The Gift Of Prophetic Encouragement:

Hearing The Words Of God For Others

Change the World around You through a Lifestyle of Encouragement From
the beginning God has been communicating with mankind, just as he did
when he talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Yet far too many
people believe tha

Author: Debbie Kitterman

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.
 196 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. " I thought it as
well," said Holmes, as we climbed the stile, ''that this fellow should
think we had come here as architects, or on some definite business.
It may stop his gossip. Good afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we
have been as good as our word." Our client of the morning had
hurried forward to meet us with a face which spoke her joy. *' I have
been waiting so eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands with us
warmly. '' All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town,
and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening." " We have had
the pleasure of making the Doctor's acquaint\VE GOT OFF, PAID
OUR FARE.' ance," said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out
what had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she
listened. " Good heavens ! " she cried, " he has followed me, then."
*' So it appears." *' He is so cunning that I never know when I am
safe from him. What will he say when he returns ? " *' He must
guard himself, for he may find that there is some one more cunning
than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him to-
night. If he is violent, we shall take you away 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 we are to examine." The building was
of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high
 THE SPECKLED BAND. 197 central portion, and two curving
wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of
these wings the windows were broken, and blocked with wooden
boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The
central portion was in little better repair, but the right-hand block
was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows, with the
blue smoke curling up from the chimneys, showed that this was
where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been erected against
the end wall, and the stonework had been broken into, but there
were no signs of any workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes
walked slowly up and down the ill-trimmed lawn, and examined with
deep attention the outsides of the windows. " This, I take it, belongs
to the room in which you used to sleep, the centre one to your
sister's, and the one next to the main building to Dr. Roylott's
chamber ? " " Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one."
"Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does
not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end wall."
** There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me
from my room." " Ah ! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of
this narrow wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms
open. There are windows in it, of course ? " " Yes, but very small
ones. Too narrow for any one to pass through." " As you both locked
your doors at night your rooms were unapproachable from that side.
Now, would you have the kindness to go into your room, and to bar
your shutters." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful
examination through the open window, endeavoured in every way to
force the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit
through which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his
lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built firmly
into the massive masonry. '"' Hum ! " said he, scratching his chin in
some perplexity, " my theory certainly presents some difficulties. No
one could pass these shutters if they were bolted. Well, we shall see
if the inside throws any light upon the matter." A small side-door led
into the whitewashed corridor from which
 198 ADVENTURED OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. the three
bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third chamber, so
we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Stoner was now
sleeping, and in which her sister had met her fate. It was a homely
little room, with a low ceiling and a gaping fireplace, after the
fashion of old country houses. A brown chest of drawers stood in
one corner, a narrow white-counterpaned bed in another, and a
dressing-table on the left-hand side of the window. These articles,
with two small wickerwork chairs, made up all the furniture in the
room, save for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards
round and tlie panelling of the walls were brown, worm-eaten oak,
so old and discoloured that it may have dated from the original
building of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner
and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and
down, taking in every detail of the apartment. " Where does that bell
communicate with ? " he asked at last, pointing to a thick bell-rope
which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the
pillow. *' It goes to the housekeeper's room." " It looks newer than
the other things ? " " Yes, it was only put there a couple of years
ago." " Your sister asked for it, I suppose ? " " No, I never heard of
her using it. We used always to get what we wanted for ourselves."
** Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there.
You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to this
floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his hand,
and crawled swiftly backwards and forwards, examining minutely the
cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with the
woodwork with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he walked
over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it, and in running
his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the bellrope in his
hand and gave it a brisk tug. " Why, it's a dummy," said he. *' Won't
it ring ? " ''No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very
interesting. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above
where the little opening of the ventilator is." " How very absurd ! I
never noticed that before."
 THE SPECKLED BAND. t^9 '' Very strange ! " muttered
Holmes, pulling at the rope, *' There are one or two very singular
points about this room. For example, what a fool a builder must be
to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the same trouble,
he might have communicated with the outside air! " " That is also
quite modern," said the lady. *' Done about the same time as the
bell-rope," remarked Holmes. *' Yes, there were several little
changes carried cut about that time." *' They seem to have been of
a most interesting character — dummy bell-ropes, and ventilators
which do not ventilate. With your permission. Miss Stoner, we shall
now carry our researches into the inner apartment." Dr. Grimesby
Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his stepdaughter, but was
as plainly furnished. A camp bed, a small wooden shelf full of books,
mostly of a technical character, an armchair beside the bed, a plain
wooden chair against the wall, a round table, and a large iron safe
were the principal things which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly
round and examined each and all of them with the keenest interest.
