yī tiān zǎo chén， wǒ zhàn zài tū dù chuāng qián fǔ kàn jiē jǐng。 wǒ shuō： “ fú 'ěr mó sī， kàn， yòu gè fēng zǐ zhèng cháo zhe zhè 'ér zǒu guò lái。 tā jiā lǐ rén jìng rán huì ràng tā dú zì páo chū lái， shí zài lìng rén kě bēi。 ”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu lǎn yáng yáng dì cóng fú shǒu yǐ lǐ zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， shuāng shǒu chā zài chén yī dōu lǐ， cóng wǒ de bèi hòu wàng chū qù。 zhè shì yī gè qíng lǎng、 qīng chè de 'èr yuè de zǎo chén。 dì shàng hái pū zhe zuó tiān xià de yī céng hěn hòu de xuě， zài dōng rì de yáng guāng xià yì yì fā guāng。 bèi kè jiē mǎ lù zhōng xīn de xuě bèi lái wǎng chē liàng niǎn chéng yī tiáo huī hè sè dài zhuàng de lún jì， dàn shì liǎng bàng rén hángdào shàng duī dé gāo gāo de xuě què réng rán xiàng gāng xià shí nà yàng jié bái。 huī sè de rén hángdào yǐ jīng qīng sǎo guò， bù guò hái shì huá liù dé lì hài。 suǒ yǐ lù shàng de xíng rén bǐ píng cháng xī shǎo duō liǎo。 shí jì shàng， cóng dà dū huì chē zhàn fāng xiàng cháo zhè biān zǒu guò lái de， chú liǎo zhè wèi gū líng líng de xiān shēng wài， jiù zài yě méi yòu bié rén liǎo。 zhè wèi xiān shēng de gǔ guài de jǔ dòng yǐn qǐ liǎo wǒ de zhù yì。
　　 zhè gè rén dà yuē yòu wǔ shí suì múyàng， cháng dé shēn cái kuí wú， liǎn páng hòu shí， táng táng yí biǎo， zhēn shì xiàngmào fēi fán。 tā de yī zhe suī rán sè zé 'àn dàn， dàn shì què hěn shē huá shí máo， tā shēn chuān yī jiàn hēi sè dà lǐ fú， tóu dài yī dǐng yòu guāng zé de mào zǐ， jiǎo dèng yī shuāng shì yàng yǎ zhì de yòu bǎng tuǐ de zōng sè gāo tǒng xuē， kù zǐ jiǎn cái kǎo jiū， shì zhū huī sè de。 rán 'ér， tā de xíng dòng yǔ tā duān zhuāng zūn yán de yī zhù hé yí biǎo xiāng bǐ， què xiǎn dé shí fēn huāng táng kě xiào。 yīn wéi tā zhèng zài yī gǔ jìn dì bēn páo， ǒu 'ěr hái jiā zá zhe xiǎo xiǎo de bèng tiào， hǎo xiàng yī gè pí bèi kùn fá de rén bù xí guàn shǐ zì jǐ de shuāng tuǐ jiā zhòng fù dān 'ér bèng tiào de nà yàng。 dāng tā páo de shí hòu， shuāng shǒu jìng luán dì shàng xià huī dòng， nǎo dài huàng lái huàng qù， yīn 'ér shǐ tā de liǎn bù chōu chù dé fēi cháng nán kàn。
　　“ tā jiū jìng chū liǎo shénme shì 'ā？” wǒ bù jìn wèn dào，“ tā zài chá kàn zhè xiē fáng zǐ de mén pái hào mǎ。”
　　“ wǒ xiāng xìn tā shì dào wǒ men zhè lǐ lái de。” fú 'ěr mó sī cuō zhuóshǒu shuō。
　　“ dào zhè lǐ lái？”
　　“ shì de， wǒ xiǎng tā shì lái qǐng jiào yǔ wǒ zhuān yè yòu guān de shì， wǒ shì kàn dé chū zhè zhǒng jì xiàng de。 hā！ wǒ bù shì gāng duì nǐ shuō guò má？” shuō huà jiān， nà gè rén yǐ jīng qì jí bài huài dì chōng dào wǒ men de mén kǒu， bǎ mén líng lā dé xiǎng chè zhěng suǒ fáng wū。
　　 piàn kè zhī hòu， tā yǐ jīng zài wǒ men fáng jiān lǐ liǎo， réng rán qì chuǎn xū xū， yī biān hái zài zuò zhuóshǒu shì， rán 'ér liǎng yǎn chōng mǎn yōu chóu shī wàng de shén qíng。 jiàn dào zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng， wǒ men de xiào róng dùn rán xiāo shī， bìng wéi zhī gǎn dào zhèn jīng hé tóng qíng。 yī shí tā hái shuō bù chū huà lái， zhǐ shì chàn dòng tā de shēn zǐ， zhuā zhe tóu fā， shí zú xiàng yī gè shī qù lǐ zhì de rén。 suí hòu tā tū rán tiào qǐ lái jiāng tóu bù xiàng qiáng bì yòng lì zhuàng qù， xià dé wǒ men liǎng rén yī qǐ gǎn jǐn bǎ tā lā zhù， tuō dào fáng jiān de zhōng yāng lái。 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī jiāng tā 'àn dào yī zhāng 'ān lè yǐ shàng zuò xià， zì jǐ zuò zài yī bàng péi zhe tā， qīng qīng dì pāi zhe tā de shǒu， bìng shí fēn zài xíng dì yùn yòng tā nà qīng sōng de lìng rén kuān xīn de yǔ tiáohé tā liáo liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ nǐ dào wǒ zhè 'ér lái shì wéi liǎo yào gào sù wǒ nǐ de shì qíng， bù duì má？” tā shuō，“ nǐ jí jí máng máng dì páo lěi liǎo， qǐng shāo shì xiū xī， děng nǐ huǎn guò qì lái， rán hòu wǒ huì hěn gāo xīng dì yán jiū nǐ kě néng xiàng wǒ tí chū de rèn hé xiǎo wèn tí。”
　　 nà gè rén zuò liǎo yī liǎng fēn zhōng， xiōng bù jù liè dì qǐ fú zhe， jí lì bǎ qíng xù wěn dìng xià lái。 rán hòu tā yòng shǒu pà cā liǎo cā tā de qián 'é， jǐn bì zhe zuǐ， jiāng liǎn zhuànxiàng wǒ men。
　　 tā shuō：“ nǐ men yī dìng yǐ wéi wǒ fēng liǎo bā？”
　　“ wǒ kàn nǐ zhǔn shì yù dào liǎo shí fēn má fán de shì qíng。” fú 'ěr mó sī dá dào。
　　“ tiān xiǎo dé， wǒ yù dào liǎo shénme má fán！ …… zhè má fán lái dé zhè yàng tū rán， zhè yàng kě pà， zú yǐ shǐ wǒ sàng shī lǐ zhì。 wǒ kě néng yào méng shòu gōng kāi de chǐ rǔ， jìn guǎn wǒ cóng lái shì yī gè qì zhì shàng háo wú xiá cī de rén。 měi yī gè réndōu huì yòu zì jǐ de kǔ nǎo， zhè shì mìng lǐ zhù dìng de， dàn shì zhè liǎng zhuāng shì yǐ zhè yàng kě pà de xíng shì yī qǐ jiàng lín dào wǒ de tóu shàng， zhè jiǎn zhí bǎ wǒ nòng dé liù shén wú zhù。 ér qiě， shì qíng hái bù zhǐ hé wǒ gè rén yòu guān， rú guǒ dé bù dào jiě jué zhè jiàn kě pà de shì qíng de bàn fǎ， nà wǒ guó zuì zūn guì de réndōu kě néng shòu dào lián lěi。”
　　“ xiān shēng， qǐng zhèn jìng yī xià，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ ràng wǒ men nòng qīng chǔ nǐ shì shuí， nǐ jiū jìng chū liǎo shénme shì qíng。”
　　“ wǒ de míng zì，” wǒ men de kè rén huí dá shuō，“ nǐ men yě xǔ shì shú xī de， wǒ shì zhēn xiàn jiē huò 'ěr dé yī shǐ dì wén sēn yínháng de yà lì shān dà · huò 'ěr dé。”
　　 zhè gè míng zì wǒ men díquè hěn shú xī， tā shì lún dūn chéng lǐ dì 'èr jiā zuì dà sī rén yínháng de zhù yào hé huǒ rén。 jiū jìng shì shénme shì qíng huì shǐ lún dūn yī wèi dì yī liú gōng mín luò dào zhè yàng kě lián de jìng dì。 wǒ men shí fēn hàoqí dì děng dài zhe tā zài zhèn zuò qǐ jīng shén lái chén shù tā zì jǐ de zāo yù。
　　“ wǒ jué dé shí jiān hěn bǎo guì，” tā shuō，“ suǒ yǐ dāng jǐng tīng xún guān jiàn yì wǒ qǔ dé nǐ men de hé zuò shí， wǒ jiù jí sù gǎn dào zhè lǐ lái liǎo。 wǒ shì chéng zuò dì tiě bìng qiě jí jí máng máng bù xíng lái dào bèi kè jiē de， yīn wéi mǎ chē zài xuě dì shàng xíng shǐ huǎn màn。 suǒ yǐ wǒ gāng cái qì dū chuǎn bù guò lái， zhè shì yīn wéi wǒ píng shí hěn shǎo duàn liàn de yuán gù。 xiàn zài wǒ gǎn jué hǎo yī diǎn liǎo， wǒ jìn liàng jiǎn dān míng liǎo dì bǎ shì shí jiǎng gěi nǐ men tīng。
　　“ dāng rán， nǐ mendōu zhī dào dé hěn qīng chǔ， yī jiā yòu chéng jiù de yínháng bì xū yǐ kào shàn yú wéi zī jīn zhǎo dào yòu lì de tóu zī， tóng shí hái yǐ kào néng gòu zēng jiā yè wù lián xì hé cún hù de shù mù。 wǒ men tóu fàng zī jīn zuì néng huò lì de fāng fǎ zhī yī shì zài jué duì kě kào de dān bǎo zhī xià， yǐ dài kuǎn de fāng shì jiāng qián fàng dài chū qù。 zhè jǐ nián lái wǒ men zuò liǎo hěn duō bǐ zhè zhǒng jiāo yì， xǔ duō míng mén guì zú yǐ tā men zhēn cáng de míng huà， tú shū huò jīn yín cān jù zuò wéi dǐ yā qǐ xiàng wǒ men jiè dài liǎo dà bǐ kuǎn xiàng。
　　“ zuó tiān shàng wǔ， wǒ zài yínháng bàn gōng shì lǐ， wǒ de zhí yuán dì jìn yī zhāng míng piàn。 wǒ yī kàn shàng miàn de míng zì， xià liǎo yī tiào， yīn wéi zhè bù shì bié rén， tā de míng zì， jí shǐ shì duì yú nǐ men， wǒ yě zuì duō zhǐ néng shuō zhè shì quán shì jiè jiā yù hù xiǎo de， yī gè zài yīng guó zuì chóng gāo zuì zūn guì de míng zì。 tā yī jìn lái， wǒ shēn gǎn shòu chǒng ruò jīng， zhèng xiǎng biǎo dá tā duì wǒ de zhī yù zhī 'ēn， kě tā què kāi mén jiàn shān dì tán qǐ zhèng shì lái， xiàng shì jí jí máng máng yào gǎn jǐn wán chéng yī zhuāng bù yú kuài de rèn wù shìde。
　　“ huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， ' tā shuō， ‘ wǒ tīng shuō nǐ men cháng bàn dài kuǎn yè wù。”
　　“ rú guǒ dǐ yā pǐn zhí qián， běn xíng shì bàn lǐ zhè zhǒng yè wù de。 ' wǒ huí dá shuō。” ' wǒ pò qiē xū yào， ' tā shuō，‘ lì kè dé dào wǔ wàn yīng bàng。 dāng rán， wǒ néng gòu cóng wǒ de péng yǒu nà lǐ jiè dào shí bèi yú zhè bǐ wēi bù zú dào de kuǎn xiàng de， dàn shì wǒ nìngyuàn bǎ tā dāng yī zhuāng zhèng shì lái bàn， ér qiě yào yóu wǒ qīn zì lái bàn。 chù zài wǒ de dì wèi， nǐ bù nán míng bái， suí biàn jiē shòu bié rén de 'ēn huì shì bù míng zhì de。”
　　“ wǒ shì fǒu kě yǐ wèn yī xià， nín xū yào zhè bǐ kuǎn xiàng duō cháng shí jiān？ ' wǒ wèn。
　　“ xià xīng qī yī wǒ kě yǐ shōu huí yī dà bǐ dào qī de kuǎn xiàng， wǒ nà shí hòu wán quán kěn dìng kě yǐ guī hái zhè bǐ jiè kuǎn de， lì xī bù lùn duō shǎo， zhǐ yào nǐ rèn wéi hé lǐ jiù xíng。 dàn duì wǒ lái shuō zuì guān jǐn yào de shì bì xū mǎ shàngjiàng zhè bǐ qián ná dào shǒu。”
　　“ wǒ běn yìng hěn gāo xīng dì yòng wǒ sī rén de qián dài gěi nín 'ér bù bì zuò jìn yī bù de qià tán， ' wǒ shuō，‘ rú guǒ bù shì yīn wéi zhè yàng zuò huì yòu diǎn shǐ wǒ fù dān guò zhòng de huà。 lìng yī fāng miàn， rú guǒ wǒ yǐ yínháng de míng yì bàn lǐ zhè zhuāng jiāo yì， nà me wèile gōng píng duì dài wǒ de hé huǒ rén pǐn jiàn， jí shǐ shì duì nín wǒ yě bì xū jiān chí， yīngdāng yào yòu quán bù de yè wù shàng de dān bǎo。”
　　“ wǒ dǎo nìngyuàn zhè yàng zuò。 ' tā shuō zhe bǎ fàng zài tā zuò yǐ bàng biān de yī zhǐ hēi sè sì fāng xíng mó luò gē pí hé duān liǎo qǐ lái，‘ nǐ wú yí tīng shuō guò lǜ yù huáng guān bā？”
　　“ zhè shì wǒ men dì guó yī jiàn zuì guì zhòng de gōng chǎn。 ' wǒ shuō。
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò！ ' tā dǎ kāi hé zǐ， chèn tuō zài róu ruǎn ròu sè tiān 'é róng shàng miàn de jiù shì tā suǒ shuō de nà jiàn huá lì zhēn guì、 càn làn duó mùdì zhēn bǎo。 tā jiē zhe shuō， ' zhè lǐ yòu sān shí jiǔ kuài dà lǜ bǎo yù， shàng miàn de lòu jīn diāo huā， jià zhí jiù nán yǐ gū jì。 zhè dǐng huáng guān zuì dī de gū jià yě yào zhí wǒ suǒ yào jiè de qián de liǎng bèi。 wǒ zhǔn bèi bǎ tā fàng zài nǐ zhè lǐ zuò wéi dǐ yā qǐ。”
　　“ wǒ bǎ zhè guì zhòng de hé zǐ ná zài shǒu zhōng， yòu xiē máng rán bù zhī suǒ cuò dì bǎ yǎn guāng cóng hé zǐ zhuànxiàng zhè wèi gāo guì de wěi tuō rén。
　　“ nǐ huái yí tā de jià zhí má？ ' tā wèn。
　　“ yī diǎn 'ér yě bù。 wǒ zhǐ shì ná bù zhǔn……”
　　“ zhì yú wǒ jiāng tā liú zài zhè lǐ shì fǒu shìdàng， zhè nǐ jìn kě fàng xīn。 rú guǒ wǒ bù shì jué duì yòu bǎ wò zài sì tiān zhī nèi bǎ tā shú huí de huà， wǒ lián zuò mèng yě bù huì xiǎng dào zhè yàng zuò de。 zhè chún cuì shì yī zhǒng xíng shì 'ér yǐ。 zhè jiàn dǐ yā qǐ gòu má？”
　　“ tài gòu liǎo。”
