Chapter IX A Break in the Chain

ItwaslateintheafternoonbeforeIwoke,strengthenedandrefreshed.SherlockHolmesstillsatexactlyasIhadlefthim,savethathehadlaidasidehisviolinandwasdeepinabook.Helookedacrossatme,asIstirred,andInoticedthathisfacewasdarkandtroubled. “Youhavesleptsoundly,”hesaid.“Ifearedthatourtalkwouldwakeyou.” “Iheardnothing,”Ianswered.“Haveyouhadfreshnews,then?” “Unfortunately,no.IconfessthatIamsurprisedanddisappointed.Iexpectedsomethingdefinitebythistime.Wigginshasjustbeenuptoreport.Hesaysthatnotracecanbefoundofthelaunch.Itisaprovokingcheck,foreveryhourisofimportance.” “CanIdoanything?Iamperfectlyfreshnow,andquitereadyforanothernight’souting.” “No,wecandonothing.Wecanonlywait.Ifwegoourselves,themessagemightcomeinourabsence,anddelaybecaused.Youcandowhatyouwill,butImustremainonguard.” “ThenIshallrunovertoCamberwellandcalluponMrs.CecilForrester.Sheaskedmeto,yesterday.” “OnMrs.CecilForrester?”askedHolmes,withthetwinkleofasmileinhiseyes. “Well,ofcourseMissMorstantoo.Theywereanxioustohearwhathappened.” “Iwouldnottellthemtoomuch,”saidHolmes.“Womenarenevertobeentirelytrusted,—notthebestofthem.” Ididnotpausetoargueoverthisatrocioussentiment.“Ishallbebackinanhourortwo,”Iremarked. “Allright!Goodluck!But,Isay,ifyouarecrossingtheriveryoumayaswellreturnToby,forIdon’tthinkitisatalllikelythatweshallhaveanyuseforhimnow.” Itookourmongrelaccordingly,andlefthim,togetherwithahalf-sovereign,attheoldnaturalist’sinPinchinLane.AtCamberwellIfoundMissMorstanalittlewearyafterhernight’sadventures,butveryeagertohearthenews.Mrs.Forrester,too,wasfullofcuriosity.Itoldthemallthatwehaddone,suppressing,however,themoredreadfulpartsofthetragedy.Thus,althoughIspokeofMr.Sholto’sdeath,Isaidnothingoftheexactmannerandmethodofit.Withallmyomissions,however,therewasenoughtostartleandamazethem. “Itisaromance!”criedMrs.Forrester.“Aninjuredlady,halfamillionintreasure,ablackcannibal,andawooden-leggedruffian.Theytaketheplaceoftheconventionaldragonorwickedearl.” “Andtwoknight-errantstotherescue,”addedMissMorstan,withabrightglanceatme. “Why,Mary,yourfortunedependsupontheissueofthissearch.Idon’tthinkthatyouarenearlyexcitedenough.Justimaginewhatitmustbetobesorich,andtohavetheworldatyourfeet!” Itsentalittlethrillofjoytomyhearttonoticethatsheshowednosignofelationattheprospect.Onthecontrary,shegaveatossofherproudhead,asthoughthematterwereoneinwhichshetooksmallinterest. “ItisforMr.ThaddeusSholtothatIamanxious,”shesaid.“NothingelseisofanyconsequencebutIthinkthathehasbehavedmostkindlyandhonourablythroughout.Itisourdutytoclearhimofthisdreadfulandunfoundedcharge.” ItwaseveningbeforeIleftCamberwell,andquitedarkbythetimeIreachedhome.Mycompanion’sbookandpipelaybyhischair,buthehaddisappeared.Ilookedaboutinthehopeofseeinganote,buttherewasnone. “IsupposethatMr.SherlockHolmeshasgoneout,”IsaidtoMrs.Hudsonasshecameuptolowertheblinds. “No,sir.Hehasgonetohisroom,sir.Doyouknow,sir,”sinkinghervoiceintoanimpressivewhisper,“Iamafraidforhishealth?” “Whyso,Mrs.Hudson?” “Well,he’sthatstrange,sir.Afteryouwasgonehewalkedandhewalked,upanddown,andupanddown,untilIwaswearyofthesoundofhisfootstep.ThenIheardhimtalkingtohimselfandmuttering,andeverytimethebellrangou