the adventure of the priory school-第4章

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led　to。　The　other　is　the　bicycle　with　the　patched　Dunlop。　Before　we

start　to　investigate　that；　let　us　try　to　realize　what　we　do　know；　so

as　to　make　the　most　of　it；　and　to　separate　the　essential　from　the

accidental。〃

　　〃First　of　all；　I　wish　to　impress　upon　you　that　the　boy　certainly

left　of　his　own　free…will。　He　got　down　from　his　window　and　he　went

off；　either　alone　or　with　someone。　That　is　sure。〃

　　I　assented。

　　〃Well；　now；　let　us　turn　to　this　unfortunate　German　master。　The　boy

was　fully　dressed　when　he　fled。　Therefore；　he　foresaw　what　he　would

do。　But　the　German　went　without　his　socks。　He　certainly　acted　on

very　short　notice。〃

　　〃Undoubtedly。〃

　　〃Why　did　he　go？　Because；　from　his　bedroom　window；　he　saw　the

flight　of　the　boy；　because　he　wished　to　overtake　him　and　bring　him

back。　He　seized　his　bicycle；　pursued　the　lad；　and　in　pursuing　him

met　his　death。〃

　　〃So　it　would　seem。〃

　　〃Now　I　come　to　the　critical　part　of　my　argument。　The　natural

action　of　a　man　in　pursuing　a　little　boy　would　be　to　run　after　him。　He

would　know　that　he　could　overtake　him。　But　the　German　does　not　do

so。　He　turns　to　his　bicycle。　I　am　told　that　he　was　an　excellent

cyclist。　He　would　not　do　this；　if　he　did　not　see　that　the　boy　had　some

swift　means　of　escape。〃

　　〃The　other　bicycle。〃

　　〃Let　us　continue　our　reconstruction。　He　meets　his　death　five　miles

from　the　school…　not　by　a　bullet；　mark　you；　which　even　a　lad　might

conceivably　discharge；　but　by　a　savage　blow　dealt　by　a　vigorous　arm。

The　lad；　then；　had　a　companion　his　flight。　And　the　flight　was　a

swift　one；　since　it　took　five　miles　before　an　expert　cyclist　could

overtake　them。　Yet　we　survey　the　ground　round　the　scene　of　the

tragedy。　What　do　we　find？　A　few　cattle…tracks；　nothing　more。　I　took

a　wide　sweep　round；　and　there　is　no　path　within　fifty　yards。　Another

cyclist　could　have　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　actual　murder；　nor

were　there　any　human　footmarks。〃

　　〃Holmes；〃　I　cried；　〃this　is　impossible。〃

　　〃Admirable！〃　he　said。　〃A　most　illuminating　remark。　It　is

impossible　as　I　state　it；　and　therefore　I　must　in　some　respect　have

stated　it　wrong。　Yet　you　saw　for　yourself。　Can　you　suggest　any

fallacy？〃

　　〃He　could　not　have　fractured　his　skull　in　a　fall？〃

　　〃In　a　morass；　Watson？〃

　　〃I　am　at　my　wit's　end。〃

　　〃Tut；　tut；　we　have　solved　some　worse　problems。　At　least　we　have

plenty　of　material；　if　we　can　only　use　it。　Come；　then；　and；　having

exhausted　the　Palmer；　let　us　see　what　the　Dunlop　with　the　patched

cover　has　to　offer　us。〃

　　We　picked　up　the　track　and　followed　it　onward　for　some　distance；　but

soon　the　moor　rose　into　a　long；　heather…tufted　curve；　and　we　left

the　watercourse　behind　us。　No　further　help　from　tracks　could　be

boped　for。　At　the　spot　where　we　saw　the　last　of　the　Dunlop　tyre　it

might　equally　have　led　to　Holdernesse　Hall；　the　stately　towers　of

which　rose　some　miles　to　our　left；　or　to　a　low；　gray　village　which　lay

in　front　of　us　and　marked　the　position　of　the　Chesterfield　high　road。

　　As　we　approached　the　forbidding　and　squalid　inn；　with　the　sign　of

a　game…cock　above　the　door；　Holmes　gave　a　sudden　groan；　and　clutched

me　by　the　shoulder　to　save　himself　from　falling。　He　had　had　one　of

those　violent　strains　of　the　ankle　which　leave　a　man　helpless。　With

difficulty　he　limped　up　to　the　door；　where　a　squat；　dark；　elderly

man　was　smoking　a　black　clay　pipe。

　　〃How　are　you；　Mr。　Reuben　Hayes？〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Who　are　you；　and　how　do　you　get　my　name　so　pat？〃　the　countryman

