the adv[1]. of wisteria lodge(威斯特利亚·罗吉遇险记)-第7章
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in the course of which he met his death。 I say 'criminal' because only a
man with a criminal enterprise desires to establish an alibi。 Who； then； is
most likely to have taken his life？ Surely the person against whom the
criminal enterprise was directed。 So far it seems to me that we are on safe
ground。
〃We can now see a reason for the disappearance of Garcia's household。
They were ALL confederates in the same unknown crime。 If it came off
when Garcia returned； any possible suspicion would be warded off by the
Englishman's evidence； and all would be well。 But the attempt was a
dangerous one； and if Garcia did NOT return by a certain hour it was
probable that his own life had been sacrificed。 It had been arranged；
therefore； that in such a case his two subordinates were to make for some
prearranged spot where they could escape investigation and be in a
position afterwards to renew their attempt。 That would fully explain the
facts； would it not？〃
The whole inexplicable tangle seemed to straighten out before me。 I
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wondered； as I always did； how it had not been obvious to me before。
〃But why should one servant return？〃
〃We can imagine that in the confusion of flight something precious；
something which he could not bear to part with； had been left behind。 That
would explain his persistence； would it not？〃
〃Well； what is the next step？〃
〃The next step is the note received by Garcia at the dinner。 It indicates
a confederate at the other end。 Now； where was the other end？ I have
already shown you that it could only lie in some large house； and that the
number of large houses is limited。 My first days in this village were
devoted to a series of walks in which in the intervals of my botanical
researches I made a reconnaissance of all the large houses and an
examination of the family history of the occupants。 One house； and only
one； riveted my attention。 It is the famous old Jacobean grange of High
Gable； one mile on the farther side of Oxshott； and less than half a mile
from the scene of the tragedy。 The other mansions belonged to prosaic and
respectable people who live far aloof from romance。 But Mr。 Henderson；
of High Gable； was by all accounts a curious man to whom curious
adventures might befall。 I concentrated my attention； therefore； upon him
and his household。
〃A singular set of people； Watsonthe man himself the most singular
of them all。 I managed to see him on a plausible pretext； but I seemed to
read in his dark； deepset； brooding eyes that he was perfectly aware of my
true business。 He is a man of fifty； strong； active； with iron…gray hair； great
bunched black eyebrows； the step of a deer and the air of an emperora
fierce； masterful man； with a red…hot spirit behind his parchment face。 He
is either a foreigner or has lived long in the tropics； for he is yellow and
sapless； but tough as whipcord。 His friend and secretary； Mr。 Lucas； is
undoubtedly a foreigner； chocolate brown； wily； suave； and catlike； with a
poisonous gentleness of speech。 You see； Watson； we have come already
upon two sets of foreignersone at Wisteria Lodge and one at High Gable…
…so our gaps are beginning to close。
〃These two men； close and confidential friends； are the centre of the
household； but there is one other person who for our immediate purpose
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may be even more important。 Henderson has two childrengirls of eleven
and thirteen。 Their governess is a Miss Burnet； an Englishwoman of forty
or thereabouts。 There is also one confidential manservant。 This little group
forms the real family； for their travel about together； and Henderson is a
great traveller； always on the move。 It is only within the last weeks that he
has returned； after a year's absence； to High Gable。 I may add that he is
enormously rich； and whatever his whims may be he can very easily
satisfy them。 For the rest； his house is full of butlers； footmen；
maidservants； and the usual overfed； underworked staff of a large English
country house。
〃So much I learned partly from village gossip and partly from my own
observation。 There are no better instruments than discharged servants with
a grievance； and I was lucky enough to find one。 I call it luck； but it would
not have come my way had I not been looking out for it。 As Baynes
remarks； we all have our systems。 It was my system which enabled me to
find John Warner； late gardener of High Gable； sacked in a moment of
temper by his imperious employer。 He in turn had friends among the
indoor servants who unite in their fear and dislike of their master。 So I had
my key to the secrets of the establishment。
〃Curious people； Watson！ I don't pretend to understand it all yet； but
very curious people anyway。 It's a double…winged house； and the servants
live on one side； the family on the other。 There's no link between the two
save for Henderson's own servant； who serves the family's meals。
Everything is carried to a certain door； which forms the one connection。
Governess and children hardly go out at all； except into the garden。
Henderson never by any chance walks alone。 His dark secretary is like his
shadow。 The gossip among the servants is that their master is terribly
afraid of something。 'Sold his soul to the devil in exchange for money；'
says Warner； 'and expects his creditor to come up and claim his own。'
Where they came from； or who they are； nobody has an idea。 They are
very violent。 Twice Henderson has lashed at folk with his dog…whip； and
only his long purse and heavy compensation have kept him out of the
courts。
〃Well； now； Watson； let us judge the situation by this new information。
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We may take it that the letter came out of this strange household and was
an invitation to Garcia to carry out some attempt which had already been
planned。 Who wrote the note？ It was someone within the citadel； and it
was a woman。 Who then but Miss Burnet； the governess？ All our
reasoning seems to point that way。 At any rate； we may take it asa
hypothesis and see what consequences it would entail。 I may add that Miss
Burnet's age and character make it certain that my first idea that there
might be a love interest in our story is out of the question。
〃If she wrote the note she was presumably the friend and confederate
of Garcia。 What； then； might she be expected to do if she heard of his
death？ If he met it in some nefarious enterprise her lips might be sealed。
Still； in her heart； she must retain bitterness and hatred against those who
had killed him and would presumably help so far as she could to have
revenge upon them。 Could we see her； then and try to use her？ That was
my first thought。 But now we c
