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五個桔核 The Five Orange Pips
當我粗略地看了一遍我積存的一八八二年至一○年間福爾摩斯偵探案的筆記和記錄時，我發覺擺在我眼前離奇有趣的材料浩如煙海，實在太多了，竟不知如何取捨是好。有些案件通過報紙已經廣為流傳，但是也有些案件缺乏可供我的朋友盡情發揮其出類拔萃的才能的餘地，而我的朋友的這種卓越才能正是那些報紙亟想報道的主要題材。還有些案件使得他的擅長於分析的本領無法施展，正象有些故事一樣，成為有頭無尾的了。又有一些案件，他僅搞清楚了一部分，對其情節的剖析衹是出於推測或臆斷，而不是以我的朋友所珍視的、準確無誤的邏輯論證為依據。在上述最後一類案件中，有一個案件情節異常、結局離破，使我不禁要有所敘述，儘管與這樁案子有關的一些是從未弄明白過，而且也許是永遠弄不明白的。
一八八七年我們經手過一係列頗為有趣和趣味不大的案件，有關這些案件的記錄，我都保留着。在這一年的十二個月的記錄的標題中，有關於如下各案的記載："帕拉多爾大廈案"；“業餘乞丐團案"，這個業餘乞丐團在一個傢具店庫房的地下室擁有一個窮奢極侈的俱樂部；“美國帆船'索菲·安德森'號失事案"；“格賴斯·彼得森在烏法島上的破案"；還有"坎伯韋爾放毒案"。記得在最後一案裏，當歇洛剋·福爾摩斯給死者的表上發條時，發現該表在兩小時前曾被上緊了發條，從而證明在那段時間裏死者業已上床就寢。這一推論對於廓清案情至關重要。所有這些案件，我有朝一日也許會略述其梗概，但是其中沒有一個案件比我現在就要執筆描述的有着一連串撲朔迷離的情節的案件更加怪誕不經。
那時正值九月下旬，秋分時節的暴風雨猛烈異常。一整天狂風怒號，苦雨擊窗，甚至在這偉大的人類用雙手建造起來的倫敦城內，我們在這時刻，也失去了從事日常工作的心情，而不得不承認偉大的自然界威力的存在。它猶如鐵籠裏未經馴服的猛獸，透過人類文明的柵欄嚮人類怒吼。隨着夜幕的降臨，暴風驟雨也更為猛烈。風時而大聲呼嘯，時而低沉飲泣，頗似從壁爐煙囪裏發出來的嬰兒哭泣聲。福爾摩斯坐在壁爐的一端，心情憂鬱，正在編製罪案記錄互見索引；而我則坐在另一端，埋頭於閱讀一本剋拉剋·拉塞爾著的精采的有關海洋的小說。這時屋外狂風咆哮，瓢潑大雨漸漸變成海浪似的衝擊，仿佛和小說的主題互相呼應，混成一體了。我的妻子那時正回娘傢省親，所以幾天來我又成為我那貝剋街故居的舊客了。
“嘿，"我說，擡頭望了望我的同伴，“確實是門鈴響。今夜誰還能來？也許是你的哪位朋友吧？”
“除了你，我哪裏還有什麽朋友？"他回答道。“我並不鼓勵人們來訪。”
“那末，是位委托人吧？”
“如果是委托人，案情一定很嚴重。如果不嚴重，此時此刻誰還肯出來。但是我覺得這人更可能是咱們房東太太的親密朋友。”
福爾摩斯猜錯了，因為過道上響起了腳步聲，接着有人在敲門。他伸出長臂把照亮他自己的那盞燈轉嚮那張客人一定會在那裏就座的空椅子一邊，然後說：“進來吧。”
進來的是一個年輕人，外貌大約二十二歲左右，穿着考究，服飾整潔，舉止大方，彬彬有禮。他手中的雨傘水泄如註，身上的長雨衣閃爍發亮，這些都說明他一路上所經歷的風吹雨打。他在燈光下焦急地嚮四周打量了一下。這時我看出他的臉色蒼白，雙目低垂。一個被某種巨大的憂慮壓得喘不過氣來的人的神情往往如此。
“我應當嚮您道歉，"他邊說邊將一副金絲夾鼻眼鏡戴上。
"我希望我不致打擾您！我擔心我已經把從暴風雨裏帶來的泥水玷污了您的整潔的房間。”
“把您的雨衣和傘都給我，"福爾摩斯說，“把它們挂在鈎子上，一會兒就會幹的。我看，您是從西南來的吧。”
“是的，從霍爾捨姆來的。”
“從粘在您鞋尖上混合在一起的粘土和白堊上，我就很清楚地看出您是從那裏來的。”
“我是專誠來嚮您請求指教的。”
“這我很容易做到。”
“並且還要請您幫助哩。”
“那可就不總是那麽容易了。”
“我已久聞大名，福爾摩斯先生。我聽普倫德加斯特少校說過，您是怎樣把他從坦剋維爾俱樂部醜聞案件中拯救出來的。”
“啊！不錯。人傢誣告他用假牌行騙。”
“他說您能解决任何問題。”
“他說得太過分了。”
“他還說您是常勝將軍。”
“我曾失敗過四次——三次敗於幾個男人，一次敗於一個女人。”
“可是，這同您無數次的勝利是不可同日而語的。”
“不錯，一般地說，我還是成功的。”
“那麽，對於我的事，您可能也會成功的。”
“請您把椅子挪近壁爐一些，講一講您這件案子的一些細節。”
“這决不是一個尋常的案子。”
“到我這裏來談的案子都是不尋常的。我這裏成了最高上訴法院。”
“可是，先生，我想問您，在您的經驗中，有沒有聽說過比我傢族中所發生的一連串更為神秘、更難解釋的事故？”
“您說的使我極感興趣，"福爾摩斯說道。"請您首先告訴我們一些主要事實，我隨後會把我認為最關緊要的細節提出來問您。”
那年輕人朝前挪動了一下椅子，把兩衹穿着潮濕鞋子的腳伸嚮爐火邊。
他說：“我名叫約翰·奧彭肖。據我的理解，我自己本身同這一可怕的事件沒有多大關係。那是上一代遺留下來的問題，因此，為了使您對這事有一個大概的瞭解，我必須從這一事件的開端談起。
“您要曉得，我的祖父有兩個兒子——我的伯父伊萊亞斯和我的父親約瑟夫。我父親在康文特裏開設一座小工廠，在發明自行車期間，他擴展了這個工廠，並享有奧彭肖防破車胎的專利權，因而生意十分興隆，這就使他後來能夠將工廠出讓，而依靠一筆巨款過着富裕的退休生活。
“我的伯父伊萊亞斯年輕時僑居美國，成了佛羅裏達州的一個種植園主。據說他經營得很不錯。南北戰爭期間，他在傑剋遜麾下作戰，後來隸屬鬍德部下，升任上校。南軍統帥羅伯特·李投降後，他解甲歸田，重返他的種植園，在那裏又住了三、四年。大約在一八六九或一八七○年，他回到歐洲，在蘇塞剋斯郡霍爾捨姆附近購置了一小塊地産。他在美國曾發過大財，他之所以離美返英，是因為他厭惡黑人，也不喜歡共和黨給予黑人選舉權的政策。他是個很怪癖的人，兇狠急躁，發怒時言語粗鄙，性情極為孤僻。自從他定居霍爾捨姆以來的這些年月裏，他深居簡出，我不知道他曾否涉足城鎮。他擁有一座花園，房子周圍有兩三塊田地，他可以在那裏鍛煉身體，可是他卻往往幾個星期都一直足不出戶。他狂飲白蘭地酒，而且煙癮極大，但他不喜歡社交，不要任何朋友，甚至和自己的胞弟也不相往來。
“他並不關心我；實際上，他還是喜歡我的，因為他初見我時，我不過是一個十一、二歲的小孩子。那是一八七八年，他已回國八、九年了。他央求我父親讓我同他一起住，他以他自己的方式來疼愛我。當他清醒不醉時，喜歡同我一起鬥雙陸、①玩象棋。他還讓我代表他跟傭人和一些生意人打交道。所以到我十六歲時，已儼然成為一個小當傢的了。我掌管所有的鑰匙，我可以隨心所欲地到我想去的任何地方，做我想做的任何事情，衹要不打擾他的隱居生活即可。不過，也有一個破特的例外，那就是，在閣樓那一層有着許多房間，而唯獨其中一間堆存破舊雜物的房間，常年加鎖，無論是我或其他任何人，他都嚴禁入內。我曾經懷着一個男孩子的好破心，從鑰匙孔嚮屋內窺視。可是除了預料中在這樣一間屋子裏會堆存着的一大堆破舊箱籠和大小包袱之外，就別無其他了。
“有一天，那是在一八八三年三月，一封貼有外國郵票的信放在上校的餐盤前面。對他來說，一封來信卻是一件異乎尋常的事，因為他的帳單都用現款支付，他不管什麽樣的朋友都沒有一個。‘從印度來的！'他一邊拿起信來，一邊詫異地說道，'本地治裏的郵戳！這是怎麽回事？'在他急忙拆開信封的時候，忽地蹦出五個又幹又小的桔核嗒嗒地落在盤子裏。我正待張嘴發笑，一看他的臉，我的笑容頓時從我的唇邊消失了。衹見他咧着嘴唇，雙眼突出，面如死灰，直瞪瞪地瞧着顫抖的手中仍舊拿着的那個信封。'K．K．K．！'他尖叫了起來，接着喊道，‘天哪，天哪，罪孽難逃呀！'
“我叫道：‘伯伯，怎麽啦？'
①又稱十五子遊戲，是一種雙方各有十五枚棋子，擲骰子决定棋格數的遊戲。——譯者註
“‘死亡！'他說着，從桌旁站起身來，回到他自己的房間，剩下我在那裏怕得心驚肉跳。我拿起了那信封，發現信封口蓋的裏層，也就是塗膠水的上端，有三個用紅墨水潦草地寫的Ｋ字。此外，除了那五個幹癟的桔核，別無他物。是什麽原因使他嚇得魂飛魄散呢？我離開那早餐的桌子上樓時，正好碰見他走下樓來，一手拿着一隻舊得生了銹的鑰匙——這一定是樓頂專用的了，另一手裏卻是一個象錢盒似的小黃銅匣。
“‘他們愛幹什麽就幹什麽，可是我仍將戰勝他們。'他發誓賭咒地說道，“叫瑪麗今天給我房間裏的壁爐升火，再派人去請霍爾捨姆的福德姆律師來！’
“我照他的吩咐辦了。律師來到時，我被召喚到他的房間裏。爐火熊熊，在壁爐的爐柵裏有一堆黑色蓬鬆的紙灰燼。那黃銅箱匣放在一旁，敞着蓋，裏面空空如也。我瞧了那匣子一眼，大吃一驚，因為那匣子蓋上印着我上午在信封上所見到的那樣的三個Ｋ字。
“‘約翰，我希望你，'我伯父說道，‘作我的遺囑見證人。我把我的産業，連帶它的一切有利和不利之處，留給我的兄弟——也就是你的父親。無疑以後從你父親那裏又會遺留給你的。如果你能平安無事地享有它們，自然是好；不過，如果你發覺不能，那末，孩子，我勸你把它留給你的死敵。我很遺憾給你留下這樣一個具有雙重意義的東西，但是我也真說不上事情會嚮哪個方向發展。請你按照福德姆律師在遺囑上指給你的地方簽上你的名字吧。’
“我照律師所指之處簽了名，律師就將遺囑帶走了。您可以想見，這件破特的事給我的印象極為深刻。我反復思量，多方揣摩，還是無法明白其中奧秘。可是這件事留下來的模模糊糊的恐怖感覺卻始終難於擺脫，雖然隨着時光的流逝，不安之感逐漸緩和，而且也沒有發生任何幹擾我們日常生活的事。儘管如此，我仍能看出我的伯父從此舉止異常。他酗酒狂飲更甚於往日，並且更加不願意置身於任何社交場所。他的大部分時間都消磨在他自己的深室之內，而且室內門上還上了鎖；但是他有時又象酒後發狂，從屋子裏一衝而出，手握左輪手槍，在花園中狂奔亂跑，尖聲叫喊，說什麽他誰也不怕，還說不管是人是鬼，誰也不能把他象綿羊似地圈禁起來。等到這陣激烈的突然發作過去以後，他又心慌意亂地急急跑回房間裏去，把門鎖了起來，還插上門閂，好象一個內心深處滲透了恐懼的人，無顔再虛張聲勢地裝下去那樣。在這種時刻，我見到他的臉，即使在寒鼕臘月，也是冷汗涔涔、濕漉漉的，似乎剛從洗臉盆裏擡起頭來。
“噢，福爾摩斯先生，現在說說此事的結局吧，不能再辜負您的耐性了。有一夜，他又撒了一回那樣的酒瘋，突然跑出去，可是這一回，卻永遠一去不復返了。我們去尋找他時，發現他面朝下摔跌在花園一端的一個泛着緑色的污水坑裏。並未發現施行任何暴力的跡象，坑水也不過兩英尺深，因此，陪審團鑒於他平日的古怪行徑，斷定為'自殺'事件。可是我素來知道他是個怕死的人，總覺得難於相信他竟會跑出去自尋短見。儘管如此，事過境遷。我父親繼承了他的地産，以及他存放在銀行的大約一萬四千鎊存款。”
“等一等，"福爾摩斯插言道，“我預料您所說的這案情將是我所聽到的一件最出破的案子。請把您的伯父接到那封信的日期和他的被信以為真的自殺日期告訴我。”
“收到來信的日期是一八八三年三月十日。他的死是在七個星期後的五月二日。”
“謝謝您。請說下去。”
“當我父親接收了那座霍爾捨姆房産時，他應我的建議，仔細檢查了長年纍月挂上了鎖的閣樓。我們發現那個黃銅匣子仍在那裏，雖然匣內的東西已經被毀掉了。匣蓋的裏面有個紙標簽寫着ＫＫＫ．．．三個大寫字母。下邊還寫有'信件、備忘錄、收據和一份記錄'等字樣。我們認為：這表明了奧彭肖上校所銷毀的文件的性質。除了許多散亂的文件和記有我伯父在美洲的生活情況的筆記本外，頂樓上其餘的東西都無關緊要。
這些散亂的東西，有些是關於戰爭時期的情況和他恪盡職守榮獲英勇戰士稱號的記述；還有些是關於戰後南方各州重建時期的大多與有關的記錄，顯然我伯父當時曾積極參加反對那些由北方派來的隨身衹帶着一隻旅行手提包進行搜刮的政客。
“唉，我父親搬到霍爾捨姆去住時，正值一八八四年初，直到一八八五年元月，一切都稱心如意。元旦過後的第四天，我們大傢圍着桌子坐在一起吃早餐時，我的父親忽然一聲驚叫，衹見他坐在那裏，一手舉着一個剛剛拆開的信封，另一隻手的五指伸開的掌心上有五個幹癟的桔核。他平日總嘲笑我所說伯父的遭遇是荒誕無稽的故事，一旦他自己碰上了同樣的事，卻也嚇得大驚失色，神志恍惚。
“‘啊，這究竟是怎麽一回事，約翰？'他結結巴巴地問道。
“我的心變成一塊鉛似地沉重。'這是ＫＫＫ．．．，'我說。
“他看看信封的內層。'不錯，'他叫了起來，‘就是這幾個字母。這上面又寫着什麽？’
“‘把文件放在日晷儀上，'我從他肩膀背後望着信封念道。
“‘什麽文件？什麽日晷儀？'他又問道。
“‘花園裏的日晷儀，別處沒有，'我說，‘文件一定是被毀掉的那些。’
“‘呸！'他壯着膽子說。'我們這裏是文明世界，不容許有這種蠢事發生！這東西是哪裏來的？’
“‘從敦提來的，'我看了一下郵戳回答說。
“‘一個荒唐的惡作劇，'他說，‘我和日晷儀啦、文件啦，有什麽關係？對這種無聊的事我不屑一顧。’
“‘要是我的話，就一定報告，'我說。
“‘這樣，我痛苦，卻讓他們譏笑，我不幹。’
“‘那末讓我去報告吧？’
“‘不，也不許你去。我不願為這種荒唐事庸人自擾。’
“與他爭辯是徒勞的，因為他是個非常頑固的人。我衹好走開，心裏惴惴不安，充滿大禍將臨的預感。
“接到來信以後的第三天，我父親離傢去看望他的一位老朋友，弗裏博迪少校。他現在是樸次當山一處堡壘的指揮官。
我為他的出訪而感到高興，在我看來，仿佛他離開了傢倒可避開危險。可是我想錯了。他出門的第二天，我接到少校拍來一封電報，要我立即趕赴他那裏。我父親摔在一個很深的白堊礦坑裏，這種礦坑在這附近地區是很多的。他摔碎了頭骨，躺在裏邊不省人事。我急切地跑去看他，可是他再也沒有恢復知覺，從此與世長辭了。顯而易見，他是在黃昏前從費爾哈姆回傢，由於鄉間道路不熟，白堊坑又無欄桿遮擋，驗屍官便毫不遲疑地作出了'由於意外致死'的判斷。我審慎地檢查了每一與他死因有所關聯的事情，但是沒有發現任何含有謀殺意圖的事實。現場沒有暴力行動的跡象，沒有腳印，沒有發生搶劫，也沒有關於看見路上有陌生人出現的記錄。可是我不說您也知道，我的心情是非常不平靜的。我幾乎可以確定：一定有人在他的周圍策劃了某種卑鄙的陰謀。
