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賴蓋特之謎 The Reigate Puzzle
那是在一八八七年春天，我的朋友歇洛剋·福爾摩斯先生由於操勞過度，把身體纍垮了，健康尚未恢復。荷蘭—蘇門答臘公司案和莫波吐依茲男爵的龐大計劃案，人們還記憶猶新。這些案件與和經濟關係極為密切，不便在我的一係列回憶錄中加以報道。但是，從另一個角度來說，那兩起案子又很獨特、復雜，使我的朋友有機會證實一種新的鬥爭方法的重要，這方法是他在畢生與犯罪行為作鬥爭中所使用的許多方法中的一種。
我查閱筆記，看到在四月十四日，我曾收到一封從裏昂發來的電報，通知我，福爾摩斯在杜朗旅館臥病在床。沒過二十四小時，我就趕到他的病房，發現他的癥狀不甚嚴重，方纔放心。不過，甚至象他這樣鋼鐵般的體質，在兩個多月調查的勞累之下，也免不了垮了下來。在這段期間，他每天最少工作十五小時，而且他嚮我說，還有一次他夜以繼日地工作了五天。甚至勝利的喜悅也不能使他在如此可怕的勞累之後恢復過來。在他的名字響遍歐洲，各處發來的賀電在他屋中堆積如山的時候，我發現福爾摩斯依然感到很痛苦，神情沮喪。消息傳來，三個國傢的都失敗了，而他卻贏得了成功，他在各方面都挫敗了歐洲最高超的詐騙犯玩弄的鬼把戲。即使這樣，也不能使他從疲憊中振作起來。
三天以後，我們一起回到了貝剋街。不過，換個環境對我的朋友顯然會更好一些，乘此大好春光，到鄉間去呆一個星期，這種想法對我也充滿着吸引力。我的老朋友海特上校在阿富汗時，請我給他治過病。他現在在薩裏郡的賴蓋特附近買了一所住宅，經常邀請我到他那裏去作客。最近，他說，衹要我的朋友願意和我一起去，他也會很高興地款待他。我轉彎抹角地把這意思說了出來，當福爾摩斯聽說主人是個單身漢，而且他完全可以自由行動時，他同意了我的計劃。在從裏昂回來後一個星期，我們便來到了上校的住所。海特是一個灑脫的老軍人，見多識廣，他很快就發覺，他和福爾摩斯很談得來，這正是我料到的。
在我們來到的那天傍晚，我們吃過晚餐，坐在上校的貯槍室裏。福爾摩斯伸開四肢躺在沙發上，海特和我正在看他那貯藏東方武器的小軍械室。
“順便說一下，”上校突然說道，“我想從這裏拿一支手槍帶上樓去，以防遇到警報。”
“警報？！”我說道。
“是的，最近我們這個地區出了事，使我們大受驚擾。老阿剋頓是本地的一個富紳。上星期一有人闖進他的住宅。他雖然沒有遭到很大損失，可是那些傢夥卻依然逍遙法外。”
“沒有一點綫索嗎？”福爾摩斯望着上校問道。
“現在還沒有綫索。不過這是小事一樁，是我們村子裏的一件小小的犯罪案件，在你辦過這樣巨大的國際案件之後，它一定不會引起你的註意吧，福爾摩斯先生。”
福爾摩斯擺手叫他不要稱贊自己，可是卻面露笑容，說明這些贊美之詞使他很高興。
“有什麽重要的徵候沒有？”
“我想沒有。那裏盜賊在藏書室大搜了一通，儘管費了很大勁，卻沒得到什麽東西。整個藏書室翻了個底朝天，抽屜全敲打開了，書籍都被翻得亂七八糟。結果衹有一捲蒲柏翻譯的荷馬的詩，兩衹鍍金燭臺，一方象牙鎮紙，一個橡木製的小晴雨計和一團綫不見了。”
“真是五花八門，稀奇古怪！”我喊道。
“唉，這些傢夥顯然是順手牽羊，碰到什麽拿什麽。”
福爾摩斯在沙發上哼了一聲。
“地區應當從這裏面發現一些綫索，”福爾摩斯說道，“喂，顯然是……”
可是我伸出手指警告他道：“你是到這裏來休息的，我親愛的朋友。在你的神經還十分疲憊的情況下，請你務必不要着手搞新的案件。”
福爾摩斯聳了聳肩，無可奈何地嚮上校那裏溜了一眼，我們便轉到無關緊要的話題上去了。
然而，凡事自有天定，命裏註定我作為醫生提醒他註意的所有那些話都白費了。因為第二天早晨，這個案件本身迫使我們進行了幹預，使我們不能置之不理，我們的鄉村之行發生了我們兩人都料想不到的變化。我們正進早餐時，上校的管傢一點禮節也不顧地闖了進來。
“您聽到消息了嗎？先生，”他氣喘籲籲地說道，“是在坎寧安傢裏！先生。”
“又是盜竊吧！”上校手中舉着一杯咖啡，大聲地說道。
“殺了人呢！”
上校不由驚呼了一聲，“天哪！”他說道：“那麽，是誰被害了？是治安官還是他的兒子？”
“都不是，先生。是馬車夫威廉。子彈射穿了他的心髒，他再也說不出話了，先生。”
“那麽，是誰槍殺了他呢？”
“是那個盜賊，先生。他飛也似地跑掉了，逃得無影無蹤。他剛剛從廚房窗戶闖進去，威廉就撞上了他。為了保護主人的財産，威廉就喪了命。”
“那是什麽時候？”
“是在昨天夜裏，先生，大約十二點鐘。”
“啊，那麽，一會兒我們去看看，”上校說道，又沉着地坐下來吃他的早飯。“這是一件很不幸的事，”管傢走後，上校補充說道，“老坎寧安是我們這裏的頭面人物，也是一個非常正派的人。他對此一定是很傷心的，因為這個人侍候了他好幾年，是一個很好的僕人。案犯顯然就是那個闖進阿剋頓傢的惡棍。”
“也就是偷盜那一堆稀奇古怪的東西的那個人嗎？”福爾摩斯沉思地說道。
“對。”
“哦！這可能是世界上一件最簡單的事情，不過，初看起來，還是有點兒奇怪，是不是？在人們意料中，一夥在鄉村活動的盜賊總是要改變他們的作案地點，絶不會在幾天之內在同一地區兩次闖進住宅進行偷盜。在你昨晚談到采取預防措施時，我記得我腦子裏閃現過一個想法：這地方可能是英國盜賊最不註意的教區了。由此可見，我還有許多需要學習的東西。”
“我想這是本地的小偷幹的，”上校說道，“假使是這樣的話，當然，阿剋頓和坎寧安傢正好是他要光顧的地方了。因為他們兩傢是此地最大的人傢。”
“也是最富有的人傢嗎？”
“對，他們應當算是最富有的了。不過他們兩傢已經打了好幾年的官司。我想，這場官司吸去了他們雙方不少血汗。老阿剋頓曾經提出，要求得到坎寧安傢的一半財産，而律師們則從中漁利。”
“如果這是當地惡棍作的案，要把他追查出來不是很睏難的。”福爾摩斯打着呵欠說道，“好了，華生，我不打算幹預這件事。”
“警官福雷斯特求見，先生，”管傢突然打開門，說道。
一個機警的年輕警官走進室內。
“早安，上校，”他說道，“我希望不致打擾你們，不過我們聽說貝剋街的福爾摩斯先生在這裏。”
上校把手嚮我的朋友那裏一揮，警官便點頭致意，說道：“我們想你大概願意光臨指導，福爾摩斯先生。”
“命運是違背你的意志的，華生。”福爾摩斯笑容可掬地說道，“你進來時，我們正在聊着這件案子呢，警官。或許你能使我們知道得更詳細一些。”當他照平素習慣的姿式嚮後仰靠在椅背上時，我知道我的計劃又落空了。
“阿剋頓案件，我們還沒有綫索。但是目前這個案子，我們有許多綫索，可以進行工作。毫無疑問，這兩個案子是同一夥人幹的。有人看到作案人了。”
“啊？！”
“是的，先生。但是作案人在開槍打死了可憐的威廉·柯萬之後，象鹿一樣飛快地跑掉了。坎寧安先生從臥室的窗戶看到了他，亞歷剋·坎寧安先生從後面的走廊看到了他。是十一點三刻發出的警報。坎寧安先生剛剛睡下，亞歷剋先生穿着睡衣正在吸煙。他們兩人都聽見了馬車夫威廉的呼救聲，於是亞歷剋先生跑下樓去看是怎麽一回事。後門開着。他走到樓梯腳下時，看到兩個人正在外面扭打。其中一個放了一槍，另一個倒下了。兇手便跑過花園越過籬笆，逃走了。坎寧安先生從他的臥室望出去，看見這個傢夥跑到大路上，但轉眼之間就消失了。亞歷剋先生停下來看看他是否還能拯救這個垂死的人，結果就讓這個惡棍逃走了。除了知道兇手中等身材、穿着深色衣服外，我們還沒掌握有關他容貌的綫索，但我們正在竭力調查，如果他是一個外鄉人，我們馬上可以把他查出來。”
