bā nián lái， wǒ yán jiū liǎo wǒ de péng yǒu xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī de pò 'àn fāng fǎ， jì lù liǎo qī shí duō gè 'àn lì。 wǒ cū lüè dì fān yuè yī xià zhè xiē 'àn lì de jì lù， fā xiàn xǔ duō 'àn lì shì bēi jù xìng de， yě yòu yī xiē shì xǐ jù xìng de， qí zhōng hěn dà yī bù fēn jǐn jǐn shì lí qí gǔ guài 'ér yǐ， dàn shì què méi yòu yī lì shì píng dàn wú qí de。 zhè shì yīn wéi， tā zuò gōng zuò yǔ qí shuō shì wèile huò dé chóu jīn， hái bù rú shuō shì chū yú duì tā nà mén jì yì de 'àihào。 chú liǎo xiǎn dé dú tè huò shèn zhì yú shì jìn hū huāng dàn wú jī de 'àn qíng wài， tā duì qí tā 'àn qíng cóng lái shì bù xiè yī gù， jù bù cānyù rèn hé zhēn chá de。 kě shì， zài suǒ yòu zhè xiē biàn huà duō duān de 'àn lì zhōng， wǒ què huí yì bù qǐ yòu nǎ yī lì huì bǐ sà lǐ jùn sī tuō kè mò lán de wén míng de luó yī luò tè jiā zú ① nà yī lì gèng jù yòu yì hū xún cháng de tè sè liǎo。 xiàn zài tán lùn de zhè jiàn shì， fā shēng zài wǒ hé fú 'ěr mó sī jiāo wǎng de zǎo qī。 nà shí， wǒ mendōu shì dān shēn hàn， zài bèi kè jiē hé zhù yī tào yù suǒ。 běn lái wǒ zǎo jiù kě yǐ bǎ zhè jiàn shì jì lù xià lái， dàn shì， dāng shí wǒ céng zuò chū yán shǒu mì mì de bǎo zhèng， zhí zhì shàng yuè， yóu yú wǒ wéi zhī zuò chū guò bǎo zhèng de nà wèi nǚ shì bù xìng guò zǎo dì shì shì， fāng shǐ jiě chú liǎo zhè zhǒng yuē shù。 xiàn zài， dà gài shì shǐ dà bái yú tiān xià de shí hòu liǎo， yīn wéi wǒ què shí zhī dào， wài jiè duì yú gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng zhī sǐ zhòng shuō fēn yún， guǎng fàn liú chuán zhe gè zhǒng yáo yán。 zhè xiē yáo yán shǐ dé zhè zhuāng shì qíng biàn dé bǐ shí jì qíng kuàng gèng jiā hài rén tīng wén。
　　① yīng gé lán dōng nán bù yī jùn。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　 shì qíng fā shēng zài yī bā bā sān nián sì yuè chū de shí hòu。 yī tiān zǎo shàng， wǒ yī jué xǐng lái， fā xiàn xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī chuān dé zhěng zhěng qí qí， zhàn zài wǒ de chuáng biān。 yī bān lái shuō， tā shì yī gè 'ài shuì lǎn jué de rén， ér bì lú jià shàng de shí zhōng， cái gāng qī diǎn yī kè， wǒ yòu xiē chà yì dì cháo tā zhǎ liǎo zhǎ yǎn jīng， xīn lǐ hái yòu diǎn bù lè yì， yīn wéi wǒ zì jǐ de shēng huó xí guàn shì hěn yòu guī lǜ de。
　　 “ duì bù qǐ， bǎ nǐ jiào xǐng liǎo， huá shēng， " tā shuō，“ dàn shì， nǐ wǒ jīn tiān zǎo shàng dū mìng gāi rú cǐ， xiān shì hè dé sēn tài tài bèi qiāo mén shēng chǎo xǐng， jiē zhe tā bào fù sì dì lái chǎo xǐng wǒ， xiàn zài shì wǒ lái bǎ nǐ jiào xǐng。 ”
　　“ nà me， shénme shì héng héng shī huǒ liǎo má？”
　　“ bù， shì yī wèi wěi tuō rén。 hǎo xiàng shì yī wèi nián qīng de nǚ shì lái lín， tā qíng xù xiāng dāng jī dòng， jiān chí fēi yào jiàn wǒ bù kě。 xiàn zài tā zhèng zài qǐ jū shì lǐ děng hòu。 nǐ qiáo， rú guǒ yòu xiē nián qīng de nǚ shì zhè me yī qīng zǎo jiù pái huái yú zhè gè dà dū shì， shèn zhì bǎ hái zài mèng xiāng de rén cóng chuáng shàng chǎo xǐng， wǒ rèn wéi nà bì dìng shì yī jiàn jǐn jí de shì qíng， tā men bù dé bù zhǎo rén shāng liàng。 jiǎ rú zhè jiàn shì jiāng shì yī jiàn yòu qù de 'àn zǐ， nà me， wǒ kěn dìng nǐ yī dìng xī wàng cóng yī kāi shǐ jiù néng yòu suǒ liǎo jiě。 wǒ rèn wéi wú lùn rú hé yīnggāi bǎ nǐ jiào xǐng， jǐyǔ nǐ zhè gè jī huì。”
　　“ wǒ de lǎo xiōng， nà wǒ shì wú lùn rú hé yě bù kěn shī diào zhè gè jī huì de。”
　　 wǒ zuì dà de lè qù jiù shì guān chá fú 'ěr mó sī jìn xíng zhuān yè xìng de diào chá gōng zuò， xīn shǎng tā xùn sù dì zuò chū tuī lùn， tā tuī lùn zhī mǐn jié， yóu rú shì dān píng zhí jué 'ér zuò chū de， dàn què zǒng shì jiàn lì zài luó ji de jī chǔ zhī shàng。 tā jiù shì yǐ kào zhè xiē jiě jué liǎo wěi tuō gěi tā de yí nán wèn tí。 wǒ cōng cōng dì chuān shàng yī fú， jǐ fēn zhōng hòu jiù zhǔn bèi jiù xù， suí tóng wǒ de péng yǒu lái dào lóu xià de qǐ jū shì。 yī wèi nǚ shì duān zuò chuāng qián， tā shēn chuān hēi sè yī fú， méng zhe hòu hòu de miàn shā。 tā zài wǒ men zǒu jìn fáng jiān shí zhàn qǐ shēn lái。
　　“ zǎo shàng hǎo， xiǎo jiě， " fú 'ěr mó sī yú kuài dì shuō dào，“ wǒ de míng zì shì xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī。 zhè wèi shì wǒ de zhì yǒu hé huǒ bàn huá shēng yī shēng。 zài tā miàn qián， nǐ kě yǐ xiàng zài wǒ miàn qián yī yàng dì tán huà， bù bì gù lǜ。 hā！ hè dé sēn tài tài xiǎng dé hěn zhōu dào， wǒ hěn gāo xīng kàn dào tā yǐ jīng shāo wàng liǎo bì lú。 qǐng còu jìn lú huǒ zuò zuò， wǒ jiào rén gěi nǐ duān yī bēi rè kā fēi， wǒ kàn nǐ zài fā dǒu。”
　　“ wǒ bù shì yīn wéi jué dé lěng cái fā dǒu de， " nà gè nǚ rén dī shēng dì shuō， tóng shí， tā 'àn zhào fú 'ěr mó sī de qǐng qiú huàn liǎo gè zuò wèi。
　　“ nà me， shì wèishénme ní？”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， shì yīn wéi hài pà hé gǎn dào kǒng jù。 " tā yī biān shuō zhe， yī biān xiān qǐ liǎo miàn shā， wǒ men néng gòu kàn chū， tā què shí shì chǔyú wàn fēn jiāo lǜ zhī zhōng， yǐn rén lián mǐn。 tā liǎn sè cāng bái， shén qíng jù sàng， shuāng móu jīng huáng bù 'ān， kù sì yī tóu bèi zhuī zhú de dòng wù de yǎn jīng。 tā de shēn cái xiàngmào xiàng shì sān shí suì múyàng， kě shì， tā de tóu fā què wèi lǎo xiān shuāi jiā zá zhe jǐ xuān E yín sī， biǎo qíng wěimǐ qiáo cuì。 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xùn sù dì cóng shàng dào xià dǎ liàng liǎo tā yī xià。
　　“ nǐ bù bì hài pà， " tā tàn shēn xiàng qián， qīng qīng dì pāi pāi tā de shǒu bì， ān wèi tā shuō，“ wǒ háo bù huái yí， wǒ men hěn kuài jiù huì bǎ shì qíng chǔlǐ hǎo de， wǒ zhī dào， nǐ shì jīn tiān zǎo shàng zuò huǒ chē lái de。”
　　“ nà me shuō， nǐ rèn shí wǒ？”
　　“ bù， wǒ zhù yì dào nǐ zuǒ shǒu de shǒu tào lǐ yòu yī zhāng huí chéng chē piào de hòu bàn jié。 nǐ yī dìng shì hěn zǎo jiù dòng shēn de， ér qiě zài dào dá chē zhàn zhī qián， hái chéng zuò guò dān mǎ chē zài qí qū de ní nìng dào lù shàng xíng shǐ liǎo yī duàn màn cháng de lù chéng。 "①
　　① yuán wén wéi ｄ ｏ ｇ ｃ ａ ｒ ｔ －， shì yòu bèi duì bèi liǎng gè zuò wèi de shuāng lún dān mǎ chē。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　 nà wèi nǚ shì měng dì chī liǎo yī jīng， huáng huò dì níng shì zhe wǒ de tóng bàn。
　　“ zhè lǐ miàn méi shí me 'ào miào， qīn 'ài de xiǎo jiě， " tā xiào liǎo xiào shuō。“ nǐ wài tào de zuǒ bì shàng， zhì shǎo yòu qī chù jiàn shàng liǎo ní。 zhè xiē ní jì dōushì xīn zhān shàng de。 chú liǎo dān mǎ chē yǐ wài， méi yòu shénme qí tā chē liàng huì zhè yàng dì shuǎi qǐ ní bā lái， bìng qiě zhǐ yòu nǐ zuò zài chē fū zuǒ miàn cái huì jiàn dào ní de。”
　　“ bù guǎn nǐ shì zěn me pàn duàn chū lái de， nǐ shuō dé wán quán zhèng què， " tā shuō，“ wǒ liù diǎn zhōng qián lí jiā shàng lù， liù diǎn 'èr shí dào dá lāi sè hēi dé， rán hòu chéng zuò kāi wǎng huá tiě lú de dì yī bān huǒ chē lái de。 xiān shēng， zhè me jǐn zhāng wǒ zài yě shòu bù liǎo lā， zhè yàng xià qù wǒ huì fā fēng de。 wǒ shì qiú zhù wú mén héng héng yī gè néng bāng máng de rén yě méi yòu， chú liǎo zhǐ yòu nà me yī gè rén guān xīn wǒ， kě shì tā zhè kě lián de rén 'ér， yě shì 'ài mò néng zhù。 wǒ tīng rén shuō qǐ guò nǐ， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ shì cóng fǎ lín tuō xiē tài tài nà 'ér tīng shuō de， nǐ céng jīng zài tā jí xū bāng zhù de shí hòu yuán zhù guò tā。 wǒ zhèng shì cóng tā nà 'ér dǎ tīng dào nǐ de dì zhǐ de。 ō， xiān shēng， nǐ bù yě kě yǐ bāng bāng wǒ de máng má？ zhì shǎo kě yǐ duì xiàn yú hēi 'àn shēn yuān de wǒ zhǐ chū yī xiàn guāng míng de bā。 mù qián wǒ wú lì chóu láo nǐ duì wǒ de bāng zhù， dàn zài yī gè yuè huò yī gè bàn yuè yǐ nèi， wǒ jí jiāng jié hūn， nà shí jiù néng zhī pèi wǒ zì jǐ de shōu rù， nǐ zhì shǎo kě yǐ fā xiàn， wǒ bù shì yī gè wàng 'ēn fù yì de rén。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī zhuǎn shēn zǒu xiàng tā de bàn gōng zhuō， dǎ kāi chōu tì de suǒ， cóng zhōng qǔ chū yī běn xiǎo xiǎo de 'àn lì bù， fān yuè liǎo yī xià。
　　“ fǎ lín tuō xiē， " tā shuō，“ ā， shì de， wǒ xiǎng qǐ liǎo nà gè 'àn zǐ， shì yī jiàn hé māo 'ér yǎn bǎo shí nǚ guān miǎn yòu guān de 'àn zǐ。 huá shēng， wǒ xiǎng qǐ nà hái shì nǐ lái yǐ qián de shì ní。 xiǎo jiě， wǒ zhǐ néng shuō wǒ hěn lè yú wéi nǐ zhè gè 'àn zǐ xiào láo， jiù xiàng wǒ céng jīng wéi nǐ de péng yǒu nà zhuāng 'àn zǐ xiào láo yī yàng。 zhì yú chóu láo， wǒ de zhí yè běn shēn jiù shì tā de chóu láo； dàn shì， nǐ kě yǐ zài nǐ gǎn dào zuì hé shì de shí hòu， suí yì zhī fù wǒ zài zhè jiàn shì shàng kě néng fù chū de fèi yòng。 nà me， xiàn zài qǐng nǐ bǎ kě néng yòu zhù yú duì zhè jiàn shì zuò chū pàn duàn de yī qiē gào sù wǒ men bā。”
　　“ āi， " wǒ men de lái kè huí dá shuō，“ wǒ chù jìng de kě pà zhī chù zài yú wǒ suǒ dān xīn hài pà de dōng xī shí fēn mó hú， wǒ de yí lǜ wán quán shì yóu yī xiē suǒ suì de xiǎo shì yǐn qǐ de。 zhè xiē xiǎo shì zài bié rén kàn qǐ lái kě néng shì wēi bù zú dào de， zài suǒ yòu de rén dāng zhōng， shèn zhì wǒ zuì yòu quán lì qǔ dé qí bāng zhù hé zhǐ diǎn de rén， yě bǎ wǒ gào sù tā de guān yú zhè jiàn shì de yī qiē kàn zuò shì yī gè shén jīng zhì de nǚ rén de hú sī luàn xiǎng。 tā dǎo méi yòu zhè me shuō， dàn shì， wǒ néng cóng tā 'ān wèi wǒ de dá huà hé huí bì de yǎn shén zhōng jué chá chū lái。 wǒ tīng shuō， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ néng kàn tòu rén men xīn zhōng zhǒng zhǒng。 qǐng nǐ gào sù wǒ， zài wēi jī sì fú de qíng kuàng xià， wǒ gāi rú hé bàn。”
　　“ wǒ shí fēn liú yì dì tīng nǐ jiǎng， xiǎo jiě。”
　　“ wǒ de míng zì jiào hǎi lún · sī tuō nà， wǒ hé wǒ de jì fù zhù zài yī qǐ， tā shì wèi yú sà lǐ jùn xī bù biān jiè de sī tuō kè mò lán de luó yī luò tè jiā zú héng héng yīng guó zuì gǔ lǎo de sǎ kè xùn jiā zú zhī yī héng héng de zuì hòu de yī gè shēng cún zhě。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī diǎn diǎn tóu，“ zhè gè míng zì wǒ hěn shú xī， " tā shuō。
　　“ zhè gè jiā zú yī dù shì yīng lún zuì fù yòu de jiā zú zhī yī， tā de chǎn yè zhàn dì jí guǎng， chāo chū liǎo běn jùn de biān jiè， běi zhì bó kè jùn， xī zhì hàn pǔ jùn。 kě shì dào liǎo shàng gè shì jì， lián xù sì dài zǐ sì dū shǔ shēng xìng huāng yín làng dàng、 huī huò wú dù zhī bèi， dào liǎo shè zhèng shí qī zhōng yú bèi yī gè dǔ gùn zuì hòu gǎo dé qīng jiā dàng chǎn。 chú liǎo jǐ① mǔ tǔ dì hé yī zuò 'èr bǎi nián de gǔ lǎo qiū zhái wài， qí tā dōuyǐ dàng rán wú cún， ér nà zuò dǐ zhái yě yǐ diǎn yā dé chàbù duō liǎo。 zuì hòu de yī wèi dì zhù zài nà lǐ gǒu yán cán chuǎn dì guò zhe luò pò wáng sūn de kě bēi shēng huó。 dàn shì tā de dú shēng zǐ， wǒ de jì fù， rèn shí dào tā bì xū shǐ zì jǐ shì yìng zhè zhǒng xīn de qíng kuàng， cóng yī wèi qīn qī nà lǐ jiè dào yī bǐ qián， zhè bǐ qián shǐ tā dé dào liǎo yī gè yī xué xué wèi， bìng qiě chū guó dào liǎo jiā 'ěr gè dá xíng yī， zài nà 'ér píng jiè tā de yī shù hé jiān qiáng de gè xìng， yè wù fēi cháng fā dá。 kě shì， yóu yú jiā lǐ jǐ cì bèi dào， tā zài shèng nù zhī xià， ōu dǎ dāng dì rén guǎn jiā zhì sǐ， chā yī diǎn yīn wéi zhè gè bèi pàn chù sǐ xíng。 jiù zhè yàng， tā zāo dào cháng qī jiān jìn。 hòu lái， fǎn huí yīng guó， biàn chéng yī gè xìng gé bào zào、 shī yì liáo dǎo de rén。
