the adventure of the second stain-第4章

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window　was　a　sumptuous　writing…desk；　and　every　detail　of　the

apartment；　the　pictures；　the　rugs；　and　the　hangings；　all　pointed　to

a　taste　which　was　luxurious　to　the　verge　of　effeminacy。

　　〃Seen　the　Paris　news？'　asked　Lestrade。

　　Holmes　nodded。

　　〃Our　French　friends　seem　to　have　touched　the　spot　this　time。　No

doubt　it's　just　as　they　say。　She　knocked　at　the　door…　surprise

visit；　I　guess；　for　he　kept　his　life　in　water…tight　compartments…　he

let　her　in；　couldn't　keep　her　in　the　street。　She　told　him　how　she

had　traced　him；　reproached　him。　One　thing　led　to　another；　and　then

with　that　dagger　so　handy　the　end　soon　came。　It　wasn't　all　done　in

an　instant；　though；　for　these　chairs　were　all　swept　over　yonder；　and

he　had　one　in　his　hand　as　if　he　had　tried　to　hold　her　off　with　it。

We've　got　it　all　clear　as　if　we　had　seen　it。〃

　　Holmes　raised　his　eyebrows。

　　〃And　yet　you　have　sent　for　me？〃

　　〃Ah；　yes；　that's　another　matter…　a　mere　trifle；　but　the　sort　of

thing　you　take　an　interest　in…　queer；　you　know；　and　what　you　might

call　freakish。　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　main　fact…　can't　have；　on

the　face　of　it。〃

　　〃What　is　it；　then？〃

　　〃Well；　you　know；　after　a　crime　of　this　sort　we　are　very　careful　to

keep　things　in　their　position。　Nothing　has　been　moved。　Officer　in

charge　here　day　and　night。　This　morning；　as　the　man　was　buried　and　the

investigation　over…　so　far　as　this　room　is　concerned…　we　thought　we

could　tidy　up　a　bit。　This　carpet。　You　see；　it　is　not　fastened　down；

only　just　laid　there。　We　had　occasion　to　raise　it。　We　found…〃

　　〃Yes？　You　found…〃

　　Holmes's　face　grew　tense　with　anxiety。

　　〃Well；　I'm　sure　you　would　never　guess　in　a　hundred　years　what　we　did

find。　You　see　that　stain　on　the　carpet？　Well；　a　great　deal　must　have

soaked　through；　must　it　not？〃

　　〃Undoubtedly　it　must。〃

　　〃Well；　you　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　there　is　no　stain　on　the

white　woodwork　to　correspond。〃

　　〃No　stain！　But　there　must…〃

　　〃Yes；　so　you　would　say。　But　the　fact　remains　that　there　isn't。〃

　　He　took　the　corner　of　the　carpet　in　his　hand　and；　turning　it　over；

he　showed　that　it　was　indeed　as　he　said。

　　〃But　the　under　side　is　as　stained　as　the　upper。　It　must　have　left

a　mark。〃

　　Lestrade　chuckled　with　delight　at　having　puzzled　the　famous　expert。

　　〃Now；　I'll　show　you　the　explanation。　There　is　a　second　stain；　but　it

does　not　correspond　with　the　other。　See　for　yourself。〃　As　he　spoke

he　turned　over　another　portion　of　the　carpet；　and　there；　sure

enough；　was　a　great　crimson　spill　upon　the　square　white　facing　of

the　old…fashioned　floor。　〃What　do　you　make　of　that；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃Why；　it　is　simple　enough。　The　two　stains　did　correspond；　but　the

carpet　has　been　turned　round。　As　it　was　square　and　unfastened　it　was

easily　done。〃

　　The　official　police　don't　need　you；　Mr。　Holmes；　to　tell　them　that

the　carpet　must　have　been　turned　round。　That's　clear　enough；　for　the

stains　lie　above　each　other…　if　you　lay　it　over　this　way。　But　what　I

want　to　know　is；　who　shifted　the　carpet；　and　why？〃

　　I　could　see　from　Holmes's　rigid　face　that　he　was　vibrating　with

inward　excitement。

　　〃Look　here；　Lestrade；〃　said　he；　〃has　that　constable　in　the　passage

been　in　charge　of　the　place　all　the　time？〃

　　〃Yes；　he　has。〃

　　〃Well；　take　my　advice。　Examine　him　carefully。　Don't　do　it　before　us。

Well　wait　here。　You　take　him　into　the　back　room。　You'll　be　more　likely

to　get　a　confession　out　of　him　alone。　Ask　him　how　he　dared　to　admit

people　and　leave　them　alone　in　this　room。　Don't　ask　him　if　he　has　done

it。　Take　it　for　granted。　Tell　him　you　know　someone　has　been　here。

Press　him。　Tell　him　that　a　full　confession　is　his　only　chance　of

forgiveness。　Do　exactly　what　I　tell　you！〃

　　〃By　George；　if　he　knows　I'll　have　it　out　of　him！〃　cried　Lestrade。　He

darted　into　the　hall；　and　a　few　moments　later　his　bullying　voice

sounded　from　the　back　room。

　　〃Now；　Watson；　now！〃　cried　Holmes　with　frenzied　eagerness。　All　the

demoniacal　force　of　the　man　masked　behind　that　listless　manner　burst

out　in　a　paroxysm　of　energy。　He　tore　the　drugget　from　the　floor；　and

in　an　instant　was　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　clawing　at　each　of　the