“在這種不祥的情況下，我繼承了遺産。您會問我為什麽不把它賣掉。我的回答是：因為我深信，我們傢的災難在一定程度上是由我伯父生前的某種意外事故所决定的，所以不管是在這所房子裏，還是在另一所房子裏，禍事必將同樣緊平地威脅着我們。
“我父親是在一八八五年一月慘遭不幸的，至今倏已兩年八個月了。在這段時間內，我在霍爾捨姆的生活還是幸福的。
我已開始抱着這種希望：災禍業已遠離我傢，它已與我的上一代人一起告終了。誰知我這樣的還為時過早。昨天早上，災禍又臨門了，情況和我父親當年經歷的一模一樣。”
那年輕人從背心的口袋裏取出一個揉皺了的信封，走嚮桌旁，他搖落在桌上五個又小又幹的桔核。
“這就是那個信封，"他繼續說道，“郵戳蓋的是倫敦東區。
信封裏還是我父親接到的最後一封信裏的幾個字：'K.K．K'。
然後是'把文件放在日晷儀上'。”
“您采取了什麽措施沒有？"福爾摩斯問道。
“什麽也沒有。”
“什麽也沒有？！”
“說實話，"他低下頭去，用消瘦蒼白的雙手捂着臉，“我覺得毫無辦法。我覺得自己象一隻可憐的兔子面臨着一條蜿蜒前來的毒蛇。我好象陷入一種不可抗拒和殘酷無情的惡魔的魔爪之中，而這魔爪是任何預見、任何預防措施都無法防範的。”
“噴！噴！"福爾摩斯嚷道。"您一定要采取行動啊，先生。
否則，您可就完了！現在除了振作精神以外，沒有別的什麽能夠輓救您的了。可沒有唉聲嘆氣的閑工夫啊！”
“我去找過了。”
“啊！”
“但是他們聽我訴說以後，僅僅付之一笑。我相信那巡官已經形成固定的看法，認為那些信純屬惡作劇，我的兩位親人之死正如驗屍官所說的，完全是出於意外，因此不必和那些前兆聯繫到一起。”
福爾摩斯揮舞着他緊握的雙拳，喊着：“令人難以置信的愚蠢！”
“可是他們答應派一名，同我一起留在那房子裏。”
“今晚同您一起出來了沒有？”
“沒有。他奉命衹呆在房子裏。”
福爾摩斯又憤怒得揮舞起拳頭來。
“那麽，為什麽您來找我？"他叫道，“再說更重要的是，為什麽您不一開始就來找我？”
“我不知道啊。衹是到了今天，我嚮普倫德加斯特少校談了我的睏境，他纔勸我來找您的。”
“您接到了信已經整整過了兩天。我們應當在此之前采取行動。我估計您除了那些已經嚮我提供的情節以外，沒有更進一步的憑證——沒有什麽可以對我們有用的帶有啓發性的細節了吧。”
“有一件，"約翰·奧彭肖說。他在上衣口袋裏翻找了一番以後，掏出了一張褪色的藍紙，攤開放在桌上。“我有些記得，”他說，“那一天，我的伯父在焚燒文件的時候，我看見紙灰堆裏有一些小的沒有燒着的文件的紙邊是這種特殊的顔色的。我在我伯父的屋子裏的地板上發現這張紙。我傾嚮於這樣的想法：它是從一疊紙裏掉下來的，所以沒被焚燒掉。紙上除了提到桔核之外，恐怕它對我們幫助不大。我想它也許是私人日記裏的一頁，字跡毫無疑問是我伯父的。”
福爾摩斯把燈移動了一下，我們兩人彎來觀看那張紙。紙邊參差不齊，的確是從一個本子上撕下來的。上端寫有"一八六九年三月"字樣，下面是一些莫明其妙的記載，內容如下：四日：赫德森來。抱着同樣的舊政見。
七日：把桔核交給聖奧古斯丁的麥考利、帕拉米諾和約翰·斯溫。
九日：麥考利已清除。
十日：約翰·斯溫已清除。
十二日：訪問帕拉米諾。一切順利。
“謝謝您！"福爾摩斯說，同時把那張紙摺叠起來還給了客人。"現在您連一分鐘都不能再耽擱了。我們甚至沒有時間來討論您告訴我的情況。您必須馬上回傢，開始行動。”
“我應該怎麽做呢？”
“衹有一件事要做。而且一定要刻不容緩立即就辦。您必須把給我們看過的這張紙放進您說過的那個黃銅匣子裏去。
還要放進一張便條，說明所有其它文件都已被您的伯父燒掉了，這是僅剩的一張。您一定要用使他們能夠確信無疑的措詞。做完這一切以後，您必須馬上就把黃銅匣子按信封上所說的放在日晷儀上。您明白了嗎？”
“完全明白了。”
“現在不要想報仇之類的事。我認為我們可以通過法律來達到那目的。既然他們已經布下了羅網，我們也應該采取相應措施。現在首先要考慮的是消除威脅您的迫在眉睫的危險；其次纔是揭穿秘密，懲處罪惡的集團。”
“謝謝您，"那年輕人說着站起身來，穿上雨衣，“您給了我新的生命和希望。我一定遵照您的指點去做。”
“您必須分秒必爭。與此同時，您首先必須照顧好您自己，因為我認為，毫無疑問有一種非常現實和氣近的危險正在威脅着您。您怎樣回去呢？”
“從滑鐵盧車站乘火車回去。”
“現在還不到九點鐘。街上人還很多，所以我相信您也許能平安無事。不過，您無論怎樣嚴加小心都不會過分。”
“我有武器在身。”
“那就好。明天我就開始辦您這案子。”
“那末，我就在霍爾捨姆等着您？”
“不，您這案件的奧秘在倫敦。我將在倫敦尋找綫索。”
“那末我過一天，或者兩天，再來看您，告訴您關於那銅匣子和文件的消息。我將遵照您的指點逐一去辦。"他和我們握手告別。門外狂風依舊呼嘯不已。大雨瓢潑，簌簌不停地敲打着窗戶。這個離破、兇險的故事似乎是隨着狂風暴雨而來到我們這裏的——它仿佛是強風中掉落在我們身上的一片落葉——現在又被暴風雨捲走了。
福爾摩斯默默地坐了一會兒，頭嚮前傾，目光凝註在壁爐的紅彤彤的火焰上。隨後他點燃了煙斗，背靠坐椅，望着藍色煙圈一個跟着一個地裊裊升嚮天花板。
“華生，我想我們經歷的所有案件中沒有一件比這個更為稀破古怪的了。"他終於做出了一個判斷。
“除了'四簽名'案外，也許是這樣。”
“嗯，對了。除此之外，也許是這樣。可是在我看來，這個約翰·奧彭肖似乎是正在面臨着比舒爾托更大的危險。”
“但是，你對這是什麽樣的危險是否有了任何明確的看法？"我問道。
“它們的性質是沒有疑問的了，"他回答說。
“那末，它們是怎麽回事？誰是這個ＫＫＫ．．．？為什麽他要一直糾纏着這個不幸的家庭呢？”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯閉上了眼睛，兩肘靠在椅子的扶手上，指尖合攏在一起，說道，“對於一個理想的推理傢來說，一旦有人嚮他指明一個事實的一個方面以後，他就能從這一個方面不僅推斷出導致這個事實的各個方面，而且能夠推斷出由此將會産生的一切後果。正如居維葉，經過深思默想就能根據①一塊骨頭準確地描繪出一頭完整的動物一樣。一個觀察傢，既已徹底瞭解一係列事件中的一環，就應能正確地說明前前後後的所有其它的環節。我們還沒有掌握唯有理性才能獲得的結果。問題衹有通過研究才能獲得解决，企圖憑藉直覺解决問題的人是會失敗的。不過，要使這種藝術達到登峰造極的地步，推理傢就必須善於利用他已經掌握的所有事實，這是你不難理解的，其本身就意味着要掌握一切知識。而要做到這一點，即使在有了免費教育和百科全書的今天，多少也還是一種難得的成就。一個人要掌握對他工作可能有用的全部知識，倒也未必是絶對不可能的。我本身就一直在作此努力。如果我沒記錯的話，在我們結交之初，你曾有一次十分精確地指出了我的局限性。”
“對，"我回答道，不禁笑了。"那是一張怪有趣的記錄表。
我記得：哲學、天文學、學，打了零分；植物學，說不準；地質學，就倫敦五十英裏以內任何地區的泥跡而言，算得造詣很深；化學，很獨特；解剖學，沒有係統；關於驚險文學和罪行記錄是無與倫比的；是小提琴音樂傢、拳擊手、劍術運動員、律師；是服用可卡因和吸煙的自我毒害者。我想，那些都是我分析的要點。”
①ＧｅｏｒｇｅｓＣｕｖｉｅｒ，１７６９—１８３２，法國動物、古生物學家。——譯者註
福爾摩斯聽到最後一項，嘻嘻地笑了。"嗯，"他說，“就象我過去說的一樣，我現在還是要說：一個人應當給他自己頭腦的小小閣樓裏裝滿他可能需要使用的一切。其餘的東西可以放到他的藏書室裏去，需要的時候，隨時取用即可。現在，為了今晚我們接受的這樣一樁案件，我們肯定需要把我們所有的資料都集中起來。勞駕把你身邊書架上的美國百科全書裏Ｋ字部的那一册遞給我。謝謝你！讓我們考慮一下形勢，看看從中可能作出什麽樣的推論。首先，我們可以從一個有充分根據的假定開始——奧彭肖上校是由於某種有力的原因而離開美國的。到了他那樣年紀的人是不會改變他全部的習慣的，他也不會心甘情願地放棄佛羅裏達的宜人的氣候而回到英國來過鄉鎮的寂寥生活的。他對英國的孤獨生活那樣極為罕見的喜愛暗示着他心中懼怕某人、某事，因此我們不妨作出一個可用的假設，認為他是出於對某人、某事的恐懼離開美國的。
至於他所怕的是什麽，我們衹能其他和他的幾個繼承人所接到的那幾次可怕的信件來推斷。你註意到那幾封信的郵戳了沒有？”
“第一封是從本地治裏寄出的，第二封是敦提，第三封是倫敦。”
“從倫敦東區寄出。你據此能推斷出什麽來呢？”
“那些地方都是海港。寫信的人是在船上。”
“好極了，我們有了一條綫索了。毫無疑問，很可能——極其可能——寫信的人當時一定是在一條船上。現在我們再考慮第二點。就本地治裏來說，從收到恐嚇信起到出事時止，前後經過七個星期。至於敦提，僅僅經過大約三、四天。這說明什麽問題呢？”
“前者路程較遠。”
“可是信件也要經過較遠的路程呀？”
“那我就不懂了。”
“至少可以這樣假設：那個人或那一夥人乘坐的是一條帆船。看來好象他們破特的警告或信號總是在他們出發肇事以前發出的。你瞧，信號從敦提來後，緊接着事情就發生了，你說有多快。如果他們是從本地治裏乘輪船來的，那他們會同那信同時到達。但是，事實上，過了七個星期纔出事。我想那七個星期代表的是信件是由郵輪運來的，而寫信的人是乘帆船來的這一時差。”
“大有可能。”
“不僅可能，而且大概就是這樣。現在可以看出這樁新案子的極端緊迫性和為什麽我極力告誡小奧彭肖要提高警惕。
災禍總是在發信人旅程終了之後來臨的。可是這一回是從倫敦來的，所以我們就刻不容緩了。”
“天哪！"我叫起來了。“這意味着什麽？這種無情的！”
“奧彭肖所帶的那個文件顯然對於帆船裏的一個人或一夥人有着生死攸關的重要性。我想情況很清楚，他們一定不止一個人。單獨一人不可能接連使得兩人死於非命，而所用的手段則竟然瞞過了驗屍陪審團。這裏面必然有同夥數人，他們還一定是有勇有謀的人。他們非要把文件弄到手不可，不管是藏在誰那裏。因此，你可以看出，．．．已不再是一個人的名ＫＫＫ字縮寫，而是一個團體的標志。”
“是什麽樣團體的標志呢？”
“你沒有——"福爾摩斯說道，一面俯身嚮前放低聲音，"你從來沒有聽說過三Ｋ黨嗎？”
“我從來沒有聽說過。”
福爾摩斯一頁一頁地翻閱着放在他膝蓋上的書。"瞧這兒，"隨後他念道："剋尤·剋拉剋斯·剋蘭，是一個名字。它來源於想①象中那種酷似扳起槍的擊鐵的聲音。這個可怕的秘密團體是南方各州的前聯邦士兵在南北戰爭以後組成的，並迅即在全國各地成立了分會。其中在田納西、路易斯安那、卡羅來納、佐治亞和佛羅裏達各州尤為引人註目。它的勢力被用於實現其目的，主要是對黑人選民使用恐怖手段，謀殺或驅逐反對他們觀點的人們出國。他們將施加暴行時通常是，先寄給受到敵視的人某種形狀破怪但尚可辨的東西，例如，一小根帶葉的橡樹葉、幾粒西瓜籽，或幾個桔核，作為警告。受到敵視的人接到警告以後，可以公開宣佈放平原有觀點，或逃奔國外。如果置之不理，則必將遭受殺害，而且往往出於某種破怪的和意料不到的方式。那個團體的組織是如此嚴密，所使用的方法又是如此有係統，竟緻在有案可稽的案件中，幾乎從未見有哪個與之抗衡的人能夠幸免於禍，也從未能追查到暴行的作案人。儘管美國政府和南方上層社會的努力阻止，這個團體在幾年時間裏還是到處蔓延滋長。最後，到了一八六九年，這個三Ｋ黨運動竟突然垮臺，雖然此後還不時發生這類暴行。”
福爾摩斯放下手中的書，說道：“你一定會看出，那個團體的突然垮臺是和奧彭肖帶着文件逃出美國同時發生的。兩件事很可能互為因果。難怪奧彭肖和他的一傢人，總有一些死對頭在追蹤他們。你一定能理解，這個記錄和日記牽涉到美國南方的某些頭面人物。再則，還會有不少人不重新找到這些東西是連覺都睡不踏實的。”
①即英文ＫｕＫｌｕｘＫｌａｎ——三Ｋ黨。——譯者註
“那末，我們看見過的那一頁……”
“正如我們所料想的。如果我沒記錯的話，那上面寫着'送桔核給ＡＢ、和Ｃ。'那就是把團體的警告送給他們。然後，又接着寫道：和ＡＢ已清除，或者已出國；最後還說訪問過Ｃ；我擔心這會給Ｃ帶來不祥的後果。喂，醫生，我想，我們可以讓這個黑暗的地方獲得一綫光明，我相信，在這同一時間裏，小奧彭肖的唯一機會就是按照我告訴他的去做。今天夜裏，沒有什麽更多可說、更多可做的了。請你把小提琴遞給我！讓我們把這惱人的天氣和我們同胞的不幸遭遇暫時置之腦後半個小時吧。”
清晨，天已放晴，太陽透過籠罩在這偉大城市上空的朦朧雲霧閃耀着柔和的光芒。我下樓時，福爾摩斯已經在吃早餐了。
“你會原諒我沒有等你吧，"他說，“我估計，我將要為小奧彭肖的案子忙碌一整天。”
“你準備采取什麽措施？"我問道。
“這在很大程度上取决於我初步調查的結果了。總之，我也許不得不去霍爾捨姆一趟。”
“你不先去那裏嗎？”
“不，我得從城裏開始，衹要拉拉鈴，女傭人就會給你端杯咖啡來的。”
我在等待咖啡的時候，拿起了桌上還沒有打開的報紙瀏覽了一下。我的目光停在一個標題上，心裏打了一個冷戰。
“福爾摩斯，"我叫了起來，“你晚了！”
“啊！"他放下了杯子答道，“我擔心的正是這樣。這是怎麽搞的？"顯然他說的時候很平靜，但我已看出他內心很激動。
奧彭肖的名字和"滑鐵盧橋畔的悲劇"這一標題吸引住了我的註意力。這個報道的內容如下：昨晚九時至十時之間，八班警士庫剋於滑鐵盧橋附近值勤，忽聞有人呼救及落水之聲。是夜伸手不見五指，又值狂風暴雨肆虐，故雖有過路者數人援助，亦無法營救。然而警報當即發出，經水上協同努力，終於撈獲屍體一具。