　　① yīng wáng qiáo zhì sì shì huáng tài zǐ de shè zhèng shí qī jí zì １ ８１１ nián zhì１８ ２ ０ nián qī jiān。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ luó yī luò tè yī shēng zài yìn dù shí qǔ liǎo wǒ de mǔ qīn。 tā dāng shí shì mèng jiā lā pào bīng sī lìng sī tuō nà shàojiàng de nián qīng yí shuāng， sī tuō nà tài tài。 wǒ hé wǒ de jiě jiě zhū lì yà shì luán shēng jiě mèi， wǒ mǔ qīn zài hūn de shí hòu， wǒ men nián jǐn liǎng suì。 tā yòu yī bǐ xiāng dāng kě guān de cái chǎn， měi nián de jìn xiàng bù shǎo yú yī qiān yīng bàng。 wǒ men hé luó yī luò tè yī shēng zhù zài yī píng shí， tā jiù lì xià yí zhǔ bǎ cái chǎn quán bù yí zèng gěi tā， dàn fù yòu yī gè tiáo jiàn， nà jiù shì zài wǒ men jié hūn hòu， měi nián yào bō gěi wǒ men yī dìng shù mùdì jīn qián。 wǒ men fǎn huí yīng lún bù jiǔ， wǒ men de mǔ qīn jiù qù shì liǎo。 tā shì bā nián qián zài kè lǔ fù jìn yī cì huǒ chē shì gù zhōng sàng shēng de。 zài zhè zhī hòu， luó yī luò tè yī shēng fàng qì liǎo chóngxīn zài lún dūn kāi yè de yì tú， dài wǒ men yī qǐ dào sī tuō kè mò lán zǔ xiān liú xià de gǔ lǎo dǐ zhái lǐ guò huó。 wǒ mǔ qīn yí liú de qián zú gòu yìng fù wǒ men de yī qiē xū yào， kàn lái wǒ men de xìng fú sì hū shì háo wú wèn tí de liǎo。
　　“ dàn shì， dà yuē zài zhè duàn shí jiān lǐ， wǒ men de jì fù fā shēng liǎo kě pà de biàn huà。 qǐ chū， lín jū men kàn dào sī tuō kè mò lán de luó yī luò tè de hòu yì huí dào zhè gǔ lǎo jiā zú de dǐ zhái， dū shí fēn gāo xīng。 kě shì tā yī fǎn yǔ lín jū men jiāo péng yǒu huò hù xiāng wǎng lái de cháng tài， bǎ zì jǐ guān zài fáng zǐ lǐ， shēn jū jiǎn chū， bù guǎn pèng dào shénme rén， dū yī wèi qióng xiōng jí 'è dì yǔ zhī zhēng chǎo。 zhè zhǒng jìn hū diān kuáng de bào lì pí qì， zài zhè gè jiā zú zhōng， shì yòu yí chuán xìng de。 wǒ xiāng xìn wǒ de jì fù shì yóu yú cháng qī lǚ jū yú rè dài dì fāng， zhì shǐ zhè zhǒng pí qì biàn běn jiā lì。 yī xì liè shǐ rén diū liǎn de zhēng chǎo fā shēng liǎo。 qí zhōng liǎng cì， yī zhí chǎo dào wéi jǐng zuì fǎ tíng cái suàn bà xiū。 jiēguǒ， tā chéng liǎo cūn lǐ rén rén wàng 'ér shēng wèi de rén。 rén men yī kàn dào tā， wú bù jìng 'ér yuǎn zhī， gǎn jǐn duǒ kāi， yīn wéi tā shì yī gè lì dà wú qióng de rén， dāng tā fā nù de shí hòu， jiǎn zhí shì shénme rén yě kòng zhì bù liǎo tā。
　　“ shàng xīng qī tā bǎ cūn lǐ de tiě jiàng cóng lán gān shàng rēng jìn liǎo xiǎo hé， zhǐ shì zài wǒ huā diào liǎo jìn wǒ suǒ néng shōu luó dào de qián yǐ hòu， cái bì miǎn liǎo yòu yī cì dāng zhòng chū chǒu。 chú liǎo nà xiē dào chù liú làng de jí bǔ sài rén yǐ wài， tā méi yòu rèn hé péng yǒu。 tā yǔn xǔ nà xiē liú làng zhě zài nà yī kuài xiàng zhēng zhe jiā zú dì wèi de jǐ mǔ jīng jí cóng shēng de tǔ dì shàng zhā yíng。 tā huì dào tā men zhàng péng lǐ qù jiē shòu tā men zuò wéi bào dá de yīn qín kuǎn dài。 yòu shí hòu suí tóng tā men chū qù liú làng cháng dá shù zhōu zhī jiǔ。 tā hái duì yìn dù de dòng wù yòu zhe qiáng liè de 'àihào。 zhè xiē dòng wù shì yī gè jì zhě sòng gěi tā de。 mù qián， tā yòu yī zhǐ yìn dù liè bào hé yī zhǐ fèi fèi， zhè liǎng zhǐ dòng wù jiù zài tā de tǔ dì shàng zì yóu zì zài dì páo lái páo qù， cūn lǐ rén jiù xiàng hài pà tā men de zhù rén yī yàng hài pà tā men。
　　“ tōng guò wǒ shuō de zhè xiē qíng kuàng， nǐ men bù nán xiǎng xiàng wǒ hé kě lián de jiě jiě zhū lì yà shì méi yòu shénme shēng huó lè qù de。 méi yòu wài rén huì yuàn yì gēn wǒ men cháng qī xiāng chù， zài hěn cháng yī gè shí qī lǐ， wǒ men cāo chí suǒ yòu de jiā wù。 wǒ jiě jiě sǐ de shí hòu， cái jǐn jǐn sān shí suì。 kě shì tā zǎo yǐ liǎng bìn bān bái liǎo， shèn zhì hé wǒ xiàn zài de tóu fā yī yàng bái。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ jiě jiě yǐ jīng sǐ liǎo？”
　　“ tā gāng hǎo shì liǎng nián qián sǐ de， wǒ xiǎng duì nǐ shuō de zhèng shì yòu guān tā qù shì de shì。 nǐ kě yǐ lǐ jiě， guò zhe wǒ gāng cái suǒ xù shù de nà zhǒng shēng huó， wǒ men jīhū jiàn bù dào rèn hé hé wǒ nián líng xiāng fǎng hé dì wèi xiāng tóng de rén。 bù guò， wǒ men yòu yī gè yí mā， jiào huò luò lā · wéi sī fǎ 'ěr xiǎo jiě， tā shì wǒ mǔ qīn de lǎo chǔnǚ jiě mèi， zhù zài hā luó fù jìn， wǒ men 'ǒu 'ěr dé dào yǔn xǔ， dào tā jiā qù duǎn qī zuò kè。 liǎng nián qián， zhū lì yà zài shèng dàn jié dào tā jiā qù， zài nà lǐ rèn shí liǎo yī wèi lǐng bàn xīn de hǎi jūn lù zhàn duì shàoxiào， bìng hé tā dì jié liǎo hūn yuē。 wǒ jiě jiě guī lái hòu， wǒ jì fù wén zhī zhè yī hūn yuē， bìng wèi duì cǐ biǎo shì fǎn duì。 dàn shì， zài yù dìng jǔ xíng hūn lǐ zhī qián bù dào liǎng zhōu de shí hòu， kě pà de shì qíng fā shēng liǎo， cóng 'ér duó qù liǎo wǒ wéi yī de bàn lǚ。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yī zhí yǎng kào zài yǐ bèi shàng， bì zhe yǎn jīng， tóu kào zài yǐ bèi kào diàn shàng。 dàn shì， zhè shí tā bàn zhēng kāi yǎn， kàn liǎo yī kàn tā de kè rén。
　　“ qǐng bǎ xì jié shuō zhǔn què xiē。 " tā shuō。
　　“ zhè duì wǒ lái shuō hěn róng yì， yīn wéi zài nà kě pà de shí kè fā shēng de měi yī jiàn shì， dōuyǐ jīng shēn shēn yìn zài wǒ de jì yì lǐ。 wǒ yǐ jīng shuō guò， zhuāng yuán de dǐ zhái shì jí qí gǔ lǎo de， zhǐ yòu yī cè de 'ěr fáng xiàn zài zhù zhe rén。 zhè yī cè de 'ěr fáng de wò shì zài yī lóu， qǐ jū shì wèi yú fáng zǐ de zhōng jiān bù wèi。 zhè xiē wò shì zhōng dì yī jiān shì luó yī luò tè yī shēng de， dì 'èr jiān shì wǒ jiě jiě de， dì sān jiān shì wǒ zì jǐ de。 zhè xiē fáng jiān bǐ cǐ hù bù xiāng tōng， dàn shì fáng mén dōushì cháo xiàng yī tiáo gòng tóng de guò dào kāi de。 wǒ jiǎng qīng chǔ liǎo méi yòu？”
　　“ fēi cháng qīng chǔ。”
　　“ sān gè fáng jiān de chuāng zǐ dōushì cháo xiàng cǎo píng kāi de。 fā shēng bù xìng de nà gè wǎn shàng， luó yī luò tè yī shēng zǎo zǎo jiù huí dào liǎo zì jǐ de fáng jiān， kě shì wǒ men zhī dào tā bìng méi yòu jiù qǐn， yīn wéi wǒ jiě jiě bèi tā nà qiáng liè de yìn dù xuějiā yān wèi xūn dé kǔ bù shèng yán， tā chōu zhè zhǒng xuějiā yǐ jīng shàng liǎo yǐn。 yīn cǐ， tā lí kāi zì jǐ de fáng jiān， lái dào wǒ de fáng jiān lǐ dòu liú liǎo yī xiē shí jiān， hé wǒ tán qǐ tā jí jiāng jǔ xíng de hūn lǐ。 dào liǎo shí yī diǎn zhōng， tā qǐ shēn huí zì jǐ de fáng jiān， dàn shì zǒu dào mén kǒu shí tíng liǎo xià lái， huí guò tóu lái。
　　“ ' gào sù wǒ， hǎi lún， ' tā shuō， ‘ zài yè shēn rén jìng de shí hòu， nǐ tīng dào guò yòu rén chuī kǒu shào méi yòu？ '
　　“ ' cóng lái méi yòu tīng dào guò， ' wǒ shuō。
　　“ ' wǒ xiǎng nǐ shuì zhe de shí hòu， bù kě néng chuī kǒu shào bā？ '
　　“ ' dāng rán bù huì， nǐ wèishénme yào wèn zhè gè ní？ '
　　“ ' yīn wéi zhè jǐ tiān de shēn yè， dà yuē qīng chén sān diǎn zhōng zuǒ yòu， wǒ zǒng shì tīng dào qīng qīng de qīng xī de kǒu shào shēng。 wǒ shì yī gè shuì bù chén de rén， suǒ yǐ jiù bèi chǎo xǐng liǎo。 wǒ shuō bù chū nà shēng yīn shì cóng nǎ 'ér lái de， kě néng lái zì gé bì fáng jiān， yě kě néng lái zì cǎo píng。 wǒ dāng shí jiù xiǎng， wǒ dé wèn wèn nǐ shì fǒu yě tīng dào liǎo。 '
　　“ ' méi yòu， wǒ méi tīng dào guò。 yī dìng shì zhòngzhí yuán lǐ nà xiē tǎo yàn de jí bǔ sài rén。 '
　　“ ' jí qí kě néng。 kě shì rú guǒ shì cóng cǎo píng nà 'ér lái de， wǒ gǎn dào qí guài nǐ zěn me huì méi yòu tóng yàng dì tīng dào。 '
　　“ ' ā， dàn shì， wǒ yī bān shuìde bǐ nǐ chén。 '
　　“ ' hǎo lā， bù guǎn zěn me shuō， zhè guān xì dōubù dà。 ' tā niǔ guò tóu duì wǒ xiào xiào， jiē zhe bǎ wǒ de fáng mén guān shàng。 bù yī huì 'ér， wǒ jiù tīng dào tā de yàoshì zài mén suǒ lǐ zhuàndòng de shēng yīn。”
　　“ shénme？ " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ zhè shì bù shì nǐ men de xí guàn， yè lǐ zǒng shì bǎ zì jǐ suǒ zài wū zǐ lǐ？”
　　“ zǒng shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ wèishénme ní？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ hé nǐ tí dào guò， yī shēng yǎng liǎo yī zhǐ yìn dù liè bào hé yī zhǐ fèi fèi。 bù bǎ mén suǒ shàng， wǒ men gǎn dào bù dà 'ān quán。”
　　“ shì zhè me huí shì。 qǐng nǐ jiē zhe shuō xià qù。”
　　“ nà tiān wǎn shàng， wǒ shuì bù zhe。 yī zhǒng dà huò lín tóu de mó hú gǎn jué yā zài wǒ xīn tóu。 nǐ huì jì dé wǒ men jiě 'ér liǎ shì luán shēng jiě mèi， nǐ zhī dào， lián jiē zhè yàng liǎng gè xuè ròu xiāng lián de xīn de niǔ dài shì yòu duō me wēi miào。 nà tiān wǎn shàng shì gè bào fēng yǔ zhī yè， wài miàn kuáng fēng nù hǒu， yǔ diǎn pī pī pā pā dì dǎ zài chuāng hù shàng。 tū rán， zài fēng yǔ cáo zá shēng zhōng， chuán lái yī shēng nǚ rén jīng kǒng de kuáng jiào， wǒ tīng chū nà shì wǒ jiě jiě de shēng yīn。 wǒ yī xià zǐ cóng chuáng shàng tiào liǎo qǐ lái， guǒ shàng liǎo yī kuài pī jīn， jiù chōng xiàng liǎo guò dào。 jiù zài wǒ kāi qǐ fáng mén shí， wǒ fǎng fó tīng dào yī shēng qīng qīng de jiù xiàng wǒ jiě jiě shuō de nà yàng de kǒu shào shēng， shāo tíng， yòu tīng dào kuāng lāng yī shēng， fǎng fó shì yī kuài jīn shǔ de dōng xī dǎo zài dì shàng。 jiù zài wǒ shùn zhe guò dào páo guò qù de shí hòu， zhǐ kàn jiàn wǒ jiě jiě de mén suǒ yǐ kāi， fáng mén zhèng zài màn màn dì yí dòng zhe。 wǒ xià dāi liǎo， dèng zhe shuāng yǎn kàn zhe， bù zhī dào huì yòu shénme dōng xī cóng mén lǐ chū lái。 jiè zhe guò dào de dēng guāng， wǒ kàn jiàn wǒ jiě jiě chū xiàn zài fáng mén kǒu， tā de liǎn yóu yú kǒng jù 'ér xuě bái rú zhǐ， shuāng shǒu mō suǒ zhe xún qiú yuán jiù， zhěng gè shēn tǐ jiù xiàng zuì hàn yī yàng yáo yáo huàng huàng。 wǒ páo shàng qián qù， shuāng shǒu yōng bào zhù tā。 zhè shí zhǐ jiàn tā sì hū shuāng xī wú lì。 tuí rán diē dǎo zài dì。 tā xiàng yī gè zhèng zài jīng shòu jù tòng de rén nà yàng fān gǔn niǔ dòng， tā de sì zhī kě pà dì chōu chù。 qǐ chū wǒ yǐ wéi tā méi yòu rèn chū shì wǒ， kě shì dāng wǒ fǔ shēn yào bào tā shí， tā tū rán fā chū qī lì de jiào hǎn， nà jiào shēng wǒ shì yī bèi zǐ yě wàng bù liǎo de。 tā jiào hǎn de shì，‘ āi， hǎi lún！ tiān 'ā！ shì nà tiáo dài zǐ！ nà tiáo dài bān diǎn de dài zǐ！ ' tā sì hū yán yóu wèi jìn， hái hěn xiǎng shuō xiē bié de shénme， tā bǎ shǒu jǔ zài kōng zhōng， zhǐ xiàng yī shēng de fáng jiān， dàn shì chōu chù zài cì fā zuò， tā shuō bù chū huà lái liǎo。 wǒ jí bù bēn páo chū qù， dà shēng hǎn wǒ de jì fù， zhèng pèng shàng tā chuānzhuó shuì yī， jí jí máng máng dì cóng tā de fáng jiān gǎn guò lái。 tā gǎn dào wǒ jiě jiě shēn biān shí， wǒ jiě jiě yǐ jīng bùxǐng rén shì liǎo。 jìn guǎn tā gěi tā guàn xià liǎo bái lán dì， bìng cóng cūn lǐ qǐng lái liǎo yī shēng， dàn yī qiē nǔ lì dōushì tú láo wú gōng de， yīn wéi tā yǐ yǎn yǎn yī xī， bīn lín sǐ wáng， zhí zhì yànqì zhī qián， zài yě méi yòu chóngxīn sū xǐng。 zhè jiù shì wǒ nà qīn 'ài de jiě jiě de bēi cǎn jié jú。”
　　“ děng yī děng， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ nǐ gǎn shí fēn kěn dìng tīng dào nà kǒu shào shēng hé jīn shǔ pèng zhuàng shēng liǎo má？ nǐ néng bǎo zhèng má？”
　　“ běn jùn yàn shī guān zài diào chá shí yě zhèng shì zhè yàng wèn guò wǒ de。 wǒ shì tīng dào de， tā gěi wǒ de yìn xiàng fēi cháng shēn。 kě shì zài měng liè de fēng bào shēng hé lǎo fáng zǐ gā gā zī zī de yī piàn xiǎng shēng zhōng， wǒ yě yòu kě néng tīng cuò。”
　　“ nǐ jiě jiě hái chuānzhuó bái tiān de yī fú má？”
　　“ méi yòu， tā chuānzhuó shuì yī。 zài tā de yòu shǒu zhōng fā xiàn liǎo yī gēn shāo jiāo liǎo de huǒ chái gùn， zuǒ shǒu lǐ yòu gè huǒ chái hé。”
　　“ zhè shuō míng zài chū shì de shí hòu， tā huá guò huǒ chái， bìng xiàng zhōu wéi kàn guò， zhè yī diǎn hěn zhòng yào。 yàn shī guān dé chū liǎo shénme jié lùn？”
　　“ tā fēi cháng rèn zhēn dì diào chá liǎo zhè gè 'àn zǐ， yīn wéi luó yī luò tè yī shēng de pǐn xíng zài jùn lǐ zǎo yǐ chòu míng zhāo zhù， dàn shì tā zhǎo bù chū rèn hé néng shuō fú rén de zhì sǐ yuán yīn。 wǒ zhèng míng， fáng mén zǒng shì yóu shì nèi de mén suǒ suǒ zhù de， chuāng zǐ yě shì yóu dài yòu kuān tiě gàng de lǎo shì bǎi yè chuāng hù dǎng zhe， měi tiān wǎn shàng dū guān dé yán yán de。 qiáng bì zǎi xì dì qiāo guò， fā xiàn sì miàn dōuhěn jiān gù， dì bǎn yě jīng guò liǎo chè dǐ jiǎn chá， jiēguǒ yě shì yī yàng。 yān cōng dǎo shì hěn kuān kuò， dàn yě shì yòng liǎo sì gè dà suǒ huán shuān shàng de。 yīn cǐ， kě yǐ kěn dìng wǒ jiě jiě zài zāo dào bù xìng de shí hòu， zhǐ yòu tā yī gè rén zài fáng jiān lǐ。 zài shuō， tā shēn shàng méi yòu rèn hé bào lì de hén jì。”