answered；　with　a　suspicious　flash　of　a　pair　of　cunning　eyes。

　　〃Well；　it's　printed　on　the　board　above　your　head。　It's　easy　to　see　a

man　who　is　master　of　his　own　house。　I　suppose　you　haven't　such　a　thing

as　a　carriage　in　your　stables？〃

　　〃No；　I　have　not。〃

　　〃I　can　hardly　put　my　foot　to　the　ground。〃

　　〃Don't　put　it　to　the　ground。〃

　　〃But　I　can't　walk。〃

　　〃Well；　then　hop。〃

　　Mr。　Reuben　Hayes's　manner　was　far　from　gracious；　but　Holmes　took

it　with　admirable　good…humour。

　　〃Look　here；　my　man；〃　said　he。　〃This　is　really　rather　an　awkward

fix　for　me。　I　don't　mind　how　I　get　on。〃

　　〃Neither　do　I；〃　said　the　morose　landlord。

　　〃The　matter　is　very　important。　I　would　offer　you　a　sovereign　for　the

use　of　a　bicycle。〃

　　The　landlord　pricked　up　his　ears。

　　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？〃

　　〃To　Holdernesse　Hall。〃

　　〃Pals　of　the　Dook；　I　suppose？〃　said　the　landlord；　surveying　our

mud…stained　garments　with　ironical　eyes。

　　Holmes　laughed　good…naturedly。

　　〃He'll　be　glad　to　see　us；　anyhow。〃

　　〃Why？〃

　　〃Because　we　bring　him　news　of　his　lost　son。〃

　　The　landlord　gave　a　very　visible　start。

　　〃What；　you're　on　his　track？〃

　　〃He　has　been　heard　of　in　Liverpool。　They　expect　to　get　him　every

hour。〃

　　Again　a　swift　change　passed　over　the　heavy；　unshaven　face。　His

manner　was　suddenly　genial。

　　〃I've　less　reason　to　wish　the　Dook　well　than　most　men；〃　said　he；

〃for　I　was　head　coachman　once；　and　cruel　bad　he　treated　me。　It　was　him

that　sacked　me　without　a　character　on　the　word　of　a　lying

corn…chandler。　But　I'm　glad　to　hear　that　the　young　lord　was　heard　of

in　Liverpool；　and　I'll　help　you　to　take　the　news　to　the　Hall。〃

　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Well　have　some　food　first。　then　you　can

