennies,variedbysilver,pouredinuponme,anditwasaverybaddayinwhichIfailedtotake￡2.
“AsIgrewricherIgrewmoreambitious,tookahouseinthecountry,andeventuallymarried,withoutanyonehavingasuspicionastomyrealoccupation.MydearwifeknewthatIhadbusinessintheCity.Shelittleknewwhat.
“LastMondayIhadfinishedforthedayandwasdressinginmyroomabovetheopiumdenwhenIlookedoutofmywindowandsaw,tomyhorrorandastonishment,thatmywifewasstandinginthestreet,withhereyesfixedfulluponme.Igaveacryofsurprise,threwupmyarmstocovermyface,and,rushingtomyconfidant,theLascar,entreatedhimtopreventanyonefromcominguptome.Iheardhervoicedownstairs,butIknewthatshecouldnotascend.SwiftlyIthrewoffmyclothes,pulledonthoseofabeggar,andputonmypigmentsandwig.Evenawife’seyescouldnotpiercesocompleteadisguise.Butthenitoccurredtomethattheremightbeasearchintheroom,andthattheclothesmightbetrayme.Ithrewopenthewindow,reopeningbymyviolenceasmallcutwhichIhadinflicteduponmyselfinthebedroomthatmorning.ThenIseizedmycoat,whichwasweightedbythecopperswhichIhadjusttransferredtoitfromtheleatherbaginwhichIcarriedmytakings.Ihurleditoutofthewindow,anditdisappearedintotheThames.Theotherclotheswouldhavefollowed,butatthatmomenttherewasarushofconstablesupthestair,andafewminutesafterIfound,rather,Iconfess,tomyrelief,thatinsteadofbeingidentifiedasMr.NevilleSt.Clair,Iwasarrestedashismurderer.
“Idonotknowthatthereisanythingelseformetoexplain.Iwasdeterminedtopreservemydisguiseaslongaspossible,andhencemypreferenceforadirtyface.Knowingthatmywifewouldbeterriblyanxious,IslippedoffmyringandconfidedittotheLascaratamomentwhennoconstablewaswatchingme,togetherwithahurriedscrawl,tellingherthatshehadnocausetofear.”
“Thatnoteonlyreachedheryesterday,”saidHolmes.
“GoodGod!Whataweekshemusthavespent!”
“ThepolicehavewatchedthisLascar,”saidInspectorBradstreet,“andIcanquiteunderstandthathemightfinditdifficulttopostaletterunobserved.Probablyhehandedittosomesailorcustomerofhis,whoforgotallaboutitforsomedays.”
“Thatwasit,”saidHolmes,noddingapprovingly“Ihavenodoubtofit.Buthaveyouneverbeenprosecutedforbegging?”
“Manytimesbutwhatwasafinetome?”
“Itmuststophere,however,”saidBradstreet.“Ifthepolicearetohushthisthingup,theremustbenomoreofHughBoone.”
“Ihaveswornitbythemostsolemnoathswhichamancantake.”
“InthatcaseIthinkthatitisprobablethatnofurtherstepsmaybetaken.Butifyouarefoundagain,thenallmustcomeout.Iamsure,Mr.Holmes,thatweareverymuchindebtedtoyouforhavingclearedthematterup.IwishIknewhowyoureachyourresults.”
“Ireachedthisone,”saidmyfriend,“bysittinguponfivepillowsandconsuminganounceofshag.Ithink,Watson,thatifwedrivetoBakerStreetweshalljustbeintimeforbreakfast.”