驗明該屍乃一名青年紳士。從其衣袋取出之信封，得知此人之姓名為約翰·奧彭肖，生前居住於霍爾捨姆附近。據推測，渠可能急於趕搭從滑鐵盧車站開出之末班火車，匆忙間於一片漆黑中迷途，誤踩一輪渡小碼頭之邊緣而失足落水。屍體未見有任何暴力之痕跡。無疑死者乃因意外不幸而遇難，此事適足以喚起市政當局註意河濱碼頭之情況雲雲。
我們默默地坐了幾分鐘，福爾摩斯意氣沮喪，深受震驚的神情是我從未見過的。
“這件事傷了我的自尊心，華生，"他終於開口說道，“雖然這是一種偏狹的感情，但它是傷了我的自尊心。現在這成為我個人的事了。如上帝假我以天年，我就要親手解决這幫傢夥。
他跑來嚮我求救，而我竟然把他打發走去送死……！"他從椅子裏一躍而起，在房中踱來踱去，情緒激動，難以抑製。他深陷的雙頰上浮現赧顔，兩衹瘦長的手不安地一會兒手指交叉着緊握在一起，一會兒又鬆開。
最後，他大聲說道：“他們這幫魔鬼真是狡猾透了，他們怎麽能夠把他騙到那兒去的呢？那堤岸並不在直達車站的路綫上呀！對於達到他們的目的來說，即使在這樣一個黑夜，在那座橋上無疑也是人太多了。唉，華生，咱們瞧着吧，看誰最後取得勝利！我現在就要出去了！”
“去找嗎？”
“不，我自己來當。等我結好了網，就可以來捕捉蒼蠅了。可是要在結好網之後捕捉。”
這一整天我忙於我的醫務工作，入暮很晚我纔返回貝剋街。福爾摩斯還沒有回來。一直到快要十點鐘了，他纔面色蒼白，精疲力盡地走了進來。他跑到碗櫃旁邊，撕下一大塊面包，狼吞虎咽地嚼着，喝了一大杯水把它衝下去。
“你餓了，"我說。
“餓極啦！一直忘記吃東西了，早餐後就什麽也沒吃。”
“沒吃東西？”
“一點也沒吃，沒功夫想到它。”
“進展如何？”
“不錯。”
“有綫索了嗎？”
“他們在我的掌握之中了。小奧彭肖的仇不會報不了的。
嘿，華生，讓咱們以僕人之道，還治僕人之身。這是經過深思熟慮的啊！”
“你這是什麽意思？”
他從碗櫃裏拿出一隻桔子來，掰成幾瓣兒，把桔核擠出來，放在桌上，從中選了五個，裝到一個信封裏面。在那信封口蓋的反面，他寫上"Ｓ．Ｈ．代Ｊ．Ｏ．"。①他封上信封，在上面寫上"美國，佐治亞洲，薩凡納，‘孤星號'三桅帆船，詹姆斯·卡爾霍恩船長收"等字樣。
“當他進港時這封信已經在等着他了，"他得意地笑着說，"這封信會使他夜不安眠。他還會發覺這封信肯定是他死亡的預兆，正如奧彭肖從前所遭遇到的情況一樣。”
“這個卡爾霍恩船長是什麽人？”
“那幫傢夥的頭頭。我還要搞其它幾個人，不過先搞他。”
“那末，你怎樣追查出來的呢？”
他從衣袋裏拿出一大張紙來，上面盡是些日期和姓名。
“我花了一整天的功夫，"他說，“用在查閱勞埃德船登記簿和舊文件的捲宗，追查一八八三年一、二月在本地治裏港停靠過的每艘船在離港以後的航程。從登記上看，在這兩個月裏，到達那裏噸位較大的船共有三十六艘。其中一艘叫做'孤星號'，它立刻引起了我的註意，因為這艘船雖然登記的是在倫敦結關的，但是卻用了美國的一個州的名稱來命名的。”
①即歇洛剋·福爾摩斯（ＳｈｅｒｌｏｃｋＨｏｌｍｅｓ）代約翰·奧彭肖（ＪｏｈｎＯｐｅｎFｓｈａｗ）之意。——譯者註“我想，是得剋薩斯州。”
“是哪一州，我原來弄不清，現在也說不準；不過我知道它原先一定是艘美國船。”
“以後又怎樣呢？”
“我查閱了敦提的記錄。當我看到一八八五年一月三桅帆船'孤星號'抵達那裏的記錄時，我心裏的猜想就變為確信無疑的了。我接着就對目前停泊在倫敦港內的船衹的情況進行了查詢。”
“結果呢？”
“那'孤星號'上星期到達這裏。我跑到艾伯特船塢，查明這船今天早晨已趁着早潮順流而下，返航薩瓦納港去了。我發電報給格雷夫森德，得知這船已經在不久前駛過去了。由於風嚮是朝東的，我確信：這船此刻已開過古德溫斯，離懷特島不遠。”
“那末，你想幹什麽呢？”
“我要去逮住他！他和那兩個副手，據我所知，是那船上僅有的美國人。其餘的是芬蘭人和德國人。我還瞭解到他們三人昨晚曾離船上岸。這消息是當時正在給他們裝貨的碼頭工人說的。等到他們的這艘帆船到達薩瓦納時，郵船也已經把這封信帶到那地方了，同時海底電報則已經通知了薩瓦納的，說明這三位先生是這裏正在通緝中的被控犯有謀殺罪的人犯。”
然而，人謀布下的羅網縱極工巧，終不能沒有絲毫漏洞。
謀殺約翰·奧彭肖的兇手竟然再也收不到那幾個桔核了，而那幾個桔核是會使他們知道世界上另外還有一個和他們同樣狡猾、同樣堅决的人正在追捕着他們。那年秋分時的暴風颳得久，颳得猛。我們等了很長時間，想得到薩瓦納"孤星號"的消息，卻一直杳無音信。終於我們聽說：在遠遠的大西洋某處，有人看到在一次海浪的退潮中漂泊着一塊破碎的船尾柱，上面刻着"Ｌ．Ｓ．"①兩個字母，而我們所能知道的關於"孤星號"的命運僅此而已。
①"孤星號"原文為ｌｏｎｅＳｔａｒ，縮寫為ＬＳ．．。——譯者註
The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe.
It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street.
"Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?"
"Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage visitors."
"A client, then?"
"If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the landlady's."
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit.
"Come in!" said he.
The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is weighed down with some great anxiety.
"I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug chamber."
"Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the south-west, I see."
"Yes, from Horsham."
"That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is quite distinctive."
"I have come for advice."
"That is easily got."
"And help."
"That is not always so easy."
"I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal."
"Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards."
"He said that you could solve anything."
"He said too much."
"That you are never beaten."
"I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a woman."
"But what is that compared with the number of your successes?"
"It is true that I have been generally successful."
"Then you may be so with me."
"I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with some details as to your case."
"It is no ordinary one."
"None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal."
"And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which have happened in my own family."
"You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards question you as to those details which seem to me to be most important."
The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out towards the blaze.
"My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the affair.
"You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire upon a handsome competence.
"My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any friends, not even his own brother.
"He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would make me his representative both with the servants and with the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such a room.
"One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!'
"'What is it, uncle?' I cried.
"'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small brass box, like a cashbox, in the other.
"'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.'
"I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the envelope.
"'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where Mr. Fordham shows you.'
"I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it were new raised from a basin.
"Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when we went to search for him, face downward in a little green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank."
"One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and the date of his supposed suicide."
"The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks later, upon the night of May 2nd."
"Thank you. Pray proceed."
"When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag politicians who had been sent down from the North.
"Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon himself.
"'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered.
"My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I.
"He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the very letters. But what is this written above them?'
"'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his shoulder.
"'What papers? What sundial?' he asked.
"'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the papers must be those that are destroyed.'
"'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come from?'