　　“ huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， nǐ yào míng bái， gēn jù wǒ tīng dào de yòu guān nǐ de yī qiē， wǒ zhè yàng zuò chōng fēn zhèng míng wǒ duì nǐ de xìn rèn。 wǒ zhǐ wàng yú nǐ de bù jǐn jǐn shì xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn， ér qiě bì miǎn yīn cǐ 'ér chǎn shēng de rèn hé liú yán fěi yǔ， zuì shǒu yào de hái shì yào duì bǎo cáng zhè dǐng huáng guān cǎi qǔ yī qiē kě néng de fáng fàn cuò shī， yīn wéi rú guǒ tā shòu dào rèn hé sǔn huài， bù yán 'ér yù， jiù huì zào chéng yī qǐ zhòng mù kuí kuí de dà chǒu wén。 duì tā de rèn hé sǔn huài yě jīhū hé zhěng gè diū shī yī yàng yán zhòng， yīn wéi zhè xiē lǜ yù shì jǔ shì wú shuāng de。 yào xiǎng tì huàn tā men yě shì bù kě néng de。 rán 'ér wǒ xiàn zài wú xiàn xìn lài dì bǎ tā liú zài nǐ zhè lǐ， xīng qī yī shàng wǔ wǒ jiāng qīn zì qián lái qǔ huí。”
　　“ jiàn dào wǒ de wěi tuō rén jí yú lí qù， wǒ biàn bù zài shuō shénme， dāng jí zhào lái chū nà yuán， jiào tā zhī gěi wěi tuō rén wǔ shí zhāng piào miàn yī qiān yīng bàng de chāo piào。 dāng wǒ zài cì dú zì yī rén zài bàn gōng shì lǐ shí， duì zhe fàng zài wǒ miàn qián zhuō zǐ shàng de zhè zhǐ guì zhòng de hé zǐ， wǒ bù miǎn duì xū yào chéng dān zhè yàng jù dà de zé rèn 'ér gǎn dào yòu diǎn tǎn tè bù 'ān。 wú yí yīn wéi tā shì yī jiàn guó bǎo， cháng ruò tā zāo dào rèn hé yì wài， jiē zhǒng 'ér lái de bì dìng shì kě pà de gōng fèn。 wǒ yǐ jīng kāi shǐ hòu huǐ wǒ dāng shí wèishénme jìng huì tóng yì fù zé bǎo guǎn tā。 rán 'ér， yǐ lái bù jí zuò rèn hé gǎi biàn liǎo， wǒ zhǐ hǎo jiāng tā suǒ zài wǒ sī rén de bǎo xiǎn xiāng lǐ， rán hòu jì xù gōng zuò。
　　“ dào bàng wǎn， wǒ jué dé bǎ zhè me guì zhòng de dōng xī fàng zài bàn gōng shì lǐ wèi miǎn tài bù jǐn shèn。 zài cǐ zhī qián， yínháng de bǎo xiǎn xiāng céng jīng bèi rén qiào guò， zěn jiàn dé wǒ de bǎo xiǎn xiāng jiù bù huì bèi qiào？ wàn yī chū liǎo zhè zhǒng shì， wǒ de chǔjìng gāi shì duō me kě pà 'ā！ yīn cǐ wǒ jué dìng zài wǎng hòu jǐ tiān， lái lái qù qù dōuyào suí shēn xié dài zhe zhè zhǐ hé zǐ， shǐ tā shí jì shàng hé wǒ yī kè dū cùn bù bù lí。 zhè yàng jué dìng yǐ hòu， wǒ jiù gù liǎo yī liàng chū zū mǎ chē dài zhe zhè jiàn zhēn bǎo huí dào zài sī tè lǐ tè hā mǔ de jiā lǐ。
　　 wǒ jiāng tā ná dào lóu shàng， suǒ zài wǒ qǐ jū shì de dà guì chú lǐ， zhè cái sōng liǎo yī kǒu qì。
　　“ xiàn zài shuō yī xià wǒ de jiā lǐ de qíng kuàng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， yīn wéi wǒ xī wàng nǐ duì zhěng gè qíng kuàng yòu gè quán miàn de liǎo jiě。 wǒ de mǎ fū hé tīngchāi shì shuì zài fáng zǐ wài miàn de， zhè liǎng gè rén kě yǐ wán quán piē kāi bù tán。 wǒ yòu sān gè nǚ yōng rén， tā men yǐ gēn suí wǒ duō nián， dōushì jué duì kě kào 'ér wú xū zhì yí de。 bù guò， lìng wài yòu yī gè jiào lù qiàn · pà 'ěr de dāng bāng shǒu de shì nǚ， zài wǒ jiā lǐ fú shì suī rán zhǐ yòu jǐ gè yuè， rán 'ér tā de yōu xiù pǐn gé shǐ wǒ shēn gǎn mǎn yì。 tā shì gè fēi cháng piào liàng de gū niàn， yòu shí huì zhāo rě yī xiē 'ài mù tā de rén zài zhōu wéi dàng lái dàng qù， zhè shì wǒ men fā xiàn tā shēn shàng wéi yī de bù zú zhī chù， dàn shì wú lùn cóng nǎ fāng miàn jiǎng， wǒ mendōu xiāng xìn tā shì gè shí zú de hǎo gū niàn。
　　“ guān yú pú rén fāng miàn de qíng kuàng jiù shì zhè xiē。 wǒ jiā tíng běn shēn shì hěn jiǎn dān de， wú xū huā fèi xǔ duō shí jiān lái jiǎng。 wǒ shì gè guān fū， zhǐ yòu yī gè míng jiào 'ā sè de dú shēng zǐ。 tā shǐ wǒ hěn shī wàng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhēn jiào rén shāng xīn 'ā。 zhè wú yí shì wǒ zì jǐ de guò cuò。 rén jiādōu shuō shì wǒ chǒng huài liǎo tā， hěn kě néng shì zhè yàng。 zài wǒ 'ài qī qù shì hòu， wǒ jué dé zhǐ yòu tā yī gè rén shì wǒ yīnggāi téng 'ài de， wǒ shèn zhì kàn jiàn tā yòu piàn kè de bù gāo xīng dū shòu bù liǎo。 wǒ duì tā cóng lái shì yòu qiú bì yìng de。 rú guǒ zǎo xiān wǒ duì tā yán gé yī diǎn， yě xǔ duì wǒ men liǎ dōuyào hǎo xiē， dàn wǒ suǒ zuò de yī qiēdōu shì wèitā hǎo。
　　“ hěn zì rán， wǒ xī wàng tā jiāng lái jì chéng wǒ de shì yè， kě shì tā bù shì nà zhǒng yòu gànshì yè cái néng de rén， tā fàng dàng 'ér yòu rèn xìng。 shuō shí zài de， wǒ shèn zhì bù gǎn xìn rèn tā jīng shǒu dà bǐ kuǎn xiàng。 suī rán tā hái nián qīng， dàn yǐ jīng shì yī jiā guì zú jù lè bù de huì yuán， zài nà lǐ tā yīn wéi jǔ zhǐ fēng liú xiāo sǎ， hěn kuài jiù chéng wéi yī pī huī huò chéng xìng de fù jiā zǐ dì de qīn mì péng yǒu。 tā xué huì zài pái zhuō shàng xià dà dǔ zhù， zài sài mǎ chǎng shàng luàn huā qián， yòu bù shí páo lái qiú wǒ yù zhī gěi tā jīn tiē fèi qù yìng fù dǔ zhài。 tā bù zhǐ yī cì shì tú hé tā nà bāng hài rén de péng yǒu duàn jué guān xì， dàn shì zài tā de péng yǒu qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì de yǐng xiǎng xià， tā yòu yī cì cì dì bèi lā liǎo huí qù。
　　“ ér qiě， wǒ de què háo bù qí guài， xiàng qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì zhè yàng de rén néng gòu duì tā shī jiā yǐng xiǎng， wǒ 'ér zǐ shí cháng bǎ tā dài dào jiā lǐ lái， wǒ jué dé lián wǒ zì jǐ dū nán miǎn bù bèi tā de piān piān fēng dù suǒ mí huò。 tā bǐ 'ā sè nián jì dà， shì yī gè dì dì dào dào wán shì bù gōng de rén。 nǎ 'ér dū qù guò， shénme dū jiàn guò， néng shuō huì dào， bìng qiě pǐn mào bù sú。 rán 'ér， dāng wǒ piē kāi tā yí róng de mèi lì， lěng jìng dì xiǎng xiǎng tā de wéi rén shí， tā nà lěng cháo rè fěng de tán tù， yǐ jí wǒ jué chá dào de tā kàn rén de yǎn shén， shǐ wǒ yì shí dào tā shì gè wán quán bù kě xìn lài de rén。 wǒ shì zhè yàng xiǎng de， wǒ de xiǎo mǎ lì yě yòu hé wǒ tóng yàng de xiǎng fǎ， tā jù yòu yī zhǒng nǚ xìng shàn yú dòng chá yī gè rén qì zhì de běn lǐng。
　　“ jiǎng dào zhè lǐ， xiàn zài zhǐ shèng xià mǎ lì yī gè rén de qíng kuàng xū yào shuō yī shuō liǎo。 tā shì wǒ de zhí nǚ； wǔ nián qián wǒ xiōng dì qù shì hòu， jiāng tā gū kǔ líng dīng dì yí liú zài zhè shì jiè shàng。 wǒ shōu yǎng liǎo tā bìng yī xiàng bǎ tā kàn zuò wǒ de qīn shēng nǚ 'ér。 tā shì wǒ jiā lǐ de yáng guāng héng héng wēn róu， kě 'ài， měi lì， hěn huì guǎn lǐ hé cāo chí jiā wù， ér qiě jù yòu fù nǚ yīngyǒu de nà zhǒng wén yǎ tián jìng、 jí qí wēn shùn de qì zhì。 tā shì wǒ de zuǒ yòu shǒu， wǒ bù zhī dào rú guǒ méi yòu tā wǒ gāi zěn me bàn。 zhǐ yòu yī jiàn shì tā wéi bèi liǎo wǒ de yì yuàn， wǒ de 'ér zǐ liǎng cì xiàng tā qiú hūn， yīn wéi tā shí zài shì chéng xīn chéng yì dì 'ài tā， dàn shì liǎng cì tā dū jù jué liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng rú guǒ shuō yòu shuí néng gòu bǎ wǒ 'ér zǐ yǐn dǎo dào zhèng lù shàng lái， nà zhǐ yòu tā néng zuò dào， wǒ xiǎng tā hūn hòu de quán bù shēng huó jiāng huì yòu suǒ gǎi biàn。 kě shì xiàn zài， āi yā！ yǐ jīng shì wú kě wǎn huí liǎo， yǒng yuǎn bù kě wǎn huí liǎo。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， xiàn zài nǐ duì wǒ jiā lǐ suǒ yòu de réndōu liǎo jiě liǎo， xià miàn wǒ bǎ zhè zhuāng bù xìng de shì jì xù jiǎng gěi nǐ tīng。
　　“ nà tiān wǎn shàng wǒ chī guò wǎn fàn zài kè tīng lǐ hē kā fēi shí， bǎ zhè jiàn shì de jīng guò jiǎng gěi 'ā sè hé mǎ lì tīng， bìng qiě gào sù tā men nà jiàn guì zhòng de bǎo wù xiàn zài jiù zài wū zǐ lǐ， wǒ zhǐ shì bǎ wěi tuō rén de míng zì mán zhe méi tí。 wǒ kěn dìng lù qiàn · pà 'ěr zài duān lái kā fēi yǐ hòu jiù lí kāi liǎo fáng jiān， dàn shì tā chū qù shí shì fǒu jiāng mén dài shàng liǎo， wǒ jiù bù gǎn kěn dìng liǎo。 mǎ lì hé 'ā sè tīng liǎo hěn gǎn xīng qù， bìng xiǎng jiàn shí jiàn shí zhè dǐng zhù míng de huáng guān， dàn shì wǒ xiǎng hái shì bié qù dòng tā wéi hǎo。
　　“ nǐ bǎ tā fàng zài nǎ lǐ liǎo？ ' ā sè wèn dào。
　　“ zài wǒ zì jǐ de guì zǐ lǐ。”
　　“ wú， dàn yuàn yè lǐ bù huì bèi tōu zǒu cái hǎo。 ' tā shuō。
　　“ guì zǐ suǒ shàng liǎo。 ' wǒ huí dá shuō。
　　“ āi， nà gè guì zǐ suí biàn shénme jiù yàoshì dōunéng kāi de。 wǒ xiǎo shí hòu qīn zì yòng chú fáng shí pǐn chú de yàoshì kāi guò tā。”
　　“ tā cháng cháng shuō huà qīng shuài， suǒ yǐ tā shuō xiē shénme wǒ shì hěn shǎo kǎo lǜ de。 rán 'ér， nà tiān wǎn shàng tā gēn zhe wǒ lái dào wǒ de fáng jiān lǐ， liǎn sè shí fēn chén zhòng。
　　“ diē， ' tā chuí zhuóyǎn pí shuō，‘ nǐ néng bù néng gěi wǒ 'èr bǎi yīng bàng？”
　　“ bù， wǒ bù néng！ ' wǒ yán lì dì huí dá shuō，‘ zài jīn qián fāng miàn wǒ yī xiàng duì nǐ guò yú kāng kǎi liǎo！”
　　“ nǐ xiàng lái jí qí rén cí， ' tā shuō，‘ dàn shì wǒ fēi dé yòu zhè bǐ qián bù kě， fǒu zé， wǒ jiù yī bèi zǐ wú yán zài jìn nà jù lè bù liǎo！”
　　“ nà zài hǎo bù guò liǎo！ ' wǒ rǎng zhe。
　　“ shì de。 dàn shì nǐ bù huì ràng wǒ bù míng yù dì lí kāi tā bā， ' tā shuō，‘ nà yàng diū liǎn wǒ kě rěn shòu bù liǎo。 wǒ bì xū shè fǎ chóu jí zhè bǐ qián。 rú guǒ nǐ bù kěn gěi wǒ， nà wǒ jiù dé shì shì bié de fǎ zǐ。”
　　“ wǒ dāng shí fēi cháng shēng qì， yīn wéi zhè shì zhè gè yuè lǐ tā dì sān cì wèn wǒ yào qián。 ' nǐ bié xiǎng cóng wǒ zhè lǐ dé dào yī biàn shì， ' wǒ dà shēng shuō。 yú shì tā jū liǎo yī gōng， yī yán bù fā jiù lí kāi liǎo fáng jiān。
　　“ děng tā zǒu hòu， wǒ jiāng dà guì chú dǎ kāi， chá kàn wǒ de bǎo wù shì fǒu 'ān rán wú shì， rán hòu wǒ zài bǎ guì zǐ suǒ shàng。 jiē zhe wǒ kāi shǐ dào fáng zǐ gè chù xún shì yī fān， kàn kàn shì fǒu yī qiē 'ān quán， méi yòu chā cuò。 zài píng shí， wǒ zǒng shì jiāng zhè gè rèn wù jiāo gěi mǎ lì de， dàn wǒ xiǎng dāng wǎn zuì hǎo yóu wǒ qīn zì xún shì。 dāng wǒ xià lóu tī shí， wǒ kàn jiàn mǎ lì yī gè rén zài dà tīng de biān chuāng nà lǐ。 ér zài wǒ zǒu jìn tā shí， tā bǎ chuāng hù guān shàng bìng chā shàng liǎo chā xiāo。
　　“ gào sù wǒ， diē， ' tā shuō， shén qíng sì hū yòu xiē huāng zhāng，‘ shì nǐ yǔn xǔ shì nǚ lù qiàn jīn tiān wǎn shàng chū qù de má？”
　　“ dāng rán méi yòu。”
　　“ tā gāng cóng hòu mén jìn lái。 wǒ xiāng xìn tā gāng cái shì dào biān mén qù huì jiàn shénme rén， wǒ xiǎng zhè yàng hěn bù 'ān quán， bì xū zhì zhǐ tā。”
　　“ míng zǎo nǐ yī dìng duì tā jiǎng jiǎng， jiǎ rú nǐ xī wàng wǒ jiǎng de huà， nà wǒ jiù duì tā jiǎng hǎo liǎo。 nǐ kěn dìng gè chù dū guān hǎo liǎo má？”
　　“ shí fēn kěn dìng， diē。”
　　“ nà me， wǎn 'ān！ ' wǒ qīn liǎo tā yī xià biàn shàng lóu dào wò shì lǐ qù， bù jiǔ jiù shuì zhe liǎo。
　　“ wǒ jìn kě néng jiāng yī qiē jiǎng gěi nǐ tīng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhè gēn 'àn jiàn yě xǔ yòu xiē guān xì。 wǒ nǎ yī diǎn méi jiǎng qīng chǔ， qǐng nǐ wù bì tí chū lái。”
