the greek interpreter-第2章
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that bearing； expression of authority； and sun…baked skin； is a
soldier； is more than a private； and is not long from India。〃
〃That he has not left the service long is shown by his still wearing
his ammunition boots； as they are called；〃 observed Mycroft。
〃He had not the cavalry stride； yet he wore his hat on one side；
as is shown by the lighter skin on that side of his brow。 His weight
is against his being a sapper。 He is in the artillery。〃
〃Then； of course； his complete mourning shows that he has lost
someone very dear。 The fact that he is doing his own shopping looks as
though it were his wife。 He has been buying things for children； you
perceive。 There is a rattle； which shows that one of them is very
young。 The wife probably died in childbed。 The fact that he has a
picture…book under his arm shows that there is another child to be
thought of。〃
I began to understand what my friend meant when he said that his
brother possessed even keener faculties than he did himself。 He
glanced across at me and smiled。 Mycroft took snuff from a
tortoise…shell box and brushed away the wandering grains from his coat
front with a large； red silk handkerchief。
〃By the way； Sherlock；〃 said he； 〃I have had something quite after
your own heart…a most singular problem…submitted to my judgment。 I
really had not the energy to follow it up save in a very incomplete
fashion； but it gave me a basis for some pleasing speculations。 If you
would care to hear the facts…〃
〃My dear Mycroft； I should be delighted。〃
The brother scribbled a note upon a leaf of his pocket…book； and；
ringing the bell； he handed it to the waiter。
〃I have asked Mr。 Melas to step across；〃 said he。 〃He lodges on
the floor above me； and I have some slight acquaintance with him；
which led him to come to me in his perplexity。 Mr。 Melas is a Greek by
extraction； as I understand； and he is a remarkable linguist。 He earns
his living partly as interpreter in the law courts and partly by
acting as guide to any wealthy Orientals who may visit the
Northumberland Avenue hotels。 I think I will leave him to tell his
very remarkable experience in his own fashion。〃
A few minutes later we were joined by a short； stout man whose olive
face and coal black hair proclaimed his Southern origin； though his
speech was that of an educated Englishman。 He shook hands eagerly with
Sherlock Holmes； and his dark eyes sparkled with pleasure when he
understood that the specialist was anxious to hear his story。
〃I do not believe that the police credit me…on my word； I do not；〃
said he in a wailing voice。 〃Just because they have never heard of
it before； they think that such a thing cannot be。 But I know that I
shall never be easy in my mind until I know what has become of my poor
man with the sticking…plaster upon his face。〃
〃I am all attention；〃 said Sherlock Holmes。
〃This is Wednesday evening；〃 said Mr。 Melas。 〃Well； then； it was
Monday night…only two days ago； you understand…that all this happened。
I am an interpreter； as perhaps my neighbour there has told you。 I
interpret all languages…or nearly all…but as I am a Greek by birth and
with a Grecian name； it is with that particular tongue that I am
principally associated。 For many years I have been the chief Greek
interpreter in London； and my name is very well known in the hotels。
〃It happens not unfrequently that I am sent for at strange hours
by foreigners who get into difficulties； or by travellers who arrive
late and wish my services。 I was not surprised； therefore； on Monday
night when a Mr。 Latimer； a very fashionably dressed young man； came
up to my rooms and asked me to accompany him in a cab which was
waiting at the door。 A Greek friend had come to see him upon business；
he said； and as he could speak nothing but his own tongue； the
services of an interpreter were indispensable。 He gave me to
understand that his house was some little distance off； in Kensington；
and he seemed to be in a great hurry； bustling me rapidly into the cab
when we had descended to the street。
〃I say into the cab； but I soon became doubtful as to whether it was
not a carriage in which I found myself。 It was certainly more roomy
than the ordinary four…wheeled disgrace to London； and the fittings；
though frayed； were of rich quality。 Mr。 Latimer seated himself
opposite to me and we started off through Charing Cross and up the
Shaftesbury Avenue。 We had come out upon Oxford Street and I had
ventured some remark as to this being a roundabout way to
Kensington； when my words were arrested by the extraordinary conduct
of my companion。
〃He began by drawing a most formidable…looking bludgeon loaded
with lead from his pocket； and switching it backward and forward
several times； as if to test its weight and strength。 Then he placed
it without a word upon the seat beside him。 Having done this； he
drew up the windows on each side； and I found to my astonishment
that they were covered with paper so as to prevent my seeing through
them。
〃'I am sorry to cut off your view； Mr。 Melas；' said he。 'The fact is
that I have no intention that you should see what the place is to
which we are driving。 It might possibly be inconvenient to me if you
could find your way there again。'
〃As you can imagine； I was utterly taken aback by such an address。
My companion was a powerful； broad…shouldered young fellow； and； apart
from the weapon； I should not have had the slightest chance in a
struggle with him。
〃'This is very extraordinary conduct； Mr。 Latimer；' I stammered。
'You must be aware that what you are doing is quite illegal。'
〃'It is somewhat of a liberty； no doubt；' said he； 'but we'll make
it up to you。 I must warn you； however； Mr。 Melas； that if at any time
to…night you attempt to raise an alarm or do anything which is against
my interest； you will find it a very serious thing。 I beg you to
remember that no one knows where you are； and that； whether you are in
this carriage or in my house； you are equally in my power。'
〃His words were quiet but he had a rasping way of saying them； which
was very menacing。 I sat in silence wondering what on earth could be
his reason for kidnapping me in this extraordinary fashion。 Whatever
it might be； it was perfectly clear that there was no possible use
in my resisting； and that I could only wait to see what might befall。
〃For nearly two hours we drove without my having the least clue as
to where we were going。 Sometimes the rattle of the stones told of a
paved causeway； and at others our smooth； silent course suggested
asphalt； but； save by this variation in sound； there was nothing at
all which could in the remotest way help me to form a guess as to
where we were。 The paper over each window was impenetrable to light；
and a blue curtain was drawn across the glasswork in front。 It was a
quarter past seven when we left Pall Mall； and my watch showed me that
it was ten minutes to nine when we at last came to a standstill。 My
companion let down the window； and I caught a glimpse of a low； arched
doorway with a lamp burning above it。 As I was hurried from the
carriage it swung open； and I found myself inside the house； with a
vague impression of a lawn and trees on each side of me as I
entered。 Whether these were private grounds； however； or bona…fide
country was more than I could possibly venture to say。
〃There was a coloured gaslamp inside which was turned so low that
I could see little save that the hall was of some size and hung with
pictures。 In the dim light I could make out that the person who had
opened the door was a small； mean…looking； middle…aged man with
rounded shoulders。 As he turned towards us the glint of the light
showed me that he was wearing glasses。
〃'Is this Mr。 Melas； Harold？' said he。
〃'Yes。'
〃'Well done； well done！ No ill…will； Mr。 Melas； I hope； but we could
not get on without you。 If you deal fair with us you'll not regret it；
but if you try any tricks； God help you！' He spoke in a nervous； jerky
fashion； and with little giggling laughs in between； but s