"'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark.
"'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such nonsense.'
"'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said.
"'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.'
"'Then let me do so?'
"'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.'
"It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings.
"On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him.
"In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as pressing in one house as in another.
"It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in which it had come upon my father."
The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried orange pips.
"This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the papers on the sundial.'"
"What have you done?" asked Holmes.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against."
"Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair."
"I have seen the police."
"Ah!"
"But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the warnings."
Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible imbecility!" he cried.
"They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the house with me."
"Has he come with you to-night?"
"No. His orders were to stay in the house."
Again Holmes raved in the air.
"Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you not come at once?"
"I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to you."
"It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which might help us?"
"There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly my uncle's."
Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the following enigmatical notices:
"4th. Hudson came. Same old platform.
"7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and John Swain, of St. Augustine.
"9th. McCauley cleared.
"10th. John Swain cleared.
"12th. Visited Paramore. All well."
"Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me. You must get home instantly and act."
"What shall I do?"
"There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do you understand?"
"Entirely."
"Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the guilty parties."
"I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall certainly do as you advise."
"Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you go back?"
"By train from Waterloo."
"It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too closely."
"I am armed."
"That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case."
"I shall see you at Horsham, then?"
"No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it."
"Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them once more.
Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling.
"I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this."
"Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four."
"Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Sholtos."
"But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to what these perils are?"
"There can be no question as to their nature," he answered.
"Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue this unhappy family?"
Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion."
"Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main points of my analysis."
Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those letters?"
"The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London."
"From East London. What do you deduce from that?"
"They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship."
"Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Does that suggest anything?"
"A greater distance to travel."
"But the letter had also a greater distance to come."
"Then I do not see the point."
"There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the writer."
"It is possible."
"More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay."
"Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless persecution?"
"The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an individual and becomes the badge of a society."
"But of what society?"
"Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?"
"I never have."
Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it is," said he presently:
"'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite of the efforts of the United States government and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.'
"You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered."
"Then the page we have seen--"
"Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellow-men."
It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down.
"You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaw's."
"What steps will you take?" I asked.
"It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all."
"You will not go there first?"
"No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the maid will bring up your coffee."
As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart.
"Holmes," I cried, "you are too late."
"Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved.
"My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account:
"Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages."
We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him.
"That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long thin hands.
"They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!"
"To the police?"
"No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may take the flies, but not before."
All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water.
"You are hungry," I remarked.
"Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast."
"Nothing?"
"Not a bite. I had no time to think of it."