　　“ qià qià xiāng fǎn， nǐ jiǎng dé fēi cháng qīng chǔ。”
　　“ xiàn zài shuō dào wǒ yào tè bié zhǐ chū de nà yī bù fēn qíng jié。 wǒ bù shì shuì dé hěn chén de rén， bìng qiě dān zhe xīn shì， wú yí shǐ wǒ shuìde bǐ píng shí hái yì jīng xǐng。 dà yuē zài líng chén liǎng diǎn zhōng de shí hòu， wǒ bèi wū lǐ de mǒu zhǒng xiǎng shēng chǎo xǐng liǎo。 zài wǒ wán quán qīng xǐng yǐ qián zhè shēng yīn biàn méi yòu liǎo， dàn tā liú gěi wǒ yī gè sì hū shénme dì fāng yòu yī shàn chuāng hù céng jīng qīng qīng dì guān shàng liǎo de yìn xiàng。 wǒ cè zhe shēn zǐ quán shén guàn zhù dì qīng tīng zhe。 hū rán jiān， shǐ wǒ huáng kǒng de shì， gé bì fáng jiān lǐ chuán lái liǎo qīng xī de、 qīng qīng zǒu dòng de jiǎo bù shēng。 wǒ mǎn huái kǒng jù qiāoqiāo dì xià liǎo chuáng， cóng wǒ qǐ jū shì de mén jiǎo chù zhāng wàng guò qù。
　　“ ā sè！ ' wǒ jiān jiào qǐ lái，‘ nǐ zhè liú máng， nǐ zhè gè zéi！ nǐ zěn me gǎn pèng nà huáng guān？”
　　“ wǒ fàng zài nà lǐ de méi qì dēng hái bàn liàng zhe， wǒ nà bù xìng de hái zǐ zhǐ chuānzhuó chèn shān hé kù zǐ， zhàn zài dēng bàng， shǒu lǐ ná zhe nà dǐng huáng guān。 tā sì hū zhèng zài shǐ jìn quán shēn lì qì bān zhe tā， huàn jù huà shuō， ào zhe tā。 tīng dào wǒ de hǎn shēng， tā shǒu yī sōng， huáng guān biàn diào luò dào liǎo dì shàng。 tā de liǎn sǐ yī bān dì cāng bái。 wǒ bǎ tā qiǎng dào shǒu yī jiǎn chá， fā xiàn zài yī gè jīn zhì de biān jiǎo chù yòu sān kuài lǜ yù bù jiàn liǎo。
　　“ nǐ zhè 'è gùn！ ' wǒ qì dé fā kuáng dì rǎng liǎo qǐ lái。 ' nǐ bǎ tā nòng huài liǎo！ nǐ ràng wǒ diū yī bèi zǐ de rén！ nǐ tōu zǒu de nà jǐ kuài bǎo shí nǎ 'ér qù liǎo？”
　　“ tōu？！ ' tā jiào liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ shì de， nǐ zhè zéi！ ' wǒ hǒu jiào zhe， yáo hàn zhe tā de jiān bǎng。
　　“ méi yòu diū diào shénme， bù kě néng diū diào shénme de。 ' tā shuō。
　　“ zhè lǐ yòu sān kuài lǜ yù bù jiàn liǎo。 nǐ shì zhī dào tā men zài nǎ lǐ de。 nǐ yào wǒ bù dàn shuō nǐ shì zéi， ér qiě hái shuō nǐ shì piàn zǐ má？ wǒ bù shì kàn jiàn nǐ zhèng zài shì zhe bǎ lìng wài yī kuài lǜ yù bān xià lái má？”
　　“ nǐ mà wǒ mà gòu liǎo bā， ' tā shuō，‘ wǒ zài yě rěn shòu bù xià qù liǎo。 jì rán nǐ sì yì wǔ rǔ wǒ， zhè jiàn shì wǒ jiù bù yuàn zài tí yī jù。 yī zǎo wǒ jiù huì lí kāi nǐ de wū zǐ dào bié chù qù zì jǐ móu shēng。”
　　“ nǐ bì dìng yào luò zài shǒu lǐ！ ' wǒ qǐ jí bài huài bàn fēng kuáng sì dì hǎn zhe，‘ zhè jiàn shì wǒ yào zhuī jiū dào dǐ！”
　　“ nǐ bié xiǎng cóng wǒ zhè lǐ liǎo jiě dào rèn hé qíng kuàng。 ' wǒ xiǎng bù dào tā jìng yī fǎn cháng tài rú cǐ jī dòng dì shuō，‘ rú guǒ nǐ yuàn yì jiào， nà me jiù ràng qù sōu suǒ hǎo liǎo！”
　　“ zhè shí hòu， yīn wéi wǒ shèng nù zhōng de dà shēng jiào hǎn， quán jiādōu sāo dòng liǎo。 mǎ lì shǒu xiān bēn jìn wǒ de fáng jiān， yī kàn jiàn nà dǐng huáng guān hé 'ā sè de liǎn sè， tā jiù jué chá dào liǎo quán bù qíng kuàng， zhǐ tīng tā yī shēng jiān jiào， suí jí hūn dǎo zài dì。 wǒ lì kè pài nǚ yōng rén qù zhào lái， qǐng tā men mǎ shàng jìn xíng diào chá。 dāng yī wèi xún guān dài zhe yī wèi jǐng shì jìn wū de shí hòu， ā sè jiāo chā zhe liǎng bì xìng xìng dì zhàn zhe， wèn wǒ shì bù shì dǎ suàn kòng gào tā tōu qiè。 wǒ huí dá tā shuō jì rán zhè dǐng nòng huài liǎo de huáng guān shì guó jiā de cái chǎn， zhè jiù bù shì sī shì 'ér shì yī zhuāng gōng shì liǎo。 wǒ bù dé bù jué dìng， yī qiē dū yìng zūn zhào fǎ lǜ xíng shì。
　　“ zhì shǎo， ' tā shuō，‘ nǐ bù huì mǎ shàng ràng rén dài bǔ wǒ bā。 wǒ yào shì néng lí kāi zhè jiān wū zǐ wǔ fēn zhōng， duì nǐ wǒ liǎng réndōu yòu hǎo chù。”
　　“ zhè yàng， nǐ jiù kě yǐ táo zhī yāo yāo， yě xǔ kě yǐ jiāng tōu dé de dōng qǐ lái liǎo， ' wǒ shuō。 zhè shí wǒ yì shí dào wǒ kě pà de chǔjìng， wǒ kěn qiú 'ā sè bù yào wàng jì， bù dān shì wǒ de， ér qiě shì yī wèi bǐ wǒ gāo guì dé duō de rén de róng yù chù zài wēi xiǎn guān tóu， tā yòu kě néng rě qǐ yī zhuāng zhèn jīng quán guó de chǒu wén。 dàn shì tā kě yǐ shǐ zhè yī qièbù zhì fā shēng， zhǐ yào tā gào sù wǒ， tā shì rú hé chǔzhì zhè sān kuài shī zōng de lǜ yù jiù chéng。
　　“ nǐ yě yīnggāi zhèng shì zhè jiàn shì， ' wǒ shuō，‘ nǐ shì dāng chǎng bèi zhuā zhù de， ér jù bù chéng rèn dé huì jiā zhòng nǐ de zuì xíng， rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng cǎi qǔ nǐ néng zuò dào de zhè yàng yī gè bǔ jiù bàn fǎ， yě jiù shì bǎ yǐn cáng lǜ yù de dì fāng gào sù wǒ men， nà me yī qiēdōu kě kuān shù， bìng qiě bù niàn jiù 'è。”
　　“ jiāng nǐ de kuān shù liú gěi nà xiē xiàng nǐ kěn qiú kuān shù de rén bā。 ' tā qīng miè dì yī xiào huí dá dào， zhuǎn shēn lí kāi liǎo wǒ。 wǒ kàn tā wán gù dào liǎo jué fēi rèn hé yán cí suǒ néng gǎn huà de chéng dù。 méi yòu bié de bàn fǎ， yú shì zhǐ hǎo jiào xún guān jìn lái bǎ tā kānguǎn qǐ lái， lì kè zuò liǎo quán miàn sōu chá， tā de shēn shàng， tā suǒ zhù de fáng jiān yǐ jí wū lǐ tā kě néng cáng nì bǎo shí de měi gè dì fāng dū sōu chá biàn liǎo， dàn shì méi yòu fā xiàn rèn hé hén jì。 jìn guǎn wǒ men yòng jìn liǎo zhǒng zhǒng quàn yòu hé kǒnghè， zhè dǎo méi de hái zǐ hái shì yī jù huà yě bù kěn jiǎng。 jīn tiān zǎo shàng tā bèi sòng jìn liǎo láo fáng。 ér wǒ zài bàn wán liǎo jǐng fāng yào qiú wǒ bàn de yī qiē shǒu xù zhī hòu， biàn jí máng gǎn dào zhè 'ér lái qiú nǐ yùn yòng nǐ de běn lǐng pò 'àn。 gōng kāi chéng rèn tā men yǎn xià yī wú suǒ huò。 nǐ kě yǐ wèicǐ shì huā fèi nǐ rèn wéi xū yào de fèi yòng。 wǒ yǐ jīng xuán shǎng yī qiān yīng bàng。 tiān 'ā， wǒ zěn me bàn ní？ yī yè zhī jiān wǒ jiù shī qù liǎo wǒ de xìn yù， wǒ de bǎo shí hé wǒ de 'ér zǐ。 ā！ wǒ gāi zěn me bàn ní？”
　　 tā liǎng shǒu bào zhe nǎo dài， quán shēn huàng lái huàng qù， zì yán zì yǔ dì dū nóng zhe xiàng shì yī gè yòu shuō bù chū de tòng kǔ de xiǎo hái zǐ。
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī jìng jìng dì zuò liǎo yòu jǐ fēn zhōng， zhòu zhe méi tóu， liǎng yǎn níng shì zhe lú huǒ。
　　“ nǐ píng shí jiē dài hěn duō kè rén má？“ tā wèn。
　　“ bù wài shì wǒ de hé huǒ rén hé tā de jiā juàn， yǐ jí 'ǒu 'ěr hái yòu 'ā sè de péng yǒu。 qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr zuì jìn céng lái guò jǐ cì。 wǒ xiǎng méi yòu bié de shénme rén liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ cháng chū qù cān jiā shè jiāo huó dòng má？”
　　“ ā sè cháng qù。 mǎ lì hé wǒ dāi zài jiā lǐ。 wǒ men liǎ dōubù xiǎng qù。”
　　“ duì yú yī gè nián qīng gū niàn lái shuō， zhè shì hěn bù xún cháng de 'ā！”
　　“ tā shēng xìng tián jìng。 cǐ wài， tā yǐ jīng bù hěn nián qīng， yǐ jīng 'èr shí sì suì liǎo。”
　　“ zhè jiàn shì qíng， zhào nǐ suǒ shuō， hǎo xiàng yě shǐ tā shòu dào hěn dà zhèn jīng。”
　　“ fēi cháng zhèn jīng！ tā kě néng bǐ wǒ gèng wéi zhèn jīng。”
　　“ nǐ men liǎ réndōu kěn dìng rèn wéi nǐ 'ér zǐ yòu zuì má？”
　　“ zhè hái yòu shénme kě huái yí de ní， yīn wéi wǒ qīn yǎn kàn jiàn huáng guān zài tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe。”
　　“ wǒ bù rèn wéi zhè shì què záo de zhèng jù。 huáng guān de qí yú bù fēn sǔn huài liǎo méi yòu？”
　　“ ǹg， tā bèi niǔ wāi liǎo。”
　　“ nà me nǐ shì fǒu zhè yàng xiǎng guò， tā huò xǔ shì yào jiāng tā nòng zhí？”
　　“ shàng dì bǎo yòu nǐ！ nǐ shì zài wèitā hé wǒ zuò nǐ suǒ néng zuò de yī qiē， dàn shì zhè gè rèn wù guò yú jiān jù liǎo。 tā jiū jìng zài nà lǐ gān xiē shénme？ rú guǒ tā shì qīng bái wú gū de， tā wèishénme bù shuō huà ní？”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng。 rú guǒ tā shì yòu zuì de huà， tā wèishénme bù biān zào gè huǎng yán？ tā de bǎo chí chén mò zài wǒ kàn lái kě zuò liǎng zhǒng jiě shì， zhè 'àn zǐ yòu jǐ gè qí guài de dì fāng。 duì yú bǎ nǐ cóng shuì mèng zhōng chǎo xǐng de shēng yīn， shì zěn me rèn wéi de？”
　　“ tā men rèn wéi zhè kě néng shì 'ā sè guān tā wò shì fáng mén de shēng yīn。”
　　“ shuō dé dǎo xiàng ní！ hǎo xiàng yī gè cún xīn zuò 'àn de rén fēi dé dà shēng guān mén bǎ quán jiā chǎo xǐng bù kě shìde。 hǎo bā， nà me duì zhè xiē bǎo shí de shī zōng tā men shì zěn me shuō de？”
　　“ tā men cǐ shí hái zài qiāo dǎ dì bǎn， sōu chá jiā jù， xī wàng néng zhǎo dào tā men。”
　　“ tā men yòu méi yòu kǎo lǜ qù fáng zǐ wài miàn kàn kàn？”
　　“ kǎo lǜ liǎo， tā men jìn tóu shí zú， zhěng gè huā yuán yǐ jīng zǎi xì jiǎn chá guò liǎo。”
　　“ shuō dào zhè lǐ， wǒ qīn 'ài de xiān shēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ zhè bù shì hěn míng xiǎn dì gào sù nǐ zhè jiàn shì què shí bǐ nǐ huò qǐ chū suǒ xiǎng de yào shēn 'ào dé duō má？ jù nǐ men kàn， zhè zhǐ bù guò shì yī zhuāng jiǎn dān de 'àn jiàn； dàn zài wǒ kàn lái tā sì hū tè bié fù zá。 xiǎng xiǎng nǐ men de fēn xī dōushì yī xiē shénme， nǐ cāi xiǎng nǐ de 'ér zǐ cóng chuáng shàng xià lái， mào zhe hěn dà de fēng xiǎn， zǒu dào nǐ de qǐ jū shì， dǎ kāi nǐ de guì zǐ， qǔ chū nà dǐng huáng guān， yòng liǎo hěn dà de lì qì cóng shàng miàn bān xià yī xiǎo bù fēn， zài dào bié de shénme dì fāng qù， bǎ sān shí jiǔ kuài lǜ yù zhōng de sān kuài yòng rèn hé réndōu wú fǎ fā xiàn de qiǎo miào bàn fǎ cáng liǎo qǐ lái， rán hòu dài zhe qí yú de sān shí liù kuài huí dào fáng jiān lǐ lái， ràng zì jǐ mào zhe bèi rén fā xiàn de jí dà wēi xiǎn。 xiàn zài wǒ lái wèn nǐ， zhè gè fēn xī zhàn dé zhù jiǎo má？”
　　“ kě shì hái néng zuò shénme bié de fēn xī ní？” zhè wèi yínháng jiā zuò chū yī gè shī wàng de zī tài rǎng zhe。“ yào shì tā méi yòu bù liáng dòng jī， nà tā wèishénme bù jiě shì qīng chǔ ní？”
　　“ zhè zhèng shì wǒ men yào zuò de gōng zuò， bǎ shì qíng nòng qīng chǔ。” fú 'ěr mó sī huí dá shuō，“ suǒ yǐ xiàn zài rú guǒ nǐ yuàn yì de huà， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， wǒ men jiù yī qǐ dòng shēn dào nǐ sī tè lǐ tè hā mǔ de jiā lǐ qù， huā shàng yī gè xiǎo shí gèng zhōu mì dì chá kàn yī xià。”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu jiān chí yào wǒ péi tóng tā men yī qǐ qù diào chá， zhèng hǎo wǒ yě xiāng dāng rèqiè dì xī wàng yī tóng qù， yīn wéi wǒ men gāng gāng tīng dào de chén shù shēn shēn dì jī qǐ liǎo wǒ de hàoqí xīn hé tóng qíng xīn。 wǒ chéng rèn， duì zhè yínháng jiā de 'ér zǐ shì bù shì zuì fàn zhè diǎn， wǒ dāng shí hé zhè wèi bù xìng de fù qīn kàn fǎ yī yàng， dū rèn wéi shì hěn míng xiǎn de； dàn shì wǒ réng rán duì fú 'ěr mó sī de pàn duàn lì bào yòu shí zú de xìn xīn， yīn 'ér jué dé jì rán tā duì yǐ wéi dà jiā suǒ jiē shòu de jiě shì bù mǎn yì， nà me yī dìng yòu mǒu zhǒng lǐ yóu biǎo míng zhè shì qíng hái yòu xī wàng。 zài qù nán jiāo de quán bù lù chéng zhōng。 tā yī yán bù fā dì zuò zhe， bǎ xià bā tiē dào xiōng kǒu shàng， bǎ mào zǐ lā xià lái zhē zhù liǎo yǎn jīng， chén jìn yú shēn shēn de sī kǎo zhī zhōng。 wǒ men de wěi tuō rén， yóu yú yòu yī xiàn xī wàng chéng xiàn zài yǎn qián， xiǎn dé yòu liǎo xīn de yǒng qì hé xìn xīn， tā shèn zhì zá luàn wú zhāng dì hé wǒ liáo qí tā yè wù shàng de yī xiē shì qíng。 chéng zuò liǎo yī huì 'ér huǒ chē， zài bù xíng duǎn duǎn de yī duàn lù chéng， wǒ men jiù dào liǎo zhè wèi dà yínháng jiā zhù de bù tài háo huá de fèi 'ěr bān yù suǒ。
