the adventure of the solitary cyclist-第3章

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struck　me　as　peculiarly　unecclesiastical。　I　have　already　made　some

inquiries　at　a　clerical　agency；　and　they　tell　me　that　there　was　a

man　of　that　name　in　orders；　whose　career　has　been　a　singularly　dark

one。　The　landlord　further　informed　me　that　there　are　usually　weekend

visitors…　‘a　warm　lot；　sir'…　at　the　Hall；　and　especially　one　gentleman

with　a　red　moustache；　Mr。　Woodley　by　name；　who　was　always　there。　We

had　got　as　far　as　this；　when　who　should　walk　in　but　the　gentleman

himself；　who　had　been　drinking　his　beer　in　the　tap…room　and　had

heard　the　whole　conversation。　Who　was　I？　What　did　I　want？　What　did　I

mean　by　asking　questions？　He　had　a　fine　flow　of　language；　and　his

adjectives　were　very　vigorous。　He　ended　a　string　of　abuse　by　a　vicious

backhander；　which　I　failed　to　entirely　avoid。　The　next　few　minutes

were　delicious。　It　was　a　straight　left　against　a　slogging　ruffian。　I

emerged　as　you　see　me。　Mr。　Woodley　went　home　in　a　cart。　So　ended　my

country　trip；　and　it　must　be　confessed　that；　however　enjoyable；　my　day

on　the　Surrey　border　has　not　been　much　more　profitable　than　your　own。〃

　　The　Thursday　brought　us　another　letter　from　our　client。



　　You　will　not　be　surprised；　Mr。　Holmes　＇said　she＇　to　hear　that　I　am

leaving　Mr。　Carruthers's　employment。　Even　the　high　pay　cannot

reconcile　me　to　the　discomforts　of　my　situation。　On　Saturday　I　come　up

to　town；　and　I　do　not　intend　to　return。　Mr。　Carruthers　has　got　a　trap；

and　so　the　dangers　of　the　lonely　road；　if　there　ever　were　any　dangers；

are　now　over。

　　As　to　the　special　cause　of　my　leaving；　it　is　not　merely　the　strained

situation　with　Mr。　Carruthers；　but　it　is　the　reappearance　of　that

odious　man；　Mr。　Woodley。　He　was　always　hideous；　but　he　looks　more

awful　than　ever　now；　for　he　appears　to　have　had　an　accident　and　he

is　much　disfigured。　I　saw　him　out　of　the　window；　but　I　am　glad　to

say　I　did　not　meet　him。　He　had　a　long　talk　with　Mr。　Carruthers；　who

seemed　much　excited　afterwards。　Woodley　must　be　staying　in　the

neighbourhood；　for　he　did　not　sleep　here；　and　yet　I　caught　a　glimpse

of　him　again　this　morning；　slinking　about　in　the　shrubbery。　I　would

sooner　have　a　savage　wild　animal　loose　about　the　place。　I　loathe　and

fear　him　more　than　I　can　say。　How　can　Mr。　Carruthers　endure　such　a

creature　for　a　moment？　However；　all　my　troubles　will　be　over　on

Saturday。



　　〃So　I　trust；　Watson；　so　I　trust〃　said　Holmes；　gravely。　〃There　is

some　deep　intrigue　going　on　round　that　little　woman；　and　it　is　our

duty　to　see　that　no　one　molests　her　upon　that　last　journey。　I　think；

Watson；　that　we　must　spare　time　to　run　down　together　on　Saturday

morning　and　make　sure　that　this　curious　and　inclusive　investigation

has　no　untoward　ending。〃

　　I　confess　that　I　had　not　up　to　now　taken　a　very　serious　view　of

the　case；　which　had　seemed　to　me　rather　grotesque　and　bizarre　than

dangerous。　That　a　man　should　lie　in　wait　for　and　follow　a　very

handsome　woman　is　no　unheard…of　thing；　and　if　he　has　so　little

audacity　that　he　not　only　dared　not　address　her；　but　even　fled　from

her　approach；　he　was　not　a　very　formidable　assailant。　The　ruffian

Woodley　was　a　very　different　person；　but；　except　on　one　occasion；　he

had　not　molested　our　client；　and　now　he　visited　the　house　of

Carruthers　without　intruding　upon　her　presence。　The　man　on　the　bicycle

was　doubtless　a　member　of　those　week…end　parties　at　the　Hall　of

which　the　publican　had　spoken；　but　who　he　was；　or　what　he　wanted；

was　as　obscure　as　ever。　It　was　the　severity　of　Holmes's　manner　and　the

fact　that　he　slipped　a　revolver　into　his　pocket　before　leaving　our

rooms　which　impressed　me　with　the　feeling　that　tragedy　might　prove