“那個威廉怎麽樣了？在臨終之前，他說過什麽話沒有？”
“一個字也沒有說。他和他母親住在僕人住房裏。因為他為人非常忠厚，我們想，可能他到廚房裏去，是想看看那裏是否平安無事。當然，阿剋頓案件，使每個人都提高了警惕。那強盜剛剛把門推開——鎖已經被撬開——威廉便碰上他了。”
“威廉在出去之前對他母親說過什麽沒有？”
“他母親年高耳聾，我們從她那裏打聽不到什麽東西。她受到這次驚嚇，幾乎變傻了。不過，我知道她平常也不怎麽精明。但是，有一個非常重要的情況。請看！”
警官從筆記本裏取出一角撕壞的紙，把它鋪在膝蓋上。
“我們發現死者的手裏抓着這張紙條。看來它是從一張較大的紙上撕下來的。你可以看到，上面提到的時間正是這個可憐的傢夥遭到不幸的時刻。你看，要麽是兇手從死者手中撕去一塊，要麽是死者從兇手那裏奪回這一角。這張紙條讀起來很象是一種同人約會的短柬。”
福爾摩斯拿起這張小紙片。下面是它的復製品。
“我們姑且認為這是一種約會，”警官繼續說道，“當然也就可以相信：雖然威廉·柯萬素有忠厚之名，但也可能與盜賊有勾結。他可能在那裏迎接盜賊，甚至幫助盜賊闖進門內，後來他們兩人可能又鬧翻了。”
“這字體倒是非常有趣，”福爾摩斯把這張紙條聚精會神地察看了一番，說道，“這比我想象的要深奧得多。”他雙手抱頭沉思，警官看到這件案子居然使這位大名鼎鼎的倫敦偵探如此勞神，不禁喜形於色。
“你剛纔說，”福爾摩斯過了一會兒說道，“可能盜賊和僕人之間有默契，這張紙也許是一個人給另一個人的密約信，這確實是一個獨到的見解，並非完全不可能。可是這張紙條上明明寫着……”他又雙手抱頭，沉思了片刻。當他再擡起頭時，我很驚奇地看到他又象未病時那樣滿面紅光，目光炯炯，精力充沛，一躍而起。
“我告訴你們，”他說道，“我很想悄悄地去看一看，瞭解一下這個案子的一些細節。它有些地方非常吸引我。如果你允許的話，上校，我想告別你和我的朋友華生，跟警官一起去跑一趟，驗證一下我的一兩點想法。半小時後，我再來見你。”
過了一個半小時，警官獨自一人回來了。
“福爾摩斯先生正在田野裏踱來踱去，”他說道，“他要我們四個人一起到那所屋子裏去看看。”
“到坎寧安先生傢裏去？”
“是的，先生。”
“去做什麽呢？”
警官聳了聳肩，說道：“我不十分清楚，先生。我衹跟你說，我認為福爾摩斯先生的病還沒有全好。他表現得非常古怪，而且過於激動。”
“我認為，你不必大驚小怪，”我說道，“我經常發現，當他好象瘋瘋癲癲的時候，他已經胸有成竹了。”
“有人會說，他的方法簡直是發瘋，”警官嘟嘟囔囔地說，“不過他急着要去調查，上校，所以如果你們準備好了，我們最好現在就去。”
我們看到福爾摩斯低着頭，雙手插在褲兜裏，正在田野上踱來踱去。
“這件事變得更有趣了，”福爾摩斯說道，“華生，你發起的鄉間旅行已經獲得了明顯的成功。我度過了一個奇妙的早晨。”
“我知道，你已經到犯罪現場去過了，”上校說道。
“是的，我和警官一起已經對現場檢查了一下。”
“有什麽成績嗎？”
“啊，我們看到了一些非常有趣的東西。我們邊走邊談吧，我把我們做的事都告訴你們。首先，我們看到了那具不幸的屍體。他確實象警官講的那樣，死於槍傷。”
“那麽，你對這有什麽懷疑嗎？”
“啊，還是對每件事都考察一下好。我們的偵察並不是徒勞的。後來我們會見了坎寧安先生和他的兒子，因為他們能夠指出兇手逃跑時越過花園籬笆的確切地點。這是極為重要的。”
“那當然了。”
“後來我們又看了看那個可憐人的母親。但是她年老體弱，我們從她那裏未能得到任何情況。”
“那麽，你調查的結果到底是什麽呢？”
“結果就是我確信這一犯罪行為是很奇特的。或許我們眼下這次訪問可以使它多少明朗一些。警官，我認為我們兩個人都同意，死者手中的這張紙片上面寫着的時間，正是他死去的時間，這一點是極為重要的。”
“這就給我們提供了一個綫索，福爾摩斯先生。”
“這確實給我們提供了一個綫索。寫這張便條的人，就是要威廉·柯萬在那個時間起床的人。可是這張紙的那一半在哪裏呢？”
“我仔細地檢查了地面，希望能找到它。”警官說道。
“它是從死者手中撕去的。為什麽有人那麽急切地要得到它呢？因為它可以證明他的罪行。撕下以後他又怎麽處理它呢？他把它塞進衣袋裏，很可能沒有註意到有一角紙片還抓在死者手裏。如果我們能夠得到撕走的那片紙，顯然，對我們解開這個謎大有幫助。”
“是的，可是我們沒有捉到罪犯，怎能從罪犯的衣袋裏得到它呢？”
“啊，啊，這是值得仔細考慮的。而且還有另外一點也很明顯。這張便條是給威廉的。寫便條的人是不會親自交給他的，不然的話，他當然可以把內容親口嚮他說了。那麽，是誰把便條帶給死者的呢？或許是通過郵局寄來的？”
“我已經查問過了，”警官說道，“昨天下午，威廉從郵局接到一封信。信封已經被他毀掉了。”
“好極了！”福爾摩斯拍了拍警官的背，大聲說道，“你已經見過郵差了。和你一起工作，我非常高興。好，這就是那間僕人住房，上校，如果你願意進來，我把犯罪現場指給你看。”
我們走過被害者住的漂亮的小屋，走上一條兩旁橡樹挺立的大路，來到一所華麗的安妮女王時代的古宅，門楣上刻着馬爾博羅［一七○九年在西班牙王位繼承戰中馬爾博羅指揮英國人及其同盟軍戰勝了法國人。——譯者註］的日期。福爾摩斯和警官領着我們兜了一圈，然後我們來到旁門前。門外便是花園，花園的籬包外面是大路。
一個站在廚房門旁。
“請把門打開，警官，”福爾摩斯說道，“喂，小坎寧安先生就是站在樓梯上看到那兩個人搏鬥的，兩人搏鬥之處就是我們現在站的地方，老坎寧安先生就是在左起第二扇窗戶旁看到那個傢夥剛剛逃到矮樹叢左邊的。他兒子也這麽說。他們兩個人都提到矮樹叢。後來亞歷剋先生跑出來，跪在受傷者身旁。你們看，這兒地面非常硬，沒有給我們留下絲毫痕跡。”福爾摩斯正說着，有兩個人繞過屋角，走上了花園的小徑。一個年齡較大，面容剛毅，面部皺紋很深，目光抑鬱不歡；另外一個是打扮得很漂亮的年青人，他神情活潑，滿面笑容，衣着華麗，與我們為之而來的案件，形成非常奇異的對比。
“還在調查這件事嗎？”他對福爾摩斯說道，“我想你們倫敦人是不會失敗的。但你似乎不象很快就能把案破了。”
“啊，你必須給我們一些時間，”福爾摩斯愉快地說道。
“這對你是很必要的，”亞歷剋·坎寧安說道，“哦，我根本看不出有什麽綫索。”
“衹有一個綫索，”回答道，“我們認為，衹要我們能找到……天哪！福爾摩斯先生，這是怎麽回事？”
我那可憐的朋友的臉上，突然現出極為可怕的表情。他的兩眼直往上翻，痛得臉都變了形。他忍不住地哼了一聲，臉朝下跌倒在地上。他突然發病，又那麽厲害，把我們嚇了一跳。我們急忙把他擡到廚房裏，讓他躺在一把大椅子上。他吃力地呼吸了一會兒，終於又站了起來，為自己身體虛弱而感到羞愧和抱歉。
“華生會告訴諸位，我生了一場重病剛剛復元。”福爾摩斯解釋道，“這種神經痛很容易突然發作。”
“是不是用我的馬車把你送回傢去？”老坎寧安問道。
“唉，既然我已經到了這裏，有一點我還想把它摸清楚。
我們能夠很容易就查清它的。”
“是什麽問題呢？”
“啊，據我看來，可憐的威廉的到來，很可能不在盜賊進屋之前，而在盜賊進屋之後。看來你們衹是想當然地認為，雖然門被弄開了，強盜卻沒有進屋。”
“我想這是十分明顯的，”坎寧安先生嚴肅地說道，“呃，我的兒子亞歷剋還沒有睡，如果有人走動，他是一定能夠聽到的。”