　　 fèi 'ěr bān shì yī suǒ xiāng dāng dà de yòng bái shí qì chéng de fáng zǐ， lí mǎ lù yòu diǎn yuǎn。 yī tiáo shuāng xíng de chē dào yán zhe yī kuài jī xuě de cǎo píng yī zhí tōng dào jǐn bì zhe de liǎng shàn dà tiě mén qián miàn。 yòu miàn yòu yī xiǎo cóng guàn mù， lián mián yú yī tiáo xiá zhǎi de、 liǎng bàng yòu xiǎo shù lí de xiǎo jìng， zhè tiáo xiǎo jìng cóng mǎ lù kǒu yī zhí tōng dào chú fáng mén qián， chéng wéi líng shòu shāng rén de jìn chū xiǎo dào。 zài zuǒ biān yòu yī tiáo xiǎo dào tōng dào mǎ jiù， zhè tiáo xiǎo dào bù zài tíng yuàn zhī nèi， shì yī tiáo bìng bù cháng yòng de gōng gòng mǎ lù。 fú 'ěr mó sī ràng wǒ men zhàn zài mén kǒu， tā zì jǐ màn màn dì rào fáng bù xíng yī zhōu， jīng guò wū qián yán zhe nà xiǎo fàn zǒu de xiǎo dào， zài rào dào huā yuán hòu miàn jìn rù tōng wǎng mǎ jiù de xiǎo dào。 tā lái huí zǒu liǎo hǎo cháng yī duàn shí jiān， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng hé wǒ suǒ xìng jìn wū， zài cān shì de bì lú biān děng hòu tā。 dāng wǒ men zhèng chén mò dì zuò zhe de shí hòu， fáng mén bèi rén tuī kāi， yī wèi nián qīng de nǚ shì zǒu liǎo jìn lái。 tā shēn gāo zài zhōng děng yǐ shàng， shēn cái miáo tiáo， qī hēi de tóu fā hé yǎn jīng， zài tā shí fēn cāng bái de pí fū chèn tuō xià sì hū xiǎn dé fènwài dì hēi。 wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ jǐ shí céng jīng jiàn dào guò liǎn sè rú cǐ cāng bái de fù nǚ。 tā de zuǐ chún yě shì háo wú xuè sè， tā de yǎn jīng què yīn kū qì 'ér hóng zhǒng。 tā jìng qiǎo qiǎo dì zǒu jìn lái， gěi wǒ de yìn xiàng sì hū tā de tòng kǔ gèng shèn yú yínháng jiā jīn zǎo suǒ gǎn shòu de， yīn wéi tā xiǎn rán shì yī wèi gè xìng hěn qiáng、 bìng qiě jù yòu jí dà de zì zhì lì de fù nǚ， zhè jiù xiǎn dé gèng jiā yǐn rén zhù mù。 tā bù gù wǒ zài zuò， jìng zhí zǒu xiàng tā shū fù gēn qián， yǐ fù nǚ de wēn qíng fǔ mō zhe tā de tóu。
　　“ nǐ yǐ jīng mìng lìng jiāng 'ā sè shì fàng liǎo， shì má。 diē？” tā wèn。
　　“ méi yòu， méi yòu， wǒ de gū niàn， zhè jiàn shì bì xū zhuī chá dào dǐ de。”
　　“ dàn shì wǒ què shí xiāng xìn tā shì wú zuì de。 nǐ dǒng dé nǚ rén men de běn néng shì zěn me huí shì。 wǒ zhī dào tā méi yòu zuò shénme cuò shì， zhè yàng yán lì dì duì dài tā， nǐ shì yào hòu huǐ de。”
　　“ nà me， rú guǒ tā shì wú gū de huà， tā wèishénme mò bù zuò shēng？”
　　“ shuí zhī dào？ yě xǔ tā shì yīn wéi nǐ jìng huì zhè yàng huái yí tā 'ér gǎn dào nǎo nù。”
　　“ wǒ zěn me néng bù huái yí tā ní？ dāng shí wǒ què shí kàn jiàn nà dǐng huáng guān zài tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe。”
　　“ āi， tā zhǐ bù guò shì jiāng tā shí qǐ lái kàn kàn。 ò， xiāng xìn wǒ de huà bā！ tā shì wú zuì de。 zhè jiàn shì jiù zhè yàng suàn liǎo bā， bù yào zài tí tā liǎo。 xiǎng dào wǒ men qīn 'ài de 'ā sè bèi tóu jìn liǎo jiān yù shì duō me kě pà 'ā！”
　　“ wǒ zhǎo bù dào lǜ yù jué bù bà xiū héng héng jué bù， mǎ lì， nǐ duì 'ā sè de gǎn qíng shǐ nǐ kàn bù dào tā gěi wǒ zào chéng de yán zhòng hòu guǒ。 wǒ jué bù néng jiù zhè yàng liǎo shì， wǒ cóng lún dūn qǐng liǎo yī wèi xiān shēng lái gēngshēn rù dì diào chá zhè jiàn shì。”
　　“ shì zhè wèi xiān shēng？” tā zhuǎn guò shēn lái kàn zhe wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ bù， shì tā de péng yǒu。 tā yào wǒ men ràng tā yī gè rén zǒu zǒu。 tā xiàn zài zhèng zài mǎ jiù nà tiáo xiǎo dào nà biān。”
　　“ mǎ jiù nà tiáo xiǎo dào？” tā de hēi méi máo xiàng shàng yī yáng。“ tā néng zhǐ wàng zài nà lǐ zhǎo dào shénme？ ò， wǒ xiǎng zhè jiù shì tā bā。 wǒ xiāng xìn， xiān shēng， nǐ yī dìng néng zhèng míng wǒ suǒ què xìn de shì shí qíng， nà jiù shì wǒ de táng xiōng 'ā sè shì wú zuì de。”
　　“ wǒ wán quán tóng yì nǐ de kàn fǎ， ér qiě， wǒ xiāng xìn， yòu nǐ zài yī qǐ， wǒ men néng zhèng míng zhè yī diǎn。” fú 'ěr mó sī yī biān dá huà， yī biān zǒu huí cā xié diàn shàng bǎ xié dǐ xià de xuě cèng diào。“ wǒ rèn wéi wǒ shì róng xìng dì zài hé mǎ lì · huò 'ěr dé xiǎo jiě tán huà， wǒ kě fǒu xiàng nǐ tí yī liǎng gè wèn tí？”
　　“ qǐng bā， xiān shēng， rú guǒ néng duì chéng qīng zhè jiàn kě pà de shì jiàn yòu suǒ bāng zhù de huà。”
　　“ zuó tiān yè lǐ nǐ méi tīng jiàn shénme má？”
　　“ méi yòu， yī zhí dào wǒ de shū fù kāi shǐ dà shēng shuō huà。 wǒ tīng jiàn hòu cái xià lái。”
　　“ nǐ zuó wǎn jiāng mén chuāng dū guān shàng liǎo， kě shì yòu méi yòu jiāng suǒ yòu de chuāng hù dū shuān shàng ní？”
　　“ dū shuān shàng liǎo。”
　　“ jīn tiān zǎo shàng zhè xiē chuāng hù shì fǒu dū hái shuān zhe？”
　　“ dū hái shuān zhe。”
　　“ nǐ yòu gè nǚ pú， tā yòu gè qíng rén bā？ wǒ zhī dào nǐ zuó wǎn céng jīng gào sù guò nǐ shū shū shuō tā chū qù huì jiàn tā lái liǎo？”
　　“ shì de， tā jiù shì nà gè zài kè tīng lǐ shì hòu de nǚ pú， tā yě xǔ tīng jiàn shū shū tán dào guān yú huáng guān de huà。”
　　“ wǒ míng bái， nǐ de yì sī shì shuō tā kě néng chū qù jiāng zhè shì gào sù liǎo tā de qíng rén， ér tā men liǎ yě xǔ mì móu dào qiè zhè dǐng huáng guān。”
　　“ dàn shì zhè xiē kōng dòng de lǐ lùn yòu shénme yòng chù。” yínháng jiā bù nài fán dì rǎng liǎo qǐ lái，“ wǒ bù shì duì nǐ jiǎng guò wǒ dāng shí qīn yǎn kàn jiàn 'ā sè shǒu lǐ ná zhe nà dǐng huáng guān má？”
　　“ bù yào zháojí， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng。 wǒ men bì xū zhuī wèn yī xià zhè jiàn shì。 huò 'ěr dé xiǎo jiě， guān yú zhè gè nǚ pú， wǒ xiǎng nǐ kàn jiàn tā shì cóng chú fáng mén fù jìn huí lái de， shì má？”
　　“ shì de， dāng wǒ qù chá kàn nà shàn mén yòu méi yòu shuān hǎo shí， wǒ pèng jiàn tā tōu tōu dì liù liǎo jìn lái。 wǒ yě kàn jiàn nà gè nán rén zài 'àn dì lǐ。”
　　“ nǐ rèn shí tā má？”
　　“ ō， wǒ rèn shí！ tā shì gěi wǒ men sòng shū cài de cài fàn。 tā de míng zì shì fú lǎng xī sī · pǔ luó sī pò。”
　　“ tā zhàn zài，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ mén de zuǒ cè héng héng yě jiù shì shuō， yuǎn lí xū yào jìn rù zhè mén de lù shàng？”
　　“ shì de， shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ tā hái shì yī gè zhuāng yòu mù tóu jiǎ tuǐ de rén？”
　　 zhè wèi nián qīng xiǎo jiě fù yú biǎo qíng de hēi yǎn zhū tū rán xiǎn dé yòu diǎn hài pà de yàng zǐ。“ zěn me？ nǐ gè mó shù shī 'ā，” tā shuō，“ nǐ zěn me zhī dào zhè gè？“ tā dāng shí miàn dài xiào róng。 dàn shì fú 'ěr mó sī shòuxuē 'ér xiǎn dé rèqiè de liǎn shàng méi yòu yíng hé duì fāng de xiào róng。
　　“ wǒ hěn xiǎng xiàn zài jiù shàng lóu qù。” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ wǒ hěn kě néng hái yào dào fáng zǐ wài biān zài zǒu yī tàng， yě xǔ wǒ zài shàng lóu zhī qián zuì hǎo zài kàn kàn lóu xià de chuāng hù。”
　　 tā hěn kuài dì cóng yī gè gè chuāng hù qián zǒu guò， zhǐ shì zài nà shàn kě yǐ cóng dà tīng xiàng wài wàng dào mǎ jiù xiǎo dào de dà chuāng hù qián tíng liǎo yī xià。 tā dǎ kāi zhè shàn chuāng hù， yòng suí shēn xié dài de gāo bèi fàng dà jìng fēi cháng zǎi xì dì jiǎn chá chuāng tái。 zuì hòu tā shuō，“ xiàn zài wǒ men kě yǐ shàng lóu qù liǎo。”
　　 zhè wèi yínháng jiā de qǐ jū shì shì yī jiān bù zhì jiǎn pǔ de xiǎo fáng jiān， dì shàng pū zhe yī kuài huī sè dì tǎn， fàng zhe yī gè dà guì chú hé yī miàn cháng jìng zǐ。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān zǒu dào dà guì chú gēn qián， jǐn dīng zhe shàng miàn de suǒ。
　　“ shì yòng nǎ bǎ yàoshì kāi zhè suǒ de？” tā wèn dào。
　　“ jiù shì wǒ 'ér zǐ zhǐ chū de héng héng nà bǎ kāi zhù cáng shì shí pǐn chú de suǒ de yàoshì。”
　　“ tā zài nǐ zhè lǐ má？”
　　“ jiù shì nà bǎ fàng zài huà zhuāng tái shàng de yàoshì。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ tā ná guò lái dǎ kāi dà guì chú。
　　“ zhè shì yī bǎ wú shēng de suǒ，” tā shuō，“ nán guài tā méi yòu chǎo xǐng nǐ。 zhè zhǐ hé zǐ wǒ xiǎng jiù shì zhuāng nà huáng guān de。 wǒ men bì xū kàn yī kàn。” tā dǎ kāi hé zǐ， jiāng huáng guān qǔ chū lái fàng zài zhuō zǐ shàng。 zhè shì yī jiàn huá lì de zhū bǎo gōng yì pǐn， nà sān shí liù kuài lǜ yù shì wǒ cóng wèi jiàn guò de zuì jīng měi de yù shí。 huáng guān de yī biān yòu yī dào liè kǒu， yī gè jiǎo shàng yòu sān kuài lǜ yù bèi bān diào liǎo。
　　“ xiàn zài， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ zhè gè biān jiǎo hé nà bù xìng diū shī lǜ yù de biān jiǎo shì duìchèn de。 wǒ qǐng nǐ shì yī shì kàn néng fǒu jiāng tā bāi kāi。”
　　 nà yínháng jiā jīng huāng dì wǎng hòu tuì suō。 tā shuō：“ wǒ lián zuò mèng yě bù gǎn qù bāi tā。”
　　“ nà me wǒ lái shì shì，” fú 'ěr mó sī měng rán yòng zú lì qì qù bāi tā， dàn shì wén sī bù dòng。“ wǒ jué dé tā yòu diǎn sōng dòng，” tā shuō，“ dàn shì， suī rán wǒ de shǒu zhǐ tè bié yòu jìn， yào bāi kāi tā yě hěn fèi shì。 yī gè pǔ tōng rén shì bù kě néng bǎ tā bāi kāi de。 hǎo liǎo， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， rú guǒ wǒ zhēn de bāi kāi liǎo tā， huì shì shénme qíng kuàng ní？ nà jiù huì fā chū xiàng qiāng xiǎng yī yàng de shēng yīn。 nǐ gǎn shuō， zhè yī qiē shì fā shēng zài jǐn lí nǐ wò tà shù mǎ zhī yáo de dì fāng， ér nǐ què yī diǎn shénme shēng yīn yě méi tīng jiàn má？”
　　“ wǒ shénme yě bù gǎn xiǎng， shénme wèn tí yě kàn bù chū lái。”
　　“ dàn shì shì qíng yě xǔ huì yuè lái yuè qīng chǔ。 nǐ shì zěn me xiǎng de， huò 'ěr dé xiǎo jiě？”
　　“ wǒ chéng rèn wǒ hé wǒ de shū shū yī yàng kùn huò bù jiě。”
　　“ dāng nǐ kàn dào nǐ de 'ér zǐ shí， tā méi yòu chuān xié huò tuō xié， shì má？”
　　“ chú liǎo kù zǐ hé chèn shān wài， tā shénme yě méi yòu chuān。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ。 wǒ men díquè cóng zhè cì xún wèn zhōng dé yì fěi qiǎn， shí zài tài xìng yùn liǎo， rú guǒ wǒ men hái bù néng bǎ zhè shì qíng nòng qīng chǔ de huà， nà jiù wán quán shì wǒ men zì jǐ de guò cuò liǎo。 huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， qǐng yǔn xǔ wǒ zài dào wài miàn qù jì xù diào chá。”
