Perhaps they would like to see the chapel and the kitchen.â
âCertainly. This way, please.â
Dr. Murray hurried away in the direction of the morgue, and we followed Miss Young. But only for a short distance. Before we reached the door, Holmes said abruptly, âOur time is limited, Miss Young. Perhaps the tour can be finished during another visit. We are here to-day for professional reasons.â
The girl seemed not to be surprised. âI understand, Mr. Holmes. Is there something I can do?â
âPerhaps there is. Some time ago you pledged a certain article in a pawn-shop on Great Heapton Street. Do you recall?â
With no hesitation whatever, she replied, âOf course. It was not so long ago as that.â
âWould you object to telling us how you came by the case, and why you pledged it?â
âNot at all. It belonged to Pierre.â
I thought this startling news, but Holmes did not move a muscle. âThe poor fellow who has lost his wits.â
âA pitiful case,â said the girl.
âA hopeless one, I venture to say,â said Holmes. âWe met him a few minutes ago. Could you enlighten us as to his background?â
âWe know nothing about him prior to his arrival here. But that arrival, I must say, was dramatic. I came through the morgue late one night, and found him standing beside one of the corpses.â
âDoing what, Miss Young?â
âHe was doing nothing whatever, merely standing by the body in the confused state you must surely have noticed. I approached him and brought him to my uncle. He has been here ever since. The police were evidently not seeking him, for Inspector Lestrade has shown no interest in him whatever.â
My opinion of Miss Sally Young went higher. Here was courage indeed. A girl who could walk at night about a charnel-house, see a gargoyle figure such as Pierreâs standing over one of the corpses, and not flee in terror!
âThatâs hardly a criterion,â began Holmes, and stopped.
âI beg your pardon, sir?â
âA random thought, Miss Young. Please proceed.â
âWe came to the opinion that someone had guided Pierre to the hostel and left him, as unwed mothers leave their infants at the door of a sanctuary. Dr. Murray examined him, and found that he had once sustained a terrible injury, as if he had been brutally beaten. The wounds about his head had healed, but nothing could be done to dispel the mists that had permanently settled over his brain. He has proved to be harmless, and he is so pathetically eager to help about the place that he has made his own berth. We of course would not dream of sending him back into a world with which he cannot cope.â
âAnd the surgeonâs-kit?â
âHe had a bundle with him, containing wearing apparel. The kit was buried in their midst, the only thing of value he possessed.â
âWhat did he tell you of himself?â
âNothing. He speaks only with effort, single words which are hardly intelligible.â
âBut his nameâPierre?â
She laughed, an attractive touch of colour coming into her cheeks. âI took the liberty of baptising him. What clothing he carried bore French labels. And there was a coloured handkerchief with French script interwoven in the cloth. Thus, and for no other reason, I began calling him Pierre, although I feel sure he is not French.â
âHow did you happen to pawn the case?â asked Holmes.
âThat came about quite simply. As I have told you, Pierre brought virtually nothing with him, and our funds at the hostel are severely allocated. We were in no position to outfit Pierre properly. So I thought of the surgical-case. It was clearly of value, and he could have no need of it. I explained to him what I proposed, and to my surprise he nodded violently.â She paused here to laugh. âThe only difficulty was in getting him to accept the proceeds. He wanted to
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