《the adventure of the norwood builder》

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the adventure of the norwood builder- 第6部分


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credit also at some distant day; when I permit my zealous historian to

lay out his foolscap once more… eh; Watson? Well; now; let us see

where this rat has been lurking。〃

  A lath…and…plaster partition had been run across the passage six

feet from the end; with a door cunningly concealed in it。 It was lit

within by slits under the eaves。 A few articles of furniture and a

supply of food and water were within; together with a number of

books and papers。

  〃There's the advantage of being a builder;〃 said Holmes; as we

came out。 〃He was able to fix up his own little hiding…place without

any confederate… save; of course; that precious housekeeper of his;

whom I should lose no time in adding to your bag; Lestrade。〃

  〃I'll take your advice。 But how did you know of this place; Mr。

Holmes?〃

  〃I made up my mind that the fellow was in hiding in the house。

When I paced one corridor and found it six feet shorter than the

corresponding one below; it was pretty clear where he was。 I thought

he had not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of fire。 We could;

of course; have gone in and taken him; but it amused me to make him

reveal himself。 Besides; I owed you a little mystification;

Lestrade; for your chaff in the morning。〃

  〃Well; sir; you certainly got equal with me on that。 But how in

the world did you know that he was in the house at all?〃

  〃The thumb…mark; Lestrade。 You said it was final; and so it was;

in a very different sense。 I knew it had not been there the day

before。 I pay a good deal of attention to matters of detail; as you

may have observed; and I had examined the hall; and was sure that

the wall was clear。 Therefore; it had been put on during the night。〃

  〃But how?〃

  〃Very simply。 When those packets were sealed up; Jonas Oldacre got

McFarlane to secure one of the seals by putting his thumb upon the

soft wax。 It would be done so quickly and so naturally; that I daresay

the young man himself has no recollection of it。 Very likely it just

so happened; and Oldacre had himself no notion of the use he would put

it to。 Brooding over the case in that den of his; it suddenly struck

him what absolutely damning evidence he could make against McFarlane

by using that thumb…mark。 It was the simplest thing in the world for

him to take a wax impression from the seal; to moisten it in as much

blood as he could get from a pin…prick; and to put the mark upon the

wall during the night; either with his own hand or with that of his

housekeeper。 If you examine among those documents which he took with

him into his retreat; I will lay you a wager that you find the seal

with the thumb…mark upon it。〃

  〃Wonderful!〃 said Lestrade。 〃Wonderful! It's all as clear as

crystal; as you put it。 But what is the object of this deep deception;

Mr。 Holmes?〃

  It was amusing to me to see how the detective's overbearing manner

had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions of its

teacher。

  〃Well; I don't think that is very hard to explain。 A very deep;

malicious; vindictive person is the gentleman who is now waiting us

downstairs。 You know that he was once refused by McFarlane's mother?

You don't! I told you that you should go to Blackheath first and

Norwood afterwards。 Well; this injury; as he would consider it; has

rankled in his wicked; scheming brain; and all his life he has

longed for vengeance; but never seen his chance。 During the last

year or two; things have gone against him… secret speculation; I

think… and he finds himself in a bad way。 He determines to swindle his

creditors; and for this purpose he pays large checks to a certain

Mr。 Cornelius; who is; I imagine; himself under another name。 I have

not traced these checks yet; but I have no doubt that they were banked

under that name at some provincial town where Oldacre from time to

time led a double existence。 He intended to change his name

altogether; draw this money; and vanish; starting life again

elsewhere。〃

  〃Well; that's likely enough。〃

  〃It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all pursuit

off his track; and at the same time have an ample and crushing revenge

upon his old sweetheart; if he could give the impression that he had

been murdered by her only child。 It was a masterpiece of villainy; and

he carried it out like a master。 The idea of the will; which would

give an obvious motive for the crime; the secret visit unknown to

his own parents; the retention of the stick; the blood; and the animal

remains and buttons in the wood…pile; all were admirable。 It was a net

from which it seemed to me; a few hours ago; that there was no

possible escape。 But he had not that supreme gift of the artist; the

knowledge of when to stop。 He wished to improve that which was already

perfect… to draw the rope tighter yet round the neck of his

unfortunate victim… and so he ruined all。 Let us descend; Lestrade。

There are just one or two questions that I would ask him。〃

  The malignant creature was seated in his own parlour; with a

policeman upon each side of him。

  〃It was a joke; my good sir… a practical joke; nothing more;〃 he

whined incessantly。 〃I assure you; sir; that I simply concealed myself

in order to see the effect of my disappearance; and I am sure that you

would not be so unjust as to imagine that I would have allowed any

harm to befall poor young Mr。 McFarlane。〃

  〃That's for a jury to decide;〃 said Lestrade。 〃Anyhow; we shall have

you on a charge of conspiracy; if not for attempted murder。〃

  〃And you'll probably find that your creditors will impound the

banking account of Mr。 Cornelius;〃 said Holmes。

  The little man started; and turned his malignant eyes upon my

friend。

  〃I have to thank you for a good deal;〃 said he。 〃Perhaps I'll pay my

debt some day。〃

  Holmes smiled indulgently。

  〃I fancy that; for some few years; you will find your time very

fully occupied;〃 said he。 〃By the way; what was it you put into the

wood…pile besides your old trousers? A dead dog; or rabbits; or

what? You won't tell? Dear me; how very unkind of you! Well; well; I

daresay that a couple of rabbits would account both for the blood

and for the charred ashes。 If ever you write an account; Watson; you

can make rabbits serve your turn。〃



                          …THE END…



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