“格洛里亚斯科特”号三桅帆船 （中英在线)

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“格洛里亚斯科特”号三桅帆船   




　　一个冬天的黄昏，我和我的朋友歇洛克·福尔摩斯对坐在壁炉两侧，福尔摩斯说道：“华生，我这里有几个文件，我确实认为很值得你一读。这些文件和‘格洛里亚斯科特’号三桅帆船奇案有关系。治安官老特雷佛就是因读了这些文件惊吓而死的。”
　　福尔摩斯从抽屉里取出一个颜色晦暗的小圆纸筒，解开绳带，交给我一张石青色的纸，这是一封字迹潦草的短简，上面写着：
　　The supply of game for London is going steadily up (it ran).Head keeperHudson, Webelieve, has been now told to reeive all orders for fly-paper and-for-preservation of your hen-pheasant's life.
　　（按字面可译为：伦敦野味供应正稳步上升。我们相信总保管赫德森现已奉命接受一切粘蝇纸的订货单并保存你的雌雉的生命。——译者）
　　读完这封莫名其妙的短简，我抬起头，看见福尔摩斯正在观看我的表情，还抿着嘴发笑。
　　“你似乎有点弄糊涂了吧？”他说道。
　　“我看不出象这样的一份短简怎么能把人吓死。在我看来其内容只不过是荒唐胡言罢了。”
　　“不错。可是事实上，那位健壮的老人，读完这封短简，竟如手枪射中的靶子一样，应声而倒一命呜呼了。”
　　“你倒惹起了我的好奇心，”我说道，“可是刚才你为什么说，我有特别的原因，一定要研究这件案子呢？”
　　“因为这是我着手承办的第一桩案件啊。”
　　我一直都在设法探问我的同伴，想让他讲讲当初是什么原因使他下决心转向侦探犯罪活动的，可是他一直也没有兴致讲。这时他俯身坐在扶手椅上，把文件铺在膝盖上，然后点起烟斗吸了一阵子，并把文件翻来覆去地察看着。
　　“你从来没听我谈起过维克托·特雷佛么？”他问道，“他是我在大学两年中结识的唯一好友。我本来极不善交游，华生，总喜欢一个人愁眉苦脸地呆在房里，训练自己的思想方法，所以极少与同年人交往。除了击剑和拳术以外，我也不很爱好体育，而那时我的学习方法与别人也截然不同。因此，我们根本没有往来的必要。特雷佛是我唯一结识的人。这是因为有一天早晨，我到小教堂去，他的猛犬咬了我的踝骨，这样一件意外的事使我们相识了。
　　“开始交往虽很平淡，但令人难忘。我在床上躺了十天，特雷佛常来看望我。最初他闲聊几分钟就走，可是不久，我们交谈的时间延长了。到那学期结束以前，我们已成了莫逆之交。他精神饱满，血气方刚，精力充沛，在许多方面和我恰恰相反，但我们也有一些相同之处。当我发现他也和我一样落落寡合时，我们便越加亲密。后来他请我到他父亲那里去，他父亲住在诺福克郡的敦尼索普村，我接受了他的邀请，去度一个月的假期。
　　“老特雷佛是治安官，又是一个地主，显然有钱有势。敦尼索普村在布罗德市郊外，是朗麦尔北部的一个小村落。特雷佛的宅邸是一所老式的、面积很大的栎木梁砖瓦房，门前有一条通道，两旁是茂盛的菩提树。附近有许多沼泽地，那是狩猎野鸭的绝妙场所，更是垂钓的好地方。有一个小而精致的藏书室，我听说，是从原来的房主手中随房屋一起购买的。此外，有一位还算不错的厨子。故而一个人在这里度一个月假，倘若仍不能心满意足，那他就是一个过分挑剔的人了。
　　“老特雷佛妻子已故，我朋友是他的独生子。
　　“我听说，他原来还有一个女儿，但在去伯明翰途中，患白喉死去。老特雷佛使我非常感兴趣。他知识并不多，可是体力和脑力都相当强。他对书本所知甚少，但曾经远游，见过许多世面，对于所见所闻，都能牢记不忘。从外貌上看，他体格很结实，身材粗壮，一头蓬乱的灰白头发，一张饱经风霜的褐色面孔，一双蓝色的眼睛，眼光锐利得近乎凶残。但他在乡中却以和蔼、慈善著称，盛传他在法院理案时也以宽大为怀。
　　“在我到他家不久，一天傍晚，饭后我们正坐在一起喝葡萄酒，小特雷佛忽然谈到我所养成的那些观察和推理习惯。那时我已经把它归纳成一种方法，虽然还未体会到它对我一生将起的作用。这位老人显然认为他的儿子言过其实，把我的一点雕虫小技过分夸大了。
　　“‘那么，福尔摩斯先生，’他兴致勃勃地笑着说，‘我正是一个绝妙的题材，看你能不能从我身上推断点什么东西出来。’
　　“‘恐怕我推断不出多少来，’我回答道，‘我推测你在过去一年里担心有人对你进行袭击。’
　　“这位老人嘴角上的笑意顿时消失贻尽，大吃一惊，两眼盯着我。
　　“‘啊呀，确实是这样，’他说道，‘维克托，你知道，’老人转身向他儿子说道，‘在我们把来沼泽地偷猎的那伙人赶走以后，他们立誓要杀死我们，而爱德华·霍利先生果真遭到了偷袭。从那以后我总是小心提防，但不知你是怎么知道这事的呢？’
　　“‘你有一根非常漂亮的手杖，’我答道，‘我从杖上刻着的字看出，你买它不超过一年。可是你却下了不少工夫把手杖头上凿个洞，灌上熔化了的铅，把它做成可怕的武器。我料想你若不担心有什么危险，是绝不会采取这种预防措施的。’
　　“‘还有呢？’他微笑着问道。
　　“‘你年轻时还经常参加拳击。’
　　“‘这也说对了。你怎么知道的呢？是不是我的鼻子有些被打歪了？’
　　“‘不是，’我说道，‘我是从你耳朵上知道的。你的耳朵特别扁平宽厚，那是拳击家的特征。’
　　“‘还有呢？’
　　“‘从你手上的老茧看，你曾做过许多采掘工作。’
　　“‘我确实是从金矿上致富的。’
　　“‘你曾经到过新西兰。’
　　“‘这也不错。’
　　“‘你去过日本。’
　　“‘十分正确。’
　　“‘你曾经和一个人交往得非常密切，那个人姓名的缩写字母是Ｊ．Ａ．，可是后来，你却极力想把他彻底忘掉。’
　　“这时老特雷佛先生慢慢地站起身来，把那双蓝色的大眼睛瞪得圆圆的，用奇怪而疯狂的眼神死盯着我，然后一头向前栽去，他的脸撞在桌布上的硬果壳堆里，昏迷不省人事。
　　“华生，你可想而知，当时我和他儿子两人是多么震惊了。
　　可是，他失去知觉的时间并不长，因为正当我们给他解开衣领，把洗指杯中的冷水浇到他脸上时，他喘了一口气就坐起来了。
　　“‘啊，孩子们，’他强作笑脸说道，‘但愿没有吓着你们。我的外貌看起来很强壮，可是心脏很弱，毫不费力就可使我昏倒。福尔摩斯先生，我不知道你是怎么推断出来的，不过我觉得，那些实际存在的侦探也好，虚构出来的侦探也好，在你手下，都只不过象一些小孩子罢了。先生，你可以把它做为你一生的职业。你可以记住我这个饱经世事的人所说的话。’
　　“华生，请你相信这点。当时，搞推断仅仅是我的业余爱好，首先促使我想到这种爱好可以作为终生职业的，就是他的劝告以及对我的能力的言过其实的评价。然而，当时，我对东道主突然生病感到非常不安，顾不得去想别的事。
　　“‘我希望我没有说什么使你痛苦的话。’我说道。
　　“‘啊，你当真触到了我的痛处。但我想问一下，你是怎样知道的，你知道了多少情况？’现在他半开玩笑地说道，可是双眼依然残留着惊骇的神情。
　　“‘这是很简单的，’我说道，‘那天我们在小艇中，你卷起袖子去捉鱼，我见你胳臂弯上刺着Ｊ．Ａ．二字，字形仍然清晰可辨，但笔划已弄得模糊了。字的四周又染着墨迹，分明后来你曾设法要把那字迹抹去。由此可见这两个缩写字母，你本来十分熟悉，后来却想忘掉它。’
　　“‘你的眼力好厉害啊！’他放心地松了一口气，说道，‘这事正象你所说的那样。不过我们不必去谈论它了。一切鬼魂之中，我们旧相知的阴魂是最凶恶的。我们到弹子房去安静地吸一支烟吧。’
　　“从那天以后，虽然老特雷佛对我的态度仍然非常亲切，但亲切中总带有几分疑虑。这一点连他的儿子也觉察出来了。
　　‘你可把爸爸吓了一跳，’小特雷佛说道，‘他再也弄不清，什么事你知道，什么事你不知道了。’依我看，老特雷佛虽然不愿流露出他的疑虑，但他心里的疑虑却非常强烈，一举一动都隐约流露出来。我终于确信是我引起了他的不安，便决定向他们告辞。可是就在我离开的前一天，发生了一件小事，这事后来证明是非常重要的。
　　“那时我们三个人坐在花园草坪的椅子上晒太阳，欣赏布罗德的景色，一个女仆走过来说有一个人在门外求见老特雷佛先生。
　　“‘他叫什么名字？’我的东道主问道。
　　“‘他不说。’
　　“‘那么，他要干什么呢？’
　　“‘他说你认识他，他只要同你谈一谈。’
　　“‘那么领他到这里来。’过了一会儿，便有一个瘦小枯槁的人走进来，此人形容猥琐，步履拖沓，身着一件夹克敞着怀，袖口上有一块柏油污痕，里面是一件红花格衬衫，棉布裤子，一双长统靴已破旧不堪。他那棕色的脸庞瘦削，显出狡猾的样子，总带着笑容，露出一排不整齐的黄牙。他的双手满布皱纹，半握拳，显然是水手们常有的姿态。在他无精打彩地穿过草坪向我们走过来时，我听到老特雷佛喉中发出一种类似打呃的声音，从椅子上跳下来，奔向屋里。转瞬间又跑回来，当他经过我面前时，我闻到一股浓烈的白兰地酒味。
　　“‘喂，朋友，’他说道，‘你找我有什么事？’
