the adventure of shoscombe old place-第3章

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

step。　Then　in　a　moment　its　eager　greeting　changed　to　furious　rage；　and

it　snapped　at　the　black　skirt　above　it。

　　〃Drive　on！　Drive　on！〃　shrieked　a　harsh　voice。　The　coachman　lashed

the　horses；　and　we　were　left　standing　in　the　roadway。

　　〃Well；　Watson；　that's　done　it；〃　said　Holmes　as　he　fastened　the

lead　to　the　neck　of　the　excited　spaniel。　〃He　thought　it　was　his

mistress；　and　he　found　it　was　a　stranger。　Dogs　don't　make　mistakes。〃

　　〃But　it　was　the　voice　of　a　man！〃　I　cried。

　　〃Exactly！　We　have　added　one　card　to　our　hand；　Watson；　But　it　needs

careful　playing；　all　the　same。〃

　　My　companion　seemed　to　have　no　further　plans　for　the　day；　and　we　did

actually　use　our　fishing　tackle　in　the　mill…stream；　with　the　result

that　we　had　a　dish　of　trout　for　our　supper。　It　was　only　after　that

meal　that　Holmes　showed　signs　of　renewed　activity。　Once　more　we

found　ourselves　upon　the　same　road　as　in　the　morning；　which　led　us

to　the　park　gates。　A　tall；　dark　figure　was　awaiting　us　there；　who

proved　to　be　our　London　acquaintance；　Mr。　John　Mason；　the　trainer。

　　〃Good…evening；　gentlemen；〃　said　he。　〃I　got　your　note；　Mr。　Holmes。

Sir　Robert　has　not　returned　yet；　but　I　hear　that　he　is　expected

to…night。〃

　　〃How　far　is　this　crypt　from　the　house？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃A　good　quarter　of　a　mile。〃

　　〃Then　I　think　we　can　disregard　him　altogether。〃

　　〃I　can't　afford　to　do　that；　Mr。　Holmes。　The　moment　he　arrives　he

will　want　to　see　me　to　get　the　last　news　of　Shoscombe　Prince。〃

　　〃I　see！　In　that　case　we　must　work　without　you；　Mr。　Mason。　You　can

show　us　the　crypt　and　then　leave　us。〃

　　It　was　pitch…dark　and　without　a　moon；　but　Mason　led　us　over　the

grasslands　until　a　dark　mass　loomed　tip　in　front　of　us　which　proved　to

be　the　ancient　chapel。　We　entered　the　broken　gap　which　was　once　the

porch；　and　our　guide；　stumbling　among　heaps　of　loose　masonry；　picked

his　way　to　the　corner　of　the　building；　where　a　steep　stair　led　down

into　the　crypt。　Striking　a　match；　he　illuminated　the　Melancholy　place…

dismal　and　evil…smelling；　with　ancient　crumbling　walls　of　rough…hewn

stone；　and　piles　of　coffins；　some　of　lead　and　some　of　stone；　extending

upon　one　side　right　up　to　the　arched　and　groined　roof　which　lost

itself　in　the　shadows　above　our　heads。　Holmes　had　lit　his　lantern；

which　shot　a　tiny　tunnel　of　vivid　yellow　light　upon　the　mournful

scene。　Its　rays　were　reflected　back　from　the　coffin…plates；　many　of

them　adorned　with　the　griffin　and　coronet　of　this　old　family　which

carried　its　honours　even　to　the　gate　of　Death。

　　〃You　spoke　of　some　bones；　Mr。　Mason。　Could　you　show　them　before

you　go？〃

　　〃They　are　here　in　this　corner。〃　The　trainer　strode　across　and　then

stood　in　silent　surprise　as　our　light　was　turned　upon　the　place。　〃They

are　gone；〃　said　he。

　　〃So　I　expected；〃　said　Holmes；　chuckling。　〃I　fancy　the　ashes　of

them　might　even　now　be　found　in　that　oven　which　had　already　consumed　a

part。〃

　　〃But　why　in　the　world　would　anyone　want　to　burn　the　bones　of　a　man

who　has　been　dead　a　thousand　years？〃　asked　John　Mason。

　　〃That　is　what　we　are　here　to　find　out；〃　said　Holmes。　〃It　may　mean

a　long　search；　and　we　need　not　detain　you。　I　fancy　that　we　shall　get

our　solution　before　morning。〃

　　When　John　Mason　had　left　us；　Holmes　set　to　work　making　a　very

careful　examination　of　the　graves；　ranging　from　a　very　ancient　one；

which　appeared　to　be　Saxon；　in　the　centre；　through　a　long　line　of

Norman　Hugos　and　Odos；　until　we　reached　the　Sir　William　and　Sir

Denis　Falder　of　the　eighteenth　century。　It　was　an　hour　or　more

before　Holmes　came　to　a　leaden　coffin　standing　on　end　before　the

entrance　to　the　vault。　I　heard　his　little　cry　of　satisfaction　and

was　aware　from　his　hurried　but　purposeful　movements　that　he　had

reached　a　goal。　With　his　lens　he　was　eagerly　examining　the　edges　of

the　heavy　lid。　Then　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a　short　jemmy；　a

