the adventure of the speckled band-第3章

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　　〃Dark　enough　and　sinister　enough。〃

　　〃Yet　if　the　lady　is　correct　in　saying　that　the　flooring　and　walls

are　sound；　and　that　the　door；　window；　and　chimney　are　impassable；　then

her　sister　must　have　been　undoubtedly　alone　when　she　met　her

mysterious　end。〃

　　〃What　becomes；　then；　of　these　nocturnal　whistles；　and　what　of　the

very　peculiar　words　of　the　dying　woman？〃

　　〃I　cannot　think。〃

　　〃When　you　combine　the　ideas　of　whistles　at　night；　the　presence　of

a　band　of　gypsies　who　are　on　intimate　terms　with　this　old　doctor；

the　fact　that　we　have　every　reason　to　believe　that　the　doctor　has　an

interest　in　preventing　his　stepdaughter's　marriage；　the　dying　allusion

to　a　band；　and；　finally；　the　fact　that　Miss　Helen　Stoner　heard　a

metallic　clang；　which　might　have　been　caused　by　one　of　those　metal

bars　that　secured　the　shutters　falling　back　into　its　place；　I　think

that　there　is　good　ground　to　think　that　the　mystery　may　be　cleared

along　those　lines。〃

　　〃But　what；　then；　did　the　gypsies　do？〃

　　〃I　cannot　imagine。〃

　　〃I　see　many　objections　to　any　such　theory。〃

　　〃And　so　do　I。　It　is　precisely　for　that　reason　that　we　are　going　to

Stoke　Moran　this　day。　I　want　to　see　whether　the　objections　are

fatal；　or　if　they　may　be　explained　away。　But　what　in　the　name　of　the

devil！〃

　　The　ejaculation　had　been　drawn　from　my　companion　by　the　fact　that

our　door　had　been　suddenly　dashed　open；　and　that　a　huge　man　had　framed

himself　in　the　aperture。　His　costume　was　a　peculiar　mixture　of　the

professional　and　of　the　agricultural；　having　a　black　top…hat；　a　long

frock…coat；　and　a　pair　of　high　gaiters；　with　a　hunting…crop　swinging

in　his　hand。　So　tall　was　he　that　his　hat　actually　brushed　the　cross

bar　of　the　doorway；　and　his　breadth　seemed　to　span　it　across　from　side

to　side。　A　large　face；　seared　with　a　thousand　wrinkles；　burned

yellow　with　the　sun；　and　marked　with　every　evil　passion；　was　turned

from　one　to　the　other　of　us；　while　his　deep…set；　bile…shot　eyes；　and

his　high；　thin；　fleshless　nose；　gave　him　somewhat　the　resemblance　to　a

fierce　old　bird　of　prey。

　　〃Which　of　you　is　Holmes？〃　asked　this　apparition。

　　〃My　name；　sir；　but　you　have　the　advantage　of　me；〃　said　my

companion　quietly。

　　〃I　am　Dr。　Grimesby　Roylott；　of　Stokes　Moran。〃

　　〃Indeed；　Doctor；〃　said　Holmes　blandly。　〃Pray　take　a　seat。〃

　　〃I　will　do　nothing　of　the　kind。　My　stepdaughter　has　been　here。　I

have　traced　her。　What　has　she　been　saying　to　you？〃

　　〃It　is　a　little　cold　for　the　time　of　the　year；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃What　has　she　been　saying　to　you？〃　screamed　the　old　man　furiously。

