the adventure of shoscombe old place-第2章

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takes　to　drink。　Sir　Robert　in　his　anger　takes　her　pet　spaniel　away

from　her。　Does　not　all　this　hang　together？〃

　　〃Well；　it　might　do…　so　far　as　it　goes。〃

　　〃Exactly！　As　far　as　it　goes。　How　would　all　that　bear　upon　the　visits

by　night　to　the　old　crypt？　We　can't　fit　that　into　our　plot。〃

　　〃No；　sir；　and　there　is　something　more　that　I　can't　fit　in。　Why

should　Sir　Robert　want　to　dig　up　a　dead　body？〃

　　Holmes　sat　up　abruptly。

　　〃We　only　found　it　out　yesterday…　after　I　had　written　to　you。

Yesterday　Sir　Robert　had　gone　to　London；　so　Stephens　and　I　went　down

to　the　crypt。　It　was　all　in　order；　sir；　except　that　in　one　corner

was　a　bit　of　a　human　body。〃

　　〃You　informed　the　police；　I　suppose？〃

　　Our　visitor　smiled　grimly。

　　〃Well；　sir；　I　think　it　would　hardly　interest　them。　It　was　just　the

head　and　a　few　bones　of　a　mummy。　It　may　have　been　a　thousand　years

old。　But　it　wasn't　there　before。　That　I'll　swear；　and　so　will

Stephens。　It　had　been　stowed　away　in　a　corner　and　covered　over　with

a　board；　but　that　corner　had　always　been　empty　before。〃

　　〃What　did　you　do　with　it？〃

　　〃Well；　we　just　left　it　there。〃

　　〃That　was　wise。　You　say　Sir　Robert　was　away　yesterday。　Has　he

returned？〃

　　〃We　expect　him　back　to…day。〃

　　〃When　did　Sir　Robert　give　away　his　sister's　dog？〃

　　〃It　was　just　a　week　ago　to…day。　The　creature　was　howling　outside　the

old　well…house；　and　Sir　Robert　was　in　one　of　his　tantrums　that

morning。　He　caught　it　up；　and　I　thought　he　would　have　killed　it。

Then　he　gave　it　to　Sandy　Bain；　the　jockey；　and　told　him　to　take　the

dog　to　old　Barnes　at　the　Green　Dragon；　for　he　never　wished　to　see　it

again。〃

　　Holmes　sat　for　some　time　in　silent　thought。　He　had　lit　the　oldest

and　foulest　of　his　pipes。

　　〃I　am　not　clear　yet　what　you　want　me　to　do　in　this　matter；　Mr。

Mason；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Can't　you　make　it　more　definite？〃

　　〃Perhaps　this　will　make　it　more　definite；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　our

visitor。

　　He　took　a　paper　from　his　pocket；　and；　unwrapping　it　carefully；　he

exposed　a　charred　fragment　of　bone。

　　Holmes　examined　it　with　interest。

　　〃Where　did　you　get　it？〃

　　〃There　is　a　central　heating　furnace　in　the　cellar　under　Lady

Beatrice's　room。　It's　been　off　for　some　time；　but　Sir　Robert

complained　of　cold　and　had　it　on　again；　Harvey　runs　it…　he's　one　of　my

lads。　This　very　morning　he　came　to　me　with　this　which　he　found

raking　out　the　cinders。　He　didn't　like　the　look　of　it。〃

　　〃Nor　do　I；〃　said　Holmes。　〃What　do　you　make　of　it；　Watson？〃

　　It　was　burned　to　a　black　cinder；　but　there　could　be　no　question　as

to　its　anatomical　significance。

　　〃It's　the　upper　condyle　of　a　human　femur；〃　said　I。

　　〃Exactly！〃　Holmes　had　become　very　serious。　〃When　does　this　lad

tend　to　the　furnace？〃

　　〃He　makes　it　up　every　evening　and　then　leaves　it。〃

　　〃Then　anyone　could　visit　it　during　the　night？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir。〃

