Sherlock Holmes In Montague Street Volume 2 by David Marcum Read Free Book Online Page B

staircase, seven or eight yards away, and down the stairs came Miss Garth in dressing gown and slippers; she turned at the landing and vanished in a passage leading to the right.
    â€œWhere does that lead to?” Holmes whispered hurriedly.
    â€œToward the small staircase - other end of house,” Mr. Crellan replied in the same tones.
    â€œCome quietly,” said Holmes, and stepped lightly after Miss Garth, Mr. Crellan at his heels.
    She was nearing the opposite end of the passage, walking at a fair pace and looking neither to right nor left. There was another light over the smaller staircase at the end. Without hesitation Miss Garth turned down the stairs till about half down the flight, and then stopped and pressed her hand against the oak wainscot.
    Immediately the vertical piece of framing against which she had placed her hand turned on central pivots top and bottom, revealing a small recess, three feet high and little more than six inches wide. Miss Garth stooped and felt about at the bottom of this recess for several seconds. Then with every sign of extreme agitation and horror she withdrew her hand empty, and sank on the stairs. Her head rolled from side to side on her shoulders, and beads of perspiration stood on her forehead. Holmes with difficulty restrained Mr. Crellan from going to her assistance.
    Presently, with a sort of shuddering sigh, Miss Garth rose, and after standing irresolute for a moment, descended the flight of stairs to the bottom. There she stopped again, and pressing her hand to her forehead, turned and began to re-ascend the stairs.
    Holmes touched his companion’s arm, and the two hastily but noiselessly made their way back along the passage to the study. Miss Garth left the open framing as it was, reached the top of the landing, and without stopping proceeded along the passage and turned up the main staircase, while Holmes and Mr. Crellan still watched her from the study door.
    At the top of the flight she turned to the right, and up three or four more steps toward her own room. There she stopped, and leaned thoughtfully on the handrail.
    â€œGo up,” whispered Holmes to Mr. Crellan, “as though you were going to bed. Appear surprised to see her; ask if she isn’t well, and, if you can, manage to repeat that question of mine about secret hiding-places in the house.”
    Mr. Crellan nodded and started quickly up the stairs. Half-way up he turned his head, and, as he went on, “Why, Nelly, my dear,” he said, “what’s the matter? Aren’t you well?”
    Mr. Crellan acted his part well, and waiting below, Holmes heard this dialogue:
    â€œNo, uncle, I don’t feel very well, but it’s nothing. I think my room seems close. I can scarcely breathe.”
    â€œOh, it isn’t close tonight. You’ll be catching cold, my dear. Go and have a good sleep; you mustn’t worry that wise little head of yours, you know. Mr. Holmes and I have been making quite a night of it, but I’m off to bed now.”
    â€œI hope they’ve made you both quite comfortable, uncle?”
    â€œOh, yes; capital, capital. We’ve been talking over business, and, no doubt, we shall put that matter all in order soon. By the bye, I suppose since you saw Mr. Holmes you haven’t happened to remember anything more to tell him?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou still can’t remember any hiding-places or panels, or that sort of thing in the wainscot or anywhere?”
    â€œNo, I’m sure I don’t know of any, and I don’t believe for a moment that any exist.”
    â€œQuite sure of that, I suppose?”
    â€œOh yes.”
    â€œAll right. Now go to bed. You’ll catch such a cold in these draughty landings. Come, I won’t move a step till I see your door shut behind you. Good night.”
    â€œGood night, uncle.”
    Mr. Crellan came downstairs again with a face of blank puzzlement.
    â€œI wouldn’t have