box…opener；　which　he　thrust　into　a　chink；　levering　back　the　whole

front；　which　seemed　to　be　secured　by　only　a　couple　of　clamps。　There

was　a　rending；　tearing　sound　as　it　gave　way；　but　it　had　hardly

hinged　back　and　partly　revealed　the　contents　before　we　had　an

unforeseen　interruption。

　　Someone　was　walking　in　the　chapel　above。　It　was　the　firm；　rapid　step

of　one　who　came　with　a　definite　purpose　and　knew；　well　the　ground　upon

which　he　walked。　A　light　streamed　down　the　stairs；　and　an　instant

later　the　man　who　bore　it　was　framed　in　the　Gothic　archway。　He　was　a

terrible　figure；　huge　in　stature　and　fierce　in　manner。　A　large

stable…lantern　which　he　field　in　front　of　him　shone　upward　upon　a

strong；　heavily　moustached　face　and　angry　eyes；　which　glared　round　him

into　every　recess　of　the　vault；　finally　fixing　themselves　with　a

deadly　stare　upon　my　companion　and　myself。

　　〃Who　the；　devil　are　you？〃　he　thundered。　〃And　what　are　you　doing　upon

my　property？〃　Then；　as　Holmes　returned　no　answer；　he　took　a　couple

of　steps　forward　and　raised　a　heavy　stick　which　he　carried。　〃Do　you

hear　me？〃　he　cried。　〃Who　are　you？　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　His　cudgel

quivered　in　the　air。

　　But　instead　of　shrinking　Holmes　advanced　to　meet　him。

　　〃I　also　have　a　question　to　ask　you；　Sir　Robert；〃　he　said　in　his

sternest　tone。　〃Who　is　this？　And　what　is　it　doing　here？〃

　　He　turned　and　tore　open　the　coffin…lid　behind　him。　In　the　glare　of

the　lantern　I　saw　a　body　swathed　in　a　sheet　from　head　to　foot；　with

dreadful；　witchlike　features；　all　nose　and　chin；　projecting　at　one

end；　the　dim；　glazed　eyes　staring　from　a　discoloured　and　crumbling

face。

　　The　baronet　had　staggered　back　with　a　cry　and　supported　himself

against　a　stone　sarcophagus。

　　〃How　came　you　to　know　of　this？〃　he　cried。　And　then；　with　some　return

of　his　truculent　mariner：　〃What　business　is　it　of　yours？〃

　　〃My　name　is　Sherlock　Holmes；〃　said　my　companion。　〃Possibly　it　is

familiar　to　you。　In　any　case；　my　business　is　that　of　every　other

good　citizen…　to　uphold　the　law。　It　seems　to　me　that　you　have　much

to　answer　for。〃

　　Sir　Robert　glared　for　a　moment；　but　Holmes's　quiet　voice　and　cool；

assured　manner　had　their　effect。

　　〃'Fore　God；　Mr。　Holmes；　it's　all　right；〃　said　he。　〃Appearances　are

against　me；　I'll　admit；　but　I　could　act　no　otherwise。〃

　　〃I　should　be　happy　to　think　so；　but　I　fear　your　explanations　must　be

before　the　police。〃

　　Sir　Robert　shrugged　his　broad　shoulders。

　　〃Well；　if　it　must　be；　it　must。　Come　up　to　the　house　and　you　can

judge　for　yourself　how　the　matter　stands。〃

　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　we　found　ourselves　in　what　I　judge；

from　the　lines　of　polished　barrels　behind　glass　covers；　to　be　the

gun…room　of　the　old　house。　It　was　comfortably　furnished；　and　here

Sir　Robert　left　us　for　a　few　moments。　When　he　returned　he　had　two

companions　with　him；　the　one；　the　florid　young　woman　whom　we　had

seen　in　the　carriage；　the　other；　a　small　rat…faced　man　with　a

disagreeably　furtive　manner。　These　two　wore　an　appearance　of　utter

bewilderment；　which　showed　that　the　baronet　had　not　yet　had　time　to

explain　to　them　the　turn　events　had　taken。

　　〃There；〃　said　Sir　Robert　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　〃are　Mr。　and