squares　of　wood　beneath　it。　One　turned　sideways　as　he　dug　his　nails

into　the　edge　of　it。　It　hinged　back　like　the　lid　of　a　box。　A　small

black　cavity　opened　beneath　it。　Holmes　plunged　his　eager　hand　into

it　and　drew　it　out　with　a　bitter　snarl　of　anger　and　disappointment。　It

was　empty。

　　〃Quick；　Watson；　quick！　Get　it　back　again！〃　The　wooden　lid　was

replaced；　and　the　drugget　had　only　just　been　drawn　straight　when

Lestrade's　voice　was　heard　in　the　passage。　He　found　Holmes　leaning

languidly　against　the　mantelpiece；　resigned　and　patient；

endeavouring　to　conceal　his　irrepressible　yawns。

　　〃Sorry　to　keep　you　waiting；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　can　see　that　you　are　bored

to　death　with　the　whole　affair。　Well；　he　has　confessed；　all　right。

Come　in　here；　MacPherson。　Let　these　gentlemen　hear　of　your　most

inexcusable　conduct。〃

　　The　big　constable；　very　hot　and　penitent；　sidled　into　the　room。

　　〃I　meant　no　harm；　sir；　I'm　sure。　The　young　woman　came　to　the　door

last　evening…　mistook　the　house；　she　did。　And　then　we　got　talking。

It's　lonesome；　when　you're　on　duty　here　all　day。〃

　　〃Well；　what　happened　then？〃

　　〃She　wanted　to　see　where　the　crime　was　done…　had　read　about　it　in

the　papers；　she　said。　She　was　a　very　respectable；　well…spoken　young

woman；　sir；　and　I　saw　no　harm　in　letting　her　have　a　peep。　When　she　saw

that　mark　on　the　carpet；　down　she　dropped　on　the　floor；　and　lay　as

if　she　were　dead。　I　ran　to　the　back　and　got　some　water；　but　I　could

not　bring　her　to。　Then　I　went　round　the　corner　to　the　Ivy　Plant　for

some　brandy；　and　by　the　time　I　had　brought　it　back　the　young　woman　had

recovered　and　was　off…　ashamed　of　herself；　I　daresay；　and　dared　not

face　me。〃

　　〃How　about　moving　that　drugget？〃

　　〃Well；　sir；　it　was　a　bit　rumpled；　certainly；　when　I　came　back。　You

see；　she　fell　on　it　and　it　lies　on　a　polished　floor　with　nothing　to

keep　it　in　place。　I　straightened　it　out　afterwards。〃

　　〃It's　a　lesson　to　you　that　you　can't　deceive　me；　Constable

MacPherson；〃　said　Lestrade；　with　dignity。　〃No　doubt　you　thought　that

your　breach　of　duty　could　never　be　discovered；　and　yet　a　mere　glance

at　that　drugget　was　enough　to　convince　me　that　someone　had　been

admitted　to　the　room。　It's　lucky　for　you；　my　man；　that　nothing　is

missing；　or　you　would　find　yourself　in　Queer　Street。　I'm　sorry　to　have

called　you　down　over　such　a　petty　business；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　I

thought　the　point　of　the　second　stain　not　corresponding　with　the　first

would　interest　you。〃

　　〃Certainly；　it　was　most　interesting。　Has　this　woman　only　been　here

once；　constable？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　only　once。〃

　　〃Who　was　she？〃

　　〃Don't　know　the　name；　sir。　Was　answering　an　advertisement　about

typewriting　and　came　to　the　wrong　number…　very　pleasant；　genteel　young

woman；　sir。〃

　　〃Tall？　Handsome？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　she　was　a　well…grown　young　woman。　I　suppose　you　might　say

she　was　handsome。　Perhaps　some　would　say　she　was　very　handsome。　'Oh；

officer；　do　let　me　have　a　peep！'　says　she。　She　had　pretty；　coaxing

ways；　as　you　might　say；　and　I　thought　there　was　no　harm　in　letting　her

just　put　her　head　through　the　door。〃

　　〃How　was　she　dressed？〃

　　〃Quiet；　sir…　a　long　mantle　down　to　her　feet。〃

　　〃What　time　was　it？〃

　　〃It　was　just　growing　dusk　at　the　time。　They　were　lighting　the

lamps　as　I　came　back　with　the　brandy。〃

　　〃Very　good；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Come；　Watson；　I　think　that　we　have　more