"And how have you succeeded?"
"Well."
"You have a clue?"
"I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!"
"What do you mean?"
He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia."
"That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him."
"And who is this Captain Calhoun?"
"The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first."
"How did you trace it, then?"
He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with dates and names.
"I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and files of the old papers, following the future career of every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to one of the states of the Union."
"Texas, I think."
"I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must have an American origin."
"What then?"
"I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in the port of London."
"Yes?"
"The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight."
"What will you do, then?"
"Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder."
There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star."
一八八七年我們經手過一係列頗為有趣和趣味不大的案件，有關這些案件的記錄，我都保留着。在這一年的十二個月的記錄的標題中，有關於如下各案的記載："帕拉多爾大廈案"；“業餘乞丐團案"，這個業餘乞丐團在一個傢具店庫房的地下室擁有一個窮奢極侈的俱樂部；“美國帆船'索菲·安德森'號失事案"；“格賴斯·彼得森在烏法島上的破案"；還有"坎伯韋爾放毒案"。記得在最後一案裏，當歇洛剋·福爾摩斯給死者的表上發條時，發現該表在兩小時前曾被上緊了發條，從而證明在那段時間裏死者業已上床就寢。這一推論對於廓清案情至關重要。所有這些案件，我有朝一日也許會略述其梗概，但是其中沒有一個案件比我現在就要執筆描述的有着一連串撲朔迷離的情節的案件更加怪誕不經。
那時正值九月下旬，秋分時節的暴風雨猛烈異常。一整天狂風怒號，苦雨擊窗，甚至在這偉大的人類用雙手建造起來的倫敦城內，我們在這時刻，也失去了從事日常工作的心情，而不得不承認偉大的自然界威力的存在。它猶如鐵籠裏未經馴服的猛獸，透過人類文明的柵欄嚮人類怒吼。隨着夜幕的降臨，暴風驟雨也更為猛烈。風時而大聲呼嘯，時而低沉飲泣，頗似從壁爐煙囪裏發出來的嬰兒哭泣聲。福爾摩斯坐在壁爐的一端，心情憂鬱，正在編製罪案記錄互見索引；而我則坐在另一端，埋頭於閱讀一本剋拉剋·拉塞爾著的精采的有關海洋的小說。這時屋外狂風咆哮，瓢潑大雨漸漸變成海浪似的衝擊，仿佛和小說的主題互相呼應，混成一體了。我的妻子那時正回娘傢省親，所以幾天來我又成為我那貝剋街故居的舊客了。
“嘿，"我說，擡頭望了望我的同伴，“確實是門鈴響。今夜誰還能來？也許是你的哪位朋友吧？”
“除了你，我哪裏還有什麽朋友？"他回答道。“我並不鼓勵人們來訪。”
“那末，是位委托人吧？”
“如果是委托人，案情一定很嚴重。如果不嚴重，此時此刻誰還肯出來。但是我覺得這人更可能是咱們房東太太的親密朋友。”
福爾摩斯猜錯了，因為過道上響起了腳步聲，接着有人在敲門。他伸出長臂把照亮他自己的那盞燈轉嚮那張客人一定會在那裏就座的空椅子一邊，然後說：“進來吧。”
進來的是一個年輕人，外貌大約二十二歲左右，穿着考究，服飾整潔，舉止大方，彬彬有禮。他手中的雨傘水泄如註，身上的長雨衣閃爍發亮，這些都說明他一路上所經歷的風吹雨打。他在燈光下焦急地嚮四周打量了一下。這時我看出他的臉色蒼白，雙目低垂。一個被某種巨大的憂慮壓得喘不過氣來的人的神情往往如此。
“我應當嚮您道歉，"他邊說邊將一副金絲夾鼻眼鏡戴上。
"我希望我不致打擾您！我擔心我已經把從暴風雨裏帶來的泥水玷污了您的整潔的房間。”
“把您的雨衣和傘都給我，"福爾摩斯說，“把它們挂在鈎子上，一會兒就會幹的。我看，您是從西南來的吧。”
“是的，從霍爾捨姆來的。”
“從粘在您鞋尖上混合在一起的粘土和白堊上，我就很清楚地看出您是從那裏來的。”
“我是專誠來嚮您請求指教的。”
“這我很容易做到。”
“並且還要請您幫助哩。”
“那可就不總是那麽容易了。”
“我已久聞大名，福爾摩斯先生。我聽普倫德加斯特少校說過，您是怎樣把他從坦剋維爾俱樂部醜聞案件中拯救出來的。”
“啊！不錯。人傢誣告他用假牌行騙。”
“他說您能解决任何問題。”
“他說得太過分了。”
“他還說您是常勝將軍。”
“我曾失敗過四次——三次敗於幾個男人，一次敗於一個女人。”
“可是，這同您無數次的勝利是不可同日而語的。”
“不錯，一般地說，我還是成功的。”
“那麽，對於我的事，您可能也會成功的。”
“請您把椅子挪近壁爐一些，講一講您這件案子的一些細節。”
“這决不是一個尋常的案子。”
“到我這裏來談的案子都是不尋常的。我這裏成了最高上訴法院。”
“可是，先生，我想問您，在您的經驗中，有沒有聽說過比我傢族中所發生的一連串更為神秘、更難解釋的事故？”
“您說的使我極感興趣，"福爾摩斯說道。"請您首先告訴我們一些主要事實，我隨後會把我認為最關緊要的細節提出來問您。”
那年輕人朝前挪動了一下椅子，把兩衹穿着潮濕鞋子的腳伸嚮爐火邊。
他說：“我名叫約翰·奧彭肖。據我的理解，我自己本身同這一可怕的事件沒有多大關係。那是上一代遺留下來的問題，因此，為了使您對這事有一個大概的瞭解，我必須從這一事件的開端談起。
“您要曉得，我的祖父有兩個兒子——我的伯父伊萊亞斯和我的父親約瑟夫。我父親在康文特裏開設一座小工廠，在發明自行車期間，他擴展了這個工廠，並享有奧彭肖防破車胎的專利權，因而生意十分興隆，這就使他後來能夠將工廠出讓，而依靠一筆巨款過着富裕的退休生活。
“我的伯父伊萊亞斯年輕時僑居美國，成了佛羅裏達州的一個種植園主。據說他經營得很不錯。南北戰爭期間，他在傑剋遜麾下作戰，後來隸屬鬍德部下，升任上校。南軍統帥羅伯特·李投降後，他解甲歸田，重返他的種植園，在那裏又住了三、四年。大約在一八六九或一八七○年，他回到歐洲，在蘇塞剋斯郡霍爾捨姆附近購置了一小塊地産。他在美國曾發過大財，他之所以離美返英，是因為他厭惡黑人，也不喜歡共和黨給予黑人選舉權的政策。他是個很怪癖的人，兇狠急躁，發怒時言語粗鄙，性情極為孤僻。自從他定居霍爾捨姆以來的這些年月裏，他深居簡出，我不知道他曾否涉足城鎮。他擁有一座花園，房子周圍有兩三塊田地，他可以在那裏鍛煉身體，可是他卻往往幾個星期都一直足不出戶。他狂飲白蘭地酒，而且煙癮極大，但他不喜歡社交，不要任何朋友，甚至和自己的胞弟也不相往來。
“他並不關心我；實際上，他還是喜歡我的，因為他初見我時，我不過是一個十一、二歲的小孩子。那是一八七八年，他已回國八、九年了。他央求我父親讓我同他一起住，他以他自己的方式來疼愛我。當他清醒不醉時，喜歡同我一起鬥雙陸、①玩象棋。他還讓我代表他跟傭人和一些生意人打交道。所以到我十六歲時，已儼然成為一個小當傢的了。我掌管所有的鑰匙，我可以隨心所欲地到我想去的任何地方，做我想做的任何事情，衹要不打擾他的隱居生活即可。不過，也有一個破特的例外，那就是，在閣樓那一層有着許多房間，而唯獨其中一間堆存破舊雜物的房間，常年加鎖，無論是我或其他任何人，他都嚴禁入內。我曾經懷着一個男孩子的好破心，從鑰匙孔嚮屋內窺視。可是除了預料中在這樣一間屋子裏會堆存着的一大堆破舊箱籠和大小包袱之外，就別無其他了。
“有一天，那是在一八八三年三月，一封貼有外國郵票的信放在上校的餐盤前面。對他來說，一封來信卻是一件異乎尋常的事，因為他的帳單都用現款支付，他不管什麽樣的朋友都沒有一個。‘從印度來的！'他一邊拿起信來，一邊詫異地說道，'本地治裏的郵戳！這是怎麽回事？'在他急忙拆開信封的時候，忽地蹦出五個又幹又小的桔核嗒嗒地落在盤子裏。我正待張嘴發笑，一看他的臉，我的笑容頓時從我的唇邊消失了。衹見他咧着嘴唇，雙眼突出，面如死灰，直瞪瞪地瞧着顫抖的手中仍舊拿着的那個信封。'K．K．K．！'他尖叫了起來，接着喊道，‘天哪，天哪，罪孽難逃呀！'
“我叫道：‘伯伯，怎麽啦？'
①又稱十五子遊戲，是一種雙方各有十五枚棋子，擲骰子决定棋格數的遊戲。——譯者註
“‘死亡！'他說着，從桌旁站起身來，回到他自己的房間，剩下我在那裏怕得心驚肉跳。我拿起了那信封，發現信封口蓋的裏層，也就是塗膠水的上端，有三個用紅墨水潦草地寫的Ｋ字。此外，除了那五個幹癟的桔核，別無他物。是什麽原因使他嚇得魂飛魄散呢？我離開那早餐的桌子上樓時，正好碰見他走下樓來，一手拿着一隻舊得生了銹的鑰匙——這一定是樓頂專用的了，另一手裏卻是一個象錢盒似的小黃銅匣。
“‘他們愛幹什麽就幹什麽，可是我仍將戰勝他們。'他發誓賭咒地說道，“叫瑪麗今天給我房間裏的壁爐升火，再派人去請霍爾捨姆的福德姆律師來！’
“我照他的吩咐辦了。律師來到時，我被召喚到他的房間裏。爐火熊熊，在壁爐的爐柵裏有一堆黑色蓬鬆的紙灰燼。那黃銅箱匣放在一旁，敞着蓋，裏面空空如也。我瞧了那匣子一眼，大吃一驚，因為那匣子蓋上印着我上午在信封上所見到的那樣的三個Ｋ字。
“‘約翰，我希望你，'我伯父說道，‘作我的遺囑見證人。我把我的産業，連帶它的一切有利和不利之處，留給我的兄弟——也就是你的父親。無疑以後從你父親那裏又會遺留給你的。如果你能平安無事地享有它們，自然是好；不過，如果你發覺不能，那末，孩子，我勸你把它留給你的死敵。我很遺憾給你留下這樣一個具有雙重意義的東西，但是我也真說不上事情會嚮哪個方向發展。請你按照福德姆律師在遺囑上指給你的地方簽上你的名字吧。’
“我照律師所指之處簽了名，律師就將遺囑帶走了。您可以想見，這件破特的事給我的印象極為深刻。我反復思量，多方揣摩，還是無法明白其中奧秘。可是這件事留下來的模模糊糊的恐怖感覺卻始終難於擺脫，雖然隨着時光的流逝，不安之感逐漸緩和，而且也沒有發生任何幹擾我們日常生活的事。儘管如此，我仍能看出我的伯父從此舉止異常。他酗酒狂飲更甚於往日，並且更加不願意置身於任何社交場所。他的大部分時間都消磨在他自己的深室之內，而且室內門上還上了鎖；但是他有時又象酒後發狂，從屋子裏一衝而出，手握左輪手槍，在花園中狂奔亂跑，尖聲叫喊，說什麽他誰也不怕，還說不管是人是鬼，誰也不能把他象綿羊似地圈禁起來。等到這陣激烈的突然發作過去以後，他又心慌意亂地急急跑回房間裏去，把門鎖了起來，還插上門閂，好象一個內心深處滲透了恐懼的人，無顔再虛張聲勢地裝下去那樣。在這種時刻，我見到他的臉，即使在寒鼕臘月，也是冷汗涔涔、濕漉漉的，似乎剛從洗臉盆裏擡起頭來。
“噢，福爾摩斯先生，現在說說此事的結局吧，不能再辜負您的耐性了。有一夜，他又撒了一回那樣的酒瘋，突然跑出去，可是這一回，卻永遠一去不復返了。我們去尋找他時，發現他面朝下摔跌在花園一端的一個泛着緑色的污水坑裏。並未發現施行任何暴力的跡象，坑水也不過兩英尺深，因此，陪審團鑒於他平日的古怪行徑，斷定為'自殺'事件。可是我素來知道他是個怕死的人，總覺得難於相信他竟會跑出去自尋短見。儘管如此，事過境遷。我父親繼承了他的地産，以及他存放在銀行的大約一萬四千鎊存款。”
“等一等，"福爾摩斯插言道，“我預料您所說的這案情將是我所聽到的一件最出破的案子。請把您的伯父接到那封信的日期和他的被信以為真的自殺日期告訴我。”
“收到來信的日期是一八八三年三月十日。他的死是在七個星期後的五月二日。”
“謝謝您。請說下去。”
“當我父親接收了那座霍爾捨姆房産時，他應我的建議，仔細檢查了長年纍月挂上了鎖的閣樓。我們發現那個黃銅匣子仍在那裏，雖然匣內的東西已經被毀掉了。匣蓋的裏面有個紙標簽寫着ＫＫＫ．．．三個大寫字母。下邊還寫有'信件、備忘錄、收據和一份記錄'等字樣。我們認為：這表明了奧彭肖上校所銷毀的文件的性質。除了許多散亂的文件和記有我伯父在美洲的生活情況的筆記本外，頂樓上其餘的東西都無關緊要。
這些散亂的東西，有些是關於戰爭時期的情況和他恪盡職守榮獲英勇戰士稱號的記述；還有些是關於戰後南方各州重建時期的大多與有關的記錄，顯然我伯父當時曾積極參加反對那些由北方派來的隨身衹帶着一隻旅行手提包進行搜刮的政客。
“唉，我父親搬到霍爾捨姆去住時，正值一八八四年初，直到一八八五年元月，一切都稱心如意。元旦過後的第四天，我們大傢圍着桌子坐在一起吃早餐時，我的父親忽然一聲驚叫，衹見他坐在那裏，一手舉着一個剛剛拆開的信封，另一隻手的五指伸開的掌心上有五個幹癟的桔核。他平日總嘲笑我所說伯父的遭遇是荒誕無稽的故事，一旦他自己碰上了同樣的事，卻也嚇得大驚失色，神志恍惚。
“‘啊，這究竟是怎麽一回事，約翰？'他結結巴巴地問道。
“我的心變成一塊鉛似地沉重。'這是ＫＫＫ．．．，'我說。
“他看看信封的內層。'不錯，'他叫了起來，‘就是這幾個字母。這上面又寫着什麽？’
“‘把文件放在日晷儀上，'我從他肩膀背後望着信封念道。
“‘什麽文件？什麽日晷儀？'他又問道。
“‘花園裏的日晷儀，別處沒有，'我說，‘文件一定是被毀掉的那些。’
“‘呸！'他壯着膽子說。'我們這裏是文明世界，不容許有這種蠢事發生！這東西是哪裏來的？’
“‘從敦提來的，'我看了一下郵戳回答說。
“‘一個荒唐的惡作劇，'他說，‘我和日晷儀啦、文件啦，有什麽關係？對這種無聊的事我不屑一顧。’
“‘要是我的話，就一定報告，'我說。
“‘這樣，我痛苦，卻讓他們譏笑，我不幹。’
“‘那末讓我去報告吧？’
“‘不，也不許你去。我不願為這種荒唐事庸人自擾。’
“與他爭辯是徒勞的，因為他是個非常頑固的人。我衹好走開，心裏惴惴不安，充滿大禍將臨的預感。