　　〃Can　you　enter　it　from　outside？〃

　　〃There　is　one　door　from　the　outside。　There　is　another　which　leads　up

by　a　stair　to　the　passage　in　which　Lady　Beatrice's　room　is　situated。〃

　　〃These　are　deep　waters；　Mr。　Mason；　deep　and　rather　dirty。　You　say

that　Sir　Robert　was　not　at　home　last　night？〃

　　〃No；　sir。〃

　　〃Then；　whoever　was　burning　bones；　it　was　not　he。〃

　　〃That's　true；　sir。〃

　　〃What　is　the　name　of　that　inn　you　spoke　of？〃

　　〃The　Green　Dragon。〃

　　〃Is　there　good　fishing　in　that　part　of　Berkshire？〃　The　honest

trainer　showed　very　clearly　upon　his　face　that　he　was　convinced　that

yet　another　lunatic　had　come　into　his　harassed　life。

　　〃Well；　sir；　I've　heard　there　are　trout　in　the　mill…stream　and　pike

in　the　Hall　lake。〃

　　〃That's　good　enough。　Watson　and　I　are　famous　fishermen…　are　we

not；　Watson？　You　may　address　us　in　future　at　the　Green　Dragon。　We

should　reach　it　to…night。　I　need　not　say　that　we　don't　want　to　see

you；　Mr。　Mason；　but　a　note　will　reach　us；　and　no　doubt　I　could　find

you　if　I　want　you。　When　we　have　gone　a　little　farther　into　the

matter　I　will　let　you　have　a　considered　opinion。〃

　　Thus　it　was　that　on　a　bright　May　evening　Holmes　and　I　found

ourselves　alone　in　a　first…class　carriage　and　bound　for　the　little

〃halt…on…demand〃　station　of　Shoscombe。　The　rack　above　us　was　covered

with　a　formidable　litter　of　rods；　reels；　and　baskets。　On　reaching

our　destination　a　short　drive　took　us　to　an　old…fashioned　tavern；

where　a　sporting　host；　Josiah　Barnes；　entered　eagerly　into　our　plans

for　the　extirpation　of　the　fish　of　the　neighbourhood。

　　〃What　about　the　Hall　lake　and　the　chance　of　a　pike？〃　said　Holmes。

　　The　face　of　the　innkeeper　clouded。

　　〃That　wouldn't　do；　sir。　You　might　chance　to　find　yourself　in　the

lake　before　you　were　through。〃

　　〃How's　that；　then？〃

　　〃It's　Sir　Robert；　sir。　He's　terrible　jealous　of　touts。　If　you　two

strangers　were　as　near　his　training　quarters　as　that　he'd　be　after　you

as　sure　as　fate。　He　ain't　taking　no　chances；　Sir　Robert　ain't。〃

　　〃I've　heard　he　has　a　horse　entered　for　the　Derby。〃

　　〃Yes；　and　a　good　colt；　too。　He　carries　all　our　money　for　the　race；

and　all　Sir　Robert's　into　the　Bargain。　By　the　way〃…　he　looked　at　us

with　thoughtful　eyes…　〃I　suppose　you　ain't　on　the　turf　yourselves？〃

　　〃No；　indeed。　just　two　weary　Londoners　who　badly　need　some　good

Berkshire　air。〃

　　〃Well；　you　are　in　the　right　place　for　that。　There　is　a　deal　of　it

lying　about。　But　mind　what　I　have　told　you　about　Sir　Robert。　He's

the　sort　that　strikes　first　and　speaks　afterwards。　Keep　clear　of　the

park。〃

　　〃Surely；　Mr。　Barnes！　We　certainly　shall。　By　the　way；　that　was　a　most

beautiful　spaniel　that　was　whining　in　the　hall。〃

　　〃I　should　say　it　was。　That　was　the　real　Shoscombe　breed。　There　ain't

a　better　in　England。〃

　　〃I　am　a　dog…fancier　myself；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Now；　if　it　is　a　fair