　　“那个水手站在那里，双眼惶惑地望着老特雷佛，依然咧嘴微笑。
　　“‘你不认识我了吗？’水手问道。
　　“‘啊，哎呀，这一定是赫德森了，’老特雷佛惊异地说道。
　　“‘我正是赫德森，先生，’这个水手说道，‘喂，从我上次见到你，三十多年过去了。你现在已安居在你的家园里，而我仍生活于困苦之中。’“‘唉，你应该知道我并没有忘记过去的日子，’老特雷佛大声说，一面向水手走过去，低声说了几句，然后又提高嗓门说道，‘请到厨房里，先吃点喝点，我肯定可以给你安排一个位置。’
　　“‘谢谢你，先生，’水手掠一掠他的额发说道，‘我刚刚下了航速为八海里的不定期货船，在那上面我干了两年，偏偏人手又少，所以需要休息。我想我只好去找贝多斯先生或来找你了。’
　　“‘啊，’老特雷佛大声喊道，‘你知道贝多斯先生在哪里吗？’
　　“‘谢天谢地，先生，我的老朋友在哪儿，我全都知道，’这个人狞笑道，匆匆跟在女仆身后向厨房走去。老特雷佛先生含糊地向我们说，他去采矿时，曾和这个人同船而行。说罢他就把我们丢在草坪上，自己走进屋里去。过了一小时我们才进屋去，发现老特雷佛烂醉如泥、直挺挺地躺在餐室的沙发上。这整个事件，在我心中留下了非常恶劣的印象。因此，第二天我离开敦尼索普村时，丝毫不感到惋惜。因为我觉得，我住在他家，一定是使我的朋友感到为难的根源。
　　“所有这一切发生在漫长的假期中的第一个月。我又回到了伦敦住所，用七个星期时间做了一些有机化学实验。然而，深秋中某一天，假期即将结束，我收到我朋友的一封电报，请我回到敦尼索普村去，并说他非常需要我的指教和协助。我当然又把别的事丢开，立即赶回北方去了。
　　“他坐在一辆双轮单马车上在车站等我，我一眼就能看出，这两个月来，他备受磨难，变得消瘦异常，失去了平时特有的高声谈笑兴高采烈的性格。
　　“‘爸爸危在旦夕，’他第一句话便说道。
　　“‘不可能！’我叫喊道，‘怎么回事？’
　　“‘他中了风，是神经受了严重刺激。今天一直处在危险中，我看他现在未必还活着。’
　　“华生，你可以想见，我听到这意外的消息，是多么惊骇。
　　“‘是什么引起的呢？’我问道。
　　“‘啊，这就是要害之处。请你上车，我们路上详细谈一谈。你还记得你走的前一天晚上来的那个家伙吗？’
　　“‘当然记得了。’
　　“‘你知道那天我们请进屋里的是什么人吗？’
　　“‘不知道。’
　　“‘福尔摩斯，那是一个魔鬼，’他大声喊道。
　　“我吃惊地呆望着他。
　　“‘正是，他确实是一个魔鬼，自从他来了以后，我们没有一时一刻安宁过，一点也没有。从那天夜晚起爸爸就没有抬头之时，现在他的生命危在旦夕，他的心也碎了。这都是因为那个该死的赫德森。’
　　“‘那么，他有什么势力呢？’
　　“‘啊，这正是我要设法知道的。象爸爸这样慈祥、宽厚的善良长者，怎么会落到那样一种恶棍的魔爪中去呢！不过，福尔摩斯，我很高兴你能前来。我非常相信你的判断和处事能力，我知道你能给我想出一个最好的办法。’
　　“我们的马车疾驰在乡间洁净而平坦的大路上，在我们的前方是布罗德的一展平阳，隐现在落日红霞之中。在左手边的一片小树林后面，我已遥望到那位治安官屋上高高的烟囱和旗杆了。
　　“‘爸爸让这家伙作园丁，’他的同伴说道，‘后来，那人很不满意，便被提升为管家。全家似乎完全在他控制之下，他整日游荡，为所欲为。女仆们向我父亲诉说他酗酒成性，语言卑鄙。爸爸便多方提高她们的薪水，来补偿她们遇到的麻烦。这家伙经常划着小船，带上我爸爸最好的猎枪去游猎。而在他这样干时，脸上总是带着讽刺挖苦、侧目斜视、目无一切的神情，假使他是一个和我同样年纪的人，我早已把他打翻在地上不止二十次了。福尔摩斯，我告诉你，在这段时间里，我只有拚命克制自己，现在我自问，假如我不克制自己，可能情况反而会好些。
　　“‘唉，我们的境况越来越坏。赫德森这个畜牲越来越嚣张，有一天，他竟当着我的面，傲慢无礼地回答我父亲，我便抓住他肩膀把他推出门去。他一声不响地溜走了，发青的面孔和两只恶狠狠的眼睛，露出一种恫吓的神情。在这以后，我不知道可怜的父亲同这个人又作过什么交涉，但第二天父亲来找我，要我向赫德森道歉。你可以想象到，我当然拒绝了，并且问父亲为什么要容许这样一个坏蛋对他和我们全家这样放肆无礼。
　　“‘我父亲说道：“啊，我的孩子，你说得完全对，可是你不知道我的处境啊。不过你一定会知道，维克托。不管发生什么事，我都要设法让你知道。但你现在总不愿使你可怜的老爸爸伤心罢？孩子。”
　　“‘爸爸非常激动，整天把自己关在书房里，我从窗户望见他正在忙于书写。
　　“‘那天晚上，发生了一件使我如释重负的事，因为赫德森对我们说，他打算离开我们。我们吃过午饭后，正在餐室坐着，他走进来，喝得半醉，声音沙哑地说出了他的打算。
　　“‘他说道：“我在诺福克受够了，我要到汉普郡贝多斯先生那里去。我敢说，他一定象你那样高兴见到我。”
　　“‘“赫德森，我希望你不是怀着恶感离开这儿的。”我父亲卑躬屈节地说，这使我浑身血液沸腾起来。
　　“‘“他还没有向我赔礼道歉呢，”他瞟了我一眼，绷着脸说道。
　　“‘爸爸转身对我说道：“维克托，你应该承认，你对这位可敬的朋友确实失了礼。”
　　“‘我回答道：“恰恰相反，我认为我们父子对他容忍得太过分了。”
　　“‘赫德森咆哮如雷地说道：“啊，你认为是这样么，是不是？那好极了，伙计。我们走着瞧吧！”
　　“‘他无精打采地走出屋去，半小时以后便离开我家，使爸爸处于可怜的担惊受怕的状态。我听到爸爸一夜又一夜地在室内踱来踱去，而在他刚刚恢复信心时，灾祸终于从天而降。’“‘究竟是怎么回事？’我急忙问道。
　　“‘非常怪。昨晚爸爸收到一封信，信上盖着福丁哈姆的邮戳。爸爸看过之后，双手轻轻拍打着头部，好象失魂落魄的人一样，开始在室内绕圈子。后来我把他扶到沙发上，他的嘴和眼皮都歪向一侧。我看他是中了风，立即请来福德哈姆医生，和我一起把爸爸扶到床上，可是他瘫痪越来越厉害，一点也没有恢复知觉的迹象，我想我们很难看到他活着了。’
　　“‘小特雷佛，你简直是在吓唬我！’我大声说道，‘那么，那封信里究竟有什么东西能引起这样可怕的恶果呢？’
　　“‘没有什么。这就是莫名其妙的地方。这封信荒诞而琐碎。啊，我的上帝，我所担心的事果然来了！’
　　“他说时，我们已走到林荫路转弯处，看到在微弱的灯光下，房子的窗帘都放下了。我们走到门口，我朋友显出满面悲痛，一位黑衣绅士走了出来。
　　“‘医生，我爸爸什么时候故去的？’特雷佛问道。
　　“‘几乎就在你刚刚离去的时候。’
　　“‘他可曾苏醒过？’
　　“‘临终之前苏醒过一会儿。’
　　“‘给我留下什么话吗？’
　　“‘他只说那些纸都在日本柜子的后抽屉里。’
　　“我的朋友和医生一同向死者的住房走去，我却留在书房中，脑子里不住翻腾这全部事件，我觉得自己从来没有象这样忧郁过。老特雷佛过去是一个拳击家、旅行家，又是一个采金人，那他怎么会听任这个横眉怒目的水手的支配？还有，为什么他一听提到他手臂上半模糊的姓名开头字母竟昏厥过去，而接到一封从福丁哈姆寄来的信竟吓死了呢？这时，我想起福丁哈姆是在汉普郡，就是贝多斯先生的故里，而那个水手就是对他进行敲诈去了。那么这封信可能是水手赫德森发来的，信中说他已经检举了特雷佛过去犯罪的秘密。要不然就是贝多斯发来的，信中警告老特雷佛，有一个旧日的同伙即将检举这件事。这看起来是很明显的。但这封信怎么又象他儿子所说的那样，琐碎而又荒诞呢？那他一定是看错了。如果真如此，那这里面一定有一种特别的密码，字面的意思和实际的含意不同。我必须看看这封信。如果信中果真有隐秘在内，我相信我可以破译出来。我没点灯坐着反复思考这个问题约有一个小时，后来一个满面泪痕的女仆拿进一盏灯来，我的朋友小特雷佛紧跟着走进来。他面色苍白，但镇静自若，手中拿着现在摊在我膝盖上的这几张纸。他在我对面坐下来，把灯移到桌边，把写在石青色纸上潦草的短简指给我看，这短简就是你现在看到的这个：‘伦敦野味供应正稳步上升。我们相信总保管赫德森现已奉命接受一切粘蝇纸的订货单并保存你的雌雉的生命。’“恐怕我第一次读这封信时脸上的惶惑表情也象你刚才一样。然后，我又非常仔细地重读了一遍。显然不出我所料，这些奇怪词组里隐藏着一些秘密的含意。可能象‘粘蝇纸’和‘雌雉’这类词组是事先约好的暗语。这种暗语可以任意约定。无论如何也推断不出它的含义。不过我不相信情况会是这样的，而赫德森这个词的出现似乎表明信的内容正合我的这种猜想。而且这短简是贝多斯发来的，而不是那个水手。我又把词句倒过来读，可是那‘性命、雌雉’等词组却令人大失所望。于是我又试着隔一个词一读，但无论‘ｔｈｅｏｆｆｏｒ’，还是‘ｓｕｐｐｌｙｇａｍｅＬｏｎｄｏｎ’都没有丝毫意义。
　　“可是过了一会，打开这个闷葫芦的钥匙终于落到我的手里，我看出从第一个词开始，每隔两个词一读，就可以读出含义来，这些含义足以使老特雷佛陷入绝境。
　　“词句简短扼要，是告警信。我当即把它读给我的朋友听：
　　‘The game is up. Hudson has told all. Fly for your life.’