　　 tā yào qiú ràng tā dú zì yī gè rén qù， yīn wéi tā jiě shì shuō， rén qù duō liǎo huì liú xià yī xiē bù bì yào de jiǎo yìn， kě néng gěi tā de gōng zuò zào chéng gèng duō de kùn nán。 tā gōng zuò liǎo dà yuē yī gè duō xiǎo shí， zuì hòu huí lái shí tā de jiǎo shàng mǎn shì jī xuě， ér tā de miàn kǒng réng rán shì nà yàng shén mì mò cè。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng zhè lǐ wǒ yào kàn de wǒdōu kàn guò liǎo， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng，” tā shuō，“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ duì nǐ zuì hǎo de xiào láo jiù shì huí dào wǒ de zhù fáng qù。”
　　“ dàn shì nà xiē lǜ yù， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， tā men zài nǎ lǐ？”
　　“ wǒ shuō bù hǎo。”
　　“ nà wǒ yǒng yuǎn zài jiàn bù dào tā men liǎo！” zhè wèi yínháng jiā cuō zhe shuāng shǒu dà shēng dì shuō，“ hái yòu wǒ de 'ér zǐ ní？ nǐ bù shì gěi liǎo wǒ xī wàng má？”
　　“ wǒ de yì jiàn yī diǎn yě méi gǎi biàn。”
　　“ nà me， wǒ de tiān nǎ， zuó wǎn shàng zài wǒ wū zǐ lǐ gǎo de shì shénme guǐ míng táng？”
　　“ rú guǒ míng tiān shàng wǔ jiǔ dào shí diǎn zhōng nǐ néng dào bèi kè jiē wǒ de zhù suǒ lái zhǎo wǒ， wǒ jiāng gāo xīng dì jìn wǒ suǒ néng bǎ tā jiǎng dé gèng qīng chǔ xiē。 wǒ de lǐ jiě shì， nǐ quán quán wěi tuō wǒ tì nǐ bàn zhè jiàn shì， zhǐ yào wǒ néng zhǎo huí nà xiē lǜ yù， nǐ bù huì wǒ kě néng zhī qǔ de kuǎn xiàng shù mù。”
　　“ wèile bǎ tā men zhǎo huí lái， wǒ yuàn ná chū wǒ de quán bù cái chǎn。”
　　“ hěn hǎo， wǒ jiāng zài míng tiān shàng wǔ yǐ qián zhè duàn shí jiān nèi diào chá zhè jiàn shì。 zài jiàn， yě hěn kě néng wǒ bàng wǎn yǐ qián hái dé zài lái zhè lǐ yī tàng。”
　　 wǒ qīng chǔ dì zhī dào wǒ de huǒ bàn xiàn zài duì zhè gè 'àn jiàn yǐ jīng xiōng yòu chéng zhú， zhì yú tā jiū jìng yòu liǎo xiē shénme yàng de jié lùn， wǒ lián yī diǎn méng lóng de yìn xiàng yě méi yòu。 zài wǒ men huí jiā de tú zhōng， wǒ lǚ cì xiǎng cóng tā nà lǐ tàn tīng chū zhè yī diǎn， dàn shì tā zǒng shì chě dào bié de huà tí shàng qù， zuì hòu wǒ zhǐ hǎo shī wàng dì fàng qì liǎo zhè gè yì tú。 hái bù dào xià wǔ sān shí， wǒ men jiù huí dào liǎo zì jǐ wū lǐ。 tā jí máng zǒu jìn tā de fáng jiān， jǐ fēn zhōng hòu biàn dǎ bàn chéng yī gè pǔ biàn de liú làng hàn xià lóu lái。 tā bǎ lǐng zǐ fān shàng qù， chuānzhuó mó dé fā guāng de pò wài yī， dǎzháo hóng lǐng dài， chuānzhuó yī shuāng pò jiù de pí xuē， chéng liǎo yī gè diǎn xíng de liú làng hàn。
　　“ wǒ zhè yàng dǎ bàn hái xiàng bā，” tā yī biān shuō yī biān duì zhe bì lú shàng de jìng zǐ zhào liǎo yī xià，“ wǒ zhēn xī wàng nǐ néng hé wǒ yī kuài qù， huá shēng， dàn shì kǒng pà bù xíng。 wǒ kě néng zhǎo dào zhè gè 'àn zǐ de xiàn suǒ， yě kě néng shì gēn zhe guǐ huǒ xiā páo， dàn shì wǒ bù jiǔ jiù huì míng bái shì nǎ zhǒng kě néng。 wǒ xī wàng jǐ gè xiǎo shí nèi jiù huì huí lái。” tā cóng cān guì shàng fàng zhe de dà kuài niú ròu shàng gē xià yī kuài， jiā zài liǎng piàn miàn bāo lǐ， rán hòu bǎ zhè gān liáng sài jìn kǒu dài， jiù chū fā tàn xiǎn qù liǎo。
　　 wǒ gāng hē wán chá， zhǐ jiàn tā shǒu lǐ huàng zhe yī zhǐ biān shàng yòu sōng jǐn dài de jiù xuē zǐ xīng gāo cǎi liè dì huí lái liǎo。 tā bǎ nà zhǐ jiù xuē zǐ rēng zài jiǎo luò lǐ， biàn qù dàochá hē。
　　“ wǒ zhǐ shì jīng guò zhè lǐ jìn lái shùn biàn kàn yī xià，” tā shuō，“ wǒ mǎ shàng jiù dé zǒu。”
　　“ dào nǎ lǐ qù？”
　　“ ō， dào xī qū nà biān qù。 kě néng dé guò xiāng dāng cháng de shí jiān wǒ cái néng huí ① lái。 rú guǒ wǒ huí lái dé tài wǎn， jiù bié děng wǒ liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ shì qíng jìn xíng dé zěn me yàng？”
　　“ ō， hái kě yǐ。 méi yòu shénme kě bào yuàn de。 wǒ lí kāi nǐ hòu yòu dào sī tè lǐ tè hā mǔ qù liǎo， zhǐ shì méi jìn wū lǐ。 nà gè xiǎo yí diǎn shì guài yòu qù de， wǒ zěn me yě bù néng qīng yì fàng guò tā。 wǒ bù néng jìn zuò zài zhè lǐ xián liáo tiān， wǒ bì xū bǎ zhè tào xià děng rén de fú zhuāng tuō xià lái， chóngxīn chuān shàng wǒ zì jǐ nà tào shàng děng rén de fú zhuāng。”
　　① lún dūn xī qū shì fù rén jù jū de dì fāng。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　 wǒ cóng tā de yī jǔ yī dòng kě yǐ kàn chū， tā yòu bǐ tā tán huà zhōng suǒ 'àn shì de gèng zhí dé mǎn yì de lǐ yóu。 tā de yǎn jīng lǐ shǎn shuò zhe guāng cǎi， tā cài sè de miàn jiá shàng shèn zhì fàn chū liǎo hóng yùn。 tā cōng cōng dì shàng liǎo lóu， jǐ fēn zhōng hòu， wǒ tīng jiàn dà tīng de mén pēng dì yī xiǎng， wǒ zhī dào tā yòu yī cì chū fā qù gǎo tā tiān shēng xǐ huān de zhuī bǔ qù liǎo。
　　 wǒ yī zhí děng dào bàn yè， hái shì méi jiàn tā huí lái， wǒ jiù huí fáng xiū xī qù liǎo。 tā lián xù jǐ tiān jǐ yè wài chū gēn zōng jǐn zhuī yī gè xiàn suǒ shì cháng yòu de shì， yīn 'ér tā jīn tiān chí chí bù guī bìng bù shǐ wǒ qí guài。 wǒ bù zhī dào tā shì shénme shí hòu huí lái de， dàn shì dāng wǒ zǎo chén xià lóu jìn zǎo cān shí， zhǐ jiàn tā yǐ jīng zuò zài nà lǐ liǎo， yī zhǐ shǒu duān zhe yī bēi kā fēi， lìng yī zhǐ shǒu ná zhe yī fèn bào zhǐ， jīng shén bǎo mǎn， yōng róng zhěng jié。“ duì bù qǐ， huá shēng， wǒ méi děng nǐ biàn xiān chī qǐ lái liǎo。” tā shuō，“ dàn shì nǐ bù yào wàng jì wǒ men de wěi tuō rén jīn tiān shàng wǔ hé wǒ men de yuē huì。”
　　“ zěn me， xiàn zài yǐ guò jiǔ diǎn zhōng liǎo，” wǒ huí dá shuō，“ wǒ xiǎng yī dìng shì tā zài jiào mén。 wǒ tīng dào liǎo mén líng xiǎng。”
　　 guǒ rán， lái de zhèng shì wǒ men zhè wèi jīn róng jiā péng yǒu。 tā shēn shàng fā shēng de biàn huà， shǐ wǒ gǎn dào fēi cháng zhèn jīng， yīn wéi tā tiān shēng yòu kuān kuò yòu jiēshí de liǎn páng， xiàn zài xiāo shòu bìng biě liǎo xià qù， tā de tóu fā hǎo xiàng yě bǐ yǐ qián gèng huī bái liǎo。 tā dài zhe wěimǐ kùn dùn de juàn róng zǒu liǎo jìn lái， xiǎn dé bǐ qián yī tiān zǎo chén nà zhǒng kuáng bào de yàng zǐ gèng jiā tòng kǔ， tā chén zhòng dì diē zuò zài wǒ tuī gěi tā de fú shǒu yǐ shàng。
　　“ wǒ bù zhī dào zuò liǎo shénme quē dé shì shǐ wǒ yào shòu zhè me cán kù de zhé mó，” tā shuō，“ zhǐ bù guò shì liǎng tiān yǐ qián wǒ hái shì yī gè xìng fú hé fù yù de rén， wú yōu wú lǜ dì shēng huó zài zhè shì jiè shàng。 xiàn zài wǒ luò dào liǎo yào guò gū dú hé bù guāng cǎi wǎn nián de dì bù。 zhēn shì huò bù dān xíng 'ā。 wǒ de zhí nǚ mǎ lì pāo qì liǎo wǒ。”
　　“ pāo qì liǎo nǐ？”
　　“ shì de。 jīn tiān zǎo chén fā xiàn tā de chuáng yī yè méi yòu rén shuì guò， tā de fáng jiān yǐ jīng shì rén qù lóu kōng， yī zhāng liú gěi wǒ de biàn tiáo fàng zài dà tīng de zhuō zǐ shàng。 wǒ zuó wǎn céng jīng yōu shāng 'ér bù shì qì fèn dì duì tā shuō， yào shì tā hé wǒ 'ér zǐ jié liǎo hūn， tā běn lái kě néng yī qiē dū huì hěn hǎo de。 yě xǔ wǒ zhè yàng shuō tài qiàn zhēn zhuó liǎo。 tā de biàn tiáo lǐ yě tán dào liǎo zhè xiē huà：‘ wǒ zuì qīn 'ài de shū shū：
　　 wǒ gǎn dào wǒ yǐ jīng gěi nǐ dài lái liǎo kǔ nǎo， rú guǒ wǒ cǎi qǔ lìng wài yī zhǒng xíng dòng， zhè kě pà de bù xìng shì jiàn kě néng jiù yǒng yuǎn bù huì fā shēng liǎo。 wǒ xīn lǐ cún zhe zhè zhǒng niàn tóu， jiù zài yě bù néng yú kuài dì zhù zài nǐ de wū yán xià liǎo。 ér qiě wǒ jué dé wǒ bì xū yǒng yuǎn lí kāi nǐ。 bù yào wèiwǒ de qián tú cāo xīn， yīn wéi wǒ zì jǐ yòu qī shēn de dì fāng； zuì zhòng yào de shì， jué bù yào xún zhǎo wǒ， yīn wéi zhè jiāng shì tú láo de， ér qiě huì bāng wǒ de dǎo máng。 bù guǎn wǒ shì shēng shì sǐ， wǒ yǒng yuǎn shì nǐ qīn 'ài de
　　 mǎ lì”
　　“ tā zhè zhāng biàn tiáo shì shénme yì sī， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng？ nǐ rèn wéi tā 'àn shì xiǎng yào zì shā má？”
　　“ bù， bù， gēn běn bù shì zhè me huí shì。 zhè yě xǔ shì zuì hǎo bù guò de jiě jué bàn fǎ。 wǒ xiāng xìn， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng， nǐ de zhè xiē kǔ nǎo shì kuài yào jié shù liǎo。”
　　“ hā！ nǐ kěn dìng shì zhè yàng？ nǐ tīng jiàn liǎo shénme， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ tīng dào liǎo shénme xiāo xī？ nà xiē lǜ yù zài nǎ lǐ？”
　　“ nǐ bù rèn wéi yī qiān yīng bàng yī kuài lǜ yù de jià qián tài dà bā？”
　　“ wǒ qíng yuàn fù chū yī wàn yīng bàng。”
　　“ zhè méi yòu bì yào。 zhè jiàn shì sān qiān yīng bàng jiù gòu yòng liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng， hái yòu yī bǐ xiǎo xiǎo de chóu jīn。 nǐ dài zhe zhī piào bù méi yòu？ gěi nǐ zhè zhī bǐ， kāi yī zhāng sì qiān yīng bàng de zhī piào hǎo liǎo。”
　　 zhè wèi yínháng jiā shén sè máng rán dì rú shù kāi liǎo zhī piào。 fú 'ěr mó sī zǒu dào tā de xiě zì tái qián， qǔ chū yī gè xiǎo xiǎo de sān jiǎo xíng de jīn zhǐ bāo， lǐ miàn yòu sān kuài lǜ yù， shùn shǒu jiāng tā rēng zài zhuō zǐ shàng。
　　 wǒ men de wěi tuō rén yī shēng xǐ yuè de jiān jiào， yī bǎ jiāng tā zhuā zài shǒu zhōng。
　　“ nǐ nòng dào shǒu liǎo！” tā jí cù dì shuō，“ wǒ dé jiù liǎo！ wǒ dé jiù liǎo！”
　　 zhè xǐ yuè de fǎn yìnghè tā yǐ qián de chóu kǔ yī yàng jī liè。 tā jiāng zhè jǐ kē chóngxīn huò dé de lǜ yù jǐn jǐn dì tiē zài xiōng qián。
　　“ nǐ lìng wài hái qiàn liǎo bǐ zhài， huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng。” fú 'ěr mó sī xiāng dāng yán sù dì shuō。
　　“ qiàn zhài！” tā ná qǐ yī zhī bǐ，“ qiàn duō shǎo， wǒ zhè jiù cháng hái。”
　　“ bù， zhè bǐ zhài bù shì qiàn wǒ de。 nǐ yīnggāi duì nà gè gāo shàng de xiǎo huǒ zǐ， nǐ de 'ér zǐ hǎohǎo dì dào qiàn， tā bǎ zhè jiàn shì lǎn zài zì jǐ shēn shàng liǎo， wǒ yào shì néng kàn dào wǒ zì jǐ de 'ér zǐ zhè yàng zuò， wǒ yě huì gǎn dào jiāo 'ào de， cháng shǐ wǒ yòu zhè yàng yī gè hái zǐ de huà。”
　　“ nà me bù shì 'ā sè ná zǒu de？”
　　“ wǒ zuó tiān jiù gào sù guò nǐ， jīn tiān wǒ zài chóngfù yī biàn， bù shì tā。”
　　“ nǐ kěn dìng shì zhè yàng！ nà me ràng wǒ men mǎ shàng gǎn dào tā nà lǐ qù， ràng tā zhī dào yǐ jīng dà bái liǎo。”
　　“ tā yǐ jīng zhī dào liǎo。 wǒ quán bù gǎo qīng chǔ hòu qù zhǎo tā tán guò， fā xiàn tā bù yuàn yì jiāng shí qíng gào sù wǒ， wǒ gān cuì duì tā shuō liǎo， tā tīng hòu bù dé bù chéng rèn wǒ shì duì de， bìng qiě duì wǒ hái bù hěn qīng chǔ de jǐ gè xì jié zuò liǎo bǔ chōng。 nǐ jīn tiān zǎo chén dài lái de xiāo xī， bì dìng néng shǐ tā kāi kǒu。”