“接到來信以後的第三天，我父親離傢去看望他的一位老朋友，弗裏博迪少校。他現在是樸次當山一處堡壘的指揮官。
我為他的出訪而感到高興，在我看來，仿佛他離開了傢倒可避開危險。可是我想錯了。他出門的第二天，我接到少校拍來一封電報，要我立即趕赴他那裏。我父親摔在一個很深的白堊礦坑裏，這種礦坑在這附近地區是很多的。他摔碎了頭骨，躺在裏邊不省人事。我急切地跑去看他，可是他再也沒有恢復知覺，從此與世長辭了。顯而易見，他是在黃昏前從費爾哈姆回傢，由於鄉間道路不熟，白堊坑又無欄桿遮擋，驗屍官便毫不遲疑地作出了'由於意外致死'的判斷。我審慎地檢查了每一與他死因有所關聯的事情，但是沒有發現任何含有謀殺意圖的事實。現場沒有暴力行動的跡象，沒有腳印，沒有發生搶劫，也沒有關於看見路上有陌生人出現的記錄。可是我不說您也知道，我的心情是非常不平靜的。我幾乎可以確定：一定有人在他的周圍策劃了某種卑鄙的陰謀。
“在這種不祥的情況下，我繼承了遺産。您會問我為什麽不把它賣掉。我的回答是：因為我深信，我們傢的災難在一定程度上是由我伯父生前的某種意外事故所决定的，所以不管是在這所房子裏，還是在另一所房子裏，禍事必將同樣緊平地威脅着我們。
“我父親是在一八八五年一月慘遭不幸的，至今倏已兩年八個月了。在這段時間內，我在霍爾捨姆的生活還是幸福的。
我已開始抱着這種希望：災禍業已遠離我傢，它已與我的上一代人一起告終了。誰知我這樣的還為時過早。昨天早上，災禍又臨門了，情況和我父親當年經歷的一模一樣。”
那年輕人從背心的口袋裏取出一個揉皺了的信封，走嚮桌旁，他搖落在桌上五個又小又幹的桔核。
“這就是那個信封，"他繼續說道，“郵戳蓋的是倫敦東區。
信封裏還是我父親接到的最後一封信裏的幾個字：'K.K．K'。
然後是'把文件放在日晷儀上'。”
“您采取了什麽措施沒有？"福爾摩斯問道。
“什麽也沒有。”
“什麽也沒有？！”
“說實話，"他低下頭去，用消瘦蒼白的雙手捂着臉，“我覺得毫無辦法。我覺得自己象一隻可憐的兔子面臨着一條蜿蜒前來的毒蛇。我好象陷入一種不可抗拒和殘酷無情的惡魔的魔爪之中，而這魔爪是任何預見、任何預防措施都無法防範的。”
“噴！噴！"福爾摩斯嚷道。"您一定要采取行動啊，先生。
否則，您可就完了！現在除了振作精神以外，沒有別的什麽能夠輓救您的了。可沒有唉聲嘆氣的閑工夫啊！”
“我去找過了。”
“啊！”
“但是他們聽我訴說以後，僅僅付之一笑。我相信那巡官已經形成固定的看法，認為那些信純屬惡作劇，我的兩位親人之死正如驗屍官所說的，完全是出於意外，因此不必和那些前兆聯繫到一起。”
福爾摩斯揮舞着他緊握的雙拳，喊着：“令人難以置信的愚蠢！”
“可是他們答應派一名，同我一起留在那房子裏。”
“今晚同您一起出來了沒有？”
“沒有。他奉命衹呆在房子裏。”
福爾摩斯又憤怒得揮舞起拳頭來。
“那麽，為什麽您來找我？"他叫道，“再說更重要的是，為什麽您不一開始就來找我？”
“我不知道啊。衹是到了今天，我嚮普倫德加斯特少校談了我的睏境，他纔勸我來找您的。”
“您接到了信已經整整過了兩天。我們應當在此之前采取行動。我估計您除了那些已經嚮我提供的情節以外，沒有更進一步的憑證——沒有什麽可以對我們有用的帶有啓發性的細節了吧。”
“有一件，"約翰·奧彭肖說。他在上衣口袋裏翻找了一番以後，掏出了一張褪色的藍紙，攤開放在桌上。“我有些記得，”他說，“那一天，我的伯父在焚燒文件的時候，我看見紙灰堆裏有一些小的沒有燒着的文件的紙邊是這種特殊的顔色的。我在我伯父的屋子裏的地板上發現這張紙。我傾嚮於這樣的想法：它是從一疊紙裏掉下來的，所以沒被焚燒掉。紙上除了提到桔核之外，恐怕它對我們幫助不大。我想它也許是私人日記裏的一頁，字跡毫無疑問是我伯父的。”
福爾摩斯把燈移動了一下，我們兩人彎來觀看那張紙。紙邊參差不齊，的確是從一個本子上撕下來的。上端寫有"一八六九年三月"字樣，下面是一些莫明其妙的記載，內容如下：四日：赫德森來。抱着同樣的舊政見。
七日：把桔核交給聖奧古斯丁的麥考利、帕拉米諾和約翰·斯溫。
九日：麥考利已清除。
十日：約翰·斯溫已清除。
十二日：訪問帕拉米諾。一切順利。
“謝謝您！"福爾摩斯說，同時把那張紙摺叠起來還給了客人。"現在您連一分鐘都不能再耽擱了。我們甚至沒有時間來討論您告訴我的情況。您必須馬上回傢，開始行動。”
“我應該怎麽做呢？”
“衹有一件事要做。而且一定要刻不容緩立即就辦。您必須把給我們看過的這張紙放進您說過的那個黃銅匣子裏去。
還要放進一張便條，說明所有其它文件都已被您的伯父燒掉了，這是僅剩的一張。您一定要用使他們能夠確信無疑的措詞。做完這一切以後，您必須馬上就把黃銅匣子按信封上所說的放在日晷儀上。您明白了嗎？”
“完全明白了。”
“現在不要想報仇之類的事。我認為我們可以通過法律來達到那目的。既然他們已經布下了羅網，我們也應該采取相應措施。現在首先要考慮的是消除威脅您的迫在眉睫的危險；其次纔是揭穿秘密，懲處罪惡的集團。”
“謝謝您，"那年輕人說着站起身來，穿上雨衣，“您給了我新的生命和希望。我一定遵照您的指點去做。”
“您必須分秒必爭。與此同時，您首先必須照顧好您自己，因為我認為，毫無疑問有一種非常現實和氣近的危險正在威脅着您。您怎樣回去呢？”
“從滑鐵盧車站乘火車回去。”
“現在還不到九點鐘。街上人還很多，所以我相信您也許能平安無事。不過，您無論怎樣嚴加小心都不會過分。”
“我有武器在身。”
“那就好。明天我就開始辦您這案子。”
“那末，我就在霍爾捨姆等着您？”
“不，您這案件的奧秘在倫敦。我將在倫敦尋找綫索。”
“那末我過一天，或者兩天，再來看您，告訴您關於那銅匣子和文件的消息。我將遵照您的指點逐一去辦。"他和我們握手告別。門外狂風依舊呼嘯不已。大雨瓢潑，簌簌不停地敲打着窗戶。這個離破、兇險的故事似乎是隨着狂風暴雨而來到我們這裏的——它仿佛是強風中掉落在我們身上的一片落葉——現在又被暴風雨捲走了。
福爾摩斯默默地坐了一會兒，頭嚮前傾，目光凝註在壁爐的紅彤彤的火焰上。隨後他點燃了煙斗，背靠坐椅，望着藍色煙圈一個跟着一個地裊裊升嚮天花板。
“華生，我想我們經歷的所有案件中沒有一件比這個更為稀破古怪的了。"他終於做出了一個判斷。
“除了'四簽名'案外，也許是這樣。”
“嗯，對了。除此之外，也許是這樣。可是在我看來，這個約翰·奧彭肖似乎是正在面臨着比舒爾托更大的危險。”
“但是，你對這是什麽樣的危險是否有了任何明確的看法？"我問道。
“它們的性質是沒有疑問的了，"他回答說。
“那末，它們是怎麽回事？誰是這個ＫＫＫ．．．？為什麽他要一直糾纏着這個不幸的家庭呢？”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯閉上了眼睛，兩肘靠在椅子的扶手上，指尖合攏在一起，說道，“對於一個理想的推理傢來說，一旦有人嚮他指明一個事實的一個方面以後，他就能從這一個方面不僅推斷出導致這個事實的各個方面，而且能夠推斷出由此將會産生的一切後果。正如居維葉，經過深思默想就能根據①一塊骨頭準確地描繪出一頭完整的動物一樣。一個觀察傢，既已徹底瞭解一係列事件中的一環，就應能正確地說明前前後後的所有其它的環節。我們還沒有掌握唯有理性才能獲得的結果。問題衹有通過研究才能獲得解决，企圖憑藉直覺解决問題的人是會失敗的。不過，要使這種藝術達到登峰造極的地步，推理傢就必須善於利用他已經掌握的所有事實，這是你不難理解的，其本身就意味着要掌握一切知識。而要做到這一點，即使在有了免費教育和百科全書的今天，多少也還是一種難得的成就。一個人要掌握對他工作可能有用的全部知識，倒也未必是絶對不可能的。我本身就一直在作此努力。如果我沒記錯的話，在我們結交之初，你曾有一次十分精確地指出了我的局限性。”
“對，"我回答道，不禁笑了。"那是一張怪有趣的記錄表。
我記得：哲學、天文學、學，打了零分；植物學，說不準；地質學，就倫敦五十英裏以內任何地區的泥跡而言，算得造詣很深；化學，很獨特；解剖學，沒有係統；關於驚險文學和罪行記錄是無與倫比的；是小提琴音樂傢、拳擊手、劍術運動員、律師；是服用可卡因和吸煙的自我毒害者。我想，那些都是我分析的要點。”
①ＧｅｏｒｇｅｓＣｕｖｉｅｒ，１７６９—１８３２，法國動物、古生物學家。——譯者註
福爾摩斯聽到最後一項，嘻嘻地笑了。"嗯，"他說，“就象我過去說的一樣，我現在還是要說：一個人應當給他自己頭腦的小小閣樓裏裝滿他可能需要使用的一切。其餘的東西可以放到他的藏書室裏去，需要的時候，隨時取用即可。現在，為了今晚我們接受的這樣一樁案件，我們肯定需要把我們所有的資料都集中起來。勞駕把你身邊書架上的美國百科全書裏Ｋ字部的那一册遞給我。謝謝你！讓我們考慮一下形勢，看看從中可能作出什麽樣的推論。首先，我們可以從一個有充分根據的假定開始——奧彭肖上校是由於某種有力的原因而離開美國的。到了他那樣年紀的人是不會改變他全部的習慣的，他也不會心甘情願地放棄佛羅裏達的宜人的氣候而回到英國來過鄉鎮的寂寥生活的。他對英國的孤獨生活那樣極為罕見的喜愛暗示着他心中懼怕某人、某事，因此我們不妨作出一個可用的假設，認為他是出於對某人、某事的恐懼離開美國的。
至於他所怕的是什麽，我們衹能其他和他的幾個繼承人所接到的那幾次可怕的信件來推斷。你註意到那幾封信的郵戳了沒有？”
“第一封是從本地治裏寄出的，第二封是敦提，第三封是倫敦。”
“從倫敦東區寄出。你據此能推斷出什麽來呢？”
“那些地方都是海港。寫信的人是在船上。”
“好極了，我們有了一條綫索了。毫無疑問，很可能——極其可能——寫信的人當時一定是在一條船上。現在我們再考慮第二點。就本地治裏來說，從收到恐嚇信起到出事時止，前後經過七個星期。至於敦提，僅僅經過大約三、四天。這說明什麽問題呢？”
“前者路程較遠。”
“可是信件也要經過較遠的路程呀？”
“那我就不懂了。”
“至少可以這樣假設：那個人或那一夥人乘坐的是一條帆船。看來好象他們破特的警告或信號總是在他們出發肇事以前發出的。你瞧，信號從敦提來後，緊接着事情就發生了，你說有多快。如果他們是從本地治裏乘輪船來的，那他們會同那信同時到達。但是，事實上，過了七個星期纔出事。我想那七個星期代表的是信件是由郵輪運來的，而寫信的人是乘帆船來的這一時差。”
“大有可能。”
“不僅可能，而且大概就是這樣。現在可以看出這樁新案子的極端緊迫性和為什麽我極力告誡小奧彭肖要提高警惕。
災禍總是在發信人旅程終了之後來臨的。可是這一回是從倫敦來的，所以我們就刻不容緩了。”
“天哪！"我叫起來了。“這意味着什麽？這種無情的！”
“奧彭肖所帶的那個文件顯然對於帆船裏的一個人或一夥人有着生死攸關的重要性。我想情況很清楚，他們一定不止一個人。單獨一人不可能接連使得兩人死於非命，而所用的手段則竟然瞞過了驗屍陪審團。這裏面必然有同夥數人，他們還一定是有勇有謀的人。他們非要把文件弄到手不可，不管是藏在誰那裏。因此，你可以看出，．．．已不再是一個人的名ＫＫＫ字縮寫，而是一個團體的標志。”
“是什麽樣團體的標志呢？”
“你沒有——"福爾摩斯說道，一面俯身嚮前放低聲音，"你從來沒有聽說過三Ｋ黨嗎？”
“我從來沒有聽說過。”
福爾摩斯一頁一頁地翻閱着放在他膝蓋上的書。"瞧這兒，"隨後他念道："剋尤·剋拉剋斯·剋蘭，是一個名字。它來源於想①象中那種酷似扳起槍的擊鐵的聲音。這個可怕的秘密團體是南方各州的前聯邦士兵在南北戰爭以後組成的，並迅即在全國各地成立了分會。其中在田納西、路易斯安那、卡羅來納、佐治亞和佛羅裏達各州尤為引人註目。它的勢力被用於實現其目的，主要是對黑人選民使用恐怖手段，謀殺或驅逐反對他們觀點的人們出國。他們將施加暴行時通常是，先寄給受到敵視的人某種形狀破怪但尚可辨的東西，例如，一小根帶葉的橡樹葉、幾粒西瓜籽，或幾個桔核，作為警告。受到敵視的人接到警告以後，可以公開宣佈放平原有觀點，或逃奔國外。如果置之不理，則必將遭受殺害，而且往往出於某種破怪的和意料不到的方式。那個團體的組織是如此嚴密，所使用的方法又是如此有係統，竟緻在有案可稽的案件中，幾乎從未見有哪個與之抗衡的人能夠幸免於禍，也從未能追查到暴行的作案人。儘管美國政府和南方上層社會的努力阻止，這個團體在幾年時間裏還是到處蔓延滋長。最後，到了一八六九年，這個三Ｋ黨運動竟突然垮臺，雖然此後還不時發生這類暴行。”
福爾摩斯放下手中的書，說道：“你一定會看出，那個團體的突然垮臺是和奧彭肖帶着文件逃出美國同時發生的。兩件事很可能互為因果。難怪奧彭肖和他的一傢人，總有一些死對頭在追蹤他們。你一定能理解，這個記錄和日記牽涉到美國南方的某些頭面人物。再則，還會有不少人不重新找到這些東西是連覺都睡不踏實的。”
①即英文ＫｕＫｌｕｘＫｌａｎ——三Ｋ黨。——譯者註
“那末，我們看見過的那一頁……”
“正如我們所料想的。如果我沒記錯的話，那上面寫着'送桔核給ＡＢ、和Ｃ。'那就是把團體的警告送給他們。然後，又接着寫道：和ＡＢ已清除，或者已出國；最後還說訪問過Ｃ；我擔心這會給Ｃ帶來不祥的後果。喂，醫生，我想，我們可以讓這個黑暗的地方獲得一綫光明，我相信，在這同一時間裏，小奧彭肖的唯一機會就是按照我告訴他的去做。今天夜裏，沒有什麽更多可說、更多可做的了。請你把小提琴遞給我！讓我們把這惱人的天氣和我們同胞的不幸遭遇暫時置之腦後半個小時吧。”
清晨，天已放晴，太陽透過籠罩在這偉大城市上空的朦朧雲霧閃耀着柔和的光芒。我下樓時，福爾摩斯已經在吃早餐了。
“你會原諒我沒有等你吧，"他說，“我估計，我將要為小奧彭肖的案子忙碌一整天。”
“你準備采取什麽措施？"我問道。
“這在很大程度上取决於我初步調查的結果了。總之，我也許不得不去霍爾捨姆一趟。”
“你不先去那裏嗎？”
“不，我得從城裏開始，衹要拉拉鈴，女傭人就會給你端杯咖啡來的。”
我在等待咖啡的時候，拿起了桌上還沒有打開的報紙瀏覽了一下。我的目光停在一個標題上，心裏打了一個冷戰。
“福爾摩斯，"我叫了起來，“你晚了！”
“啊！"他放下了杯子答道，“我擔心的正是這樣。這是怎麽搞的？"顯然他說的時候很平靜，但我已看出他內心很激動。
奧彭肖的名字和"滑鐵盧橋畔的悲劇"這一標題吸引住了我的註意力。這個報道的內容如下：昨晚九時至十時之間，八班警士庫剋於滑鐵盧橋附近值勤，忽聞有人呼救及落水之聲。是夜伸手不見五指，又值狂風暴雨肆虐，故雖有過路者數人援助，亦無法營救。然而警報當即發出，經水上協同努力，終於撈獲屍體一具。
驗明該屍乃一名青年紳士。從其衣袋取出之信封，得知此人之姓名為約翰·奧彭肖，生前居住於霍爾捨姆附近。據推測，渠可能急於趕搭從滑鐵盧車站開出之末班火車，匆忙間於一片漆黑中迷途，誤踩一輪渡小碼頭之邊緣而失足落水。屍體未見有任何暴力之痕跡。無疑死者乃因意外不幸而遇難，此事適足以喚起市政當局註意河濱碼頭之情況雲雲。
我們默默地坐了幾分鐘，福爾摩斯意氣沮喪，深受震驚的神情是我從未見過的。
“這件事傷了我的自尊心，華生，"他終於開口說道，“雖然這是一種偏狹的感情，但它是傷了我的自尊心。現在這成為我個人的事了。如上帝假我以天年，我就要親手解决這幫傢夥。
