the adventure of the norwood builder-第7章

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malicious；　vindictive　person　is　the　gentleman　who　is　now　waiting　us

downstairs。　You　know　that　he　was　once　refused　by　McFarlane's　mother？

You　don't！　I　told　you　that　you　should　go　to　Blackheath　first　and

Norwood　afterwards。　Well；　this　injury；　as　he　would　consider　it；　has

rankled　in　his　wicked；　scheming　brain；　and　all　his　life　he　has

longed　for　vengeance；　but　never　seen　his　chance。　During　the　last

year　or　two；　things　have　gone　against　him…　secret　speculation；　I

think…　and　he　finds　himself　in　a　bad　way。　He　determines　to　swindle　his

creditors；　and　for　this　purpose　he　pays　large　checks　to　a　certain

Mr。　Cornelius；　who　is；　I　imagine；　himself　under　another　name。　I　have

not　traced　these　checks　yet；　but　I　have　no　doubt　that　they　were　banked

under　that　name　at　some　provincial　town　where　Oldacre　from　time　to

time　led　a　double　existence。　He　intended　to　change　his　name

altogether；　draw　this　money；　and　vanish；　starting　life　again

elsewhere。〃

　　〃Well；　that's　likely　enough。〃

　　〃It　would　strike　him　that　in　disappearing　he　might　throw　all　pursuit

off　his　track；　and　at　the　same　time　have　an　ample　and　crushing　revenge

upon　his　old　sweetheart；　if　he　could　give　the　impression　that　he　had

been　murdered　by　her　only　child。　It　was　a　masterpiece　of　villainy；　and

he　carried　it　out　like　a　master。　The　idea　of　the　will；　which　would

give　an　obvious　motive　for　the　crime；　the　secret　visit　unknown　to

his　own　parents；　the　retention　of　the　stick；　the　blood；　and　the　animal

remains　and　buttons　in　the　wood…pile；　all　were　admirable。　It　was　a　net

from　which　it　seemed　to　me；　a　few　hours　ago；　that　there　was　no

possible　escape。　But　he　had　not　that　supreme　gift　of　the　artist；　the

knowledge　of　when　to　stop。　He　wished　to　improve　that　which　was　already

perfect…　to　draw　the　rope　tighter　yet　round　the　neck　of　his

unfortunate　victim…　and　so　he　ruined　all。　Let　us　descend；　Lestrade。

There　are　just　one　or　two　questions　that　I　would　ask　him。〃

　　The　malignant　creature　was　seated　in　his　own　parlour；　with　a

policeman　upon　each　side　of　him。

　　〃It　was　a　joke；　my　good　sir…　a　practical　joke；　nothing　more；〃　he

whined　incessantly。　〃I　assure　you；　sir；　that　I　simply　concealed　myself

in　order　to　see　the　effect　of　my　disappearance；　and　I　am　sure　that　you

would　not　be　so　unjust　as　to　imagine　that　I　would　have　allowed　any

harm　to　befall　poor　young　Mr。　McFarlane。〃

　　〃That's　for　a　jury　to　decide；〃　said　Lestrade。　〃Anyhow；　we　shall　have

you　on　a　charge　of　conspiracy；　if　not　for　attempted　murder。〃

　　〃And　you'll　probably　find　that　your　creditors　will　impound　the

banking　account　of　Mr。　Cornelius；〃　said　Holmes。

　　The　little　man　started；　and　turned　his　malignant　eyes　upon　my

friend。

　　〃I　have　to　thank　you　for　a　good　deal；〃　said　he。　〃Perhaps　I'll　pay　my

debt　some　day。〃

　　Holmes　smiled　indulgently。

　　〃I　fancy　that；　for　some　few　years；　you　will　find　your　time　very

fully　occupied；〃　said　he。　〃By　the　way；　what　was　it　you　put　into　the

wood…pile　besides　your　old　trousers？　A　dead　dog；　or　rabbits；　or

what？　You　won't　tell？　Dear　me；　how　very　unkind　of　you！　Well；　well；　I

daresay　that　a　couple　of　rabbits　would　account　both　for　the　blood

and　for　the　charred　ashes。　If　ever　you　write　an　account；　Watson；　you

can　make　rabbits　serve　your　turn。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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