　　“ wǒ de lǎo tiān yé yā！ nà me， kuài gào sù wǒ zhè fēi cháng lí qí de mí dào dǐ shì zěn me huí shì bā！”
　　“ wǒ shì yào zhè yàng zuò de， bìng qiě wǒ yào duì nǐ shuō míng wǒ wéi nòng qīng shì qíng de dǐ xì suǒ cǎi qǔ de bù zhòu。 ràng wǒ cóng tóu jiǎng gěi nǐ tīng， shǒu xiān， zhè huà wǒ jué dé hěn nán shuō chū kǒu， nǐ yě hěn nán tīng rù 'ěr： nà jiù shì qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì hé nǐ de zhí nǚ mǎ lì yòu mò qì。 tā men liǎ rén xiàn zài yǐ jīng yī kuài táo zǒu liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ de mǎ lì？ bù kě néng！”
　　“ bù xìng de shì tā bù zhǐ shì kě néng， ér qiě shì kěn dìng de shì shí。 dāng nǐ men jiāng cǐ rén jiē nà dào nǐ men jiā zhōng shí， bù lùn shì nǐ huò shì nǐ de 'ér zǐ， dōubù hěn liǎo jiě tā de zhēn shí pí xìng。 tā shì yīng guó zuì wēi xiǎn de rén wù zhī yī héng héng yī gè liáo dǎo de dǔ tú， yī gè xiōng 'è tòu dǐng de liú máng， yī gè méi yòu xīn gān hé liáng zhī de rén。 nǐ de zhí nǚ duì zhè zhǒng rén yī wú suǒ zhī。 dāng tā duì tā xìn shì dàn dàn yī rú tā yǐ qián xiàng chéng bǎi gè qí tā nǚ rén suǒ zuò de yī yàng shí， tā zì míng dé yì， rèn wéi zhǐ yòu tā yī gè rén chù dòng liǎo tā de xīn。 zhè gè 'è mó shēn zhī rú hé yòng huā yán qiǎo yǔ shǐ tā néng wéi tā suǒ lì yòng， bìng qiě jīhū měi wǎn dū hé tā yōu huì。”
　　“ wǒ bù néng， yě jué bù huì xiāng xìn yòu zhè zhǒng shì！” yínháng jiā liǎn sè huī bái dì rǎng dào。
　　“ nà me， ràng wǒ lái gào sù nǐ， qián tiān wǎn shàng nǐ jiā lǐ suǒ fā shēng de yī qiē。 nǐ de zhí nǚ， dāng tā rèn wéi nǐ yǐ jīng huí dào nǐ de fáng jiān qù hòu， qiāoqiāo dì liù xià lái zài nà shàn cháo xiàng mǎ jiù xiǎo dào de chuāng kǒu hé tā de qíng rén tán huà。 tā de jiǎo yìn yīn wéi jiǔ zhàn zài nà lǐ 'ér shēn shēn dì yìn tòu liǎo dì shàng de xuě。 tā hé tā tán dào nà dǐng huáng guān。 zhè xiāo xī rán qǐ liǎo tā duì jīn zǐ de tān yù， tā jiù qiǎngpò tā fú cóng tā de yì yuàn。 wǒ bù huái yí tā shì 'ài nǐ de， dàn shì cháng yòu zhè zhǒng nǚ rén， tā men duì qíng rén de 'ài huì yān méi duì suǒ yòu qí tā rén de 'ài， ér wǒ rèn wéi tā， bì dìng yě shì zhè yàng yī gè nǚ rén。 tā hái méi yòu tīng wán tā de zhǐ shǐ， jiù jiàn nǐ xià lóu lái， tā jí máng bǎ chuāng hù guān shàng， bìng xiàng nǐ sù shuō nà nǚ pú hé tā nà zhuāng mù tóu jiǎ tuǐ de qíng rén de yuè guǐ xíng wéi， nà dǎo shì què yòu qí shì。
　　“ nǐ de 'ér zǐ 'ā sè hé nǐ tán huà hòu， biàn shàng chuáng qù shuì jué， bù guò tā yīn wéi qiàn jù lè bù de zhài xīn shén bù 'ān 'ér nán yǐ rù shuì。 bàn yè de shí hòu， tā tīng jiàn qīng qīng de jiǎo bù shēng zǒu guò tā de fáng mén， yīn cǐ tā qǐ chuáng xiàng wài tàn shì， chī jīng dì kàn dào tā de táng mèi niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì tōu tōu yán zhe guò dào zǒu qù， zhí dào tā xiāo shī zài nǐ de qǐ jū shì lǐ。 zhè hái zǐ jīng yà dé mù dèng kǒu dāi。 jí máng suí biàn pī shàng yī jiàn yī fú zhù lì zài 'àn dì lǐ yào kàn kàn jiū jìng shì shénme guài shì。 zhè shí zhǐ jiàn tā yòu cóng fáng jiān lǐ zǒu liǎo chū lái， nǐ 'ér zǐ zài guò dào dēng guāng de liàng guāng xià kàn jiàn tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe nà dǐng zhēn guì de huáng guān zǒu xiàng lóu tī， tā gǎn dào yī zhèn kǒng huāng， páo guò qù jiāng shēn zǐ yǐn cáng zài kào jìn nǐ mén kǒu de lián zǐ hòu miàn， cóng nà lǐ tā kě yǐ kàn dào xià miàn dà tīng lǐ suǒ fā shēng de yī qiē。 tā kàn jiàn tā tōu tōu dì jiāng chuāng hù dǎ kāi， bǎ huáng guān cóng chuāng hù lǐ dì chū qù jiāo gěi 'àn dì lǐ de shénme rén。 rán hòu bǎ chuāng hù chóngxīn guān shàng， cóng shí fēn kào jìn tā zhàn lì de dì fāng héng héng tā duǒ cáng zài lián zǐ hòu miàn héng héng jīng guò， cōng cōng dì huí dào tā fáng jiān lǐ qù liǎo。
　　“ zhǐ yào tā hái zài xiàn chǎng， tā jiù bù kě néng cǎi qǔ shénme xíng dòng， yǐ miǎn kě pà dì bào lù tā xīn 'ài de nǚ rén de kě chǐ xíng jìng。 dàn shì tā gāng yī zǒu kāi， tā mǎ shàng yì shí dào zhè jiàn shì jiāng huì shǐ nǐ zāo shòu duō dà de bù xìng， bìng gǎn jué dào bǎ tā jiū zhèng guò lái shì duō me zhòng yào。 tā jí bēn xià lóu， réng rán shì pī zhe yī fú， guāng zhe jiǎo， dǎ kāi nà shàn chuāng hù， tiào dào wài miàn xuě dì lǐ， yán zhe xiǎo dào páo qù， zài yuè guāng lǐ tā qiáo jiàn yī liǎo hēi yǐng。 qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì zhèng qǐ tú táo páo， dàn shì bèi 'ā sè zhuō zhù liǎo， liǎng gè rén zài nà lǐ zhēng duó qǐ lái， nǐ de hái zǐ zhuā zhe huáng guān de yī duān， ér tā de duì shǒu zhuā zhe lìng wài yī duān。 niǔ dǎ zhī jiān， nǐ de 'ér zǐ zòu liǎo qiáo zhì jué shì yī quán， dǎ shāng liǎo tā de yǎn bù。 zhè shí hū rán jiān yòu shénme dōng xī bèi lā duàn liǎo， dāng shí nǐ de 'ér zǐ fā xiàn huáng guān yǐ jīng zài tā shǒu lǐ， biàn jí máng páo huí lái， guān shàng chuāng hù， shàng lóu dào nǐ fáng nèi， zhèng zài chá kàn nà niǔ huài liǎo de huáng guān bìng yòng lì yào bǎ tā nòng zhèng de shí hòu， nǐ jiù chū xiàn zài xiàn chǎng liǎo。”
　　“ zhè shì kě néng de me？” nà yínháng jiā niē liǎo yī bǎ hàn shuō。
　　“ zhèng dāng tā rèn wéi tā hěn zhí dé nǐ zuì rè liè dì gǎn xiè de shí hòu， nǐ duì tā de mán mà jī qǐ liǎo tā de nù huǒ， tā bù néng jì shuō míng shí jì qíng kuàng 'ér yòu bù zhì yú chū mài kěn dìng zhí dé tā rèn zhēn kǎo lǜ shǒu xià liú qíng de rén。 tā rèn wéi yīngyǒu qí shì fēng dù， yú shì jiāng tā de mì mì yǐn cáng liǎo qǐ lái。”
　　“ zhè jiù shì wèishénme tā yī kàn dào nà dǐng huáng guān biàn fā chū yī shēng jiān jiào hūn liǎo guò qù。” huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng dà shēng rǎng zhe，“ ō！ wǒ de tiān！ wǒ zhēn shì xiā liǎo gēn de chǔn rén！ shì de， tā yào qiú guò wǒ ràng tā chū qù wǔ fēn zhōng！ zhè qīn 'ài de hái zǐ shì xiǎng dào zhēng duó de xiàn chǎng qù xún zhǎo nà huáng guān de shī luò bù fēn。 wǒ shì duō me cán kù wú qíng dì yuān wǎng liǎo tā！”
　　“ dāng wǒ lái dào nǐ wū zǐ de shí hòu，” fú 'ěr mó sī jiē zhe shuō，“ wǒ lì jí dào sì zhōu zǎi xì dì chá kàn liǎo yī xià， kàn kàn xuě dì lǐ yòu shénme hén jì yòu zhù yú wǒ de diào chá。 wǒ zhī dào cóng qián tiān wǎn shàng dào xiàn zài méi yòu zài xià guò xuě， bìng qiě zhè qī jiān qià hǎo yòu zhòng shuāng bǎo hù zhe yìn jì。 wǒ jīng guò shāng fàn suǒ zǒu de nà yī tiáo xiǎo lù， dàn shì jiǎo yìn dōuyǐ jīng bèi jiàn tà dé wú fǎ biàn bié liǎo。 bù guò， zhèng hǎo zài tā zhè yī biān， lí chú fáng mén shāo yuǎn de dì fāng， què fā xiàn yòu guò yī gè nǚ rén zhàn zài nà lǐ tóng yī gè nán rén tán huà shí liú xià de hén jì， nà lǐ de jiǎo yìn yòu yī gè shì yuán de， zhè zhèng shuō míng cǐ rén yòu yī tiáo mù zhì de jiǎ tuǐ。 wǒ shèn zhì kě yǐ duàn dìng yòu rén jīng dòng liǎo tā men， yīn wéi yòu nà gè nǚ rén gǎn jǐn páo huí dào mén kǒu de hén jì， zhè kě yǐ cóng xuě shàng qián jiǎo yìn shēn hòu jiǎo yìn qiǎn de xíng zhuàng kàn chū lái。 nà gè zhuāng mù tóu jiǎ tuǐ de rén kàn lái zài nà lǐ dāi liǎo yī huì 'ér cái zǒu kāi。 wǒ nà shí cāi xiǎng zhè kě néng shì nà nǚ pú hé tā qíng rén。 yòu guān tā men de shì nǐ yǐ jīng gào sù guò wǒ。 hòu lái wǒ jīng guò diào chá zhèng míng què shì zhè yàng。 wǒ dào huā yuán lǐ rào liǎo yī juàn， chú liǎo zá luàn de jiǎo yìn wài， bié de méi kàn dào shénme， wǒ zhī dào zhè shì liú xià de； dàn shì wǒ dào liǎo tōng wǎng mǎ jiù de xiǎo dào shí， yìn zài xuě dì shàng de yī duàn hěn cháng hěn fù zá de qíng jǐng biàn zhǎn xiàn zài wǒ de miàn qián。
　　“ nà lǐ yòu liǎng tiáo chuān xuē zǐ de rén de jiǎo yìn， lìng wài hái yòu liǎng tiáo， wǒ hěn gāo xīng dì kàn dào zhè shì yī gè dǎ chì jiǎo de rén de jiǎo yìn。 wǒ lì kè gēn jù nǐ céng jīng gào sù guò wǒ de huà zhèng míng hòu liǎng tiáo jiǎo yìn shì nǐ 'ér zǐ liú xià de。 tóu liǎng tiáo jiǎo yìn shì lái huí zǒu de， ér lìng liǎng tiáo zé shì páode hěn kuài de jiǎo yìn， ér qiě tā de jiǎo yìn zài yòu xiē dì fāng gài zài nà chuān xuē de jiǎo yìn shàng， xiǎn rán tā shì zài hòu tóu zǒu guò qù de。 wǒ suí zhe zhè xiē jiǎo yìn zǒu， fā xiàn tā men tōng xiàng dà tīng de chuāng hù， nà chuān qǐ xuē de rén zài zhè lǐ děng hòu shí jiāng zhōu wéi suǒ yòu de xuě dū cǎi dé róng huà liǎo。 suí hòu wǒ dào lìng wài yī biān， zhè lǐ cóng nà xiǎo dào zǒu xià qù yuē yòu yī bǎi duō mǎ。 cǐ wài， wǒ kàn chū nà chuān qǐ xuē de rén céng zhuǎn guò shēn lái， dì shàng de xuě bèi cǎi dé zòng héng jiāo cuò， lángjí bù kān， hǎo xiàng zài nà lǐ fā shēng guò yīcháng bó dǒu， bìng qiě zuì hòu wǒ hái fā xiàn nà lǐ yòu jiàn xià de jǐ dī xuè， zhè shuō míng wǒ méi nòng cuò。 zhè shí， nà chuān pí xuē rén yòu yán zhe xiǎo dào páo liǎo， zài nà lǐ yòu yòu yī xiǎo tān xuè shuō míng tā shòu liǎo shāng。 dāng tā lái dào dà lù shàng lìng yī tóu shí， wǒ kàn jiàn rén hángdào biān yǐ jīng qīng sǎo guò， suǒ yǐ xiàn suǒ jiù cǐ zhōng duàn。
　　“ zài jìn wū zǐ shí， nǐ jì dé， wǒ céng jīng yòng wǒ de fàng dà jìng yàn shì dà tīng de chuāng tái hé chuāng kuàng， wǒ mǎ shàng kàn chū yòu rén cóng zhè lǐ jìn chū guò。 wǒ néng gòu fēn biàn chū jiǎo de lún kuò， yīn wéi yī zhǐ shī jiǎo kuà jìn lái shí céng zài zhè lǐ cǎi guò。 nà shí wǒ duì yú zhè lǐ chū guò shénme shì jiù xíng chéng liǎo chū bù de kàn fǎ。 yě jiù shì shuō， yī gè rén céng zài chuāng wài shǒu hòu guò； yī gè rén jiāng lǜ yù huáng guàndài dào nà lǐ； zhè qíng kuàng bèi nǐ de 'ér zǐ kàn jiàn liǎo。 tā qù zhuī nà gè zéi， bìng hé tā gé dǒu； tā men liǎng gè rén yī qǐ zhuā zhù nà huáng guān， yī pò shǐ jìn zhēng duó， cái zào chéng bìng fēi rèn hé dān dú yī gè rén suǒ néng zào chéng de nà zhǒng sǔn huài。 tā duó dé liǎo zhàn lì pǐn huí lái， dàn què liú xià yī xiǎo bù fēn zài tā duì shǒu de shǒu zhōng。 wǒ dāng shí suǒ néng nòng qīng de jiù shì zhè xiē。 xiàn zài de wèn tí shì， nà gè rén shì shuí？ yòu shì shuí jiāng huáng guān ná gěi tā de？“ wǒ jì dé yòu yī jù gǔ lǎo de gé yán shuō dào， dāng nǐ pái chú liǎo bù kě néng de qíng kuàng hòu， qí yú de qíng kuàng， jìn guǎn duō me bù kě néng， què bì dìng shì zhēn shí de。 wǒ zhī dào， yī dìng bù shì nǐ jiāng huáng guān ná dào xià miàn lái de， suǒ yǐ shèng xià lái zhǐ yòu nǐ de zhí nǚ hé nǚ pú men。 dàn shì rú guǒ shì nǚ pú men gān de shì， nà wèishénme nǐ de 'ér zǐ yuàn yì tì tā men shòu guò ní？ zhè lǐ méi yòu kě yǐ zhàn dé zhù jiǎo de lǐ yóu。 zhèng yīn wèitā 'ài tā de táng mèi， suǒ yǐ tā yào bǎo shǒu tā de mì mì， zhè yàng jiě shì jiù hěn tōng liǎo。 gèng yīn wéi zhè mì mì shì yī jiàn bù guāng cǎi de shì， tā jiù yuè yào zhè yàng zuò。 dāng wǒ jì qǐ nǐ shuō guò céng jīng kàn dào tā zài nà chuāng hù nà lǐ， hòu lái tā jiàn dào nà huáng guān shí biàn hūn guò qù， wǒ de cāi cè biàn biàn chéng shí fēn kěn dìng de shì shí liǎo。“ dàn shì， shì shuí kě néng chéng wéi tā de gòng móu zhě ní？ xiǎn rán shì yī gè qíng rén， yīn wéi hái yòu shuí zài tā xīn shàng kě yǐ chāo guò tā duì nǐ de 'ài hé gǎn 'ēn zhī qíng ní？ wǒ zhī dào nǐ shēn jū jiǎn chū， nǐ jié jiāo de péng yǒu wéi shù yòu xiàn， ér qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì què shì qí zhōng zhī yī。 wǒ yǐ qián céng tīng dào guò tā zài fù nǚ dāng zhōng chòu míng zhāo zhù。 chuānzhuó nà shuāng pí xuē bìng chí yòu nà shī qù de lǜ yù de rén yī dìng shì tā。 jìn guǎn tā míng bái 'ā sè yǐ jīng fā jué shì tā， tā yǐ rán rèn wéi zì jǐ kě bǎo wú yú， yīn wéi zhè xiǎo huǒ zǐ zhǐ yào yī cí zhī tù lù， jiù bù néng bù wēi jí tā de jiā tíng。