　　“ huì bù huì shì dú yào？”
　　“ yī shēng men wèicǐ zuò liǎo jiǎn chá， dàn chá bù chū lái。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ rèn wéi zhè wèi bù xìng de nǚ shì de sǐ yīn shì shénme ní？”
　　“ jìn guǎn wǒ xiǎng xiàng bù chū shì shénme dōng xī xià huài liǎo tā， kě shì wǒ xiāng xìn tā zhì sǐ de yuán yīn chún cuì shì yóu yú kǒng jù hé jīng shén shàng de zhèn jīng。”
　　“ dāng shí zhòngzhí yuán lǐ yòu jí bǔ sài rén má？”
　　“ yòu de， nà 'ér jīhū zǒng shì yòu xiē jí bǔ sài rén。”
　　“ ā， cóng tā tí dào de dài zǐ héng héng dài bān diǎn de dài zǐ， nǐ tuī xiǎng chū shénme lái méi yòu？”
　　“ yòu shí wǒ jué dé， nà zhǐ bù guò shì jīng shén cuò luàn shí shuō de hú huà， yòu shí yòu jué dé， kě néng zhǐ de shì mǒu yī bāng rén。 yě xǔ zhǐ de jiù shì zhòngzhí yuán lǐ nà xiē jí① bǔ sài rén。 tā men dāng zhōng yòu nà me duō rén tóu shàng dài zhe dài diǎn zǐ de tóu jīn， wǒ bù zhī dào zhè shì fǒu kě yǐ shuō míng tā suǒ shǐ yòng de nà gè qí guài de xíng róng cí。”
　　① yuán wén ｂａ ｎｄ zuò " dài zǐ " jiě， yì zuò " yī bāng " jiě。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yáo yáo tóu， hǎo xiàng zhè yàng de xiǎng fǎ yuǎn yuǎn bù néng shǐ tā gǎn dào mǎn yì。
　　“ zhè lǐ miàn hái dà yòu wén zhāng。 " tā shuō，“ qǐng jì xù jiǎng xià qù。”
　　“ cóng nà yǐ hòu， liǎng nián guò qù liǎo， yī zhí dào zuì jìn， wǒ de shēng huó bǐ yǐ wǎng gèng jiā gū dān jì mò。 rán 'ér， yī gè yuè qián， hěn róng xìng yòu yī wèi rèn shí duō nián de qīn mì péng yǒu xiàng wǒ qiú hūn。 tā de míng zì jiào 'ā mǐ tǎ qí héng héng pò xī · ā mǐ tǎ qí， shì zhù zài lǐ dīng fù jìn kè lán huó tè de 'ā mǐ tǎ qí xiān shēng de 'èr 'ér zǐ。 wǒ jì fù duì zhè jiàn hūn shì méi yòu biǎo shì yì yì， wǒ men shāng dìng zài chūn tiān de shí hòu jié hūn。 liǎng tiān qián， zhè suǒ fáng zǐ xī biān de 'ěr fáng kāi shǐ jìn xíng xiū shàn， wǒ wò shì de qiáng bì bèi zuàn liǎo xiē dòng， suǒ yǐ wǒ bù dé bù bān dào wǒ jiě jiě sàng mìng de nà fáng jiān lǐ qù zhù， shuì zài tā shuì guò de nà zhāng chuáng shàng。 zuó tiān wǎn shàng， wǒ zhēng zhe yǎn jīng tǎng zài chuáng shàng， huí xiǎng qǐ tā nà kě pà de zāo yù， zài zhè jì jìng de shēn yè， wǒ tū rán tīng dào céng jīng yù zhào tā sǐ wáng de qīng qīng de kǒu shào shēng， qǐng xiǎng xiǎng kàn， wǒ dāng shí bèi xià chéng shénme yàng zǐ！ wǒ tiào liǎo qǐ lái， bǎ dēng diǎn zhe， dàn shì zài fáng jiān lǐ shénme yě méi kàn dào。 kě shì wǒ shí zài shì xià dé hún bù fù tǐ， zài yě bù gǎn chóngxīn shàng chuáng。 wǒ chuān shàng liǎo yī fú， tiān yī liàng， wǒ qiāoqiāo dì chū lái， zài dǐ zhái duì miàn de kè lǎng lǚ diàn gù liǎo yī liàng dān mǎ chē， zuò chē dào lāi sè hēi dé， yòu cóng nà lǐ lái dào nǐ zhè 'ér， wéi yī de mù de shì lái bài fǎng nǐ bìng xiàng nǐ qǐng jiào。”
　　“ nǐ zhè yàng zuò hěn cōng míng， " wǒ de péng yǒu shuō，“ dàn shì nǐ shì fǒu yī qiē quán shuō liǎo？”
　　“ shì de， yī qiē。”
　　“ luó yī luò tè xiǎo jiě， nǐ bìng méi yòu quán shuō。 nǐ zài tǎn hù nǐ de jì fù。”
　　“ āi yā！ nǐ zhè shì shénme yì sī？”
　　 wèile huí dá tā de huà， fú 'ěr mó sī lā qǐ liǎo zhē zhù wǒ men kè rén fàng zài xī tóu shàng nà zhǐ shǒu de hēi sè huā biān xiù kǒu de xí biān。 bái xī de shǒu wàn shàng， yìn yòu wǔ xiǎo kuài wū qīng de shāng hén， nà shì sì gè shǒu zhǐ hé yī gè mǔ zhǐ de zhǐ hén。
　　“ nǐ shòu guò。 " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō。
　　 zhè wèi nǚ shì mǎn liǎn fēi hóng， zhē zhù shòu shāng de shǒu wàn shuō，“ tā shì yī gè shēn tǐ qiáng jiàn de rén， tā yě xǔ bù zhī dào zì jǐ de lì qì yòu duō dà。”
　　 dà jiā chén mò liǎo hǎo cháng shí jiān， zài zhè duàn shí jiān lǐ fú 'ěr mó sī jiāng shǒu tuō zhe xià bā， níng shì zhe pī pā zuò xiǎng de lú huǒ。
　　 zuì hòu tā shuō：“ zhè shì yī jiàn shí fēn fù zá de 'àn zǐ。 zài jué dìng yào cǎi qǔ shénme bù zhòu yǐ qián， wǒ xī wàng liǎo jiě de xì jié zhēn shì duō dé bù kě shèngshǔ。 bù guò， wǒ men yǐ jīng shì kè bù róng huǎn de liǎo。 jiǎ rú wǒ men jīn tiān dào sī tuō kè mò lán qù， wǒ men shì fǒu kě néng zài nǐ jì fù bù zhī dào de qíng kuàng xià， chá kàn yī xià zhè xiē fáng jiān ní？”
　　“ hěn còu qiǎo， tā tán qǐ guò jīn tiān yào jìn chéng lái bàn lǐ yī xiē shí fēn zhòng yào de shì qíng。 tā hěn kě néng yī zhěng tiān dōubù zài jiā， zhè jiù bù huì duì nǐ yòu rèn hé fáng 'ài liǎo。 yǎn xià wǒ men yòu yī wèi nǚ guǎn jiā， dàn shì tā yǐ nián mài 'ér qiě yú bèn， wǒ hěn róng yì bǎ tā zhī kāi。”
　　“ hǎo jí liǎo， huá shēng， nǐ bù fǎn duì zǒu yī tàng bā？”
　　“ jué bù fǎn duì。”
　　“ nà me， wǒ men liǎng gè réndōu yào qù de。 nǐ zì jǐ yòu shénme yào bàn de shì má？”
　　“ jì rán dào liǎo chéng lǐ， yòu yī liǎng jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng qù bàn yī xià。 dàn shì， wǒ jiāng chéng zuò shí 'èr diǎn zhōng de huǒ chē gǎn huí qù， hǎo jí shí zài nà 'ér děng hòu nǐ men。”
　　“ nǐ kě yǐ zài wǔ hòu bù jiǔ děng hòu wǒ men。 wǒ zì jǐ yòu xiē yè wù shàng de xiǎo shì yào liào lǐ yī xià。 nǐ bù dāi yī huì 'ér chī yī diǎn zǎo diǎn má？”
　　“ bù， wǒ dé zǒu lā。 wǒ bǎ wǒ de fán nǎo shì xiàng nǐ men tù lù yǐ hòu， wǒ de xīn qíng qīng sōng duō liǎo。 wǒ pàn wàng xià wǔ néng zài jiàn dào nǐ men。 " tā bǎ nà hòu hòu de hēi sè miàn shā lā xià lái méng zài liǎn shàng， qiāoqiāo dì zǒu chū liǎo fáng jiān。
　　“ huá shēng， nǐ duì zhè yī qiē yòu hé gǎn xiǎng？ " xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiàng hòu yī yǎng， kào zài yǐ bèi shàng wèn dào。
　　“ zài wǒ kàn lái， shì yī gè shí fēn yīn xiǎn dú là de yīn móu。”
　　“ shì gòu yīn xiǎn dú là de。”
　　“ kě shì， rú guǒ zhè wèi nǚ shì suǒ shuō de dì bǎn hé qiáng bì méi shòu dào shénme pò huài， yóu mén chuāng hé yān cōng shì zuàn bù jìn qù de zhè xiē qíng kuàng méi yòu cuò de huà， nà me， tā jiě jiě mò míng qí miào dì sǐ qù shí， wú yí shì yī gè rén zài wū lǐ de。”
　　“ kě shì， nà yè bàn shào shēng shì zěn me huí shì？ nà nǚ rén lín sǐ shí fēi cháng qí guài de huà yòu rú hé jiě shì ní？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng bù chū lái。”
　　“ yè bàn shào shēng； tóng zhè wèi lǎo yī shēng guān xì shí fēn mìqiè de yī bāng jí bǔ sài rén de chū xiàn； wǒ men yòu chōng fēn lǐ yóu xiāng xìn yī shēng qì tú zǔ zhǐ tā jì nǚ jié hūn de zhè gè shì shí； nà jù lín sǐ shí tí dào de yòu guān dài zǐ de huà； zuì hòu hái yòu hǎi lún · sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě tīng dào de kuāng lāng yī xià de jīn shǔ pèng zhuàng shēng（ nà shēng yīn kě néng shì yóu yī gēn kòu jǐn bǎi yè chuāng de jīn shǔ gàng luò huí dào yuán chù yǐn qǐ de）； dāng nǐ bǎ suǒ yòu zhè xiē qíng kuàng lián xì qǐ lái de shí hòu， wǒ xiǎng yòu chōng fēn gēn jù rèn wéi： yán zhe zhè xiē xiàn suǒ jiù kě yǐ jiě kāi zhè gè mí liǎo。”
　　“ rán 'ér nà xiē jí bǔ sài réndōu gān liǎo xiē shénme ní？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng xiàng bù chū。”
　　“ wǒ jué dé rèn hé zhè yī lèi de tuī lǐ dōuyòu xǔ duō quē xiàn。”
　　“ wǒ jué dé shì zhè yàng。 qià qià jiù shì yóu yú zhè gè yuán yīn， wǒ men jīn tiān cái yào dào sī tuō kè mò lán qù。 wǒ xiǎng kàn kàn zhè xiē quē xiàn shì wú fǎ mí bǔ de ní， hái shì kě yǐ jiě shì dé tōng de。 kě shì， zhēn jiàn guǐ， zhè dào dǐ shì zěn me huí shì ní？”
　　 wǒ huǒ bàn zhè shēng tū rú qí lái de hǎn jiào shì yīn wéi wǒ men de mén tū rán bèi rén zhuàng kāi liǎo。 yī gè biāo xíng dà hàn dǔ zài fáng mén kǒu。 tā de zhuāng shù hěn gǔ guài， jì xiàng yī gè zhuān jiā， yòu xiàng yī gè zhuāng jià hàn。 tā tóu dài hēi sè dà lǐ mào， shēn chuān yī jiàn cháng lǐ fú， jiǎo shàng què chuānzhuó yī shuāng yòu bǎng tuǐ de gāo tǒng xuē， shǒu lǐ hái huī dòng zhe yī gēn liè biān。 tā cháng dé rú cǐ gāo dà， tā de mào zǐ shí jì shàng dū cā dào fáng mén shàng de héng méi liǎo。 tā kuài tóu zhī dà， jīhū bǎ mén de liǎng biān dǔ dé yán yán shí shí。 tā nà zhāng bù mǎn zhòu wén、 bèi tài yáng zhì shài dé fā huáng、 chōng mǎn shén qíng de kuān liǎn， yī huì 'ér cháo wǒ qiáo qiáo， yī huì 'ér cháo fú 'ěr mó sī qiáo qiáo。 tā nà yī shuāng xiōng guāng bì lù de shēn xiàn de yǎn jīng hé nà xì cháng de gāo yīng gōu de bí zǐ， shǐ tā kàn qǐ lái huó xiàng yī tóu lǎo xiǔ、 cán rěn de měng qín。
　　“ nǐ men liǎ shuí shì fú 'ěr mó sī？ " zhè gè guài wù wèn dào。
　　“ xiān shēng， wǒ jiù shì， kě shì shī jìng dé hěn， nǐ shì nǎ yī wèi？ " wǒ de huǒ bàn píng jìng dì shuō。
　　“ wǒ shì sī tuō kè mò lán de gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng。”
　　“ ò， yī shēng， " fú 'ěr mó sī hé 'ǎi dì shuō，“ qǐng zuò。”
　　“ bù yòng lái zhè yī tào， wǒ zhī dào wǒ de jì nǚ dào nǐ zhè lǐ lái guò， yīn wéi wǒ zài gēn zōng tā。 tā duì nǐ dōushuō liǎo xiē shénme？”
　　“ jīn nián zhè gè shí hòu tiān qì hái zhè me lěng， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō。
　　“ tā dōuduì nǐ shuō liǎo xiē shénme？ " lǎo tóu bào tiào rú léi dì jiào hǎn qǐ lái。
　　“ dàn shì wǒ tīng shuō fān hóng huā jiāng kāi dé hěn bù cuò， " wǒ de huǒ bàn tán xiào zì rú dì jiē zhe shuō。
　　“ hā！ nǐ xiǎng tángsè wǒ， shì bù shì？ " wǒ men zhè wèi xīn kè rén xiàng qián kuà shàng yī bù， huī dòng zhuóshǒu zhōng de liè biān shuō，“ wǒ rèn shí nǐ， nǐ zhè gè wú lài！ wǒ zǎo jiù tīng shuō guò nǐ。 nǐ shì fú 'ěr mó sī， yī gè 'ài guǎn xián shì de rén。”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu wēi wēi yī xiào。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī， hàoguǎnxiánshì de jiā huǒ！”
　　 tā gèng jiā xiào róng kě jū。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī， nǐ zhè gè sū gé lán chǎng de zì mìng bù fán de zhī má guān！”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī gé gé dì xiào liǎo qǐ lái。 " nǐ de huà zhēn gòu fēng qù de， " tā shuō。
　　“ nǐ chū qù de shí hòu bǎ mén guān shàng， yīn wéi míng míng yòu yī gǔ chuān táng fēng。”
　　“ wǒ bǎ huà shuō wán jiù zǒu。 nǐ jìng gǎn lái gān yù wǒ de shì。 wǒ zhī dào sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě lái guò zhè lǐ， wǒ gēn zōng liǎo tā。 wǒ kě shì yī gè bù hǎo rě de wēi xiǎn rén wù！ nǐ qiáo zhè gè。 " tā xùn sù dì xiàng qián zǒu liǎo jǐ bù， zhuā qǐ huǒ qián， yòng tā nà shuāng hè sè de dà shǒu bǎ tā 'ào wān。
　　“ xiǎo xīn diǎn bié ràng wǒ zhuā zhù nǐ， " tā páo xiào zhe shuō， shùn shǒu bǎ niǔ wān de huǒ qián rēng dào bì lú lǐ， dà tà bù dì zǒu chū liǎo fáng jiān。
　　“ tā yī gè fēi cháng hé 'ǎi kě qīn de rén， " fú 'ěr mó sī hā hā dà xiào shuō：
　　“ wǒ de kuài tóu méi yòu tā nà me dà， dàn shì jiǎ rú tā zài zhè 'ér duō dāi yī huì 'ér， wǒ huì ràng tā kàn kàn， wǒ de shǒu jìn bǐ tā de xiǎo bù liǎo duō shǎo。 " shuō zhe， tā shí qǐ nà tiáo gāng huǒ qián， měng yī shǐ jìn， jiù bǎ tā chóngxīn nòng zhí liǎo。
　　“ zhēn hǎo xiào， tā jìng nà me mánhèng dì bǎ wǒ hé guān tīng zhēn tàn rén yuán hùn wéi yī tán！ rán 'ér， zhè me yī duàn chāqǔ què wèiwǒ men de diào chá zēng tiān liǎo fēng qù， wǒ wéi yī xī wàng de shì wǒ men de xiǎo péng yǒu bù huì yóu yú cū xīn dà yì ràng zhè gè chù shēng gēn zōng shàng liǎo 'ér zāo shòu shénme zhé mó。 hǎo liǎo， huá shēng， wǒ men jiào tā men kāi zǎo fàn bā， fàn hòu wǒ yào bù xíng dào yī shī xié huì qù， wǒ xī wàng zài nà 'ér néng gǎo dào yī xiē yòu zhù yú wǒ men chǔlǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de cái liào。”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī huí lái shí yǐ kuài yào yī diǎn liǎo。 tā shǒu zhōng ná zhe yī zhāng lán zhǐ， shàng miàn liáo cǎo dì xiě zhe yī xiē bǐ jì hé shù zì。
