the adventure of the six napoleons-第2章
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has begun operations in another quarter of London。 There's coffee on
the table； Watson； and I have a cab at the door。〃
In half an hour we had reached Pitt Street； a quiet little backwater
just beside one of the briskest currents of London life。 No。 131 was
one of a row； all flat…chested； respectable； and most unromantic
dwellings。 As we drove up； we found the railings in front of the house
lined by a curious crowd。 Holmes whistled。
〃By George！ It's attempted murder at the least。 Nothing less will
bold the London message…boy。 There's a deed of violence indicated in
that fellow's round shoulders and outstretched neck。 What's this；
Watson？ The top steps swilled down and the other ones dry。 Footsteps
enough； anyhow！ Well； well； there's Lestrade at the front window；
and we shall soon know all about it。〃
The official received us with a very grave face and showed us into a
sitting…room； where an exceedingly unkempt and agitated elderly man；
clad in a flannel dressing…gown； was pacing up and down。 He was
introduced to us as the owner of the house… Mr。 Horace Harker； of
the Central Press Syndicate。
〃It's the Napoleon bust business again；〃 said Lestrade。 〃You
seemed interested last night； Mr。 Holmes； so I thought perhaps you
would be glad to be present now that the affair has taken a very
much graver turn。〃
〃What has it turned to； then？〃
〃To murder。 Mr。 Harker； will you tell these gentlemen exactly what
has occurred？〃
The man in the dressing…gown turned upon us with a most melancholy
face。
〃It's an extraordinary thing；〃 said be； 〃that all my life I have
been collecting other people's news； and now that a real piece of news
has come my own way I am so confused and bothered that I can't put two
words together。 If I had come in here as a journalist； I should have
interviewed myself and had two columns in every evening paper。 As it
is； I am giving away valuable copy by telling my story over and over
to a string of different people； and I can make no use of it myself。
However； I've heard your name； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； and if you'll only
explain this queer business； I shall be paid for my trouble in telling
you the story。〃
Holmes sat down and listened。
〃It all seems to centre round that bust of Napoleon which I bought
for this very room about four months ago。 I picked it up cheap from
Harding Brothers； two doors from the High Street Station。 A great deal
of my journalistic work is done at night； and I often write until
the early morning。 So it was to…day。 I was sitting in my den； which is
at the back of the top of the house； about three o'clock； when I was
convinced that I heard some sounds downstairs。 I listened； but they
were not repeated； and I concluded that they came from outside。 Then
suddenly； about five minutes later； there came a most horrible yell…
the most dreadful sound； Mr。 Holmes； that ever I heard。 It will ring
in my ears as long as I live。 I sat frozen with horror for a minute or
two。 Then I seized the poker and went downstairs。 When I entered
this room I found the window wide open； and I at once observed that
the bust was gone from the mantelpiece。 Why any burglar should take
such a thing passes my understanding； for it was only a plaster cast
and of no real value whatever。
〃You can see for yourself that anyone going out through that open
window could reach the front doorstep by taking a long stride。 This
was clearly what the burglar had done； so I went round and opened
the door。 Stepping out into the dark； I nearly fell over a dead man；
who was lying there。 I ran back for a light and there was the poor
fellow； a great gash in his throat and the whole place swimming in
blood。 He lay on his back； his knees drawn up； and his mouth
horribly open。 I shall see him in my dreams。 I had just time to blow
on my police…whistle； and then I must have fainted； for I knew nothing
more until I found the policeman standing over me in the hall。〃
〃Well； who was the murdered man？〃 asked Holmes。
〃There's nothing to show who he was；〃 said Lestrade。 〃You shall
see the body at the mortuary； but we have made nothing of it up to
now。 He is a tall man； sunburned； very powerful； not more than thirty。
He is poorly dressed； and yet does not appear to be a labourer。 A
horn…handled clasp knife was lying in a pool of blood beside him。
Whether it was the weapon which did the deed； or whether it belonged
to the dead man； I do not know。 There was no name on his clothing； and
nothing in his pockets save an apple； some string； a shilling map of
London； and a photograph。 Here it is。〃
It was evidently taken by a snapshot from a small camera。 It
represented an alert； sharp…featured simian man； with thick eyebrows
and a very peculiar projection of the lower part of the face； like the
muzzle of a baboon。
〃And what became of the bust？〃 asked Holmes； after a careful study
of this picture。
〃We had news of it just before you came。 It has been found in the
front garden of an empty house in Campden House Road。 It was broken
into fragments。 I am going round now to see it。 Will you come？〃
〃Certainly。 I must just take one look round。〃 He examined the carpet
and the window。 〃The fellow had either very long legs or was a most
active man；〃 said he。 〃With an area beneath； it was no mean feat to
reach that window ledge and open that window。 Getting back was
comparatively simple。 Are you coming with us to see the remains of
your bust； Mr。 Harker？〃
The disconsolate journalist had seated himself at a writing…table。
〃I must try and make something of it；〃 said he； 〃though I have no
doubt that the first editions of the evening papers are out already
with full details。 It's like my luck！ You remember when the stand fell
at Doncaster？ Well； I was the only journalist in the stand； and my
journal the only one that had no account of it； for I was too shaken
to write it。 And now I'll be too late with a murder done on my own
doorstep。〃
As we left the room； we heard his pen travelling shrilly over the
foolscap。
The spat where the fragments of the bust had been found was only a
few hundred yards away。 For the first time our eyes rested upon this
presentment of the great emperor； which seemed to raise such frantic
and destructive hatred in the mind of the unknown。 It lay scattered；
in splintered shards； upon the grass。 Holmes picked up several of them
and examined them carefully。 I was convinced； from his intent face and
his purposeful manner； that at last he was upon a clue。
〃Well？〃 asked Lestrade。
Holmes shrugged his shoulders。
〃We have a long way to go yet；〃 said he。 〃And yet… and yet… well； we
have some suggestive facts to act upon。 The possession of this
trifling bust was worth more； in the eyes of this strange criminal；
than a human life。 That is one point。 Then there is the singular
fact that he did not break it in the house； or immediately outside the
house； if to break it was his sole object。〃
〃He was rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow。 He
hardly knew what he was doing。〃
〃Well； that's likely enough。 But I wish to call your attention
very particularly to the position of this house； in the garden of
which the bust was destroyed。〃
Lestrade looked about him。
〃It was an empty house； and so he knew that he would not be
disturbed in the garden。〃
〃Yes； but there is another empty house farther up the street which
he must have passed before he came to this one。 Why did he not break
it there； since it is evident that every yard that he carried it
increased the risk of someone meeting him？〃
〃I give it up；〃 said Lestrade。
Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads。
〃He could see what he was doing here； and he could not there。 That
was his reason。〃
〃By Jove！ that's true；〃 said the detective。 〃Now that I come to
think of it； Dr。 Barnicot's bust was broken not far from his red lamp。
Well； Mr。 Holmes； what are we to do with that fact？〃
〃To remember it… to docket it。 We may come on something later
which will bear upon it。 What steps do you propose to take now；