　　〃But　I　have　heard　that　the　crocuses　promise　well；〃　continued　my

companion　imperturbably。

　　〃Ha！　You　put　me　off；　do　you？〃　said　our　new　visitor；　taking　a　step

forward　and　shaking　his　hunting…crop。　〃I　know　you；　you　scoundrel！　I

have　heard　of　you　before。　You　are　Holmes；　the　meddler。〃

　　My　friend　smiled。

　　〃Holmes；　the　busybody？〃

　　His　smile　broadened。

　　〃Holmes；　the　Scotland　Yard　Jack…in…office！〃

　　Holmes　chuckled　heartily。　〃Your　conversation　is　most

entertaining；〃　said　he。　〃When　you　go　out　close　the　door；　for　there

is　a　decided　draught。〃

　　〃I　will　go　when　I　have　said　my　say。　Don't　you　dare　to　meddle　with　my

affairs。　I　know　that　Miss　Stoner　has　been　here。　I　traced　her！　I　am　a

dangerous　man　to　fall　foul　off　See　here。〃　He　stepped　swiftly

forward；　seized　the　poker；　and　bent　it　into　a　curve　with　his　huge

brown　hands。

　　〃See　that　you　keep　yourself　out　of　my　grip；〃　he　snarled；　and　hurling

the　twisted　poker　into　the　fireplace　he　strode　out　of　the　room。

　　〃He　seems　a　very　amiable　person；〃　said　Holmes；　laughing。　〃I　am　not

quite　so　bulky；　but　if　he　had　remained　I　might　have　shown　him　that

my　grip　was　not　much　more　feeble　than　his　own。〃　As　he　spoke　he

picked　up　the　steel　poker　and；　with　a　sudden　effort；　straightened　it

out　again。

　　〃Fancy　his　having　the　insolence　to　confound　me　with　the　official

detective　force！　This　incident　gives　zest　to　our　investigation；

however；　and　I　only　trust　that　our　little　friend　will　not　suffer

from　her　imprudence　in　allowing　this　brute　to　trace　her。　And　now；

Watson；　we　shall　order　breakfast；　and　afterwards　I　shall　walk　down

to　Doctors'　Commons；　where　I　hope　to　get　some　data　which　may　help　us

in　this　matter。〃



　　It　was　nearly　one　o'clock　when　Sherlock　Holmes　returned　from　his

excursion。　He　held　in　his　hand　a　sheet　of　blue　paper；　scrawled　over

with　notes　and　figures。

　　〃I　have　seen　the　will　of　the　deceased　wife；〃　said　he。　〃To

determine　its　exact　meaning　I　have　been　obliged　to　work　out　the

present　prices　of　the　investments　with　which　it　is　concerned。　The

total　income；　which　at　the　time　of　the　wife's　death　was　little　short

of　L1000　is　now；　through　the　fall　in　agricultural　prices；　not　more

than　L750。　Each　daughter　can　claim　an　income　of　L250；　in　case　of

marriage。　It　is　evident；　therefore；　that　if　both　girls　had　married；

this　beauty　would　have　had　a　mere　pittance；　while　even　one　of　them

would　cripple　him　to　a　very　serious　extent。　My　morning's　work　has

not　been　wasted；　since　it　has　proved　that　he　has　the　very　strongest

motives　for　standing　in　the　way　of　anything　of　the　sort。　And　now；

Watson；　this　is　too　serious　for　dawdling；　especially　as　the　old　man　is

aware　that　we　are　interesting　ourselves　in　his　affairs；　so　if　you

are　ready；　we　shall　call　a　cab　and　drive　to　Waterloo。　I　should　be　very

much　obliged　if　you　would　slip　your　revolver　into　your　pocket。　An

Eley's　No。　2　is　an　excellent　argument　with　gentlemen　who　can　twist

steel　pokers　into　knots。　That　and　a　tooth…brush　are；　I　think；　all　that

we　need。〃

　　At　Waterloo　we　were　fortunate　in　catching　a　train　for　Leatherhead；

where　we　hired　a　trap　at　the　station　inn　and　drove　for　four　or　five

miles　through　the　lovely　Surrey　lanes。　It　was　a　perfect　day；　with　a

bright　sun　and　a　few　fleecy　clouds　in　the　heavens。　The　trees　and

wayside　hedges　were　just　throwing　out　their　first　green　shoots；　and

the　air　was　full　of　the　pleasant　smell　of　the　moist　earth。　To　me　at

least　there　was　a　strange　contrast　between　the　sweet　promise　of　the

spring　and　this　sinister　quest　upon　which　we　were　engaged。　My

companion　sat　in　the　front　of　the　trap；　his　arms　folded；　his　hat

pulled　down　over　his　eyes；　and　his　chin　sunk　upon　his　breast；　buried

in　the　deepest　thought。　Suddenly；　however；　he　started；　tapped　me　on

the　shoulder；　and　pointed　over　the　meadows。

　　〃Look　there！〃　said　he。

　　A　heavily　timbered　park　stretched　up　in　a　gentle　slope；　thickening

into　a　grove　at　the　highest　point。　From　amid　the　branches　there　jutted

out　the　gray　gables　and　high　roof…tree　of　a　very　old　mansion。

　　〃Stoke　Moran？〃　said　he。

　　〃Yes；　sir；　that　be　the　house　of　Dr。　Grimesby　Roylott；〃　remarked

the　driver。

　　〃There　is　some　building　going　on　there；〃　said　Holmes；　〃that　is　where

we　are　going。〃

　　〃There's　the　village；〃　said　the　driver；　pointing　to　a　cluster　of