　　“ wǒ kàn dào liǎo nà wèi yǐ gù de qī zǐ de yí zhǔ， " tā shuō，“ wèile què dìng tā què qiē de yì yì， wǒ bù dé bù jì suàn chū yí zhǔ zhōng suǒ liè de nà xiē tóu zī yòu duō dà jìn xiàng。 qí quán bù shōu rù zài nà wèi nǚ rén qù shì de shí hòu lüè shǎo yú yī qiān yī bǎi yīng bàng， xiàn zài， yóu yú nóng chǎn píng jià gé xià diē， zhì duō bù chāo guò qī bǎi wǔ shí yīng bàng。 kě shì měi gè nǚ 'ér yī jié hūn jiù yòu quán suǒ qǔ 'èr bǎi wǔ shí yīng bàng de shōu rù。 yīn cǐ， hěn míng xiǎn， jiǎ rú liǎng gè xiǎo jiě dū jié liǎo hūn， zhè wèi ' miào rén 'ér ' jiù huì zhǐ shèng xià fěi bó de shōu rù， shèn zhì jí shǐ yī gè jié liǎo hūn yě huì nòng dé tā hěn láng bèi。 wǒ zǎo shàng de gōng zuò méi yòu bái fèi， yīn wéi tā zhèng míng liǎo tā yòu zhe zuì qiáng liè de dòng jī yǐ fáng zhǐ zhè yī lèi shì qíng fā shēng。 huá shēng， xiàn zài zài bù zhuā jǐn jiù tài wēi xiǎn liǎo， tè bié shì nà lǎo tóu yǐ jīng zhī dào wǒ men duì tā de shì hěn gǎn xīng qù； suǒ yǐ， rú guǒ nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo liǎo， wǒ men jiù qù gù yī liàng mǎ chē， qián wǎng huá tiě lú chē zhàn。 jiǎ rú nǐ qiāoqiāo dì bǎ nǐ de zuǒ lún shǒu qiāng chuài zài kǒu dài lǐ， wǒ jiāng fēi cháng gǎn jī。 duì yú néng bǎ gāng huǒ qián niǔ chéng jié de xiān shēng， yī bǎ 'āi lì 'èr hào shì zuì néng jiě jué zhēng duān de gōng jù liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng zhè gè dōng xī lián tóng yī bǎ yá shuà jiù shì wǒ men de quán bù xū yào。”
　　 zài huá tiě lú， wǒ men zhèng hǎo gǎn shàng yī bān kāi wǎng lāi sè hēi dé de huǒ chē。 dào zhàn hòu， wǒ men cóng chē zhàn lǚ diàn gù liǎo yī liàng shuāng lún qīng biàn mǎ chē， yán zhe kě 'ài de sà lǐ dān xíng chē dào xíng shǐ liǎo wǔ liù yīng lǐ。 nà tiān tiān qì jí hǎo， yáng guāng míng mèi， qíng kōng zhōng bái yún qīng piāo。 shù mù hé lù biān de shù lí gāng gāng lù chū dì yī pī nèn zhī， kōng qì zhōng sàn fā zhe lìng rén xīn kuàng shén yí de shī rùn de ní tǔ qì xī。 duì yú wǒ lái shuō， zhì shǎo jué dé zhè chūn yì 'àng rán de jǐng sè hé wǒ men cóng shì de zhè jiàn bù xiáng de diào chá shì yī gè qí tè de duì zhào。 wǒ de huǒ bàn shuāng bì jiāo chā dì zuò zài mǎ chē de qián bù， mào zǐ dā lā xià lái zhē zhù liǎo yǎn jīng， tóu chuí dào xiōng qián， shēn shēn dì xiàn rù chén sī zhī zhōng。 kě shì mò dì tā tái qǐ tóu lái， pāi liǎo pāi wǒ de jiān bǎng， zhǐ zhe duì miàn de cǎo dì。
　　“ nǐ qiáo， nà biān， " tā shuō。
　　 yī piàn shù mù mào mì de yuán dì， suí zhe bù hěn dǒu de xié pō xiàng shàng yán shēn， zài zuì gāo chù xíng chéng liǎo mì mì de yī piàn cóng lín。 shù cóng zhī zhōng chù lì zhe yī zuò shí fēn gǔ lǎo de dǐ zhái de huī sè shān qiáng hé gāo gāo de wū dǐng。
　　“ sī tuō kè mò lán？ " tā shuō。
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng， nà shì gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng de fáng zǐ，” mǎ chē fū shuō。
　　“ nà biān zhèng zài dà xīng tǔ mù， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ nà jiù shì wǒ men yào qù de dì fāng。”
　　“ cūn zǐ zài nà 'ér， " mǎ chē fū yáo zhǐ zuǒ miàn de yī cù wū dǐng shuō，“ dàn shì， rú guǒ nǐ men xiǎng dào nà chuáng fáng zǐ nà lǐ qù， nǐ men zhè yàng zǒu huì gèng jìn yī xiē： kuà guò lí bā liǎng biān de tái jiē， rán hòu shùn zhe dì lǐ de xiǎo lù zǒu。 jiù zài nà 'ér， nà wèi xiǎo jiě zhèng zài zǒu zhe de nà tiáo xiǎo lù。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng， nà wèi xiǎo jiě jiù shì sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě， " fú 'ěr mó sī shǒu zhē zhuóyǎn jīng， zǎi xì dì qiáo zhe shuō。“ shì de， wǒ kàn wǒ men zuì hǎo hái shì zhào nǐ de yì sī bàn。”
　　 wǒ men xià liǎo chē， fù liǎo chē qián， mǎ chē gā lā gā lā dì cháo lāi sè hēi dé xíng shǐ huí qù。
　　 dāng wǒ men zǒu shàng tái jiē shí， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ wǒ rèn wéi hái shì ràng zhè gè jiā huǒ bǎ wǒ men dàngchéng shì zhè lǐ de jiàn zhù shī， huò zhě shì lái bàn shì de rén wéi hǎo， shěngde tā xián huà lián piān。 wǔ 'ān， sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě。 nǐ qiáo， wǒ men shì shuō dào zuò dào de。”
　　 wǒ men zhè wèi zǎo shàng lái guò de wěi tuō rén jí jí máng máng dì gǎn shàng qián lái yíng jiē wǒ men， liǎn shàng liú lù chū gāo xīng de shén sè。 " wǒ yī zhí zài jiāo jí dì pàn zhe nǐ men， " tā rè qíng dì hé wǒ men biān wò shǒu biān dà shēng shuō dào，“ yī qiēdōu hěn shùn lì。 luó yī luò tè yī shēng jìn chéng liǎo， kàn lái tā bàng wǎn yǐ qián shì bù huì huí lái liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ men yǐ jīng gāo xīng dì rèn shí liǎo yī shēng。 " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō。 jiē zhe tā bǎ jīng guò dà gài dì xù shù liǎo yī fān。 tīng zhe tīng zhe， sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě de zhěng gè liǎn hé zuǐ chún dū biàn dé shuà bái。
　　“ tiān nǎ！ " tā jiào dào，“ nà me， tā yī zhí zài gēn zhe wǒ liǎo。”
　　“ kàn lái shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ tā tài jiǎo huá liǎo， wǒ wú shí wú kè bù gǎn dào shòu zhe tā de kòng zhì。 tā huí lái hòu huì shuō shénme ní？”
　　“ tā bì xū bǎo hù tā zì jǐ， yīn wéi tā kě néng fā xiàn， yòu bǐ tā gèng jiǎo huá de rén gēn zōng tā。 jīn tiān wǎn shàng， nǐ yī dìng yào bǎ mén suǒ shàng bù fàng tā jìn qù。 rú guǒ tā hěn kuáng bào， wǒ men jiù sòng nǐ qù hā luó nǐ yí mā jiā lǐ。 xiàn zài， wǒ men dé zhuā jǐn shí jiān， suǒ yǐ， qǐng mǎ shàng dài wǒ men dào xū yào jiǎn chá de nà xiē fáng jiān qù。”
　　 zhè zuò dǐ zhái shì yòng huī sè de shí tóu qì de， shí bì shàng bù mǎn liǎo qīng tái， zhōng yāng bù fēn gāo gāo chù lì， liǎng cè shì hú xíng de biān fáng， xiàng yī duì xiè qián sì dì xiàng liǎng biān yán shēn。 yī cè de biān fáng chuāng zǐ dōuyǐ jīng pò suì， yòng mù bǎn dǔ zhe， fáng dǐng yě yòu yī bù fēn tān xiàn liǎo， wán quán shì yī fù huāng fèi cán pò de jǐng xiàng。 fáng zǐ de zhōng yāng bù fēn yě shì nián jiǔ shī xiū。 kě shì， yòu shǒu nà yī pái fáng zǐ què bǐ jiào xīn， chuāng zǐ lǐ chuāng lián dī chuí， yān cōng shàng lán yān niǎo niǎo， shuō míng zhè lǐ shì zhè jiā rén jū zhù de dì fāng。 kào shān qiáng shù zhe yī xiē jiǎo shǒu jià， qiáng de shí tóu bù fēn yǐ jīng záo tōng， dàn shì wǒ men dào dá nà lǐ shí què méi jiàn dào yòu gōng rén de jì xiàng。 fú 'ěr mó sī zài nà kuài cǎo cǎo xiū jiǎn guò de cǎo píng shàng huǎn màn dì zǒu lái zǒu qù， shí fēn zǎi xì dì jiǎn chá liǎo chuāng zǐ de wài bù。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng， zhè shì nǐ guò qù de qǐn shì， dāng zhōng nà jiān shì nǐ jiě jiě de fáng jiān， āi zhe zhù lóu de nà jiān shì luó yī luò tè yī shēng de wò shì。”
　　“ yī diǎn yě bù cuò。 dàn shì xiàn zài wǒ zài dāng zhōng nà jiān shuì jué。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng zhè shì yīn wéi fáng wū zhèng zài xiū shàn zhōng。 shùn biàn shuō shuō， nà zuò shān qiáng sì hū bìng méi yòu rèn hé jiā yǐ xiū shàn de pò qiē xū yào bā。”
　　“ gēn běn bù xū yào， wǒ xiāng xìn nà zhǐ bù guò shì yào wǒ cóng wǒ de fáng jiān lǐ bān chū lái de yī gè jiè kǒu。”
　　“ ā， zhè hěn shuō míng wèn tí。 ǹg， zhè xiá zhǎi biān fáng de lìng yī biān shì nà yī tiáo sān gè fáng jiān de fáng mén dū cháo xiàng tā kāi de guò dào。 lǐ miàn dāng rán yě yòu chuāng zǐ de bā？”
　　“ yòu de， bù guò shì yī xiē fēi cháng zhǎi xiǎo de chuāng zǐ。 tài zhǎi liǎo， rén zuàn bù jìn qù。”
　　“ jì rán nǐ liǎ wǎn shàng dū suǒ shàng zì jǐ de fáng mén， cóng nà yī biān jìn rù nǐ men de fáng jiān shì bù kě néng de liǎo。 xiàn zài， má fán nǐ dào nǐ de fáng jiān lǐ qù， bìng qiě shuān shàng bǎi yè chuāng。”
　　 sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě zhào tā fēn fù de zuò liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī shí fēn zǎi xì dì jiǎn chá kāi zhe de chuāng zǐ， rán hòu yòng jìn gè zhǒng fāng fǎ xiǎng dǎ kāi bǎi yè chuāng， dàn jiù shì dǎ bù kāi。 lián yī tiáo néng róng yī bǎ dāo zǐ chā jìn qù bǎ shuān gàng qiào qǐ lái de lièfèng yě méi yòu。 suí hòu， tā yòng tū tòu jìng jiǎn chá liǎo hé yè， kě shì hé yè shì tiě zhì de， láo láo dì qiàn zài jiān yìng de shí qiáng shàng。“ ǹg， " tā yòu diǎn kùn huò bù jiě dì sāo zhe xià bā shuō，“ wǒ de tuī lǐ kěn dìng yòu xiē shuō bù tōng de dì fāng。 rú guǒ zhè xiē bǎi yè chuāng shuān shàng liǎo， shì méi yòu rén néng gòu zuàn jìn qù de。 hǎo bā， wǒ men lái kàn kàn lǐ biān shì fǒu yòu shénme xiàn suǒ néng bāng zhù wǒ men nòng míng bái shì qíng de。”
　　 yī dào xiǎo xiǎo de cè mén tōng xiàng shuà dé xuě bái de guò dào， sān jiān wò shì de fáng mén dū cháo xiàng zhè gè guò dào。 fú 'ěr mó sī bù xiǎng jiǎn chá dì sān gè fáng jiān， suǒ yǐ wǒ men mǎ shàng jiù lái dào dì 'èr jiān， yě jiù shì sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě xiàn zài yòng zuò qǐn shì、 tā de jiě jiě bù xìng qù shì de nà gè fáng jiān。 zhè shì yī jiān jiǎn pǔ de xiǎo fáng jiān， àn zhào xiāng cūn jiù shì dǐ zhái de yàng shì gài de， yòu dī dī de tiān huā bǎn hé yī gè kāi kǒu shì de bì lú。 fáng jiān de yī yú lì zhe yī zhǐ dài chōu tì de hè sè chú guì， lìng yī yú 'ān zhì zhe yī zhāng zhǎi zhǎi de zhào zhe bái sè chuáng zhào de chuáng， chuāng zǐ de zuǒ cè shì yī zhǐ shū zhuāng tái。 zhè xiē jiā jù jiā shàng liǎng bǎ liǔ tiáo yǐ zǐ jiù shì zhè gè fáng jiān de quán bù bǎi shè liǎo， zhǐ shì zhèng dāng zhōng hái yòu yī kuài sì fāng xíng de wēi 'ěr dùn dì tǎn 'ér yǐ， fáng jiān sì zhōu de mù bǎn hé qiáng shàng de qiàn bǎn shì zhù kǒng bān bān de zōng sè lì mù， shí fēn chén jiù， bìng qiě tuì liǎo sè。 hěn kě néng dāng nián jiàn zhù zhè zuò fáng zǐ shí jiù yǐ jīng yòu zhè xiē mù bǎn hé qiàn bǎn liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī bān liǎo yī bǎ yǐ zǐ dào qiáng jiǎo， mò mò dì zuò zài nà lǐ， tā de yǎn jīng què qián qián hòu hòu， shàng shàng xià xià bù tíng dì xún shì， tā guān chá xì zhì rù wēi， duì fáng jiān de měi gè xì jié dū zhù yì dào liǎo。
　　 zuì hòu， tā zhǐ zhe xuán guà zài chuáng biān de yī gēn cū cū de líng lā shéng wèn dào，“ zhè gè líng tōng shí me dì fāng？ " nà shéng tóu de liú sū shí jì shàng jiù dā zài zhěn tóu shàng。
　　“ tōng dào guǎn jiā de fáng jiān lǐ。”
　　“ kàn yàng zǐ tā bǐ qí tā dōng xī dōuyào xīn xiē。”
　　“ shì de， cái zhuāng shàng yī liǎng nián。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng shì nǐ jiě jiě yào qiú zhuāng shàng de bā？”
　　“ bù shì， wǒ cóng lái méi yòu tīng shuō tā yòng guò tā。 wǒ men xiǎng yào shénme dōng xī zǒng shì zì jǐ qù qǔ de。”
　　“ shì 'ā， kàn lái méi yòu bì yào zài nà 'ér 'ān zhuāng zhè me hǎo de yī gēn líng shéng。 duì bù qǐ， ràng wǒ huā jǐ fēn zhōng gǎo qīng chǔ zhè dì bǎn。 " tā pā liǎo xià qù， shǒu lǐ ná zhe tā de fàng dà jìng， xùn sù dì qián hòu pú fú yí dòng， shí fēn zǎi xì dì jiǎn chá mù bǎn jiān de lièfèng。 jiē zhe tā duì fáng jiān lǐ de qiàn bǎn zuò liǎo tóng yàng de jiǎn chá。 zuì hòu， tā zǒu dào chuáng qián， mù bù zhuǎn jīng dì dǎ liàng liǎo tā hǎo yī huì， yòu shùn zhe qiáng shàng xià lái huí chǒu zhe。 mò liǎo tā bǎ líng shéng wò zài shǒu zhōng， tū rán shǐ jìn lā liǎo yī xià。
　　“ yí！ zhè zhǐ shì zuò yàng zǐ de， " tā shuō。
　　“ bù xiǎng má？”
　　“ bù xiǎng， shàng miàn shèn zhì méi yòu jiē shàng xiàn。 zhè hěn yòu yì sī， xiàn zài nǐ néng kàn qīng， shéng zǐ gāng hǎo shì xì zài xiǎo xiǎo de tōng qì kǒng shàng miàn de gōu zǐ shàng。”
　　“ duō me huāng táng de zuò fǎ 'ā！ wǒ yǐ qián cóng lái méi yòu zhù yì dào zhè gè。”
