the adventure of the noble bachelor-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


is　your　own　theory　as　to　what　took　place？〃

　　〃Well；　really；　I　came　to　seek　a　theory；　not　to　propound　one。　I

have　given　you　all　the　facts。　Since　you　ask　me；　however；　I　may　say

that　it　has　occurred　to　me　as　possible　that　the　excitement　of　this

affair；　the　consciousness　that　she　had　made　so　immense　a　social

stride；　had　the　effect　of　causing　some　little　nervous　disturbance　in

my　wife。〃

　　〃In　short；　that　she　had　become　suddenly　deranged？〃

　　〃Well；　really；　when　I　consider　that　she　has　turned　her　back…I　will

not　say　upon　me；　but　upon　so　much　that　many　have　aspired　to　without

success…I　can　hardly　explain　it　in　any　other　fashion。〃

　　〃Well；　certainly　that　is　also　a　conceivable　hypothesis；〃　said

Holmes；　smiling。　〃And　now；　Lord　St。　Simon；　I　think　that　I　have

nearly　all　my　data。　May　I　ask　whether　you　were　seated　at　the

breakfast…table　so　that　you　could　see　out　of　the　window？〃

　　〃We　could　see　the　other　side　of　the　road　and　the　Park。〃

　　〃Quite　so。　Then　I　do　not　think　that　I　need　to　detain　you　longer。　I

shall　communicate　with　you。〃

　　〃Should　you　be　fortunate　enough　to　solve　this　problem；〃　said　our

client；　rising。

　　〃I　have　solved　it。〃

　　〃Eh？　What　was　that？〃

　　〃I　say　that　I　have　solved　it。〃

　　〃Where；　then；　is　my　wife？〃

　　〃That　is　a　detail　which　I　shall　speedily　supply。〃

　　Lord　St。　Simon　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　afraid　that　it　will　take

wiser　heads　than　yours　or　mine；〃　he　remarked；　and　bowing　in　a　stately；

old…fashioned　manner　he　departed。

　　〃It　is　very　good　of　Lord　St。　Simon　to　honour　my　head　by　putting　it

on　a　level　with　his　own；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes；　laughing。　〃I　think

that　i　shall　have　a　whisky　and　soda　and　a　cigar　after　all　this

cross…questioning。　I　had　formed　my　conclusions　as　to　the　case　before

our　client　came　into　the　room。〃

　　〃My　dear　Holmes！〃

　　〃I　have　notes　of　several　similar　cases；　though　none；　as　I　remarked

before；　which　were　quite　as　prompt。　My　whole　examination　served　to

turn　my　conjecture　into　a　certainty。　Circumstantial　evidence　is

occasionally　very　convincing；　as　when　you　find　a　trout　in　the　milk；　to

quote　Thoreau's　example。〃

　　〃But　I　have　heard　all　that　you　have　heard。〃

　　〃Without；　however；　the　knowledge　of　prexisting　cases　which　serves　me

so　well。　There　was　a　parallel　instance　in　Aberdeen　some　years　back；

and　something　on　very　much　the　same　lines　at　Munich　the　year　after　the

Franco…Prussian　War。　It　is　one　of　these　cases…but；　hello；　here　is

Lestrade！　Good…afternoon；　Lestrade！　You　will　find　an　extra　tumbler

upon　the　sideboard；　and　there　are　cigars　in　the　box。〃

　　The　official　detective　was　attired　in　a　pea…jacket　and　cravat

which　gave　him　a　decidedly　nautical　appearance；　and　he　carried　a　black

canvas　bag　in　his　hand。　With　a　short　greeting　he　seated　himself　and

lit　the　cigar　which　had　been　offered　to　him。

　　〃What's　up；　then？〃　asked　Holmes　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　〃You　look

dissatisfied。〃

　　〃And　I　feel　dissatisfied。　It　is　this　infernal　St。　Simon　marriage

case。　I　can　make　neither　head　nor　tail　of　the　business。〃

　　〃Really！　You　surprise　me。〃

　　〃Who　ever　heard　of　such　a　mixed　affair？　Every　clue　seems　to　slip

through　my　fingers。　I　have　been　at　work　upon　it　all　day。〃

　　〃And　very　wet　it　seems　to　have　made　you；〃　said　Holmes；　laying　his

hand　upon　the　arm　of　the　pea…jacket。

　　〃Yes；　I　have　been　dragging　the　Serpentine。〃

　　〃In　heaven's　name；　what　for？〃

　　〃In　search　of　the　body　of　lady　St。　Simon。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　laughed　heartily。

