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第5章

the adventure of the beryl coronet-第5章

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beg that you will break it off。〃

  The banker recoiled in horror。 〃I should not dream of trying;〃

said he。

  〃Then I will。〃 Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it; but

without result。 〃I feel it give a little;〃 said he; 〃but; though I

am exceptionally strong in the fingers; it would take me all my time

to break it。 An ordinary man could not do it。 Now; what do you think

would happen if I did break it; Mr。 Holder? There would be a noise

like a pistol shot。 Do you tell me that all this happened within a few

yards of your bed and that you heard nothing of it?〃

  〃I do not know what to think。 It is all dark to me。〃

  〃But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go。 What do you think; Miss

Holder?〃

  〃I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity。〃

  〃Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?〃

  〃He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt。〃

  〃Thank you。 We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary

luck during this inquiry; and it will be entirely our own fault if

we do not succeed in clearing the matter up。 With your permission; Mr。

Holder; I shall now continue my investigations outside。〃

  He went alone; at his own request; for he explained that any

unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult。 For an

hour or more he was at work; returning at last with his feet heavy

with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever。

  〃I think that I have seen now all that there is to see; Mr。 Holder;〃

said he; 〃I can serve you best by returning to my rooms。〃

  〃But the gems; Mr。 Holmes。 Where are they?〃

  〃I cannot tell。〃

  The banker wrung his hands。 〃I shall never see them again!〃 he

cried。 〃And my son? You give me hopes?〃

  〃My opinion is in no way altered。〃

  〃Then; for God's sake; what was this dark business which was acted

in my house last night?〃

  〃If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to…morrow

morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make

it clearer。 I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for

you; provided only that I get back the gems; and that you place no

limit on the sum I may draw。〃

  〃I would give my fortune to have them back。〃

  〃Very good。 I shall look into the matter between this and then。

Good…bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here

again before evening。〃

  It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up

about the case; although what his conclusions were was more than I

could even dimly imagine。 Several times during our homeward journey

I endeavoured to sound him upon the point; but he always glided away

to some other topic; until at last I gave it over in despair。 It was

not yet three when we found ourselves in our room once more。 He

hurried to his chamber; and was down again in a few minutes dressed as

a common loafer。 With his collar turned up; his shiny; seedy coat; his

red cravat; and his worn boots; he was a perfect sample of the class。

  〃I think that this should do;〃 said he; glancing into the glass

above the fireplace。 〃I only wish that you could come with me; Watson;

but I fear that it won't do。 I may be on the trail in this matter;

or I may be following a will…o'…the…wisp; but I shall soon know

which it is。 I hope that I may be back in a few hours。〃 He cut a slice

of beef from the joint upon the sideboard; sandwiched it between two

rounds of bread; and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he

started off upon his expedition。

  I had just finished my tea when he returned; evidently in

excellent spirits; swinging an old elastic…sided boot in his hand。

He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea。

  〃I only looked in as I passed;〃 said he。 〃I am going right on。〃

  〃Where to?〃

  〃Oh; to the other side of the West End。 It may be some time before I

get back。 Don't wait up for me in case I should be late。〃

  〃How are you getting on?〃

  〃Oh; so so。 Nothing to complain of。 I have been out to Streatham

since I saw you last; but I did not call at the house。 It is a very

sweet little problem; and I would not have missed it for a good

deal。 However; I must not sit gossiping here; but must get these

disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self。〃

  I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for

satisfaction than his words alone would imply。 His eyes twinkled;

and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks。 He

hastened upstairs; and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the

hall door; which told me that he was off once more upon his

congenial hunt。

  I waited until midnight; but there was no sign of his return; so I

retired to my room。 It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for

days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent; so that his

lateness caused me no surprise。 I do not know at what hour he came in;

but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he was with a

cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other; as fresh and

trim as possible。

  〃You will excuse my beginning without you; Watson;〃 said he; 〃but

you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this

morning。〃

  〃Why; it is after nine now;〃 answered。 〃I should not be surprised if

that were he。 I thought I heard a ring。〃

  It was; indeed; our friend the financier。 I was shocked by the

change which had come over him; for his face which was naturally of

a broad and massive mould; was now pinched and fallen in; while his

hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter。 He entered with a weariness

and lethargy which was even more painful than his violence of the

morning before; and he dropped heavily into the armchair which I

pushed forward for him。

  〃I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried;〃 said he。

〃Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man; without a care in

the world。 Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured age。 One sorrow

comes close upon the heels of another。 My niece; Mary; has deserted

me。〃

  〃Deserted you?〃

  〃Yes。 Her bed this morning had not been slept in; her room was

empty; and a note for me lay upon the hall table。 I had said to her

last night; in sorrow and not in anger; that if she had married my boy

all might have been well with him。 Perhaps it was thoughtless of me to

say so。 It is to that remark that she refers in this note:



  'MY DEAREST UNCLE:

  'I feel that I have brought trouble upon you; and that if I had

acted differently this terrible misfortune might never have

occurred。 I cannot; with this thought in my mind; ever again be

happy under your roof; and I feel that I must leave you forever。 Do

not worry about my future; for that is provided for; and; above all;

do not search for me; for it will be fruitless labour and an

ill…service to me。 In life or in death; I am ever

                                     〃Your loving 〃MARY。



  〃What could she mean by that note; Mr。 Holmes? Do you think it

points to suicide?〃

  〃No; no; nothing of the kind。 It is perhaps the best possible

solution。 I trust Mr。 Holder; that you are nearing the end of your

troubles。〃

  〃Ha! You say so! You have heard something; Mr。 Holmes; you have

learned something! Where are the gems?〃

  〃You would not think L1000 apiece an excessive sum for them?〃

  〃I would pay ten。〃

  〃That would be unnecessary。 Three thousand will cover the matter。

And there is a little reward; I fancy。 Have you your check…book?

Here is a pen。 Better make it out for L4000。〃

  With a dazed face the banker made out the required check。 Holmes

walked over to his desk; took out a little triangular piece of gold

with three gems in it; and threw it down upon the table。

  With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up。

  〃You have it!〃 he gasped。 〃I am saved! I am saved!〃

  The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been; and

he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom。

  〃There is one other thing you owe; Mr。 Holder;〃 said Sherlock Holmes

rather sternly。

  〃Owe!〃 He caught up a pen。 〃Name the sum; and I will pay it。〃

  〃No; the debt is not to me。 You owe a very humble apology to that

no

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