　　“ fēi cháng qí guài！ " fú 'ěr mó sī shǒu lā zhe líng shéng nán nán dì shuō，“ zhè fáng jiān lǐ yòu yī liǎng gè shí fēn tè bié de dì fāng。 lì rú， zào fáng zǐ de rén yòu duō me yú chǔn， jìng huì bǎ tōng qì kǒng cháo xiàng gé bì fáng jiān， huā fèi tóng yàng de gōng fū， tā běn lái kě yǐ bǎ tā tōng xiàng hù wài de。”
　　“ nà yě shì xīn jìn de shì， " zhè wèi xiǎo jiě shuō。
　　“ shì hé líng shéng tóng shí 'ān zhuāng de má？ " fú 'ěr mó sī wèn。
　　“ shì de， yòu hǎo jǐ chù xiǎo gǎi dòng shì nà shí hòu jìn xíng de。”
　　“ zhè xiē dōng xī shí zài tài yòu qù liǎo héng héng bǎi yàng zǐ de líng shéng， bù tōng fēng de tōng qì kǒng。 nǐ yào shì yǔn xǔ de huà， sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě， wǒ men dào lǐ miàn nà yī jiān qù jiǎn chá jiǎn chá kàn。”
　　 gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng de fáng jiān bǐ tā jì nǚ de jiào wéi kuān chǎng， dàn fáng jiān lǐ de chén shè yě shì nà me jiǎn pǔ。 yī zhāng xíng jūn chuáng， yī gè bǎi mǎn shū jí de xiǎo mù zhì shū jià， jià shàng de shū jí duō shù shì jì shù xìng de， chuáng biān shì yī bǎ fú shǒu yǐ， kào qiáng yòu yī bǎ pǔ tōng de mù yǐ， yī zhāng yuán zhuō hé yī zhǐ dà tiě bǎo xiǎn guì， zhè xiē jiù shì yī yǎn jiù néng kàn dào de zhù yào jiā jù hé zá wù。 fú 'ěr mó sī zài fáng jiān lǐ màn màn dì rào liǎo yī juàn， quán shén guàn zhù dì， zhú yī dì jiāng tā mendōu jiǎn chá liǎo yī biàn。
　　 tā qiāo qiāo bǎo xiǎn guì wèn dào：“ zhè lǐ miàn shì shénme？”
　　“ wǒ jì fù yè wù shàng de wén jiàn。”
　　“ ō， nà me nǐ kàn jiàn guò lǐ miàn de liǎo？”
　　“ jǐn jǐn yī cì， nà shì jǐ nián yǐ qián。 wǒ jì dé lǐ miàn zhuāng mǎn liǎo wén jiàn。”
　　“ bǐ fāng shuō， lǐ biān bù huì yòu yī zhǐ māo má？”
　　“ bù huì， duō me qí guài de xiǎng fǎ！”
　　“ ò， kàn kàn zhè gè！ " tā cóng bǎo xiǎn guì shàng biān ná qǐ yī gè shèng nǎi de qiǎn dié。
　　“ bù， wǒ men méi yǎng māo。 dàn shì yòu yī zhǐ yìn dù liè bào hé yī zhǐ fèi fèi。”
　　“ ā， shì de， dāng rán！ ǹg， yī zhǐ yìn dù liè bào yě chàbù duō jiù shì yī zhǐ dà māo， kě shì， wǒ gǎn shuō yào mǎn zú tā de xū yào， yī dié nǎi pà bù zěn me gòu bā。 hái yòu yī gè tè diǎn， wǒ bì xū què dìng yī xià。 " tā dūn zài mù yǐ qián， jù jīng huì shén dì jiǎn chá liǎo yǐ zǐ miàn。
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ， chàbù duō kě yǐ jiě jué liǎo。 " shuō zhe， tā zhàn liǎo qǐ lái bǎ shǒu zhōng de fàng dà jìng fàng zài yī dài lǐ。 " wèi， zhè 'ér yòu jiàn hěn yòu yì sī de dōng xī！”
　　 yǐn qí tā zhù yì de shì guà zài chuáng tóu shàng de yī gēn xiǎo dǎ gǒu biān zǐ。 bù guò， zhè gēn biān zǐ shì juàn zhe de， ér qiě dǎ chéng jié， yǐ shǐ biān shéng pán chéng yī gè juàn。
　　“ nǐ zěn me lǐ jiě zhè jiàn shì， huá shēng？”
　　“ nà zhǐ bù guò shì yī gēn pǔ tōng de biān zǐ。 dàn wǒ bù míng bái， wèishénme yào dǎ chéng jié？”
　　“ bìng bù nà me tài píng tōng bā， āi yā， zhè zhēn shì gè wàn 'è de shì jiè， yī gè cōng míng rén rú guǒ bǎ nǎo zǐ yòng zài wéi fēi zuò dǎi shàng， nà jiù zāo tòu liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ xiàn zài yǐ jīng chá kàn gòu liǎo， sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě， rú guǒ nǐ xǔ kě de huà， wǒ men dào wài miàn cǎo AE lóng f1 shàng qù zǒu zǒu。”
　　 wǒ cóng lái méi yòu jiàn dào guò wǒ de péng yǒu zài lí kāi diào chá xiàn chǎng shí， liǎn sè shì nà yàng de yán jùn， huò zhě shuō， biǎo qíng shì nà yàng de yīn chén。 wǒ men zài cǎo píng shàng lái lái huí huí dì zǒu zhe， wú lùn shì sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě huò zhě shì wǒ， dōubù xiǎng dǎ duàn tā de sī lù， zhí dào tā zì jǐ cóng chén sī zhōng huī fù guò lái wéi zhǐ。
　　“ sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě， " tā shuō，“ zhì guān zhòng yào de shì nǐ zài yī qiē fāng miàn dū bì xū jué duì 'àn wǒ suǒ shuō de qù zuò。”
　　“ wǒ yī dìng zhào bàn。”
　　“ shì qíng tài yán zhòng liǎo， bù róng yòu piàn kè yóu yù。 nǐ de shēng mìng kě néng qǔ jué yú nǐ shì fǒu tīng cóng wǒ de huà。”
　　“ wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎo zhèng， wǒ yī qiē tīng cóng nǐ de fēn fù。”
　　“ shǒu xiān， wǒ de péng yǒu hé wǒdōu bì xū zài nǐ de fáng jiān lǐ guò yè。”
　　 sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě hé wǒdōu jīng 'ě dì kàn zhe tā。
　　“ duì， bì xū zhè yàng， ràng wǒ lái jiě shì yī xià。 wǒ xiāng xìn， nà 'ér jiù shì cūn lǐ de lǚ diàn？”
　　“ shì de， nà shì kè lǎng lǚ diàn。”
　　“ hǎodehěn。 cóng nà 'ér kàn dé jiàn nǐ de chuāng zǐ？”
　　“ dāng rán。”
　　“ nǐ jì fù huí lái shí， nǐ yī dìng yào jiǎ zhuāng tóu téng， bǎ zì jǐ guān zài fáng jiān lǐ。 rán hòu， dāng nǐ tīng dào tā yè lǐ jiù qǐn hòu， nǐ jiù bì xū dǎ kāi nǐ nà shàn chuāng hù de bǎi yè chuāng， jiě kāi chuāng hù de dā kòu， bǎ dēng bǎi zài nà 'ér zuò wéi gěi wǒ men de xìn hào， suí hòu dài shàng nǐ kě néng xū yào de dōng xī， qiāoqiāo dì huí dào nǐ guò qù zhù de fáng jiān。 wǒ háo bù huái yí， jìn guǎn shàng zài xiū lǐ， nǐ hái shì néng zài nà lǐ zhù yī xiāo de。”
　　“ ō， shì de， méi wèn tí。”
　　“ qí yú de shì qíng jiù jiāo gěi wǒ men chǔlǐ hǎo liǎo。”
　　“ kě shì， nǐ men dǎ suàn zěn me bàn ní？”
　　“ wǒ men yào zài nǐ de wò shì lǐ guò yè， wǒ men yào diào chá dǎ rǎo nǐ de zhè zhǒng shēng yīn shì zěn me lái de。”
　　“ wǒ xiāng xìn， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ yǐ jīng dǎ dìng liǎo zhù yì。 " sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě lā zhe wǒ tóng bàn de xiù zǐ shuō。
　　“ yě xǔ shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ nà me， fā fā cí bēi bā， gào sù wǒ， wǒ jiě jiě shì shénme yuán yīn sǐ de？”
　　“ wǒ dǎo xī wàng zài yòu liǎo gèng què qiē de zhèng jù zhī hòu zài shuō。”
　　“ nǐ zhì shǎo kě yǐ gào sù wǒ， wǒ de xiǎng fǎ shì fǒu zhèng què， tā yě xǔ shì tū rán shòu jīng 'ér sǐ de。”
　　“ bù， wǒ bù rèn wéi shì nà yàng。 wǒ rèn wéi kě néng yòu mǒu zhǒng gèng wéi jù tǐ de yuán yīn。 hǎo lā， sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě， wǒ men bì xū lí kāi nǐ liǎo， yīn wéi， yào shì luó yī luò tè yī shēng huí lái jiàn dào liǎo wǒ men， wǒ men zhè cì xíng chéng jiù huì chéng wéi tú láo de liǎo。 zài jiàn， yào yǒng gǎn xiē， zhǐ yào nǐ 'àn zhào wǒ gào sù nǐ de huà qù zuò， nǐ jìn kě yǐ fàng xīn， wǒ men jiāng hěn kuài jiě chú wēi xié zhe nǐ de wēi xiǎn。”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī hé wǒ méi fèi shí me shì jiù zài kè lǎng lǚ diàn dìng liǎo yī jiān wò shì hé yī jiān qǐ jū shì。 fáng jiān zài 'èr céng lóu， wǒ men kě yǐ cóng chuāng zǐ fǔ kàn sī tuō kè mò lán zhuāng yuán lín yìn dào bàng de dà mén hé zhù rén de biān fáng。 huáng hūn shí kè， wǒ men kàn dào gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng qū chē guò qù， tā nà shuò dà de qū tǐ chū xiàn zài gěi tā gǎn chē de shòu xiǎo de shàonián shēn bàng， xiǎn dé gé wài tū chū。 nà nán pú zài dǎ kāi chén zhòng de dà tiě mén shí， shāo shāo fèi liǎo diǎn shì， wǒ men tīng dào yī shēng sī yǎ de páo xiào shēng， bìng qiě kàn dào tā yóu yú jī nù 'ér duì nà nán pú huī wǔ zhe quán tóu。 mǎ chē jì xù qián jìn。 guò yī huì 'ér， wǒ men kàn dào shù cóng lǐ tū rán zhào yào chū yī dào dēng guāng， yuán lái zhè shì yòu yī jiān qǐ jū shì diǎn shàng liǎo dēng。
　　“ nǐ zhī dào má， huá shēng？ " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō。 zhè shí， yè mù zhú jiàn jiàng lín。 wǒ men zhèng zuò zài yī qǐ tán huà，“ jīn tiān wǎn shàng nǐ tóng wǒ yī qǐ lái， wǒ de què bù wú gù lǜ， yīn wéi què shí cún zài zhe míng xiǎn de wēi xiǎn yīn sù。”
　　“ wǒ néng zhù yī bì zhī lì má？”
　　“ nǐ zài chǎng kě néng huì qǐ hěn zhòng yào de zuò yòng。”
　　“ nà me， wǒ dāng rán yīnggāi lái。”
　　“ fēi cháng gǎn xiè！”
　　“ nǐ shuō dào wēi xiǎn。 xiǎn rán， nǐ zài zhè xiē fáng jiān lǐ kàn dào de dōng xī bǐ wǒ kàn dào de yào duō dé duō。”
　　“ bù， dàn shì wǒ rèn wéi， wǒ kě néng shāo wēi duō tuī duàn chū yī xiē dōng xī。 wǒ xiǎng nǐ tóng wǒ yī yàng kàn dào liǎo suǒ yòu de dōng xī。”
　　“ chú liǎo nà líng shéng yǐ wài， wǒ méi yòu kàn dào qí tā zhí dé zhù yì de dōng xī。 zhì yú nà dōng xī yòu shénme yòng tú， wǒ chéng rèn， nà bù shì wǒ suǒ néng xiǎng xiàng dé chū lái de。”
　　“ nǐ yě kàn dào nà tōng qì kǒng liǎo bā？”
　　“ shì de， dàn shì wǒ xiǎng zài liǎng gè fáng jiān zhī jiān kāi gè xiǎo dòng， bìng bù shì shénme yì hū xún cháng de shì。 nà dòng kǒu shì nà me zhǎi xiǎo， lián gè hào zǐ dōuhěn nán zuàn guò qù。”
　　“ zài wǒ men méi lái sī tuō kè mò lán yǐ qián， wǒ jiù zhī dào， wǒ men jiāng huì fā xiàn yī gè tōng qì kǒng。”
　　“ āi yā， qīn 'ài de fú 'ěr mó sī！”
　　“ ò， shì de， wǒ zhī dào de。 nǐ jì dé dāng chū tā zài xù shù zhōng tí dào tā jiě jiě néng wén dào luó yī luò tè yī shēng de xuějiā yān wèi。 nà me， dāng rán zhè lì kè biǎo míng zài liǎng gè fáng jiān dāng zhōng bì dìng yòu yī gè tōng dào。 kě shì， tā zhǐ kě néng shì fēi cháng zhǎi xiǎo de， bù rán zài yàn shī guān de xún wèn zhōng， jiù huì bèi tí dào。 yīn cǐ， wǒ tuī duàn shì yī gè tōng qì kǒng。”
　　“ dàn shì， nà yòu huì yòu shénme fáng hài ní？”
　　“ ǹg， zhì shǎo zài shí jiān shàng yòu zhe qí miào de qiǎo hé， záo liǎo yī gè tōng qì kǒng， guà liǎo yī tiáo shéng suǒ， shuì zài chuáng shàng de yī wèi xiǎo jiě sòng liǎo mìng。 zhè nán dào hái bù zú yǐ yǐn qǐ nǐ de zhù yì má？”
　　“ wǒ réng rán kàn bù tòu qí jiān yòu shénme lián xì。”
　　“ nǐ zhù yì dào nà zhāng chuáng yòu shénme fēi cháng tè bié de dì fāng má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ tā shì yòng luó dīng gù dìng zài dì bǎn shàng de。 nǐ yǐ qián jiàn dào guò yī zhāng nà yàng gù dìng de chuáng má？”
　　“ wǒ bù gǎn shuō jiàn dào guò。”
　　“ nà wèi xiǎo jiě yí dòng bù liǎo tā de chuáng。 nà zhāng chuáng jiù bì rán zǒng shì bǎo chí zài tóng yī xiāng yìng de wèi zhì shàng， jì duì zhe tōng qì kǒng， yòu duì zhe líng shéng héng héng yě xǔ wǒ men kě yǐ zhè yàng chēng hū tā， yīn wéi xiǎn 'ér yì jiàn， tā cóng lái yě méi yòu bèi dāng zuò líng shéng yòng guò。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī， " wǒ jiào liǎo qǐ lái，“ wǒ sì hū yǐn yuē dì lǐng huì dào nǐ 'àn shì zhe shénme。 wǒ men gāng hǎo lái dé jí fáng zhǐ fā shēng mǒu zhǒng yīn xiǎn 'ér kě pà de zuì xíng。”
　　“ zhēn gòu yīn xiǎn kě pà de。 yī gè yī shēng duò rù qí tú， tā jiù shì zuì kuí huò shǒu。 tā jì yòu dǎn liàng yòu yòu zhī shí。 pà 'ěr mò hé qì lǐ chá dé jiù zài tā men zhèyīháng zhōng míng liè qián máo， dàn zhè gè rén gèng gāo shēn mò cè。 dàn shì， huá shēng， wǒ xiǎng wǒ men huì bǐ tā gèng gāo míng。 bù guò tiān liàng zhī qián， dān xīn hài pà de shì qíng hái duō dé hěn； kàn zài shàng dì de fèn shàng， ràng wǒ men jìng jìng dì chōu yī dǒu yān， huàn huàn nǎo jīn。 zài zhè duàn shí jiān lǐ， xiǎng diǎn yú kuài de shì qíng bā。”
　　 dà yuē jiǔ diǎn zhōng de shí hòu， shù cóng zhōng tòu guò lái de dēng guāng xī miè liǎo， zhuāng yuán dǐ zhái nà biān yī piàn qī hēi。 liǎng gè xiǎo shí huǎn màn dì guò qù liǎo， tū rán gāng hǎo shí zhōng zài dǎ shí yī diǎn de shí hòu， wǒ men de zhèng qián fāng chū xiàn liǎo yī zhǎn gū dēng， zhào shè chū míng liàng de dēng huǒ。
　　“ nà shì wǒ men de xìn hào， " fú 'ěr mó sī tiào liǎo qǐ lái shuō，“ shì cóng dāng zhōng nà gè fáng jiān zhào chū lái de。”
　　 wǒ men xiàng wài zǒu de shí hòu， tā hé lǚ diàn lǎo bǎn jiāo tán liǎo jǐ jù huà， jiě shì shuō wǒ men yào lián yè qù fǎng wèn yī gè shú yǒu， kě néng huì zài nà lǐ guò yè。 yī huì 'ér， wǒ men jiù lái dào liǎo qī hēi de lù shàng， liáng sōu sōu de lěng fēng chuī zài liǎn shàng， zài méng lóng de yè sè zhōng， hūn huáng de dēng guāng zài wǒ men de qián fāng shǎn shuò， yǐn dǎo wǒ men qù wán chéng yīn yù de shǐ mìng。
