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the adventure of the retired colourman-第2章

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had gone alone。 There seemed to be no doubt about the fact; for he

produced the unused ticket which he had taken for his wife。〃

  〃That is remarkable… most remarkable;〃 said Holmes; whose interest

in the case seemed to be rising。 〃Pray continue; Watson。 I find your

narrative most arresting。 Did you personally examine this ticket?

You did not; perchance; take the number?〃

  〃It so happens that I did;〃 I answered with some pride。 〃It

chanced to be my old school number; thirty…one; and so is stuck in

my head。〃

  〃Excellent; Watson! His seat; then; was either thirty or

thirty…two。〃

  〃Quite so;〃 I answered with some mystification。 〃And on B row。〃

  〃That is most satisfactory。 What else did he tell you?〃

  〃He showed me his strong…room; as he called it。 It really is a

strong…room… like a bank… with iron door and shutter… burglar…proof;

as he claimed。 Whoever; the woman seems to have had a duplicate key;

and between them they had carried off some seven thousand pounds worth

of cash and securities。〃

  〃Securities! How could they dispose of those?〃

  〃He said that he had given the police a list and that he hoped

they would be unsaleable。 He had got back from the theatre about

midnight and found the place plundered; the door and window open;

and the fugitives gone。 There was no letter or message; nor has he

heard a word since。 He at once gave the alarm to the police。〃

  Holmes brooded for some minutes。

  〃You say he was painting。 What was he painting?〃

  〃Well; he was painting the passage。 But he had already painted the

floor and woodwork of this room I spoke of。〃

  〃Does it not strike you as a strange occupation in the

circumstances?〃

  〃'One must do something to ease an aching heart。' That was his own

explanation。 It was eccentric; no doubt; but he is clearly an

eccentric man。 He tore up one of his wife's photographs in my

presence… tore it up furiously in a tempest of passion。 'I never

wish to see her damned face again;' he shrieked。〃

  〃Anything more; Watson?〃

  〃Yes; one thing which struck me more than anything else。 I had

driven to the Blackheath Station and had caught my train there when;

just as it was starting; I saw a man dart into the carriage next to my

own。 You know that I have a quick eye for faces; Holmes。 It was

undoubtedly the tall; dark man whom I had addressed in the street。 I

saw him once more at London Bridge; and then I lost him in the

crowd。 But I am convinced that he was following me。〃

  〃No doubt! No doubt!〃 said Holmes。 〃A tall; dark; heavily moustached

man; you say; with gray…tinted sun…glasses?〃

  〃Holmes; you are a wizard。 I did not say so; but he had

gray…tinted sun…glasses。〃

  〃And a Masonic tie…pin?〃

  〃Holmes!〃

  〃Quite simple; my dear Watson。 But let us get down to what is

practical。 I must admit to you that the case; which seemed to me to be

so absurdly simple as to be hardly worth my notice; is rapidly

assuming a very different aspect。 It is true that though in your

mission you have missed everything of importance; yet even those

things which have obtruded themselves upon your notice give rise to

serious thought。〃

  〃What have I missed?〃

  〃Don't be hurt; my dear fellow。 You know that I am quite impersonal。

No one else would have done better。 Some possibly not so well。 But

clearly you have missed some vital points。 What is the opinion of

the neighbours about this man Amberley and his wife? That surely is of

importance。 What of Dr。 Ernest? Was he the gay Lothario one would

expect? With your natural advantages; Watson; every lady is your

helper and accomplice。 What about the girl at the post…office; or

the wife of the greengrocer? I can picture you whispering soft

nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor; and receiving hard

somethings in exchange。 All this you have left undone。〃

  〃It can still be done。〃

  〃It has been done。 Thanks to the telephone and the help of the Yard;

I can usually get my essentials without leaving this room。 As a matter

of fact; my information confirms the man's story。 He has the local

repute of being a miser as well as a harsh and exacting husband。

That he had a large sum of money in that strongroom of his is certain。

So also is it that young Dr。 Ernest; an unmarried man; played chess

with Amberley; and probably played the fool with his wife。 All this

seems plain sailing; and one would think that there was no more to

be said… and yet!… and yet!〃

  〃Where lies the difficulty?〃

  〃In my imagination; perhaps。 Well; leave it there; Watson。 Let us

escape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music。

Carina sings to…night at the Albert Hall; and we still have time to

dress; dine; and enjoy。〃

  In the morning I was up betimes; but some toast crumbs and two empty

eggshells told me that my companion was earlier still。 I found a

scribbled note upon the table。



  Dear Watson:

  There are one or two points of contact which I should wish to

establish with Mr。 Josiah Amberley。 When I have done so we can dismiss

the case… or not。 I would only ask you to be on hand about three

o'clock; as I conceive it possible that I may want you。

                                                           S。H。



  I saw nothing of Holmes all day; but at the hour named he

returned; grave; preoccupied; and aloof。 At such times it was wiser to

leave him to himself。

  〃Has Amberley been here yet?〃

  〃No。〃

  〃Ah! I am expecting him。〃

  He was not disappointed; for presently the old fellow arrived with a

very worried and puzzled expression upon his austere face。

  〃I've had a telegram; Mr。 Holmes。 I can make nothing of it。〃 He

handed it over; and Holmes read it aloud。



  〃Come at once without fail。 Can give you information as to your

recent loss。

                                                       〃ELMAN。

                                                      〃The Vicarage。



  〃Dispatched at 2:10 from Little Purlington;〃 said Holmes。 〃Little

Purlington is in Essex; I believe; not far from Frinton。 Well; of

course you will start at once。 This is evidently from a responsible

person; the vicar of the place。 Where is my Crockford? Yes; here we

have him: J。C。 Elman; M。A。; Living of Moosmoor cum Little Purlington。'

Look up the trains; Watson。〃

  〃There is one at 5:20 from Liverpool Street。〃

  〃Excellent。 You had best go with him; Watson。 He may need help or

advice。 Clearly we have come to a crisis in this affair。〃

  But our client seemed by no means eager to start。

  〃It's perfectly absurd; Mr。 Holmes;〃 he said。 〃What can this man

possibly know of what has occurred? It is waste of time and money。〃

  〃He would not have telegraphed to you if he did not know

something。 Wire at once that you are coming。〃

  〃I don't think I shall go。〃

  Holmes assumed his sternest aspect。

  〃It would make the worst possible impression both on the police

and upon myself; Mr。 Amberley; if when so obvious a clue arose you

should refuse to follow it up。 We should feel that you were not really

in earnest in this investigation。〃

  Our client seemed horrified at the suggestion。

  〃Why; of course I shall go if you look at it in that way;〃 said

he。 〃On the face of it; it seems absurd to suppose that this parson

knows anything; but if you think…〃

  〃I do think;〃 said Holmes with emphasis; and so we were launched

upon our journey。 Holmes took me aside before we left the room and

gave me one word of counsel; which showed that he considered the

matter to be of importance。 〃Whatever you do; see that he really

does go;〃 said he。 〃Should he break away or return; get to the nearest

telephone exchange and send the single word 'Bolted。' I will arrange

here that it shall reach me wherever I am。〃

  Little Purlington is not an easy place to reach; for it is on a

branch line。 My remembrance of the journey is not a pleasant one;

for the weather was hot; the train slow; and my companion sullen and

silent; hardly talking at all save to make an occasional sardonic

remark as to the futility of our proceedings。 When we at last

reached the little station it was a two…mile dri

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