“Thank goodness that something connects with something,” saidI. “At present we seem to be faced by a long series of inexplicableincidents with no bearing upon each other.“For example, whatpossible connection can there be between an angry wolfhound anda visit to Bohemia, or either of them with a man crawling down apassage at night? As to your dates, that is the biggest mystificationof all.”
Holmes smiled and rubbed his hands. We were, I may say, seatedin the old sitting-room of the ancient hotel, with a bottle of thefamous vintage of which Holmes had spoken on the table betweenus.
“Well, now, let us take the dates first,” said he, his fingertipstogether and his manner as if he were addressing a class. “Thisexcellent young man’s diary shows that there was trouble uponJuly 2d, and from then onward it seems to have been at nine-dayintervals, with, so far as I remember, only one exception. Thus thelast outbreak upon Friday was on September 3d, which also fallsinto the series, as did August 26th, which preceded it. The thing isbeyond coincidence.”
I was forced to agree.
“Let us, then, form the provisional theory that every nine daysthe professor takes some strong drug which has a passing buthighly poisonous effect. His naturally violent nature is intensifiedby it. He learned to take this drug while he was in Prague, and isnow supplied with it by a Bohemian intermediary in London. Thisall hangs together, Watson!”
“But the dog, the face at the window, the creeping man in thepassage?”
“Well, well, we have made a beginning. I should not expect anyfresh developments until next Tuesday. In the meantime we canonly keep in touch with friend Bennett and enjoy the amenities ofthis charming town.”
In the morning Mr. Bennett slipped round to bring us thelatest report. As Holmes had imagined, times had not been easywith him. Without exactly accusing him of being responsible forour presence, the professor had been very rough and rude in hisspeech, and evidently felt some strong grievance. This morninghe was quite himself again, however, and had delivered his usualbrilliant lecture to a crowded class. “Apart from his queer fits,” said Bennett, “he has actually more energy and vitality than I canever remember, nor was his brain ever clearer. But it’s not he—it’snever the man whom we have known.”
“I don’t think you have anything to fear now for a week at least,”
Holmes answered. “I am a busy man, and Dr. Watson has hispatients to attend to. Let us agree that we meet here at this hournext Tuesday, and I shall be surprised if before we leave you againwe are not able to explain, even if we cannot perhaps put an endto, your troubles. Meanwhile, keep us posted in what occurs.”
I saw nothing of my friend for the next few days, but on thefollowing Monday evening I had a short note asking me to meethim next day at the train. From what he told me as we travelledup to Camford all was well, the peace of the professor’s house hadbeen unruffled, and his own conduct perfectly normal. This alsowas the report which was given us by Mr. Bennett himself whenhe called upon us that evening at our old quarters in the Chequers.
“He heard from his London correspondent to-day. There was aletter and there was a small packet, each with the cross underthe stamp which warned me not to touch them. There has beennothing else.”
“That may prove quite enough,” said Holmes grimly. “Now, Mr. Bennett, we shall, I think, come to some conclusion tonight. If mydeductions are correct we should have an opportunity of bringingmatters to a head. In order to do so it is necessary to hold theprofessor under observation. I would suggest, therefore, that youremain awake and on the lookout. Should you hear him pass yourdoor, do not interrupt him, but follow him as discreetly as youcan. Dr. Watson and I will not be far off. By the way, where is thekey of that little box of which you spoke?”
“Upon his watch-chain.”
“I fancy our researches must lie in that direction. At the worstthe lock should not be very formidable. Have you any other ablebodiedman on the premises?”
“There is the coachman, Macphail.”
“Where does he sleep?”
“Over the stables.”
“We might possibly want him. Well, we can do no more until wesee how things develop, Good-bye—but I expect that we shall seeyou before morning.”
It was nearly midnight before we took our station among somebushes immediately opposite the hall door of the professor. It wasa fine night, but chilly, and we were glad of our warm overcoats.
There was a breeze, and clouds were scudding across the sky,obscuring from time to time the half-moon. It would have been adismal vigil were it not for the expectation and excitement whichcarried us along, and the assurance of my comrade that we hadprobably reached the end of the strange sequence of events whichhad engaged our attention.
“If the cycle of nine days holds good then we shall have theprofessor at his worst to-night,” said Holmes. “The fact that thesestrange symptoms began after his visit to Prague, that he is insecret correspondence with a Bohemian dealer in London, whopresumably represents someone in Prague, and that he receiveda packet from him this very day, all point in one direction. Whathe takes and why he takes it are still beyond our ken, but that itemanates in some way from Prague is clear enough. He takes itunder definite directions which regulate this ninth-day system,which was the first point which attracted my attention. But hissymptoms are most remarkable. Did you observe his knuckles?”
I had to confess that I did not.
“Thick and horny in a way which is quite new in my experience.