　　 yóu yú shān qiáng nián jiǔ shī xiū， dào chù shì cán qiáng duàn yuán， wǒ men qīng 'ér yì jǔ dì jìn rù liǎo tíng yuàn。 wǒ men chuān guò shù cóng， yòu yuè guò cǎo píng， zhèng dài tōng guò chuāng zǐ jìn wū shí， tū rán cóng yī cóng yuè guì shù zhōng， cuàn chū liǎo yī gè zhuàng ruò chǒu lòu jī xíng de hái zǐ de dōng xī， tā niǔ dòng zhe sì zhī zòng shēn tiào dào cǎo píng shàng， suí jí fēi kuài dì páo guò cǎo píng， xiāo shī zài hēi 'àn zhōng。
　　“ tiān nǎ！ " wǒ dī dī dì jiào liǎo yī shēng，“ nǐ kàn dào liǎo má？”
　　 cǐ kè， fú 'ěr mó sī hé wǒ yī yàng， yě xià liǎo yī dà tiào。 tā zài jī dòng zhōng yòng xiàng lǎo hǔ qián shìde shǒu zuàn zhù liǎo wǒ de shǒu wàn。 jiē zhe， tā dī shēng dì xiào liǎo qǐ lái， bǎ zuǐ chún còu dào liǎo wǒ de 'ěr duǒ shàng。
　　“ zhēn shì bù cuò de yī jiā zǐ！ " tā dī shēng dì shuō，“ zhè jiù shì nà zhǐ fèi fèi。”
　　 wǒ yǐ jīng wàng liǎo yī shēng suǒ chǒng 'ài de qí tè dòng wù。 hái yòu yī zhǐ yìn dù liè bào ní！ wǒ men suí shí dōuyòu kě néng fā xiàn tā pā zài wǒ men de jiān shàng。 wǒ xué zhe fú 'ěr mó sī de yàng zǐ， tuō xià xié， zuàn jìn liǎo wò shì。 wǒ chéng rèn， zhí dào zhè shí， wǒ cái gǎn dào fàng xīn yī xiē。 wǒ de huǒ bàn háo wú shēng xī dì guān shàng liǎo bǎi yè chuāng， bǎ dēng nuó dào zhuō zǐ shàng， xiàng wū zǐ sì zhōu qiáo liǎo qiáo。 shì nèi yī qiē， hé wǒ men bái tiān jiàn dào de yī yàng， tā niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì zǒu dào wǒ gēn qián， bǎ shǒu juàn chéng lá bà xíng， zài cì duì zhe wǒ de 'ěr duǒ xiǎo shēng shuō：“ nǎ pà shì zuì xiǎo de shēng yīn， dū huì pò huài wǒ men de jìhuà。 " shēng yīn qīng dé wǒ gāng néng tīng chū tā shuō de shì xiē shénme。
　　 wǒ diǎn tóu biǎo shì wǒ tīng jiàn liǎo。
　　“ wǒ men bì xū mō hēi zuò zhe， tā huì cóng tōng qì kǒng fā xiàn yòu liàng guāng de。”
　　 wǒ yòu diǎn liǎo diǎn tóu。
　　“ qiān wàn bié shuì zhe， zhè guān xì dào nǐ de xìng mìng。 bǎ nǐ de shǒu qiāng zhǔn bèi hǎo， yǐ fáng wàn yī wǒ men yòng dé zhe tā。 wǒ zuò zài chuáng biān， nǐ zuò zài nà bǎ yǐ zǐ shàng。”
　　 wǒ qǔ chū zuǒ lún shǒu qiāng， fàng zài zhuō zǐ jiǎo shàng。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī dài lái liǎo yī gēn yòu xì yòu cháng de téng biān， bǎ tā fàng zài shēn biān de chuáng shàng。 chuáng bàng biān fàng liǎo yī hé huǒ chái hé yī gè là zhú tóu。 rán hòu， tā chuī xī liǎo dēng， wǒ men jiù dāi zài hēi 'àn zhōng liǎo。
　　 wǒ zěn me yě wàng bù liǎo nà cì kě pà de shǒu yè。 wǒ tīng bù jiàn yī diǎn shēng xiǎng， shèn zhì lián chuǎn qì de shēng yīn yě tīng bù jiàn。 kě shì wǒ zhī dào， wǒ de huǒ bàn zhèng zhēng dà yǎn jīng zuò zhe， hé wǒ zhǐ yòu zhǐ chǐ zhī gé， bìng qiě yī yàng chǔyú shén jīng jǐn zhāng de zhuàng tài。 bǎi yè chuāng bǎ kě néng zhào dào fáng jiān de zuì xiǎo guāng xiàn dū zhē zhù liǎo。 wǒ men zài shēn shǒu bù jiàn wǔ zhǐ de qī hēi zhōng děng dài zhe。 wài miàn 'ǒu 'ěr chuán lái māo tóu yīng de jiào shēng， yòu yī cì jiù zài wǒ men de chuāng qián chuán lái 'èr shēng cháng cháng de māo jiào shìde 'āi míng， zhè shuō míng nà zhǐ yìn dù liè bào què shí zài dào chù luàn páo。 wǒ men hái tīng dào yuǎn chù jiào táng shēn chén de zhōng shēng， měi gé yī kè zhōng jiù chén zhòng dì qiāo xiǎng yī cì。 měi kè zhōng fǎng fó dōushì wú xiàn màn cháng！ qiāo liǎo shí 'èr diǎn、 yī diǎn、 liǎng diǎn、 sān diǎn， wǒ men yī zhí chén mò dì duān zuò zài nà lǐ děng dài zhe kě néng chū xiàn de rèn hé qíng kuàng。
　　 tū rán， cóng tōng qì kǒng nà gè fāng xiàng shǎn xiàn chū yī dào shùn kè jí shì de liàng guāng， suí zhī 'ér lái de shì yī gǔ rán shāo méi yóu hé jiā rè jīn shǔ de qiáng liè qì wèi。 gé bì fáng jiān lǐ yòu rén diǎn zhe liǎo yī zhǎn zhē guāng dēng。 wǒ tīng dào liǎo qīng qīng nuó dòng de shēng yīn。 jiē zhe， yī qiē yòu dū chén jì xià lái。 kě shì nà qì wèi què yuè lái yuè nóng。 wǒ shù qǐ 'ěr duǒ zuò liǎo zú zú bàn gè xiǎo shí， tū rán， wǒ tīng dào lìng yī zhǒng shēng yīn héng héng yī zhǒng fēi cháng róu hé qīng huǎn de shēng yīn， jiù xiàng shāo kāi liǎo de shuǐ hú sī sī dì pēn zhe qì。 zài wǒ men tīng dào zhè shēng yīn de yī shùn jiān， fú 'ěr mó sī cóng chuáng shàng tiào liǎo qǐ lái， huá zhe liǎo yī gēn huǒ chái， yòng tā nà gēn téng biān měng liè dì chōu dǎ nà líng shéng。
　　“ nǐ kàn jiàn liǎo méi yòu， huá shēng？ " tā dà shēng dì rǎng zhe，“ nǐ kàn jiàn liǎo méi yòu？”
　　 kě shì wǒ shénme yě méi yòu kàn jiàn。 jiù zài fú 'ěr mó sī huá zháohuǒ chái de shí hòu， wǒ tīng dào yī shēng dī chén、 qīng xī de kǒu shào shēng。 dàn shì， tū rú qí lái de yào yǎn liàng guāng zhào zhe wǒ pí juàn de yǎn jīng， shǐ wǒ kàn bù qīng wǒ péng yǒu zhèng zài pàn mìng chōu dǎ de shì shénme dōng xī。 kě shì wǒ què kàn dào， tā de liǎn sǐ yī yàng dì cāng bái， mǎn liǎn kǒng bù hé zēng 'è de biǎo qíng。
　　 tā yǐ tíng zhǐ liǎo chōu dǎ， zhāoshàng zhù shì zhe tōng qì kǒng， jǐn jiē zhe zài hēi yè de jì jìng zhī zhōng， tū rán bào fā chū yī shēng wǒ yòu shēng yǐ lái wèi tīng dào guò de zuì kě pà de jiān jiào。 ér qiě jiào shēng yuè lái yuè gāo， zhè shì jiāo zhì zhe tòng kǔ、 kǒng jù hé fèn nù de lìng rén kě bù de jiān shēng 'āiháo。 jù shuō zhè hǎn shēng bǎ yuǎn zài cūn lǐ， shèn zhì yuǎn jiào qū de rén mendōu cóng shú shuì zhōng jīng xǐng。 zhè yī jiào shēng shǐ wǒ men wéi zhī máo gǔ sǒng rán。 wǒ zhàn zài nà lǐ， dāi dāi dì wàng zhe fú 'ěr mó sī， tā yě dāi dāi dì wàng zhe wǒ， yī zhí dào zuì hòu de huí shēng jiàn qū xiāo shī， yī qiē yòu huī fù liǎo yuán lái de jì jìng shí wéi zhǐ。
　　“ zhè shì shénme yì sī？ " wǒ tǎn tè bù 'ān dì shuō。
　　“ zhè yì sī shì shì qíng jiù zhè yàng liǎo jié liǎo， " fú 'ěr mó sī huí dá dào。“ ér qiě， zǒng de lái kàn， zhè kě néng shì zuì hǎo de jié jú。 dài zhe nǐ de shǒu qiāng， wǒ men dào luó yī luò tè yī shēng de fáng jiān qù。”
　　 tā diǎn zhe liǎo dēng， dài tóu zǒu guò guò dào， biǎo qíng fēi cháng yán jùn。 tā qiāo liǎo liǎng cì wò shì de fáng mén， lǐ miàn méi yòu huí yīn， tā suí shǒu zhuàndòng liǎo mén bǎ shǒu， jìn rù fáng nèi， wǒ jǐn gēn zài tā shēn hòu， shǒu lǐ wò zhe bān qǐ jī tiě de shǒu qiāng。
　　 chū xiàn zài wǒ men yǎn qián de shì yī fú qí tè de jǐng xiàng。 zhuō shàng fàng zhe yī zhǎn zhē guāng dēng， zhē guāng bǎn bàn kāi zhe， yī dào liàng guāng zhào dào guì mén bàn kāi de tiě bǎo xiǎn guì shàng。 zhuō shàng bàng biān de nà bǎ mù yǐ shàng， zuò zhe gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng， tā shēn shàng pī zhe yī jiàn cháng cháng de huī sè shuì yī， shuì yī xià miàn lù chū yī shuāng chì luǒ de jiǎo bó zǐ， liǎng jiǎo tào zài hóng sè tǔ 'ěr qí wú gēn tuō xié lǐ， xī gài shàng héng dā zhe wǒ men bái tiān kàn dào de nà bǎ duǎn bǐng cháng biān zǐ。 tā de xià bā xiàng shàng qiáo qǐ， tā de yī shuāng yǎn jīng kǒng bù dì、 jiāng zhí dì dīng zhe tiān huā bǎn de jiǎo luò。 tā de 'é tóu shàng rào zhe yī tiáo yì yàng de、 dài yòu hè sè bān diǎn de huáng dài zǐ， nà tiáo dài zǐ sì hū jǐn jǐn dì chán zài tā de tóu shàng， wǒ men zǒu jìn qù de shí hòu， tā jì méi yòu zuò shēng， yě méi yòu dòng yī dòng。
　　“ dài zǐ！ dài bān diǎn de dài zǐ！ " fú 'ěr mó sī yā dī liǎo shēng yīn shuō。
　　 wǒ xiàng qián kuà liǎo yī bù。 zhǐ jiàn tā nà tiáo yì yàng de tóu shì kāi shǐ rú dòng qǐ lái， cóng tā de tóu fā zhōng jiān 'áng rán zuàn chū yī tiáo yòu cū yòu duǎn、 cháng zhe zuàn shí xíng de tóu bù hé zhàng gǔ gǔ de bó zǐ、 lìng rén 'ěxīn de dú shé。
　　“ zhè shì yī tiáo zhǎo dì kuí shé！ " fú 'ěr mó sī hǎn dào，“ yìn dù zuì dú de dú shé。 yī shēng bèi yǎo hòu shí miǎo zhōng nèi jiù yǐ jīng sǐ qù liǎo。 zhēn shì 'è yòu 'è bào， yīn móu jiā diào dào tā yào hài bié rén 'ér wā de xiàn kēng lǐ qù liǎo。 ràng wǒ men bǎ zhè chù shēng nòng huí dào tā de cháo lǐ qù， rán hòu wǒ men jiù kě yǐ bǎ sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě zhuǎn yí dào yī gè 'ān quán de dì fāng， zài ràng dì fāng zhī dào fā shēng liǎo xiē shénme shì qíng。”
　　 shuō zhe huà， tā xùn jí cóng sǐ zhě xī gài shàng qǔ guò dǎ gǒu biān zǐ， jiāng huó jié shuǎi guò qù， tào zhù nà tiáo pá chóng de bó zǐ， cóng tā kě pà dì pán jù zhe de dì fāng bǎ tā lā liǎo qǐ lái， shēn cháng liǎo shǒu bì tí zhe tā， rēng dào tiě guì zǐ lǐ， suí shǒu jiāng guì mén guān shàng。
　　 zhè jiù shì sī tuō kè mò lán de gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng sǐ wáng de zhēn shí jīng guò。 zhè gè xù shù yǐ jīng gòu cháng de liǎo， zhì yú wǒ men zěn yàng bǎ zhè bēi tòng de xiāo xī gào sù nà xià huài liǎo de xiǎo jiě； zěn yàng chéng zuò zǎo chē péi sòng tā dào hā luó， jiāo gěi tā hǎo xīn de yí mā zhào kàn； rǒng cháng de jǐng fāng diào chá zěn yàng zuì hòu dé chū jié lùn， rèn wéi yī shēng shì zài bù míng zhì dì wán nòng tā huàn yǎng de wēi xiǎn chǒng wù shí sàng shēng de děng děng， jiù méi yòu bì yào zài zhè lǐ yī yī zhuì shù liǎo。 yòu guān zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ wǒ hái bù tài liǎo jiě de yī diǎn qíng kuàng， fú 'ěr mó sī zài dì 'èr tiān huí chéng de lù shàng gào sù liǎo wǒ。
　　“ qīn 'ài de huá shēng， " tā shuō，“ wǒ céng jīng dé chū liǎo yī gè cuò wù de jié lùn， zhè shuō míng yǐ jù bù chōng fēn de cái liào jìn xíng tuī lùn zǒng shì duō me de wēi xiǎn， nà xiē jí bǔ sài rén de cún zài， nà kě lián de xiǎo jiě shǐ yòng liǎo 'ｂａｎｄ ’ zhè gè cí， zhè wú yí shì biǎo shì tā zài huǒ chái guāng xià cāng huáng yī qì suǒ jiàn dào de dōng xī， zhè xiē qíng kuàng zú gòu yǐn dǎo wǒ gēn zōng yī gè wán quán cuò wù de xiàn suǒ。 dāng wǒ rèn qīng nà wēi xié dào shì nèi jū zhù de rén de rèn hé wēi xiǎn jì bù kě néng lái zì chuāng zǐ， yě bù kě néng lái zì fáng mén， wǒ lì jí chóngxīn kǎo lǜ wǒ de xiǎng fǎ， zhǐ yòu zhè yī diǎn wǒ jué dé kě yǐ shuō shì wǒ de chéng jì。 zhèng xiàng wǒ yǐ jīng duì nǐ shuō guò de nà yàng， wǒ de zhù yì lì xùn sù dì bèi nà gè tōng qì kǒng， nà gè xuán guà zài chuáng tóu de líng shéng suǒ xī yǐn。 dāng wǒ fā xiàn nà gēn shéng zǐ zhǐ bù guò shì gè huǎng zǐ， nà zhāng chuáng yòu shì bèi luó dīng gù dìng zài dì bǎn shàng de shí hòu， zhè liǎng jiàn shì lì kè yǐn qǐ liǎo wǒ de huái yí， wǒ huái yí nà gēn shéng zǐ zhǐ bù guò shì qǐ gè qiáo liáng zuò yòng， shì wéi liǎo fāng biàn shénme dōng xī zuàn guò dòng kǒng dào chuáng shàng lái。 wǒ lì jí jiù xiǎng dào liǎo shé， wǒ zhī dào yī shēng huàn yǎng liǎo yī qún cóng yìn dù yùn lái de dòng wù， dāng wǒ bǎ zhè liǎng jiàn shì lián xì qǐ lái shí， wǒ gǎn dào hěn kě néng wǒ de sī lù shì duì tóu de。 shǐ yòng yī zhǒng yòng rèn hé huà xué shì yàn dū jiǎn yàn bù chū de dú wù， zhè gè niàn tóu zhèng shì yī gè shòu guò dōng fāng shì duàn liàn de cōng míng 'ér lěng kù de rén suǒ huì xiǎng dào de。 cóng tā de guān diǎn lái kàn， zhè zhǒng dú yào néng gòu xùn sù fā huī zuò yòng yě shì yī gè kě qǔ zhī chù。 què shí， yào shì yòu nǎ yī wèi yàn shī guān néng gòu jiǎn chá chū nà dú yá yǎo guò de liǎng gè xiǎo hēi dòng， yě jiù suàn dé shàng shì gè yǎn guāng mǐn ruì de rén liǎo。 jiē zhe， wǒ xiǎng qǐ liǎo nà kǒu shào shēng。 dāng rán， tiān yī liàng tā jiù bì xū bǎ shé zhào huàn huí qù， yǐ miǎn tā xiǎng yào móu hài de rén kàn dào tā。 tā xùn liàn nà tiáo shé néng yī tīng dào zhào huàn jiù huí dào tā nà lǐ， hěn kě néng jiù shì yòng wǒ men jiàn dào de niú nǎi。 tā huì zài tā rèn wéi zuì hé shì de shí hòu bǎ shé sòng guò tōng qì kǒng， què xìn tā huì shùn zhe shéng zǐ pá dào chuáng shàng。 shé yě xǔ huì yǎo， yě xǔ bù huì yǎo chuáng shàng de rén， tā yě xǔ yòu kě néng zhěng zhěng yī zhōu měi tiān wǎn shàng dū jiǎo xìng miǎn yú zāo yāng， dàn tā chí zǎo shì táo bù diào de。