important　work　elsewhere。〃

　　As　we　left　the　house　Lestrade　remained　in　the　front　room；　while

the　repentant　constable　opened　the　door　to　let　us　out。　Holmes　turned

on　the　step　and　held　up　something　in　his　hand。　The　constable　stared

intently。

　　〃Good　Lord；　sir！〃　he　cried；　with　amazement　on　his　face。　Holmes　put

his　finger　on　his　lips；　replaced　his　hand　in　his　breast　pocket；　and

burst　out　laughing　as　we　turned　down　the　street。　〃Excellent！〃　said　he。

〃Come；　friend　Watson；　the　curtain　rings　up　for　the　last　act。　You

will　be　relieved　to　hear　that　there　will　be　no　war；　that　the　Right

Honourable　Trelawney　Hope　will　suffer　no　setback　in　his　brilliant

career；　that　the　indiscreet　Sovereign　will　receive　no　punishment　for

his　indiscretion；　that　the　Prime　Minister　will　have　no　Europe　an

complication　to　deal　with；　and　that　with　a　little　tact　and

management　upon　our　part　nobody　will　be　a　penny　the　worse　for　what

might　have　been　a　very　ugly　incident。〃

　　My　mind　filled　with　admiration　for　this　extraordinary　man。

　　〃You　have　solved　it！〃　I　cried。

　　〃Hardly　that；　Watson。　There　are　some　points　which　are　as　dark　as

ever。　But　we　have　so　much　that　it　will　be　our　own　fault　if　we　cannot

get　the　rest。　We　will　go　straight　to　Whitehall　Terrace　and　bring　the

matter　to　a　head。〃

　　When　we　arrived　at　the　residence　of　the　European　Secretary　it　was

for　Lady　Hilda　Trelawney　Hope　that　Sherlock　Holmes　inquired。　We　were

shown　into　the　morning…room。

　　〃Mr。　Holmes！〃　said　the　lady；　and　her　face　was　pink　with　her

indignation。　〃This　is　surely　most　unfair　and　ungenerous　upon　your

part。　I　desired；　as　I　have　explained；　to　keep　my　visit　to　you　a

secret；　lest　my　husband　should　think　that　I　was　intruding　into　his

affairs。　And　yet　you　compromise　me　by　coming　here　and　so　showing

that　there　are　business　relations　between　us。〃

　　〃Unfortunately；　madam；　I　had　no　possible　alternative。　I　have　been

commissioned　to　recover　this　immensely　important　paper。　I　must

therefore　ask　you；　madam；　to　be　kind　enough　to　place　it　in　my　hands。〃

　　The　lady　sprang　to　her　feet；　with　the　colour　all　dashed　in　an

instant　from　her　beautiful　face。　Her　eyes　glazed…　she　tottered…　I

thought　that　she　would　faint。　Then　with　a　grand　effort　she　rallied

from　the　shock；　and　a　supreme　astonishment　and　indignation　chased

every　other　expression　from　her　features。

　　〃You…　you　insult　me；　Mr。　Holmes。〃

　　〃Come；　come；　madam；　it　is　useless。　Give　up　the　letter。〃

　　She　darted　to　the　bell。

　　〃The　butler　shall　show　you　out。〃

　　〃Do　not　ring；　Lady　Hilda。　If　you　do；　then　all　my　earnest　efforts

to　avoid　a　scandal　will　be　frustrated。　Give　up　the　letter　and　all　will

be　set　right。　If　you　will　work　with　me　I　can　arrange　everything。　If

you　work　against　me　I　must　expose　you。〃

　　She　stood　grandly　defiant；　a　queenly　figure；　her　eyes　fixed　upon　his

as　if　she　would　read　his　very　soul。　Her　hand　was　on　the　bell；　but

she　had　forborne　to　ring　it。

　　〃You　are　trying　to　frighten　me。　It　is　not　a　very　manly　thing；　Mr。

Holmes；　to　come　here　and　browbeat　a　woman。　You　say　that　you　know

something。　What　is　it　that　you　know？〃

　　〃Pray　sit　down；　madam。　You　will　hurt　yourself　there　if　you　fall。　I

will　not　speak　until　you　sit　down。　Thank　you。〃

　　〃I　give　you　five　minutes；　Mr。　Holmes。〃

　　〃One　is　enough；　Lady　Hilda。　I　know　of　your　visit　to　Eduardo　Lucas；

of　your　giving　him　this　document；　of　your　ingenious　return　to　the　room

last　night；　and　of　the　manner　in　which　you　took　the　letter　from　the

hiding…place　under　the　carpet。〃

　　She　stared　at　him　with　an　ashen　face　and　gulped　twice　before　she

could　speak。

　　〃You　are　mad；　Mr。　Holmes…　you　are　mad！〃　she　cried；　a