他跑來嚮我求救，而我竟然把他打發走去送死……！"他從椅子裏一躍而起，在房中踱來踱去，情緒激動，難以抑製。他深陷的雙頰上浮現赧顔，兩衹瘦長的手不安地一會兒手指交叉着緊握在一起，一會兒又鬆開。
最後，他大聲說道：“他們這幫魔鬼真是狡猾透了，他們怎麽能夠把他騙到那兒去的呢？那堤岸並不在直達車站的路綫上呀！對於達到他們的目的來說，即使在這樣一個黑夜，在那座橋上無疑也是人太多了。唉，華生，咱們瞧着吧，看誰最後取得勝利！我現在就要出去了！”
“去找嗎？”
“不，我自己來當。等我結好了網，就可以來捕捉蒼蠅了。可是要在結好網之後捕捉。”
這一整天我忙於我的醫務工作，入暮很晚我纔返回貝剋街。福爾摩斯還沒有回來。一直到快要十點鐘了，他纔面色蒼白，精疲力盡地走了進來。他跑到碗櫃旁邊，撕下一大塊面包，狼吞虎咽地嚼着，喝了一大杯水把它衝下去。
“你餓了，"我說。
“餓極啦！一直忘記吃東西了，早餐後就什麽也沒吃。”
“沒吃東西？”
“一點也沒吃，沒功夫想到它。”
“進展如何？”
“不錯。”
“有綫索了嗎？”
“他們在我的掌握之中了。小奧彭肖的仇不會報不了的。
嘿，華生，讓咱們以僕人之道，還治僕人之身。這是經過深思熟慮的啊！”
“你這是什麽意思？”
他從碗櫃裏拿出一隻桔子來，掰成幾瓣兒，把桔核擠出來，放在桌上，從中選了五個，裝到一個信封裏面。在那信封口蓋的反面，他寫上"Ｓ．Ｈ．代Ｊ．Ｏ．"。①他封上信封，在上面寫上"美國，佐治亞洲，薩凡納，‘孤星號'三桅帆船，詹姆斯·卡爾霍恩船長收"等字樣。
“當他進港時這封信已經在等着他了，"他得意地笑着說，"這封信會使他夜不安眠。他還會發覺這封信肯定是他死亡的預兆，正如奧彭肖從前所遭遇到的情況一樣。”
“這個卡爾霍恩船長是什麽人？”
“那幫傢夥的頭頭。我還要搞其它幾個人，不過先搞他。”
“那末，你怎樣追查出來的呢？”
他從衣袋裏拿出一大張紙來，上面盡是些日期和姓名。
“我花了一整天的功夫，"他說，“用在查閱勞埃德船登記簿和舊文件的捲宗，追查一八八三年一、二月在本地治裏港停靠過的每艘船在離港以後的航程。從登記上看，在這兩個月裏，到達那裏噸位較大的船共有三十六艘。其中一艘叫做'孤星號'，它立刻引起了我的註意，因為這艘船雖然登記的是在倫敦結關的，但是卻用了美國的一個州的名稱來命名的。”
①即歇洛剋·福爾摩斯（ＳｈｅｒｌｏｃｋＨｏｌｍｅｓ）代約翰·奧彭肖（ＪｏｈｎＯｐｅｎFｓｈａｗ）之意。——譯者註“我想，是得剋薩斯州。”
“是哪一州，我原來弄不清，現在也說不準；不過我知道它原先一定是艘美國船。”
“以後又怎樣呢？”
“我查閱了敦提的記錄。當我看到一八八五年一月三桅帆船'孤星號'抵達那裏的記錄時，我心裏的猜想就變為確信無疑的了。我接着就對目前停泊在倫敦港內的船衹的情況進行了查詢。”
“結果呢？”
“那'孤星號'上星期到達這裏。我跑到艾伯特船塢，查明這船今天早晨已趁着早潮順流而下，返航薩瓦納港去了。我發電報給格雷夫森德，得知這船已經在不久前駛過去了。由於風嚮是朝東的，我確信：這船此刻已開過古德溫斯，離懷特島不遠。”
“那末，你想幹什麽呢？”
“我要去逮住他！他和那兩個副手，據我所知，是那船上僅有的美國人。其餘的是芬蘭人和德國人。我還瞭解到他們三人昨晚曾離船上岸。這消息是當時正在給他們裝貨的碼頭工人說的。等到他們的這艘帆船到達薩瓦納時，郵船也已經把這封信帶到那地方了，同時海底電報則已經通知了薩瓦納的，說明這三位先生是這裏正在通緝中的被控犯有謀殺罪的人犯。”
然而，人謀布下的羅網縱極工巧，終不能沒有絲毫漏洞。
謀殺約翰·奧彭肖的兇手竟然再也收不到那幾個桔核了，而那幾個桔核是會使他們知道世界上另外還有一個和他們同樣狡猾、同樣堅决的人正在追捕着他們。那年秋分時的暴風颳得久，颳得猛。我們等了很長時間，想得到薩瓦納"孤星號"的消息，卻一直杳無音信。終於我們聽說：在遠遠的大西洋某處，有人看到在一次海浪的退潮中漂泊着一塊破碎的船尾柱，上面刻着"Ｌ．Ｓ．"①兩個字母，而我們所能知道的關於"孤星號"的命運僅此而已。
①"孤星號"原文為ｌｏｎｅＳｔａｒ，縮寫為ＬＳ．．。——譯者註
The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe.
It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street.
"Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?"
"Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage visitors."
"A client, then?"
"If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the landlady's."
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit.
"Come in!" said he.
The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is weighed down with some great anxiety.
"I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug chamber."
"Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the south-west, I see."
"Yes, from Horsham."
"That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is quite distinctive."
"I have come for advice."
"That is easily got."
"And help."
"That is not always so easy."
"I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal."
"Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards."
"He said that you could solve anything."
"He said too much."
"That you are never beaten."
"I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a woman."
"But what is that compared with the number of your successes?"
"It is true that I have been generally successful."
"Then you may be so with me."
"I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with some details as to your case."
"It is no ordinary one."
"None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal."
"And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which have happened in my own family."
"You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards question you as to those details which seem to me to be most important."
The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out towards the blaze.
"My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the affair.
"You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire upon a handsome competence.
"My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any friends, not even his own brother.
"He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would make me his representative both with the servants and with the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such a room.
"One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!'
"'What is it, uncle?' I cried.
"'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small brass box, like a cashbox, in the other.
"'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.'
"I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the envelope.
"'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where Mr. Fordham shows you.'
"I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it were new raised from a basin.
"Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when we went to search for him, face downward in a little green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank."
"One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and the date of his supposed suicide."
"The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks later, upon the night of May 2nd."
"Thank you. Pray proceed."
"When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag politicians who had been sent down from the North.
"Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon himself.
"'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered.
"My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I.
"He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the very letters. But what is this written above them?'
"'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his shoulder.
"'What papers? What sundial?' he asked.
"'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the papers must be those that are destroyed.'
"'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come from?'
"'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark.
"'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such nonsense.'
"'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said.
"'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.'
"'Then let me do so?'
"'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.'
"It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings.
"On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him.
"In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as pressing in one house as in another.
"It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in which it had come upon my father."
The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried orange pips.
