the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第3章
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father has； if I remember right； been dead many years。 It has； therefore；
been in the hands of your eldest brother。〃
〃Right； so far；〃 said I。 〃Anything else？〃
〃He was a man of untidy habits；very untidy and careless。 He was
left with good prospects； but he threw away his chances； lived for some
time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity； and finally；
taking to drink； he died。 That is all I can gather。〃
I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with
considerable bitterness in my heart。
〃This is unworthy of you； Holmes；〃 I said。 〃I could not have
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believed that you would have descended to this。 You have made inquires
into the history of my unhappy brother； and you now pretend to deduce
this knowledge in some fanciful way。 You cannot expect me to believe
that you have read all this from his old watch！ It is unkind； and； to speak
plainly； has a touch of charlatanism in it。〃
〃My dear doctor；〃 said he； kindly； 〃pray accept my apologies。
Viewing the matter as an abstract problem； I had forgotten how personal
and painful a thing it might be to you。 I assure you； however； that I never
even know that you had a brother until you handed me the watch。〃
〃Then how in the name of all that is wonderful did you get these facts？
They are absolutely correct in every particular。〃
〃Ah； that is good luck。 I could only say what was the balance of
probability。 I did not at all expect to be so accurate。〃
〃But it was not mere guess…work？〃
〃No； no： I never guess。 It is a shocking habit；destructive to the
logical faculty。 What seems strange to you is only so because you do not
follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large
inferences may depend。 For example； I began by stating that your
brother was careless。 When you observe the lower part of that watch…
case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places； but it is cut and
marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects； such as coins
or keys； in the same pocket。 Surely it is no great feat to assume that a
man who treats a fifty…guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man。
Neither is it a very far…fetched inference that a man who inherits one
article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects。〃
I nodded； to show that I followed his reasoning。
〃It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England； when they take a
watch； to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin…point upon the inside
of the case。 It is more handy than a label； as there is no risk of the
number being lost or transposed。 There are no less than four such
numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case。 Inference；that
your brother was often at low water。 Secondary inference；that he had
occasional bursts of prosperity； or he could not have redeemed the pledge。
Finally； I ask you to look at the inner plate； which contains the key…hole。
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Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole；marks where the
key has slipped。 What sober man's key could have scored those grooves？
But you will never see a drunkard's watch without them。 He winds it at
night； and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand。 Where is the
mystery in all this？〃
〃It is as clear as daylight；〃 I answered。 〃I regret the injustice which I
did you。 I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty。 May
I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present？〃
〃None。 Hence the cocaine。 I cannot live without brain…work。
What else is there to live for？ Stand at the window here。 Was ever such
a dreary； dismal； unprofitable world？ See how the yellow fog swirls
down the street and drifts across the dun… colored houses。 What could be
more hopelessly prosaic and material？ What is the use of having powers；
doctor； when one has no field upon which to exert them？ Crime is
commonplace； existence is commonplace； and no qualities save those
which are commonplace have any function upon earth。〃
I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade； when with a crisp knock
our landlady entered； bearing a card upon the brass salver。
〃A young lady for you； sir；〃 she said； addressing my companion。
〃Miss Mary Morstan；〃 he read。 〃Hum！ I have no recollection of the
name。 Ask the young lady to step up； Mrs。 Hudson。 Don't go； doctor。
I should prefer that you remain。〃
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The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER II The Statement of the
Case
Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward
composure of manner。 She was a blonde young lady； small； dainty； well
gloved； and dressed in the most perfect taste。 There was； however； a
plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a
suggestion of limited means。 The dress was a sombre grayish beige；
untrimmed and unbraided； and she wore a small turban of the same dull
hue； relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side。 Her face
had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion； but her
expression was sweet and amiable； and her large blue eyes were singularly
spiritual and sympathetic。 In an experience of women which extends
over many nations and three separate continents； I have never looked upon
a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature。 I
could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes
placed for her； her lip trembled； her hand quivered； and she showed every
sign of intense inward agitation。
〃I have come to you； Mr。 Holmes；〃 she said； 〃because you once
enabled my employer； Mrs。 Cecil Forrester； to unravel a little domestic
complication。 She was much impressed by your kindness and skill。〃
〃Mrs。 Cecil Forrester；〃 he repeated thoughtfully。 〃I believe that I was
of some slight service to her。 The case； however； as I remember it； was a
very simple one。〃
〃She did not think so。 But at least you cannot say the same of mine。
I can hardly imagine anything more strange； more utterly inexplicable；
than the situation in which I find myself。〃
Holmes rubbed his hands； and his eyes glistened。 He leaned forward
in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his
clear…cut； hawklike features。 〃State your case；〃 said he； in brisk； business
tones。
I felt that my position was an embarrassing one。 〃You will； I am sure；
