the adventure of shoscombe old place-第4章
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into the crypt。 Striking a match； he illuminated the Melancholy place…
dismal and evil…smelling； with ancient crumbling walls of rough…hewn
stone； and piles of coffins； some of lead and some of stone； extending
upon one side right up to the arched and groined roof which lost
itself in the shadows above our heads。 Holmes had lit his lantern；
which shot a tiny tunnel of vivid yellow light upon the mournful
scene。 Its rays were reflected back from the coffin…plates； many of
them adorned with the griffin and coronet of this old family which
carried its honours even to the gate of Death。
〃You spoke of some bones； Mr。 Mason。 Could you show them before
you go？〃
〃They are here in this corner。〃 The trainer strode across and then
stood in silent surprise as our light was turned upon the place。 〃They
are gone；〃 said he。
〃So I expected；〃 said Holmes； chuckling。 〃I fancy the ashes of
them might even now be found in that oven which had already consumed a
part。〃
〃But why in the world would anyone want to burn the bones of a man
who has been dead a thousand years？〃 asked John Mason。
〃That is what we are here to find out；〃 said Holmes。 〃It may mean
a long search； and we need not detain you。 I fancy that we shall get
our solution before morning。〃
When John Mason had left us； Holmes set to work making a very
careful examination of the graves； ranging from a very ancient one；
which appeared to be Saxon； in the centre； through a long line of
Norman Hugos and Odos； until we reached the Sir William and Sir
Denis Falder of the eighteenth century。 It was an hour or more
before Holmes came to a leaden coffin standing on end before the
entrance to the vault。 I heard his little cry of satisfaction and
was aware from his hurried but purposeful movements that he had
reached a goal。 With his lens he was eagerly examining the edges of
the heavy lid。 Then he drew from his pocket a short jemmy； a
box…opener； which he thrust into a chink； levering back the whole
front； which seemed to be secured by only a couple of clamps。 There
was a rending； tearing sound as it gave way； but it had hardly
hinged back and partly revealed the contents before we had an
unforeseen interruption。
Someone was walking in the chapel above。 It was the firm； rapid step
of one who came with a definite purpose and knew； well the ground upon
which he walked。 A light streamed down the stairs； and an instant
later the man who bore it was framed in the Gothic archway。 He was a
terrible figure； huge in stature and fierce in manner。 A large
stable…lantern which he field in front of him shone upward upon a
strong； heavily moustached face and angry eyes； which glared round him
into every recess of the vault； finally fixing themselves with a
deadly stare upon my companion and myself。
〃Who the； devil are you？〃 he thundered。 〃And what are you doing upon
my property？〃 Then； as Holmes returned no answer； he took a couple
of steps forward and raised a heavy stick which he carried。 〃Do you
hear me？〃 he cried。 〃Who are you？ What are you doing here？〃 His cudgel
quivered in the air。
But instead of shrinking Holmes advanced to meet him。
〃I also have a question to ask you； Sir Robert；〃 he said in his
sternest tone。 〃Who is this？ And what is it doing here？〃
He turned and tore open the coffin…lid behind him。 In the glare of
the lantern I saw a body swathed in a sheet from head to foot； with
dreadful； witchlike features； all nose and chin； projecting at one
end； the dim； glazed eyes staring from a discoloured and crumbling
face。
The baronet had staggered back with a cry and supported himself
against a stone sarcophagus。
〃How came you to know of this？〃 he cried。 And then； with some return
of his truculent mariner： 〃What business is it of yours？〃
〃My name is Sherlock Holmes；〃 said my companion。 〃Possibly it is
familiar to you。 In any case； my business is that of every other
good citizen… to uphold the law。 It seems to me that you have much
to answer for。〃
Sir Robert glared for a moment； but Holmes's quiet voice and cool；
assured manner had their effect。
〃'Fore God； Mr。 Holmes； it's all right；〃 said he。 〃Appearances are
against me； I'll admit； but I could act no otherwise。〃
〃I should be happy to think so； but I fear your explanations must be
before the police。〃
Sir Robert shrugged his broad shoulders。
〃Well； if it must be； it must。 Come up to the house and you can
judge for yourself how the matter stands。〃
A quarter of an hour later we found ourselves in what I judge；
from the lines of polished barrels behind glass covers； to be the
gun…room of the old house。 It was comfortably furnished； and here
Sir Robert left us for a few moments。 When he returned he had two
companions with him； the one； the florid young woman whom we had
seen in the carriage； the other； a small rat…faced man with a
disagreeably furtive manner。 These two wore an appearance of utter
bewilderment； which showed that the baronet had not yet had time to
explain to them the turn events had taken。
〃There；〃 said Sir Robert with a wave of his hand； 〃are Mr。 and
Mrs。 Norlett。 Mrs。 Norlett； under her maiden name of Evans； has for
some years been my sister's confidential maid。 I have brought them
here because I feel that my best course is to explain the true
position to you； and they are the two people upon earth who can
substantiate what I say。〃
〃Is this necessary； Sir Robert？ Have you thought what you are
doing？〃 cried the woman。
〃As to me； I entirely disclaim all responsibility；〃 said her
husband。
Sir Robert gave him a glance of contempt。 〃I will take all
responsibility；〃 said he。 〃Now； Mr。 Holmes； listen to a plain
statement of the facts。
〃You have clearly gone pretty deeply into my affairs or I should not
have found you where I did。 Therefore； you know already； in all
probability； that I am running a dark horse for the Derby and that
everything depends upon my success。 If I win； all is easy。 If I
lose… well； I dare not think of that！〃
〃I understand the position；〃 said Holmes。
〃I am dependent upon my sister； Lady Beatrice； for everything。 But
it is well known that her interest in the estate is for her own life
only。 For myself； I am deeply in the hands of the Jews。 I have
always known that if my sister were to die my creditors would be on to
my estate like a flock of vultures。 Everything would be seized… my
stables； my horses… everything。 Well； Mr。 Holmes； my sister did die
just a week ago。〃
〃And you told no one！〃
〃What could I do？ Absolute ruin faced me。 If I could stave things
off for three weeks all would be well。 Her maid's husband… this man
here… is an actor。 It came into our heads… it came into my head…
that he could for that short period personate my sister。 It was but
a case of appearing daily in the carriage； for no one need enter her
room save the maid。 It was not difficult to arrange。 My sister died of
the dropsy which had long afflicted her。〃
〃That will be for a coroner to decide。〃
〃Her doctor would certify that for months her symptoms have
threatened such an end。〃
〃Well； what did you do？〃
〃The body could not remain there。 On the first night Norlett and I
carried it out to the old well…house； which is now never used。 We were
followed； however； by her pet spaniel； which yapped continually at the
door； so I felt some safer place was needed。 I got rid of the spaniel；
and we carried the body to the crypt of the church。 There was no
indignity or irreverence； Mr。 Holmes。 I do not feel that I have
wronged the dead。〃
〃Your conduct seems to me inexcusable； Sir Robert。〃
The baronet shook his head impatiently。 〃It is easy to preach；〃 said
he。 〃Perhaps you would have felt differently if you had been in my
position。 One cannot see all one's hopes and all one's plans shattered
at the last moment and make no effort to save them。 It seemed to me
that it would be no unworthy resting…place if we put her for the
time in one of the coffins of her husband's ancestors lying in what is
still consecrated ground。 We opened such a coff
