the adv[1]. of wisteria lodge(威斯特利亚·罗吉遇险记)-第7章
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in the transformed Henderson the fallen despot； to attach myself to his
household and keep the others in touch with his movements。 This I was
able to do by securing the position of governess in his family。 He little
knew that the woman who faced him at every meal was the woman whose
husband he had hurried at an hour's notice into eternity。 I smiled on him；
did my duty to his children； and bided my time。 An attempt was made in
Paris and failed。 We zig… zagged swiftly here and there over Europe to
throw off the pursuers and finally returned to this house； which he had
taken upon his first arrival in England。
〃But here also the ministers of justice were waiting。 Knowing that he
would return there； Garcia； who is the son of the former highest dignitary
in San Pedro； was waiting with two trusty companions of humble station；
all three fired with the same reasons for revenge。 He could do little during
the day； for Murillo took every precaution and never went out save with
his satellite Lucas； or Lopez as he was known in the days of his greatness。
At night； however； he slept alone； and the avenger might find him。 On a
certain evening； which had been prearranged； I sent my friend final
instructions； for the man was forever on the alert and continually changed
his room。 I was to see that the doors were open and the signal of a green or
white light in a window which faced the drive was to give notice if all was
safe or if the attempt had better be postponed。
〃But everything went wrong with us。 In some way I had excited the
suspicion of Lopez； the secretary。 He crept up behind me and sprang upon
me just as I had finished the note。 He and his master dragged me to my
room and held judgment upon me as a convicted traitress。 Then and there
they would have plunged their knives into me could they have seen how to
escape the consequences of the deed。 Finally； after much debate； they
concluded that my murder was too dangerous。 But they determined to get
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rid forever of Garcia。 They had gagged me； and Murillo twisted my arm
round until I gave him the address。 I swear that he might have twisted it
off had I understood what it would mean to Garcia。 Lopez addressed the
note which I had written； sealed it with his sleeve…link； and sent it by the
hand of the servant； Jose。 How they murdered him I do not know； save that
it was Murillo's hand who struck him down； for Lopez had remained to
guard me。 I believe he must have waited among the gorse bushes through
which the path winds and struck him down as he passed。 At first they were
of a mind to let him enter the house and to kill him as a detected burglar；
but they argued that if they were mixed up in an inquiry their own identity
would at once be publicly disclosed and they would be open to further
attacks。 With the death of Garcia； the pursuit might cease； since such a
death might frighten others from the task。
〃All would now have been well for them had it not been for my
knowledge of what they had done。 I have no doubt that there were times
when my life hung in the balance。 I was confined to my room； terrorized
by the most horrible threats； cruelly ill…used to break my spiritsee this
stab on my shoulder and the bruises from end to end of my armsand a
gag was thrust into my mouth on the one occasion when I tried to call
from the window。 For five days this cruel imprisonment continued； with
hardly enough food to hold body and soul together。 This afternoon a good
lunch was brought me； but the moment after I took it I knew that I had
been drugged。 In a sort of dream I remember being half…led； half… carried
to the carriage； in the same state I was conveyed to the train。 Only then；
when the wheels were almost moving； did I suddenly realize that my
liberty lay in my own hands。 I sprang out； they tried to drag me back； and
had it not been for the help of this good man； who led me to the cab； I
should never had broken away。 Now； thank God； I am beyond their power
forever。〃
We had all listened intently to this remarkable statement。 It was
Holmes who broke the silence。
〃Our difficulties are not over；〃 he remarked； shaking his head。 〃Our
police work ends； but our legal work begins。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said I。 〃A plausible lawyer could make it out as an act of
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self…defence。 There may be a hundred crimes in the background； but it is
only on this one that they can be tried。〃
〃Come； come；〃 said Baynes cheerily； 〃I think better of the law than
that。 Self…defence is one thing。 To entice a man in cold blood with the
object of murdering him is another； whatever danger you may fear from
him。 No； no； we shall all be justified when we see the tenants of High
Gable at the next Guildford Assizes。〃
It is a matter of history； however； that a little time was still to elapse
before the Tiger of San Pedro should meet with his deserts。 Wily and bold；
he and his companion threw their pursuer off their track by entering a
lodging…house in Edmonton Street and leaving by the back…gate into
Curzon Square。 From that day they were seen no more in England。 Some
six months afterwards the Marquess of Montalva and Signor Rulli； his
secretary； were both murdered in their rooms at the Hotel Escurial at
Madrid。 The crime was ascribed to Nihilism； and the murderers were
never arrested。 Inspector Baynes visited us at Baker Street with a printed
description of the dark face of the secretary； and of the masterful features；
the magnetic black eyes； and the tufted brows of his master。 We could not
doubt that justice； if belated； had come at last。
〃A chaotic case； my dear Watson；〃 said Holmes over an evening pipe。
〃It will not be possible for you to present in that compact form which is
dear to your heart。 It covers two continents； concerns two groups of
mysterious persons； and is further complicated by the highly respectable
presence of our friend； Scott Eccles； whose inclusion shows me that the
deceased Garcia had a scheming mind and a well…developed instinct of
self… preservation。 It is remarkable only for the fact that amid a perfect
jungle of possibilities we； with our worthy collaborator； the inspector； have
kept our close hold on the essentials and so been guided along the crooked
and winding path。 Is there any point which is not quite clear to you？〃
〃The object of the mulatto cook's return？〃
〃I think that the strange creature in the kitchen may account for it。 The
man was a primitive savage from the backwoods of San Pedro； and this
was his fetish。 When his companion and he had fled to some prearranged
retreatalready occupied； no doubt by a confederatethe companion had
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persuaded him to leave so compromising an article of furniture。 But the
mulatto's heart was with it； and he was driven back to it next day； when； on
reconnoitering through the window； he found policeman Walters in
possession。 He waited three days longer； and then his piety or his
superstition drove him to try once more。 Inspector Baynes； who； with his
usual astuteness； had minimized the incident before me； had really
recognized its importance and had left a trap into which the creature
walked。 Any other point； Watson？〃
〃The torn bird； the pail of blood； the charred bones； all the mystery of
that weird kitchen？〃
Holmes smiled as he turned up an entry in his note…book。
〃I spent a morning in the British Museum reading up on that and other
points。 Here is a quotation from Eckermann's Voodooism and the Negroid
Religions：
〃'The true voodoo…worshipper attempts nothing of importance without
certain sacrifices which are intended to propitiate his unclean gods。 In
extreme cases these rites take the form of human sacrifices followed by
cannibalism。 The more usual victims are a white cock； which is plucked in
pieces alive； or a black goat； whose throat is cut and body burned。'
〃So you see our savage friend was very orthodox in his ritual。 It is
grotesque； Watson；〃 Holmes added； as he slowly fastened his notebook；
〃but； as I have had occasion to remark； there is but one step from the
grotesque to the horrible。〃
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