　　〃Have　you　dragged　the　basin　of　Trafalgar　Square　fountain？〃　he　asked。

　　〃Why？　What　do　you　mean？〃

　　〃Because　you　have　just　as　good　a　chance　of　finding　this　lady　in

the　one　as　in　the　other。〃

　　Lestrade　shot　an　angry　glance　at　my　companion。　〃I　suppose　you　know

all　about　it〃　he　snarled。

　　〃Well；　I　have　only　just　heard　the　facts；　but　my　mind　is　made　up。〃

　　〃Oh；　indeed！　Then　you　think　that　the　Serpentine　plays　no　part　in　the

matter？〃

　　〃I　think　it　very　unlikely。〃

　　〃Then　perhaps　you　will　kindly　explain　how　it　is　that　we　found　this

in　it？〃　He　opened　his　bag　as　he　spoke；　and　tumbled　onto　the　floor　a

wedding…dress　of　watered　silk；　a　pair　of　white　satin　shoes；　and　a

bride's　wreath　and　veil；　all　discoloured　and　soaked　in　water。　〃There；〃

said　he；　putting　a　new　wedding…ring　upon　the　top　of　the　pile。　〃There

is　a　little　nut　for　you　to　crack；　Master　Holmes。〃

　　〃Oh；　indeed！〃　said　my　friend；　blowing　blue　rings　into　the　air。

〃You　dragged　them　from　the　Serpentine？〃

　　〃No。　They　were　found　floating　near　the　margin　by　a　park…keeper。　They

have　been　identified　as　her　clothes；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　if　the

clothes　were　there　the　body　would　not　be　far　off。〃

　　〃By　the　same　brilliant　reasoning；　every　man's　body　is　to　be　found　in

the　neighbourhood　of　his　wardrobe。　And　pray　what　did　you　hope　to

arrive　at　through　this？〃

　　〃At　some　evidence　implicating　Flora　Millar　in　the　disappearance。〃

　　〃I　am　afraid　that　you　will　find　it　difficult。〃

　　〃Are　you；　indeed；　now？〃　cried　Lestrade　with　some　bitterness。　I　am

afraid；　Holmes；　that　you　are　not　very　practical　with　your　deductions

and　your　inferences。　You　have　made　two　blunders　in　as　many　minutes。

This　dress　does　implicate　Miss　Flora　Millar。〃

　　〃And　how？〃

　　〃In　the　dress　is　a　pocket。　In　the　pocket　is　a　card…case。　In　the

card…case　is　a　note。　And　here　is　the　very　note。〃　He　slapped　it　down

upon　the　table　in　front　of　him。　〃Listen　to　this：



　　　　　　〃You　will　see　me　when　all　is　ready。　Come　at　once。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'F。H。M。'