　　（译为：一切都完了。赫德森已全部检举。你赶快逃命吧！）
　　“维克托·特雷佛双手颤抖地捂着脸。‘我猜想，一定是这样的，’他说道，‘这比死还要难堪，因为这意味着蒙受耻辱。可是“总保管”和“雌雉”这两个词儿又是什么意思呢？’“‘这些词儿在信中没有什么意思，可是如果我们没有别的办法找到那位发信人，这对我们倒大有用处。你看他开始写的是‘Ｔｈｅ…ｇａｍｅ…ｉｓ’等等，写完预先拟好的词句，便在每两个词之间填进两个词儿。他很自然地使用首先出现在头脑中的词儿。可以确信，他是一个热衷于打猎的人，或是一个喜爱饲养家禽的人。你了解贝多斯的情况吗？’
　　“‘呃，经你这样一提，’他说道，‘我倒想起来啦，每年秋季，我那可怜的爸爸常常接到贝多斯的邀请到他那里去打猎。’
　　“‘那么这封信一定是他发来的了，’我说道，‘现在我们只需查明，那个水手赫德森究竟掌握了什么秘密，用来威胁这两个有权有势的人。’
　　“‘唉，福尔摩斯，我担心那是一件罪恶和丢人的事！’我的朋友惊呼道，‘不过我对你不必保守什么秘密。这就是爸爸的声明，是在他得知赫德森的检举迫在眉睫时写下来的。我按医生传的话在日本柜子里找到了它。请把它拿去读给我听听，因为我自己实在没有力气也没有勇气去读它了。’
　　“华生，这几张纸就是小特雷佛给我的，那天晚上我在旧书房读给他听过，现在我读给你听。你看，这几张纸外面写着：‘“格洛里亚斯科特”号三桅帆船航行记事。一八五五年十月八日自法尔默思启航，同年十一月六日在北纬十五度二十分，西经二十五度十四分沉没。’里面是用信函的形式记载的。
　　“‘我最亲爱的儿子，既然那日益迫近的耻辱使我的暮年暗淡无光，我可以老实而诚恳地说，我并不畏惧法律，也不怕丧失我在本郡的官职，更不担心相识的人小看我而使我痛心疾首。可是一想到你很爱我，而且极为尊敬我，却要因为我而蒙受耻辱，这才使我心如刀绞。但是如果一直悬在我头上的横祸果真降临了，那么我希望你读一读本篇记事，那时你就可以直接从中了解我该受何种责罚。另一方面，如果平安无事（愿万能的慈悲上帝赐准！），万一这张纸还没有毁掉而落入你手中，我恳求你，看在上帝份上，看在你亲爱的母亲份上，看在我们父子间的恩情份上，把它一烧了之，永世遗忘吧。
　　“‘但如若那时你果真读到此信，则我知道事已败露，置身囹圄了，或十之八九我已噤舌长眠了（因为你知道我的心脏衰弱）。但无论属于以上哪种情况，即已无需继续隐瞒。以下事事千真万确，愿誓肺腑，以求宽恕。
　　“‘亲爱的孩子，我本来不叫特雷佛，年轻时叫詹姆斯·阿米塔奇［詹姆斯·阿米塔奇两个词缩写字母为Ｊ．Ａ．。——译者注。］由此你就明白我那次受惊昏厥的原因了。我是指几个星期以前，你大学的朋友对我讲的那番话，在我听来好象一语道破了我化名的秘密。作为阿米塔奇，我在伦敦银行工作，而作为阿米塔奇，我被定了违犯国法之罪，判处流刑。孩子，不要过分苛责我吧。这是一笔所谓赌债，我只好偿还，我便用了不属于我自己的钱去偿还了。当然我确有把握能在察觉之前把它补上。可是最可怕的厄运临头了，我所指望的款项竟然没能到手，又加上提前查帐，使我的亏空暴露出来。这件案子本来可以处理得宽大一些，可是三十年前的法律比现在严酷得多。于是在我二十三岁生日那天，便定了重罪和其他三十七名罪犯一起被锁在“格洛里亚斯科特”号帆船的甲板上，流放到澳大利亚去。
　　“‘那是一八五五年，克里米亚战事正酣。本来载运罪犯的船只大部分在黑海中作军事运输，因此政府只好用较小的不适当的船只来遣送罪犯。“格洛里亚斯科特”号帆船是做中国茶叶生意的，式样古老，船首很重，船身很宽。新式快速帆船早已胜过了它。这只三桅帆船载重五百吨，船上除了三十八名囚犯以外，还载有水手二十六名，士兵十八名，船长一名，船副三名，医生一名，牧师一名和狱卒四名。从法尔默思启航时，船上共约一百人。
　　“‘通常囚犯船的囚室隔板都用厚橡木制成，可是这只船的囚室隔板却非常薄。还在我们被带到码头时，我特别注意到一个人，他现在就囚在船尾和我相邻的囚室里。这是一个年轻人，面容清秀，没有胡须，细长的鼻子，瘪嘴。他一副得意神情，走起路来昂首阔步，最突出的，还是身材特别高大，我看谁的头也到不了他的肩部，他肯定至少有六英尺半高。在这么多忧郁而消沉的面孔里，看到这样一张精力充沛而坚定果断的面孔，那是非同小可的。看到这张面孔，犹如暴风雨中送来炉火。我发现他和我为邻，非常欢喜。一天夜深人静，几句细语送进我的耳鼓，我回头一看，原来是他设法在囚室隔板上挖了一个洞，这更使我喜不自胜。
　　“‘他说道：“喂，朋友！你叫什么名字？因什么罪名被关在这里？”
　　“‘我回答了他，反问他是谁。
　　“‘他说道：“我叫杰克·普伦德加斯特，我发誓，在你和我分手之前，你会知道我的好处的。”
　　“‘我记得听说过他的案子，因为在我自己被捕以前，他的案子在全国曾经轰动一时。他出身良家，又很能干，但沾染了不可救药的恶习，靠巧妙的欺诈，从伦敦巨商手中骗取了巨款。
　　“‘这时他便骄傲地说道：“哈，哈！你想起我这件案子了。”
　　“‘我说：“的确，我记得很清楚。”
　　“‘他说：“那么，你可记得那案子有什么特别吗？”
　　“‘我说：“有什么特别呢？”
　　“‘他说：“我弄到将近二十五万镑巨款，不是吗？”
　　“‘我说：“人家说是这么多。”
　　“‘他说：“可这笔赃款并没有追回去，你知道吗？”
　　“‘我回答：“不知道。”
　　“‘他又问道：“喂，你猜这笔巨款现在在什么地方？”
　　“‘我说道：“一点也猜不出。”
　　“‘他大声说道：“这笔钱还在我的掌握之中。一点不假！记在我名下的金镑数，比你的头发丝还要多。小伙伴，要是你手里有钱，又懂得怎样管钱用钱，那你就可以随心所欲了。喂！你不要认为一个可以随心所欲的人，他会甘心在这满是耗子、甲虫的破旧中国航船的恶臭货舱里坐以待毙，不，先生，这样的人不仅要自救，还要搭救他的难友。你可以大干一场！紧紧依靠他，你可以凭圣经宣誓，他一定能把你救出来。”
　　“‘他当时说话的语调就是这样。起初我并不当一回事。可是过了一会，他又对我试探了一番，并且一本正经地向我宣誓，告诉我确实有一个夺取船只的秘密计划。在上船之前，已经有十二个犯人事先做了准备，普伦德加斯特领头，他用金钱作动力。
　　“‘普伦德加斯特说：“我有一个同伙，是一个难得的好人，完全诚实可靠，钱在他手里。你猜现在这个人在哪里？呃，他就是这只船上的牧师——那位牧师，一点不错！他在船上穿一件黑上衣，身份证响当当，箱子里的钱足以买通全船的一切人。全体水手都是他的心腹。在他们签名受雇以前，他用现金贴现一股脑儿就把他们收买过来了。他还收买了两个狱卒和二副梅勒，要是他认为船长值得收买，那他连船长本人也要收买过来。”
　　“‘我问道：“那么，我们究竟要干什么呢？”
　　“‘他说：“你看呢？我们要使一些士兵的衣服比裁缝做的更加鲜红。”
　　“‘我说：“可他们都有武器啊。”
　　“‘他说：“小伙子，我们也要武装起来，每人两支手枪。
　　我们有全体水手做后盾，要是还不能夺取这只船，那我们早该让人送进幼女寄宿学校了。今夜你和在你左邻那个人谈一谈，看看他是否可靠。”
　　“‘我照办了，知道我的左邻是个年轻人，处境和我相同，罪名是伪造货币。他原名伊文斯。现在也象我一样，已更名改姓，是英国南方一个富有而幸运的人。他完全乐意参加这一密谋，因为只有这样我们才能自救，所以在我们的船横渡海湾之前，全船犯人只有两个未参与这一秘密。一个意志薄弱，我们不敢信任他，另一个患黄疸病，对我们没有什么用处。
　　“‘一开始，我们的夺船行动确实没有遇到阻碍。水手们是一伙无赖，是专门挑选来干这种事的。冒牌牧师不断到我们囚舱来给我们鼓劲，他背着一个黑书包，好象是满装着经文，他出来进去十分忙碌。到第三天，我们每个人的床脚都存有一把锉刀、两支手枪、一磅炸药和二十发子弹了。两个狱卒早就是普伦德加斯特的心腹，二副也成了他的帮手。船上和我们作对的，只有船长、两个船副、两个狱卒、马丁中尉和他的十八名士兵以及那位医生。事情虽然非常保险，但我们还是决定倍加谨慎，准备夜间进行突然袭击。然而，动手比我们预料的要快得多。情况是这样的：
　　“‘在该船开航后第三个星期的一天晚上，医生来给一个犯人看病。他把手伸到犯人床铺下面，摸到了手枪的轮廓。如果他当时不动声色，就可能使我们的事情全部告吹，但他是个胆小鬼，惊叫一声，面无血色，这就使那个囚徒立即明白了是怎么回事，并将他抓住。他来不及发出警报，嘴便被堵住，绑到床上。医生来时打开了通往甲板的门上的锁，我们就通过此门，一拥而上。两个哨兵中弹倒地，一个班长跑来看看发生了什么事，也遭到同样下场。另有两个兵士把着官舱的门，他们的火枪似乎没有装火药，因为根本就没向我们开火。他们在打算上刺刀时中弹身亡。在我们一拥冲入船长室时，里面已响起了枪声，推门一看，只见船长已倒下，脑髓把钉在桌上的大西洋航海图都染污了，而牧师站在死尸旁，手里拿的手枪还在冒烟呢。两个船副早已就擒，整个事情看来大功告成。
　　“‘官舱紧靠船长室，我们一窝蜂奔到那里，在长靠椅上一坐，一起畅谈起来，因为觉得又一次恢复了自由而欣喜若狂。官舱的四周都是货箱，冒牌牧师威尔逊弄来一箱，拿出二十瓶褐色葡萄酒。我们打碎瓶颈，把酒倒进酒杯，正待举杯痛饮，突然出其不意听到一阵枪声，官舱里顿时烟雾弥漫，隔着桌子竟看不见东西了。等到烟消雾散，这里已是血肉横飞。威尔逊和其他八个人倒在地上垂死挣扎，至今我想起那桌上的血和褐色葡萄酒还觉得恶心。我们一见这情景就吓坏了。我想当时要不是多亏了普伦德加斯特，那一定全完了。他象公牛一般，一声怒吼冲出门去，所有活着的人也都随他一拥而出。我们冲到舱外，看见船尾站着中尉和他手下的十个士兵，官舱上有一个旋转天窗，正对着桌子上方，稍稍打开一些，他们就从隙缝中向我们射击。我们趁他们来不及重新装填火药，冲上前去。他们虽然英勇抵抗，但我们占了上风，战斗不到五分钟就把他们全解决了。我的天啊！这只帆船简直象一个屠宰场！普伦德加斯特就象狂怒的魔鬼，把一个又一个的士兵象小孩一样提起来，不管死活，通通扔到海里。有一个中士伤势很重，还出人意外地泅游了很长时间，直到某个善人一枪打碎他的脑袋才肯罢休。战斗结束，只剩下两个狱卒、两个船副和一名医生，其余敌人已全部消灭。
　　“‘对剩下的这几个敌人怎样处置，我们发生了争论。许多人欣喜夺回了自由，打心眼儿里不愿意再杀人。杀死手执武器的士兵是一回事，对冷酷无情地残杀人而无动于衷则是另一回事。我们八个人，五个犯人和三个水手说，我们不愿看见杀死他们，但普伦德加斯特和他的一伙人却无动于衷。他说，我们求得安全的唯一机会就是把事情干利落，他不愿留一个活口将来站到证人席上去饶舌。这差一点儿又使我们遭到拘禁，不过他终于答应说，如果我们愿意，就可以乘小艇离开他们。我们对这个建议欣然答应，因为早已厌恶这种血腥的勾当，我们明白这次杀人之后，还会有更残酷的事发生。
　　于是，他发给我们每人一套水手服，一桶淡水，一小桶腌牛肉，一小桶饼干和一个指南针。普伦德加斯特扔给我们一张航海图，告诉我们要说我们是一艘失事船只的水手，船是在北纬十五度，西经二十五度沉没的。然后他割断缆索，听凭我们漂流而去。
　　“‘我亲爱的儿子，现在我要讲到这个故事最惊人的情节了。在骚乱的时候，水手们曾经落帆逆风行驶，但在我们离开之后，他们又扬起风帆，乘东北风离开我们缓缓驶去。我们的小艇便随平稳起伏的波涛前进。这伙人里，只有我和伊文斯受教育最多。我俩坐下来查看海图，确定我们所在的地点，计划向何处海岸行驶。这是一个需要慎重对待的问题，因为向北约五百英里是佛得角群岛，向东约七百英里是非洲海岸。由于风向转北，我们基本上确认向塞拉利昂行驶比较好，于是便掉转船首向此方向驶去。这时从小艇向后方看，三桅帆船已不见船身，只见船桅。我们正在向它眺望，突然看到一股浓密的黑烟直升而起，象一棵怪树悬在天际。几秒钟以后，一声雷鸣般巨响震人耳鼓，等到烟消雾散，“格洛里亚斯科特”号帆船已渺无踪影。我们立即掉转船首，全力向该处驶去，那依然缭绕的海面烟尘反映了该船遇难的惨状。
　　“‘我们用了很长时间才到达那里，开始我们怕来得太晚，救不出什么人了。只见一条支离破碎的小船和一些断桅残板随波起伏，这显示出帆船的沉没地点，但未见活人踪影。在我们失望地掉转船头时，忽听有人呼救，这才看到不远处有一个人直挺挺地横躺在一块残板上。我们把他拖到船上一看，原来是一个叫赫德森的年轻水手，他被烧伤，筋疲力尽，口不能言，直到第二天清早，才把事情经过告诉我们。
　　“‘原来，在我们离开以后，普伦德加斯特和他那一伙人就动手杀害那剩下来的五个被囚禁的人。他把两个狱卒枪毙后扔进海里，对三副也如法炮制。普伦德加斯特下到中舱亲手割断了可怜的医生的喉咙。这时只剩下勇敢机智的大副本人。他见普伦德加斯特手持血淋淋的屠刀向他走来，便挣开事先设法弄松了的绑索，跑上甲板，一头钻进尾舱。有十二个罪犯手持手枪向他冲来，只见他手里拿着一盒火柴坐在火药桶边，这桶火药已经打开，船上共载着一百桶火药。大副发誓说，谁要是动他一下，他就叫全船人同归于尽。话犹未了就发生了爆炸。赫德森认为这是一个罪犯开枪误中了火药桶，而不是大副用火柴点着的。但不管原因何在，反正“格洛里亚斯科特”号帆船和那些劫船暴徒就此完结。
　　“‘我亲爱的孩子，简单说来，涉及到我的可怕事件的过程就是这样。第二天，一艘开往澳大利亚的双桅船“霍特斯泼”号搭救了我们。该船船长轻易地相信了我们是遇难客船的幸存者。海军部将“格洛里亚斯科特”号运输船作为海上失事记录在案，而它的真实命运却一点也没泄露出去。经过一段顺利航程之后，“霍特斯泼”号让我们在悉尼上岸，伊文斯和我更名改姓前去采矿，在各国人麇集之中，我们毫不费力地隐瞒了过去的身份。其余的事我也不必细说了。后来我们发迹了，周游一番，以富有的殖民地居民身份返回英国，购置了产业。二十多年来，我们安居乐业，生活美满，希望把过去的事永远埋葬。后来，这个水手来找我们，我一眼就认出他就是我们从沉船残骸上救上来的那个人，当时我的感觉就可想而知了。他不知怎样追踪到此，欺我们畏惧之心，对我们进行敲诈勒索。你现在该明白，我为什么极力对他和好了，你也该多少同情我内心充满的恐惧了。他虽然离开我到另一个受欺者那里去了，可是还在对我进行虚声恫吓。’
　　“下面的字写时手已颤栗不止，几乎难以辨认，‘贝多斯写来密信说，赫德森已全部检举。上帝啊，可怜可怜我们吧！’
　　“这就是那天晚上我读给小特雷佛听的故事。华生，这种情况可算是富有戏剧性的案子了。我的好友经过这场风波，肝肠寸断，便迁往特拉伊去种茶树，我听说他在那里混得不错。至于那个水手和贝多斯，自从写了那封告警信以后，便音信全无，无影无踪了。没有人向警局提出检举，所以贝多斯是错把赫德森的威胁当做事实。有人看到赫德森潜伏在附近，警局认为他杀害贝多斯以后逃跑了。而我确信事实恰恰相反。八成是贝多斯陷入绝境，认为赫德森告发了自己，便报仇雪恨杀死赫德森，携带手头所有现款逃出国去。这就是这件案子的情况，医生，如果它们对你采集资料有所助益，我很乐意供你选用。”






The naval treaty





　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Conan Doyle

　　The July which immediately succeeded my marriage was made memorable by threecases of interest in which I had the privilege of being associated with SherlockHolmes, and of studying his methods. I find them recorded in my notes under theheadings of 'the adventure of the Second stain', 'the adventure of the naval treaty',and 'the adventure of the tired captain'. The first of these, however, deals withinterests of such importance, and implicates so many of the first families in thekingdom, that for many years it will be impossible to make it public. No case,however, in which Holmes was ever engaged has illustrated the value of his analyticalmethods so clearly or has impressed those who were associated with him so deeply. Istill retain an almost verbatim report of the interview in which he demonstrated thetrue facts of the case to Monsieur Dubuque, of the Paris police, and fritz vonWaldbaum, the well-known specialist of Dantzig, both of whom had wasted theirenergies upon what proved to be side-issues. The new century will have come,however, before the story can be safely told. Meanwhile, I pass on to the second uponmy list, which promised also, at one time, to be of national importance, and wasmarked by several incidents which give it a quite unique character.During my school-days I had been intimately associated with a lad named PercyPhelps, who was of much the same age as myself, though he was two classes ahead ofme. He was a very brilliant boy, and carried away every prize which the school had tooffer, finishing his exploits by winning a scholarship, which sent him on to continuehis triumphant career at Cambridge. He was, I remember, extremely well connectedand ever when we were all little boys together, we knew that his mother's brother wasLord Holdhurst, the great Conservative politician. This gaudy relationship did himlittle good at school; on the contrary, it seemed rather a piquant thing to us to chevyhim about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket. But it was anotherthing when he came out into the world. I heard vaguely that his abilities and theinfluence which he commanded had won him a good position at the Foreign Office,and then he passed completely out of my mind until the following letter recalled hisexistence:

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'BRIARBRAE, WOKING
　　'MY DEAR WATSON, ----- I have no doubt that you can remember "tadpole" Phelps,who was in the fifth form when you were in the third. It is possible even that you mayhave heard that, through my uncle's influence, I obtained a good appointment at theForeign Office, and that I was in situation of trust and honour until a horriblemisfortune came suddenly to blast my career.
　　'There is no use writing the details of that dreadful event. In the event of youracceding to my request, it is probable that I shall have narrated them to you. I haveonly just recovered from nine weeks of brain fever, and am still exceedingly weak. Doyou think that you could bring your friend, Mr. Holmes, down to see me? I should liketo have his opinion of the case, though the authorities assure me that nothing more canbe dong. Do try to bring him down, and as soon as possible. Every minute seems anhour while I live in this horrible suspense. Assure him that, if I have not asked hisadvice sooner, it was not because I did not appreciate his talents, but because I havebeen off my head ver since the blow fell. Now I am clear again, though I dare notthink of it too much for fear of a relapse. I am still so weak that I have to write, as yousee, by dictating. Do try and bring him.'Your old schoolfellow,PERCY PHELPS
　　There was something that touched me as I read this letter, something pitiable in thereiterated appeals to bring Holmes. So moved was I that, even if it had been a difficultmatter, I should have tried it; but, of course, I knew well that Holmes loved his art so,that he was ever as ready to bring his aid as his client could be to receive it. My wifeagreed with me that not a moment should be lost in laying the matter before him, andso, within an hour of breakfast-time, I found myself back once more in the old roomsin Baker Street.
　　Holmes was seated at his side-table clad in his dressing-gown and working hardover a chemical investigation. A large curved retort was boiling furiously in the bluishflame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litremeasure. My friend hardly glanced up as I entered, and I, seeing that his investigationmust be of importance, seated myself in an arm-chair and waited. He dipped into thisbottle or that, drawing out a few drops of each with his glass pipette, and finallybrought a test-tube containing a solution over to the table. In his right hand he had aslip of litmus-paper.
　　'You come at a crisis, Watson,' said he. 'If this paper remains blue, all is well. If itturns red, it means a man's life.' He dipped it into the test-tube, and it flushed at onceinto a dull, dirty crimson. 'Hum! I thought as much!' he cried. 'I shall be at yourservice in one instant, Watson. You will find tobacco in the Persian slipper.' He turnedto his desk and scribbled off several telegrams, which were handed over to thepage-boy. Then he threw himself down in the chair opposite, and drew up his kneesuntil his fingers clasped round his long, thin shins.
　　'A very commonplace little murder,' said he. 'You've got something better, I fancy.You are the stormy petrel of crime, Watson. What is it?'
　　I handed him the letter, which he read with the most concentrated attention.
　　'It does not tell us very much, does it?' he remarked, as he handed it back to me.
　　'Hardly anything.'
　　'And yet the writing is not his own.'
　　'Precisely. It is a woman's.'
　　'A man's surely!' I cried.
　　'No, a woman's; and a woman of rare character. You see, at the commencement ofan investigation, it is something to know that your client is in close contact withsomeone who for good or evil has an exceptional nature. My interest is alreadyawakened in the case. If you are ready, we will start at once for Woking and see thisdiplomatist who is in such evil case, and the lady to whom he dictates his letters.'
　　We were fortunate enough to catch an early train at Waterloo, and in a little underan hour we found ourselves among the fir-woods and the heather of Woking.Briarbrae proved to be a large detached house standing in extensive grounds, within afew minutes' walk of the station. On sending in our cards we were shown into anelegantly appointed drawing-room, where we were joined in a few minutes by a ratherstout man, who received us with much hospitality. His age may have been nearer fortythan thirty, but his cheeks were so ruddy and his eyes so merry, that he still conveyedthe impression of a plump and mischievous boy.
　　'I am so glad that you have come' said he, shaking our hands with effusion. 'Percyhas been inquiring for you all the morning. Ah, poor old chap, he clings to any straw.His father and mother asked me to see you, for the mere mention of the subject is verypainful to them.'
　　'We have had no details yet,' observed Holmes. 'I perceive that you are notyourself a member of the family.'
　　Our acquaintance looked surprised, and then glancing down he began to laugh.
　　'Of course you saw the "J. H." Monogram on my locket,' said he. 'For a moment Ithought you had done something clever. Joseph Harrison is my name, and as Percy isto marry my sister Annie, I shall at least be a relation by marriage. You will find mysister in his room, for she has nursed him hand-and-foot these two months back.Perhaps we had better go in at once, for I know how impatient he is.'
　　The chamber into which we were shown was on the same floor as thedrawing-room. It was furnished partly as a sitting- and partly as a bedroom, withflowers arranged daintily in every nook and corner. A young man, very pale and worn,was lying upon a sofa near the open window, through which came the rich scent of thegarden and the balmy summer air. A woman was sitting beside him, and rose as weentered.
　　'Shall I leave, Percy?' she asked.
　　He clutched her hand to detain her. 'How are you, Watson?' said he, cordially. 'Ishould never have known you under that moustache, and I dare say you would not beprepared to swear to me. This, I presume, is your celebrated friend, Mr. SherlockHolmes?'
　　I introduced him in a few words, and we both sat down. The stout young man hadleft us, but his sister still remained, with her hand in that of the invalid. She was astriking-looking woman, a little short and thick for symmetry, but with a beautifulolive complexion, large, dark Italian eyes, and a wealth of deep black hair. Her richtints made the white face of her companion the more worn and haggard by thecontrast.
　　'I won't waste your time,' said he, raising himself upon the sofa. 'I'll plunge intothe matter without further preamble. I was a happy and successful man, Mr. Holmes,and on the eve of being married, when a sudden and dreadful misfortune wrecked allmy prospects in life.
　　'I was, as Watson may have told you, in the Foreign Office, and through theinfluence of my uncle, Lord Holdhurst, I rose rapidly to a responsible position. Whenmy uncle became Foreign Minister in this Administration he gave me severalmissions of trust, and as I always brought them to a successful conclusion, he came atlast to have the utmost confidence in my ability and tact.
　　'Nearly ten weeks ago- to be more accurate, on the 23rd of May –he called me intohis private room and, after complimenting me upon the good work which I had done,informed me that he had a new commission of trust for me to execute.
　　' "This," said he, taking a grey roll of paper from his bureau, "is the original of thatsecret treaty between England and Italy, of which, I regret to say, some rumours havealready got into the public Press. It is of enormous importance that nothing furthershould leak out. The French or Russian Embassies would pay an immense sum learnthe contents of these papers. They should not leave my bureau were it not that it isabsolutely necessary to have them copied. You have a desk in your office?"
　　' "Yes, sir."
　　' "Then take the treaty and lock it up there. I shall give directions that you mayremain behind when the others go, so that you may copy it at your leisure, withoutfear of being overlooked. When you have finished, re-lock both the original and thedraft in the desk, and hand them over to personally to-morrow morning."
　　'I took the papers and—'
　　'Excuse me an instant,' said Holmes; 'were you alone during this conversation?'
　　'Absolutely.'
　　'In a large room?'
　　'Thirty feet each way.'
　　'In the centre?'
　　'Yes, about it.'
　　'And speaking low?'
　　'My uncle's voice is always remarkably low. I hardly spoke at all.'
　　'Thank you,' said Holmes, shutting his eyes; 'pray go on.'