“他那時坐在什麽地方？”
“我那時正坐在室裏吸煙。”
“哪一扇窗子是室的？”
“左邊最後一扇窗子，緊挨着我父親臥室的那一扇。”
“那你們兩個房間的燈自然都亮着的羅？”
“不錯。”
“現在有幾點是很奇怪的，”福爾摩斯微笑着說道，“一個盜賊，而且是一個頗有經驗的盜賊，一看燈光就知道這一傢有兩個人還沒睡，卻有意闖進屋裏去，這難道不奇怪嗎？”
“他一定是一個冷靜沉着的老手。”
“啊，當然了，要不是這個案子稀奇古怪，我們也就不會來嚮你請教了，”亞歷剋先生說道，“不過，你說在威廉抓住盜賊以前，盜賊已經進了這間屋子，我認為這種看法簡直荒唐可笑。屋子不是沒有被搞亂，也沒有發現丟東西嗎？”
“這要看是什麽東西了，”福爾摩斯說道，“你不要忘記，我們是跟這樣一個強盜打交道——他很不簡單，看來有他自己的一套辦法。你看看，他從阿剋頓傢拿去的那些古怪東西，都是些什麽呢？一個綫團，一方鎮紙，還有一些我不知道的其它零星東西。”
“好了，我們一切都托付給你了，福爾摩斯先生，”老坎寧安說道，“一切聽從你或警官的吩咐。”
“首先，”福爾摩斯說道，“我想請你自己出一個賞格，因為官方要同意這筆款子，可能要費一些時間，同時這些事情也不可能馬上就給辦。我已經起了個草，如果你不反對的話，請你簽字。我想，五十鎊足夠了。”
“我情願出五百鎊，”治安官接過福爾摩斯遞給他的那張紙和鉛筆，說道。“但是，這不完全對，”他瀏覽了一下底稿，又補充了一句。
“我寫得太倉促了。”
“你看你開頭寫的：‘鑒於星期二凌晨零點三刻發生了一次搶劫未遂案，’等等。事實上，是發生在十一點三刻。”
我看到出了這個差錯很痛心，因為我知道，福爾摩斯對這類疏忽，總是感到很尷尬。把事實搞得很準確，是他的特長。可是他最近的病把他折騰得夠嗆，眼前這件小事，也足以嚮我表明，他的身體還遠遠沒有復原。顯然，他感到很窘。
警官揚了揚眉毛，亞歷剋·坎寧安則哈哈大笑起來。那個老紳士立即把寫錯的地方改正了，把這張紙還給了福爾摩斯。
“盡快送去付印吧，”老坎寧安說道，“我認為你的想法是很高明的。”福爾摩斯卻小心翼翼地把這張紙收起來，夾在他的記事本裏。
“現在，”他說道，“我們最好一起把這宅院仔細檢查一下，弄清楚這個古怪的盜賊是否確實沒有偷走任何東西。”
在進屋之前，福爾摩斯仔細檢查了那扇弄壞了的門。很顯然，那是用一把鑿子或一把堅固的小刀插進去，把鎖撬開的。我們可以看到利器插進去以後在木頭上留下的痕跡。
“那麽，你們不用門閂嗎？”福爾摩斯問道。
“我們一嚮認為沒有必要。”
“你們沒有養狗嗎？”
“養了，可是我們用鐵鏈子把狗拴在房子的另一邊。”
“僕人們是什麽時候去睡覺的？”
“十點鐘左右。”
“我聽說威廉平常不是也在這個時候去睡覺的嗎？”
“是的。”
“這就怪了，正在這個出事的夜晚，他卻起來了。現在，如果你肯領我們查看一下這所住宅，我將感到很高興，坎寧安先生。”
我們經過廚房旁邊石板鋪的走廊，沿着一道木樓梯，逕直來到住宅的二樓。我們登上了樓梯平臺。它的對面，是另一條通嚮前廳裝飾得較為華麗的樓梯。從這個樓梯平臺過去，就是客廳和幾間臥室，其中包括坎寧安先生和他兒子的臥室。
福爾摩斯不慌不忙地走着，留神着這所房子的式樣。我從他的表情可以看出，他在緊緊地跟蹤着一條綫索，可我還是一點也猜不出他所跟蹤的是什麽。
“我說先生，”坎寧安先生有些不耐煩地說道，“這肯定是非常不必要的。樓梯口就是我的臥室。我兒子的臥室就在隔壁。我倒要請你判斷一下，這賊要是上了樓，而我們竟毫無覺察，這可能嗎？”
“我想，你應當到房子四周去調查，尋找新的綫索，”坎寧安的兒子陰險地笑道。
“我還要請你們再將就我一會兒，比如說，我很想看看從臥室的窗戶可以嚮前望出去多遠。我知道，這是你兒子的臥室，”福爾摩斯把門推開說道，“這就是發出警報時他正坐在那裏吸煙的室吧！它的窗子朝嚮什麽地方？”福爾摩斯走過臥室，推開門，把另一間屋子四下打量了一番。
“我想現在你總該滿意了吧？”坎寧安先生尖刻地說道。
“謝謝你，我認為我想看的都看到了。”
“那麽，如果你真的認為必要的話，可以到我的房間裏去。”
“如果不太打擾你的話，那就去吧！”
治安官聳了聳肩，領着我們走進他自己的臥室。室內的傢具、擺設很簡單、平常，是一間普普通通的房間。當我們嚮着窗子走去時，福爾摩斯慢騰騰地走，以至他和我都落在了大傢的後面。床的旁邊，有一盤桔子和一瓶水。我們走過床邊時，福爾摩斯把身子探到我的前面，故意把所有這些東西打翻在地。玻璃瓶摔得粉碎，水果滾得到處都是，這驚得我張口結舌！
“看你弄的，華生，”福爾摩斯沉着地說道，“你把地毯弄了個一塌糊塗。”
我慌亂地俯來，開始揀水果，我知道，我的朋友想讓我來承擔責任，是有一定原因的。其他人也一邊揀水果，一邊把桌子重新扶起來。
“哎呀！”警官喊道，“他到哪兒去了？”
福爾摩斯不見了。
“請在這裏等一等，”亞歷剋·坎寧安說道，“我看，這個人神經有些不正常，父親，你來，我們一起去看看他鑽到哪裏去了！”
他們衝出門去，警官、上校和我留在房裏面面相覷。
“哎呀，我同意主人亞歷剋的看法，”警官說道，“這可能是他犯病的結果，可是我似乎覺得……”
他的話還沒講完，突然傳來一陣尖叫聲，“來人啊！來人啊！殺人啦！”我聽出這是我朋友的聲音，不禁毛骨悚然。我發瘋似地從室內衝嚮樓梯平臺。呼救聲低下來，變成嘶啞的，含混不清的喊叫，從我們第一次進去的那間屋裏傳來。我直衝進去，一直跑進裏面的室。那坎寧安父子二人正把歇洛剋·福爾摩斯按倒在地上，小坎寧安正用雙手掐住福爾摩斯的喉嚨，那老坎寧安似乎正扭住他的一隻手腕。我們三個人立即把他們從福爾摩斯身上拉開。福爾摩斯搖搖晃晃地站起來，面色蒼白，顯然已經筋疲力盡了。
“趕快逮捕這兩個人，警官，”福爾摩斯氣喘籲籲地說道。
“以什麽罪名逮捕呢？”
“罪名就是謀殺他們的馬車夫威廉·柯萬。”
警官兩眼盯着福爾摩斯直。
“啊，好啦，福爾摩斯先生，”警官終於說道，“我相信，你不是真的要……”
“咳，先生，你看看他們的臉！”福爾摩斯粗暴地大聲說道。
的確，我還從來沒有見過這樣一種自認有罪的面部表情。
那老的似乎呆若木雞，堅定的臉上現出沉痛慍怒的表情。另一方面，那兒子卻失掉了原有的活潑態度，變得象兇神惡煞一般，雙目露出睏獸般的逼人兇光，已沒有絲毫文雅神氣。警官一言不發，走嚮門口，吹起了警笛。兩名應聲而至。
“我衹好這樣，坎寧安先生，”警官說道，“我相信這一切可能都是一場可笑的誤會，不過你可以看到——啊，你想幹嘛？放下它！”他舉手打去，亞歷剋準備擊發的手槍咔噠一聲被打落在地。
“別動，”福爾摩斯說道，從容地用腳踩住手槍，“它在審訊時纔有用。可這纔是我們真正需要的呢。”他舉起一個小紙團說道。
“那張紙被撕走的那部分！”警官喊道。
“一點也不錯。”
“在哪裏找到的？”
“在我預料它所在的地方找到的。我馬上就把整個案子給你們講清楚。上校，我認為你和華生現在可以回去了。我最多一小時就會和你們再次見面。我和警官要訊問罪犯幾句，但在午餐時我一定會趕回去的。”
福爾摩斯非常守約，一小時以後，他同我們在上校的吸煙室裏又會面了。他由一個矮小的老紳士陪伴前來。福爾摩斯嚮我介紹，這就是阿剋頓先生，頭一件盜竊案就發生在他的傢裏。
“我嚮你們說明這件小案子時，我希望阿剋頓先生也在場聽一聽，”福爾摩斯說道，“自然，他對案子的詳情也很感興趣。我親愛的上校，接待了象我這樣一個愛闖禍的人，我恐怕你一定感到後悔吧。”