bring　round　the　bicycle。〃

　　〃I　haven't　got　a　bicycle。〃

　　Holmes　held　up　a　sovereign。

　　〃I　tell　you；　man；　that　I　haven't　got　one。　I'll　let　you　have　two

horses　as　far　as　the　Hall。〃

　　〃Well；　well；〃　said　Holmes；　〃well　talk　about　it　when　we've　had

something　to　eat。〃

　　When　we　were　left　alone　in　the　stone…flagged　kitchen；　it　was

astonishing　how　rapidly　that　sprained　ankle　recovered。　It　was　nearly

nightfall；　and　we　had　eaten　nothing　since　early　morning；　so　that　we

spent　some　time　over　our　meal。　Holmes　was　lost　in　thought；　and　once　or

twice　he　walked　over　to　the　window　and　stared　earnestly　out。　It　opened

on　to　a　squalid　courtyard。　In　the　far　corner　was　a　smithy；　where　a

grimy　lad　was　at　work。　On　the　other　side　were　the　stables。　Holmes

had　sat　down　again　after　one　of　these　excursions；　when　he　suddenly

sprang　out　of　his　chair　with　a　loud　exclamation。

　　〃By　heaven；　Watson；　I　believe　that　I've　got　it！〃　he　cried。　〃Yes；

yes；　it　must　be　so。　Watson；　do　you　remember　seeing　any　cow…tracks

to…day？〃

　　〃Yes；　several。〃

　　〃Were？〃

　　〃Well；　everywhere。　They　were　at　the　morass；　and　again　on　the　path；

and　again　near　where　poor　Heidegger　met　his　death。〃

　　〃Exactly。　Well；　now；　Watson；　how　many　cows　did　you　see　on　the　moor？〃

　　〃I　don't　remember　seeing　any。〃

　　〃Strange；　Watson；　that　we　should　see　tracks　all　along　our　line；

but　never　a　cow　on　the　whole　moor。　Very　strange；　Watson；　eh？〃

　　〃Yes；　it　is　strange。〃

　　〃Now；　Watson；　make　an　effort；　throw　your　mind　back。　Can　you　see

those　tracks　upon　the　path？〃

　　〃Yes；　I　can。〃

　　〃Can　you　recall　that　the　tracks　were　sometimes　like　that；　Watson〃…

he　arranged　a　number　of　bread…crumbs　in　this　fashion…　：　：　：　：…　〃and

sometimes　like　this〃…　：。：。：。：。…　〃and　occasionally　like　this〃…

。。'。'。'。　〃Can　you　remember　that？〃

　　〃No；　I　cannot。〃

　　〃But　I　can。　I　could　swear　to　it。　However；　we　will　go　back　at　our

leisure　and　verify　it。　What　a　blind　beetle　I　have　been；　not　to　draw　my

conclusion。〃

　　〃And　what　is　your　conclusion？〃

　　〃Only　that　it　is　a　remarkable　cow　which　walks；　canters；　and　gallops。

By　George！　Watson；　it　was　no　brain　of　a　country　publican　that

thought　out　such　a　blind　as　that。　The　coast　seems　to　be　clear；　save

for　that　lad　in　the　smithy。　Let　us　slip　out　and　see　what　we　can　see。〃

　　There　were　two　rough…haired；　unkempt　horses　in　the　tumble…down

stable。　Holmes　raised　the　hind　leg　of　one　of　them　and　laughed　aloud。

　　〃Old　shoes；　but　newly　shod…old　shoes；　but　new　nails。　This　case

deserves　to　be　a　classic。　Let　us　go　across　to　the　smithy。〃

　　The　lad　continued　his　work　without　regarding　us。　I　saw　Holmes's

eye　darting　to　right　and　left　among　the　litter　of　iron　and　wood

which　was　scattered　about　the　floor。　Suddenly；　however；　we　heard　a

step　behind　us；　and　there　was　the　landlord；　his　heavy　eyebrows　drawn

over　his　savage　eyes；　his　swarthy　features　convulsed　with　passion。

He　held　a　short；　metal…headed　stick　in　his　hand；　and　he　advanced　in　so

menacing　a　fashion　that　I　was　right　glad　to　feel　the　revolver　in　my

pocket。

　　〃You　infernal　spies！〃　the　man　cried。　〃What　are　you　doing　there？〃

　　〃Why；　Mr。　Reuben　Hayes；〃　said　Holmes；　coolly；　〃one　might　think

that　you　were　afraid　of　our　finding　something　out。〃

　　The　man　mastered　himself　with　a　violent　effort；　and　his　grim　mouth

loosened　into　a　false　laugh；　which　was　more　menacing　than　his　frown。

　　〃You're　welcome　to　all　you　can　find　out　in　my　smithy；〃　said　he。　〃But

look　here；　mister；　I　don't　care　for　folk　poking　about　my　place　without

my　leave；　so　the　sooner　you　pay　your　score　and　get　out　of　this　the

better　I　shall　be　pleased。〃

　　〃All　right；　Mr。　Hayes；　no　harm　meant；〃　said　Holmes。　〃We　have　been

having　a　look　at　your　horses；　but　I　think　I'll　walk；　after　all。　It's

not　far；　I　believe。〃

　　〃Not　more　than　two　miles　to　the　Hall　gates。　That's　the　road　to　the

left。〃　He　watched　us　with　sullen　eyes　until　we　had　left　his　premises。

　　We　did　not　go　very　far　along　the　road；　for　Holmes　stopped　the

instant　that　the　curve　hid　us　from　the　landlord's　view。

　　〃We　were　warm；　as　the　children　say；　at　that　inn；〃　said　he。　〃I　seem

to　grow　colder　every　step　that　I　take　away　from　it。　No；　no；　I　can't

possibly　leave　it。〃

　　〃I　am　convinced；〃　said　I；　〃that　this　Reuben　Hayes　knows　all　about

it。　A　more　self…evident　villain　I　never　saw。〃

　　〃Oh！　he　impressed　you　in　that　way；　did　he？　There　are　the　horses；

there　is　the　smithy。　Yes；　it　is　an　interesting　place；　this　Fighting

Cock。　I　think　we　shall　have　another　look　at　it　in　an　unobtrusive　way。〃

　　A　long；　sloping　hillside；　dotted　with　gray　limestone　boulders；

stretched　behind　us。　We　had　turned　off　the　road；　and　were　making　our

way　up　the　hill；　when；　looking　in　the　direction　of　Holdernesse　Hall；　I

saw　a　cyclist　coming　swiftly　along。

　　〃Get　down；　Watson！〃　cried　Holmes；　with　a　heavy　hand　upon　my

shoulder。　We　had　hardly　sunk　from　view　when　the　man　flew　past　us　on

the　road。　Amid　a　rolling　cloud　of　dust；　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a

pale；　agitated　face…　a　face　with　horror　in　every　lineament；　the

mouth　open；　the　eyes　staring　wildly　in　front。　It　was　like　some　strange

caricature　of　the　dapper　James　Wilder　whom　we　had　seen　the　night

before。

　　〃The　Duke's　secretary！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃Come；　Watson；　let　us　see　what

he　does。〃

　　We　scrambled　from　rock　to　rock；　until　in　a　few　moments　we　had　made

our　way　to　a　point　from　which　we　could　see　the　front　door　of　the

inn。　Wilder's　bicycle　was　leaning　against　the　wall　beside　it。　No　one

was　moving　about　the　house；　nor　could　we　catch　a　glimpse　of　any

faces　at　the　windows。　Slowly　the　twilight　crept　down　as　the　sun　sank

behind　the　high　towers　of　Holdernesse　Hall。　Then；　in　the　gloom；　we　saw

the　two　side…lamps　of　a　trap　light　up　in　the　stable…yard　of　the　inn；

and　shortly　afterwards　heard　the　rattle　of　hoofs；　as　it　wheeled　out

into　the　road　and　tore　off　at　a　furious　pace　in　the　direction　of

Chesterfield。

　　〃What　do　you　make　of　that；　Watson？〃　Holmes　whispered。

　　〃It　looks　like　a　flight。〃

　　〃A　singl