　　“ wǒ zài zǒu jìn tā de fáng jiān zhī qián jiù yǐ dé chū liǎo zhè gè jié lùn。 duì tā yǐ zǐ de jiǎn chá zhèng míng， tā cháng cháng zhàn zài yǐ zǐ shàng， wèile gòu dé zhe tōng qì kǒng zhè dāng rán shì bì yào de。 jiàn dào bǎo xiǎn guì， nà yī dié niú nǎi hé biān shéng de huó jié jiù zú yǐ xiāo chú yú xià de rèn hé huái yí liǎo。 sī tuō nà xiǎo jiě tīng dào liǎo jīn shǔ kuāng lāng shēng hěn míng xiǎn shì yóu yú tā jì fù jí jí máng máng bǎ tā nà tiáo kě pà de dú shé guān jìn bǎo xiǎn guì shí yǐn qǐ de。 yī dàn zuò chū liǎo jué dìng， nǐ yǐ zhī dào wǒ cǎi qǔ liǎo xiē shénme bù zhòu lái yàn zhèng zhè jiàn shì。 wǒ tīng dào nà dōng xī sī sī zuò shēng de shí hòu， wǒ háo bù huái yí nǐ yī dìng yě tīng dào liǎo， wǒ mǎ shàng diǎn zhe liǎo dēng bìng chōu dǎ tā。”
　　“ jiēguǒ bǎ tā cóng tōng qì kǒng gǎn liǎo huí qù。”
　　“ jiēguǒ hái yǐn qǐ tā zài lìng yī tóu fǎn guò qù pū xiàng tā de zhù rén。 wǒ nà jǐ xià téng biān zǐ chōu dǎ dé tā gòu shòu de， jī qǐ liǎo tā de dú shé běn xìng， yīn 'ér tā jiù duì dì yī gè jiàn dào de rén hěn hěn dì yǎo liǎo yī kǒu。 zhè yàng， wǒ wú yí dé duì gé lǐ mǔ sī bǐ · luó yī luò tè yī shēng de sǐ jiān jiē dì fù zé。 píng liáng xīn shuō， wǒ shì bù dà huì wèicǐ 'ér gǎn dào nèi jiù de。”

　　On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.
　　 It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits.
　　 "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you."
　　 "What is it, then--a fire?"
　　 "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should call you and give you the chance."
　　 "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything."
　　 I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the window, rose as we entered.
　　 "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee, for I observe that you are shivering."
　　 "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested.
　　 "What, then?"
　　 "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, all-comprehensive glances.
　　 "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see."
　　 "You know me, then?"
　　 "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station."
　　 The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my companion.
　　 "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver."
　　 "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful."
　　 Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book, which he consulted.
　　 "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter."
　　 "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me."
　　 "I am all attention, madam."
　　 "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey."
　　 Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he.
　　 "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man.
　　 "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.
　　 "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger.
　　 "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I could gather together that I was able to avert another public exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the villagers almost as much as their master.
　　 "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already begun to whiten, even as mine has."
　　 "Your sister is dead, then?"
　　 "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event occurred which has deprived me of my only companion."
　　 Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.
　　 "Pray be precise as to details," said he.
　　 "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?"
　　 "Perfectly so."
　　 "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back.
　　 "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle in the dead of the night?'
　　 "'Never,' said I.
　　 "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in your sleep?'
　　 "'Certainly not. But why?'
　　 "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would just ask you whether you had heard it.'
　　 "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the plantation.'
　　 "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you did not hear it also.'
　　 "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.'
　　 "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her key turn in the lock."
　　 "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night?"
　　 "Always."
　　 "And why?"
　　 "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were locked."
　　 "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement."
　　 "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister."
　　 "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?"
　　 "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have been deceived."
　　 "Was your sister dressed?"
　　 "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box."
　　 "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the coroner come to?"
　　 "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her."
　　 "How about poison?"
　　 "The doctors examined her for it, but without success."
　　 "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?"
　　 "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine."
　　 "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?"
　　 "Yes, there are nearly always some there."
　　 "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a speckled band?"
　　 "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used."
　　 Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.
　　 "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your narrative."
　　 "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your advice."
　　 It was close upon four before the door opened, and a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes.
　　 "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the chair.
　　 "What is it?"
　　 "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing."
　　 "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler."
　　 "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without noting anything else of interest.
　　 "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but whose biographies I was compelled to listen to."
　　 "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked.
　　 "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of campaign.
　　 "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the situation."
　　 "I am following you closely," I answered.
　　 "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached-- evidently the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at home.
　　 "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if you do it in twenty minutes!'
　　 "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for.
　　 "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.'
　　 "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind.
　　 "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me.
　　 "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!'
　　 "'What then?' I asked.
　　 "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.'
　　 "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just now. It seems that there had been some informality about their license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion."
　　 "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what then?"
　　 "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove away in different directions, and I went off to make my own arrangements."
　　 "Which are?"
　　 "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want your co-operation."
　　 "I shall be delighted."
　　 "You don't mind breaking the law?"
　　 "Not in the least."
　　 "Nor running a chance of arrest?"
　　 "Not in a good cause."
　　 "Oh, the cause is excellent!"
　　 "Then I am your man."
　　 "I was sure that I might rely on you."
　　 "But what is it you wish?"
　　 "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her."
　　 "And what then?"
　　 "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must not interfere, come what may. You understand?"
　　 "I am to be neutral?"
　　 "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to that open window."
　　 "Yes."
　　 "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you."
　　 "Yes."
　　 "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of fire. You quite follow me?"
　　 "Entirely."
　　 "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar- shaped roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke- rocket, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?"
　　 "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street."
　　 "Precisely."
　　 "Then you may entirely rely on me."
　　 "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I prepare for the new role I have to play."
　　 He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime.
　　 It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths.
　　 "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the photograph?"
　　 "Where, indeed?"
　　 "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her."
　　 "Where, then?"
　　 "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house."
　　 "But it has twice been burgled."
　　 "Pshaw! They did not know how to look."
　　 "But how will you look?"
　　 "I will not look."
　　 "What then?"
　　 "I will get her to show me."
　　 "But she will refuse."
　　 "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter."
　　 As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking back into the street.
　　 "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked.
　　 "He is dead," cried several voices.
　　 "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be gone before you can get him to hospital."
　　 "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now."
　　 "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?"
　　 "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!"
　　 Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are but preventing her from injuring another.
　　 Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road.
　　 "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have been better. It is all right."
　　 "You have the photograph?"
　　 "I know where it is."
　　 "And how did you find out?"
　　 "She showed me, as I told you she would."
　　 "I am still in the dark."
　　 "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening."
　　 "I guessed as much."
　　 "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick."
　　 "That also I could fathom."
　　 "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your chance."
　　 "How did that help you?"
　　 "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all."
　　 "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me all?"
　　 "Yes, all."
　　 "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather."
　　 "Why, what do you mean?"
　　 For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist.
　　 "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes.
　　 The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own strength."
　　 There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire.
　　 "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather?"
　　 "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some most important business. It is probable that he will be away all day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily get her out of the way."
　　 "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?"