question；　what　would　a　prize　dog　like　that　cost？〃

　　〃More　than　I　could　pay；　sir。　It　was　Sir　Robert　himself　who　gave　me

this　one。　That's　why　I　have　to　keep　it　on　a　lead。　It　would　be　off　to

the　Hall　in　a　jiffy　if　I　gave　it　its　head。〃

　　〃We　are　getting　some　cards　in　our　hand；　Watson；〃　said　Holmes　when

the　landlord　had　left　us。　〃It's　not　an　easy　one　to　play；　but　we　may

see　our　way　in　a　day　or　two。　By　the　way；　Sir　Robert　is　still　in

London；　I　hear。　We　might；　perhaps；　enter　the　sacred　domain　to…night

without　fear　of　bodily　assault。　There　are　one　or　two　points　on　which　I

should　like　reassurance。〃

　　〃Have　you　any　theory；　Holmes？〃

　　〃Only　this；　Watson；　that　something　happened　a　week　or　so　ago　which

has　cut　deep　into　the　life　of　the　Shoscombe　household。　What　is　that

something？　We　can　only　guess　at　it　from　its　effects。　They　seem　to　be

of　a　curiously　mixed　character。　But　that　should　surely　help　us。　It

is　only　the　colourless；　uneventful　case　which　is　hopeless。

　　〃Let　us　consider　our　data。　The　brother　no　longer　visits　the

beloved　invalid　sister。　He　gives　away　her　favourite　dog。　Her　dog；

Watson！　Does　that　suggest　nothing　to　you？〃

　　〃Nothing　but　the　brother's　spite。〃

　　〃Well；　it　might　be　so。　Or…　well；　there　is　an　alternative。　Now　to

continue　our　review　of　the　situation　from　the　time　that　the　quarrel；

if　there　is　a　quarrel；　began。　The　lady　keeps　her　room；　alters　her

habits；　is　not　seen　save　when　she　drives　out　with　her　maid；　refuses　to

stop　at　the　stables　to　greet　her　favourite　horse；　and　apparently　takes

to　drink。　That　covers　the　case；　does　it　not？〃

　　〃Save　for　the　business　in　the　crypt。〃

　　〃That　is　another　line　of　thought。　There　are　two；　and　I　beg　you

will　not　tangle　them。　Line　A；　which　concerns　Lady　Beatrice；　has　a

vaguely　sinister　flavour；　has　it　not？〃

　　〃I　can　make　nothing　of　it。〃

　　〃Well；　now；　let　us　take　up　line　B；　which　concerns　Sir　Robert。　He

is　mad　keen　upon　winning　the　Derby。　He　is　in　the　hands　of　the　Jews；

and　may　at　any　moment　be　sold　up　and　his　racing　stables　seized　by

his　creditors。　He　is　a　daring　and　desperate　man。　He　derives　his　income

from　his　sister。　His　sister's　maid　is　his　willing　tool。　So　far　we　seem

to　be　on　fairly　safe　ground；　do　we　not？〃

　　〃But　the　crypt？〃

　　〃Ah；　yes；　the　crypt！　Let　us　suppose；　Watson…　it　is　merely　a

scandalous　supposition；　a　hypothesis　put　forward　for　argument's

sake…　that　Sir　Robert　has　done　away　with　his　sister。〃

　　〃My　dear　Holmes；　it　is　out　of　the　question。〃

　　〃Very　possibly；　Watson。　Sir　Robert　is　a　man　of　an　honourable

stock。　But　you　do　occasionally　find　a　carrion　crow　among　the　eagles。

Let　us　for　a　moment　argue　upon　this　supposition。　He　could　not　fly

the　country　until　he　had　realized　his　fortune；　and　that　fortune

could　only　be　realized　by　bringing　off　this　coup　with　Shoscombe

Prince。　Therefore；　he　has　still　to　stand　his　ground。　To　do　this　he

would　have　to　dispose　of　the　body　of　his　victim；　and　he　would　also

have　to　find　a　substitute　who　would　impersonate　her。　With　the　maid

as　his　confidante　that　would　not　be　impossible。　The　woman's　body　might

be　conveyed　to　the　crypt；　which　is　a　place　so　seldom　visited；　and　it

might　be　secretly　destroyed　at　night　in　the　furnace；　leaving　behind　it

such　evidence　as　we　have　already　seen。　What　say　you　to　that；　Watson？〃

　　〃Well；　it　is　all　possible　if　you　grant　the　original　monstrous

supposition。〃

　　〃I　think　that　there　is　a　small　experiment　which　we　may　try

to…morrow；　Watson；　in　order　to　throw　some　light　on　the　matter。

Meanwhile；　if　we　mean　to　keep　up　our　characters；　I　suggest　that　we

have　our　host　in　for　a　glass　of　his　own　wine　and　hold　some　high

converse　upon　eels　and　dace；　which　seems　to　be　the　straight　road　to

his　affections。　We　may　chance　to　come　upon　some　useful　local　gossip　in

the　process。〃

　　In　the　morning　Holmes　discovered　that　we　had　come　without　our

spoon…bait　for　jack；　which　absolved　us　from　fishing　for　the　day。　About

eleven　o'clock　we　started　for　a　walk；　and　he　obtained　leave　to　take

the　black　spaniel　with　us。

　　〃This　is　the　place；〃　said　he　as　we　came　to　two　high　park　gates

with　heraldic　griffins　towering　above　them。　〃About　midday；　Mr。

Barnes　informs　me；　the　old　lady　takes　a　drive；　and　the　carriage　must

slow　down　while　the　gates　are　opened。　When　it　comes　through；　and

before　it　gathers　speed；　I　want　you；　Watson；　to　stop　the　coachman　with

some　question。　Never　mind　me。　I　shall　stand　behind　this　holly…bush　and

see　what　I　can　see。〃

　　It　was　not　a　long　vigil。　Within　a　quarter　of　an　hour　we　saw　the

big　open　yellow　barouche　coming　down　the　long　avenue；　with　two

splendid；　high…stepping　gray　carriage　horses　in　the　shafts。　Holmes

crouched　behind　his　bush　with　the　dog。　I　stood　unconcernedly

swinging　a　cane　in　the　roadway。　A　keeper　ran　out　and　the　gates　swung

open。

　　The　carriage　had　slowed　to　a　walk；　and　I　was　able　to　get　a　good　look

at　the　occupants。　A　highly　coloured　young　woman　with　flaxen　hair　and

impudent　eyes　sat　on　the　left。　At　her　right　was　an　elderly　person　with

rounded　back　and　a　huddle　of　shawls　about　her　face　and　shoulders　which

proclaimed　the　invalid。　When　the　horses　reached　the　highroad　I　held　up

my　hand　with　an　authoritative　gesture；　and　as　the　coachman　pulled　up　I

inquired　if　Sir　Robert　was　at　Shoscombe　Old　Place。

　　At　the　same　moment　Holmes　stepped　out　and　released　the　spaniel。　With

a　joyous　cry　it　dashed　forward　to　the　carriage　and　sprang　upon　the

step。　Then　in　a　moment　its　eager　greeting　chang