Now　my　theory　all　along　has　been　that　Lady　St。　Simon　was　decoyed

away　by　Flora　Millar；　and　that　she；　with　confederates；　no　doubt；　was

responsible　for　her　disappearance。　Here；　signed　with　her　initials；

is　the　very　note　which　was　no　doubt　quietly　slipped　into　her　hand　at

the　door　and　which　lured　her　within　their　reach。〃

　　〃Very　good；　Lestrade；〃　said　Holmes；　laughing。　〃You　really　are　very

fine　indeed。　Let　me　see　it。〃　He　took　up　the　paper　in　a　listless　way；

but　his　attention　instantly　became　riveted；　and　he　gave　a　little　cry

of　satisfaction。　〃This　is　indeed　important；〃　said　he。

　　〃Ha！　you　find　it　so？〃

　　〃Extremely　so。　I　congratulate　you　warmly。〃

　　Lestrade　rose　in　his　triumph　and　bent　his　head　to　look。　〃Why；〃　he

shrieked；　〃you're　looking　at　the　wrong　side！〃

　　〃On　the　contrary；　this　is　the　right　side。〃

　　〃The　right　side？　You're　mad！　Here　is　the　note　written　in　pencil　over

here。〃

　　〃And　over　here　is　what　appears　to　be　the　fragment　of　a　hotel　bill；

which　interests　me　deeply。〃

　　〃There's　nothing　in　it。　I　looked　at　it　before；〃　said　Lestrade。



　　〃Oct。　4th；　rooms　8s。；　breakfast　2s。　6d。；　cocktail　1s。；　lunch　2S。

6d。；　glass　sherry；　8d。〃



〃I　see　nothing　in　that。〃

　　〃Very　likely　not。　It　is　most　important；　all　the　same。　As　to　the

note；　it　is　important　also；　or　at　least　the　initials　are；　so　I

congratulate　you　again。〃

　　〃I've　wasted　time　enough；〃　said　Lestrade；　rising。　〃I　believe　in　hard

work　and　not　in　sitting　by　the　fire　spinning　fine　theories。

Good…day；　Mr。　Holmes；　and　we　shall　see　which　gets　to　the　bottom　of　the

matter　first。〃　He　gathered　up　the　garments；　thrust　them　into　the

bag；　and　made　for　the　door。

　　〃Just　one　hint　to　you；　Lastrade；〃　drawled　Holmes　before　his　rival

vanished；　〃I　will　tell　you　the　true　solution　of　the　matter。　Lady　St。

Simon　is　a　myth。　There　is　not；　and　there　never　has　been；　any　such

person。〃

　　Lestrade　looked　sadly　at　my　companion。　Then　he　turned　to　me；

tapped　his　forehead　three　times；　shook　his　head　solemnly；　and

hurried　away。

　　He　had　hardly　shut　the　door　behind　him　when　Holmes　rose　to　put　on

his　overcoat。　〃There　is　something　in　what　the　fellow　says　about

outdoor　work；〃　he　remarked；　〃so　I　think；　Watson；　that　I　must　leave　you

to　your　papers　for　a　little。〃

　　It　was　after　five　o'clock　when　Sherlock　Holmes　left　me；　but　I　had　no

time　to　be　lonely；　for　within　an　hour　there　arrived　a　confectioners

man　with　a　very　large　flat　box。　This　he　unpacked　with　the　help　of　a

youth　whom　he　had　brought　with　him；　and　presently；　to　my　very　great

astonishment；　a　quite　epicurean　little　cold　supper　began　to　be　laid

out　upon　our　humble　lodging…house　mahogany。　There　were　a　couple　of

brace　of　cold　woodcock；　a　pheasant；　a　pate　de　foie　gras　pie　with　a

group　of　ancient　and　cobwebby　bottles。　Having　laid　out　all　these

luxuries；　my　two　visitors　vanished　away；　like　the　genii　of　the　Arabian

Nights；　with　no　explanation　save　that　the　things　had　been　paid　for　and

were　ordered　to　this　address。

　　Just　before　nine　o'clock　Sherlock　Holmes　stepped　briskly　into　the

room。　His　features　were　gravely　set　but　there　was　a　light　in　his　eye

which　made　me　think　that　he　had　not　been　disappointed　in　his

conclusions。

　　〃They　have　laid　the　supper；　then；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　hands。

　　〃You　seem　to　expect　company。　They　have　laid　for　five。〃

　　〃Yes；　I　fancy　we　may　have　some　company　dropping　in；〃　said　he。　〃I

am　surprised　that　Lord　St。　Simon　has　not　already　arrived。　Ha！　I

fancy　that　I　hear　his　step　now　upon　the　stairs。'

　　It　was　indeed　our　visitor　of　the　afternoon　who　came　bustling　in；

dangling　his　glasses　more　vigorously　than　ever；　and　with　a　very

perturbed　expression　upon　his　aristocratic　features。

　　〃My　messenger　reached　you；　then？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃Yes；　and　I　confess　that　the　contents　startled　me　beyond　measure。

Have　you　good　authority　for　what　you　say？〃

　　〃The　best　possible。〃

　　Lord　St。　Simon　sank　into　a　chair　and　passed　his　hand　over　his

forehead　authority

　　〃What　will　the　Duke　say；〃　he　murmured；　〃when　he　hears　that　one　of

the　family　has　been　subjected　to　such　humiliation？〃

　　〃It　is　the　purest　accident。　I　cannot　allow　that　there　is　any

humiliation。〃

　　〃Ah；　you　look　on　these　things　from　another　standpoint。〃

　　〃I　fail　to　see　that　anyone　is　to　blame。　I　can　hardly　see　how　the

lady　could　have　acted　otherwise；　though　her　abrupt　method　of　doing

it　was　undoubtedly　to　be　regretted。　Having　no　mother；　she　had　no　one

to　advise　her　at　such　a　crisis。〃

　　〃It　was　a　slight；　sir；　a　public　slight；〃　said　Lord　St。　Simon；

tapping　his　fingers　upon　the　table。

　　〃You　must　make　allowance　for　this　poor　girl；　placed　in　so

unprecedented。　a　position。〃

　　〃I　will　make　no　allowance。　I　am　very　angry　indeed；　and　I　have　been

shamefully　used。〃

　　〃I　think　that　I　heard　a　ring；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Yes；　there　are　steps　on

the　landing。　If　I　cannot　persuade　you　to　take　a　lenient　view　of　the

matter；　Lord　St。　Simon；　I　have　brought　an　advocate　here　who　may　be

more　successful。〃　He　opened　the　door　and　ushered　in　a　lady　and

gentleman。　〃Lord　St。　Simon；〃　said　he；　〃allow　me　to　introduce　you　to

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Francis　Hay　Moulton。　The　lady；　I　think；　you　have

already　met。〃

　　At　the　sight　of　these　newcomers　our　client　had　sprung　from　his

seat　and　stood　very　erect；　with　his　eyes　cast　down　and　his　hand　thrust

into　the　breast　of　his　frock…coat；　a　picture　of　offended　dignity。

The　lady　had　taken　a　quick　step　forward；　but　had　held　out　her　hand

to　him；　but　he　still　refused　to　raise　his　eyes。　It　was　as　well　for　his

resolution；　perhaps；　for　her　pleading　face　was　one　which　it　was　hard

to　resist。

　　〃You're　angry；　Robert；〃　said　she。　〃Well；　I　guess　you　have　every

cause