roofs　some　distance　to　the　left；　〃but　if　you　want　to　get　to　the　house；

you'll　find　it　shorter　to　get　over　this　stile；　and　so　by　the　foot…path

over　the　fields。　There　it　is；　where　the　lady　is　walking。〃

　　〃And　the　lady；　I　fancy；　is　Miss　Stoner；〃　observed　Holmes；　shading

his　eyes。　〃Yes；　I　think　we　had　better　do　as　you　suggest。〃

　　We　got　off；　paid　our　fare；　and　the　trap　rattled　back　on　its　way　to

Leatherhead。

　　〃I　thought　it　as　well；〃　said　Holmes　as　we　climbed　the　stile；　〃that

this　fellow　should　think　we　had　come　here　as　architects；　or　on　some

definite　business。　It　may　stop　his　gossip。　Good…afternoon；　Miss

Stoner。　You　see　that　we　have　been　as　good　as　our　word。〃

　　Our　client　of　the　morning　had　hurried　forward　to　meet　us　with　a　face

which　spoke　her　joy。　〃I　have　been　waiting　so　eagerly　for　you；〃　she

cried；　shaking　hands　with　us　warmly。　〃All　has　turned　out　splendidly。

Dr。　Roylott　has　gone　to　town；　and　it　is　unlikely　that　he　will　be

back　before　evening。〃

　　〃We　have　had　the　pleasure　of　making　the　doctors　acquaintance；〃

said　Holmes；　and　in　a　few　words　he　sketched　out　what　had　occurred。

Miss　Stoner　turned　white　to　the　lips　as　she　listened。

　　〃Good　heavens！〃　she　cried；　〃he　has　followed　me；　then。〃

　　〃So　it　appears。〃

　　〃He　is　so　cunning　that　I　never　know　when　I　am　safe　from　him。　What

will　he　say　when　he　returns？〃

　　〃He　must　guard　himself；　for　he　may　find　that　there　is　someone　more

cunning　than　himself　upon　his　track。　You　must　lock　yourself　up　from

him　to…night。　If　he　is　violent；　we　shall　take　you　away　to　your

aunt's　at　Harrow。　Now；　we　must　make　the　best　use　of　our　time；　so

kindly　take　us　at　once　to　the　rooms　which　we　are　to　examine。〃

　　The　building　was　of　gray；　lichen…blotched　stone；　with　a　high　central

portion　and　two　curving　wings；　like　the　claws　of　a　crab；　thrown　out　on

each　side。　In　one　of　these　wings　the　windows　were　broken　and　blocked

with　wooden　boards；　while　the　roof　was　partly　caved　in；　a　picture　of

ruin。　The　central　portion　was　in　little　better　repair；　but　the

right…hand　block　was　comparatively　modern；　and　the　blinds　in　the

windows；　with　the　blue　smoke　curling　up　from　the　chimneys；　showed　that

this　was　where　the　family　resided。　Some　scaffolding　had　been　erected

against　the　end　wall；　and　the　stone…work　had　been　broken　into；　but

there　were　no　signs　of　any　workmen　at　the　moment　of　our　visit。

Holmes　walked　slowly　up　and　down　the　ill…trimmed　lawn　and　examined

with　deep　attention　the　outsides　of　the　windows。

　　〃This；　I　take　it；　belongs　to　the　room　in　which　you　used　to　sleep；

the　centre　one　to　your　sister's；　and　the　one　next　to　the　main　building

to　Dr。　Roylott's　chamber？〃

　　〃Exactly　so。　But　I　am　now　sleeping　in　the　middle　one。〃

　　〃Pending　the　alterations；　as　I　understand。　By　the　way；　there　does

not　seem　to　be　any　very　pressing　need　for　repairs　at　that　end　wall。〃

　　〃There　were　none。　I　believe　that　it　was　an　excuse　to　move　me　from　my

room。〃

　　〃Ah！　that　is　suggestive。　Now；　on　the　other　side　of　this　narrow

wing　runs　the　corridor　from　which　these　three　rooms　open。　There　are

windows　in　it；　of　course？〃

　　〃Yes；　but　very　small　ones。　Too　narrow　for　anyone　to　pass　through。〃

　　〃As　you　both　locked　your　doors　at　night；　your　rooms　were

unapproachable　from　that　side。　Now；　would　you　have　the　kindness　to

go　into　your　room　and　bar　your　shutters？〃

　　Miss　Stoner　did　so；　and　Holmes；　after　a　careful　examination

through　the　open　window；　endeavoured　in　every　way　to　force　the　shutter

open；　but　without　success。　There　was　no　slit　through　which　a　knife

could　be　passed　to　raise　the　bar。　Then　with　his　lens　he　tested　the

hinges；　but　they　were　of　solid　iron；　built　firmly　into　the　massive

masonry。　〃Hum！〃　said　he；　scratching　his　chin　in　some　perplexity；　〃my

theory　certainly　presents　some　difficulties。　No　one　could　pass　these

shutters　if　they　were　bolted。　Well；　we　shall　see　if　the　inside

throws　any　light　upon　the　matter。〃

　　A　small　side　door　led　into　the　whitewashed　corridor　from　which　the

three　bedrooms　opened。　Holmes　refused　to　examine　the　third　chamber；　so

we　passed　at　once　to　the　second；　that　in　which　Miss　Stoner　was　now

sleeping；　and　in　which　her　sister　had　met　with　her　fate。　It　was　a

homely　little　room；　with　a　low　ceiling　and　a　gaping　fireplace；　after

the　fashion　of　old　country…houses。　A　brown　c