Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson

ritanical.Youcouldhardlyconceivealessemotionalsubject.YetIhavetoldyouhow,onthefirstnighthere,Iheardhersobbingbitterly,andsincethenIhavemorethanonceobservedtracesoftearsuponherface.Somedeepsorrowgnawseveratherheart.SometimesIwonderifshehasaguiltymemorywhichhauntsher,andsometimesIsuspectBarrymoreofbeingadomestictyrant.Ihavealwaysfeltthattherewassomethingsingularandquestionableinthisman’scharacter,buttheadventureoflastnightbringsallmysuspicionstoahead. Andyetitmayseemasmallmatterinitself.YouareawarethatIamnotaverysoundsleeper,andsinceIhavebeenonguardinthishousemyslumbershavebeenlighterthanever.Lastnight,abouttwointhemorning,Iwasarousedbyastealthysteppassingmyroom.Irose,openedmydoor,andpeepedout.Alongblackshadowwastrailingdownthecorridor.Itwasthrownbyamanwhowalkedsoftlydownthepassagewithacandleheldinhishand.Hewasinshirtandtrousers,withnocoveringtohisfeet.Icouldmerelyseetheoutline,buthisheighttoldmethatitwasBarrymore.Hewalkedveryslowlyandcircumspectly,andtherewassomethingindescribablyguiltyandfurtiveinhiswholeappearance. Ihavetoldyouthatthecorridorisbrokenbythebalconywhichrunsroundthehall,butthatitisresumeduponthefartherside.IwaiteduntilhehadpassedoutofsightandthenIfollowedhim.WhenIcameroundthebalconyhehadreachedtheendofthefarthercorridor,andIcouldseefromtheglimmeroflightthroughanopendoorthathehadenteredoneoftherooms.Now,alltheseroomsareunfurnishedandunoccupiedsothathisexpeditionbecamemoremysteriousthanever.Thelightshonesteadilyasifhewerestandingmotionless.IcreptdownthepassageasnoiselesslyasIcouldandpeepedroundthecornerofthedoor. Barrymorewascrouchingatthewindowwiththecandleheldagainsttheglass.Hisprofilewashalfturnedtowardsme,andhisfaceseemedtoberigidwithexpectationashestaredoutintotheblacknessofthemoor.Forsomeminuteshestoodwatchingintently.Thenhegaveadeepgroanandwithanimpatientgestureheputoutthelight.InstantlyImademywaybacktomyroom,andveryshortlycamethestealthystepspassingoncemoreupontheirreturnjourney.LongafterwardswhenIhadfallenintoalightsleepIheardakeyturnsomewhereinalock,butIcouldnottellwhencethesoundcame.WhatitallmeansIcannotguess,butthereissomesecretbusinessgoingoninthishouseofgloomwhichsoonerorlaterweshallgettothebottomof.Idonottroubleyouwithmytheories,foryouaskedmetofurnishyouonlywithfacts.IhavehadalongtalkwithSirHenrythismorning,andwehavemadeaplanofcampaignfoundeduponmyobservationsoflastnight.Iwillnotspeakaboutitjustnow,butitshouldmakemynextreportinterestingreading.