ghtsbeforeherousedhimselffromhisreverie.
“Itisveryessential,MissStoner,”saidhe,“thatyoushouldabsolutelyfollowmyadviceineveryrespect.”
“Ishallmostcertainlydoso.”
“Thematteristooseriousforanyhesitation.Yourlifemaydependuponyourcompliance.”
“IassureyouthatIaminyourhands.”
“Inthefirstplace,bothmyfriendandImustspendthenightinyourroom.”
BothMissStonerandIgazedathiminastonishment.
“Yes,itmustbeso.Letmeexplain.Ibelievethatthatisthevillageinnoverthere?”
“Yes,thatistheCrown.”
“Verygood.Yourwindowswouldbevisiblefromthere?”
“Certainly.”
“Youmustconfineyourselftoyourroom,onpretenceofaheadache,whenyourstepfathercomesback.Thenwhenyouhearhimretireforthenight,youmustopentheshuttersofyourwindow,undothehasp,putyourlampthereasasignaltous,andthenwithdrawquietlywitheverythingwhichyouarelikelytowantintotheroomwhichyouusedtooccupy.Ihavenodoubtthat,inspiteoftherepairs,youcouldmanagethereforonenight.”
“Oh,yes,easily.”
“Therestyouwillleaveinourhands.”
“Butwhatwillyoudo?”
“Weshallspendthenightinyourroom,andweshallinvestigatethecauseofthisnoisewhichhasdisturbedyou.”
“Ibelieve,Mr.Holmes,thatyouhavealreadymadeupyourmind,”saidMissStoner,layingherhanduponmycompanion’ssleeve.
“PerhapsIhave.”
“Then,forpity’ssake,tellmewhatwasthecauseofmysister’sdeath.”
“IshouldprefertohaveclearerproofsbeforeIspeak.”
“Youcanatleasttellmewhethermyownthoughtiscorrect,andifshediedfromsomesuddenfright.”
“No,Idonotthinkso.Ithinkthattherewasprobablysomemoretangiblecause.Andnow,MissStoner,wemustleaveyouforifDr.Roylottreturnedandsawusourjourneywouldbeinvain.Good-bye,andbebrave,forifyouwilldowhatIhavetoldyou,youmayrestassuredthatweshallsoondriveawaythedangersthatthreatenyou.”
SherlockHolmesandIhadnodifficultyinengagingabedroomandsitting-roomattheCrownInn.Theywereontheupperfloor,andfromourwindowwecouldcommandaviewoftheavenuegate,andoftheinhabitedwingofStokeMoranManorHouse.AtduskwesawDr.GrimesbyRoylottdrivepast,hishugeformloomingupbesidethelittlefigureoftheladwhodrovehim.Theboyhadsomeslightdifficultyinundoingtheheavyirongates,andweheardthehoarseroaroftheDoctor’svoiceandsawthefurywithwhichheshookhisclinchedfistsathim.Thetrapdroveon,andafewminuteslaterwesawasuddenlightspringupamongthetreesasthelampwaslitinoneofthesitting-rooms.
“Doyouknow,Watson,”saidHolmesaswesattogetherinthegatheringdarkness,“Ihavereallysomescruplesastotakingyouto-night.Thereisadistinctelementofdanger.”
“CanIbeofassistance?”
“Yourpresencemightbeinvaluable.”
“ThenIshallcertainlycome.”
“Itisverykindofyou.”
“Youspeakofdanger.Youhaveevidentlyseenmoreintheseroomsthanwasvisibletome.”
“No,butIfancythatImayhavededucedalittlemore.IimaginethatyousawallthatIdid.”
“Isawnothingremarkablesavethebell-rope,andwhatpurposethatcouldanswerIconfessismorethanIcanimagine.”
“Yousawtheventilator,too?”
“Yes,butIdonotthinkthatitissuchaveryunusualthingtohaveasmallopeningbetweentworooms.Itwassosmallthataratcouldhardlypassthrough.”
“IknewthatweshouldfindaventilatorbeforeeverwecametoStokeMoran.”
“MydearHolmes!”
“Oh,yes,Idid.YourememberinherstatementshesaidthathersistercouldsmellDr.Roylott’scigar.Now,ofcoursethatsuggestedatoncethattheremustbeacommunicationbetweenthetworooms.Itcouldonlybeasmallone,oritwouldhavebeenremarkeduponatthecoroner’sinquiry.Ideducedaventilator.”
“Butwhatharmcantherebeinthat?”
“Well,thereisatleastacuriouscoincidenceofdates.Aventilatorismade,acordishung,andaladywhosleepsinthebeddies.Doesnotthatstrikeyou?”
“Icannotasyetseeanyconnection.”
“Didyouobserveanythingverypeculiaraboutthatbed?”
“No.”
“Itwasclampedtothefloor.Didyoueverseeabedfastenedlikethatbefore?”
“IcannotsaythatIhave.”
“Theladycouldnotmoveherbed.Itmustalwaysbeinthesamerelativepositiontotheventilatorandtotherope—orsowemaycallit,sinceitwasclearlynevermeantforabell-pull.”
“Holmes,”Icried,“Iseemtoseedimlywhatyouarehintingat.Weareonlyjustintimetopreventsomesubtleandhorriblecrime.”
“Subtleenoughandhorribleenough.Whenadoctordoesgowrongheisthefirstofcriminals.Hehasnerveandhehasknowledge.PalmerandPritchardwereamongtheheadsoftheirprofession.Thismanstrikesevendeeper,butIthink,Watson,thatweshallbeabletostrikedeeperstill.Butweshallhavehorrorsenoughbeforethenightisoverforgoodness’sakeletushaveaquietpipeandturnourmindsforafewhourstosomethingmorecheerful.”
Aboutnineo’clockthelightamongthetreeswasextinguished,andallwasdarkinthedirec