" What's in here ? " he asked, tapping the safe. '* My stepfather's
business papers." " Oh ! you have seen inside, then ? " " Only once,
some years ago. I remember that it was full of papers." " There isn't
a cat in it, for example ? " " No. What a strange idea ! " " Well, look
at this ! " He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on the top
of it. " No ; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a
baboon." *' Ah, yes, of course ! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and
yet a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I
daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He
squatted down in front of the wooden chair, and examined the seat
of it with the greatest attention. *' Thank you. That is quite settled,"
said he, rising and putting his lens in his pocket. " Hullo ! here is
something interesting ! "
 200 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Tlie object
which had caught his eye was a small doo; lash hung on one corner
of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself, and tied so as
to make a loop of whipcord. " What do you make of that, Watson ? "
" It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be
tied." " That is not quite so common, is it ? Ah, me ! it's a wicked
world, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the
worst of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and,
with your permission, we shall walk out upon the lawn.*' WELL,
LOOK AT THIij I had never seen my friend's face so grim, or his
brow so dark, as it was when we turned from the scene of this
investigation. We had walked several times up and dowm the lawn,
neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts
before he roused himself from his reverie. *' It is very essential. Miss
Stoner," said he, " that you should absolutely follow my advice in
every respect." '* I shall most certainly do so." "The matter is too
serious for any hesitation. Your life may depend upon your
compliance." *' I assure you that I am in your hands."
 THE SPECKLED BAND. 201 '*In the first place, both my
friend and I must spend the night in your room." Both Miss Stoner
and I gazed at him in astonishment. ** Yes, it must be so. Let me
explain. I believe that that is the village inn over there ? " *' Yes,
that is the ' Crown.'" ** Very good. Your windows would be visible
from there ? " ''Certainly." '' You must confine yourself to your room,
on pretence of a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then
when you hear him retire for the night, you must open the shutters
of your window, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to
us, and then withdraw with everything which you are likely to want
into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in
spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." ** Oh,
yes, easily." ** The rest you will leave in our hands." " But what will
you do ? " "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall
investigate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." '• I
believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," said
Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. " Perhaps
I have." " Then for pity's sake tell me what was the cause of my
sister's death." *' I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I
speak." " You can at least tell me whether my own thought is
correct, and if she died from some sudden fright." '' No, I do not
think so. I think that there was probably some more tangible cause.
And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you, for if Dr. Roylott returned
and saw us, our journey would be in vain. Good-bye, and be brave,
for if you will do what I have told you, you may rest assured that we
shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you." Sherlock
Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sitting-
room at the *' Crown " Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from
our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of
the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At
 202 ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES. dusk we saw
Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the
little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some slight
difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse
roar of the Doctor's voice, and saw the fury with which he shook his
clenched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we
saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in
one of the sittingrooms. " Do you know, Watson," said Holmes, as
we sat together in the gathering darkness, " I have really some
scruples as to takingyou to-night. There is a distinct element of
danger." ''Can I be of assistance ? " "Your presence might be
invaluable." ''Then I shall certainly come." " It is very kind of you." "
You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms
than was visible to me." " No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a
little more. I imagine that you saw all that I did." " I saw nothing
remarkable save the bell rope, and what purpose that could answer
I confess is more than I can imagine." f GOOD-BYE, AND BE BRAVE.
 THE SPECKLED BAND. 203 '' You saw the ventilator, too ? "
" Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have
a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a rat could
hardly pass through." " I knew that we should find a ventilator
before ever we came to Stoke Moran." '' My dear Holmes ! " '* Oh,
yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her sister
could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that suggests at once
that there must be a communication between the two rooms. It
could only be a small one, or it would have been remarked upon at
the Coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." ** But what harm can
there be in that ? " " Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of
dates. A ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in
the bed dies. Does not that strike you ? " " I cannot as yet see any
connection." *' Did you observe anything very peculiar about that
bed ? " ''No." " It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed
fastened like that before ? " " I cannot say that I have." *' The lady
could not move her bed. It must always be in the same relative
position to the ventilator and to the rope — for so we may call it,
since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." *' Holmes," I cried, ''
I seem to see dimly v/hat you are hinting at. We are only just in
time to prevent some subtle and horrible crime." " Subtle enough,
and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of
criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard
were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes even
deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall be able to strike deeper
still. But we shall have horrors enough before the night is over ; for
goodness' sake let us have a quiet pipe, and turn our minds for a
few hours to something more cheerful." About nine o'clock the light
among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction
of the Manor House. Two hours
 204 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. passed slowly
away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single
bright light shone out right in front of us. *' That is our signal," said
Holmes, springing to his feet ; " it comes from the middle window."
