the adventure of the blanced soldier-第4章
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its neglect。 Therefore it was not until the beginning of the next
week； as my diary records； that I was able to start forth on my
mission to Bedfordshire in company with Mr。 James M。 Dodd。 As we drove
to Euston we picked up a grave and taciturn gentleman of iron…gray
aspect； with whom I had made the necessary arrangements。
〃This is an old friend；〃 said I to Dodd。 〃It is possible that his
presence may be entirely unnecessary； and； on the other hand； it may
be essential。 It is not necessary at the present stage to go further
into the matter。〃
The narratives of Watson； have accustomed the reader； no doubt； to
the fact that I do not waste words or disclose my thoughts while a
case is actually under consideration。 Dodd seemed surprised； but
nothing more was said； and the three of us continued our journey
together。 in the train I asked Dodd one more question which I wished
our companion to hear。
〃You say that you saw your friend's face quite clearly at the
window； so clearly that you are sure of his identity？〃
〃I have no doubt about it whatever。 His nose was pressed against the
glass。 The lamplight shone full upon him。〃
〃It could not have been someone resembling him？〃
〃No； no； it was he。〃
〃But you say he was changed？〃
〃Only in colour。 His face was… how shall I describe it？… it was of a
fish…belly whiteness。 It was bleached。〃
〃Was it equally pale all over？〃
〃I think not。 It was his brow which I saw so clearly as it was
pressed against the window。〃
〃Did you call to him？〃
〃I was too startled and horrified for the moment。 Then I pursued
him； as I have told you； but without result。〃
My case was practically complete； and there was only one small
incident needed to round it off。 When； after considerable drive； we
arrived at the strange old rambling house which my client had
described； it was Ralph； the elderly butler； who opened the door。 I
had requisitioned the carriage for the day and had asked my elderly
friend to remain within it unless we should summon him。 Ralph； a
little wrinkled old fellow； was in the conventional costume of black
coat and pepper…and…salt trousers； with only one curious variant。 He
wore brown leather gloves； which at sight of us he instantly
shuffled off； laying them down on the hall…table as we passed in。 I
have； as my friend Watson may have remarked； an abnormally acute set
of senses； and a faint but incisive scent was apparent。 It seemed to
centre on the hall…table。 I turned； placed my hat there； knocked it
off； stooped to pick it up； and contrived to bring my nose within a
foot of the gloves。 Yes； it was undoubtedly from them that the curious
tarry odour was oozing。 I passed on into the study with my case
complete。 Alas； that I should have to show my hand so when I tell my
own story！ It was by concealing such links in the chain that Watson
was enabled to produce his meretricious finales。
Colonel Emsworth was not in his room； but he came quickly enough
on receipt of Ralph's message。 We heard his quick； heavy step in the
passage。 The door was flung open and he rushed in with bristling beard
and twisted features； as terrible an old man as ever I have seen。 He
held our cards in his hand； and he tore them up and stamped on the
fragments。
〃Have I not told you； you infernal busybody； that you are warned off
the premises？ Never dare to show your damned face here again。 If you
enter again without my leave I shall be within my rights if I use
violence。 I'll shoot you； sir！ By God； I will！ As to you； sir；〃
turning upon me； 〃I extend the same warning to you。 I am familiar with
your ignoble profession； but you must take your reputed talents to
some other field。 There is no opening for them here。〃
〃I cannot leave here；〃 said my client firmly； 〃until I hear from
Godfrey's own lips that he is under no restraint。〃
Our involuntary host rang the bell。
〃Ralph；〃 he said； 〃telephone down to the county police and ask the
inspector to send up two constables。 Tell him there are burglars in
the house。〃
〃One moment；〃 said I。 〃You must be aware； Mr。 Dodd； that Colonel
Emsworth is within his rights and that we have no legal status
within his house。 On the other hand； he should recognize that your
action is prompted entirely by solicitude for his son。 I venture to
hope that if I were allowed to have five minutes' conversation with
Colonel Emsworth I could certainly alter his view of the matter。〃
〃I am not so easily altered；〃 said the old soldier。 〃Ralph； do
what I have told you。 What the devil are you waiting for？ Ring up
the police！〃
〃Nothing of the sort；〃 I said； putting my back to the door。 〃Any
police interference would bring about the very catastrophe which you
dread。〃 I took out my notebook and scribbled one word upon a loose
sheet。 〃That；〃 said I as I handed it to Colonel Emsworth； 〃is what has
brought us here。〃
He stared at the writing with a face from which every expression
save amazement had vanished。
〃How do you know？〃 he gasped； sitting down heavily in his chair。
〃It is my business to know things。 That is my trade。〃
He sat in deep thought； his gaunt hand tugging at his straggling
beard。 Then he made a gesture of resignation。
〃Well； if you wish to see Godfrey； you shall。 It is no doing of
mine； but you have forced my hand。 Ralph； tell Mr。 Godfrey and Mr。
Kent that in five minutes we shall be with them。〃
At the end of that time we passed down the garden path and found
ourselves in front of the mystery house at the end。 A small bearded
man stood at the door with a look of considerable astonishment upon
his face。
〃This is very sudden； Colonel Emsworth；〃 said he。 〃This will
disarrange all our plans。〃
〃I can't help it； Mr。 Kent。 Our hands have been forced。 Can Mr。
Godfrey see us？〃
〃Yes； he is waiting inside。〃 He turned and led us into a large；
plainly furnished front room。 A man was standing with his back to
the fire； and at the sight of him my client sprang forward with
outstretched hand。
〃Why； Godfrey； old man； this is fine！〃
But the other waved him back。
〃Don't touch me； Jimmie。 Keep your distance。 Yes； you may well
stare！ I don't quite look the smart Lance…Corporal Emsworth； of B
Squadron； do I？〃
His appearance was certainly extraordinary。 One could see that he
had indeed been a handsome man with clear…cut features sunburned by an
African sun； but mottled in patches over this darker surface were
curious whitish patches which had bleached his skin。
〃That's why I don't court visitors；〃 said he。 〃I don't mind you；
Jimmie； but I could have done without your friend。 I suppose there
is some good reason for it； but you have me at a disadvantage。〃
〃I wanted to be sure that all was well with you； Godfrey。 I saw
you that night when you looked into my window； and I could not let the
matter rest till I had cleared things up。〃
〃Old Ralph told me you were there； and I couldn't help taking a peep
at you。 I hoped you would not have seen me； and I had to run to my
burrow when I heard the window go up。〃
〃But what in heaven's name is the matter？〃
〃Well； it's not a long story to tell；〃 said he； lighting a
cigarette。 〃You remember that morning fight at Buffelsspruit；
outside Pretoria； on the Eastern railway line？ You heard I was hit？〃
〃Yes； I heard that； but I never got particulars。〃
〃Three of us got separated from the others。 It was very broken
country； you may remember。 There was Simpson… the fellow we called
Baldy Simpson… and Anderson； and I。 We were clearing brother Boer； but
he lay low and got the three of us。 The other two were killed。 I got
an elephant bullet through my shoulder。 I stuck on to my horse；
however； and he galloped several miles before I fainted and rolled off
the saddle。
〃When I came to myself it was nightfall； and I raised myself up；
feeling very weak and ill。 To my surprise there was a house close
beside me； a fairly large house with a broad stoop and many windows。
It was deadly cold。 You remember the kind of numb cold which used to
come at evening； a deadly； sickening sort of cold； v
