the adventure of the second stain-第3章
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A crime of mysterious character was committed last night at 16
Godolphin Street; one of the old…fashioned and secluded rows of
eighteenth century houses which lie between the river and the Abbey;
almost in the shadow of the great Tower of the Houses of Parliament。
This small but select mansion has been inhabited for some years by Mr。
Eduardo Lucas; well known in society circles both on account of his
charming personality and because he has the well…deserved reputation
of being one of the best amateur tenors in the country。 Mr。 Lucas is
an unmarried man; thirty…four years of age; and his establishment
consists of Mrs。 Pringle; an elderly housekeeper; and of Mitton; his
valet。 The former retires early and sleeps at the top of the house。
The valet was out for the evening; visiting a friend at Hammersmith。
From ten o'clock onward Mr。 Lucas had the house to himself。 What
occurred during that time has not yet transpired; but at a quarter
to twelve Police…constable Barrett; passing along Godolphin Street
observed that the door of No。 16 was ajar。 He knocked; but received no
answer。 Perceiving a light in the front room; he advanced into the
passage and again knocked; but without reply。 He then pushed open
the door and entered。 The room was in a state of wild disorder; the
furniture being all swept to one side; and one chair lying on its back
in the centre。 Beside this chair; and still grasping one of its
legs; lay the unfortunate tenant of the house。 He had been stabbed
to the heart and must have died instantly。 The knife with which the
crime had been committed was a curved Indian dagger; plucked down from
a trophy of Oriental arms which adorned one of the walls。 Robbery does
not appear to have been the motive of the crime; for there had been no
attempt to remove the valuable contents of the room。 Mr。 Eduardo Lucas
was so well known and popular that his violent and mysterious fate
will arouse painful interest and intense sympathy in a widespread
circle of friends。
〃Well; Watson; what do you make of this?〃 asked Holmes; after a long
pause。
〃It is an amazing coincidence。〃
〃A coincidence! Here is one of the three men whom we had named as
possible actors in this drama; and he meets a violent death during the
very hours when we know that that drama was being enacted。 The odds
are enormous against its being coincidence。 No figures could express
them。 No; my dear Watson; the two events are connected… must be
connected。 It is for us to find the connection。〃
〃But now the official police must know all。〃
〃Not at all。 They know all they see at Godolphin Street。 They
know… and shall know… nothing of Whitehall Terrace。 Only we know of
both events; and can trace the relation between them。 There is one
obvious point which would; in any case; have turned my suspicions
against Lucas。 Godolphin Street; Westminster; is only a few minutes'
walk from Whitehall Terrace。 The other secret agents whom I have named
live in the extreme West End。 It was easier; therefore; for Lucas than
for the others to establish a connection or receive a message from the
European Secretary's household… a small thing; and yet where events
are compressed into a few hours it may prove essential。 Halloa! what
have we here?〃
Mrs。 Hudson had appeared with a lady's card upon her salver。
Holmes glanced at it; raised his eyebrows; and handed it over to me。
〃Ask Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope if she will be kind enough to step
up;〃 said he。
A moment later our modest apartment; already so distinguished that
morning; was further honoured by the entrance of the most lovely woman
in London。 I had often heard of the beauty of the youngest daughter of
the Duke of Belminster; but no description of it; and no contemplation
of colourless photographs; had prepared me for the subtle; delicate
charm and the beautiful colouring of that exquisite head。 And yet as
we saw it that autumn morning; it was not its beauty which would be
the first thing to impress the observer。 The cheek was lovely but it
was paled with emotion; the eyes were bright but it was the brightness
of fever; the sensitive mouth was tight and drawn in an effort after
self…command。 Terror… not beauty… was what sprang first to the eye
as our fair visitor stood framed for an instant in the open door。
〃Has my husband been here; Mr。 Holmes?〃
〃Yes; madam。 he has been here。〃
〃Mr。 Holmes。 I implore you not to tell him that I came here。〃 Holmes
bowed coldly; and motioned the lady to a chair。
〃Your ladyship places me in a very delicate position。 I beg that you
will sit down and tell me what you desire; but I fear that I cannot
make any unconditional promise。〃
She swept across the room and seated herself with her back to the
window。 It was a queenly presence… tall; graceful; and intensely
womanly。
〃Mr。 Holmes;〃 she said… and her white…gloved hands clasped and
unclasped as she spoke… 〃I will speak frankly to you in the hopes that
it may induce you to speak frankly in return。 There is complete
confidence between my husband and me on all matters save one。 That one
is politics。 On this his lips are sealed。 He tells me nothing。 Now;
I am aware that there was a most deplorable occurrence in our house
last night。 I know that a paper has disappeared。 But because the
matter is political my husband refuses to take me into his complete
confidence。 Now it is essential… essential; I say… that I should
thoroughly understand it。 You are the only other person; save only
these politicians; who knows the true facts。 I beg you then; Mr。
Holmes; to tell me exactly what has happened and what it will lead to。
Tell me all; Mr。 Holmes。 Let no regard for your client's interests
keep you silent; for I assure you that his interests; if he would only
see it; would be best served by taking me into his complete
confidence。 What was this paper which was stolen?〃
〃Madam; what you ask me is really impossible。〃
She groaned and sank her face in her hands。
〃You must see that this is so; madam。 If your husband thinks fit
to keep you in the dark over this matter; is it for me; who has only
learned the true facts under the pledge of professional secrecy; to
tell what he has withheld? It is not fair to ask it。 It is him whom
you must ask。〃
〃I have asked him。 I come to you as a last resource。 But without
your telling me anything definite; Mr。 Holmes; you may do a great
service if you would enlighten me on one point。〃
〃What is it; madam?〃
〃Is my husband's political career likely to suffer through this
incident?〃
〃Well; madam; unless it is set right it may certainly have a very
unfortunate effect。〃
〃Ah!〃 She drew in her breath sharply as one whose doubts are
resolved。
〃One more question; Mr。 Holmes。 From an expression which my
husband dropped in the first shock of this disaster I understood
that terrible public consequences might arise from the loss of this
document。〃
〃If he said so; I certainly cannot deny it。〃
〃Of what nature are they?〃
〃Nay; madam; there again you ask me more than I can possibly
answer。〃
〃Then I will take up no more of your time。 I cannot blame you; Mr。
Holmes; for having refused to speak more freely; and you on your
side will not; I am sure; think the worse of me because I desire; even
against his will; to share my husband's anxieties。 Once more I beg
that you will say nothing of my visit。〃
She looked back at us from the door; and I had a last impression
of that beautiful haunted face; the startled eyes; and the drawn
mouth。 Then she was gone。
〃Now; Watson; the fair sex is your department;〃 said Holmes; with
a smile; when the dwindling frou…frou of skirts had ended in the
slam of the front door。 〃What was the fair lady's game? What did she
really want?〃
〃Surely her own statement is clear and her anxiety very natural。〃
〃Hum! Think of her appearance; Watson… her manner; her suppressed
excitement; her restlessness; her tenacity in asking questions。
Remember that she comes of a caste who do not lightly show emotion。〃
〃She was certainly much moved。〃