to　lurk　behind　this　curious　train　of　events。

　　A　rainy　night　had　been　followed　by　a　glorious　morning；　and　the

heath…covered　countryside；　with　the　glowing　clumps　of　flowering　gorse；

seemed　all　the　more　beautiful　to　eyes　which　were　weary　of　the　duns　and

drabs　and　slate　grays　of　London。　Holmes　and　I　walked　along　the

broad；　sandy　road　inhaling　the　fresh　morning　air　and　rejoicing　in

the　music　of　the　birds　and　the　fresh　breath　of　the　spring。　From　a　rise

of　the　road　on　the　shoulder　of　Crooksbury　Hill；　we　could　see　the

grim　Hall　bristling　out　from　amidst　the　ancient　oaks；　which；　old　as

they　were；　were　still　younger　than　the　building　which　they　surrounded。

Holmes　pointed　down　the　long　tract　of　road　which　wound；　a　reddish

yellow　band；　between　the　brown　of　the　heath　and　the　budding　green　of

the　woods。　Far　away；　a　black　dot；　we　could　see　a　vehicle　moving　in　our

direction。　Holmes　gave　an　exclamation　of　impatience。

　　〃I　have　given　a　margin　of　half　an　hour；〃　said　he。　〃If　that　is　her

trap；　she　must　be　making　for　the　earlier　train。　I　fear；　Watson；　that

she　will　be　past　Charlington　before　we　can　possibly　meet　her。〃

　　From　the　instant　that　we　passed　the　rise；　we　could　no　longer　see　the

vehicle；　but　we　hastened　onward　at　such　a　pace　that　my　sedentary

life　began　to　tell　upon　me；　and　I　was　compelled　to　fall　behind。

Holmes；　however；　was　always　in　training；　for　he　had　inexhaustible

stores　of　nervous　energy　upon　which　to　draw。　His　springy　step　never

slowed　until　suddenly；　when　he　was　a　hundred　yards　in　front　of　me；

he　halted；　and　I　saw　him　throw　up　his　hand　with　a　gesture　of　grief　and

despair。　At　the　same　instant　an　empty　dog…cart；　the　horse　cantering；

the　reins　trailing；　appeared　round　the　curve　of　the　road　and　rattled

swiftly　towards　us。

　　〃Too　late；　Watson；　too　late！〃　cried　Holmes；　as　I　ran　panting　to

his　side。　〃Fool　that　I　was　not　to　allow　for　that　earlier　train！　It's

abduction；　Watson…　abduction！　Murder！　Heaven　knows　what！　Block　the

road！　Stop　the　horse！　That's　right。　Now；　jump　in；　and　let　us　see　if

I　can　repair　the　consequences　of　my　own　blunder。〃

　　We　had　sprung　into　the　dog…cart；　and　Holmes；　after　turning　the

horse；　gave　it　a　sharp　cut　with　the　whip；　and　we　flew　back　along　the

road。　As　we　turned　the　curve；　the　whole　stretch　of　road　between　the

Hall　and　the　heath　was　opened　up。　I　grasped　Holmes's　arm。

　　〃That's　the　man！〃　I　gasped。

　A　solitary　cyclist　was　coming　towards　us。　His　head　was　down　and　his

shoulders　rounded；　as　he　put　every　ounce　of　energy　that　he　possessed

on　to　the　pedals。　He　was　flying　like　a　racer。　Suddenly　he　raised　his

bearded　face；　saw　us　close　to　him；　and　pulled　up；　springing　from　his

machine。　That　coal…black　beard　was　in　singular　contrast　to　eyes　were

as　bright　as　if　he　had　a　fever。　He　stared　at　us　and　at　the　dog…cart。

Then　a　look　of　amazement　came　over　his　face。

　　〃Halloa！　Stop　there！〃　he　shouted；　holding　his　bicycle　to　block　our

road。　〃Where　did　you　get　that　dog…cart？　Pull　up；　man！〃　he　yelled；

drawing　a　pistol　from　his　side　〃Pull　up；　I　say；　or；　by　George；　I'll

put　a　bullet　into　your　horse。〃

　　Holmes　threw　the　reins　into　my　lap　and　sprang　down　from　the　cart。

　　〃You're　the　man　we　want　to　see。　Where　is　Miss　Violet　Smith？〃　he

said；　in　his　quick；　clear　way。

　　〃That's　what　I'm　asking　you。　You're　in　her　dog…cart。　You　ought　to

know　where　she　is。〃

　　〃We　met　the　dog…cart　on　the　road。　There　was　no　one　in　it。　We　drove

back　to　help　the　young　lady。〃

　　〃Good　Lord！　Good　Lord！　What　shall　I　do？〃　cried　the　stranger；　in　an

ecstasy　of　despair。　〃They've　got　her；　that　hell…hound　Woodley　and

the　blackguard　parson。　Come；　man；　come；　if　you　really　are　her

friend。　Stand　by　me　and　we'll　save　her；　if　I　have　to　leave　my

carcass　in　Charlington　Wood。〃