As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord,
explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and
that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment
later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces,
and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to
guide us on our sombre errand. There was little difficulty in entering
the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall.
Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it,
and were about to enter through the window, when out from a
clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous
and distorted child, who threw itself on the grass with wTithing
limbs, and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. *' My
God ! " I whispered ; '' did you see it ? " Holmes was for the
m.oment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vice upon my wTist
in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh, and put his lips to
my ear. "It is a nice household," he murmured. ''That is the baboon."
I had forgotten the strange pets which the Doctor affected. There
was a cheetah, too ; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at
any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, after
following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I found myself
inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters,
moved the lamp on to the table, and cast his eyes round the room.
All was as we had seen it in the day-time. Then creeping up to me
and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my ear again
so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words —
"The least sound would be fatal to our plans." I nodded to show that
I had heard. *' We must sit without a light. He would see it through
the ventilator. I nodded again. " Do not go asleep ; your very life
may depend upon it. Have
 THE SFECKLEjy BAND. 205 your pistol ready in case we
should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that
chair." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table.
Holmes had brought up along thin cane, and this he placed upon the
bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a
candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left in
darkness. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil ? I could not
hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that
my companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same
state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut off
the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. From
outside came the occasional cry of a night bird, and once at our very
window a long drawn, cat-like whine, which told us that the cheetah
was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the
parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long
they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one, and two, and
three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall.
Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the
direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was
succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Some
one in the next room had lit a dark lantern. I heard a gentle sound
of movement, and then all was silent once more, tho'jgh the smell
grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then
suddenly another sound became audible — a very gentle, soothing
sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a
kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed,
struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull. "
You see it, Watson ? " he yelled. '' You see it ? " But I saw nothing.
At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, clear
whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it
impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so
savagely. I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale, and
filled with horror and loathing. He had ceased to strike, and was
gazing up at the ventilator, when suddenly there broke from the
silence of the night the most horrible cry to which I have ever
listened. It swelled up louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and
fear and anger all mingled in the
 2o6 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, one dreadful
shriek. They say that away down in the village, and even in the
distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers from their beds. It
struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at
me, until the last echoes of it had died away into the silence from
which it rose. " What can it mean ? " I gasped. "It means that it is
all over," Holmes answered. ''And perhaps, after all, it is for the best.
Take your pistol, and we shall enter Dr. Roylott's room." HOLMES
LASHED FURIOUSLY. J " With a grave face he lit the lamp, and led
the way down the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door
without any reply fr(3m within. Then he turned the handle and
entered, I at his heels. with the cocked pistol in my hand. It was a
singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a dark lantern
with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant beam of light upon
the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Beside this table, on the
wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott, clad in a long
 THE SPECKLED BAND. 207 grey dressing-gown, his bare
ankles protruding beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless
Turkish slippers. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash
which we had noticed during the da}^ His chin was cocked upwards,
and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful rigid stare at the corner of the
ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with
brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his
head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. " HE MADE
NEITHER SOUND NOR MOTION." *' The band ! the speckled band !
" whispered Holmes. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange
headgear began to move, and there reared itself from among his
hair the squat diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome
serpent. " It is a swamp adder ! " cried Holmes — '' the deadliest
snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten.
Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls
into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this creature
back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some
place of shelter, and let the county police know what has happened."
As he spoke he drew the dog whip swiftly from the dead man's lap,
and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck, he drew it from
 2o8 ADVENTURES OE SHERLOCK HOLMES. its horrid perch,
and, carrying it at arm's length threw it into the iron safe, which he
closed upon it. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby
Roylott, of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a
narrative which has already run to too great a length, by telling how
we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her by
the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of how the
slow process of official inquiry came to the conclusion that the
Doctor met his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet.
The little which I had yet to learn of the case was told me by
Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back next day. "I had," said he, "
come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows, my dear
Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data.