“恰恰相反，”上校熱情地答道，“我認為有機會學習你的偵探方法，是我最大的榮幸。我承認，這是完全出乎我意料之外的，我也完全不能解釋你所獲得的結果。我連一點兒綫索也沒有看出來。”
“我恐怕我的解釋會使你們失望的，可是無論對於我的朋友華生，還是對於任何認真關心我的工作方法的人，我的工作方法是一點也不保密的。不過，因為我在室裏遭到襲擊，我想喝一點白蘭地定定神，上校。剛纔我的氣力已經用盡了。”
“我相信你的神經痛不會再這樣突然發作了。”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯放聲大笑起來。“我們待會兒再談這件事，”福爾摩斯說道，“我把這件案子按順序給你們講一講，並把促使我下决心的幾點告訴你們。如果有不十分清楚的地方，請隨時問我。
“在偵探藝術中，最主要的就在於能夠從衆多的事實中，看出哪些是要害問題，哪些是次要問題。否則，你的精力不但不能集中，反而會被分散。所以，這個案子從一開始，我就毫不懷疑，全案的關鍵一定在於死者手中那張碎紙片。
“在討論這個問題以前，我想提請你們註意，如果亞歷剋·坎寧安講的那一套是真的，如果兇手在打死威廉·柯萬之後馬上就逃跑了，那麽，兇手顯然不能從死者手中撕去那張紙。可是如果不是兇手撕的，那就一定是亞歷剋·坎寧安本人，因為在那個老人下樓以前，幾個僕人已經在現場了。這一點是很簡單的，可是警官卻忽略了。因為他一開始，就推測這些鄉紳們與本案無關。那時，我决心不持任何偏見，而按照事實給我指引的方向走。因此，一開始調查，我便以懷疑的眼光註視着亞歷剋·坎寧安先生扮演的角色。
“我非常仔細地檢查了警官交給我們的那張紙角。我立即清楚地看出，這是一張非常值得註意的東西。這就是那張條子。現在你們沒有看出某些很能說明問題的地方嗎？”
“字體看起來很不規則。”上校說道。
“我親愛的先生，”福爾摩斯大聲說道，“毫無疑問，它是由兩個人交替着寫出來的。我衹要請你們註意‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’字中那兩個蒼勁有力的‘ｔ’字，再請你們把它跟‘ｑｕａｒｔｅｒ’和‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’中那兩個軟弱無力的‘ｔ’字對比一下，你們馬上就可以看出事情的。從這四個字的簡單分析上，你們就可以滿有把握地說，那‘ｌｅａｒｎ’和‘ｍａｙｂｅ’是出自筆鋒蒼勁有力的人的手筆，而那‘ｗｈａｔ’是那筆鋒軟弱無力的人寫的。”
“天哪，這真是一清二楚的！”上校喊道，“那兩人究竟為什麽要用這樣一種方式來寫這封信呢？”
“這事顯然是一種犯罪行為，其中的一個人不相信另外一個人，於是他决定，不管幹什麽兩個人都得一起動手。很清楚，這兩個人中，那個寫‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’的人是主謀。”
“那你根據什麽說的呢？”
“我們可以從對比兩個人的筆跡中推斷出來。不過我們有更有力的理由。如果你註意檢查一下這張紙，你就會得出一個結論：那個筆鋒蒼勁有力的人首先把他所要寫的字全部寫完，留下許多空白，叫另一個人去填寫。而這些空白並不是都很富餘的，你可以看出，第二個人在‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’之間填寫‘ｑｕａｒｔｅｒ’一詞時，寫得非常擠，說明‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’那兩個字是先寫好的了。那個把他所要寫的字首先寫完的人，毫無疑問，就是策劃這一案件的人。”
“太妙了！”阿剋頓先生大聲說道。
“不過這是顯而易見的，”福爾摩斯說道，“然而，我們現在要談到重要的一點。可能，你們不知道，專傢們可以根據一個人的筆跡，相當準確地推斷他的年齡，在正常情況下，可以相當有把握地斷定一個人的歲數。我說，‘在正常情況下’，這是因為不健康和體質弱是老年人的特點，如果年輕人是一個病人，他的字跡也就帶有老年人的特點。在這件案子裏，衹要看看一個人的筆跡粗壯有力，另一個人的筆跡雖然軟弱無力，卻依然十分清楚，不過‘ｔ’字少了一橫，我們就可以說，其中的一個人是一個年輕人，另一個人雖未十分衰老，卻也上年紀了。”
“妙極了！”阿剋頓先生又大聲說道。
“還有一點，是非常微妙而有趣的。這兩人的筆跡有某些相同之處。他們是屬於同一血統的人，對你們來說，最明顯的可能就是那個‘ｅ’寫得象希臘字母‘ε’。不過，在我看來，很多細小的地方都可以說明同樣的問題。我毫不懷疑，從書寫的風格上看，這兩種筆跡是出於一傢人的手筆。當然，我現在對你們講的，衹是我檢查這張紙的主要結果。還有二十三點別的推論結果，專傢們大概比你們更感興趣。而所有這一切加深了我的印象，坎寧安父子二人寫了這封信。
“我既得到這樣的結論，當然，下一步就是調查犯罪的細節，看看它們對我們能有多大幫助。我和警官來到他們的住所，看到我們所要看的一切。我絶對有把握斷定：死者身上的傷口是在四碼開外用手槍打的。死者衣服上沒有火藥痕跡。
因此，很明顯，亞歷剋·坎寧安說什麽兇手在搏鬥中開了槍，完全是撒謊。還有，父子二人異口同聲指出這個人逃往大路經過的地方。然而，碰巧，這地方有一條寬闊的溝，溝底是潮濕的。由於溝的附近並沒有發現腳印，我不僅絶對相信坎寧安父子又一次撒了謊，而且肯定現場根本沒有來過任何來歷不明的人。
“現在我必須考慮這件奇案的犯罪動機了。為了達到這一點，我首先要搞清在阿剋頓先生傢發生的頭一件盜竊案的起因。從上校告訴我們的某些事情裏，我瞭解到，阿剋頓先生，你和坎寧安傢正打着一場官司。當然，我立即想到，他們闖到你書房裏去，一定是想偷取有關此案的某個重要文件。”
“一點也不錯，”阿剋頓先生說道，“毫無疑問，他們是想這樣幹的。我完全有權要求獲得他們現有財産的一半。可是如果他們能找到我那一紙證據，他們就一定能夠勝訴，不過，幸運得很，我已經把這張證據放在我律師的保險箱裏了。”
“你看怎麽樣，”福爾摩斯微笑着說，“這是一次危險而魯莽的嘗試，我似乎覺得這是亞歷剋做的。他們找不到什麽，就故布疑陣，順手牽羊地拿走一些東西，使人把它當做一件普通的盜竊案。這一點是再清楚不過了，但是還有不少地方仍然模糊不清。首先，我要找到被撕走的那半張紙條。我確信它是亞歷剋從死者手中撕下的，也確信他一定把它塞進了睡衣的口袋裏。不然，他能把它放到別的什麽地方呢？唯一的問題是，它是否還在衣袋裏。這是很值得下功夫去把它找到的。為了這個目的，我們大傢一同到他們傢裏去了。
“你們大概還記得，坎寧安父子是在廚房門外跟我們碰上的。當然，頭等重要的是，不能在他們面前提及這張紙的事，否則他們就會毫不遲延地把它毀掉。在警官正要把我們對這張紙的重視告訴他們時，我裝做突然發病暈倒在地，纔把話題岔開。”
“哎呀！”上校笑着喊道，“你是說，我們大傢都白為你着急了，你突然發病原來是裝的？”
“從職業觀點上說，這一手做得太漂亮了，”我大聲地說道，一邊驚奇地望着這位經常運用變幻莫測的手法把我搞得暈頭轉嚮的人。
“這是一種藝術，經常用得着的，”福爾摩斯說道，“我恢復常態以後，便又略施小計，讓老坎寧安寫上了‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’［英文的十二。英文十一點三刻，寫為差一刻十二點。福爾摩斯故意將時間寫為差一刻一點，以使坎寧安於更正時留下他的筆跡。——譯者註］這個字，這樣，我就可以和寫在密約信上的‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’進行對比了。”
“哎呀，我是多麽蠢笨啊！”我喊叫道。
“我可以看出，你出時對我的身體虛弱很同情，”福爾摩斯微笑着說道，“我知道你當時一定感到非常着急，我很過意不去。後來我們一同上樓。我進了那間屋子，看到睡衣挂在門後，便有意弄翻了一張桌子，設法吸引住他們的註意力，然後溜回去檢查那件睡衣的口袋。我剛剛拿到那張紙——它不出我所料，在他們當中的一個人的睡衣兜裏——坎寧安父子二人就撲到我身上，我相信，如果不是你們及時來救我，他們就一定會當場把我弄死的。事實上，我感到那個年輕人已經掐住我的喉嚨，他父親把我的手腕扭過去，要從我手裏奪回那張紙。你瞧，他們知道我已經瞭解了事情的全部，他們原來覺得絶對保險，可是一下子完全陷入了絶境，於是就鋌而走險了。
“後來，我跟老坎寧安談了幾句，問他的犯罪動機是什麽。他很老實，他兒子卻是一個十足的惡棍，如果他拿到了他那把手槍，他就會把他自己或別的人打死。坎寧安看到案情對他十分不利，便完全失去信心，把一切都坦白交待了。看來，那天晚上，當威廉的兩個主人突然闖入阿剋頓的住宅時，威廉悄悄地跟上了他們。威廉這樣瞭解了他們的隱私，就要挾着要揭發他們，開始對他們進行敲詐勒索。然而，亞歷剋先生是一個慣於玩這類把戲的危險人物。他天才地看出震驚全鄉的盜竊案是一個可以幹掉他所畏懼的人的機會。他們把威廉誘騙出來，將他擊斃了。他們衹要把那張完整的紙條弄到手，並對他們同謀作案的細節稍稍加以註意，就很可能不會引起別人懷疑了。”
“可是那張紙條呢？”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯把這張撕走的紙條放在我們面前。
（密約信譯為—如果你在十一點三刻到東門口，你將得知一件極為意外、對你和安妮·莫裏森都有極大好處的事。但不要將這件事告訴任何人。）
“這正是我所希望得到的那個東西，”福爾摩斯說道，“當然，我們還不知道在亞歷剋·坎寧安、威廉·柯萬和安妮·莫裏森之間有什麽關係。從事情的結局可以看出，這個圈套是安排得異常巧妙的。我相信，當你們發現那些“ｐ”和“ｇ”的尾端都具有相同的特點時，你們一定會感到很高興的。那老人寫‘ｉ”字不點上面那一點，也是很獨特的。華生，我認為我們在鄉間安靜地休養收到了顯著的成效，明天我回到貝剋街一定會精力充沛了。”
On referring to my notes I see that it was upon the 14th of April that I received a telegram from Lyons which informed me that Holmes was lying ill in the Hotel Dulong. Within twenty-four hours I was in his sick-room, and was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in his symptoms. Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked less than fifteen hours a day, and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to his task for five days at a stretch. Even the triumphant issue of his labors could not save him from reaction after so terrible an exertion, and at a time when Europe was ringing with his name and when his room was literally ankle-deep with congratulatory telegrams I found him a prey to the blackest depression. Even the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of three countries had failed, and that he had outmanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindler in Europe, was insufficient to rouse him from his nervous prostration.
Three days later we were back in Baker Street together; but it was evident that my friend would be much the better for a change, and the thought of a week of spring time in the country was full of attractions to me also. My old friend, Colonel Hayter, who had come under my professional care in Afghanistan, had now taken a house near Reigate in Surrey, and had frequently asked me to come down to him upon a visit. On the last occasion he had remarked that if my friend would only come with me he would be glad to extend his hospitality to him also. A little diplomacy was needed, but when Holmes understood that the establishment was a bachelor one, and that he would be allowed the fullest freedom, he fell in with my plans and a week after our return from Lyons we were under the Colonel's roof. Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much of the world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common.
On the evening of our arrival we were sitting in the Colonel's gun-room after dinner, Holmes stretched upon the sofa, while Hayter and I looked over his little armory of Eastern weapons.
"By the way," said he suddenly, "I think I'll take one of these pistols upstairs with me in case we have an alarm."
"An alarm!" said I.
"Yes, we've had a scare in this part lately. Old Acton, who is one of our county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday. No great damage done, but the fellows are still at large."
"No clue?" asked Holmes, cocking his eye at the Colonel.
"None as yet. But the affair is a petty one, one of our little country crimes, which must seem too small for your attention, Mr. Holmes, after this great international affair."
Holmes waved away the compliment, though his smile showed that it had pleased him.
"Was there any feature of interest?"
"I fancy not. The thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains. The whole place was turned upside down, drawers burst open, and presses ransacked, with the result that an odd volume of Pope's 'Homer,' two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter-weight, a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine are all that have vanished."
"What an extraordinary assortment!" I exclaimed.
"Oh, the fellows evidently grabbed hold of everything they could get."
Holmes grunted from the sofa.
"The county police ought to make something of that," said he; "why, it is surely obvious that--"
But I held up a warning finger.
"You are here for a rest, my dear fellow. For Heaven's sake don't get started on a new problem when your nerves are all in shreds."
Holmes shrugged his shoulders with a glance of comic resignation towards the Colonel, and the talk drifted away into less dangerous channels.
It was destined, however, that all my professional caution should be wasted, for next morning the problem obtruded itself upon us in such a way that it was impossible to ignore it, and our country visit took a turn which neither of us could have anticipated. We were at breakfast when the Colonel's butler rushed in with all his propriety shaken out of him.
"Have you heard the news, sir?" he gasped. "At the Cunningham's sir!"
"Burglary!" cried the Colonel, with his coffee-cup in mid-air.
"Murder!"
The Colonel whistled. "By Jove!" said he. "Who's killed, then? The J.P. or his son?"
"Neither, sir. It was William the coachman. Shot through the heart, sir, and never spoke again."
"Who shot him, then?"
"The burglar, sir. He was off like a shot and got clean away. He'd just broke in at the pantry window when William came on him and met his end in saving his master's property."
"What time?"
"It was last night, sir, somewhere about twelve."
"Ah, then, we'll step over afterwards," said the Colonel, coolly settling down to his breakfast again. "It's a baddish business," he added when the butler had gone; "he's our leading man about here, is old Cunningham, and a very decent fellow too. He'll be cut up over this, for the man has been in his service for years and was a good servant. It's evidently the same villains who broke into Acton's."
"And stole that very singular collection," said Holmes, thoughtfully.
"Precisely."
"Hum! It may prove the simplest matter in the world, but all the same at first glance this is just a little curious, is it not? A gang of burglars acting in the country might be expected to vary the scene of their operations, and not to crack two cribs in the same district within a few days. When you spoke last night of taking precautions I remember that it passed through my mind that this was probably the last parish in England to which the thief or thieves would be likely to turn their attention--which shows that I have still much to learn."
"I fancy it's some local practitioner," said the Colonel. "In that case, of course, Acton's and Cunningham's are just the places he would go for, since they are far the largest about here."
"And richest?"
"Well, they ought to be, but they've had a lawsuit for some years which has sucked the blood out of both of them, I fancy. Old Acton has some claim on half Cunningham's estate, and the lawyers have been at it with both hands."
"If it's a local villain there should not be much difficulty in running him down," said Holmes with a yawn. "All right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle."
"Inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door.
The official, a smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped into the room. "Good-morning, Colonel," said he; "I hope I don't intrude, but we hear that Mr. Holmes of Baker Street is here."
The Colonel waved his hand towards my friend, and the Inspector bowed.
"We thought that perhaps you would care to step across, Mr. Holmes."
"The fates are against you, Watson," said he, laughing. "We were chatting about the matter when you came in, Inspector. Perhaps you can let us have a few details." As he leaned back in his chair in the familiar attitude I knew that the case was hopeless.
"We had no clue in the Acton affair. But here we have plenty to go on, and there's no doubt it is the same party in each case. The man was seen."
"Ah!"
"Yes, sir. But he was off like a deer after the shot that killed poor William Kirwan was fired. Mr. Cunningham saw him from the bedroom window, and Mr. Alec Cunningham saw him from the back passage. It was quarter to twelve when the alarm broke out. Mr. Cunningham had just got into bed, and Mr. Alec was smoking a pipe in his dressing-gown. They both heard William the coachman calling for help, and Mr. Alec ran down to see what was the matter. The back door was open, and as he came to the foot of the stairs he saw two men wrestling together outside. One of them fired a shot, the other dropped, and the murderer rushed across the garden and over the hedge. Mr. Cunningham, looking out of his bedroom, saw the fellow as he gained the road, but lost sight of him at once. Mr. Alec stopped to see if he could help the dying man, and so the villain got clean away. Beyond the fact that he was a middle-sized man and dressed in some dark stuff, we have no personal clue; but we are making energetic inquiries, and if he is a stranger we shall soon find him out."
"What was this William doing there? Did he say anything before he died?"
"Not a word. He lives at the lodge with his mother, and as he was a very faithful fellow we imagine that he walked up to the house with the intention of seeing that all was right there. Of course this Acton business has put every one on their guard. The robber must have just burst open the door--the lock has been forced--when William came upon him."
"Did William say anything to his mother before going out?"
"She is very old and deaf, and we can get no information from her. The shock has made her half-witted, but I understand that she was never very bright. There is one very important circumstance, however. Look at this!"
He took a small piece of torn paper from a note-book and spread it out upon his knee.
"This was found between the finger and thumb of the dead man. It appears to be a fragment torn from a larger sheet. You will observe that the hour mentioned upon it is the very time at which the poor fellow met his fate. You see that his murderer might have torn the rest of the sheet from him or he might have taken this fragment from the murderer. It reads almost as though it were an appointment."
Holmes took up the scrap of paper, a fac-simile of which is here reproduced.
d at quarter to twelve learn what maybe
"Presuming that it is an appointment," continued the Inspector, "it is of course a conceivable theory that this William Kirwan--though he had the reputation of being an honest man, may have been in league with the thief. He may have met him there, may even have helped him to break in the door, and then they may have fallen out between themselves."
"This writing is of extraordinary interest," said Holmes, who had been examining it with intense concentration. "These are much deeper waters than I had though." He sank his head upon his hands, while the Inspector smiled at the effect which his case had had upon the famous London specialist.
"Your last remark," said Holmes, presently, "as to the possibility of there being an understanding between the burglar and the servant, and this being a note of appointment from one to the other, is an ingenious and not entirely impossible supposition. But this writing opens up--" He sank his head into his hands again and remained for some minutes in the deepest thought. When he raised his face again, I was surprised to see that his cheek was tinged with color, and his eyes as bright as before his illness. He sprang to his feet with all his old energy.
"I'll tell you what," said he, "I should like to have a quiet little glance into the details of this case. There is something in it which fascinates me extremely. If you will permit me, Colonel, I will leave my friend Watson and you, and I will step round with the Inspector to test the truth of one or two little fancies of mine. I will be with you again in half an hour."
An hour and half had elapsed before the Inspector returned alone.
"Mr. Holmes is walking up and down in the field outside," said he. "He wants us all four to go up to the house together."
"To Mr. Cunningham's?"
"Yes, sir."
"What for?"
The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. "I don't quite know, sir. Between ourselves, I think Mr. Holmes had not quite got over his illness yet. He's been behaving very queerly, and he is very much excited."
"I don't think you need alarm yourself," said I. "I have usually found that there was method in his madness."
"Some folks might say there was madness in his method," muttered the Inspector. "But he's all on fire to start, Colonel, so we had best go out if you are ready."
We found Holmes pacing up and down in the field, his chin sunk upon his breast, and his hands thrust into his trousers pockets.
"The matter grows in interest," said he. "Watson, your country-trip has been a distinct success. I have had a charming morning."
"You have been up to the scene of the crime, I understand," said the Colonel.
"Yes; the Inspector and I have made quite a little reconnaissance together."
"Any success?"
"Well, we have seen some very interesting things. I'll tell you what we did as we walk. First of all, we saw the body of this unfortunate man. He certainly died from a revolver wound as reported."
"Had you doubted it, then?"
"Oh, it is as well to test everything. Our inspection was not wasted. We then had an interview with Mr. Cunningham and his son, who were able to point out the exact spot where the murderer had broken through the garden-hedge in his flight. That was of great interest."
"Naturally."
"Then we had a look at this poor fellow's mother. We could get no information from her, however, as she is very old and feeble."
"And what is the result of your investigations?"
"The conviction that the crime is a very peculiar one. Perhaps our visit now may do something to make it less obscure. I think that we are both agreed, Inspector that the fragment of paper in the dead man's hand, bearing, as it does, the very hour of his death written upon it, is of extreme importance."
"It should give a clue, Mr. Holmes."
"It does give a clue. Whoever wrote that note was the man who brought William Kirwan out of his bed at that hour. But where is the rest of that sheet of paper?"
"I examined the ground carefully in the hope of finding it," said the Inspector.
"It was torn out of the dead man's hand. Why was some one so anxious to get possession of it? Because it incriminated him. And what would he do with it? Thrust it into his pocket, most likely, never noticing that a corner of it had been left in the grip of the corpse. If we could get the rest of that sheet it is obvious that we should have gone a long way towards solving the mystery."
"Yes, but how can we get at the criminal's pocket before we catch the criminal?"
"Well, well, it was worth thinking over. Then there is another obvious point. The note was sent to William. The man who wrote it could not have taken it; otherwise, of course, he might have delivered his own message by word of mouth. Who brought the note, then? Or did it come through the post?"
"I have made inquiries," said the Inspector. "William received a letter by the afternoon post yesterday. The envelope was destroyed by him."
"Excellent!" cried Holmes, clapping the Inspector on the back. "You've seen the postman. It is a pleasure to work with you. Well, here is the lodge, and if you will come up, Colonel, I will show you the scene of the crime."
We passed the pretty cottage where the murdered man had lived, and walked up an oak-lined avenue to the fine old Queen Anne house, which bears the date of Malplaquet upon the lintel of the door. Holmes and the Inspector led us round it until we came to the side gate, which is separated by a stretch of garden from the hedge which lines the road. A constable was standing at the kitchen door.
"Throw the door open, officer," said Holmes. "Now, it was on those stairs that young Mr. Cunningham stood and saw the two men struggling just where we are. Old Mr. Cunningham was at that window--the second on the left--and he saw the fellow get away just to the left of that bush. Then Mr. Alec ran out and knelt beside the wounded man. The ground is very hard, you see, and there are no marks to guide us." As he spoke two men came down the garden path, from round the angle of the house. The one was an elderly man, with a strong, deep-lined, heavy-eyed face; the other a dashing young fellow, whose bright, smiling expression and showy dress were in strange contract with the business which had brought us there.
"Still at it, then?" said he to Holmes. "I thought you Londoners were never at fault. You don't seem to be so very quick, after all."
"Ah, you must give us a little time," said Holmes good-humoredly.
"You'll want it," said young Alec Cunningham. "Why, I don't see that we have any clue at all."
"There's only one," answered the Inspector. "We thought that if we could only find--Good heavens, Mr. Holmes! What is the matter?"
My poor friend's face had suddenly assumed the most dreadful expression. His eyes rolled upwards, his features writhed in agony, and with a suppressed groan he dropped on his face upon the ground. Horrified at the suddenness and severity of the attack, we carried him into the kitchen, where he lay back in a large chair, and breathed heavily for some minutes. Finally, with a shamefaced apology for his weakness, he rose once more.
"Watson would tell you that I have only just recovered from a severe illness," he explained. "I am liable to these sudden nervous attacks."
"Shall I send you home in my trap?" asked old Cunningham.
"Well, since I am here, there is one point on which I should like to feel sure. We can very easily verify it."
"What was it?"
"Well, it seems to me that it is just possible that the arrival of this poor fellow William was not before, but after, the entrance of the burglary into the house. You appear to take it for granted that, although the door was forced, the robber never got in."
"I fancy that is quite obvious," said Mr. Cunningham, gravely. "Why, my son Alec had not yet gone to bed, and he would certainly have heard any one moving about."
"Where was he sitting?"
"I was smoking in my dressing-room."
"Which window is that?"
"The last on the left next my father's."
"Both of your lamps were lit, of course?"
"Undoubtedly."
"There are some very singular points here," said Holmes, smiling. "Is it not extraordinary that a burglary--and a burglar who had had some previous experience--should deliberately break into a house at a time when he could see from the lights that two of the family were still afoot?"
"He must have been a cool hand."
"Well, of course, if the case were not an odd one we should not have been driven to ask you for an explanation," said young Mr. Alec. "But as to your ideas that the man had robbed the house before William tackled him, I think it a most absurd notion. Wouldn't we have found the place disarranged, and missed the things which he had taken?"
"It depends on what the things were," said Holmes. "You must remember that we are dealing with a burglar who is a very peculiar fellow, and who appears to work on lines of his own. Look, for example, at the queer lot of things which he took from Acton's--what was it?--a ball of string, a letter-weight, and I don't know what other odds and ends."
"Well, we are quite in your hands, Mr. Holmes," said old Cunningham. "Anything which you or the Inspector may suggest will most certainly be done."
"In the first place," said Holmes, "I should like you to offer a reward--coming from yourself, for the officials may take a little time before they would agree upon the sum, and these things cannot be done too promptly. I have jotted down the form here, if you would not mind signing it. Fifty pounds was quite enough, I thought."
"I would willingly give five hundred," said the J.P., taking the slip of paper and the pencil which Holmes handed to him. "This is not quite correct, however," he added, glancing over the document.
"I wrote it rather hurriedly."
"You see you begin, 'Whereas, at about a quarter to one on Tuesday morning an attempt was made,' and so on. It was at a quarter to twelve, as a matter of fact."
I was pained at the mistake, for I knew how keenly Holmes would feel any slip of the kind. It was his specialty to be accurate as to fact, but his recent illness had shaken him, and this one little incident was enough to show me that he was still far from being himself. He was obviously embarrassed for an instant, while the Inspector raised his eyebrows, and Alec Cunningham burst into a laugh. The old gentleman corrected the mistake, however, and handed the paper back to Holmes.
"Get it printed as soon as possible," he said; "I think your idea is an excellent one."
Holmes put the slip of paper carefully away into his pocket-book.
"And now," said he, "it really would be a good thing that we should all go over the house together and make certain that this rather erratic burglar did not, after all, carry anything away with him."
Before entering, Holmes made an examination of the door which had been forced. It was evident that a chisel or strong knife had been thrust in, and the lock forced back with it. We could see the marks in the wood where it had been pushed in.
"You don't use bars, then?" he asked.
"We have never found it necessary."
"You don't keep a dog?"
"Yes, but he is chained on the other side of the house."
"When do the servants go to bed?"
"About ten."
"I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour."
"Yes."
"It is singular that on this particular night he should have been up. Now, I should be very glad if you would have the kindness to show us over the house, Mr. Cunningham."
A stone-flagged passage, with the kitchens branching away from it, led by a wooden staircase directly to the first floor of the house. It came out upon the landing opposite to a second more ornamental stair which came up from the front hall. Out of this landing opened the drawing-room and several bedrooms, including those of Mr. Cunningham and his son. Holmes walked slowly, taking keen note of the architecture of the house. I could tell from his expression that he was on a hot scent, and yet I could not in the least imagine in what direction his inferences were leading him.