"This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the papers on the sundial.'"
"What have you done?" asked Holmes.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against."
"Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair."
"I have seen the police."
"Ah!"
"But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the warnings."
Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible imbecility!" he cried.
"They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the house with me."
"Has he come with you to-night?"
"No. His orders were to stay in the house."
Again Holmes raved in the air.
"Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you not come at once?"
"I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to you."
"It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which might help us?"
"There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly my uncle's."
Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the following enigmatical notices:
"4th. Hudson came. Same old platform.
"7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and John Swain, of St. Augustine.
"9th. McCauley cleared.
"10th. John Swain cleared.
"12th. Visited Paramore. All well."
"Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me. You must get home instantly and act."
"What shall I do?"
"There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do you understand?"
"Entirely."
"Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the guilty parties."
"I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall certainly do as you advise."
"Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you go back?"
"By train from Waterloo."
"It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too closely."
"I am armed."
"That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case."
"I shall see you at Horsham, then?"
"No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it."
"Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them once more.
Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling.
"I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this."
"Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four."
"Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Sholtos."
"But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to what these perils are?"
"There can be no question as to their nature," he answered.
"Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue this unhappy family?"
Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion."
"Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main points of my analysis."
Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those letters?"
"The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London."
"From East London. What do you deduce from that?"
"They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship."
"Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Does that suggest anything?"
"A greater distance to travel."
"But the letter had also a greater distance to come."
"Then I do not see the point."
"There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the writer."
"It is possible."
"More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay."
"Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless persecution?"
"The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an individual and becomes the badge of a society."
"But of what society?"
"Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?"
"I never have."
Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it is," said he presently:
"'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite of the efforts of the United States government and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.'
"You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered."
"Then the page we have seen--"
"Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellow-men."
It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down.
"You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaw's."
"What steps will you take?" I asked.
"It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all."
"You will not go there first?"
"No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the maid will bring up your coffee."
As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart.
"Holmes," I cried, "you are too late."
"Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved.
"My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account:
"Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages."
We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him.
"That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long thin hands.
"They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!"
"To the police?"
"No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may take the flies, but not before."
All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water.
"You are hungry," I remarked.
"Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast."
"Nothing?"
"Not a bite. I had no time to think of it."
"And how have you succeeded?"
"Well."
"You have a clue?"
"I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!"
"What do you mean?"
He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia."
"That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him."
"And who is this Captain Calhoun?"
"The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first."
"How did you trace it, then?"
He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with dates and names.
"I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and files of the old papers, following the future career of every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to one of the states of the Union."
"Texas, I think."
"I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must have an American origin."
"What then?"
"I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in the port of London."
"Yes?"
"The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight."
"What will you do, then?"
"Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder."
There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star."
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