Mrs。　Norlett。　Mrs。　Norlett；　under　her　maiden　name　of　Evans；　has　for

some　years　been　my　sister's　confidential　maid。　I　have　brought　them

here　because　I　feel　that　my　best　course　is　to　explain　the　true

position　to　you；　and　they　are　the　two　people　upon　earth　who　can

substantiate　what　I　say。〃

　　〃Is　this　necessary；　Sir　Robert？　Have　you　thought　what　you　are

doing？〃　cried　the　woman。

　　〃As　to　me；　I　entirely　disclaim　all　responsibility；〃　said　her

husband。

　　Sir　Robert　gave　him　a　glance　of　contempt。　〃I　will　take　all

responsibility；〃　said　he。　〃Now；　Mr。　Holmes；　listen　to　a　plain

statement　of　the　facts。

　　〃You　have　clearly　gone　pretty　deeply　into　my　affairs　or　I　should　not

have　found　you　where　I　did。　Therefore；　you　know　already；　in　all

probability；　that　I　am　running　a　dark　horse　for　the　Derby　and　that

everything　depends　upon　my　success。　If　I　win；　all　is　easy。　If　I

lose…　well；　I　dare　not　think　of　that！〃

　　〃I　understand　the　position；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃I　am　dependent　upon　my　sister；　Lady　Beatrice；　for　everything。　But

it　is　well　known　that　her　interest　in　the　estate　is　for　her　own　life

only。　For　myself；　I　am　deeply　in　the　hands　of　the　Jews。　I　have

always　known　that　if　my　sister　were　to　die　my　creditors　would　be　on　to

my　estate　like　a　flock　of　vultures。　Everything　would　be　seized…　my

stables；　my　horses…　everything。　Well；　Mr。　Holmes；　my　sister　did　die

just　a　week　ago。〃

　　〃And　you　told　no　one！〃

　　〃What　could　I　do？　Absolute　ruin　faced　me。　If　I　could　stave　things

off　for　three　weeks　all　would　be　well。　Her　maid's　husband…　this　man

here…　is　an　actor。　It　came　into　our　heads…　it　came　into　my　head…

that　he　could　for　that　short　period　personate　my　sister。　It　was　but

a　case　of　appearing　daily　in　the　carriage；　for　no　one　need　enter　her

room　save　the　maid。　It　was　not　difficult　to　arrange。　My　sister　died　of

the　dropsy　which　had　long　afflicted　her。〃

　　〃That　will　be　for　a　coroner　to　decide。〃

　　〃Her　doctor　would　certify　that　for　months　her　symptoms　have

threatened　such　an　end。〃

　　〃Well；　what　did　you　do？〃

　　〃The　body　could　not　remain　there。　On　the　first　night　Norlett　and　I

carried　it　out　to　the　old　well…house；　which　is　now　never　used。　We　were

followed；　however；　by　her　pet　spaniel；　which　yapped　continually　at　the

door；　so　I　felt　some　safer　place　was　needed。　I　got　rid　of　the　spaniel；

and　we　carried　the　body　to　the　crypt　of　the　church。　There　was　no

indignity　or　irreverence；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　do　not　feel　that　I　have

wronged　the　dead。〃

　　〃Your　conduct　seems　to　me　inexcusable；　Sir　Robert。〃

　　The　baronet　shook　his　head　impatiently。　〃It　is　easy　to　preach；〃　said

he。　〃Perhaps　you　would　have　felt　differently　if　you　had　been　in　my

position。　One　cannot　see　all　one's　hopes　and　all　one's　plans　shattered

at　the　last　moment　and　make　no　effort　to　save　them。　It　seemed　to　me

that　it　would　be　no　unworthy　resting…place　if　we　put　her　for　the

time　in　one　of　the　coffins　of　her　husband's　ancestors　lying　in　what　is

still　consecrated　ground。　We　opened　such　a　coffin；　removed　the

contents；　and　placed　her　as　you　have　seen　her。　As　to　the　old　relics

which　we　took　out；　we　could　not　leave　them　on　the　floor　of　the

crypt。　Norlett　and　I　removed　them；　and　he　descended　at　night　and

burned　them　in　the　central　furnace。　There　is　my　story；　Mr。　Holmes；

though　how　you　forced　my　hand　so　that　I　have　to　tell　it　is　more　than　I

can　say。〃

　　Holmes　sat　for　some　time　lost　in　thought。

　　〃There　is　one　flaw　in　your　narrative；　Sir　Robert；〃　he　said　at

last。　〃Your　bets　on　the　race；　and　therefore　your　hopes　for　the　future；

would　hold　good　even　if　your　creditors　seized　your　estate。〃

　　〃The　horse　would　be　part　of　the　estate。　What　do　they　care　for　my

bets？　As　likely　as　not　they　would　not　run　him　at　all。　My　chief

crediter　is；　unhappily；　my　most　bitter　enemy…　a　rascally　fellow；　Sam

Brewer；　whom　I　was　once　compelled　to　horsewhip　on　Newmarket　Heath。

Do　you　suppose　that　he　would　try　to　save　me？〃

　　〃Well；　Sir　Robert；〃　said　Holmes；　rising；　〃this　matter　must；　of

course；　be　referred　to　the