　　 "By no means."
　　 "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?"
　　 "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to be there in time for your coming."
　　 "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and breakfast?"
　　 "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her face and glided from the room.
　　 "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning back in his chair.
　　 "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business."
　　 "Dark enough and sinister enough."
　　 "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her mysterious end."
　　 "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the very peculiar words of the dying woman?"
　　 "I cannot think."
　　 "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place, I think that there is good ground to think that the mystery may be cleared along those lines."
　　 "But what, then, did the gipsies do?"
　　 "I cannot imagine."
　　 "I see many objections to any such theory."
　　 "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the devil!"
　　 The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey.
　　 "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition.
　　 "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my companion quietly.
　　 "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran."
　　 "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat."
　　 "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been saying to you?"
　　 "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes.
　　 "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man furiously.
　　 "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my companion imperturbably.
　　 "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler."
　　 My friend smiled.
　　 "Holmes, the busybody!"
　　 His smile broadened.
　　 "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!"
　　 Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught."
　　 "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands.
　　 "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the room.
　　 "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, straightened it out again.
　　 "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter."
　　 It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.
　　 "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need."
　　 At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows.
　　 "Look there!" said he.
　　 A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion.
　　 "Stoke Moran?" said he.
　　 "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the driver.
　　 "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is where we are going."
　　 "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is walking."
　　 "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest."
　　 We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead.
　　 "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as our word."
　　 Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening."
　　 "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened.
　　 "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then."
　　 "So it appears."
　　 "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What will he say when he returns?"
　　 "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to examine."
　　 The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the outsides of the windows.
　　 "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?"
　　 "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one."
　　 "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end wall."
　　 "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room."
　　 "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There are windows in it, of course?"
　　 "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through."
　　 "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to go into your room and bar your shutters?"
　　 Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the matter."
　　 A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, taking in every detail of the apartment.
　　 "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the pillow.
　　 "It goes to the housekeeper's room."
　　 "It looks newer than the other things?"
　　 "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago."
　　 "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?"
　　 "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we wanted for ourselves."
　　 "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug.
　　 "Why, it's a dummy," said he.
　　 "Won't it ring?"
　　 "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the little opening for the ventilator is."
　　 "How very absurd! I never noticed that before."
　　 "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are one or two very singular points about this room. For example, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the outside air!"
　　 "That is also quite modern," said the lady.
　　 "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes.
　　 "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that time."
　　 "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the inner apartment."
　　 Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and all of them with the keenest interest.
　　 "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe.
　　 "My stepfather's business papers."
　　 "Oh! you have seen inside, then?"
　　 "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of papers."
　　 "There isn't a cat in it, for example?"
　　 "No. What a strange idea!"
　　 "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on the top of it.
　　 "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon."
　　 "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat of it with the greatest attention.
　　 "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!"
　　 The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord.
　　 "What do you make of that, Watson?"
　　 "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be tied."
　　 "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn."
　　 I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he roused himself from his reverie.
　　 "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should absolutely follow my advice in every respect."
　　 "I shall most certainly do so."
　　 "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may depend upon your compliance."
　　 "I assure you that I am in your hands."
　　 "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in your room."
　　 Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment.
　　 "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the village inn over there?"
　　 "Yes, that is the Crown."
　　 "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?"
　　 "Certainly."
　　 "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night."
　　 "Oh, yes, easily."
　　 "The rest you will leave in our hands."
　　 "But what will you do?"
　　 "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you."
　　 "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve.
　　 "Perhaps I have."
　　 "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's death."
　　 "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak."
　　 "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if she died from some sudden fright."
　　 "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you."
　　 Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms.
　　 "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of danger."
　　 "Can I be of assistance?"
　　 "Your presence might be invaluable."
　　 "Then I shall certainly come."
　　 "It is very kind of you."
　　 "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me."
　　 "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you saw all that I did."
　　 "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine."
　　 "You saw the ventilator, too?"
　　 "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a rat could hardly pass through."
　　 "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Stoke Moran."
　　 "My dear Holmes!"
　　 "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that suggested at once that there must be a communication between the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator."
　　 "But what harm can there be in that?"
　　 "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bed dies. Does not that strike you?"
　　 "I cannot as yet see any connection."
　　 "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?"
　　 "No."
　　 "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened like that before?"
　　 "I cannot say that I have."
　　 "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull."
　　 "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible crime."
　　 "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more cheerful."
　　 About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us.
　　 "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it comes from the middle window."
　　 As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand.
　　 There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.
　　 "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?"
　　 Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh and put his lips to my ear.
　　 "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon."
　　 I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words:
　　 "The least sound would be fatal to our plans."
　　 I nodded to show that I had heard.
　　 "We must sit without light. He would see it through the ventilator."
　　 I nodded again.
　　 "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair."
　　 I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table.
　　 Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left in darkness.
　　 How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness.
　　 From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall.
　　 Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull.
　　 "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?"
　　 But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it had died away into the silence from which it rose.
　　 "What can it mean?" I gasped.
　　 "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott's room."
　　 With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand.
　　 It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion.
　　 "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes.
　　 I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent.
　　 "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has happened."
　　 As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the iron safe, which he closed upon it.
　　 Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back next day.
　　 "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not come either from the window or the door. My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim.
　　 "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the light and attacked it."
　　 "With the result of driving it through the ventilator."
　　 "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience."