wǒ hūn hòu nà yī nián de qī yuè shí zài lìng rén nán wàng， yīn wéi wǒ yòu xìng yǔ xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī yī qǐ zhēn pò liǎo sān qǐ zhòng dà 'àn jiàn， yán jiū liǎo tā de sī xiǎng fāng fǎ。 wǒ zài rì jì zhōng jìzǎi de 'àn jiàn biāo tí shì：《 dì 'èr kuài xuè jì》、《 hǎi jūn xié dìng》 hé《 pí juàn de chuán cháng》。 dàn qí zhōng de dì yī gè 'àn jiàn shì guān zhòng dà， bìng qiě qiān lián dào wáng guó xǔ duō xiǎn guì， yǐ zhì duō nián bù néng gōng zhī yú zhòng。 rán 'ér， zài fú 'ěr mó sī jīng shǒu de 'àn jiàn zhōng， zài méi yòu bǐ gāi 'àn gèng néng qīng chǔ dì xiǎn chū tā de fēn xī fāng fǎ de jià zhí hé gěi hé zuò rén liú xià gèng jiā shēn kè de yìn xiàng de liǎo。 wǒ zhì jīn hái bǎo liú zhe yī fèn jīhū yī zì bùchà de tán huà jì lù， zhè shì fú 'ěr mó sī xiàng bā lí jǐng shǔ de dù bù kè xiān shēng hé gé dàn sī kè de zhù míng de zhuān jiā fú lǐ cí · féng wò 'ěr bào xù shù 'àn qíng de tán huà。 tā men liǎng wèi céng zài cǐ 'àn shàng wǎng fèi guò xǔ duō jīng lì， jiēguǒ zhèng míng tā men suǒ gǎo dedōu shì yī xiē zhī jié de wèn tí。 dàn kǒng pà yào dào xià yī shì jì gāi 'àn cái néng fā biǎo。 yīn cǐ wǒ xiàn zài dǎ suàn bǎ rì jì zhōng jì de dì 'èr gè 'àn jiàn fā biǎo chū lái， zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ zài yī duàn shí jiān nèi yě shì guān guó jiā de zhòng dà lì yì， qí zhōng yī xiē 'àn qíng gèng tū chū liǎo tā dú tè de xìng zhì。
　　 zài xué shēng shí dài， wǒ tóng yī wèi míng jiào pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī de shàonián jiāo wǎng shèn mì。 tā chàbù duō hé wǒ tóng nián， dàn què bǐ wǒ gāo liǎng jí。 tā cái huá chū zhòng， huò dé guò xué xiào bān fā de yī qiē jiǎng lì， yóu yú chéng jì chū sè， jié yè shí huò dé liǎo jiǎng xué jīn， jìn rù jiàn qiáo dà xué jì xù shēn zào。 wǒ jì dé， tā pō yòu jǐ jiā guì qī， shèn zhì wǒ mendōu hái zài hái tí xiāng chù shí， jiù tīng shuō guò tā jiù jiù shì huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué， yī wèi zhù míng de bǎo shǒu dǎng zhèng kè。 zhè xiē guì qī bìng wèi shǐ tā zài xué xiào lāo dào hǎo chù。 xiāng fǎn， wǒ men zài yùn dòng chǎng shàng dào chù zhuō nòng tā， yòng wán jù tiě huán pèng tā de xiǎo tuǐ gǔ， bìng yǐn yǐ wéi lè。 bù guò tā zǒu shàng shè huì yǐ hòu， nà qíng xíng jiù bù tóng liǎo。 wǒ mó mó hú hú dì tīng shuō tā píng zhe zì jǐ de cái néng hé yòu quán shì de qīn qī， zài wài jiāo bù móu dé yī gè měichāi， yǐ hòu wǒ jiù wán quán bǎ tā dàn wàng liǎo， zhí dào jiē dào xià miàn zhè fēng xìn cái yòu xiǎng qǐ tā lái：
　　 wò jīn　 bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi
　　 wǒ qīn 'ài de huá shēng： wǒ háo bù huái yí nǐ néng huí yì qǐ “ kē dǒu ” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī lái， nà shí wǒ zài wǔ nián jí， nǐ zài sān nián jí。 kě néng nǐ yě céng tīng dào wǒ píng jiè jiù fù de lì liàng， zài wài jiāo bù nòng dào yī gè měichāi， hěn shòu xìn rèn hé zūn jìng。 dàn yī jiàn kě pà de huò shì cóng tiān 'ér jiàng， tā huǐ liǎo wǒ de qián chéng。
　　 méi yòu bì yào bǎ zhè kě pà shì jiàn de xiáng qíng xiě gěi nǐ。 rú guǒ nǐ dāyìng wǒ de qǐng qiú， nà me wǒ jiù kě yǐ bǎ zhè yī qièkǒu shù gěi nǐ tīng。 wǒ huàn shén jīng cuò luàn yǐ jīng jiǔ gè xīng qī liǎo， xiàn zài gāng gāng huī fù， yǐ rán shí fēn xū ruò。 nǐ kàn shì bù shì néng yāo qǐng nǐ de péng yǒu fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng qián lái kàn wǒ？ jìn guǎn dāng jú duì wǒ shuō： duì cǐ shì zài yě wú néng wéi lì liǎo， dàn wǒ réng yuàn tīng tīng fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng duì běn 'àn de yì jiàn。 qǐng nǐ yāo tā qián lái， jìn liàng kuài lái。 wǒ shēng huó zài jīng kǒng bù 'ān zhī zhōng， dù rì rú nián。 qǐng nǐ xiàng tā shuō míng， wǒ zhī suǒ yǐ méi yòu jí shí xiàng tā qǐng jiào， bìng fēi shì wǒ bù qīn pèi tā de cái néng， ér shì yīn wéi wǒ dà huò lín tóu shén zhì bù qīng。 xiàn zài wǒ tóu nǎo yǐ huī fù zhèng cháng， dàn pà jiù bìng fù fā， bù gǎn duō xiǎng zhè jiàn shì。 wǒ zhì jīn fēi cháng xū ruò， nǐ kě yǐ kàn dé chū lái， wǒ zhǐ hǎo kǒu shù， yóu rén dài bǐ。 qǐng wù bì yāo qǐng fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng qián lái。
　　 nǐ de lǎo xiào yǒu pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī
　　 wǒ kàn dào zhè fēng xìn hěn shòu zhèn dòng， tā fǎn fù hūyù yāo qǐng fú 'ěr mó sī， lìng rén lián mǐn。 wǒ shēn shòu gǎn dòng， jí shǐ zhè shì zài kùn nán， wǒ yě yào shè fǎ qù bàn。 bù guò wǒ dāng rán zhī dào fú 'ěr mó sī hěn 'ài tā de jì yì， zhǐ yào tā de wěi tuō rén xiāng xìn tā， tā zǒng shì suí shí lè yì zhù rén。 wǒ de qī zǐ hé wǒ de yī zhì yì jiàn shì： lì jí bǎ cǐ shì gào sù fú 'ěr mó sī， yī fēn zhōng yě bù yìng dān wù。 yú shì， zǎo cān hòu bù dào yī xiǎo shí， wǒ jiù yòu huí dào liǎo bèi kè jiē de lǎo zhù chù。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shēn chuān shuì yī zuò zài kào qiáng de zhuō bàng， jù jīng huì shén dì zuò huà xué shì yàn。 yī gè qū xiàn xíng dà zhēng liú píng， zài běn shēng dēng hóng hóng de huǒ yàn shàng měng liè dì fèi téng zhe， zhēng liú shuǐ dī rù yī gè róng jī wéi liǎng shēng de liángjù zhōng。 wǒ zǒu jìn lái shí， wǒ de péng yǒu lián tóu yě méi tái， wǒ kàn chū tā de shì yàn yī dìng hěn zhòng yào， biàn zuò zài fú shǒu yǐ shàng děng zhe。 tā kàn kàn zhè gè píng zǐ， chá chá nà gè píng zǐ， yòng bō lí xī guǎn cóng měi gè píng zǐ lǐ xī chū jǐ dī yè tǐ， rán hòu ná chū yī shì guǎn róng yè fàng dào zhuō shàng。 tā yòu shǒu ná zhe yī zhāng shí ruǐ shì zhǐ。
　　“ nǐ lái dé zhèng shì shí hòu， huá shēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ rú guǒ zhè zhāng zhǐ réng rán chéng lán sè， jiù yī qiē zhèng cháng。 rú guǒ tā biàn chéng liǎo hóng sè， nà róng yè jiù néng zhì rén yú sǐ dì。” tā bǎ zhǐ jìn rù shì guǎn， lì jí biàn chéng liǎo shēn 'àn 'ér wū zhuó de hóng sè。“ hēi！ guǒ rán bù chū wǒ suǒ liào！” tā gāo hǎn dào，“ huá shēng， wǒ mǎ shàng jiù kě yǐ tīng nǐ fēn fù liǎo。 nǐ kě yǐ zài bō sī tuō xié lǐ ná dào yān yè。” tā zhuǎn shēn zǒu xiàng shū zhuō， liáo cǎo dì xiě liǎo jǐ fèn diàn bào， bǎ tā men jiāo gěi liǎo xiǎo tīngchāi， rán hòu zuò dào wǒ duì miàn de yǐ zǐ shàng， qū qǐ shuāng xī， shuāng shǒu jǐn bào zhù shòu cháng de xiǎo tuǐ。
　　“ yī jiàn píng dàn wú qí de xiōng shā 'àn，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ xiǎng， nǐ gěi wǒ dài lái de 'àn zǐ huì yòu qù dé duō。 huá shēng， nǐ shì méi yòu má fán shì bù lái de， chū liǎo shénme shì ní？”
　　 wǒ bǎ xìn dì gěi tā， tā quán shén guàn zhù dì dú qǐ lái。
　　“ zhè xìn méi yòu xiàng wǒ men shuō míng duō shǎo qíng kuàng， duì bù duì？” fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ xìn jiāo hái gěi wǒ shí shuō dào。
　　“ jīhū méi shuō míng shénme。” wǒ shuō dào。
　　“ bù guò bǐ jì dǎo hěn zhí dé zhù yì ní。”
　　“ bù guò zhè bǐ jì bù shì tā de。”
　　“ què shí rú cǐ， nà shì nǚ rén xiě de。”
　　“ yī dìng shì nán rén xiě de，” wǒ dà shēng shuō dào。
　　“ bù， shì nǚ rén xiě de， ér qiě shì yī gè jù yòu bù píng cháng xìng gé de nǚ rén。
　　 nǐ kàn， zhòng yào de shì， cóng diào chá yī kāi shǐ， wǒ men jiù zhī dào， nǐ de wěi tuō rén hé yī gè rén yòu mìqiè guān xì， nà gè rén， wú lùn cóng nǎ fāng miàn kàn， dū jù yòu yǔ zhòng bù tóng de xìng gé。 zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ xiàn zài yǐ jīng shǐ wǒ fā shēng liǎo xīng qù。 rú guǒ nǐ lè yì de huà， wǒ men kě yǐ mǎ shàng dòng shēn qián wǎng wò jīn， qù kàn kàn nà wèi zāo yù cǐ zhǒng bù xìng de wài jiāo guān， hé zhào tā de kǒu shù dài xiě zhè fēng xìn de nǚ rén。”
　　 wǒ men hěn xìng yùn， zhèng hǎo zài huá tiě lú chē zhàn gǎn shàng zǎo bān huǒ chē， bù dào yī xiǎo shí， wǒ men yǐ lái dào liǎo wò jīn de lěng shān hé shí nán shù cóng zhōng。 yuán lái， bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi shì yī suǒ dà zhái dǐ， gū líng líng dì zuò luò zài yī piàn liáo kuò de tǔ dì shàng， cóng chē zhàn tú bù 'ér xíng， zhǐ yòu jǐ fēn zhōng de lù chéng。 wǒ men dì jìn liǎo míng piàn， bèi dài dào yī jiān bǎi shè yǎ zhì de kè tīng lǐ， guò liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng， yī gè xiāng dāng zhuàng shí de rén fēi cháng yīn qín dì jiē dài liǎo wǒ men。 tā de nián líng suī yǐ jiē jìn sì shí suì， dàn shuāng jiá hóng rùn， mù guāng huān kuài， réng rán gěi rén yī zhǒng shuǎng zhí wú xié de wán tóng de yìn xiàng。
　　“ wǒ shí fēn huān yíng nǐ men qián lái，” tā hé wǒ men wò liǎo wò shǒu shuō dào，“ pò xī zhěng zhěng yī zǎo chén dōuzài dǎ tīng nǐ men de xiāo xī。 ā， wǒ nà kě lián de lǎo péng yǒu， tā shì bù fàng guò yī gēn jiù mìng dào cǎo de！ tā de fù mǔ yào wǒ lái yíng hòu nǐ men， yīn wéi tā men yī tí dào zhè jiàn shì jiù jué dé fēi cháng tòng kǔ。”
　　“ wǒ men hái bù zhī dào 'àn zǐ de xiáng qíng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ kàn nǐ bù shì tā men jiā lǐ de rén bā。”
　　 wǒ men de xīn xiāng shí biǎo qíng jīng qí， tā dī tóu kàn liǎo yī xià， kāi shǐ dà xiào liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ dāng rán nǐ shì kàn dào wǒ xiàng liàn zhuì shàng de xìng míng huā yā zì shǒu ‘ Ｊ Ｈ ’ liǎo。” tā shuō dào，“ wǒ yī shí hái yǐ wéi nǐ yòu shénme jué zhāo ní。 wǒ jiào yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn， yīn wéi pò xī jiù yào hé wǒ de mèi mèi 'ān nī jié hūn， wǒ zhì shǎo yě suàn shì tā de yī gè yīn qīn bā。 nǐ men kě yǐ zài pò xī shì nèi jiàn dào wǒ mèi mèi， liǎng gè yuè lái tā bù cí xīn kǔ dì zhào liào tā。 huò xǔ wǒ men zuì hǎo xiàn zài jiù jìn qù， wǒ zhī dào pò xī shì duō me jí yú jiàn dào nǐ men。”
　　 wǒ men yào qù de pò xī de fáng jiān tóng huì kè shì zài yī céng lóu shàng。 zhè fáng jiān bù zhì dé jì xiàng qǐ jū shì， yòu xiàng wò shì， mǎn táng yōu yǎ dì bǎi zhe xiān huā。 yī wèi miàn rú tǔ sè、 shēn tǐ shuāi ruò de nián qīng rén tǎng zài cháng shā fā shàng。 shā fā kào jìn chuāng hù， nóng yù de huā xiāng hé chū xià yí rén de kōng qì cóng kāi zhe de chuāng hù piāo jìn lái。 yī gè nǚ rén zuò zài tā shēn bàng， wǒ men jìn wū shí， tā zhàn qǐ shēn lái。
　　“ yào wǒ lí kāi má， pò xī？” tā wèn dào。
　　 pò xī zhuā zhù tā de shǒu bù ràng tā zǒu。
　　“ nǐ hǎo！ huá shēng，” pò xī qīn rè dì shuō dào，“ wǒ jiàn nǐ liú zhe hú xū， jīhū rèn bù chū nǐ liǎo。 wǒ gǎn shuō nǐ yě bù bǎo zhǔn néng rèn shí wǒ liǎo。 wǒ cāi， zhè wèi jiù shì nǐ nà dà míng dǐng dǐng de péng yǒu xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng bā？”
　　 wǒ sān yán liǎng yǔ gěi tā men jiè shào liǎo yī fān， liǎng rén yī tóng zuò xià。 nà gè zhuàng shí de zhōng nián rén lí kāi liǎo wǒ men， kě shì tā mèi mèi de shǒu bèi bìng rén lā zhe， zhǐ hǎo liú zài shì nèi。 tā shì yī gè yì cháng rě rén zhù mùdì nǚ zǐ， shēn cái lüè xián 'ǎi pàng， xiǎn dé yòu xiē bù yúnchèn， dàn tā yòu měi lì de gǎn lǎn sè miàn róng， yī shuāng wū hēi de yì dà lì rén de dà yǎn jīng， yī tóu wū yún bān de hēi fā。 zài tā nà yàn lì de róng mào xiāng xíng zhī xià， tā bàn lǚ nà cāng bái de miàn kǒng yuè fā xiǎn dé shuāi ruò 'ér qiáo cuì。
　　“ wǒ bù yuàn làng fèi nǐ men de shí jiān，” pò xī cóng shā fā shàng zuò qǐ lái shuō dào，“ suǒ yǐ yào kāi mén jiàn shān dì jiǎng zhè jiàn shì。 wǒ shì yī gè kuài lè 'ér yòu chéng jiù de rén， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， ér qiě jiù yào jié hūn liǎo。 kě shì yī jiàn tū rú qí lái de dà huò huǐ diào liǎo wǒ yī shēng de qián chéng。
　　“ huá shēng kě néng yǐ jīng gào sù guò nǐ liǎo， wǒ zài wài jiāo bù gòngzhí， tōng guò wǒ jiù fù huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué de guān xì， wǒ hěn kuài jiāng shēng rèn yào zhí liǎo。 wǒ jiù fù dān rèn běn jiè zhèng fǔ de wài jiāo dà chén， tā jiāo gěi wǒ yī xiē zhòng yào rèn wù， wǒ zǒng shì bàn dé hěn hǎo， zhōng yú yíng dé liǎo tā duì wǒ cái néng hé jī zhì de chōng fēn xìn rèn。
　　“ dà yuē shí gè xīng qī yǐ qián， gèng què qiē dì shuō shì zài wǔ yuè 'èr shí sān rì， tā bǎ wǒ jiào dào tā de sī rén bàn gōng shì lǐ， xiān shì chēng zàn wǒ gōng zuò gān dé hěn chū sè， rán hòu gào sù wǒ， yào wǒ zhí xíng yī jiàn xīn de zhòng yào rèn wù。
　　“ tā cóng xiě zì tái lǐ ná chū yī gè huī sè de zhǐ juàn shuō dào：‘ zhè shì yīng guó hé yì dà lì qiān dìng de mì mì xié dìng de yuán běn， hěn yí hàn， bào shàng yǐ jīng tòu lù chū yī xiē chuán wén。 zuì zhòng yào de shì， bù néng zài yòu rèn hé xiāo xī tòu lòu chū qù。 fǎ guó hé dà shǐ guǎn zhèng bù xī huā fèi jù kuǎn lái tàn tīng zhè xiē wén jiàn de nèi róng。 ruò bù shì fēi cháng xū yào yī fèn chāo běn， wǒ jué bù huì cóng wǒ de xiě zì tái lǐ bǎ tā ná chū lái。 nǐ bàn gōng shì lǐ yòu bǎo xiǎn guì má？’
　　“‘ yòu de， xiān shēng。’
　　“‘ nà me， bǎ xié dìng ná qù suǒ dào nǐ de bǎo xiǎn guì lǐ。 dàn wǒ yīngdāng dīng zhǔ nǐ： nǐ kě yǐ zài bié rén xià bān hòu zì jǐ dāi zài bàn gōng shì lǐ， yǐ biàn cóng róng bù pò dì chāo xiě fù běn， ér bù yòng dān xīn bèi bié rén tōu kàn。 chāo hǎo hòu zài bǎ yuán jiàn hé chāo běn suǒ dào bǎo xiǎn guì lǐ， míng tiān zǎo chén yī qǐ jiāo gěi wǒ běn rén。’
　　“ wǒ ná liǎo zhè fèn wén jiàn， jiù ……”
　　“ duì bù qǐ， qǐng shāo tíng yī xià，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ tán zhè huà shí zhǐ yòu nǐ men liǎng rén zài chǎng má？”
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò。”
　　“ zài yī gè dà fáng jiān lǐ？”
　　“ yòu sān shí yīng chǐ jiàn fāng。”
　　“ tán huà shì zài fáng zhōng jiān má？”
　　“ duì， chàbù duō zài zhōng jiān。”
　　“ shuō huà shēng yīn bù gāo má？”
　　“ wǒ jiù fù shuō huà shēng yīn xiàng lái hěn dī， wǒ jīhū méi yòu shuō huà。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ，” fú 'ěr mó sī bì shàng shuāng yǎn， shuō dào，“ qǐng jì xù jiǎng bā。”
　　“ wǒ wán quán zhào tā de fēn fù zuò liǎo， děng dài qí tā jǐ gè zhí yuán lí kāi。 zhǐ yòu yī gè jiào zuò chá 'ěr sī · gē luó tè de hái yòu yī diǎn gōng shì méi yòu bàn wán。 yú shì wǒ jiù chū qù chī wǎn cān， ràng tā zì jǐ liú zài bàn gōng shì lǐ。 wǒ huí lái shí， tā yǐ jīng zǒu liǎo。 wǒ jí yú bǎ wǒ zhè jiàn gōng shì gǎn chū lái， yīn wéi wǒ zhī dào yuē sè fū héng héng
　　 gāng cái nǐ men jiàn guò de hā lǐ sēn xiān shēng héng héng zhèng zài chéng lǐ， yào chéng shí yī diǎn zhōng huǒ chē dào wò jīn qù， wǒ yě xiǎng jìn kě néng gǎn shàng zhè tàng huǒ chē。
　　“ wǒ yī kàn zhè fèn xié dìng， lì jí fā jué tā què shí jí duān zhòng yào， jiù fù de huà sī háo yě bù kuā zhāng。 bù xū xì kàn， wǒ jiù kě yǐ shuō， tā guī dìng liǎo dà bù liè diān wáng guó duì sān guó tóng méng de lì chǎng， tóng shí tā yě yù dìng liǎo yī dàn fǎ guó hǎi jūn zài dì zhōng hǎi duì yì dà lì hǎi jūn zhàn wán quán yōu shì shí， yīng guó yào cǎi qǔ de duì cè。 xié dìng shè jí de wèn tí chún shǔ hǎi jūn fāng miàn de。 xié dìng zuì hòu shì xié shāng shuāng fāng gāo jí guān yuán de qiān shǔ。 wǒ cǎo cǎo kàn guò zhī hòu， jiù zuò xià lái dòng shǒu chāo xiě。
　　“ zhè fèn wén jiàn hěn cháng， yòng fǎ wén xiě chéng， bāo kuò 'èr shí liù xiàng tiáo wén。 wǒ jìn kě néng kuài chāo， kě shì dào jiǔ diǎn zhōng cái chāo liǎo jiǔ tiáo， kàn lái， wǒ xiǎng gǎn shí yī diǎn huǒ chē shì méi yòu xī wàng liǎo。 yóu yú zhěng rì láolèi jiā shàng wǎn cān méi yòu chī hǎo， wǒ gǎn dào hūn hūn yù shuì， tóu nǎo má mù， xīn xiǎng hē bēi kā fēi qīng xǐng qīng xǐng tóu nǎo。 lóu xià yòu yī gè xiǎo mén fáng， zhěng yè dōuyòu yī gè kānmén rén shǒu zài nà lǐ， àn guàn lì gěi měi yī gè jiā yè bān de zhí yuán yòng jiǔ jīng dēng shāo kā fēi。 suǒ yǐ， wǒ jiù 'àn líng zhào huàn tā。
　　“ shǐ wǒ jīng qí de shì， yìng zhào 'ér lái de shì yī gè nǚ rén， yī gè shēn cái gāo dà、 miàn róng cū sú de lǎo pó zǐ， xì zhe yī tiáo wéi qún。 tā jiě shì shuō： tā shì kānmén rén de qī zǐ， zài zhè lǐ zuò zá yì， wǒ jiù jiào tā qù zhǔ kā fēi。
　　“ wǒ yòu chāo liǎo liǎng tiáo， yù fā gǎn dào hūn hūn yù shuì， biàn zhàn qǐ shēn lái， zài wū nèi duó lái duó qù， shēn zhǎn yī xià shuāng tuǐ。 kā fēi hái bù jiàn sòng lái， wǒ xiǎng zhī dào yuán yīn shì shénme， biàn dǎ kāi mén， shùn zǒu láng zǒu guò qù kàn。 cóng wǒ chāo xiě wén jiàn de fáng jiān chū lái jiù shì yī tiáo bǐ zhí de zǒu láng， guāng xiàn hūn 'àn， shì wǒ bàn gōng shì wéi yī de chū kǒu。 zǒu láng jìn tóu yòu yī tiáo zhuǎn wān de lóu tī， kānmén rén de xiǎo mén fáng jiù zài lóu tī xià miàn de guò dào bàng。 lóu tī de zhōng jiān yòu yī gè xiǎo píng tái， lìng yòu yī tiáo zǒu láng tōng dào zhè gè píng tái， yǔ lóu tī zài píng tái chù chéng dīng zì xíng。 zhè dì 'èr tiáo zǒu láng jìn tóu yòu yī duàn lóu tī tōng xiàng bàng mén， zhuān gōng pú yì shǐ yòng， yě shì zhí yuán men cóng chá 'ěr sī jiē zǒu jìn běn lóu de jié jìng。 zhè jiù shì nà gè dì fāng de lüè tú。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ， wǒ rèn wéi wǒ wán quán tīng dǒng nǐ suǒ shuō de shì liǎo，” xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ qǐng nín zhù yì， shuō dào zuì zhòng yào de dì fāng liǎo。 wǒ zǒu xià lóu tī， jìn rù dà tīng， fā xiàn kānmén rén zhèng zài mén fáng lǐ hān shuì， kā fēi hú zài jiǔ jīng dēng shàng gǔn gǔn fèi téng， kā fēi dū yì dào dì bǎn shàng liǎo， wǒ ná xià hú， miè diào jiǔ jīng dēng， shēn shǒu zhèng yào qù yáo xǐng nà gè réng zài hān shuì de rén， tū rán jiān tā tóu dǐng shàng líng shēng dà zhèn， tā yī xià zǐ jiù jīng xǐng guò lái。
　　“‘ fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng！’ tā kùn huò bù jiě dì wàng zhe wǒ shuō dào。
　　“‘ wǒ lái kàn kàn kā fēi shì bù shì zhǔ hǎo liǎo。’
　　“‘ wǒ zhèng zài zhǔ zhe， bù jué jiù shuì zhe liǎo。 xiān shēng，’ tā wàng zhe wǒ， yòu tái tóu wàng zhe réng zài chàn dòng zhe de diàn líng， liǎn shàng lù chū gèng jiā jīng qí de shén sè。
　　“‘ jì rán nǐ zài zhè lǐ， xiān shēng， nà me shuí zài 'àn líng ní？’ tā wèn dào。
　　“‘ àn líng！’ wǒ jiào dào，‘ àn shénme líng？’
　　“‘ zhè shì zài nǐ bàn gōng fáng jiān 'àn de diàn líng。’“ wǒ de xīn dùn shí xiàng bèi yī zhǐ bīng lěng de shǒu jiū zhù yī yàng， zhè me shuō， shì yòu rén zài wǒ de bàn gōng shì lǐ liǎo， ér wǒ nà fèn qiān jīn nán mǎi de xié dìng jiù fàng zài zhuō zǐ shàng。 wǒ fā fēng sì dì páo shàng lóu tī bēn xiàng zǒu láng， zǒu láng lǐ kōng wú yī rén， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。 wū nèi yě méi yòu rén。 yī qiēdōu hé wǒ lí kāi shí yī mó yī yàng， zhǐ shì jiāo wǒ bǎo guǎn de nà fèn wén jiàn yuán běn， bèi rén cóng wǒ de zhuō shàng ná zǒu liǎo， zhǐ shèng xià chāo běn。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bǐ zhí dì zuò zài yǐ shàng， róu cuō zhe shuāng shǒu。 wǒ kàn dé chū zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ yǐn qǐ liǎo tā de xīng qù。“ qǐng yuán liàng， nà shí nǐ zěn me bàn liǎo ní？” tā dī yǔ dào。
　　“ wǒ lì jí xiǎng dào dào zéi yī dìng shì cóng bàng mén shàng lóu de。 tā yào shì cóng zhèng mén shàng lóu， nà wǒ zhǔn huì pèng shàng tā liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ xiāng xìn， tā bù huì yī zhí cáng zài shì nèi， huò shì cáng zài zǒu láng lǐ má？ nǐ bù shì shuō zǒu láng dēng guāng hěn 'àn má？”
　　“ zhè shì jué duì bù kě néng de。 wú lùn shì shì nèi， hái shì zǒu láng， lián yī zhǐ lǎo shǔ yě cáng bù zhù de。 gēn běn méi yòu cáng shēn zhī chù。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ， qǐng wǎng xià shuō bā。”
　　“ kānmén rén jiàn wǒ dà jīng shī sè， zhī dào chū liǎo shénme kě pà de shì， jiù gēn zhe wǒ shàng lóu lái。 wǒ men liǎng rén shùn zǒu láng bēn xiàng tōng wǎng chá 'ěr sī jiē de dǒu qiào de lóu tī， lóu dǐ xià de bàng mén guān zhe， méi yòu shàng suǒ。 wǒ men tuī kāi mén， chōng liǎo chū qù。 wǒ jì dé hěn qīng chǔ xià lóu shí tīng dào lín jìn de zhōng qiāo liǎo sān xià， zhèng shì jiǔ diǎn sān kè。”
　　“ zhè yī diǎn fēi cháng zhòng yào。” fú 'ěr mó sī yī biān shuō yī biān zài tā de chèn shān xiù kǒu shàng jì liǎo xià lái。
　　“ zhè yī yè tiān sè qī hēi， xià zhe máo máo xì yǔ， chá 'ěr sī jiē kōng wú yī rén， kě shì， jiē jìn tóu de bái tīng lù shàng què xiàng píng cháng yī yàng， chē liàng xíng rén luò yì bù jué。
　　 wǒ men lián mào zǐ yě méi dài， jiù yán rén xíng dào páo guò qù， zài yòu shǒu guǎi jiǎo chù， kàn dào yī gè zhàn zài nà lǐ。
　　“‘ chū liǎo dào qiè 'àn，’ wǒ qì chuǎn xū xū dì shuō dào，‘ yī fèn jí wéi zhòng yào de wén jiàn bèi rén cóng wài jiāo bù tōu zǒu liǎo。 yòu rén cóng zhè tiáo lù guò qù má？’
　　“‘ wǒ zài zhè lǐ gāng zhàn liǎo yī kè zhōng， xiān shēng，’ shuō dào，‘ zhè duàn shí jiān zhǐ yòu yī gè rén jīng guò， shì yī gè gāo gè zǐ lǎo fù rén， pī zhe yī tiáo pèi cí lì pī jīn。’
　　“‘ āi， nà shì wǒ qī zǐ，’ kānmén rén gāo shēng hǎn dào，‘ méi yòu bié de rén guò qù má？’
　　“‘ yī gè rén yě méi yòu liǎo。’
　　“‘ zhè me shuō， zhè gè xiǎo tōu yī dìng shì cóng zuǒ guǎi jiǎo táo zǒu liǎo，’ zhè gè jiā huǒ chě zhe wǒ de xiù zǐ hǎn dào。
　　“ kě shì wǒ bìng bù xiāng xìn， ér tā qǐ tú bǎ wǒ yǐn kāi， fǎn 'ér zēng jiā liǎo wǒ de huái yí。
　　“‘ nà gè nǚ rén shì xiàng nǎ biān zǒu de？’
　　“‘ wǒ bù zhī dào， xiān shēng， wǒ zhǐ zhù yì dào tā zǒu guò qù， kě shì wǒ háo wú lǐ yóu qù zhù shì tā。 tā sì hū hěn cōng máng。’
　　“‘ zhè yòu duō cháng shí jiān liǎo？’
　　“‘ ā， méi yòu jǐ fēn zhōng。’
　　“‘ bù dào wǔ fēn zhōng má？’
　　“‘ duì， bù guò wǔ fēn zhōng。’
　　“‘ nǐ bù guò shì zài làng fèi shí jiān， xiān shēng， xiàn zài měi fēn zhōng dōuhěn zhòng yào，’ kānmén rén gāo shēng hǎn dào，‘ qǐng xiāng xìn wǒ， zhè shì hé wǒ de lǎo pó jué bù xiāng gān， kuài dào zhè tiáo jiē de zuǒ duān qù bā。 hǎo， nǐ bù qù wǒ qù。’ shuō zhe， tā jiù xiàng zuǒ fāng páo qù liǎo。
　　“ kě shì wǒ yī xià zǐ zhuī shàng qù， chě zhù tā de yī xiù。
　　“‘ nǐ zhù zài nǎ lǐ？’ wǒ wèn dào。
　　“‘ wǒ zhù zài bù lǐ kè sī dùn de 'ài wéi xiàng shí liù hào，’ tā huí dá dào，‘ kě shì nǐ bù yào shǐ zì jǐ bèi jiǎ xiàn suǒ mí zhù， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng。 wǒ men dào zhè tiáo jiē de zuǒ duān qù kàn néng bù néng dǎ tīng dào shénme。’“ wǒ xiǎng， zhào tā de yì jiàn bàn yě méi yòu shénme huài chù， wǒ men liǎng rén hé jí máng gǎn guò qù， zhǐ jiàn jiē shàng chē shuǐ mǎ lóng， rén lái rén wǎng， gè gèdōu xiǎng zài zhè yīn yǔ zhī yè zǎo xiē huí dào 'ān shēn zhī chù， méi yòu yī gè xián rén néng gào sù wǒ men shuí céng jīng zǒu guò。
　　“ yú shì wǒ men yòu fǎn huí wài jiāo bù， bǎ lóu tī hé zǒu láng sōu chá yī biàn， kě shì háo wú jiēguǒ。 tōng wǎng bàn gōng shì de zǒu láng shàng pū zhe yī zhǒng mǐ sè qī bù， yī yòu jiǎo yìn jiù hěn róng yì fā xiàn。 wǒ men jiǎn chá dé fēi cháng zǎi xì， kě shì lián yī diǎn jiǎo yìn de hén jì yě méi yòu zhǎo dào。”
　　“ nà tiān wǎn shàng yī zhí zài xià yǔ má？”
　　“ dà yuē cóng qī diǎn zhōng kāi shǐ xià de yǔ。”
　　“ nà me， nà gè nǚ rén dà yuē zài jiǔ diǎn zhōng zuǒ yòu jìn dào shì nèi， chuānzhuó dài ní de xuē zǐ， zěn me néng méi yòu liú xià jiǎo yìn ní？”
　　“ wǒ hěn gāo xīng nǐ zhǐ chū zhè yī diǎn。 nà shí wǒ yě xiǎng dào liǎo。 zhè gè zá yì nǚ gōng yòu gè xí guàn， jiù shì zài kānmén rén fáng lǐ tuō diào xuē zǐ， huàn shàng bù tuō xié。”
　　“ míng bái liǎo。 nà me shuō， suī rán dāng wǎn xià zhe yǔ， què méi yòu fā xiàn jiǎo yìn， duì má？ zhè yī lián chuàn shì jiàn díquè fēi cháng zhòng yào。 xià yī bù nǐ men yòu shì zěn me zuò de ní？”
　　“ wǒ men yě bǎ fáng jiān jiǎn chá liǎo yī biàn。 zhè fáng jiān bù kě néng yòu 'àn mén， chuāng hù lí dì miàn zú yòu sān shí yīng chǐ。 liǎng shàn chuāng hù dū cóng lǐ miàn chā shàng chā xiāo liǎo。 dì bǎn shàng pū zhe dì tǎn， bù kě néng yòu dì dào mén， tiān huā bǎn shì pǔ tōng bái huī shuà de。 wǒ gǎn ná xìng mìng dān bǎo， wú lùn shì shuí tōu liǎo wǒ de wén jiàn， tā zhǐ néng cóng fáng mén táo páo。”
　　“ bì lú de qíng kuàng zěn me yàng ní？”
　　“ nà lǐ méi yòu bì lú， zhǐ yòu yī gè huǒ lú。 diàn líng zhèng zài wǒ xiě zì tái de yòu shǒu。 shuí yào 'àn líng dū bì xū dào wǒ xiě zì tái yòu shǒu qù 'àn。 kě shì wèishénme zuì fàn yào qù 'àn líng ní？ zhè shì yī gè zuì nán jiě shì de yí tuán。”
　　“ zhè jiàn shì què shí fēi tóng xún cháng。 nǐ men de xià yī bù cuò shī shì shénme ní？ wǒ xiǎng， nǐ men jiǎn chá guò fáng jiān， kàn kàn nà wèi bù sù zhī kè yòu méi yòu liú xià shénme hén jì， xiàng yān dì、 shī luò de shǒu tào、 fā jiā huò qí tā shénme xiǎo dōng xī， shì má？”
　　“ méi yòu zhè yī lèi dōng xī。”
　　“ méi yòu wén dào shénme qì wèi má？”
　　“ āi， wǒ men méi yòu xiǎng dào zhè yī diǎn。”
　　“ ā， zài diào chá zhè yàng de 'àn jiàn shí， jí shǐ yòu yī diǎn yān cǎo qì wèi duì wǒ men yě shì hěn yòu jià zhí de。”
　　“ wǒ yī xiàng bù xī yān， wǒ xiǎng， zhǐ yào wū lǐ yòu yī diǎn yān wèi， wǒ jiù huì wén chū lái de。 kě shì nà lǐ yī diǎn yān wèi yě méi yòu。 wéi yī què záo de shì shí jiù shì kānmén rén de qī zǐ， nà gè jiào tǎn gài tài tài de nǚ rén， shì cóng nà dì fāng huāng máng zǒu chū lái de， kānmén rén duì zhè jiàn shì shí yě wú fǎ jiě shì， tā zhǐ shì shuō tā qī zǐ píng cháng jiù shì zài zhè gè shí jiān huí jiā。 hé wǒ yī zhì rèn wéi， rú guǒ wén jiàn què shí zài nà gè nǚ rén shǒu lǐ， nà wǒ men zuì hǎo chèn tā méi bǎ wén jiàn tuō shǒu jiù bǎ tā zhuā zhù。
　　“ zhè shí sū gé lán chǎng yǐ jiē dào jǐng bào， zhēn tàn fú bù sī xiān shēng lì jí gǎn lái， quán lì yǐ fù dì jiē guò liǎo zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ。 wǒ men zū liǎo yī liàng shuāng lún shuāng zuò mǎ chē， bàn xiǎo shí jiù dào liǎo kānmén rén gào sù wǒ men de dì diǎn。 yī gè nián qīng nǚ zǐ kāi liǎo mén， tā shì tǎn gài tài tài de cháng nǚ。 tā mǔ qīn hái méi huí lái， tā bǎ wǒ men ràng jìn qián tīng děng hòu。
　　“ shí fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， yòu rén qiāo mén。 zhè shí wǒ men fàn liǎo yī gè yán zhòng de cuò wù， duì zhè yī diǎn wǒ zhǐ néng zé guài zì jǐ。 zhè jiù shì wǒ men méi yòu qīn zì kāi mén， ér shì ràng nà gè gū niàn qù kāi。 wǒ men tīng dào tā shuō，‘ mā mā， jiā lǐ lái liǎo liǎng gè rén， zhèng děng zhe yào jiàn nǐ。’ jiē zhe wǒ men jiù tīng dào yī zhèn jiǎo bù shēng jí cù dì zǒu jìn guò dào。 fú bù sī měng rán bǎ mén tuī kāi， wǒ men liǎng gè rén páo jìn hòu wū yě jiù shì chú fáng， kě shì nà nǚ rén qiǎng xiān zǒu liǎo jìn qù。 tā dài zhe dí yì wàng zhe wǒ men， hòu lái， tū rán rèn chū liǎo wǒ， liǎn shàng fú xiàn chū yī zhǒng shí fēn chà yì de biǎo qíng。
　　“‘ zěn me， zhè bù shì bù lǐ de fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng me！’ tā dà shēng shuō dào。
　　“‘ wèi， wèi， nǐ bǎ wǒ men dāng zuò shénme rén liǎo？ wèishénme duǒ kāi wǒ men？’ wǒ de tóng bàn wèn dào。
　　“‘ wǒ yǐ wéi nǐ men shì jiù huò shāng ní，’ tā shuō dào，‘ wǒ men hé yī gè shāng rén yòu jiū gé。’
　　“‘ zhè lǐ yóu shì bù shí fēn chōng zú de，’ fú bù sī huí dá dào，‘ wǒ men yòu gēn jù rèn wéi nǐ cóng wài jiāo bù ná zǒu liǎo yī fèn zhòng yào wén jiàn， rán hòu páo dào zhè lǐ chǔlǐ tā。 nǐ bì xū suí wǒ men yī qǐ dào sū gé lán chǎng qù jiē shòu sōu chá。’
　　“ tā tí chū， jìn xíng dǐ kàng， dū tú láo wú yì。 wǒ men jiào lái liǎo yī liàng sì lún mǎ chē， sān gè rén dū zuò jìn qù。 lín zǒu yǐ qián， wǒ men xiān jiǎn chá liǎo zhè jiān chú fáng， yóu qí shì chú fáng lǐ de lú huǒ， kàn kàn tā shì fǒu zài tā yī gè rén dào zhè 'ér de shí hòu bǎ wén jiàn rēng jìn huǒ lǐ。 rán 'ér， méi yòu yī diǎn suì xiè huò huī jìn de hén jì。 wǒ men yī dào sū gé lán chǎng， lì jí bǎ tā jiāo gěi nǚ sōu chá yuán。 wǒ fēi cháng jiāo jí， hǎo bù róng yì cái děng dào nǚ jiǎn chá yuán sòng lái liǎo bào gào， kě shì bào gào shuō wén jiàn háo wú zōng yǐng。
　　“ zhè shí， wǒ cái kāi shǐ yì shí dào wǒ de chǔjìng kě pà dào liǎo jí diǎn， qì jīn wéi zhǐ， wǒ zhǐ gù xíng dòng， gēn běn méi gù shàng sī kǎo。 wǒ yī zhí shēn xìn kě yǐ hěn kuài zhǎo dào nà fèn xié dìng， yīn cǐ wǒ gēn běn bù gǎn xiǎng rú guǒ zhǎo bù dào， hòu guǒ rú hé。 kě shì xiàn zài jì yǐ yī chóu mò zhǎn， wǒ jiù yòu kōng lái kǎo lǜ zì jǐ de chǔjìng liǎo。 zhè shí zài tài kě pà liǎo。 huá shēng kě néng yǐ gào sù nǐ， wǒ zài xué xiào shí， shì yī gè dǎn qiè 'ér mǐn gǎn de hái zǐ。 wǒ de xìng gé jiù shì zhè yàng。 wǒ xiǎng dào wǒ jiù fù hé tā nèi gé lǐ de tóng liáo， xiǎng dào wǒ gěi tā dài lái de chǐ rǔ， gěi wǒ zì jǐ hé qīn yǒu dài lái de chǐ rǔ， wǒ gè rén chéng wéi zhè gè fēi cháng lí qí de yì wài shì jiàn de xī shēng pǐn， yòu suàn dé liǎo shénme ní？ zhòng yào de shì wài jiāo lì yì shì guān zhòng dà， jué bù yǔn xǔ chū yī diǎn yì wài shì gù de。 wǒ suàn huǐ liǎo， háo wú xī wàng dì kě chǐ dì huǐ liǎo。 wǒ bù zhī dào wǒ zuò liǎo xiē shénme。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ yī dìng shì dāng zhòng dà nào liǎo yīcháng。 wǒ zhǐ mó mó hú hú dì jì dé dāng shí yòu yī xiē tóng shì wéi zhe wǒ， jìn lì 'ān wèi wǒ。 yòu yī gè tóng shì péi wǒ yī qǐ chéng chē dào huá tiě lú， bǎ wǒ sòng shàng qù wò jīn de huǒ chē。 wǒ xiāng xìn， dāng shí rú guǒ bù shì wǒ de lín jū fèi lǐ 'ěr yī shēng yě chéng zhè cì huǒ chē tóng xíng， nà me nà wèi tóng shì huì yī zhí bǎ wǒ sòng dào jiā de。 zhè wèi yī shēng duì wǒ zhào gù dé fēi cháng zhōu dào， yě què shí duō kuī tā zhè yàng zhào gù wǒ， yīn wéi wǒ zài chē zhàn jiù yǐ hūn jué guò yī cì， zài wǒ dào jiā zhī qián jīhū chéng liǎo yī gè yǔ wú lún cì de fēng zǐ。
　　“ nǐ kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng， dāng yī shēng 'àn líng bǎ wǒ jiā lǐ rén cóng shuì mèng zhōng jīng xǐng， tā men kàn dào wǒ zhè fù yàng zǐ shí de qíng jǐng。 kě lián de 'ān nī hé wǒ mǔ qīn jīhū gān cháng cùn duàn。 fèi lǐ 'ěr yī shēng gāng gāng zài chē zhàn tīng zhēn tàn jiǎng guò shì qíng de yóu lái， biàn bǎ jīng guò duì wǒ jiā rén jiǎng liǎo yī biàn， dàn wú jì yú shì。 shuídōu hěn qīng chǔ， wǒ de bìng bù shì yī shí bàn huì jiù néng zhì hǎo de， suǒ yǐ yuē sè fū jiù cōng máng dì bān chū liǎo zhè jiān xīn 'ài de wò shì， bǎ tā gǎi chéng liǎo wǒ de bìng fáng。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ zài zhè lǐ yǐ jīng tǎng liǎo jiǔ gè duō xīng qī， bùxǐng rén shì， nǎo shén jīng jí dù cuò luàn， yào bù shì hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě zài zhè lǐ， hái yòu yī shēng de guān xīn， wǒ jiù shì xiàn zài yě bù néng hé nǐ men jiǎng huà。 ān nī xiǎo jiě bái tiān zhào kàn wǒ， lìng gù yī wèi hù shì wǎn shàng shǒu hù wǒ， yīn wéi zài wǒ shén jīng bìng fā zuò shí， wǒ shénme shìdōu néng zuò chū lái。 wǒ de tóu nǎo zhú jiàn qīng xǐng guò lái， bù guò zhǐ shì zuì jìn sān tiān， wǒ de jì yì lì cái wán quán huī fù。 yòu shí wǒ shèn zhì xī wàng tā bù huī fù cái hǎo ní。 wǒ bàn de dì yī jiàn shì jiù shì gěi jīng shǒu zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de fú bù sī xiān shēng fā qù yī fēng diàn bào。 tā lái dào zhè lǐ， xiàng wǒ shuō míng， suī rán yòng jìn yī qiē bàn fǎ， què zhǎo bù dào rèn hé xiàn suǒ； yùn yòng gè zhǒng shǒu duàn jiǎn chá liǎo kānmén rén hé tā de qī zǐ， yě wèi néng bǎ shì qíng nòng qīng chǔ。 yú shì jǐng fāng yòu bǎ huái yí mù biāo luò dào nián qīng de gē luó tè shēn shàng， dú zhě dāng hái jì dé， gē luó tè jiù shì nà tiān wǎn shàng xià bān yǐ hòu zài bàn gōng shì lǐ dòu liú guò hěn cháng shí jiān de nà gè rén。 tā shí jì shàng zhǐ yòu liǎng diǎn kě yí： yī diǎn shì tā zǒude wǎn， lìng yī diǎn shì tā de fǎ guó xìng míng。 kě shì， shì shí shì， zài tā zǒu yǐ qián， wǒ hái méi yòu kāi shǐ chāo nà fèn xié dìng； tā de zǔ xiān shì hú gé nuò pài jiào tú xuè tǒng， dàn tā zài xí guàn hé gǎn qíng shàng， xiàng nǐ wǒ yī yàng， shì yīng guó rén de。 wú lùn zěn me shuō， yě zhǎo bù chū shénme què shí de gēn jù bǎ tā qiān lián jìn qù。 yú shì zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ dào cǐ jiù tíng xià lái。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ bǎ zuì hòu de xī wàng wán quán jì tuō zài nǐ shēn shàng liǎo。 rú guǒ nǐ shǐ wǒ shī wàng de huà， nà me wǒ de róng yù hé dì wèi dū jiāng yǒng yuǎn duàn sòng liǎo。”
　　 yóu yú tán huà guò jiǔ， gǎn dào pí fá， bìng rén biàn xié kào zài diàn zǐ shàng， zhè shí hù shì gěi tā dǎo liǎo yī bēi zhèn jìng jì。 fú 'ěr mó sī tóu xiàng hòu yǎng， shuāng mù wēi bì， zuò zài nà lǐ mò mò bù yǔ， zài yī gè mò shēng de rén kàn lái， sì hū shì wú jīng dǎ cǎi de yàng zǐ， bù guò wǒ zhī dào zhè biǎo shì tā zhèng zài fēi cháng jǐn zhāng dì sī suǒ zhe。
　　“ nǐ jiǎng dé hěn míng bái，” tā zhōng yú shuō dào，“ wǒ xū yào wèn de wèn tí yǐ jīng bù duō liǎo。 dàn shì， yòu yī gè zuì zhòng yào de wèn tí hái yào nòng míng bái。 nǐ gào sù guò shénme rén nǐ yào zhí xíng zhè yī xiàng tè shū rèn wù má？”
　　“ yī gè rén yě méi gào sù guò。”
　　“ bǐ fāng shuō， zhè lǐ de hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě nǐ yě méi yòu gào sù má？”
　　“ méi yòu。 zài wǒ jiē shòu mìng lìng hé zhí xíng rèn wù zhè duàn shí jiān lǐ， wǒ méi yòu huí wò jīn lái。”
　　“ nǐ de qīn yǒu lǐ méi yòu yī gè rén pèng qiǎo qù kàn nǐ má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ nǐ de qīn yǒu zhōng yòu rén zhī dào nǐ bàn gōng shì de lù jìng má？”
　　“ ā， shì de， nà lǐ de lù jìng wǒdōu gào sù guò tā men。”
　　“ dāng rán， rú guǒ nǐ méi yòu duì rèn hé rén jiǎng guò yòu guān xié dìng de shì， nà me zhè xiē xún wèn jiù méi yòu bì yào liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ shénme yě méi jiǎng guò。”
　　“ nǐ duì kānmén rén liǎo jiě má？”
　　“ wǒ zhǐ zhī dào tā yuán lái shì yī gè lǎo bīng。”
　　“ shì nǎ yī tuán de？”
　　“ ā， wǒ tīng shuō， shì kē 'ěr sī tè lǐ mǔ jǐng wèi duì de。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ。 wǒ xiāng xìn， wǒ néng cóng fú bù sī nà lǐ dé zhī xiáng qíng。 guān fāng fēi cháng shàn yú sōu jí shì shí， kě shì tā men què bù shì jīng cháng néng lì yòng zhè xiē shì shí。 ā， méi guī huā zhè dōng xī duō me kě 'ài 'ā！”
　　 tā zǒu guò cháng shā fā， dào kāi zhe de chuāng qián， shēn shǒu fú qǐ yī gēn dī chuí zhe de méi guī huā zhī， xīn shǎng zhe jiāo lǜ yàn hóng de huā tuán。 zài wǒ kàn lái， zhè hái shì tā xìng gé zhōng yī gè xīn de fāng miàn， yīn wéi wǒ yǐ qián hái cóng wèi jiàn guò tā duì zì rán wù biǎo xiàn chū qiáng liè de 'àihào。
　　“ tiān xià shì méi yòu bǐ zōng jiào gèng xū yào tuī lǐ fǎ de liǎo。” tā bǎ bèi xié kào zhe bǎi yè chuāng， shuō dào，“ tuī lǐ fǎ kě néng bèi tuī lǐ xué zhě men zhú bù shù lì wéi yī mén jīng mì de xué kē。 àn zhào tuī lǐ fǎ， jù wǒ kàn lái， wǒ men duì shàng dì rén cí de zuì gāo xìn yǎng， jiù shì jì tuō yú xiān huā zhī zhōng。 yīn wéi yī qiē qí tā de dōng xī： wǒ men de běn lǐng， wǒ men de yuàn wàng， wǒ men de shí wù， zhè yī qiē shǒu xiān dōushì wèile shēng cún de xū yào。 ér zhè zhǒng huā duǒ jiù jiǒng rán bù tóng liǎo。 tā de xiāng qì hé tā de sè zé dōushì shēng mìng de diǎn zhuì， ér bù shì shēng cún de tiáo jiàn。 zhǐ yòu rén cí cái néng chǎn shēng zhè xiē bù fán de pǐn gé。 suǒ yǐ wǒ zài shuō yī biàn， rén lèi zài xiān huā zhōng jì tuō zhe jù dà de xī wàng。”
　　 pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī hé tā de hù lǐ rén zài fú 'ěr mó sī lùn zhèng shí wàng zhe tā， liǎn shàng liú lù chū jīng qí hé jí dù shī wàng de shén sè。 fú 'ěr mó sī shǒu zhōng ná zhe méi guī huā xiàn rù chén sī， zhè yàng guò liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng， nà wèi nián qīng de nǚ zǐ dǎ pò liǎo chén jì。
　　“ nǐ kàn chū jiě jué zhè yī yí tuán de xī wàng liǎo má？ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng，” tā yòng yòu diǎn cì 'ěr de shēng yīn wèn dào。
　　“ ā， zhè gè yí tuán！” fú 'ěr mó sī yī lèng， cái yòu huí dào xiàn shí shēng huó zhōng lái， huí dá dào，“ ǹg， rú guǒ fǒu rèn zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ fù zá 'ér yòu nán jiě， nà shì yú chǔn de。 bù guò wǒ kě yǐ dāyìng nǐ men， wǒ yào shēn rù diào chá zhè jiàn shì， bìng bǎ wǒ suǒ liǎo jiě de yī qiē qíng kuàng gào sù nǐ men。”
　　“ nǐ kàn chū shénme xiàn suǒ liǎo má？”
　　“ nǐ yǐ jīng gěi wǒ tí gōng liǎo qī gè xiàn suǒ， bù guò wǒ dāng rán bì xū xiān jiǎn yàn yī fān， cái néng duàn dìng tā men de jià zhí。”
　　“ nǐ huái yí nǎ yī gè rén má？”
　　“ wǒ huái yí wǒ zì jǐ。”
　　“ shénme？！”
　　“ huái yí wǒ de jié lùn zuòde tài kuài。”
　　“ nà jiù huí lún dūn qù jiǎn yàn nǐ de jié lùn bā。”
　　“ nǐ de jiàn yì fēi cháng miào， hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě，” fú 'ěr mó sī zhàn qǐ shēn lái shuō dào，“ wǒ xiǎng， huá shēng， wǒ men bù néng zài yòu gèng hǎo de bàn fǎ liǎo。 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng， nǐ bù yào bào guò gāo de shē wàng。 zhè jiàn shì shì fēi cháng pū shuò mí lí de。”
　　“ wǒ jiāo jí wàn fēn dì děng zhe zài hé nǐ jiàn miàn。” zhè wèi wài jiāo rén yuán dà shēng shuō dào。
　　“ hǎo， suī rán wèi bì néng dài gěi nǐ shénme hǎo xiāo xī， míng tiān wǒ hái shì chéng zhè bān chē lái kàn nǐ。”
　　“ yuàn shàng dì bǎo yòu nǐ chéng gōng，” wǒ men de wěi tuō rén gāo shēng jiào dào，“ wǒ zhī dào zhèng zài cǎi qǔ cuò shī， zhè jiù gěi liǎo wǒ xīn shēng de lì liàng。 shùn biàn shuō yī xià， wǒ jiē dào huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué de yī fēng xìn。”
　　“ ā！ tā shuō liǎo xiē shénme？”
　　“ tā biǎo shì lěng dàn， dàn bìng bù yán lì。 wǒ duàn dìng shì yīn wéi wǒ zhòng bìng zài shēn tā cái méi yòu kē zé wǒ。 tā fǎn fù shuō shì guān jué mì， yòu shuō chú fēi wǒ huī fù liǎo jiàn kāng， yòu jī huì bǔ jiù wǒ de guò shī， wǒ de qián chéng héng héng dāng rán tā shì zhǐ wǒ bèi gé zhí héng héng shì wú fǎ wǎn huí de。”
　　“ ā， zhè shì hé qíng hé lǐ 'ér yòu kǎo lǜ zhōu dào de，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ zǒu 'ā， huá shēng， wǒ men zài chéng lǐ hái yòu yī zhěng tiān de gōng zuò yào zuò ní。”
　　 yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn xiān shēng yòng mǎ chē bǎ wǒ men sòng dào huǒ chē zhàn， wǒ men hěn kuài dā shàng liǎo qù pǔ cì máo sī de huǒ chē。 fú 'ěr mó sī chén jìn yú shēn sī zhī zhōng， yī zhí jiān mò wú yán， zhí dào wǒ men guò liǎo kè lā péng shū niǔ zhàn， cái zhāng kǒu shuō huà：“ wú lùn zǒu nǎ tiáo tiě lù xiàn jìn lún dūn， dōunéng jū gāo lín xià dì kàn dào zhè yàng yī xiē fáng zǐ， zhè zhēn shì yī jiàn lìng rén fēi cháng gāo xīng de shì。”
　　 wǒ yǐ wéi tā shì zài shuō xiào huà， yīn wéi zhè jǐng sè shí zài bù kān rù mù， kě shì tā lì jí jiě shì dào：“ nǐ kàn nà yī piàn gū lì de dà fáng zǐ， tā men chù lì yú qīng shí zhī shàng， jiù xiàng qiān huī sè hǎi yáng zhōng de zhuān wǎ zhī dǎo yī bān。”
　　“ nà shì yī xiē jì sù xué xiào。”
　　“ nà shì dēng tǎ， wǒ de huǒ jì！ wèi lái de dēng tǎ！ měi yī zuò dēng tǎ lǐ dū zhuāng mǎn qiān bǎi kē guāng huī càn làn de xiǎo zhǒng zǐ， jiāng lái yīng guó zài tā men zhè yī dài jiāng gèng jiā míng zhì fù qiáng， wǒ xiǎng， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī zhè gè rén bù huì yǐn jiǔ bā？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng tā bù huì yǐn jiǔ。”
　　“ wǒ yě zhè yàng xiǎng， kě shì wǒ men yīnggāi bǎ yī qiē kě néng dū yù liào dào。 zhè kě lián de rén yǐ xiàn rù shuǐ shēn huǒ rè zhī zhōng， wèn tí shì wǒ men yòu méi yòu néng lì jiù tā shàng 'àn。 nǐ rèn wéi hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě zěn me yàng？”
　　“ tā shì yī gè xìng gé gāng qiáng de gū niàn。”
　　“ duì， kě tā shì yī gè hǎo rén， bù rán jiù shì wǒ kàn cuò liǎo。 tā hé tā de gē gē shì nuò sēn bó lán fù jìn yī gè tiě qì zhì zào shāng de jǐn yòu de liǎng gè hái zǐ。 qù dōng lǚ xíng shí， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī yǔ tā dìng liǎo hūn， tā gē gē péi tóng tā qián lái hé fèi 'ěr pǔ sī jiā lǐ rén jiàn miàn。 zhèng hǎo chū liǎo zhè jiàn bù xìng de shì， tā biàn liú xià lái zhào gù wèi hūn fū， tā de gē gē yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn fā jué zhè lǐ xiāng dāng shū shì， biàn yě liú xià lái。 nǐ kàn， wǒ yǐ jīng zuò liǎo yī xiē dān dú de diào chá。 bù guò jīn tiān yī tiān， wǒ bì xū jìn xíng diào chá gōng zuò。”
　　“ wǒ de yī wù……” wǒ kāi shǐ shuō dào。
　　“ ā， ruò shì nǐ jué dé nǐ de nà xiē yè wù bǐ wǒ zhè 'àn jiàn gèng zhòng yào……”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yòu xiē jiān kè dì shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ shì xiǎng shuō wǒ de yī wù bù fáng dān gē yī liǎng tiān， yīn wéi zhè shì yī nián lǐ zuì qīng dàn de shí hòu。”
　　“ tài hǎo liǎo，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào， tā yòu huī fù liǎo gāo xīng de xīn qíng，“ nà wǒ men jiù yī qǐ lái yán jiū zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ bā。 wǒ xiǎng yīnggāi cóng fǎng wèn fú bù sī rù shǒu。
　　 tā dà gài néng jiǎng chū wǒ men suǒ yào de yī qiē xì jié， rán hòu wǒ men jiù zhī dào， cóng nǎ yī fāng miàn lái pò 'àn。”
　　“ nǐ shì shuō， nǐ yǐ jīng yòu xiàn suǒ liǎo？”
　　“ duì， wǒ men yǐ jīng yòu jǐ gè xiàn suǒ liǎo， bù guò zhǐ yòu jīng guò jìn yī bù diào chá， cái néng jiǎn yàn tā de jià zhí。 méi yòu fàn zuì dòng jī de 'àn jiàn shì zuì nán chá bàn de。 dàn zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ bìng fēi méi yòu fàn zuì dòng jī。 shénme rén néng cóng zhōng dé dào hǎo chù ní？ fǎ guó dà shǐ、 dà shǐ、 nà wèi kě yǐ bǎ gāi xié dìng chū mài gěi qí zhōng yī gè dà shǐ de rén、 hái yòu huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué。”
　　“ huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué！”
　　“ duì， kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng yī gè jiā chū yú xū yào， kě yǐ háo bù hòu huǐ dì jiè jī xiāo huǐ zhè yàng yī fèn wén jiàn。”
　　“ huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué bù shì yī gè yòu guāng róng lǚ lì de nèi gé dà chén má？”
　　“ zhè shì kě néng de， wǒ men yě bù néng hū shì zhè yī diǎn。 wǒ men jīn tiān jiù qù bài fǎng zhè wèi gāo guì de xūn jué， kàn kàn tā néng bù néng gào sù wǒ men yī xiē qíng kuàng， tóng shí， wǒ yǐ jīng zài jìn xíng diào chá liǎo。”
　　“ yǐ jīng jìn xíng liǎo？”
　　“ duì， wǒ cóng wò jīn chē zhàn gěi lún dūn gè jiā wǎn bào dū fā liǎo yī fèn diàn bào。 měi jiā wǎn bào dū jiāng kān dēng zhè yàng yī fèn guǎng gào。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī jiāo gěi wǒ yī zhāng zhǐ， zhè zhǐ shì cóng rì jì běn shàng sī xià lái de， shàng miàn yòng qiān bǐ xiě zhe：
　　 wǔ yuè 'èr shí sān rì wǎn jiǔ diǎn sān kè， zài chá 'ěr sī jiē wài jiāo bù mén kǒu huò fù jìn， cóng yī liàng mǎ chē shàng xià lái yī wèi chéng kè， zhī zhě qǐng jiāng mǎ chē hào mǎ gào zhī bèi kè jiē ２２ １ hào yǐ， shǎng jīn shí bàng。
　　“ nǐ què xìn nà gè dào zéi shì chéng mǎ chē lái de má？”
　　“ jí shǐ bù shì yě wú fáng。 jiǎ shǐ fèi 'ěr pǔ sī shuō dé bù cuò， wú lùn bàn gōng shì huò zǒu láng dōuméi yòu cáng shēn zhī dì， nà me， nà gè rén yī dìng shì cóng wài miàn jìn lái de。
　　 ér rú guǒ tā zài zhè yàng yīn yǔ de yè wǎn cóng wài miàn jìn lái， zǒu hòu jǐ fēn zhōng jiù jìn xíng jiǎn chá， yě méi yòu fā xiàn qī bù shàng liú yòu shī lù lù de jiǎo yìn， nà me， tā fēi cháng kě néng shì chéng chē lái de。 duì， wǒ xiǎng wǒ men kě yǐ shí fēn kěn dìng dì tuī duàn， tā shì chéng mǎ chē lái de。”
　　“ zhè tīng qǐ lái sì hū yòu dào lǐ。”
　　“ zhè shì wǒ shuō de yī gè xiàn suǒ。 tā kě yǐ shǐ wǒ men dé chū mǒu zhǒng jié lùn。 dāng rán， hái yòu nà líng shēng， zhè shì běn 'àn zuì tè shū de yī diǎn。 wèishénme yào 'àn líng ní？ shì bù shì nà gè dào zéi chū yú xū zhāng shēng shì？ yào bù jiù shì yòu rén hé dào zéi yī qǐ jìn lái， gù yì 'àn líng yǐ fáng zhǐ dào zéi xíng qiè。 huò zhě shì chū yú wú yì de？ huò zhě shì……” tā chóngxīn xiàn rù fāng cái nà zhǒng jǐn zhāng de sī suǒ zhī zhōng， wǒ duì tā de xīn qíng shì pō wéi liǎo jiě de， tā yī dìng shì tū rán yòu xiǎng dào liǎo yī xiē xīn de kě néng xìng。
　　 wǒ men dào dá zhōng diǎn zhàn shí， yǐ jīng sān diǎn 'èr shí fēn liǎo， zài xiǎo fàn guǎn cōng máng chī guò wǔ cān， lì jí gǎn wǎng sū gé lán chǎng。 yīn wéi fú 'ěr mó sī yǐ jīng gěi fú bù sī dǎ guò diàn bào， suǒ yǐ tā zhèng yíng hòu wǒ men。 zhè rén wǔ duǎn shēn cái， zhāng tóu shǔ mù， tài dù jiān suān kè bó， háo bù yǒu hǎo。 tè bié shì tā tīng shuō liǎo wǒ men de lái yì yǐ hòu， duì wǒ men gèng jiā lěng dàn。
　　“ zài zhè yǐ qián， wǒ yǐ jīng tīng shuō guò nǐ de fāng fǎ， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng，” tā jiān suān kè bó dì shuō dào，“ nǐ hěn lè yì lì yòng jǐng fāng gōngjǐ nǐ de yī qiē qíng bào， rán hòu nǐ zì jǐ shè fǎ qù jié 'àn， ràng jǐng fāng diū liǎn。”
　　“ qià qià xiāng fǎn，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ zài wǒ guò qù pò huò de wǔ shí sān jiàn 'àn zǐ lǐ， zhǐ yòu sì jiàn 'àn zǐ shǔ guò wǒ de míng， ér jǐng fāng zài sì shí jiǔ jiàn 'àn zǐ lǐ huò dé liǎo quán bù róng yù。 wǒ bù zé guài nǐ， yīn wéi nǐ bù liǎo jiě zhè gè qíng kuàng， yīn wéi nǐ nián qīng， méi yòu jīng yàn。 kě shì rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng zài nǐ de xīn zhí yè zhōng qiú dé shàng jìn， nà nǐ zuì hǎo hé wǒ hé zuò 'ér bù yào fǎn duì wǒ。”
　　“ wǒ fēi cháng yuàn yì tīng nǐ zhǐ diǎn yī 'èr，” zhè wèi zhēn tàn gǎi biàn liǎo tài dù shuō dào，“ dào mù qián wéi zhǐ wǒ cóng bàn 'àn zhōng de què hái méi yòu huò dé guò róng yù ní。”
　　“ nǐ cǎi qǔ guò shénme cuò shī ní？”
　　“ yī zhí zài dīng kānmén rén tǎn gài de shāo， dàn tā lí kāi jǐng wèi duì shí míng shēng hěn hǎo， wǒ men yě zhǎo bù dào shénme xián yí。 bù guò tā qī zǐ shì yī gè huài jiā huǒ， wǒ xiǎng， tā duì zhè jiàn shì zhī dào hěn duō， bìng bù xiàng tā biǎo miàn shàng zhuāng de nà yàng。”
　　“ nǐ gēn zōng guò tā má？”
　　“ wǒ men pài liǎo yī gè nǚ zhēn tàn gēn zōng tā。 tǎn gài tài tài hǎo yǐn jiǔ， nǚ zhēn tàn jiù chèn tā gāo xīng péi tā yǐn jiǔ， kě shì cóng tā shēn shàng yī wú suǒ huò。”
　　“ wǒ tīng shuō yòu yī xiē jiù huò shāng dào guò tā jiā？”
　　“ shì de， kě shì tā yǐ cháng qīng liǎo qiàn tā men de zhài wù。”
　　“ zhè bǐ qián shì cóng nǎ lǐ lái de ní？”
　　“ yī qiēdōu zhèng cháng。 kānmén rén gāng lǐng dào nián jīn， dàn tā men què bù xiàng shǒu tóu kuān yù de yàng zǐ。”
　　“ nà tiān wǎn shàng fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng 'àn líng yào kā fēi， tā shàng qù yìng chéng， duì zhè yī diǎn tā zěn me jiě shì ní？”
　　“ tā shuō， tā zhàng fū fēi cháng pí bèi， tā yuàn tì tā dài láo。”
　　“ duì， guò liǎo yī huì jiù fā xiàn tā shuì zài yǐ zǐ shàng， zhè dāng rán fú hé qíng kuàng liǎo。
　　 nà me shuō， chú liǎo zhè nǚ rén de pǐn xíng bù hǎo yǐ wài， zài méi yòu rèn hé bié de zuì zhèng liǎo。 nǐ méi yòu wèn tā， nà tiān wǎn shàng tā wèishénme nà me cōng máng lí qù má？ lián dū zhù yì dào tā nà huāng zhāng de shén qíng liǎo。”
　　“ tā nà tiān yǐ jīng bǐ píng cháng wǎn liǎo， suǒ yǐ jí yú gǎn huí jiā qù。”
　　“ nǐ yòu méi yòu gěi tā zhǐ chū lái， nǐ hé fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng zhì shǎo bǐ tā wǎn dòng shēn 'èr shí fēn zhōng， què bǐ tā zǎo dào？”
　　“ tā jiě shì shuō， zhè shì yīn wéi shuāng lún shuāng zuò mǎ chē bǐ gōng gòng mǎ chē kuài。”
　　“ tā yòu méi yòu shuō qīng chǔ， wèishénme dào jiā yǐ hòu， tā páo jìn hòu chú fáng qù？”
　　“ tā shuō， yīn wéi tā de qián fàng zài hòu chú fáng lǐ， yào qǔ chū lái fù gěi jiù huò shāng。”
　　“ tā duì měi jiàn shìdōu zuò liǎo dá fù。 nǐ yòu méi yòu wèn tā， zài tā lí kāi xiàn chǎng shí， kě céng yù dào huò shì kàn jiàn shénme rén zài chá 'ěr sī jiē shàng pái huái？”
　　“ chú liǎo tā shuí yě méi yòu kàn jiàn。”
　　“ hǎo， kàn lái nǐ duì tā pán wèn dé hěn chè dǐ。 nǐ hái cǎi qǔ liǎo yī xiē shénme cuò shī ní？”
　　“ zhè jiǔ gè xīng qī yī zhí zài jiān shì zhí yuán gē luó tè， dàn háo wú jiēguǒ。 wǒ men yě zhǎo bù chū tā yòu shénme xián yí。”
　　“ hái yòu shénme？”
　　“ ā， wǒ men yǐ wú shì kě zuò， yīn wéi yī diǎn zhèng jù yě méi yòu。”
　　“ nǐ kǎo lǜ méi yòu diàn líng wèishénme huì xiǎng ní？”
　　“ ā， wǒ bì xū chéng rèn， zhè kě bǎ wǒ nán zhù liǎo。 bù guǎn tā shì shuí， yě suàn shì gòu dà dǎn de liǎo， bù jǐn lái liǎo， ér qiě hái gǎn fā chū jǐng bào。”
　　“ shì de， zhè què shí shì jiàn guài shì。 xiè xiè nǐ gào sù wǒ men zhè xiē qíng kuàng。 rú guǒ wǒ yào nǐ qù zhuā zhè gè rén， wǒ huì tōng zhī nǐ de。 huá shēng， zǒu bā。”
　　“ wǒ men xiàn zài dào nǎ lǐ qù ní？” wǒ men lí kāi jǐng tīng shí， wǒ wèn tā。
　　“ qù zǒu fǎng huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué， zhè wèi nèi gé dà chén hé wèi lái de yīng guó zǒng lǐ。”
　　 hěn xìng yùn， wǒ men gǎn dào táng níng jiē shí， huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué hái zài bàn gōng shì。 fú 'ěr mó sī dì jìn míng piàn， wǒ men lì jí bèi zhào jiàn liǎo。 zhè wèi nèi gé dà chén 'àn jiù shì lǐ jié jiē dài liǎo wǒ men， bǎ wǒ men ràng dào fàng zài bì lú liǎng bàng háo huá de 'ān lè yǐ shàng， tā zhàn zài wǒ men zhōng jiān de dì tǎn shàng。 cǐ rén shēn cái xiū cháng、 xiāoshòu， lún kuò fēn míng， miàn róng qīnqiè， juǎnqū de tóu fā guò zǎo dì biàn chéng huī bái sè， xiǎn dé yì cháng qì yǔ bù fán， guǒ rán shì yī wèi xiǎn guì de guì zú。
　　“ jiǔ wén nǐ de dà míng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng，” tā mǎn miàn xiào róng dì shuō dào，“ dāng rán， wǒ bù néng duì nǐ men de lái yì zhuāng zuò bù zhī。 yīn wéi běn bù jǐn yòu yī jiàn shì néng yǐn qǐ nǐ de guān zhù。 kě fǒu wèn wèn nǐ shì shòu shuí wěi tuō qián lái bàn lǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de？”
　　“ shòu pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng zhī tuō，” fú 'ěr mó sī dá dào。
　　“ ā， wǒ nà bù xìng de wài shēng！ nǐ dāng rán míng bái， yóu yú wǒ men yòu qīn shǔ guān xì， wǒ bù néng duì tā yòu sī háo bāo bì。 wǒ dān xīn zhè jiàn yì wài shì gù duì tā de qián tú fēi cháng bù lì。”
　　“ kě shì rú guǒ zhǎo dào zhè fèn wén jiàn ní？”
　　“ ā， nà dāng rán jiù shì lìng yī huí shì liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ yòu yī liǎng gè wèn tí xiǎng wèn wèn nǐ， huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué。”
　　“ wǒ hěn gāo xīng jìn wǒ suǒ zhī fèng gào。”
　　“ nǐ jiù shì zài zhè jiān bàn gōng shì lǐ fēn fù chāo xiě wén jiàn de má？”
　　“ shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ jiù shì shuō nǐ men de tán huà hěn nán bèi tōu tīng bā？”
　　“ háo wú tōu tīng de kě néng。”
　　“ nǐ shì fǒu duì rèn hé rén tí dào guò， nǐ dǎ suàn jiào rén chāo xiě zhè fèn xié dìng？”
　　“ cóng lái méi yòu。”
　　“ nǐ kěn dìng zhè diǎn má？”
　　“ jué duì kěn dìng。”
　　“ hǎo， jì rán nǐ cóng lái méi shuō guò， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī yě cóng lái méi shuō guò， bìng qiě zài méi yòu bié rén zhī dào zhè jiàn shì， nà me， dào zéi lái dào bàn gōng shì jiù chún shǔ 'ǒu rán de liǎo。 tā kàn dào zhè shì gè jī huì， biàn shùn shǒu tōu zǒu liǎo wén jiàn。”
　　 zhè wèi nèi gé dà chén xiào liǎo。
　　“ nǐ shuō de yǐ jīng bù zài wǒ de néng lì fàn wéi yǐ nèi liǎo。” huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué shuō dào。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī chén sī piàn kè。“ hái yòu lìng wài jí wéi zhòng yào de yī diǎn， wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ shāng tǎo yī xià，” tā shuō dào，“ jù wǒ suǒ zhī， nǐ dān xīn zhè yī xié dìng de xiáng qíng yī jīng chuán chū， jiù huì dài lái jí qí yán zhòng de hòu guǒ。”
　　 zhè wèi nèi gé dà chén fù yòu biǎo qíng de liǎn shàng lüè guò yī sī yīn yǐng， shuō dào：“ dāng rán huì yòu jí qí yán zhòng de hòu guǒ。”
　　“ yǐ jīng chǎn shēng yán zhòng hòu guǒ liǎo má？”
　　“ hái méi yòu。”
　　“ rú guǒ zhè fèn xié dìng yǐ jīng luò dào， bǐ rú shuō fǎ guó huò wài jiāo bù shǒu zhōng， nǐ rèn wéi nǐ néng tīng dào yīn xìn má？”
　　“ wǒ yī dìng néng tīng dào，” huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè miàn sè bù kuài dì shuō dào。
　　“ zhè me shuō， jì rán jiāng jìn shí gè xīng qī yǐ jīng guò qù， yī zhí méi yòu tīng dào xiāo xī， zhè jiù yòu gēn jù shè xiǎng， yóu yú mǒu zhǒng yuán yīn， xié dìng hái méi yòu luò dào fǎ、 é wài jiāo bù shǒu zhōng。”
　　 huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué sǒng sǒng shuāng jiān。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ men hěn nán shè xiǎng， dào zéi tōu zǒu zhè fèn xié dìng zhǐ shì wèile zhuāng jìn guì zǐ， huò shì bǎ tā guà qǐ lái。”
　　“ huò xǔ tā shì zài děng dài gāo jià chū shòu。”
　　“ rú guǒ tā yào zài shāo děng yī xiē rì zǐ， nà wén jiàn jiù gēn běn yī wén bù zhí liǎo。 yīn wéi zài guò jǐ gè yuè， zhè fèn xié dìng jiù bù chéng qí wéi mì mì liǎo。”
　　“ zhè yī diǎn fēi cháng zhòng yào，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ dāng rán， hái kě yǐ shè xiǎng， dào zéi tū rán bìng dǎo liǎo……”
　　“ bǐ rú shuō， dé liǎo shén jīng shī cháng， shì má？” nèi gé dà chén xùn sù sǎo liǎo fú 'ěr mó sī yī yǎn， wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ bìng méi yòu zhè yàng shuō，” fú 'ěr mó sī lěng jìng dì shuō dào，“ xiàn zài， huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué， wǒ men yǐ jīng dān gē liǎo nǐ hěn duō bǎo guì de shí jiān， wǒ men yào xiàng nǐ gào cí liǎo。”
　　“ zhù nǐ chéng gōng dì chá chū zuì fàn， bù guǎn tā shì shuí。” zhè wèi guì zú bǎ wǒ men sòng chū mén wài， xiàng wǒ men diǎn tóu shuō dào。
　　“ tā shì yī gè jié chū de rén，” wǒ men zǒu dào bái tīng jiē shí， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ bù guò tā yào bǎo zhù tā de guān zhí， hái yào zuò yīcháng dǒu zhēng cái xíng。 tā yuǎn bù fù yòu， kě shì kāi xiāo pō dà。 nǐ dāng rán zhù yì dào liǎo tā de cháng tǒng xuē zǐ yǐ jīng huàn guò xié dǐ liǎo。 xiàn zài， huá shēng， wǒ bù zài duō dān wù nǐ de zhèng jīng gōng zuò。 chú fēi wǒ nà fèn xún zhǎo mǎ chē de guǎng gào yòu liǎo huí yīn， jīn tiān wǒ jiù wú shì kě zuò liǎo。 bù guò， rú guǒ nǐ míng tiān néng hé wǒ yī qǐ chéng zuó tiān zuò guò de nà yī bān chē dào wò jīn qù， wǒ hái shì gǎn jī bù jìn de。”
　　 dì 'èr tiān zǎo chén wǒ rú yuē jiàn dào liǎo tā， yī tóng chéng huǒ chē dào wò jīn qù。 tā shuō， tā de guǎng gào háo wú huí yīn， ér zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ yě háo wú tóu xù。 tā shuō huà shí， jìn lì bǎ miàn kǒng bēng dé xiàng yìn dì 'ān rén yī yàng dāi bǎn， yīn cǐ wǒ bù néng cóng tā miàn róng shàng pàn duàn chū tā duì zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de xiàn zhuàng jiū jìng shì fǒu mǎn yì。 wǒ jì dé， tā tán dào bèi dì róng cèliáng fǎ ［ bèi dì róng（１ ８ ５ ３ héng１ ９１ ４）： fǎ guó zī chǎn jiē jí xíng shì zhēn chá xué jiā， céng tí chū suǒ wèi“ rén shēn cè dìng fǎ”， jí gēn jù nián líng、 bǐ jiào gǔ gé、 jié hé shè yǐng hé zhǐ wén děng fāng fǎ jiàn bié zuì fàn， bèi chēng wéi“ bèi dì róng cèliáng fǎ”。 héng héng yì zhě zhù ］， tā duì zhè wèi fǎ guó xué zhě fēi cháng zàn shǎng。
　　 wǒ men de wěi tuō rén yǐ rán yóu tā nà wèi zhōng xīn de hù lǐ rén jīng xīn zhào liào， dàn kàn qǐ lái bǐ yǐ qián hǎo duō liǎo。 wǒ men yī jìn mén， tā jiù háo bù fèi lì dì cóng shā fā shàng zhàn qǐ shēn lái huān yíng wǒ men。
　　“ yòu xiāo xī má？” tā pò bù jí dài dì wèn dào。
　　“ zhèng xiàng wǒ suǒ yù liào de， wǒ wèi néng dài lái hǎo xiāo xī。” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ jiàn dào liǎo fú bù sī， yě jiàn dào liǎo nǐ de jiù fù， rán 'ér diào chá liǎo yī liǎng gè kě néng fā xiàn yī xiē wèn tí de xiàn suǒ。”
　　“ nà me shuō， nǐ hái méi yòu shī qù xìn xīn？”
　　“ dāng rán méi yòu。”
　　“ shàng dì bǎo yòu nǐ！ tīng dào nǐ zhè yàng shuō zhēn jiào rén gāo xīng，” hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě gāo shēng shuō dào，“ zhǐ yào wǒ men bù shī qù yǒng qì hé nài xìng， jiù yī dìng néng chá gè shuǐ luò shí chū。”
　　“ nǐ duì wǒ men méi yòu jiǎng duō shǎo， kě shì wǒ men què kě yǐ gào sù nǐ gèng duō de qíng kuàng。” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī chóngxīn zuò dào shā fā shàng shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ xī wàng nǐ nòng dào liǎo zhòng yào qíng kuàng。”
　　“ shì de， zuó wǎn wǒ yòu yù dào yī jiàn xiǎn shì， díquè shì yī jiàn yán zhòng de shì。”
　　 tā shuō shí biǎo qíng fēi cháng yán sù， shuāng yǎn lù chū jìn hū kǒng bù de shén sè。“ nǐ kě zhī dào，” tā shuō dào，“ wǒ kāi shǐ xiāng xìn， wǒ yǐ bù zhī bù jué dì chéng wéi yī gè zuì 'è yīn móu de zhōng xīn， ér tā men de mù biāo bù jǐn shì wǒ de róng yù， ér qiě hái yòu wǒ de shēng mìng。”
　　“ ā！” fú 'ěr mó sī jiào dào。
　　“ zhè sì hū shì nán yǐ zhì xìn de， yīn wéi jiù wǒ suǒ zhī， wǒ zài shì shàng bìng méi yòu yī gè chóu dí。 kě shì cóng zuó wǎn de jīng lì kàn lái， wǒ zhǐ néng dé chū yòu rén yào móu shā wǒ de jié lùn。”
　　“ qǐng jiǎng gěi wǒ men tīng yī tīng。”
　　“ nǐ zhī dào， zuó wǎn shì wǒ tóu yī yè méi jiào rén zài fáng nèi hù lǐ wǒ， zì jǐ yī rén dú shuì。 wǒ gǎn jué fēi cháng hǎo， jué dé zì jǐ kě yǐ bù xū hù lǐ liǎo。 bù guò wǒ yè wǎn hái shì diǎn zhe dēng。 ā， dà yuē líng chén liǎng diǎn zhōng， wǒ zhèng shuì yì méng lóng， tū rán bèi yī zhèn qīng wēi de shēng xiǎng jīng xǐng。 nà shēng yīn jiù xiàng lǎo shǔ niè yǎo mù bǎn de shēng yīn yī yàng。 yú shì wǒ tǎng zhe jìng tīng liǎo yī zhèn， yǐ wéi jiù shì lǎo shǔ。 hòu lái shēng yīn yuè lái yuè dà， tū rán cóng chuāng shàng chuán lái yī zhèn cì 'ěr de jīn shǔ mó cā shēng。 wǒ jīng yì dì zuò qǐ lái， què qiē wú yí dì míng bái liǎo zhè shì zěn me huí shì。 tóu yī zhèn shēng yīn shì yòu rén cóng liǎng shàn chuāng hù fèngxì jiān chā jìn gōng jù qiào chuāng hù de shēng yīn， dì 'èr zhèn shì lā kāi chuāng shuān de shēng yīn。
　　“ jiē zhe shēng yīn píng xī liǎo shí fēn zhōng zuǒ yòu， hǎo xiàng nà rén zài děng zhe qiáo， zhè xiē shēng xiǎng shì bù shì bǎ wǒ jīng xǐng liǎo。 jiē zhe wǒ yòu tīng dào qīng qīng de zī zī shēng， chuāng hù bèi màn màn dǎ kāi liǎo。 yīn wéi wǒ de shén jīng yǐ jīng bù xiàng wǎng cháng yī yàng， wǒ zài yě rěn bù zhù liǎo， biàn cóng chuáng shàng tiào qǐ lái， měng rán lā kāi bǎi yè chuāng。 yī gè rén zhèng dūn fú zài chuāng bàng。 zhuǎn yǎn zhī jiān tā jiù táo páo liǎo， wǒ méi néng kàn qīng tā shì shuí， yīn wéi tā tóu shàng dài zhe méng miàn bù， bǎ miàn kǒng de xià bàn bù dū méng zhù liǎo。 wǒ zhǐ néng kěn dìng yī jiàn shì， nà jiù shì tā shǒu zhōng ná zhe xiōng qì。 wǒ kàn shì yī bǎ cháng dāo。 zài tā zhuǎn shēn táo páo shí， wǒ qīng chǔ dì kàn dào dāo guāng shǎn shǎn。”
　　“ zhè fēi cháng zhòng yào，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ qǐng wèn nǐ hòu lái zěn me bàn liǎo？”
　　“ wǒ yào shì shēn tǐ yìng lǎng yī diǎn 'ér， nà yī dìng yào fān chuāng qù zhuī tā。 kě shì nà shí wǒ zhǐ néng 'àn líng bǎ quán jiā rén jiào xǐng。 zhè jiù dān wù liǎo yī diǎn shí jiān， yīn wéi zhè líng zhuāng zài chú fáng lǐ， ér pú rén men yòu dū shuì zài lóu shàng。 bù guò， wǒ dà shēng hǎn jiào， jiào lái liǎo yuē sè fū， tā yòu bǎ qí tā rén jiào xǐng。 yuē sè fū hé mǎ fū zài chuāng wài huā pǔ shàng fā xiàn liǎo jiǎo yìn， kě shì jìn lái tiān qì yì cháng gān zào， tā men gēn zōng zhuī chá dào cǎo dì， jiù zài yě zhǎo bù dào jiǎo yìn liǎo。 rán 'ér， wèi yú lù biān de mù shān lán shàng， yòu yī gè dì fāng yòu yī xiē hén jì， tā men gào sù wǒ shuō， hǎo xiàng yòu rén cóng nà 'ér fān guò qù， zài fān yuè shí bǎ lán gān jiān dū pèng duàn liǎo。 yīn wéi wǒ xiǎng wǒ zuì hǎo xiān tīng qǔ nǐ de yì jiàn， suǒ yǐ hái méi yòu gào sù běn dì。”
　　 wǒ men de wěi tuō rén jiǎng shù de zhè duàn jīng lì， xiǎn rán zài xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī shēn shàng chǎn shēng liǎo tè bié de zuò yòng。 tā cóng yǐ shàng zhàn qǐ lái， yì zhì bù zhù nèi xīn de jī dòng， zài shì nèi duó lái duó qù。
　　“ zhēn shì huò bù dān xíng，” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiào zhe shuō dào， suī rán zhè jiàn xiǎn shì xiǎn rán shǐ tā yòu xiē shòu jīng liǎo。
　　“ nǐ què shí dān zhe yī fèn 'ér fēng xiǎn ní，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ nǐ kàn néng bù néng hé wǒ yī qǐ dào zhái yuàn sì zhōu qù sàn sàn bù？”
　　“ ā， kě yǐ， wǒ yuàn yì shài shài tài yáng。 yuē sè fū yě yī qǐ qù bā。”
　　“ wǒ yě qù，” hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě shuō dào。
　　“ kǒng pà nǐ hái shì bù qù wéi hǎo，” fú 'ěr mó sī yáo tóu shuō dào，“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ bì xū qǐng nǐ jiù liú zài zhè lǐ。”
　　 gū niàn yàng yàng bù lè dì zuò huí yuán lái de wèi zhì， ér tā gē gē zé jiā rù wǒ men de hángliè zhōng， yú shì wǒ men sì rén yī tóng chū liǎo mén。 wǒ men zǒu guò cǎo píng lái dào zhè wèi nián qīng wài jiāo jiā de chuāng wài。 zhèng rú tā suǒ jiǎng de nà yàng， huā pǔ shàng de què yòu yī xiē hén jì， kě shì yǐ fēi cháng mó hú bù qīng wú fǎ biàn rèn liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī fǔ shēn kàn liǎo yī huì 'ér， jiē zhe jiù sǒng sǒng jiān zhàn qǐ shēn lái。
　　“ wǒ kàn shuí yě bù néng cóng zhè xiē hén jì shàng fā xiàn duō shǎo qíng kuàng，” tā shuō dào，“ wǒ men dào zhái zǐ sì zhōu zǒu zǒu kàn kàn dào zéi wèishénme piān piān xuǎn zhōng liǎo zhè suǒ fáng wū。
　　 zhào wǒ kàn lái， zhè jiān kè tīng hé cān shì de dà chuāng hù yīnggāi duì tā gèng yòu lì。”
　　“ kě shì nà xiē chuāng hù cóng dà lù shàng kě yǐ kàn dé hěn qīng chǔ，” yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn xiān shēng tí xǐng shuō。
　　“ ā， duì， dāng rán liǎo。 kě shì zhè lǐ yòu yī dào mén， tā wán quán kě yǐ cóng zhè lǐ shì yī shì。 zhè dào mén shì gànshénme yòng de？”
　　“ zhè shì gōng shāng rén jìn chū de cè mén。 yè wǎn dāng rán shì suǒ shàng de。”
　　“ yǐ qián nǐ shòu guò xiàng zhè yàng de jīng xià má？”
　　“ cóng lái méi yòu，” wǒ men de wěi tuō rén shuō dào。
　　“ nǐ fáng zǐ lǐ yòu jīn yín cān jù huò qí tā zhāo yǐn dào zéi de dōng xī má？”
　　“ méi yòu shénme guì zhòng de dōng xī。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuāng shǒu chā jìn yī dài， yǐ yī zhǒng cóng wèi yòu guò de shū hū dà yì de shén qíng， zài fáng wū zhōu wéi liú lái liú qù。
　　“ shùn biàn shuō yī xià，” fú 'ěr mó sī duì yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn shuō dào，“ tīng shuō nǐ fā xiàn yī chù dì fāng， nà gè rén cóng nà 'ér fān yuè guò shān lán。 ràng wǒ men qù kàn kàn！”
　　 zhè gè 'ǎi pàng de zhōng nián rén bǎ wǒ men yǐn dào yī chù， nà dì fāng yòu yī gēn mù lán gān de jiān bèi rén pèng duàn liǎo。 yī xiǎo duàn mù piàn hái zài dā lā zhe。 fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ tā zhé duàn， zhù yì dì chá kàn zhe。
　　“ nǐ rèn wéi zhè shì zuó tiān yè wǎn pèng duàn de má？ zhè hén jì kàn lái hěn chén jiù， duì bā？”
　　“ ā， kě néng shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ zhè 'ér yě méi yòu cóng shān lán tiào dào wài biān qù de jiǎo yìn。 bù， wǒ kàn zài zhè 'ér zhǎo bù dào shénme xiàn suǒ， hái shì huí wò shì qù shāng liàng shāng liàng bā。”
　　 pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī bèi wèi lái de yīn xiōng chān fú zhe， zǒude fēi cháng màn。 fú 'ěr mó sī hé wǒ jí sù chuān guò cǎo píng， huí dào wò shì lǐ kāi zhe de chuāng qián， nà liǎng rén hái yuǎn yuǎn luò zài hòu miàn。
　　“ hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě，” fú 'ěr mó sī fēi cháng yán sù dì shuō dào，“ nǐ yī dìng yào zhěng tiān shǒu zài zhè lǐ bù dòng。 fā shēng rèn hé shì qíng nǐ yě bù yào lí kāi zhè lǐ。 zhè shì jí duān zhòng yào de。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， rú guǒ nǐ yào wǒ zhè yàng zuò， wǒ yī dìng zhào bàn，” gū niàn jīng qí dì shuō dào。
　　“ zài nǐ qù shuì jué qián， qǐng cóng wài miàn bǎ wū mén suǒ shàng， zì jǐ ná zhe yàoshì。 qǐng dāyìng wǒ zhào zhè yàng qù zuò。”
　　“ kě shì pò xī ní？”
　　“ tā yào hé wǒ men yī qǐ qù lún dūn。”
　　“ nà wǒ liú zài zhè lǐ má？”
　　“ zhè shì wèile tā de yuán gù。 nǐ kě yǐ gěi tā bāng hěn dà de máng。 kuài diǎn！ kuài dāyìng bā！”
　　 tā hěn kuài diǎn liǎo diǎn tóu， biǎo shì yīngyǔn， zhè shí nà liǎng gè rén gāng hǎo zǒu jìn wū lái。
　　“ nǐ wèishénme chóu méi kǔ liǎn dì zuò zài zhè lǐ， ān nī？” tā gē gē gāo shēng hǎn dào，“ chū qù shài shài tài yáng bā！”
　　“ bù， xiè xiè nǐ， yuē sè fū。 wǒ yòu diǎn tóu tòng， zhè jiān wū zǐ tǐng liáng shuǎng， zhèng hé wǒ yì。”
　　“ nǐ xiàn zài yòu shénme dǎ suàn， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng？” wǒ men de wěi tuō rén wèn dào。
　　“ ā， wǒ men bù néng yīn wéi diào chá zhè jiàn xiǎo shì 'ér shī qù zhù yào diào chá mù biāo。
　　 rú guǒ nǐ néng hé wǒ men yī qǐ dào lún dūn qù， nà duì wǒ de bāng zhù jiù hěn dà liǎo。”
　　“ mǎ shàng jiù zǒu má？”
　　“ duì， nǐ fāng biàn de huà， yuè kuài yuè hǎo， yī xiǎo shí nèi zěn yàng？”
　　“ wǒ gǎn dào shēn tǐ fēi cháng yìng lǎng liǎo， wǒ zhēn néng zhù nǐ yī bì zhī lì má？”
　　“ fēi cháng kě néng。”
　　“ dà gài nǐ yào wǒ jīn wǎn zhù zài lún dūn bā？”
　　“ wǒ zhèng dǎ suàn jiàn yì nǐ zhè yàng zuò。”
　　“ nà me， rú guǒ wǒ nà wèi yè zhōng zhī yǒu zài lái bài fǎng wǒ， tā jiù huì pū kōng liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ men yī qiē tīng nǐ fēn fù， nǐ yī dìng yào gào sù wǒ men nǐ dǎ suàn zěn me bàn。 huò xǔ nǐ xiǎng ràng yuē sè fū hé wǒ men yī qǐ qù， yǐ biàn zhào gù wǒ？”
　　“ ā， bù bì liǎo， nǐ zhī dào wǒ de péng yǒu huá shēng shì yī shēng， tā huì zhào gù nǐ de。 rú guǒ nǐ dāyìng zhè me bàn， nà wǒ men jiù zài zhè lǐ chī wǔ cān， fàn hòu sān rén yī tóng jìn chéng。”
　　 yī qiēdōu zhào tā de jiàn yì 'ān pái tíng dāng， zhǐ yòu hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě 'àn zhào fú 'ěr mó sī de yì jiàn， zhǎo gè jiè kǒu liú zài zhè jiān wò shì lǐ。 wǒ xiǎng xiàng bù chū wǒ de péng yǒu jiū jìng shuǎ de shénme huā zhāo， mò bù shì tā xiǎng ràng nà wèi gū niàn lí kāi fèi 'ěr pǔ sī？
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī zhèng yīn wéi yǐ jīng huī fù liǎo jiàn kāng bìng qī wàng cān jiā xíng dòng， gāo gāo xīng xīng dì hé wǒ men yī qǐ zài cān shì jìn wǔ cān。 dàn shì， fú 'ěr mó sī hái yòu yī jiàn gèng shǐ wǒ men dà wéi chī jīng de shì， yīn wéi tā zài péi tóng wǒ men dào chē zhàn bìng sòng wǒ men shàng chē yǐ hòu， bù huāng bù máng dì shēng míng shuō， tā bù dǎ suàn lí kāi wò jīn liǎo。
　　“ zài wǒ zǒu yǐ qián， yòu yī liǎng jiàn xiǎo shì wǒ yào nòng qīng chǔ。” tā shuō dào，“ fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng， nǐ bù zài zhè lǐ， zài mǒu zhǒng chéng dù shàng fǎn 'ér duì wǒ gèng yòu lì。 huá shēng， nǐ men dào lún dūn yǐ hòu， nǐ yī dìng dāyìng wǒ， lì jí hé wǒ men de péng yǒu yī tóng chéng chē dào bèi kè jiē qù， yī zhí děng dào wǒ zài jiàn dào nǐ men wéi zhǐ。 hǎo zài nǐ men liǎng rén shì lǎo tóng xué， yī dìng yòu xǔ duō shì kě yǐ tán de。 jīn wǎn fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng kě yǐ zhù zài wǒ nà jiān wò shì lǐ。 wǒ míng tiān zǎo chén chéng bā diǎn zhōng de huǒ chē dào huá tiě lú chē zhàn， gǎn dé shàng hé nǐ men yī qǐ jìn zǎo cān。”
　　“ kě shì wǒ men zài lún dūn jìn xíng diào chá de shì zěn me bàn ní？” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī jù sàng dì wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ men míng tiān kě yǐ zuò zhè xiē shì。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ xiàn zài liú zài zhè lǐ zhèng shì shí fēn bì yào de。”
　　“ nǐ huí bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi qù hòu kě yǐ gào sù tā men shuō， wǒ xiǎng míng tiān wǎn shàng huí qù，” wǒ men de huǒ chē gāng yào lí kāi yuè tái shí， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī hǎn dào。
　　“ wǒ bù yī dìng huí bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi qù，” fú 'ěr mó sī dá dào， zài wǒ men de huǒ chē lí zhàn shí， tā xiàng wǒ men gāo gāo xīng xīng dì huī shǒu zhì yì。
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī hé wǒ yī lù shàng dōuzài tán lùn zhè jiàn shì， kě shì shuí yě bù néng duì tā zhè gè xīn xíng dòng xiǎng chū yī gè lìng rén mǎn yì de lǐ yóu lái。
　　“ wǒ cāi xiǎng， tā shì xiǎng zhǎo chū zuó yè dào qiè 'àn de xiàn suǒ， rú guǒ zhēn yòu dào zéi de huà。 zhì yú wǒ zì jǐ， wǒ jué bù xiāng xìn nà shì yī gè pǔ tōng de dào zéi。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ zì jǐ de yì jiàn shì shénme ní？”
　　“ lǎo shí shuō， bù guǎn nǐ shì fǒu bǎ tā guī jié wèiwǒ de shén jīng cuì ruò， kě shì wǒ xiāng xìn， zài wǒ zhōu wéi zhèng jìn xíng zhe mǒu zhǒng yǐn mì de yīn móu， bìng qiě yóu yú mǒu zhǒng wǒ bù néng lǐ jiě de yuán yīn， zhè xiē yīn móu jiā xiǎng móu hài wǒ de xìng mìng。 zhè tīng qǐ lái sì hū yòu xiē kuā zhāng hé huāng miù， kě shì qǐng kǎo lǜ yī xià shì shí bā！ wèishénme dào zéi jìng xiǎng qiào kāi wú wù kě dào de wò shì de chuāng hù？ tā yòu wèishénme shǒu zhōng ná zhe cháng dāo ní？”
　　“ nǐ kěn dìng nà bù shì qiào mén yòng de qiào gùn má？”
　　“ ā， bù， shì yī bǎ dāo。 wǒ hěn qīng chǔ dì kàn dào dāo guāng yī shǎn。”
　　“ kě shì jiū jìng wèishénme huì huái yòu nà yàng shēn de chóu hèn lái xí jī nǐ ní？”
　　“ ā， wèn tí jiù zài zhè lǐ liǎo。”
　　“ hǎo， rú guǒ fú 'ěr mó sī yě zhè yàng kàn， nà me zhè jiù kě yǐ shuō míng tā cǎi qǔ zhèyīháng dòng de yuán yīn。 duì má？ jiǎ shè nǐ de xiǎng fǎ shì duì de， tā néng zhuā zhù nà gè zuó yè wēi xié guò nǐ de rén， nà tā jiù xiàng zhǎo dào tōu hǎi jūn xié dìng de rén zhè gè mù biāo qián jìn liǎo yī dà bù。 ruò shè xiǎng nǐ yòu liǎng gè chóu rén。 yī gè tōu liǎo nǐ de dōng xī， lìng yī gè lái wēi xié nǐ de shēng mìng， nà wèi miǎn tài huāng miù kě xiào liǎo。”
　　“ kě shì fú 'ěr mó sī shuō tā bù huí bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi qù。”
　　“ wǒ liǎo jiě tā bù shì yī tiān bàn tiān liǎo，” wǒ shuō dào，“ wǒ hái cóng lái méi jiàn guò tā méi yòu chōng fēn lǐ yóu jiù qù zuò shénme shì qíng。” shuō dào zhè lǐ， wǒ men biàn zhuǎn rù liǎo qí tā huà tí。
　　 kě shì zhè yī tiān bǎ wǒ nòng dé pí bèi bù kān。 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī jiǔ bìng zhī hòu yǐ rán xū ruò， tā suǒ zāo yù de bù xìng gèng jiā shǐ tā yì yú jī nù， jǐn zhāng bù 'ān。 wǒ jìn lì jiǎng yī xiē wǒ zài 'ā fù hàn、 zài yìn dù de wǎng shì， jiǎng yī xiē shè huì wèn tí， jiǎng yī xiē néng gěi tā xiāo chóu jiě mèn de shì， lái shǐ tā kāi xīn， dàn dōuwú jì yú shì。 tā zǒng shì niàn niàn bù wàng nà fèn diū shī de xié dìng， tā jīng yì zhe， cāi cè zhe， sī suǒ zhe， xiǎng zhī dào fú 'ěr mó sī zhèng zài zuò shénme， huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué zhèng zài cǎi qǔ shénme cuò shī， míng tiān zǎo chén wǒ men huì tīng dào shénme xiāo xī。 yè sè shēn chén zhī hòu， tā yóu jī dòng biàn dé tòng kǔ yì cháng。
　　“ nǐ fēi cháng xìn lài fú 'ěr mó sī má？”
　　“ wǒ qīn yǎn jiàn tā bàn liǎo xǔ duō chū sè de 'àn zǐ。”
　　“ kě shì tā hái cóng wèi zhēn pò guò xiàng zhè yàng háo wú tóu xù de 'àn zǐ bā？”
　　“ ā， bù， wǒ zhī dào tā jiě jué guò bǐ nǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ xiàn suǒ hái shǎo de 'àn zǐ。”
　　“ dàn bù shì guān xì rú cǐ zhòng dà de 'àn zǐ bā？”
　　“ zhè wǒ dǎo bù qīng chǔ。 dàn wǒ què shí zhī dào， tā céng wéi 'ōu zhōu sān jiā wáng shì bàn guò jí qí zhòng yào de 'àn zǐ。”
　　“ bù guò nǐ hěn liǎo jiě tā， huá shēng。 tā shì yī gè rú cǐ bù kě sī yì de rén wù， wǒ yǒng yuǎn yě bù zhī rú hé qù lǐ jiě tā。 nǐ rèn wéi tā yòu xī wàng chéng gōng má？ nǐ rèn wéi tā dǎ suàn zhēn pò zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ má？”
　　“ tā shénme yě méi shuō。”
　　“ zhè bù shì yī gè hǎo zhào tóu。”
　　“ qià qià xiāng fǎn。 wǒ céng jīng zhù yì dào， tā shī qù xiàn suǒ de shí hòu zǒng shì shuō shī qù liǎo xiàn suǒ。 zài tā chá dào yī diǎn xiàn suǒ 'ér yòu méi yòu shí fēn bǎ wò de shí hòu， tā jiù tè bié chén mò guǎ yán。 xiàn zài， wǒ qīn 'ài de péng yǒu， wéi zhè shì shǐ zì jǐ xīn shén bù 'ān， sī háo yú shì wú yì， wǒ quàn nǐ kuài shàng chuáng 'ān shuì， míng tiān zǎo shàng bù guǎn xiāo xī hǎo huài， dōunéng jīng shén bǎo mǎn dì qù chù lǐ。”
　　 wǒ zhōng yú shuō fú wǒ de tóng bàn jiē shòu liǎo wǒ de quàn gào， dàn wǒ cóng tā jī dòng de shén tài kàn chū， tā shì méi yòu xī wàng 'ān shuì de。 què shí， tā de qíng xù yě yǐng xiǎng liǎo wǒ， wǒ zì jǐ yě zài chuáng shàng niǎn zhuǎn liǎo bàn yè， bù néng rù shuì， zǎi xì pán suàn zhè gè qí guài de wèn tí， zuò liǎo wú shù de tuī lùn， yī gè bǐ yī gè bù néng chéng lì。 fú 'ěr mó sī wèishénme liú zài wò jīn ní？ wèishénme tā yào hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě zhěng tiān liú zài bìng fáng lǐ ní？ wèishénme tā nà me xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn， bù ràng bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi de rén zhī dào tā dǎ suàn liú zài tā men fù jìn ní？ wǒ jiǎo jìn nǎo zhī jié lì xún zhǎo fú hé zhè yī qièshì shí de jiě dá， zuì hòu cái jiàn jiàn rù shuì。
　　 wǒ yī jué xǐng lái， yǐ jīng qī diǎn zhōng liǎo， biàn lì jí qǐ shēn dào fèi 'ěr pǔ sī fáng lǐ， fā xiàn tā róng yán qiáo cuì， yī dìng shì chè yè wèi mián。 tā dì yī jù huà jiù wèn fú 'ěr mó sī shì fǒu yǐ jīng huí lái。
　　“ tā jì rán dāyìng lái，” wǒ shuō dào，“ jiù yī dìng huì zhǔn shí lái de。”
　　 wǒ de huà guǒ rán bù cuò， bā diǎn gāng guò， yī liàng mǎ chē jí chí dào mén qián， wǒ de péng yǒu cóng chē shàng tiào xià lái。 wǒ men zhàn zài chuāng qián， kàn dào tā zuǒ shǒu chán zhe bēng dài， miàn sè yán sù 'ér cāng bái。 tā zǒu jìn zhái nèi， guò liǎo yī huì cái lái dào lóu shàng。
　　“ tā sì hū jīng pí lì jìn liǎo，” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī hǎn dào。
　　 wǒ bù dé bù chéng rèn tā shuō dé duì。“ bì jìng，” wǒ shuō dào，“ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de xiàn suǒ kě néng hái shì zài chéng lǐ。”
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī liǎo yī shēng。
　　“ wǒ bù zhī dào zhè shì zěn me huí shì，” tā shuō dào，“ kě shì wǒ duì tā huí lái bào yòu nà me duō de xī wàng。 bù guò tā de shǒu zuó tiān bìng méi yòu xiàng zhè yàng chán zhe。 zhè jiū jìng shì zěn me huí shì ní？”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī， nǐ méi yòu shòu shāng má？” wǒ de péng yǒu zǒu jìn wū nèi shí， wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ āi， zhè bù guò shì yóu yú wǒ shǒu jiǎo bèn zhuō， cā shāng liǎo diǎn pí，” tā yī miàn diǎn tóu xiàng wǒ men wèn hòu， yī miàn huí dá dào，“ fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng， nǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ， tóng wǒ guò qù chá bàn guò de suǒ yòu 'àn zǐ xiāng bǐ， què shí shì zuì yǐn mì de liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ pà nǐ duì zhè 'àn zǐ shì lì bù cóng xīn liǎo。”
　　“ zhè shì yī cì shí fēn qí yì de jīng lì。”
　　“ nǐ shǒu shàng de bēng dài jiù shuō míng nǐ céng jīng lì guò xiǎn，” wǒ shuō dào，“ nǐ néng bù néng gào sù wǒ men fā shēng liǎo shénme shì？”
　　“ děng chī guò zǎo cān zài shuō bā， wǒ qīn 'ài de huá shēng。 bié wàng liǎo jīn tiān zǎo chén wǒ cóng sà lǐ gǎn liǎo sān shí yīng lǐ lù。 dà gài， wǒ nà fèn xún zhǎo mǎ chē de guǎng gào hái méi yòu zhuóluò bā？ hǎo liǎo， hǎo liǎo， wǒ men bù néng zhǐ wàng yī qiēdōu shùn lì。”
　　 cān zhuō yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo liǎo， wǒ gāng yào 'àn líng， hè dé sēn tài tài jiù bǎ chá diǎn hé kā fēi sòng lái liǎo。 jǐ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， tā yòu sòng shàng sān fèn zǎo cān， wǒ men yī qí jiù zuò， fú 'ěr mó sī lángtūnhǔyàn dì chī qǐ lái， wǒ hǎo qí dì wàng zhe， fèi 'ěr pǔ sī mèn mèn bù lè， chuí tóu sàng qì。
　　“ hè dé sēn tài tài hěn shàn yú yìng jí，” fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ yī pán gālí jī de gài zǐ dǎ kāi shuō dào，“ tā huì zuò de cài yòu xiàn， kě shì xiàng sū gé lán nǚ rén yī yàng， zhè fèn zǎo cān xiǎng dé hěn miào。 huá shēng， nǐ nà shì shénme cài？”
　　“ yī fèn huǒ tuǐ dàn，” wǒ dá dào。
　　“ tài hǎo liǎo！ fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng， nǐ xǐ huān chī shénme， gālí jī hái shì huǒ tuǐ dàn？ yào bù rán， jiù qǐng nǐ chī nǐ zì jǐ nà yī fèn bā。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ， wǒ shénme yě chī bù xià qù，” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī shuō dào。
　　“ ā， lái bā！ qǐng chī yī diǎn nǐ miàn qián nà yī fèn。”
　　“ xiè xiè nǐ， wǒ què shí bù xiǎng chī。”
　　“ hǎo， nà me，” fú 'ěr mó sī tiáopí dì zhǎ liǎo zhǎ yǎn， shuō dào，“ wǒ xiǎng nǐ bù huì jù jué wǒ de hǎo yì bā。”
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī dǎ kāi gài zǐ， tā gāng yī dǎ kāi， tū rán fā chū yī shēng jiān jiào， miàn sè xiàng cài pán yī yàng cāng bái， zuò zài nà lǐ dāi dāi dì wàng zhe pán nèi。 yuán lái pán nèi fàng zhe yī gè lán huī sè xiǎo zhǐ juàn。 tā yī bǎ zhuā qǐ lái， shuāng yǎn zhí lèng lèng dì kàn zhe， rán hòu bǎ nà zhǐ juàn 'àn zài xiōng qián， gāo xīng dé jiān shēng hǎn jiào， zài shì nèi rú chī rú kuáng dì shǒu wǔ zú dǎo qǐ lái， rán hòu dǎo zài yī zhāng fú shǒu yǐ zhōng， yóu yú guòfèn jī dòng 'ér ruǎn ruò bù kān， jīn pí lì jìn。 wǒ men zhǐ hǎo gěi tā guàn liǎo yī diǎn bái lán dì， shǐ tā bù zhì hūn jué guò qù。
　　“ hǎo lā！ hǎo lā！” fú 'ěr mó sī qīng qīng pāi zhe fèi 'ěr pǔ sī de jiān bǎng， ān wèi tā shuō，“ xiàng zhè yàng tū rán bǎ tā fàng dào nǐ miàn qián， shí zài shì tài zāo gāo liǎo， bù guò huá shēng huì gào sù nǐ， wǒ zǒng shì rěn bù zhù xiǎng bǎ shì qíng zuòde dài diǎn xì jù xìng。”
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī zhuā zhe fú 'ěr mó sī de shǒu wěn gè bù tíng。
　　“ shàng dì bǎo yòu nǐ！” tā dà shēng hǎn dào，“ nǐ wǎn jiù liǎo wǒ de róng yù。”
　　“ hǎo lā， nǐ zhī dào， zhè yě guān xì zhe wǒ zì jǐ de róng yù，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ yīnggāi qǐng nǐ fàng xīn， wǒ bàn 'àn shī bài， hé nǐ shòu tuō shī xìn yī yàng， dōushì bù yú kuài de。”
　　 fèi 'ěr pǔ sī bǎ zhè fèn zhēn guì wén jiàn chuài jìn tā shàng yī lǐ miàn tiē shēn de kǒu dài。
　　“ wǒ suī bù xiǎng zài dǎ rǎo nǐ chī zǎo cān， kě shì wǒ shì kě wàng zhī dào nǐ shì zěn yàng bǎ tā nòng dào shǒu， zài nǎ lǐ zhǎo dào de。”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī hē wán yī bēi kā fēi， yòu bǎ huǒ tuǐ dàn chī wán， rán hòu zhàn qǐ shēn lái， diǎn shàng yān dǒu， ān rán zuò dào yǐ zǐ shàng。
　　“ wǒ jiǎng jiǎng wǒ xiān zuò liǎo xiē shénme， hòu lái yòu shì rú hé zhuóshǒu qù zuò de。” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ cóng chē zhàn hé nǐ men fēn shǒu hòu， wǒ jiù yōu rán zì dé dì tú bù 'ér xíng， jīng guò yōu měi de sà lǐ fēng jǐng qū， lái dào yī gè míng jiào lǐ pǔ lì de xiǎo cūn luò， zài xiǎo kè diàn lǐ chī guò chá diǎn， rán hòu guàn mǎn shuǐ hú， kǒu dài lǐ zhuāng liǎo yī kuài jiā xīn miàn bāo， zuò hǎo liǎo yī qiē zhǔn bèi。 wǒ yī zhí děng dào bàng wǎn， cái yòu fǎn huí wò jīn， dāng wǒ lái dào bù lǐ 'ěr bù léi bàng biān de gōng lù shí， yǐ shì huáng hūn shí fēn liǎo。
　　“ ǹg， wǒ yī zhí děng dào gōng lù shàng miǎo wú rén jì héng héng wǒ xiǎng， nà tiáo gōng lù shàng xíng rén cóng lái bù tài duō de héng héng yú shì wǒ pá guò shān lán， lái dào wū hòu zhái dì。”
　　“ nà dà mén rì yè dōushì kāi zhe de 'ā，” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī tū rán hǎn dào。
　　“ bù cuò， kě shì wǒ tè bié xǐ 'ài zhè me gān。 wǒ xuǎn zé liǎo cháng zhe sān kē cōng shù de dì fāng， zài zhè xiē cōng shù yǎn bì xià， wǒ zǒu liǎo guò qù， wū zǐ lǐ méi yòu yī gè rén néng kàn dào wǒ。 wǒ dūn fú zài bàng biān de guàn mù cóng zhōng， cóng yī kē shù pú fú qián jìn dào lìng yī kē héng héng wǒ kù zǐ xī gài pò chéng zhè yàng jiù shì zhèng míng， yī zhí pá dào nǐ wò shì chuāng hù duì guò de nà cóng dù juān huā bàng biān。 wǒ zài nà 'ér dūn xià lái， děng hòu shì qíng de fā zhǎn。
　　“ nǐ fáng lǐ de chuāng lián hái méi yòu fàng xià， wǒ kě yǐ wàng jiàn hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě zuò zài zhuō bàng kàn shū。 tā hé shàng shū guān láo bǎi yè chuāng tuì chū wò shì shí， yǐ shì shí diǎn yī kè liǎo。
　　“ wǒ tīng dào tā guān mén， qīng chǔ dì tīng dào tā yòng yàoshì suǒ mén de shēng yīn。”
　　“ yàoshì？” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī tū rán hǎn dào。
　　“ duì， wǒ shì xiān fēn fù guò hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě， zài tā jiù qǐn shí， cóng nǐ de wò shì wài miàn bǎ mén suǒ shàng， bìng qiě qīn zì ná zhe yàoshì。 tā yī sī bù gǒu dì zhí xíng liǎo wǒ de gè xiàng mìng lìng， kěn dìng shuō， yào shì méi yòu tā de hé zuò， nǐ jiù bù huì zhǎo dào nǐ shàng yī kǒu dài zhōng de nà fèn wén jiàn liǎo， hòu lái tā zǒu kāi liǎo， dēng yě xī liǎo， wǒ yǐ jiù dūn zài dù juān huā cóng zhōng。
　　“ yè sè qíng lǎng， dàn shǒu hòu qǐ lái réng rán shì lìng rén yàn fán de。 dāng rán， nà zhǒng jī dòng de xīn qíng， jiù rú tóng yú rén tǎng zài hé biān shǒu hòu yú qún yī yàng。 bù guò， shí jiān děng dé fēi cháng jiǔ， huá shēng， jīhū jiù xiàng nǐ wǒ zài chá jiū‘ bān diǎn dài zǐ 'àn’ nà gè xiǎo wèn tí shí， zài nà jiān sǐ qì chén chén de wū zǐ lǐ děng hòu de shí jiān yī yàng cháng。 wò jīn jiào táng de zhōng shēng yī kè zhōng yī kè zhōng dì xiǎng guò qù， wǒ bù zhǐ yī cì dì xiǎng， yě xǔ bù huì fā shēng shénme shì liǎo。 kě shì， zhōng yú zài líng chén liǎng diǎn zhōng zuǒ yòu， wǒ tū rán tīng dào lā kāi mén shuān hé yàoshì zhuàndòng de xiǎng shēng。 qǐng kè jiān， gōng pú yì chū rù de mén kāi liǎo， yuē sè fū · hā lǐ lín xiān shēng zài yuè guāng xià zǒu liǎo chū lái。”
　　“ yuē sè fū？！” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī tū rán hǎn dào。
　　“ tā guāng zhe tóu， kě shì jiān shàng pī zhe yī jiàn hēi dǒu péng， yǐ biàn zài yù dào jǐn jí qíng kuàng shí， tā kě yǐ lì jí bǎ liǎn méng shàng。 tā niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì zǒu dào qiáng bì yīn yǐng xià， jiē jìn chuāng hù， jiāng yī bǎ cháng bó piàn dāo chā rù chuāng kuàng， bō kāi chuāng shuān。 rán hòu tā qiào kāi chuāng hù， yòu bǎ dāo zǐ chā jìn bǎi yè chuāng féng zhōng， bǎ bǎi yè chuāng dǎ kāi liǎo。
　　“ wǒ cóng cáng shēn de dì fāng kě yǐ kàn qīng shì nèi qíng kuàng hé tā de yī jǔ yī dòng。 tā diǎn rán bì lú tái shàng de liǎng zhī là zhú， dòng shǒu juǎnqǐ mén bàng dì tǎn de yī jiǎo。 yī huì 'ér wān yāo qǔ xià yī kuài xiǎo fāng mù bǎn， nà shì gōng guǎn zǐ gōng xiū lǐ méi qì guǎn dào jiē tóu shí yòng de。 zhè kuài mù bǎn gài zhe dīng zì xíng méi qì guǎn jiē tóu， yòu tiáo guǎn zǐ tōng wǎng lóu xià chú fáng， shì gěi chú fáng gōng méi qì yòng de。 yuē sè fū cóng zhè yǐn bì zhī chù qǔ chū yī xiǎo juàn zhǐ lái， bǎ mù bǎn chóngxīn gài hǎo， yòu bǎ dì tǎn pū píng， chuī xī liǎo là zhú， yīn wéi wǒ zhèng zhàn zài chuāng wài shǒu hòu tā， tā yī xià zǐ zhuàng jìn wǒ huái lǐ。
　　“ ā， yuē sè fū xiān shēng bǐ wǒ xiǎng xiàng de hái yào xiōng 'è dé duō！ tā ná dāo xiàng wǒ pū lái， wǒ bù dé bù zài cì zhuā zhù tā， zài wǒ zhàn shàng fēng zhī qián， wǒ zhǐ jié shàng ràng dāo huá shāng liǎo。 zài wǒ men jié shù bó dǒu zhī hòu， tā yóu yú jǐn néng yòng yī zhǐ yǎn kàn rén， kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè xiōng fàn， kě shì tā tīng liǎo wǒ de quàn gào， bǎ wén jiàn jiāo liǎo chū lái。 wǒ ná dào wén jiàn， biàn fàng tā zǒu liǎo。 bù guò wǒ jīn zǎo gěi fú bù sī fā liǎo yī fèn diàn bào， bǎ xiáng qíng dū gào sù tā liǎo。 rú guǒ tā dòng zuò má lì， néng zhuā zhù tā yào zhuō de rén， nà jiù tài hǎo liǎo。 kě shì rú guǒ xiàng wǒ yù liào de nà yàng， tā gǎn dào nà lǐ rén yǐ jīng táo zǒu liǎo， e， nà zhèng fǔ hái bā bù dé ní。 wǒ xiǎng， shǒu xiān， huò 'ěr dé hè sī tè xūn jué， qí cì， pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī xiān shēng dū nìngyuàn zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ bù jīng wéi jǐng zuì fǎ tíng shěn lǐ cái hǎo ní。”
　　“ wǒ de tiān 'ā！” wǒ men de wěi tuō rén dào，“ qǐng gào sù wǒ， nán dào zài wǒ jí qí tòng kǔ de shí gè xīng qī zhōng， zhè fèn shī qiè wén jiàn shǐ zhōng hé wǒ yī qǐ zài nà jiān wū zǐ lǐ má？”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ nà me yuē sè fū！ yuē sè fū shì yī gè 'è gùn hé dào zéi liǎo！”
　　“ hāi！ kǒng pà yuē sè fū shì yī gè bǐ tā wài biǎo kàn lái gèng yīn xiǎn、 gèng wēi xiǎn de rén wù。 cóng tā jīn zǎo duì wǒ suǒ shuō de huà lái kàn， wǒ tuī cè tā zài gǔ piào jiāo yì zhōng kuī liǎo xuè běn， wèile zhuǎn zhuǎn yùn qì， shénme huài shìdōu zhǔn bèi qù gān。 zuò wéi yī gè jí duān zì sī de rén， yī pèng dào jī huì， tā jì bù gù tā mèi mèi de xìng fú， yě bù kǎo lǜ nǐ de míng yù。”
　　 pò xī · fèi 'ěr pǔ sī zuò huí tā de yǐ zhōng。“ wǒ de tóu dū hūn liǎo，” tā shuō dào，“ nǐ de huà shǐ wǒ gèng jiā yūntóu zhuànxiàng。”
　　“ nǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ zuì zhù yào de kùn nán，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō jiào sì dì zhǐ chū dào，“ jiù zài yú xiàn suǒ tài duō。 jí zhòng yào de xiàn suǒ bèi háo bù xiāng gān de jì xiàng zhē yǎn zhù liǎo。 wǒ men miàn qián de shì shí fēi cháng duō， zhǐ néng cóng zhōng xuǎn zé bì yào de， àn shùn xù bǎ tā men chuàn qǐ lái， yǐ biàn zhòng shì zhè yī lián chuàn guài shì de gè gè huán jié。 wǒ kāi shǐ duì yuē sè fū chǎn shēng huái yí de gēn jù shì， nǐ céng dǎ suàn zài shī qiè de nà tiān wǎn shàng hé tā yī qǐ huí jiā， wǒ hěn zì rán xiǎng dào tā bì rán huì lái zhǎo nǐ， yīn wéi tā duì wài jiāo bù hěn shú xī， yòu shì shùn lù。 hòu lái wǒ tīng nǐ shuō yòu rén jí yú qián rù nà jiān wò shì。
　　 wǒ xiǎng， zhǐ yòu yuē sè fū cái kě néng bǎ dōng zài nà jiān wò shì lǐ héng héng nǐ duì wǒ men shuō guò nǐ nà tiān hé yī shēng yī qǐ huí dào wò shì shí， shì zěn yàng ràng yuē sè fū bān chū wò shì de héng héng dào nà shí wǒ de huái yí jiù biàn chéng liǎo kěn dìng。 tè bié shì tóu yī yè méi yòu rén péi nǐ zhù， jiù yòu rén qǐ tú qián rù shì nèi， zhè shuō míng zhè wèi bù sù zhī kè duì fáng nèi de qíng kuàng hěn shú xī。”
　　“ wǒ shì duō me yòu yǎn wú zhū 'ā！”
　　“ wǒ chá míng zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de shì shí jīng guò shì zhè yàng de： yuē sè fū · hā lǐ sēn cóng tōng xiàng chá 'ěr sī jiē de nà gè bàng mén zǒu jìn wài jiāo bù， yīn wéi tā shú xī lù， suǒ yǐ zài nǐ lí kāi bàn gōng shì shí， tā zhí jiē chuǎng jìn qù， fā xiàn nà lǐ yī gè rén yě méi yòu， lì kè 'àn qǐ diàn líng lái， zhèng zài 'àn líng shí， yī yǎn kàn dào zhuō shàng de wén jiàn。 yī piē zhī jiān， tā jué dé tā miàn qián shì yī gè hěn hǎo de jī huì， kě yǐ dé dào yī fèn jí yòu jià zhí de guó jiā wén jiàn， tā yī xià zǐ bǎ tā chuài dào kǒu dài lǐ yáng cháng 'ér qù。 zhèng rú nǐ suǒ huí yì de nà yàng， guò liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng dǎ dǔn gāng xǐng de kānmén rén cái tí xǐng nǐ zhù yì líng shēng， zhè yī diǎn shí jiān shì zú gòu dào zéi táo páo de liǎo。
　　“ tā chéng dì yī bān chē huí dào wò jīn， jiǎn chá liǎo zāng wù， kěn dìng tā jí wéi zhēn guì， biàn bǎ nà fèn xié dìng cáng dào tā rèn wéi fēi cháng 'ān quán de dì fāng， qǐ tú yī liǎng tiān nèi qǔ chū， sòng dào fǎ guó dà shǐ guǎn huò tā rèn wéi kě yǐ chū gāo jià de rèn hé dì fāng。 kě shì nǐ tū rán fǎn huí jiā zhōng。 tā cuò shǒu bù jí， jiù cóng nà jiān wò shì bān liǎo chū lái。
　　 cóng nà shí yǐ hòu， wū lǐ yī zhí zhì shǎo yòu liǎng gè rén zài， shǐ tā zài yě wú fǎ ná chū tā de zhēn bǎo。 zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng jiǎn zhí shǐ tā jí dé fā fēng。 bù guò tā zhōng yú kàn dào liǎo jī huì。 tā shè fǎ qián rù shì nèi， kě shì nǐ méi yòu shuì shú， cuò bài liǎo tā de jìhuà。
　　 nǐ kě néng hái jì dé， nà tiān wǎn shàng nǐ méi yòu fú yòng píng cháng chī de nà zhǒng yào。”
　　“ wǒ jì dé。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng， tā yī dìng zài nà yào lǐ zuò liǎo shǒu jiǎo， yīn cǐ tā xiāng xìn nǐ yī dìng huì háo wú zhī jué liǎo。 dāng rán， wǒ zhī dào， bù guǎn shénme shí hòu， zhǐ yào tā jué dé néng háo wú wēi xiǎn dì chóngxīn zài gān， nà tā hái shì yào zài qù shì shì de。 nǐ lí kāi wò shì zì rán shì tā qiú zhī bù dé de jī huì。 wǒ ràng hā lǐ sēn xiǎo jiě zhěng tiān dài zài wū lǐ， wéi de shì shǐ tā bù néng chèn wǒ men bù zài shí xiān xià shǒu。 wǒ yī fāng miàn shǐ tā wù rèn wéi méi yòu wēi xiǎn， yī fāng miàn， zhèng rú gāng cái shuō guò de， jiān shì zhe wò shì nèi de dòng jìng。 wǒ zǎo jiù zhī dào wén jiàn shí zhī shì cáng zài wò shì lǐ， dàn wǒ bù yuàn chāi kāi suǒ yòu de dì bǎn hé bì jiǎo qù sōu xún tā。 wǒ ràng tā zì jǐ cóng yǐn cáng zhī chù ná chū lái， wǒ jiù shěng liǎo xǔ duō má fán。 hái yòu shénme dì fāng wǒ méi yòu jiǎng qīng chǔ de má？”
　　“ dì yī cì tā běn lái kě yǐ cóng mén lǐ jìn qù， wèishénme piān yào qiào chuāng hù ní？”
　　 wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ cóng mén lǐ jìn tā dé rào guò qī jiān wò shì， lìng yī fāng miàn， tā cóng chuāng hù què kě yǐ háo bù fèi lì dì tiào jìn cǎo píng。 hái yòu shénme wèn tí má？”
　　“ nǐ bù rèn wéi，” fèi 'ěr pǔ sī wèn dào，“ tā yòu shénme xíng xiōng de qǐ tú má？
　　 nà bǎ dāo zǐ zhǐ néng zuò xiōng qì yòng 'ā。”
　　“ kě néng shì zhè yàng，” fú 'ěr mó sī sǒng sǒng shuāng jiān huí dá dào，“ wǒ zhǐ néng kěn dìng dì shuō， yuē sè fū · hā lǐ lín xiān shēng jué duì bù shì yī gè kěn fā shàn xīn de jūn zǐ。”

　　"How about the fireplace?"
　　
　　"They use none. There is a stove. The bell-rope hangs from the wire just to the right of my desk. Whoever rang it must have come right up to the desk to do it. But why should any criminal wish to ring the bell? It is a most insoluble mystery."
　　
　　"Certainly the incident was unusual. What were your next steps? You examined the room, I presume, to see if the intruder had left any traces--any cigar-end or dropped glove or hairpin or other trifle?"
　　
　　"There was nothing of the sort."
　　
　　"No smell?"
　　
　　"Well, we never thought of that."
　　
　　"Ah, a scent of tobacco would have been worth a great deal to us in such an investigation."
　　
　　"I never smoke myself, so I think I should have observed it if there had been any smell of tobacco. There was absolutely no clue of any kind. The only tangible fact was that the commissionnaire's wife--Mrs. Tangey was the name--had hurried out of the place. He could give no explanation save that it was about the time when the woman always went home. The policeman and I agreed that our best plan would be to seize the woman before she could get rid of the papers, presuming that she had them.
　　
　　"The alarm had reached Scotland Yard by this time, and Mr. Forbes, the detective, came round at once and took up the case with a great deal of energy. We hired a hansom, and in half an hour we were at the address which had been given to us. A young woman opened the door, who proved to be Mrs. Tangey's eldest daughter. Her mother had not come back yet, and we were shown into the front room to wait.
　　
　　"About ten minutes later a knock came at the door, and here we made the one serious mistake for which I blame myself. Instead of opening the door ourselves, we allowed the girl to do so. We heard her say, 'Mother, there are two men in the house waiting to see you,' and an instant afterwards we heard the patter of feet rushing down the passage. Forbes flung open the door, and we both ran into the back room or kitchen, but the woman had got there before us. She stared at us with defiant eyes, and then, suddenly recognizing me, an expression of absolute astonishment came over her face.
　　
　　"'Why, if it isn't Mr. Phelps, of the office!' she cried.
　　
　　"'Come, come, who did you think we were when you ran away from us?' asked my companion.
　　
　　"'I thought you were the brokers,' said she, 'we have had some trouble with a tradesman.'
　　
　　"'That's not quite good enough,' answered Forbes. 'We have reason to believe that you have taken a paper of importance from the Foreign Office, and that you ran in here to dispose of it. You must come back with us to Scotland Yard to be searched.'
　　
　　"It was in vain that she protested and resisted. A four-wheeler was brought, and we all three drove back in it. We had first made an examination of the kitchen, and especially of the kitchen fire, to see whether she might have made away with the papers during the instant that she was alone. There were no signs, however, of any ashes or scraps. When we reached Scotland Yard she was handed over at once to the female searcher. I waited in an agony of suspense until she came back with her report. There were no signs of the papers.
　　
　　"Then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its full force. Hitherto I had been acting, and action had numbed thought. I had been so confident of regaining the treaty at once that I had not dared to think of what would be the consequence if I failed to do so. But now there was nothing more to be done, and I had leisure to realize my position. It was horrible. Watson there would tell you that I was a nervous, sensitive boy at school. It is my nature. I thought of my uncle and of his colleagues in the Cabinet, of the shame which I had brought upon him, upon myself, upon every one connected with me. What though I was the victim of an extraordinary accident? No allowance is made for accidents where diplomatic interests are at stake. I was ruined, shamefully, hopelessly ruined. I don't know what I did. I fancy I must have made a scene. I have a dim recollection of a group of officials who crowded round me, endeavoring to soothe me. One of them drove down with me to Waterloo, and saw me into the Woking train. I believe that he would have come all the way had it not been that Dr. Ferrier, who lives near me, was going down by that very train. The doctor most kindly took charge of me, and it was well he did so, for I had a fit in the station, and before we reached home I was practically a raving maniac.
　　
　　"You can imagine the state of things here when they were roused from their beds by the doctor's ringing and found me in this condition. Poor Annie here and my mother were broken-hearted. Dr. Ferrier had just heard enough from the detective at the station to be able to give an idea of what had happened, and his story did not mend matters. It was evident to all that I was in for a long illness, so Joseph was bundled out of this cheery bedroom, and it was turned into a sick-room for me. Here I have lain, Mr. Holmes, for over nine weeks, unconscious, and raving with brain-fever. If it had not been for Miss Harrison here and for the doctor's care I should not be speaking to you now. She has nursed me by day and a hired nurse has looked after me by night, for in my mad fits I was capable of anything. Slowly my reason has cleared, but it is only during the last three days that my memory has quite returned. Sometimes I wish that it never had. The first thing that I did was to wire to Mr. Forbes, who had the case in hand. He came out, and assures me that, though everything has been done, no trace of a clue has been discovered. The commissionnaire and his wife have been examined in every way without any light being thrown upon the matter. The suspicions of the police then rested upon young Gorot, who, as you may remember, stayed over time in the office that night. His remaining behind and his French name were really the only two points which could suggest suspicion; but, as a matter of fact, I did not begin work until he had gone, and his people are of Huguenot extraction, but as English in sympathy and tradition as you and I are. Nothing was found to implicate him in any way, and there the matter dropped. I turn to you, Mr. Holmes, as absolutely my last hope. If you fail me, then my honor as well as my position are forever forfeited."
　　
　　The invalid sank back upon his cushions, tired out by this long recital, while his nurse poured him out a glass of some stimulating medicine. Holmes sat silently, with his head thrown back and his eyes closed, in an attitude which might seem listless to a stranger, but which I knew betokened the most intense self-absorption.
　　
　　"You statement has been so explicit," said he at last, "that you have really left me very few questions to ask. There is one of the very utmost importance, however. Did you tell any one that you had this special task to perform?"
　　
　　"No one."
　　
　　"Not Miss Harrison here, for example?"
　　
　　"No. I had not been back to Woking between getting the order and executing the commission."
　　
　　"And none of your people had by chance been to see you?"
　　
　　"None."
　　
　　"Did any of them know their way about in the office?"
　　
　　"Oh, yes, all of them had been shown over it."
　　
　　"Still, of course, if you said nothing to any one about the treaty these inquiries are irrelevant."
　　
　　"I said nothing."
　　
　　"Do you know anything of the commissionnaire?"
　　
　　"Nothing except that he is an old soldier."
　　
　　"What regiment?"
　　
　　"Oh, I have heard--Coldstream Guards."
　　
　　"Thank you. I have no doubt I can get details from Forbes. The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage. What a lovely thing a rose is!"
　　
　　He walked past the couch to the open window, and held up the drooping stalk of a moss-rose, looking down at the dainty blend of crimson and green. It was a new phase of his character to me, for I had never before seen him show any keen interest in natural objects.
　　
　　"There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion," said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. "It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers our desires, our food, are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers."
　　
　　Percy Phelps and his nurse looked at Holmes during this demonstration with surprise and a good deal of disappointment written upon their faces. He had fallen into a reverie, with the moss-rose between his fingers. It had lasted some minutes before the young lady broke in upon it.
　　
　　"Do you see any prospect of solving this mystery, Mr. Holmes?" she asked, with a touch of asperity in her voice.
　　
　　"Oh, the mystery!" he answered, coming back with a start to the realities of life. "Well, it would be absurd to deny that the case is a very abstruse and complicated one, but I can promise you that I will look into the matter and let you know any points which may strike me."
　　
　　"Do you see any clue?"
　　
　　"You have furnished me with seven, but, of course, I must test them before I can pronounce upon their value."
　　
　　"You suspect some one?"
　　
　　"I suspect myself."
　　
　　"What!"
　　
　　"Of coming to conclusions too rapidly."
　　
　　"Then go to London and test your conclusions."
　　
　　"Your advice is very excellent, Miss Harrison," said Holmes, rising. "I think, Watson, we cannot do better. Do not allow yourself to indulge in false hopes, Mr. Phelps. The affair is a very tangled one."
　　
　　"I shall be in a fever until I see you again," cried the diplomatist.
　　
　　"Well, I'll come out be the same train to-morrow, though it's more than likely that my report will be a negative one."
　　
　　"God bless you for promising to come," cried our client. "It gives me fresh life to know that something is being done. By the way, I have had a letter from Lord Holdhurst."
　　
　　"Ha! What did he say?"
　　
　　"He was cold, but not harsh. I dare say my severe illness prevented him from being that. He repeated that the matter was of the utmost importance, and added that no steps would be taken about my future--by which he means, of course, my dismissal--until my health was restored and I had an opportunity of repairing my misfortune."
　　
　　"Well, that was reasonable and considerate," said Holmes. "Come, Watson, for we have a good day's work before us in town."
　　
　　Mr. Joseph Harrison drove us down to the station, and we were soon whirling up in a Portsmouth train. Holmes was sunk in profound thought, and hardly opened his mouth until we had passed Clapham Junction.
　　
　　"It's a very cheery thing to come into London by any of these lines which run high, and allow you to look down upon the houses like this."
　　
　　I thought he was joking, for the view was sordid enough, but he soon explained himself.
　　
　　"Look at those big, isolated clumps of building rising up above the slates, like brick islands in a lead-colored sea."
　　
　　"The board-schools."
　　
　　"Light-houses, my boy! Beacons of the future! Capsules with hundreds of bright little seeds in each, out of which will spring the wise, better England of the future. I suppose that man Phelps does not drink?"
　　
　　"I should not think so."
　　
　　"Nor should I, but we are bound to take every possibility into account. The poor devil has certainly got himself into very deep water, and it's a question whether we shall ever be able to get him ashore. What did you think of Miss Harrison?"
　　
　　"A girl of strong character."
　　
　　"Yes, but she is a good sort, or I am mistaken. She and her brother are the only children of an iron-master somewhere up Northumberland way. He got engaged to her when traveling last winter, and she came down to be introduced to his people, with her brother as escort. Then came the smash, and she stayed on to nurse her lover, while brother Joseph, finding himself pretty snug, stayed on too. I've been making a few independent inquiries, you see. But to-day must be a day of inquiries."
　　
　　"My practice--" I began.
　　
　　"Oh, if you find your own cases more interesting than mine--" said Holmes, with some asperity.
　　
　　"I was going to say that my practice could get along very well for a day or two, since it is the slackest time in the year."
　　
　　"Excellent," said he, recovering his good-humor. "Then we'll look into this matter together. I think that we should begin by seeing Forbes. He can probably tell us all the details we want until we know from what side the case is to be approached."
　　
　　"You said you had a clue?"
　　
　　"Well, we have several, but we can only test their value by further inquiry. The most difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless. Now this is not purposeless. Who is it who profits by it? There is the French ambassador, there is the Russian, there is whoever might sell it to either of these, and there is Lord Holdhurst."
　　
　　"Lord Holdhurst!"
　　
　　"Well, it is just conceivable that a statesman might find himself in a position where he was not sorry to have such a document accidentally destroyed."
　　
　　"Not a statesman with the honorable record of Lord Holdhurst?"
　　
　　"It is a possibility and we cannot afford to disregard it. We shall see the noble lord to-day and find out if he can tell us anything. Meanwhile I have already set inquiries on foot."
　　
　　"Already?"
　　
　　"Yes, I sent wires from Woking station to every evening paper in London. This advertisement will appear in each of them."
　　
　　He handed over a sheet torn from a note-book. On it was scribbled in pencil: "L10 reward. The number of the cab which dropped a fare at or about the door of the Foreign Office in Charles Street at quarter to ten in the evening of May 23d. Apply 221 B, Baker Street."
　　
　　"You are confident that the thief came in a cab?"
　　
　　"If not, there is no harm done. But if Mr. Phelps is correct in stating that there is no hiding-place either in the room or the corridors, then the person must have come from outside. If he came from outside on so wet a night, and yet left no trace of damp upon the linoleum, which was examined within a few minutes of his passing, then it is exceeding probable that he came in a cab. Yes, I think that we may safely deduce a cab."
　　
　　"It sounds plausible."
　　
　　"That is one of the clues of which I spoke. It may lead us to something. And then, of course, there is the bell--which is the most distinctive feature of the case. Why should the bell ring? Was it the thief who did it out of bravado? Or was it some one who was with the thief who did it in order to prevent the crime? Or was it an accident? Or was it--?" He sank back into the state of intense and silent thought from which he had emerged; but it seemed to me, accustomed as I was to his every mood, that some new possibility had dawned suddenly upon him.
　　
　　It was twenty past three when we reached our terminus, and after a hasty luncheon at the buffet we pushed on at once to Scotland Yard. Holmes had already wired to Forbes, and we found him waiting to receive us--a small, foxy man with a sharp but by no means amiable expression. He was decidedly frigid in his manner to us, especially when he heard the errand upon which we had come.
　　
　　"I've heard of your methods before now, Mr. Holmes," said he, tartly. "You are ready enough to use all the information that the police can lay at your disposal, and then you try to finish the case yourself and bring discredit on them."
　　
　　"On the contrary," said Holmes, "out of my last fifty-three cases my name has only appeared in four, and the police have had all the credit in forty-nine. I don't blame you for not knowing this, for you are young and inexperienced, but if you wish to get on in your new duties you will work with me and not against me."
　　
　　"I'd be very glad of a hint or two," said the detective, changing his manner. "I've certainly had no credit from the case so far."
　　
　　"What steps have you taken?"
　　
　　"Tangey, the commissionnaire, has been shadowed. He left the Guards with a good character and we can find nothing against him. His wife is a bad lot, though. I fancy she knows more about this than appears."
　　
　　"Have you shadowed her?"
　　
　　"We have set one of our women on to her. Mrs. Tangey drinks, and our woman has been with her twice when she was well on, but she could get nothing out of her."
　　
　　"I understand that they have had brokers in the house?"
　　
　　"Yes, but they were paid off."
　　
　　"Where did the money come from?"
　　
　　"That was all right. His pension was due. They have not shown any sign of being in funds."
　　
　　"What explanation did she give of having answered the bell when Mr. Phelps rang for the coffee?"
　　
　　"She said that he husband was very tired and she wished to relieve him."
　　
　　"Well, certainly that would agree with his being found a little later asleep in his chair. There is nothing against them then but the woman's character. Did you ask her why she hurried away that night? Her haste attracted the attention of the police constable."
　　
　　"She was later than usual and wanted to get home."
　　
　　"Did you point out to her that you and Mr. Phelps, who started at least twenty minutes after her, got home before her?"
　　
　　"She explains that by the difference between a 'bus and a hansom."
　　
　　"Did she make it clear why, on reaching her house, she ran into the back kitchen?"
　　
　　"Because she had the money there with which to pay off the brokers."
　　
　　"She has at least an answer for everything. Did you ask her whether in leaving she met any one or saw any one loitering about Charles Street?"
　　
　　"She saw no one but the constable."
　　
　　"Well, you seem to have cross-examined her pretty thoroughly. What else have you done?"
　　
　　"The clerk Gorot has been shadowed all these nine weeks, but without result. We can show nothing against him."
　　
　　"Anything else?"
　　
　　"Well, we have nothing else to go upon--no evidence of any kind."
　　
　　"Have you formed a theory about how that bell rang?"
　　
　　"Well, I must confess that it beats me. It was a cool hand, whoever it was, to go and give the alarm like that."
　　
　　"Yes, it was queer thing to do. Many thanks to you for what you have told me. If I can put the man into your hands you shall hear from me. Come along, Watson."
　　
　　"Where are we going to now?" I asked, as we left the office.
　　
　　"We are now going to interview Lord Holdhurst, the cabinet minister and future premier of England."
　　
　　We were fortunate in finding that Lord Holdhurst was still in his chambers in Downing Street, and on Holmes sending in his card we were instantly shown up. The statesman received us with that old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable, and seated us on the two luxuriant lounges on either side of the fireplace. Standing on the rug between us, with his slight, tall figure, his sharp features, thoughtful face, and curling hair prematurely tinged with gray, he seemed to represent that not too common type, a nobleman who is in truth noble.
　　
　　"Your name is very familiar to me, Mr. Holmes," said he, smiling. "And, of course, I cannot pretend to be ignorant of the object of your visit. There has only been one occurrence in these offices which could call for your attention. In whose interest are you acting, may I ask?"
　　
　　"In that of Mr. Percy Phelps," answered Holmes.
　　
　　"Ah, my unfortunate nephew! You can understand that our kinship makes it the more impossible for me to screen him in any way. I fear that the incident must have a very prejudicial effect upon his career."
　　
　　"But if the document is found?"
　　
　　"Ah, that, of course, would be different."
　　
　　"I had one or two questions which I wished to ask you, Lord Holdhurst."
　　
　　"I shall be happy to give you any information in my power."
　　
　　"Was it in this room that you gave your instructions as to the copying of the document?"
　　
　　"It was."
　　
　　"Then you could hardly have been overheard?"
　　
　　"It is out of the question."
　　
　　"Did you ever mention to any one that it was your intention to give any one the treaty to be copied?"
　　
　　"Never."
　　
　　"You are certain of that?"
　　
　　"Absolutely."
　　
　　"Well, since you never said so, and Mr. Phelps never said so, and nobody else knew anything of the matter, then the thief's presence in the room was purely accidental. He saw his chance and he took it."
　　
　　The statesman smiled. "You take me out of my province there," said he.
　　
　　Holmes considered for a moment. "There is another very important point which I wish to discuss with you," said he. "You feared, as I understand, that very grave results might follow from the details of this treaty becoming known."
　　
　　A shadow passed over the expressive face of the statesman. "Very grave results indeed."
　　
　　"Any have they occurred?"
　　
　　"Not yet."
　　
　　"If the treaty had reached, let us say, the French or Russian Foreign Office, you would expect to hear of it?"
　　
　　"I should," said Lord Holdhurst, with a wry face.
　　
　　"Since nearly ten weeks have elapsed, then, and nothing has been heard, it is not unfair to suppose that for some reason the treaty has not reached them."
　　
　　Lord Holdhurst shrugged his shoulders.
　　
　　"We can hardly suppose, Mr. Holmes, that the thief took the treaty in order to frame it and hang it up."
　　
　　"Perhaps he is waiting for a better price."
　　
　　"If he waits a little longer he will get no price at all. The treaty will cease to be secret in a few months."
　　
　　"That is most important," said Holmes. "Of course, it is a possible supposition that the thief has had a sudden illness--"
　　
　　"An attack of brain-fever, for example?" asked the statesman, flashing a swift glance at him.
　　
　　"I did not say so," said Holmes, imperturbably. "And now, Lord Holdhurst, we have already taken up too much of your valuable time, and we shall wish you good-day."
　　
　　"Every success to your investigation, be the criminal who it may," answered the nobleman, as he bowed us out the door.
　　
　　"He's a fine fellow," said Holmes, as we came out into Whitehall. "But he has a struggle to keep up his position. He is far from rich and has many calls. You noticed, of course, that his boots had been resoled. Now, Watson, I won't detain you from your legitimate work any longer. I shall do nothing more to-day, unless I have an answer to my cab advertisement. But I should be extremely obliged to you if you would come down with me to Woking to-morrow, by the same train which we took yesterday."
　　
　　I met him accordingly next morning and we traveled down to Woking together. He had had no answer to his advertisement, he said, and no fresh light had been thrown upon the case. He had, when he so willed it, the utter immobility of countenance of a red Indian, and I could not gather from his appearance whether he was satisfied or not with the position of the case. His conversation, I remember, was about the Bertillon system of measurements, and he expressed his enthusiastic admiration of the French savant.
　　
　　We found our client still under the charge of his devoted nurse, but looking considerably better than before. He rose from the sofa and greeted us without difficulty when we entered.
　　
　　"Any news?" he asked, eagerly.
　　
　　"My report, as I expected, is a negative one," said Holmes. "I have seen Forbes, and I have seen your uncle, and I have set one or two trains of inquiry upon foot which may lead to something."
　　
　　"You have not lost heart, then?"
　　
　　"By no means."
　　
　　"God bless you for saying that!" cried Miss Harrison. "If we keep our courage and our patience the truth must come out."
　　
　　"We have more to tell you than you have for us," said Phelps, reseating himself upon the couch.
　　
　　"I hoped you might have something."
　　
　　"Yes, we have had an adventure during the night, and one which might have proved to be a serious one." His expression grew very grave as he spoke, and a look of something akin to fear sprang up in his eyes. "Do you know," said he, "that I begin to believe that I am the unconscious centre of some monstrous conspiracy, and that my life is aimed at as well as my honor?"
　　
　　"Ah!" cried Holmes.
　　
　　"It sounds incredible, for I have not, as far as I know, an enemy in the world. Yet from last night's experience I can come to no other conclusion."
　　
　　"Pray let me hear it."
　　
　　"You must know that last night was the very first night that I have ever slept without a nurse in the room. I was so much better that I thought I could dispense with one. I had a night-light burning, however. Well, about two in the morning I had sunk into a light sleep when I was suddenly aroused by a slight noise. It was like the sound which a mouse makes when it is gnawing a plank, and I lay listening to it for some time under the impression that it must come from that cause. Then it grew louder, and suddenly there came from the window a sharp metallic snick. I sat up in amazement. There could be no doubt what the sounds were now. The first ones had been caused by some one forcing an instrument through the slit between the sashes, and the second by the catch being pressed back.
　　
　　"There was a pause then for about ten minutes, as if the person were waiting to see whether the noise had awakened me. Then I heard a gentle creaking as the window was very slowly opened. I could stand it no longer, for my nerves are not what they used to be. I sprang out of bed and flung open the shutters. A man was crouching at the window. I could see little of him, for he was gone like a flash. He was wrapped in some sort of cloak which came across the lower part of his face. One thing only I am sure of, and that is that he had some weapon in his hand. It looked to me like a long knife. I distinctly saw the gleam of it as he turned to run."
　　
　　"This is most interesting," said Holmes. "Pray what did you do then?"
　　
　　"I should have followed him through the open window if I had been stronger. As it was, I rang the bell and roused the house. It took me some little time, for the bell rings in the kitchen and the servants all sleep upstairs. I shouted, however, and that brought Joseph down, and he roused the others. Joseph and the groom found marks on the bed outside the window, but the weather has been so dry lately that they found it hopeless to follow the trail across the grass. There's a place, however, on the wooden fence which skirts the road which shows signs, they tell me, as if some one had got over, and had snapped the top of the rail in doing so. I have said nothing to the local police yet, for I thought I had best have your opinion first."
　　
　　This tale of our client's appeared to have an extraordinary effect upon Sherlock Holmes. He rose from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable excitement.
　　
　　"Misfortunes never come single," said Phelps, smiling, though it was evident that his adventure had somewhat shaken him.
　　
　　"You have certainly had your share," said Holmes. "Do you think you could walk round the house with me?"
　　
　　"Oh, yes, I should like a little sunshine. Joseph will come, too."
　　
　　"And I also," said Miss Harrison.
　　
　　"I am afraid not," said Holmes, shaking his head. "I think I must ask you to remain sitting exactly where you are."
　　
　　The young lady resumed her seat with an air of displeasure. Her brother, however, had joined us and we set off all four together. We passed round the lawn to the outside of the young diplomatist's window. There were, as he had said, marks upon the bed, but they were hopelessly blurred and vague. Holmes stopped over them for an instant, and then rose shrugging his shoulders.
　　
　　"I don't think any one could make much of this," said he. "Let us go round the house and see why this particular room was chosen by the burglar. I should have thought those larger windows of the drawing-room and dining-room would have had more attractions for him."
　　
　　"They are more visible from the road," suggested Mr. Joseph Harrison.
　　
　　"Ah, yes, of course. There is a door here which he might have attempted. What is it for?"
　　
　　"It is the side entrance for trades-people. Of course it is locked at night."
　　
　　"Have you ever had an alarm like this before?"
　　
　　"Never," said our client.
　　
　　"Do you keep plate in the house, or anything to attract burglars?"
　　
　　"Nothing of value."
　　
　　Holmes strolled round the house with his hands in his pockets and a negligent air which was unusual with him.
　　
　　"By the way," said he to Joseph Harrison, "you found some place, I understand, where the fellow scaled the fence. Let us have a look at that!"
　　
　　The plump young man led us to a spot where the top of one of the wooden rails had been cracked. A small fragment of the wood was hanging down. Holmes pulled it off and examined it critically.
　　
　　"Do you think that was done last night? It looks rather old, does it not?"
　　
　　"Well, possibly so."
　　
　　"There are no marks of any one jumping down upon the other side. No, I fancy we shall get no help here. Let us go back to the bedroom and talk the matter over."
　　
　　Percy Phelps was walking very slowly, leaning upon the arm of his future brother-in-law. Holmes walked swiftly across the lawn, and we were at the open window of the bedroom long before the others came up.
　　
　　"Miss Harrison," said Holmes, speaking with the utmost intensity of manner, "you must stay where you are all day. Let nothing prevent you from staying where you are all day. It is of the utmost importance."
　　
　　"Certainly, if you wish it, Mr. Holmes," said the girl in astonishment.
　　
　　"When you go to bed lock the door of this room on the outside and keep the key. Promise to do this."
　　
　　"But Percy?"
　　
　　"He will come to London with us."
　　
　　"And am I to remain here?"
　　
　　"It is for his sake. You can serve him. Quick! Promise!"
　　
　　She gave a quick nod of assent just as the other two came up.
　　
　　"Why do you sit moping there, Annie?" cried her brother. "Come out into the sunshine!"
　　
　　"No, thank you, Joseph. I have a slight headache and this room is deliciously cool and soothing."
　　
　　"What do you propose now, Mr. Holmes?" asked our client.
　　
　　"Well, in investigating this minor affair we must not lose sight of our main inquiry. It would be a very great help to me if you would come up to London with us."
　　
　　"At once?"
　　
　　"Well, as soon as you conveniently can. Say in an hour."
　　
　　"I feel quite strong enough, if I can really be of any help."
　　
　　"The greatest possible."
　　
　　"Perhaps you would like me to stay there to-night?"
　　
　　"I was just going to propose it."
　　
　　"Then, if my friend of the night comes to revisit me, he will find the bird flown. We are all in your hands, Mr. Holmes, and you must tell us exactly what you would like done. Perhaps you would prefer that Joseph came with us so as to look after me?"
　　
　　"Oh, no; my friend Watson is a medical man, you know, and he'll look after you. We'll have our lunch here, if you will permit us, and then we shall all three set off for town together."
　　
　　It was arranged as he suggested, though Miss Harrison excused herself from leaving the bedroom, in accordance with Holmes's suggestion. What the object of my friend's manoeuvres was I could not conceive, unless it were to keep the lady away from Phelps, who, rejoiced by his returning health and by the prospect of action, lunched with us in the dining-room. Holmes had a still more startling surprise for us, however, for, after accompanying us down to the station and seeing us into our carriage, he calmly announced that he had no intention of leaving Woking.
　　
　　"There are one or two small points which I should desire to clear up before I go," said he. "Your absence, Mr. Phelps, will in some ways rather assist me. Watson, when you reach London you would oblige me by driving at once to Baker Street with our friend here, and remaining with him until I see you again. It is fortunate that you are old school-fellows, as you must have much to talk over. Mr. Phelps can have the spare bedroom to-night, and I will be with you in time for breakfast, for there is a train which will take me into Waterloo at eight."
　　
　　"But how about our investigation in London?" asked Phelps, ruefully.
　　
　　"We can do that to-morrow. I think that just at present I can be of more immediate use here."
　　
　　"You might tell them at Briarbrae that I hope to be back to-morrow night," cried Phelps, as we began to move from the platform.
　　
　　"I hardly expect to go back to Briarbrae," answered Holmes, and waved his hand to us cheerily as we shot out from the station.
　　
　　Phelps and I talked it over on our journey, but neither of us could devise a satisfactory reason for this new development.
　　
　　"I suppose he wants to find out some clue as to the burglary last night, if a burglar it was. For myself, I don't believe it was an ordinary thief."
　　
　　"What is your own idea, then?"
　　
　　"Upon my word, you may put it down to my weak nerves or not, but I believe there is some deep political intrigue going on around me, and that for some reason that passes my understanding my life is aimed at by the conspirators. It sounds high-flown and absurd, but consider the facts! Why should a thief try to break in at a bedroom window, where there could be no hope of any plunder, and why should he come with a long knife in his hand?"
　　
　　"You are sure it was not a house-breaker's jimmy?"
　　
　　"Oh, no, it was a knife. I saw the flash of the blade quite distinctly."
　　
　　"But why on earth should you be pursued with such animosity?"
　　
　　"Ah, that is the question."
　　
　　"Well, if Holmes takes the same view, that would account for his action, would it not? Presuming that your theory is correct, if he can lay his hands upon the man who threatened you last night he will have gone a long way towards finding who took the naval treaty. It is absurd to suppose that you have two enemies, one of whom robs you, while the other threatens your life."
　　
　　"But Holmes said that he was not going to Briarbrae."
　　
　　"I have known him for some time," said I, "but I never knew him do anything yet without a very good reason," and with that our conversation drifted off on to other topics.
　　
　　But it was a weary day for me. Phelps was still weak after his long illness, and his misfortune made him querulous and nervous. In vain I endeavored to interest him in Afghanistan, in India, in social questions, in anything which might take his mind out of the groove. He would always come back to his lost treaty, wondering, guessing, speculating, as to what Holmes was doing, what steps Lord Holdhurst was taking, what news we should have in the morning. As the evening wore on his excitement became quite painful.
　　
　　"You have implicit faith in Holmes?" he asked.
　　
　　"I have seen him do some remarkable things."
　　
　　"But he never brought light into anything quite so dark as this?"
　　
　　"Oh, yes; I have known him solve questions which presented fewer clues than yours."
　　
　　"But not where such large interests are at stake?"
　　
　　"I don't know that. To my certain knowledge he has acted on behalf of three of the reigning houses of Europe in very vital matters."
　　
　　"But you know him well, Watson. He is such an inscrutable fellow that I never quite know what to make of him. Do you think he is hopeful? Do you think he expects to make a success of it?"
　　
　　"He has said nothing."
　　
　　"That is a bad sign."
　　
　　"On the contrary, I have noticed that when he is off the trail he generally says so. It is when he is on a scent and is not quite absolutely sure yet that it is the right one that he is most taciturn. Now, my dear fellow, we can't help matters by making ourselves nervous about them, so let me implore you to go to bed and so be fresh for whatever may await us to-morrow."
　　
　　I was able at last to persuade my companion to take my advice, though I knew from his excited manner that there was not much hope of sleep for him. Indeed, his mood was infectious, for I lay tossing half the night myself, brooding over this strange problem, and inventing a hundred theories, each of which was more impossible than the last. Why had Holmes remained at Woking? Why had he asked Miss Harrison to remain in the sick-room all day? Why had he been so careful not to inform the people at Briarbrae that he intended to remain near them? I cudgelled my brains until I fell asleep in the endeavor to find some explanation which would cover all these facts.
　　
　　It was seven o'clock when I awoke, and I set off at once for Phelps's room, to find him haggard and spent after a sleepless night. His first question was whether Holmes had arrived yet.
　　
　　"He'll be here when he promised," said I, "and not an instant sooner or later."
　　
　　And my words were true, for shortly after eight a hansom dashed up to the door and our friend got out of it. Standing in the window we saw that his left hand was swathed in a bandage and that his face was very grim and pale. He entered the house, but it was some little time before he came upstairs.
　　
　　"He looks like a beaten man," cried Phelps.
　　
　　I was forced to confess that he was right. "After all," said I, "the clue of the matter lies probably here in town."
　　
　　Phelps gave a groan.
　　
　　"I don't know how it is," said he, "but I had hoped for so much from his return. But surely his hand was not tied up like that yesterday. What can be the matter?"
　　
　　"You are not wounded, Holmes?" I asked, as my friend entered the room.
　　
　　"Tut, it is only a scratch through my own clumsiness," he answered, nodding his good-mornings to us. "This case of yours, Mr. Phelps, is certainly one of the darkest which I have ever investigated."
　　
　　"I feared that you would find it beyond you."
　　
　　"It has been a most remarkable experience."
　　
　　"That bandage tells of adventures," said I. "Won't you tell us what has happened?"
　　
　　"After breakfast, my dear Watson. Remember that I have breathed thirty miles of Surrey air this morning. I suppose that there has been no answer from my cabman advertisement? Well, well, we cannot expect to score every time."
　　
　　The table was all laid, and just as I was about to ring Mrs. Hudson entered with the tea and coffee. A few minutes later she brought in three covers, and we all drew up to the table, Holmes ravenous, I curious, and Phelps in the gloomiest state of depression.
　　
　　"Mrs. Hudson has risen to the occasion," said Holmes, uncovering a dish of curried chicken. "Her cuisine is a little limited, but she has as good an idea of breakfast as a Scotch-woman. What have you here, Watson?"
　　
　　"Ham and eggs," I answered.
　　
　　"Good! What are you going to take, Mr. Phelps--curried fowl or eggs, or will you help yourself?"
　　
　　"Thank you. I can eat nothing," said Phelps.
　　
　　"Oh, come! Try the dish before you."
　　
　　"Thank you, I would really rather not."
　　
　　"Well, then," said Holmes, with a mischievous twinkle, "I suppose that you have no objection to helping me?"
　　
　　Phelps raised the cover, and as he did so he uttered a scream, and sat there staring with a face as white as the plate upon which he looked. Across the centre of it was lying a little cylinder of blue-gray paper. He caught it up, devoured it with his eyes, and then danced madly about the room, pressing it to his bosom and shrieking out in his delight. Then he fell back into an arm-chair so limp and exhausted with his own emotions that we had to pour brandy down his throat to keep him from fainting.
　　
　　"There! there!" said Holmes, soothing, patting him upon the shoulder. "It was too bad to spring it on you like this, but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic."
　　
　　Phelps seized his hand and kissed it. "God bless you!" he cried. "You have saved my honor."
　　
　　"Well, my own was at stake, you know," said Holmes. "I assure you it is just as hateful to me to fail in a case as it can be to you to blunder over a commission."
　　
　　Phelps thrust away the precious document into the innermost pocket of his coat.
　　
　　"I have not the heart to interrupt your breakfast any further, and yet I am dying to know how you got it and where it was."
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes swallowed a cup of coffee, and turned his attention to the ham and eggs. Then he rose, lit his pipe, and settled himself down into his chair.
　　
　　"I'll tell you what I did first, and how I came to do it afterwards," said he. "After leaving you at the station I went for a charming walk through some admirable Surrey scenery to a pretty little village called Ripley, where I had my tea at an inn, and took the precaution of filling my flask and of putting a paper of sandwiches in my pocket. There I remained until evening, when I set off for Woking again, and found myself in the high-road outside Briarbrae just after sunset.
　　
　　"Well, I waited until the road was clear--it is never a very frequented one at any time, I fancy--and then I clambered over the fence into the grounds."
　　
　　"Surely the gate was open!" ejaculated Phelps.
　　
　　"Yes, but I have a peculiar taste in these matters. I chose the place where the three fir-trees stand, and behind their screen I got over without the least chance of any one in the house being able to see me. I crouched down among the bushes on the other side, and crawled from one to the other--witness the disreputable state of my trouser knees--until I had reached the clump of rhododendrons just opposite to your bedroom window. There I squatted down and awaited developments.
　　
　　"The blind was not down in your room, and I could see Miss Harrison sitting there reading by the table. It was quarter-past ten when she closed her book, fastened the shutters, and retired.
　　
　　"I heard her shut the door, and felt quite sure that she had turned the key in the lock."
　　
　　"The key!" ejaculated Phelps.
　　
　　"Yes; I had given Miss Harrison instructions to lock the door on the outside and take the key with her when she went to bed. She carried out every one of my injunctions to the letter, and certainly without her cooperation you would not have that paper in you coat-pocket. She departed then and the lights went out, and I was left squatting in the rhododendron-bush.
　　
　　"The night was fine, but still it was a very weary vigil. Of course it has the sort of excitement about it that the sportsman feels when he lies beside the water-course and waits for the big game. It was very long, though--almost as long, Watson, as when you and I waited in that deadly room when we looked into the little problem of the Speckled Band. There was a church-clock down at Woking which struck the quarters, and I thought more than once that it had stopped. At last however about two in the morning, I suddenly heard the gentle sound of a bolt being pushed back and the creaking of a key. A moment later the servants' door was opened, and Mr. Joseph Harrison stepped out into the moonlight."
　　
　　"Joseph!" ejaculated Phelps.
　　
　　"He was bare-headed, but he had a black coat thrown over his shoulder so that he could conceal his face in an instant if there were any alarm. He walked on tiptoe under the shadow of the wall, and when he reached the window he worked a long-bladed knife through the sash and pushed back the catch. Then he flung open the window, and putting his knife through the crack in the shutters, he thrust the bar up and swung them open.
　　
　　"From where I lay I had a perfect view of the inside of the room and of every one of his movements. He lit the two candles which stood upon the mantelpiece, and then he proceeded to turn back the corner of the carpet in the neighborhood of the door. Presently he stopped and picked out a square piece of board, such as is usually left to enable plumbers to get at the joints of the gas-pipes. This one covered, as a matter of fact, the T joint which gives off the pipe which supplies the kitchen underneath. Out of this hiding-place he drew that little cylinder of paper, pushed down the board, rearranged the carpet, blew out the candles, and walked straight into my arms as I stood waiting for him outside the window.
　　
　　"Well, he has rather more viciousness than I gave him credit for, has Master Joseph. He flew at me with his knife, and I had to grasp him twice, and got a cut over the knuckles, before I had the upper hand of him. He looked murder out of the only eye he could see with when we had finished, but he listened to reason and gave up the papers. Having got them I let my man go, but I wired full particulars to Forbes this morning. If he is quick enough to catch his bird, well and good. But if, as I shrewdly suspect, he finds the nest empty before he gets there, why, all the better for the government. I fancy that Lord Holdhurst for one, and Mr. Percy Phelps for another, would very much rather that the affair never got as far as a police-court.
　　
　　"My God!" gasped our client. "Do you tell me that during these long ten weeks of agony the stolen papers were within the very room with me all the time?"
　　
　　"So it was."
　　
　　"And Joseph! Joseph a villain and a thief!"
　　
　　"Hum! I am afraid Joseph's character is a rather deeper and more dangerous one than one might judge from his appearance. From what I have heard from him this morning, I gather that he has lost heavily in dabbling with stocks, and that he is ready to do anything on earth to better his fortunes. Being an absolutely selfish man, when a chance presented itself he did not allow either his sister's happiness or your reputation to hold his hand."
　　
　　Percy Phelps sank back in his chair. "My head whirls," said he. "Your words have dazed me."
　　
　　"The principal difficulty in your case," remarked Holmes, in his didactic fashion, "lay in the fact of there being too much evidence. What was vital was overlaid and hidden by what was irrelevant. Of all the facts which were presented to us we had to pick just those which we deemed to be essential, and then piece them together in their order, so as to reconstruct this very remarkable chain of events. I had already begun to suspect Joseph, from the fact that you had intended to travel home with him that night, and that therefore it was a likely enough thing that he should call for you, knowing the Foreign Office well, upon his way. When I heard that some one had been so anxious to get into the bedroom, in which no one but Joseph could have concealed anything--you told us in your narrative how you had turned Joseph out when you arrived with the doctor--my suspicions all changed to certainties, especially as the attempt was made on the first night upon which the nurse was absent, showing that the intruder was well acquainted with the ways of the house."
　　
　　"How blind I have been!"
　　
　　"The facts of the case, as far as I have worked them out, are these: this Joseph Harrison entered the office through the Charles Street door, and knowing his way he walked straight into your room the instant after you left it. Finding no one there he promptly rang the bell, and at the instant that he did so his eyes caught the paper upon the table. A glance showed him that chance had put in his way a State document of immense value, and in an instant he had thrust it into his pocket and was gone. A few minutes elapsed, as you remember, before the sleepy commissionnaire drew your attention to the bell, and those were just enough to give the thief time to make his escape.
　　
　　"He made his way to Woking by the first train, and having examined his booty and assured himself that it really was of immense value, he had concealed it in what he thought was a very safe place, with the intention of taking it out again in a day or two, and carrying it to the French embassy, or wherever he thought that a long price was to be had. Then came your sudden return. He, without a moment's warning, was bundled out of his room, and from that time onward there were always at least two of you there to prevent him from regaining his treasure. The situation to him must have been a maddening one. But at last he thought he saw his chance. He tried to steal in, but was baffled by your wakefulness. You remember that you did not take your usual draught that night."
　　
　　"I remember."
　　
　　"I fancy that he had taken steps to make that draught efficacious, and that he quite relied upon your being unconscious. Of course, I understood that he would repeat the attempt whenever it could be done with safety. Your leaving the room gave him the chance he wanted. I kept Miss Harrison in it all day so that he might not anticipate us. Then, having given him the idea that the coast was clear, I kept guard as I have described. I already knew that the papers were probably in the room, but I had no desire to rip up all the planking and skirting in search of them. I let him take them, therefore, from the hiding-place, and so saved myself an infinity of trouble. Is there any other point which I can make clear?"
　　
　　"Why did he try the window on the first occasion," I asked, "when he might have entered by the door?"
　　
　　"In reaching the door he would have to pass seven bedrooms. On the other hand, he could get out on to the lawn with ease. Anything else?"
　　
　　"You do not think," asked Phelps, "that he had any murderous intention? The knife was only meant as a tool."
　　
　　"It may be so," answered Holmes, shrugging his shoulders. "I can only say for certain that Mr. Joseph Harrison is a gentleman to whose mercy I should be extremely unwilling to trust."