　　“ hǎo lā， píng nǐ zì jǐ liáng hǎo de biàn bié lì jiù néng lián xiǎng dào wǒ cǎi qǔ de dì 'èr gè bù zhòu shì shénme。 wǒ dǎ bàn chéng liú làng hàn de yàng zǐ dào qiáo zhì jué shì zhù chù， jié shí liǎo tā de tiē shēn pú rén， zhī dào liǎo tā de zhù rén qián tiān wǎn shàng huá pò liǎo tóu。 zuì hòu wǒ huā liǎo liù gè xiān lìng mǎi liǎo yī shuāng kěn dìng shì tā zhù rén rēng diào de jiù xié。 wǒ dài zhe nà shuāng xié lái dào sī tè lǐ tè hā mǔ， bìng hé duì chū。 tā hé nà jiǎo yìn wán quán xiāng fú， yī sī bùchà。”
　　“ zuó tiān wǎn shàng， wǒ zài nà tiáo xiǎo dào shàng jiàn dào liǎo yī gè yī shān lán lǚ de liú làng hàn。” huò 'ěr dé xiān shēng shuō。
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò， nà jiù shì wǒ。 wǒ gǎn dào wǒ yǐ jīng chá dào liǎo wǒ suǒ yào chá de rén， suǒ yǐ wǒ jiù huí jiā gēnghuàn yī fú。 zhè lǐ yòu yī gè wēi miào de juésè yào wǒ bàn yǎn， yīn wéi wǒ gǎn dào bì xū bì miǎn qǐ sù cái bù zhì chū xiàn chǒu wén， ér qiě wǒ míng bái rú cǐ jiǎo huá de yī gè 'è gùn yī dìng huì kàn chū zài zhè jiàn shì shàng wǒ men de shuāng shǒu shì shòu dào shù fù de。 wǒ dēng mén zhǎo tā。 kāi shǐ de shí hòu， zì rán， tā shǐ kǒu fǒu rèn yī qiē。 dàn shì， dāng wǒ xiàng tā zhǐ chū fā shēng de měi yī jù tǐ qíng kuàng yǐ hòu， tā cóng qiáng shàng ná xià yī gēn hù shēn bàng qǐ tú wēi xià wǒ。 rán 'ér， wǒ dǒng dé wǒ yào duì fù de shì shénme rén， wǒ zài tā jǔ bàng dǎ jī yǐ qián， xùn jí jiāng shǒu qiāng duì zhe tā de nǎo dài。 zhè shí tā cái kāi shǐ yòu diǎn lǐ xìng。 wǒ gào sù tā wǒ men kě yǐ chū qián mǎi tā shǒu lǐ de lǜ yù héng héng yī qiān bàng yī kuài。 zhè cái shǐ tā xiǎn chū yī zhǒng shí fēn hòu huǐ de yàng zǐ。“ ā yō， zāo tòu liǎo！” tā shuō tā yǐ jīng bǎ nà sān kuài lǜ yù yǐ liù bǎi yīng bàng de jià gé mài gěi rén jiā liǎo。 wǒ zài dāyìng bù gào fā tā zhī hòu， hěn kuài jiù cóng tā nà lǐ dé dào liǎo shōu zāng rén de zhù zhǐ。 wǒ zhǎo dào liǎo nà gè rén， hé tā duō cì tǎo jià hái jià hòu， wǒ yǐ yī qiān bàng yī kuài de jià gé bǎ lǜ yù shú liǎo huí lái。 jiē zhe wǒ jiù qù zhǎo nǐ de 'ér zǐ， gào sù tā yī qiēdōu bàn tuǒ liǎo。 zhōng yú， wǒ zài kě chēng zhī wéi zhēn zhèng jiān nán xīn kǔ de yī tiān zhī hòu， liǎng diǎn zhōng zuǒ yòu cái shàng chuáng shuì jué。”
　　“ zhè yī tiān kě yǐ shuō shì jiāng yīng guó cóng yī zhuāng gōng zhī yú zhòng de dà chǒu wén zhōng jiù liǎo chū lái，” yínháng jiā shuō zhe zhàn qǐ shēn lái，“ xiān shēng， wǒ bù zhī dào gāi shuō shí me huà lái gǎn xiè nǐ， dàn shì nǐ huì kàn dào wǒ bù huì gū fù nǐ suǒ zuò de yī qiē。 nǐ de běn lǐng shí zài shì wǒ qián suǒ wèi wén de。 xiàn zài wǒ bì xū fēi kuài dì qù zhǎo wǒ qīn 'ài de 'ér zǐ， wèiwǒ yuān wǎng liǎo tā xiàng tā dào qiàn。 zhì yú nǐ suǒ tán dào de guān yú kě lián de mǎ lì de shì， shǐ wǒ shāng xīn tòu liǎo。 nǐ de běn lǐng zài dà， kǒng pà nǐ yě shuō bù chū tā xiàn zài shì zài nǎ lǐ bā！”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ men kě yǐ yòu bǎ wò dì shuō，” fú 'ěr mó sī huí dá shuō，“ qiáo zhì · bó 'ēn wéi 'ěr jué shì zài nǎ lǐ tā jiù zài nǎ lǐ。 tóng yàng， hái kě yǐ kěn dìng dì shuō， bù lùn tā fàn liǎo shénme zuì， tā men bù jiǔ jiù huì shòu dào yán lì de chéng fá。”

　　"Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone."
　　 My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention.
　　 He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most extraordinary contortions.
　　 "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is looking up at the numbers of the houses."
　　 "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his hands.
　　 "Here?"
　　 "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the clanging.
　　 A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ.
　　 "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into any little problem which you may submit to me."
　　 The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us.
　　 "No doubt you think me mad?" said he.
　　 "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes.
　　 "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found out of this horrible affair."
　　 "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen you."
　　 "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street."
　　 The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced himself to tell his story.
　　 "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can.
　　 "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction during the last few years, and there are many noble families to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their pictures, libraries, or plate.
　　 "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task.
　　 "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the habit of advancing money.'
　　 "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered.
　　 "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place one's self under obligations.'
　　 "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked.
　　 "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the money should be paid at once.'
　　 "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution should be taken.'
　　 "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'
　　 "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' said I.
　　 "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my security.'
　　 "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some perplexity from it to my illustrious client.
　　 "'You doubt its value?' he asked.
　　 "'Not at all. I only doubt--'
　　 "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?'
　　 "'Ample.'
　　 "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall call for it in person on Monday morning.'
　　 "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned once more to my work.
　　 "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room.
　　 "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.
　　 "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I meant it for the best.
　　 "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.
　　 "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into character.
　　 "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late!
　　 "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and I shall continue with my miserable story.
　　 "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it.
　　 "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur.
　　 "'In my own bureau.'
　　 "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the night.' said he.
　　 "'It is locked up,' I answered.
　　 "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.'
　　 "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with a very grave face.
　　 "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let me have 200 pounds?'
　　 "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too generous with you in money matters.'
　　 "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.'
　　 "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried.
　　 "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try other means.'
　　 "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which he bowed and left the room without another word.
　　 "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as I approached.
　　 "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night?'
　　 "'Certainly not.'
　　 "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that it is hardly safe and should be stopped.'
　　 "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?'
　　 "'Quite sure, dad.'
　　 "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom again, where I was soon asleep.
　　 "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question me upon any point which I do not make clear."
　　 "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid."
　　 "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an impression behind it as though a window had gently closed somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door.
　　 "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you touch that coronet?'
　　 "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with three of the beryls in it, was missing.
　　 "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the jewels which you have stolen?'
　　 "'Stolen!' he cried.
　　 "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.
　　 "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he.
　　 "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to tear off another piece?'
　　 "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the morning and make my own way in the world.'
　　 "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the bottom.'
　　 "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to call the police, let the police find what they can.'
　　 "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was national property. I was determined that the law should have its way in everything.
　　 "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the house for five minutes.'