　　'I did exactly what he had indicated, and waited until the other clerks had departed.One of them in my room, Charles Gorot, had some arrears of work to make up, so Ileft him there and went out to dine. When I returned he was gone. I was anxious tohurry my work, for I knew that Joseph, the Mr. Harrison whom you saw just now, wasin town, and that he would travel down to Woking by the eleven o'clock train, and Iwanted if possible to catch it.
　　'When I came to examine the treaty I saw at once that it was of such importancethat my uncle had been guilty of no exaggeration in what he had said. Without goinginto details, I may say that it defined the position of Great Britain towards the TripleAlliance, and foreshadowed the policy which this country would pursue in the eventof the French fleet gaining a complete ascendency over that of Italy in theMediterranean. The questions treated in it were purely naval. At the end were thesignatures of the high dignitaries who had signed it. I glanced my eyes over it, andthen settled down to my task of copying.
　　'It was a long document, written in the French language, and containing twenty-sixseparate articles. I copied as quickly as I could, but at nine o'clock I had only donenine articles, and it seemed hopeless for me to attempt to catch my train. I was fellingdrowsy and stupid, partly from my dinner and also from the effects of along day'swork. A cup of coffee would clear my brain. A commissionaire remains all night in alittle lodge at the foot of the stairs, and is in the habit of making coffee at hisspirit-lamp for any of the officials who may be working overtime. I rang the bell,therefore, to summon him.
　　'To my surprise, it was a woman who answered the summons, a large, coarse-faced,elderly woman, in an apron. She explained that she was the commissionaire's wife,who did the charing, and I gave her the order for the coffee.
　　'I wrote two more articles, and then, feeling more drowsy than ever, I rose andwalked up and down the room to stretch my legs. My coffee had not yet come, and Iwondered what the cause of the delay could be. Opening the door, I started down thecorridor to find out. There was a straight passage dimly lit which led from the room inwhich I had been working, and was the only exit from it. It ended in curving staircase,with the commissionaire's lodge in the passage at the bottom. Half-way down thisstaircase is a small landing, with another passage running into it at right angles. Thesecond one leads, by means of a second small stair, to a side-door used by servants,and also as a short cut by clerks when coming from Charles Street.
　　'Here is a rough chart of the place.'
　　'Thank you. I think that I quite follow you,' said Sherlock Holmes.
　　'It is of the utmost importance that you should notice this point. I went down thestairs and into the hall, where I found the commissionaire fast asleep in his box, withthe kettle boiling furiously upon the spirit-lamp, for the water was spurting over thefloor. I had put out my hand and was about to shake the man, who was still sleepingsoundly, when a bell over his head rang loudly, and he woke with a start.
　　' "Mr. Phelps, sir!" said he, looking at me in bewilderment.
　　' "I came down to see if my coffee was ready."
　　' "I was boiling the kettle when I fell asleep, sir." He looked at me and then up atthe still quivering bell, with an ever-growing astonishment upon his face.
　　' "If you was here, sir, then who rang the bell?" he asked.
　　' "The bell!" I said. "What bell is it?"
　　' "It's the bell of the room you were working in."
　　'A cold hand seemed to close round my heart. Someone, then, was in that roomwhere my precious treaty lay upon the table. I ran frantically up the stairs and alongthe passage. There was no one in the corridor, Mr. Holmes. There was no one in theroom. All was exactly as I left it, save only that the papers committed to my care hadbeen taken from the desk on which they lay. The copy was there and the original wasgone.'
　　Holmes sat up in his chair and rubbed his hands. I could see that the problem wasentirely to his heart. 'Pray, what did you do then?' he murmured.
　　'I recognized in an instant that the thief must have come up the stairs from theside-door. Of course I must have met him if he had come the other way.'
　　'You were satisfied that he could not have been concealed in the room all the time,or in the corridor which you have just described as dimly lighted?'
　　'It is absolutely impossible. A rat could not conceal himself either in the room orthe corridor. There is no cover at all.'
　　'Thank you. Pray proceed.'
　　'The commissionaire, seeing by may pale face that something was to be feared, hadfollowed me upstairs. Now we both rushed along the corridor and down the steepsteps which led to Charles Street. The door at bottom was closed but unlocked. Weflung it open and rushed out. I can distinctly remember that as we did so there camethree chimes from a neighbouring church. It was a quarter to ten.'
　　'That is of enormous importance,' said Holmes, making a note upon his shirt cuff.
　　'The night was very dark, and a thin, warm rain was falling. There was no one inCharles Street, but a great traffic was going on, as usual, in Whitehall, at the extremity.We rushed along the pavement, bareheaded as we were, and at the far corner we founda policeman standing.
　　' "A robbery has been committed," I gasped. "A document of immense value hasbeen stolen from the Foreign Office. Has anyone passed this way?'
　　' "I have been standing here for a quarter of an hour, sir," said he; "only one personhas passed during that time—a woman, tall and elderly, with a Paisley Shawl."
　　' "Ah, that is only my wife," cried the commissionaire. "Has no one else passed?"
　　' "No one."
　　' "Then it must be the other way that the thief took," cried the fellow, tugging at mysleeve.
　　'But I was not satisfied, and the attempts which he made to draw me awayincreased my suspicions.
　　' "Which way did the woman go?" I cried.
　　' "I don't know, sir. I noticed her pass, but I had no special reason for watching her.She seemed to be in a hurry."
　　' "How long ago was it?"
　　' " Oh, not very many minutes."
　　' "Within the last five?"
　　' "Well, it could not be more than five."
　　' "You're only wasting your time, sir, and every minute now is of importance,"cried the commissionaire. "Take my word for it that my old woman has nothing to dowith it, and come down to the other end of the street. Well, if you won't, I will," andwith that he rushed off in the other direction.
　　'But I was after him in an instant and caught him by the sleeve.
　　' "Where do you live?" said I.
　　' "No. 16 Ivy Lane, Brixton," he answered; "but don't let yourself be drawn awayupon a false scent, Mr. Phelps. Come to the other end of the street, and let us see if wecan hear of anything."
　　'Nothing was to be lost by following his advice. With the policeman we bothhurried down, but only to find the street full of traffic, many people coming and going,but all only too eager to get to a place of safety upon so wet a night. There was nolounger who could tell us who had passed.
　　'Then we returned to the office, and searched the stairs and the passage withoutresult. The corridor which led to the room was laid down with a kind of creamylinoleum, which shows an impression very easily. We examined it very carefully, butfound no outline of any footmark.'
　　'Had it been raining all the evening?'
　　'Since about seven.'
　　'How is it, then, that the woman who came into the room about nine left no traceswith her muddy boots?'
　　'I am glad you raise the point. It occurred to me at the time. The charwomen are inthe habit of taking off their boots at the commissionaire's office, and putting on listslippers.'
　　'That is very clear. There were no marks, then, though the night was a wet one?The chain of events is certainly one of extraordinary interest. What did you do next?'
　　'We examined the room also. There was no possibility of a secret door, and thewindows are quite thirty feet from the ground. Both of them were fastened on theinside. The carpet prevents any possibility of a trap-door, and the ceiling is of theordinary white-washed kind. I will pledge my life that whoever stole my papers couldonly have come through the door.'
　　'How about the fireplace?'
　　'They use none. There is a stove. The bell-rope hangs from the wire just to the rightof my desk. Whoever rang it must have come right up to the desk to do it. But whyshould any criminal wish to ring the bell? It is a most insoluble mystery.'
　　Certainly the incident was unusual. What were your next steps? You examined theroom, I presume, to see if the intruder had left any traces—any cigar-end, or droppedglove, or hairpin, or other trifle?'
　　'There was of nothing of the sort.'
　　'No smell?'
　　'Well, we never thought of that.'
　　'Ah, a scent of tobacco would have been worth a great deal to us in such aninvestigation.'
　　'I never smoke myself, so I think I should have observed it if there had been anysmell of tobacco. There was absolutely no clue of any kind. The only tangible factwas that the commissionaire's wife—Mrs. Tangey was the name—had hurried out ofthe place. He could give no explanation save that it was about the time when thewoman always went home. The policeman and I agreed that our best plan would be toseize the woman before she could get rid of the papers, presuming that she had them.
　　'The alarm had reached Scotland Yard by this time, and Mr. Forbes, the detective,came round at once and took up the case with a great deal of energy. We hired ahansom, and in half an hour we were at the address which had been given to us. Ayoung woman opened the door, who proved to be Mrs. Tangey's eldest daughter. Hermother had to come back yet, and we were shown into the front room to wait.
　　'About ten minutes later a knock came at the door, and here we made the oneserious mistake for which we allowed the girl to do so. We heard her say, "Mother,there are two men in the house waiting to see you," and an instant afterwards weheard the patter of feet rushing down the passage. Forbes flung open the door, and weboth ran into the back room or kitchen, but the woman had got there before us. Shestared at us with defiant eyes, and then suddenly recognizing me, an expression ofabsolute astonishment came over her face.
　　' "Why, if it isn't Mr. Phelps, of the office!" she cried.
　　Come, come, who did you think we were when you ran away from us?" asked mycompanion.
　　I thought you were the brokers," said she. "We've had some trouble with atradesman."
　　That's not quite good enough," answered Forbes. "We have reason to believe thatyou have taken a paper of importance from the Foreign Office, and that you ran in herto dispose of it. You must come back with us to Scotland Yard to be searched."
　　'It was in vain that she protested and resisted. A four-wheeler was brought, and weall three drove back in it. We had first made an examination of the kitchen, andespecially of the kitchen fire, to see whether she might have made away with thepapers during the instant that she was alone. There were no signs. However, of anyashes or scraps. When we reached Scotland Yard she was handed over at once to thefemale searcher. I waited in an agony of suspense until she came back with her report.There were no signs of the papers.
　　'Then, for the first time, the horror of my situation came in its full force upon me.Hitherto I had been so confident of regaining the treaty at once that I had not dared tothink of what would be the consequence if I failed to do so. But now there wasnothing more to be done, and I had leisure to realize my position. It was horrible!Watson there would tell you that I was a nervous, sensitive boy at school. It is mynature. I thought of my uncle and of his colleagues in the Cabinet, of the shame whichI had brought upon him, upon myself, upon everyone connected with me. Whatthought I was the victim of an extraordinary accident? No allowance is made foraccidents where diplomatic interests are at stake. I was ruined; shamefully, hopelesslyruined. I don't know what I did. I fancy I must have made a scene. I have a dimrecollection of a group of officials who crowded round me endeavouring to soothe me.One of them drove down with me to Waterloo and saw me into the Woking train. Ibelieve that he would have come all the way had it not been that Dr. Ferrier, who livesnear me, was going down by that very train. The doctor most kindly took charge ofme, and it was well he did so, for I had a fit in the station, and before we reachedhome I was practically a raving maniac.
　　'You can imagine the state of things here when they were roused from their beds bythe doctor's ringing, and found me in this condition. Poor Annie here and my motherwere broken-hearted. Dr. Ferrier had just heard enough from the detective at thestation to be able to give an idea of what had happened, and his story did not mendmatters. It was evident to all that I was in for a long illness, so Joseph was bundled outof this cheery bedroom, and it was turned into a sickroom for me. Here I have lain, Mr.Holmes, for over nine weeks, unconscious, and raving with brain fever. If it had notbeen for Miss Harrison here and for the doctor's care I should not be speaking to younow. she has nursed me by day, and a hired nurse has looked after me by night, for inmy mad fits I was capable of anything. Slowly my reason has cleared, but it is onlyduring the last three days that my memory has quite returned. Sometimes I wish that itnever had. The first thing I did was to wire to Mr. Forbes, who had the case in hand.He came out and assured me that, though everything has been done, no trace of a cluehas been discovered. The commissionaire and his wife have been examined in everyway without any light being thrown upon the matter. The suspicions of the police thenrested upon young Gorot, who, as you may remember, stayed overtime in the officethat night. His remaining behind and his French name were really the only two pointswhich could suggest suspicion; but as a matter of fact, I did not begin work until hehad gone, and his people are of Huguenot extraction, but as English in sympathy andtradition as you and I are. Nothing was found to implicate him in any way, and therethe matter dropped. I turn to you, Mr. Holmes, as absolutely my last hope. If you failme, then my honour as well as my position are for ever forfeited.'
　　The invalid sank back upon his cushions, tired out by this long recital, while hisnurse poured him out a glass of some stimulating medicine. Holmes sat silently withhis head thrown back and his eyes closed in an attitude which might seem listless to astranger, but which I knew betokened the most intense absorption.
　　'Your statement has been so explicit,' said he at last, 'that you have really left mevery few questions to ask. There is one of the very utmost importance, however. Didyou tell anyone that you had this special task to perform?'
　　'No one.'
　　'Not Miss Harrison here, for example?'
　　'No. I had not been back to Woking between getting the order and executing thecommission.'
　　'And none of your people had by chance been to see you?'
　　'None.'
　　'Did any of them know their way about in the office?'
　　'Oh, yes; all of them had been shown over it.'
　　'Still, of course, if you said nothing to anyone about the treaty, these inquiries areirrelevant.'
　　'I said nothing.'
　　'Do you know anything that he is an old soldier.'
　　'What regiment?'
　　'Oh, I have heard—Coldstream Guards.'
　　'Thank you. I have no doubt I can get details from Forbes. The authorities areexcellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage. What alovely thing a rose is!'
　　he walked past the couch to the open window, and held up the drooping stalk of amoss rose, looking down at the dainty blend of crimson and green. It was a new phaseof his character to me, for I had never before seen him show any keen interest innatural objects.
　　'There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion,' said he, leaningwith his back against the shutters. 'It can be built up as an exact science by thereasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest inthe flowers. All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are really necessaryfor our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its colourare an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which givesextras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.'
　　Percy Phelps and his nurse looked at Holmes during this demonstration withsurprise and a good deal of disappointment written upon their faces. He had falleninto a reverie, with the moss rose between his fingers. It had lasted some minutesbefore the young lady broke in upon it.
　　'Do you see any prospect of solving this mystery, Mr. Holmes?' she asked, with atouch of asperity in her voice.
　　'Oh, the mystery!' he answered, coming back with a start to the realities of life.'Well, it would be absurd to deny that the case is a very abstruse and complicated one;but I can promise you that I will look into the matter and let you know any pointswhich may strike me.'
　　'Do you see any clue?'
　　'You have furnished me with seven, but of course I must test them before I canpronounce upon their value.'
　　'You suspect someone?'
　　'I suspect myself—'
　　'What?'
　　'Of coming to conclusion too rapidly.'
　　'Then go to London and test your conclusions.'
　　'Your advice is very excellent, Miss Harrison,' said Holmes, rising. 'I think,Watson, we cannot do better. Do not allow yourself to indulge in false hopes, Mr.Phelps. The affair is a very tangled one.'
　　'I shall be in a fever until I see you again,' cried the diplomatist.
　　'Well, I'll come out by the same train to-morrow, though it's more than likely thatmy report will be a negative one.'
　　'God bless you for promising to come,' cried our client. 'It gives me fresh life toknow that something is being done. By the way, I have had a letter from LordHoldhurst.'
　　'Ha! What did he say?'
　　'He was cold, but not harsh. I dare say my severe illness prevented him from beingthat. He repeated that the matter was of the utmost importance, and added that nosteps would be taken about my future—by which he means, of course, mydismissal—until my health was restored and I had an opportunity of repairing mymisfortune.'
　　'Well, that was reasonable and considerate,' said Holmes. 'Come, Watson, for wehave a good day's work before us in town.'
　　Mr. Joseph Harrison drove us down to the station, and we were soon whirling up ina Portsmouth train. Holmes was sunk in profound thought, and hardly opened hismouth until we had passed Clapham Junction.
　　'It's a very cheering thing to come into London by any of these lines which runhigh and allow you to look down upon the houses like this.'
　　I thought he was joking, for the view was sordid enough, but he soon explainedhimself.
　　'Look at those big, isolated clumps of buildings rising up above the slates, likebrick islands in a lead-coloured sea.'
　　'The Board schools.'
　　'Lighthouses, my boy! Beacons of the future! Capsules, with hundreds of brightlittle seeds in each, out of which will spring the wiser, better England of the future. Isuppose that man Phelps does not drink?'
　　'I should not think so.'
　　'Nor should I. But we are bound to take every possibility into account. The poordevil has certainly got himself into very deep water, and it's a question whether weshall ever be able to get him ashore. What did you think of Miss Harrison?'
　　'A girl of strong character.'
　　'Yes, but she is a good sort, or I am mistaken. She and her brother are the onlychildren of an iron-master somewhere up Northumberland way. Phelps got engaged toher when travelling last winter, and she came down to be introduced to his people,with her brother as escort. Then came the smash, and she stayed on to nurse her lover,while brother Joseph, finding himself pretty snug, stayed on too. I've been making afew independent inquiries, you see. But today must be a day of inquiries.'
　　'My practice—'I began.
　　'Oh, if you find your own cases more interesting than mine—'said Holmes, withsome asperity.
　　'I was going to say that my practice could get along very well for a day or two,since it is the slackest time in the year.'
　　'Excellent,' said he, recovering his good humour. 'Then we'll look into this mattertogether. I think that we should begin by seeing Forbes. He can probably tell us all thedetails we want, until we know from what side the case is to be approached.'
　　'You said you had a clue.'
　　'Well, we have several, but we can only test their value by further inquiry. Themost difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless. Now, this is notpurposeless. Who is it that profits by it? There is the French Ambassador, there is theRussian, there is whoever might sell it to either of these, and there is Lord Holdhurst.'
　　'Lord Holdhurst!'
　　'Well, it is just conceivable that a statesman might find himself in a position wherehe was not sorry to have such a document accidentally destroyed.'
　　'Not a statesman with the honourable record of Lord Holdhurst.'
　　'It is a possibility, and we cannot afford to disregard it. We shall see the noble lordto-day, and find out if he can tell us anything. Meanwhile, I have already set inquiriesupon foot.'
　　'Already?'
　　'Yes, I sent wires from Woking station to every evening paper in London. Thisadvertisement will appear in each of them.'
　　He handed over a sheet torn from the notebook. On it was scribbled in pencil:
　　'￡10 Reward.—The number of the cab which dropped a fare at or about the doorof the Foreign Office in Charles Street, at a quarter to ten in the evening of May 23rd.Apply 221B Baker Street.'
　　'You are confident that the thief came in a cab?'
　　'If not, there is no harm done. But if Mr. Phelps is correct in stating that there is nohiding-place either in the room or the corridors, then the person must have come fromoutside. If he came from outside on so wet a night, and yet left no trace of damp uponthe linoleum, which was examined within a few minutes of his passing, then it isexceedingly probable that he came in a cab. Yes, I think that we may safely deduce acab.'
　　'It sounds plausible.'
　　'That is one of the clues of which I spoke. It may lead us to something. And then,of course, there is the bell—which is the most distinctive feature of the case. Whyshould the bell ring? Was it the thief that did it out of bravado? Or was it someonewho was with the thief who did it in order to prevent the crime? Or was it an accident?Or was it—?' He sank back into the state of intense and silent thought from which hehad emerged, but it seemed to me, accustomed as I was to his every mood, that somenew possibility had dawned suddenly upon him.
　　It was twenty-past three when we reached our terminus, and after a hasty luncheonat the buffer we pushed on at once to Scotland Yard. Holmes had already wired toForbes, and we found him waiting to receive us: a small, foxy man, with a sharp butby no means amiable expression. He was decidedly frigid in his manner to us,especially when he heard the errand upon which we had come.
　　'I've heard of your methods before now, Mr. Holmes,' said he, tartly. 'You areready enough to use all the information that the police can lay at your disposal, andthen you try to finish the case yourself and bring discredit upon them.'
　　'On the contrary,' said Holmes; 'out of my last fifty-three cases my name has onlyappeared in four, and the police have had all the credit in forty-nine. I don't blame youfor not knowing this; for you are young and inexperienced; but if you wished to get onin your new duties you will work with me, and not against me.'
　　'I'd be very glad of a hint or two,' said the detective, changing his manner. 'I'vecertainly had no credit from the case so far.'
　　'What steps have you taken?'
　　'Tangey, the commissionaire, has been shadowed. He left the Guards with a goodcharacter, and we can find nothing against him. His wife is a bad lot, though. I fancyshe knows more about this than appears.'
　　'Have you shadowed her?'
　　'We have set one of our women on to her. Mrs. Tangey drinks, and our woman hasbeen with her twice when she well on, but she could get nothing out of her.'
　　'I understand that they have had brokers in the house?'
　　'Yes, but they were paid off.'
　　'Where did the money come from?'
　　'That was all right. His pension was due; they have not shown any sign of being infunds.'
　　'What explanation did she give of having answered the bell when Mr. Phelps rangfor the coffee?'
　　'She said that her husband was very tired and she wished to relieve him.'
　　'Well, certainly that would agree with his being found, a little later, asleep in hischair. There is nothing against them, then, but the woman's character. Did you ask herwhy she hurried away that night? Her haste attracted the attention of thepolice-constable.'
　　'She was later than usual, and wanted to get home.'
　　'Did you point out to her that you and Mr. Phelps, who started at least twentyminutes after her, got there before her?'
　　'She explains that by the difference between a bus and a hansom.'
　　'Did she make it clear why, on reaching her house, she ran into the back kitchen?'
　　'Because she had the money there with which to pay off the brokers.'
　　'She has at least an answer for everything. Did you ask her whether in leaving hismet anyone or saw anyone loitering about Charles Street?'
　　'She saw no one but the constable.'
　　'Well, you seem to have cross-examined her pretty thoroughly. What else have youdone?'
　　'The clerk, Gorot, has been shadowed all these nine weeks, but without result. Wecan show nothing against him.'
　　'Anything else?'
　　'Well, we have nothing else to go upon—no evidence of any kind.'
　　'Have you formed any theory about how that bell rang?'
　　'Well, I must confess that it bears me. It was a cool hand, whoever it was, to go andgive the alarm like that.'
　　'Yes, it was a queer thing to do. Many thanks to you for what you have told me. If Ican put the man into your hands you shall hear from me. Come along, Watson!'
　　'Where are we going to now?' I asked, as we left the office.
　　'We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst, the Cabinet Minister and futurePremier of England.'
　　We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was still in his chambers atDowning Street, and on Holmes sending in his card we were instantly shown up. Thestatesman received us with that old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable,and seated us on the two luxurious easy chairs on either side of the fireplace. Standingon the rug between us, with his slight, tall figure, his sharp-featured, thoughtful face,and his curling hair prematurely tinged with grey, he seemed to represent that not toocommon type, a nobleman who is in truth noble.
　　'Your name is very familiar to me, Mr. Holmes,' said he, smiling. 'And, of course, Icannot pretend to be ignorant of the object of your visit. There has only been oneoccurrence in these offices which could call for your attention. In whose interest areyou acting, may I ask?'
　　'In that of Mr. Percy Phelps,' answered Holmes.
　　'Ah, my unfortunate nephew! You can understand that our kinship makes it themore impossible for me to screen him in any way. I fear that the incident must have avery prejudicial effect upon his career.'
　　'But if the document is found?'
　　'Ah, that, of course, would be different.'
　　'I had one or two questions which I wished to ask you, Lord Holdhurst.'
　　'I shall be happy to give you any information in my power.'
　　'Was it in this room that you gave your instructions as to the copying of thedocument?'
　　'It was.'
　　'Then you could hardly have been overheard?'
　　'It is out of the question.'
　　'Did you ever mention to anyone that it was your intention to give out the treaty tobe copied?'
　　'Never.'
　　'You are certain of that?'
　　'Absolutely.'
　　'Well, since you never said so, and Mr. Phelps never said so, and nobody else knewanything of the matter, then the thief's presence in the room was purely accidental. Hesaw his chance and he took it.'
　　The statesman smiled. 'You take me out of my province there,' said he.
　　Holmes considered for a moment. 'There is another very important point which Iwish to discuss with you,' said he. 'You feared, as I understand, that very grave resultsmight follow from the details of this treaty becoming known?'
　　A shadow passed over the expressive face of the statesman. 'Very grave results,indeed.'
　　'And have they occurred?'
　　'Not yet.'
　　'If the treaty had reached, let us say, the French or Russian Foreign Office, youwould expect to hear of it?'
　　'I should,' said Lord Holdhurst, with a wry face.
　　'Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed, then, and nothing has been heard, it is notunfair to suppose that for some reason the treaty has not reached them?'
　　Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders.
　　'We can hardly suppose, Mr. Holmes, that the thief took the treaty in order to frameit and hang it up.'
　　'Perhaps he is waiting for a better price.'
　　'If he waits a little longer he will get no price at all. The treaty will cease to be asecret in a few months.'
　　'That is most important,' said Holmes. 'Of course it is a possible supposition thatthe thief has had a sudden illness—'
　　'An attack of brain fever, for example?' asked the statesman, flashing a swiftglance at him.
　　'I did not say so,' said Holmes, imperturbably. 'And now, Lord Holdhurst, we havealready taken up too much of your valuable time, and we shall wish you a good day.'
　　'Every success to your investigation, be the criminal who it may,' answered thenobleman, as he bowed us out at the door.
　　'He's a fine fellow,' said Holmes, as we came out into Whitehall. 'But he has astruggle to keep up his position. He is far from rich, and has many calls. You noticed,of course, that his boots had been re-soled? Now, Watson, I won't detain you fromyour legitimate work any longer. I shall do nothing more to-day, unless I have ananswer to my cab advertisement. But I should be extremely obliged to you if youwould come down with me to Woking to-morrow, by the same train which we tookto-day.'
　　I met him accordingly next morning, and we travelled down to Woking together.He had had no answer to his advertisement, he said, and no fresh light had beenthrown upon the case. He had, when he so willed it, the utter immobility ofcountenance of a Red Indian, and I could not gather from his appearance whether hewas satisfied or not with the position of the case. His conversation, I remember, wasabout the Bertillon system of measurements, and he expressed his enthusiasticadmiration of the French savant.
　　We found our client still under the charge of his devoted nurse, but lookingconsiderably better than before. He rose from the sofa and greeted us withoutdifficulty when we entered.
　　'Any news?' he asked, eagerly.
　　'My report, as I expected, is a negative one,' said Holmes. 'I have seen Forbes, andI have seen your uncle, and I have set one or two trains of inquiry upon foot whichmay lead to something.'
　　'You have not lost heart, then?'
　　'By no means.'
　　'God bless you for saying that!' cried Miss Harrison. 'If we keep our courage andour patience, the truth must come out.'
　　'We have more to tell you than you have for us,' said Phelps, re-seating him uponthe couch.
　　'I hoped you might have something.'
　　'Yes, we have had an adventure during the night, and one which might have provedto be a serious one.' His expression grew very grave as he spoke, and a look ofsomething akin to fear sprang up in his eyes. 'Do you know,' said he, 'that I begin tobelieve that I am the unconscious centre of some monstrous conspiracy, and that mylife is aimed at as well as my honour?'
　　'Ah!' cried Holmes.
　　'It sounds incredible, for I have not, as far as I know, an enemy in the world. Yetfrom last night's experience I can come to no other conclusion.'
　　'Pray let me hear it.'
　　'You must know that last night was the very first night that I have ever sleptwithout a nurse in the room. I was so much better that I thought I could dispense withone. I had a night-light burning, however. Well, about two in the morning I had sunkinto a light sleep, when I was suddenly aroused by a slight noise. It was like the soundwhich a mouse makes when it is gnawing a plank, and I lay listening to it for sometime under the impression that it must come from that cause. Then it grew louder, andsuddenly there came from the window a sharp metallic snick. I sat up in amazement.There could be no doubt what the sounds were now. The faint ones had been causedby someone forcing an instrument through the silt between the sashes, and the secondby the catch being pressed back.
　　'There was a pause then for about ten minutes, as if the person were waiting to seewhether the noise had awoken me. Then I heard a gentle creaking as the window wasvery slowly opened. I could stand it no longer, for my nerves are not what they usedto be. I sprang out of bed and flung open the shutter. A man was crouching at thewindow. I could see little of him, for he was gone like a flash. He was wrapped insome sort of cloak, which came across the lower part of his face. One thing only I amsure of, and that is that he had some weapon in his hand. It looked to me like a longknife. I distinctly saw the gleam of it as he turned to run.'
　　'This is most interesting,' said Holmes. 'Pray, what did you do then?'
　　'I should have followed him through the open window if I had been stronger. As itwas, I rang the bell and roused the house. It took me some little time, for the bell ringsin the kitchen, and the servants all sleep upstairs. I shouted, however, and that broughtJoseph down, and he roused the others. Joseph and the groom found marks on theflower-bed outside the window, but the weather has been so dry lately that they foundit hopeless to follow the trail across the grass. There's a place, however, on thewooden fence which skirts the road which shows signs, they tell me, as if someonehad got over and had snapped the top of the rail in doing so. I have said nothing to thelocal police yet, for I thought I had best have your opinion first.'
　　This tale of our client's appeared to have an extraordinary effect upon SherlockHolmes. He rose from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollableexcitement.
　　'Misfortunes never come singly,' said Phelps, smiling, though it was evident thathis adventure had somewhat shaken him.
　　'You have certainly had your share,' said Holmes. 'Do you think you could walkround the house with me?'
　　'Oh, yes, I should like a little sunshine. Joseph will come too?'
　　'And I also,' said Miss Harrison.
　　'I am afraid not,' said Holmes, shaking his head. 'I think I must ask you to remainsitting exactly where you are.'
　　The young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure. Her brother, however,had joined us, and we set off all four together. We passed round the lawn to theoutside of the young diplomatist's window. There were, as he had said, marks uponthe flower-bed, but they were hopelessly blurred and vague. Holmes stooped overthem for an instant, and then rose, shrugging his shoulders.
　　'I don't think anyone could make much of this,' said he. 'Let us go round the houseand see why this particular room was chosen by the burglar. I should have thoughtthose larger windows of the drawing-room and dining-room would have had moreattractions for him.'
　　'They are more visible from the road,' suggested Mr. Joseph Harrison.
　　'Ah, yes, of course. There is a door here which he might have attempted. What is itfor?'
　　'It is the side-entrance for tradespeople. Of course, it is locked at night.'
　　'Have you ever had an alarm like this before?'
　　'Never,' said our client.
　　'Do you keep plate in the house, or anything to attract burglars?'
　　'Nothing of value.'
　　Holmes strolled round the house with his hands in his pockets, and a negligent airwhich was unusual with him.
　　'By the way,' said he to Joseph Harrison, 'you found some place, I understand,where the fellow scaled the fence. Let us have a look at that.'
　　The young man led us to a spot where the top of one of the wooden rails had beencracked. A small fragment of the wood was hanging down. Holmes pulled it off andexamined it critically.
　　'Do you think that was done last night? It looks rather old, does it not?'
　　'Well, possibly so.'
　　'There are no marks of anyone jumping down upon the other side. No, I fancy weshall get no help here. Let us go back to the bedroom and talk the matter over.'
　　Percy Phelps was walking very slowly, leaning upon the arm of his futurebrother-in-law. Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn, and we were at the openwindow of the bedroom long before the others came up.
　　'Miss Harrison,' said Holmes, speaking with the utmost intensity of manner, 'youmust stay where you are all day. Let nothing prevent you from staying where you areall day. It is of most vital importance.'
　　'Certainly, if you wish it, Mr. Holmes,' said the girl, in astonishment.
　　'When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the outside and keep the key.Promise to do this.'
　　'But Percy?'
　　'He will come to London with us.'
　　'And I am to remain here?'
　　'It is for his sake. You can serve him! Quick! Promise!'
　　she gave a nod of assent just as the other two came up.
　　'Why do you sit moping there, Annie?' cried her brother. 'Come out into thesunshine!'
　　'No, thank you, Joseph. I have a slight headache, and this room is deliciously cooland soothing.'
　　'What do you propose now, Mr. Holmes?' asked out client.
　　'Well, in investigating this minor affair we must not lose sight of our main inquiry.It would be a very great help to me if you could come up to London with us.'
　　'At once?'
　　'Well, as soon as you conveniently can. Say in an hour.'
　　'I feel quite strong enough, if I can really be of any help.'
　　'The greatest possible.'
　　'Perhaps you would like me to stay there to-night.'
　　'I was just going to propose it.'
　　'Then if my friend of the night comes to revisit me, he will find the bird flown. Weare all in your hands, Mr. Holmes, and you must tell us exactly what you would likedone. Perhaps you would prefer that Joseph came with us, so as to look after me?'
　　'Oh, no; my friend Watson is a medical man, you know, and he'll look after you.We'll have our lunch here, if you will permit us, and then we shall all three set off fortown together.'
　　It was arranged as he suggested, though Miss Harrison excused herself fromleaving the bedroom, in accordance with Holmes's suggestion. What the object of myfriend's manoeuvres was I could not conceive, unless it were to keep the lady awayfrom Phelps, who, rejoiced by his returning health and by the prospect of action,lunched with us in the dinning-room. Holmes had a still more startling surprise for us,however, for after accompanying us down to the station and seeing us into ourcarriage, he calmly announced that he had no intention of leaving Woking.
　　'There are one or two small points which I should desire to clear up before I go,'said he. 'Your absence, Mr. Phelps, will in some ways rather assist me. Watson, whenyou reach London you would oblige me by driving at once to Baker Street with ourfriend here, and remaining with him until I see you again. It is fortunate that you areold schoolfellows, as you must have much to talk over. Mr. Phelps can have the sparebedroom to-night, and I shall be with you in time for breakfast, for there is a trainwhich will take me into Waterloo at eight.'
　　'But how about our investigation in London?' asked Phelps, ruefully.
　　'We can do that to-morrow. I think that just at present I can be of more immediateuse here.'
　　'You might tell them at Briarbrae that I hope to be back to-morrow night,' criedPhelps, as we began to move from the platform.
　　'I hardly expect to go back to Briarbrae,' answered Holmes, and waved his hand tous cheerily as we shot out from the station.
　　Phelps and I talked it over on our journey, but neither of us could devise asatisfactory reason for this new development.
　　'I suppose he wants to find out some clue as to the burglary last night, if a burglar itwas. For myself, I don't believe it was an ordinary thief.'
　　'What is your idea, then?'
　　'Upon my word, you may put it down to my weak nerves or not, but I believe thereis some deep political intrigue going on around me, and that, for some reason thatpasses my understanding, my life is aimed at by the conspirators. It soundshigh-flown and absurd, but consider the facts! Why should a thief try to break in at abedroom window, where there could be no hope of any plunder, and why should hecome with a long knife in his hand?'
　　'You are sure it was not a housebreaker's jemmy?'
　　'Oh, no; it was a knife. I saw the flash of the blade quite distinctly.'
　　'But why on earth should you be pursued with such animosity?'
　　'Ah! That is the question.'
　　'Well, if Holmes takes the same view, that would account for his action, would itnot? Presuming that your theory is correct, if he can lay his hands upon the man whothreatened you last night, he will have gone a long way towards finding who took thenaval treaty. It is absurd to suppose that you have two enemies, one of whom robs youwhile the other threatens your life.'
　　'But Mr. Holmes said that he was not going to Briarbrae.'
　　'I have known him for some time,' said I, 'but I never knew him do anything yetwithout a very good reason,' and with that our conversation drifted off into othertopics.
　　But it was a weary day for me. Phelps was still weak after his long illness, and hismisfortunes made him querulous and nervous. In vain I endeavoured to interest him inAfghanistan, in India, in social questions, in anything which might take his mind outof the groove. He would always come back to his lost treaty; wondering, guessing,speculating, as to what Holmes was doing, what steps lord Holdhurst was taking, whatnews we should have in the morning. As the evening wore on his excitement becamequite painful.
　　'You have implicit faith in Holmes?' he asked.
　　'I have seen him do some remarkable things.'
　　'But he never brought light into anything quite so dark as this?'
　　'Oh, yes; I have known him solve questions which presented fewer clues thanyours.'
　　'But not where such large interests are at stake?'
　　'I don't know that. To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalf of three of thereigning Houses of Europe in very vital matters.'
　　'But you know him well, Watson. He is such an inscrutable fellow, that I neverquite know what to make of him. Do you think he is hopeful? Do you think he expectsto make a success of it?'
　　'He has said nothing.'
　　'That is a bad sign.'
　　'On the contrary, I have noticed that when he is off the trail he generally says so. Itis when he is on a scent, and is not quite absolutely sure yet that it is the right one,that he is most taciturn. Now, my dear fellow, we can't help matters by makingourselves nervous about them, so let me implore you to go to bed, and so be fresh forwhatever may await us to-morrow.
　　I was able at last to persuade my companion to take my advice, though I knew fromhis excited manner that there was not much hope of sleep for him. Indeed, his moodwas infectious, for I lay tossing half the night myself, brooding over this strangeproblem, and inventing a hundred theories, each of which was more impossible thanthe last. Why had Holmes remained at Woking? Why had he asked Miss Harrison tostay in the sick-room all day? Why had he been so careful not to inform the people atBriarbrae that he intended to remain near them? I cudgelled my brains until I fellasleep in the endeavour to find some explanation which would cover all these facts.
　　It was seven o'clock when I awoke, and I set off at once for Phelps' room, to findhim haggard and spent after a sleepless night. His first question was whether Holmeshad arrived yet.
　　'He'll be here when he promised,' said I, 'and not an instant sooner or later.'
　　And my words were true, for shortly after eight a hansom dashed up to the door andour friend got out of it. Standing in the window, we saw that his left hand wasswathed in a bandage and that his face was very grim and pale. He entered the house,but it was some little time before he came upstairs.
　　'He looks like a beaten man,' cried Phelps.
　　I was forced to confess that he was right. 'After all,' said I, 'the clue of the matterlies probably here in town.'
　　Phelps gave a groan.
　　'I don't know how it is,' said he, 'but I had hoped for so much from his return. Butsurely his hand was not tied up like that yesterday? What can be the matter?'
　　'You are not wounded, Holmes?' I asked, as my friend entered the room.
　　'Tut, it is only a scratch through my own clumsiness,' he answered, nodding hisgood morning to us. 'This case of yours, Mr. Phelps, is certainly one of the darkestwhich I have ever investigated.'
　　'I feared that you would find it beyond you.'
　　'It has been a most remarkable experience.'
　　'That bandage tells of adventures,' said I. 'Won't you tell us what has happened?'
　　'After breakfast, my dear Watson. Remember that I have breathed thirty miles ofSurrey air this morning. I suppose there has been no answer to my cabmanadvertisement? Well, well, we cannot expect to score every time.'
　　The table was all laid, and, just as I was about to ring, Mrs. Hudson entered withthe tea and coffee. A few minutes later she brought in the covers, and we all drew upto the table, Holmes ravenous, I curious, and Phelps in the gloomiest state ofdepression.
　　'Mrs. Hudson has risen to the occasion,' said Holmes, uncovering a dish of curriedchicken. 'Her cuisine is a little limited, but she has as good an idea of breakfast as aScotchwoman. What have you there, Watson?'
　　'Ham and eggs,' I answered.
　　'Good! What are you going to take, Mr. Phelps: curried fowl, eggs, or will you helpyourself?'
　　'Thank you, I can eat nothing,' said Phelps.
　　'Oh, come! Try the dish before you.'
　　'Thank you, I would really rather not.'
　　'Well, then,' said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle, 'I suppose that you have noobjection to helping me?'
　　Phelps raised the cover, and as he did so he uttered a scream, and sat there staringwith a face as white as the plate upon which he looked. Across the centre of it waslying a little cylinder of blue-grey paper. He caught it up, devoured it with his eyes,and then danced madly about the room, pressing it to his bosom and shrieking out inhis delight. Then he fell back into an arm-chair, so limp and exhausted with his ownemotions that we had to pour brandy down his throat to keep him from fainting.
　　'There! There!' said Holmes, soothingly, patting him upon the shoulder. 'It was toobad to spring it on you like this; but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist atouch of the dramatic.'
　　Phelps seized his hand and kissed it. 'God bless you!' he cried; 'you have saved myhonour.'
　　'Well, my own was at stake, you know,' said Holmes. 'I assure you, it is just ashateful to me to fail in a case as it can be to you to blunder over a commission.'
　　Phelps thrust away the precious document into the innermost pocket of his coat.
　　'I have not the heart to interrupt your breakfast any further, and yet I am dying toknow how you got it and where it was.'
　　Sherlock Holmes swallowed a cup of coffee and turned his attention to the ham andeggs. Then he rose, lit his pipe, and settled himself down into his chair.
　　'I'll tell you what I did first, and how I came to do it afterwards,' said he. 'Afterleaving you at the station I went for a charming walk through some admirable Surreyscenery to a pretty little village called Ripley, where I had my tea at an inn, and tookthe precaution of filling my flask and of putting a paper of sandwiches in my pocket.There I remained until evening, when I set off for Woking again and found myself inthe high-road outside Briarbrae just after sunset.
　　'Well, I waited until the road was clear—it is never a very frequented one at anytime, I fancy—and then I clambered over the fence into the grounds.'
　　'Surely the gate was open?' ejaculated Phelps.
　　'Yes; but I have a peculiar taste in these matters. I chose the place where the threefir trees stand, and behind their screen I got over without the least chance of anyone inthe house being able to see me. I crouched down among the bushes on the other side,and crawled from one to the other—witness the disreputable state of my trouserknees—until I had reached the clump of rhododendrons just opposite to your bedroomwindow. There I squatted down and awaited developments.
　　'The blind was not down in your room, and I could see Miss Harrison sitting therereading by the table. It was a quarter past ten when she closed her book, fastened theshutters, and retired. I heard her shut the door, and felt quite sure that she had turnedthe key in the lock.'
　　'The key?' ejaculated Phelps.
　　'Yes, I had given Miss Harrison instructions to lock the door on the outside andtake the key with her when she went to bed. She carried out every one of myinjunctions to the letter, and certainly without her co-operation you would not havethat paper in your coat pocket. She departed then, the lights went out, and I was leftsquatting in the rhododendron bush.
　　'The night was fine, but still it was a very weary vigil. Of course, it has the sort ofexcitement about it that the sportsman feels when he lies beside the watercourse andwaits for the big game. It was very long, though—almost as long, Watson, as whenyou and I waited in that deadly room when we looked into the little problem of the
　　Speckled Band.quarters, and I thought more than once that it had stopped. At last, however, about twoin the morning, I suddenly heard the gentle sound of a bolt being pushed back, and thecreaking of a key. A moment later the servants' door was opened and Mr. JosephHarrison stepped out into the moonlight.'
　　'Joseph!' ejaculated Phelps.
　　'He was bare-headed, but he had a black cloak thrown over his shoulder, so that hecould conceal his face in an instant if there were any alarm. He walked on tiptoeunder the shadow of the wall, and when he reached the window, he worked along-bladed knife through the sash and pushed back the catch. Then he flung open thewindow and, putting his knife through the crack in the shutters, he thrust the bar upand swung them open.
　　'From where I lay I had a perfect view of the inside of the room and of every one ofhis movements. He lit the two candles which stand upon the mantelpiece, and then heproceeded to turn back the corner of the carpet in the neighbourhood of the door.Presently he stooped and picked out a square piece of board, such as is usually left toenable plumbers to get at the joints of the gas pipes. This one covered, as a matter offact, the T-joint which gives off the pipe which supplies the kitchen underneath. Outof this hiding-place he drew that little cylinder of paper, pushed down the board,rearranged the carpet, blew out the candles, and walked straight into my arms as Istood waiting for him outside the window.
　　'Well, he has rather more viciousness than I gave him credit for, has Master Joseph.He flew at me with his knife, and I had to grass him twice, and got a cut over theknuckles, before I had the upper hand of him. He looked "murder" out of the only eyehe could see with when we had finished, but he listened to reason and gave up thepapers. Having got them I let my man go, but I wired full particulars to Forbes thismorning. If he is quick enough to catch his bird, well and good! But if, as I shrewdlysuspect, he finds the nest empty before he gets there, why, all the better for theGovernment. I fancy that Lord Holdhurst, for one, and Mr. Percy Phelps, for another,would very much rather that the affair never got so far as a police-court.'
　　'My God!' gasped our client. 'Do you tell me that during these long ten weeks ofagony, the stolen papers were within the very room with me all the time?'
　　'So it was.'
　　'And Joseph! Joseph a villain and a thief!'
　　'Hum! I am afraid Joseph's character is a rather deeper and more dangerous onethan one might judge from his appearance. From what I have heard from him thismorning, I gather that he has lost heavily in dabbling with stocks, and that he is readyto do anything on earth to better his fortunes. Being an absolutely selfish man, when achance presented itself he did not allow either his sister's happiness or your reputationto hold his hand.'
　　Percy Phelps sank back in his chair. 'My head whirls,' said he; 'your words havedazed me.'
　　'The principal difficulty in your case,' remarked Holmes, in his didactic fashion,'lay in the fact of there being too much evidence. What was vital was overlaid andhidden by what was irrelevant. Of all the facts which were presented to us, we had topick just those which we deemed to be essential, and then piece them together in theirorder, so as to reconstruct this very remarkable chain of events. I had already begun tosuspect Joseph, from the fact that you had intended to travel home with him that night,and that therefore it was a likely enough thing that he should call for you—knowingthe Foreign Office well—upon his way. When I heard that someone had been soanxious to get into the bedroom, in which no one but Joseph could have concealedanything—you told us in your narrative how you had turned Joseph out when youarrived with the doctor—my suspicions all changed to certainties, especially as theattempt was made on the first night upon which the nurse was absent, showing thatthe intruder was well acquainted with the ways of the house.'
　　'How blind I have been!'
　　'The facts of the case, as far as I have worked them out, are these: This JosephHarrison entered the office through the Charles Street door, and knowing his way hewalked straight into your room the instant after you left it. Finding no one there hepromptly rang the bell, and at the instant that he did so his eyes caught the paper uponthe table. A glance showed him that chance had put in his way a State document ofimmense value, and in a flash he had thrust it into his pocket and was gone. A fewminutes elapsed, as you remember, before the sleepy commissionaire drew yourattention to the bell, and those were just enough to give the thief time to make hisescape.
　　'He made his way to Woking by the first train, and, having examined his booty, andassured himself that it really was of immense value, he concealed it in what hethought was a very safe place, with the intention of taking it out again in a day or two,and carrying it to the French Embassy, or wherever he thought that a long piece wasto be had. Then came your sudden return. He, without a moment's warning, wasbundled out of his room, and from that time onwards there were always at least two ofyou there to prevent him from regaining his treasure. The situation to him must havebeen a maddening one. But at last he thought he saw his chance. He tired to steal in,but was baffled by your wakefulness. You may remember that you did not take yourusual draught that night.'
　　'I remember.'
　　'I fancy that he had taken steps to make that draught efficacious, and that he quiterelied upon your being unconscious. Of course, I understood that he would repeat theattempt whenever it could be done with safety. Your leaving the room gave him thechance he wanted. I kept Miss Harrison in it all day, so that he might not anticipate us.Then, having given him the idea that the coast was clear, I kept guard as I havedescribed. I already knew that the papers were probably in the room, but I had nodesire to rip up all the planking and skirting in search of them. I let him take them,therefore, from the hiding-place, and so saved myself an infinity of trouble. Is thereany other point which I can make clear?'
　　'Why did he try the window on the first occasion,' I asked, 'when he might haveentered by the door?'
　　'In reaching the door he would have to pass seven bedrooms. On the other hand, hecould get out on to the lawn with ease. Anything else?'
　　'You do not think,' asked Phelps, 'that he had any murderous intention? The knifewas only meant as a tool.'
　　'It may be so,' answered Holmes, shrugging his shoulders. 'I can only say forcertain that Mr. Joseph Harrison is a gentleman to whose mercy I should be extremelyunwilling to trust.'

　　　　　　　 THE END