English - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
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He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the endless succession of somber and deserted streets, which widened gradually until we were flying across a broad ballast rated bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us. Beyond lay another doll wilderness of bricks and mortar. It's silence broken only by the heavy regular footfall of the policemen, or the songs and shouts of some belated party revelers. A doll rack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rift of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence with his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of a man who was lost in thought, while I sat beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be, which seemed to tax his power so sorely, and yet afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and we're beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is acting for the best. You have a grand gift of silence, Watson! He said. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion! Upon my word, it is a great thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are not over pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear little woman tonight, when she meets me at the door. You forget that I know nothing about it. I shall have time to tell you the facts of the case before we get to lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet somehow I can get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I can't get to the end of it in my own hand. Now I'll state the case clearly and concisely to you Watson, and maybe you can see a spark where all is dark to me, proceed. Then, Some years ago to be definite. In May 1884 there came to lee a gentleman, neville ST Clair by name, who paid you to have plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, and lived generally in good style By degrees. He made friends in the neighborhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of a local brewer, by whom he now has two Children. He had no occupation, but was interested in several companies, and went into town. As a rule, in the morning returning by the 5 14 from Canon Street every night. Mr ST Clair, who is now 37 years of age, is a man of temperate habits. A good husband, a very affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know him. I may add that his whole debt at the present moment, as far as we have been able to ascertain amount is £88 10 shekels. Well, he has £220 standing to his credit in the capital and counties bank. There is no reason therefore to think that money trouble has been weighing upon his mind. Last monday, Mr NEville ST Clair went into town rather earlier than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important commissions to perform and that he would bring his little boy home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife received a telegram upon the same monday very shortly after his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up in your London, you will know that the office of the Company is in Fresno street which branches out of Upper swan damn Lane, where you found me tonight. Mrs Sinclair had her lunch started for the city, did some shopping, proceeded to the Company's office, got a package, and found herself at exactly 4 35. Walking through swan dmb Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me so far? It is very clear if you remember monday was an exceedingly hard day. And mr ST Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as she did not like the neighborhood in which she found herself. While she was walking in this way down Swanton lane, she suddenly heard an ejaculation or cry and was struck cold to see her husband looking down at her as it seemed to her beckoning to her from a second floor window. The window was open and she distinctly saw his face, which she described as being terribly agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her and then vanished from the window, so suddenly that it seemed to her that he had been plucked back buy some irritable force behind one singular point which struck her quick, feminine. I was that although he wore some dark coat such as he had started to in town, he had on neither collar nor necktie.