　　 "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell me what he had done with the three missing stones.
　　 "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.'
　　 "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son in one night. Oh, what shall I do!"
　　 He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got beyond words.
　　 Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire.
　　 "Do you receive much company?" he asked.
　　 "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No one else, I think."
　　 "Do you go out much in society?"
　　 "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for it."
　　 "That is unusual in a young girl."
　　 "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She is four-and-twenty."
　　 "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to her also."
　　 "Terrible! She is even more affected than I."
　　 "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?"
　　 "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet in his hands."
　　 "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the coronet at all injured?"
　　 "Yes, it was twisted."
　　 "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to straighten it?"
　　 "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?"
　　 "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several singular points about the case. What did the police think of the noise which awoke you from your sleep?"
　　 "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his bedroom door."
　　 "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the disappearance of these gems?"
　　 "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture in the hope of finding them."
　　 "Have they thought of looking outside the house?"
　　 "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has already been minutely examined."
　　 "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes. "is it not obvious to you now that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?"
　　 "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain them?"
　　 "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into details."
　　 My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest residence of the great financier.
　　 Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand over his head with a sweet womanly caress.
　　 "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you not, dad?" she asked.
　　 "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom."
　　 "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will be sorry for having acted so harshly."
　　 "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?"
　　 "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should suspect him."
　　 "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the coronet in his hand?"
　　 "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in prison!"
　　 "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman down from London to inquire more deeply into it."
　　 "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me.
　　 "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the stable lane now."
　　 "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime."
　　 "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?"
　　 "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up."
　　 "You heard nothing yourself last night?"
　　 "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard that, and I came down."
　　 "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you fasten all the windows?"
　　 "Yes."
　　 "Were they all fastened this morning?"
　　 "Yes."
　　 "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?"
　　 "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet."
　　 "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery."
　　 "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the coronet in his hands?"
　　 "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I presume?"
　　 "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom."
　　 "Do you know him?"
　　 "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. His name is Francis Prosper."
　　 "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?"
　　 "Yes, he did."
　　 "And he is a man with a wooden leg?"
　　 Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Holmes' thin, eager face.
　　 "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up."
　　 He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," said he at last.
　　 The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock.
　　 "Which key was used to open it?" he asked.
　　 "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the lumber-room."
　　 "Have you it here?"
　　 "That is it on the dressing-table."
　　 Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau.
　　 "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away.
　　 "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I beg that you will break it off."
　　 The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," said he.
　　 "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard nothing of it?"
　　 "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me."
　　 "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Miss Holder?"
　　 "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity."
　　 "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?"
　　 "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt."
　　 "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations outside."
　　 He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever.
　　 "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my rooms."
　　 "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?"
　　 "I cannot tell."
　　 The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?"
　　 "My opinion is in no way altered."
　　 "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was acted in my house last night?"
　　 "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no limit on the sum I may draw."
　　 "I would give my fortune to have them back."
　　 "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again before evening."
　　 It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class.
　　 "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition.
　　 I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea.
　　 "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on."
　　 "Where to?"
　　 "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be late."
　　 "How are you getting on?"
　　 "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self."
　　 I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his congenial hunt.
　　 I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other, as fresh and trim as possible.
　　 "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this morning."
　　 "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring."
　　 It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the armchair which I pushed forward for him.
　　 "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Mary, has deserted me."
　　 "Deserted you?"
　　 "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers in this note:
　　 "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.'
　　 "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it points to suicide?"
　　 "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your troubles."
　　 "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have learned something! Where are the gems?"
　　 "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for them?"
　　 "I would pay ten."
　　 "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds."
　　 With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table.
　　 With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up.
　　 "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!"
　　 The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom.
　　 "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Holmes rather sternly.
　　 "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it."
　　 "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to have one."
　　 "Then it was not Arthur who took them?"
　　 "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not."
　　 "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him know that the truth is known."
　　 "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his lips."
　　 "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary mystery!"
　　 "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now fled together."
　　 "My Mary? Impossible!"
　　 "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing him nearly every evening."
　　 "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an ashen face.
　　 "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, which was all perfectly true.
　　 "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close to where he stood hid behind the curtain.
　　 "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you appeared upon the scene."
　　 "Is it possible?" gasped the banker.
　　 "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her secret."
　　 "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!"
　　 "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in front of me.
　　 "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue.
　　 "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who was it brought him the coronet?
　　 "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture became a certainty.
　　 "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his own family.
　　 "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks."
　　 "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," said Mr. Holder.
　　 "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after what I may call a really hard day's work."
　　 "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now."
　　 "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than sufficient punishment."