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DarqueDante
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Dataset card Data Studio Files
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We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we reached
the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside public-house.
The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like burnished
metal in the light of the setting sun, were sufficient to mark the
house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the
door-step.
"Have you managed it?" asked Holmes.
A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Mrs.
Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring on the
kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr.
Rucastle's."
"You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now lead
the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black business."
We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a
passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss
Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the transverse
bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but without success.
No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes' face clouded
over.
"I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Hunter,
that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put your shoulder
to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in."
It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united
strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There was
no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a basketful
of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner gone.
"There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty has
guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim off."
"But how?"
"Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He swung
himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the end of a
long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it."
"But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not there
when the Rucastles went away."
"He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and
dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were he
whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it would
be as well for you to have your pistol ready."
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the
door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy stick in his
hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall at the sight
of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confronted him.
"You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?"
The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open skylight.
"It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and
thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll serve
you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go.
"He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter.
"I have my revolver," said I.
"Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed down
the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the
baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible
worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elderly man
with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out at a side door.
"My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been fed
for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!"
Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Toller
hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its black
muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and screamed
upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it fell over
with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great creases of his
neck. With much labour we separated them and carried him, living but
horribly mangled, into the house. We laid him upon the drawing-room
sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Toller to bear the news to
his wife, I did what I could to relieve his pain. We were all
assembled round him when the door opened, and a tall, gaunt woman
entered the room.
"Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter.
"Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he went
up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know what you
were planning, for I would have told you that your pains were
wasted."
"Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs.
Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else."
"Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know."