　　He　ran　distractedly；　his　pistol　in　his　hand；　towards　a　gap　in　the

hedge。　Holmes　followed　him；　and　I；　leaving　the　horse　grazing　beside

the　road；　followed　Holmes。

　　〃This　is　where　they　came　through；〃　said　he；　pointing　to　the　marks　of

several　feet　upon　the　muddy　path。　〃Halloa！　Stop　a　minute！　Who's　this

in　the　bush？〃

　　It　was　a　young　fellow　about　seventeen；　dressed　like　an　ostler；

with　leather　cords　and　gaiters。　He　lay　upon　his　back；　his　knees

drawn　up；　a　terrible　cut　upon　his　head。　He　was　insensible；　but

alive。　A　glance　at　his　wound　told　me　that　it　had　not　penetrated　the

bone。

　　〃That's　Peter；　the　groom；〃　cried　the　stranger。　〃He　drove　her。　The

beasts　have　pulled　him　off　and　clubbed　him。　Let　him　lie；　we　can't　do

him　any　good；　but　we　may　save　her　from　the　worst　fate　that　can

befall　a　woman。〃

　　We　ran　frantically　down　the　path；　which　wound　among　the　trees。　We

had　reached　the　shrubbery　which　surrounded　the　house　when　Holmes

pulled　up。

　　〃They　didn't　go　to　the　house。　Here　are　their　marks　on　the　left…

here；　beside　the　laurel　bushes。　Ah！　I　said　so。〃

　　As　he　spoke；　a　woman's　shrill　scream…　a　scream　which　vibrated　with　a

frenzy　of　horror…　burst　from　the　thick；　green　clump　of　bushes　in　front

of　us。　It　ended　suddenly　on　its　highest　note　with　a　choke　and　a

gurgle。

　　〃This　way！　This　way！　They　are　in　the　bowling…alley；〃　cried　the

stranger；　darting　through　the　bushes。　〃Ah；　the　cowardly　dogs！　Follow

me；　gentlemen！　Too　late！　too　late！　by　the　living　Jingo！〃

　　We　had　broken　suddenly　into　a　lovely　glade　of　greensward

surrounded　by　ancient　trees。　On　the　farther　side　of　it；　under　the

shadow　of　a　mighty　oak；　there　stood　a　singular　group　of　three

people。　One　was　a　woman；　our　client；　drooping　and　faint；　a

handkerchief　round　her　mouth。　Opposite　her　stood　a　brutal；

heavy…faced；　redmoustached　young　man；　his　gaitered　legs　parted　wide；

one　arm　akimbo；　the　other　waving　a　riding　crop；　his　whole　attitude

suggestive　of　triumphant　bravado。　Between　them　an　elderly；

gray…bearded　man；　wearing　a　short　surplice　over　a　light　tweed　suit；

had　evidently　just　completed　the　wedding　service；　for　he　pocketed

his　prayer…book　as　we　appeared；　and　slapped　the　sinister　bridegroom

upon　the　back　in　jovial　congratulation。

　　〃They're　married？〃　I　gasped。

　　〃Come　on！〃　cried　our　guide；　〃come　on！〃　He　rushed　across　the　glade；

Holmes　and　I　at　his　heels。　As　we　approached；　the　lady　staggered

against　the　trunk　of　the　tree　for　support。　Williamson；　the

ex…clergyman；　bowed　to　us　with　mock　politeness；　and　the　bully；

Woodley；　advanced　with　a　shout　of　brutal　and　exultant　laughter。

　　〃You　can　take　your　beard　off；　Bob；〃　said　he。　〃I　know　you；　right

enough。　Well；　you　and　your　pals　have　just　come　in　time　for　me　to　be

able　to　introduce　you　to　Mrs。　Woodley。〃

　　Our　guide's　answer　was　a　singular　one。　He　snatched　off　the　dark

beard　which　had　disguised　him　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　disclosing　a

long；　sallow；　clean…shaven　face　below　it。　Then　he　raised　his

revolver　and　covered　the　young　ruffian；　who　was　advancing　upon　him

with　his　dangerous　riding　crop　swinging　in　his　hand。

　　〃Yes；〃　said　our　ally；　〃I　am　Bob　Carruthers；　and　I'll　see　this

woman　righted；　if　I　have　to　swing　for　it。　I　told　you　what　I'd　do　if

you　molested　her；　and；　by　the　Lord！　I'll　be　as　good　as　my　word。〃

　　〃You're　too　late。　She's　my　wife。〃

　　〃No；　she's　your　widow。〃

　　His　revolver　cracked；　and　I　saw　the　blood　spurt　from　the　front　of

Woodley's　waistcoat。　He　spun　round　with　a　scream　and　fell　upon　his

back；　his　hideous　red　face　turning　suddenly　to　a　dreadful　mottled

pallor。　The　old　man；　still　clad　in　his　surplice；　burst　into　such　a

string　of　foul　oaths　as　I　have　never　heard；　and　pulled　out　a

revolver　of　his　own；　but；　before　he　could　raise　it；　he　was　lookin