The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the word 'band,' which
was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to explain the appearance
which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the light of her match,
were sufficient to put me upon an entirely wrong scent. I can only
claim the merit that I instantly reconsidered my position when,
however, it became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an
occupant of the room could not come either from the window or the
door. My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked
to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell rope which hung down to
the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was
clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the
rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole,
and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to
me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the Doctor was
furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was
probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of poison which
could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such
a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an
Eastern training. The rapidity with which such a poison would take
effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage. It would
be a sharp-eyed coroner indeed who could distinguish the two little
dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done
their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of course, he must recall
the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim. He had
trained
 THE SPECKLED BAND. 209 it, probably by the use of the
milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. He would put
it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best, with the
certainty that it would crawl down the rope, and land on the bed. It
might or might not bite the occupant, perhaps she might escape
every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim. **
I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room.
An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the habit
of standing on it, which, of course, would be necessary in order that
he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the safe, the saucer of
milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel any
doubts which may have remained. The metallic clang heard by Miss
Stoner was obviously caused by her father hastily closing the door of
his safe upon its terrible occupant. Having once made up my mind,
you know the steps which I took in order to put the matter to the
proof. I heard the creature hiss, as I have no doubt that you did
also, and I instantly lit the light and attacked it." " With the result of
driving it through the ventilator." " And also with the result of
causing it to turn upon its master at the other side. Some of the
blows of my cane came home, and roused its snakish temper, so
that it flew upon the first person it saw. In this way I am no doubt
indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot
say that it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." ^5
 IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. F all the
problems which have been submitted to my friend Mr. Sherlock
Holmes for solution during the years of our intimacy, there were only
two which I was the means of introducing to his notice, that of Mr.
Ilatherley's thumb and that of Colonel Warburton's madness. Of
these the latter may have afforded a finer field for an acute and
original observer, but the other was so strange in its inception and so
dramatic in its details, that it may be the more worthy of being
placed upon record, even if it gave my friend fewer openings for
those deductive methods of reasoning by which he achieved such
remarkable results. The story has, I believe, been told more than
once in the newspapers, but, like all such narratives, its effect is
much less striking when set forth en bloc in a single half-column of
print than when the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes and
the mystery clears gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a
step which leads on to the complete truth. At the time the
circumstances made a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of
two years has hardly served to weaken the effect. It was in the
summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the events occurred
which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to civil practice,
and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker-street rooms,
although I continually visited him, and occasionally even persuaded
him to forego his Bohemian habits so far as to come and visit us. My
practice had steadily increased, and as I happened to live at no very
great distance from Paddington Station, I got a few patients from
among the officials. One of these whom I had cured of a painful and
lingering disease, w^as never weary of advertising my virtues, and
of endeavouring to send me on every sufferer over whom he might
have any influence.
 THE ENGINEER'S THUMB. 211 One morning, at a little
before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the maid tapping at the
door, to announce that two men had come from Paddington, and
were waiting in the consulting room. I dressed hurriedly, for I knew
by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial, and hastened
downstairs. As I descended, my old ally, the guard, came out of the
room, and closed the door tightly behind him. " I've got him here,"
he whispered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder; " he's all right." "
What is it, then ? " I asked, for his manner suggested that it was
some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. *' It's a
new patient," he whispered. ''I thought I'd bring him round myself;
then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and sound. I must go
now, doctor, I have my dooties, just the same as you." And off he
went, this trusty tout, without even giving me time to thank him. " I
entered. my consulting room, and found a gentleman seated by the
table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed, with a soft
cloth cap, which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of his
hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all over
with bloodstains. He was young, not more than five-and-twenty, I
should say, with a strong masculine face; but he was exceedingly
pale, and gave me the impression of a man who was suffering from
some strong agitation, which it took all his strength of mind to
control. " I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he. '*'
But I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by
train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I
might find a doctor a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me here. I
gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the side
table." I took it up and glanced at it. " Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic
engineer, i6a, Victoria-street (3rd floor)." That was the name, style,
and abode of my morning visitor. *' I regret that I have kept you
waiting," said I, sitting down in my library chair. " You are fresh from
a night journey, I understand, which is in itself a monotonous
occupation." " Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said
he, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high ringing note,
 212 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. leaning back in
his chair, and shaking his sides. All my medical instincts rose up
against that laugh. " Stop it ! " I cried. '' Pull yourself together ! "
and I poured out some water from a caraffe. It was useless,
however. He was off in one of those hysterical outbursts which come
upon a strong nature when some great crisis is over and gone.
Presently he came to himself once more, very weary and blushing
hotly. " HE UNWOUND THE HANDKERCHIEF, AND HELD OUT HIS
HAND." ** I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. ** Not
at all. Drink this ! " I dashed some brandy into the water, and the
colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. *' That's better!"
said he. ''And now. Doctor, perhaps you would kindly attend to my
thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb used to be." He
unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even my
hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were