"My good sir," said Mr. Cunningham with some impatience, "this is surely very unnecessary. That is my room at the end of the stairs, and my son's is the one beyond it. I leave it to your judgment whether it was possible for the thief to have come up here without disturbing us."
"You must try round and get on a fresh scent, I fancy," said the son with a rather malicious smile.
"Still, I must ask you to humor me a little further. I should like, for example, to see how far the windows of the bedrooms command the front. This, I understand is your son's room"--he pushed open the door--"and that, I presume, is the dressing-room in which he sat smoking when the alarm was given. Where does the window of that look out to?" He stepped across the bedroom, pushed open the door, and glanced round the other chamber.
"I hope that you are satisfied now?" said Mr. Cunningham, tartly.
"Thank you, I think I have seen all that I wished."
"Then if it is really necessary we can go into my room."
"If it is not too much trouble."
The J. P. shrugged his shoulders, and led the way into his own chamber, which was a plainly furnished and commonplace room. As we moved across it in the direction of the window, Holmes fell back until he and I were the last of the group. Near the foot of the bed stood a dish of oranges and a carafe of water. As we passed it Holmes, to my unutterable astonishment, leaned over in front of me and deliberately knocked the whole thing over. The glass smashed into a thousand pieces and the fruit rolled about into every corner of the room.
"You've done it now, Watson," said he, coolly. "A pretty mess you've made of the carpet."
I stooped in some confusion and began to pick up the fruit, understanding for some reason my companion desired me to take the blame upon myself. The others did the same, and set the table on its legs again.
"Hullo!" cried the Inspector, "where's he got to?"
Holmes had disappeared.
"Wait here an instant," said young Alec Cunningham. "The fellow is off his head, in my opinion. Come with me, father, and see where he has got to!"
They rushed out of the room, leaving the Inspector, the Colonel, and me staring at each other.
"'Pon my word, I am inclined to agree with Master Alec," said the official. "It may be the effect of this illness, but it seems to me that--"
His words were cut short by a sudden scream of "Help! Help! Murder!" With a thrill I recognized the voice of that of my friend. I rushed madly from the room on to the landing. The cries, which had sunk down into a hoarse, inarticulate shouting, came from the room which we had first visited. I dashed in, and on into the dressing-room beyond. The two Cunninghams were bending over the prostrate figure of Sherlock Holmes, the younger clutching his throat with both hands, while the elder seemed to be twisting one of his wrists. In an instant the three of us had torn them away from him, and Holmes staggered to his feet, very pale and evidently greatly exhausted.
"Arrest these men, Inspector," he gasped.
"On what charge?"
"That of murdering their coachman, William Kirwan."
The Inspector stared about him in bewilderment. "Oh, come now, Mr. Holmes," said he at last, "I'm sure you don't really mean to--"
"Tut, man, look at their faces!" cried Holmes, curtly.
Never certainly have I seen a plainer confession of guilt upon human countenances. The older man seemed numbed and dazed with a heavy, sullen expression upon his strongly-marked face. The son, on the other hand, had dropped all that jaunty, dashing style which had characterized him, and the ferocity of a dangerous wild beast gleamed in his dark eyes and distorted his handsome features. The Inspector said nothing, but, stepping to the door, he blew his whistle. Two of his constables came at the call.
"I have no alternative, Mr. Cunningham," said he. "I trust that this may all prove to be an absurd mistake, but you can see that--Ah, would you? Drop it!" He struck out with his hand, and a revolver which the younger man was in the act of cocking clattered down upon the floor.
"Keep that," said Holmes, quietly putting his foot upon it; "you will find it useful at the trial. But this is what we really wanted." He held up a little crumpled piece of paper.
"The remainder of the sheet!" cried the Inspector.
"Precisely."
"And where was it?"
"Where I was sure it must be. I'll make the whole matter clear to you presently. I think, Colonel, that you and Watson might return now, and I will be with you again in an hour at the furthest. The Inspector and I must have a word with the prisoners, but you will certainly see me back at luncheon time."
Sherlock Holmes was as good as his word, for about one o'clock he rejoined us in the Colonel's smoking-room. He was accompanied by a little elderly gentleman, who was introduced to me as the Mr. Acton whose house had been the scene of the original burglary.
"I wished Mr. Acton to be present while I demonstrated this small matter to you," said Holmes, "for it is natural that he should take a keen interest in the details. I am afraid, my dear Colonel, that you must regret the hour that you took in such a stormy petrel as I am."
"On the contrary," answered the Colonel, warmly, "I consider it the greatest privilege to have been permitted to study your methods of working. I confess that they quite surpass my expectations, and that I am utterly unable to account for your result. I have not yet seen the vestige of a clue."
"I am afraid that my explanation may disillusion you but it has always been my habit to hide none of my methods, either from my friend Watson or from any one who might take an intelligent interest in them. But, first, as I am rather shaken by the knocking about which I had in the dressing-room, I think that I shall help myself to a dash of your brandy, Colonel. My strength had been rather tried of late."
"I trust that you had no more of those nervous attacks."
Sherlock Holmes laughed heartily. "We will come to that in its turn," said he. "I will lay an account of the case before you in its due order, showing you the various points which guided me in my decision. Pray interrupt me if there is any inference which is not perfectly clear to you.
"It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize, out of a number of facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated. Now, in this case there was not the slightest doubt in my mind from the first that the key of the whole matter must be looked for in the scrap of paper in the dead man's hand.
"Before going into this, I would draw your attention to the fact that, if Alec Cunningham's narrative was correct, and if the assailant, after shooting William Kirwan, had instantly fled, then it obviously could not be he who tore the paper from the dead man's hand. But if it was not he, it must have been Alec Cunningham himself, for by the time that the old man had descended several servants were upon the scene. The point is a simple one, but the Inspector had overlooked it because he had started with the supposition that these county magnates had had nothing to do with the matter. Now, I make a point of never having any prejudices, and of following docilely wherever fact may lead me, and so, in the very first stage of the investigation, I found myself looking a little askance at the part which had been played by Mr. Alec Cunningham.
"And now I made a very careful examination of the corner of paper which the Inspector had submitted to us. It was at once clear to me that it formed part of a very remarkable document. Here it is. Do you not now observe something very suggestive about it?"
"It has a very irregular look," said the Colonel.
"My dear sir," cried Holmes, "there cannot be the least doubt in the world that it has been written by two persons doing alternate words. When I draw your attention to the strong t's of 'at' and 'to', and ask you to compare them with the weak ones of 'quarter' and 'twelve,' you will instantly recognize the fact. A very brief analysis of these four words would enable you to say with the utmost confidence that the 'learn' and the 'maybe' are written in the stronger hand, and the 'what' in the weaker."
"By Jove, it's as clear as day!" cried the Colonel. "Why on earth should two men write a letter in such a fashion?"
"Obviously the business was a bad one, and one of the men who distrusted the other was determined that, whatever was done, each should have an equal hand in it. Now, of the two men, it is clear that the one who wrote the 'at' and 'to' was the ringleader."
"How do you get at that?"
"We might deduce it from the mere character of the one hand as compared with the other. But we have more assured reasons than that for supposing it. If you examine this scrap with attention you will come to the conclusion that the man with the stronger hand wrote all his words first, leaving blanks for the other to fill up. These blanks were not always sufficient, and you can see that the second man had a squeeze to fit his 'quarter' in between the 'at' and the 'to,' showing that the latter were already written. The man who wrote all his words first is undoubtedly the man who planned the affair."
"Excellent!" cried Mr. Acton.
"But very superficial," said Holmes. "We come now, however, to a point which is of importance. You may not be aware that the deduction of a man's age from his writing is one which has brought to considerable accuracy by experts. In normal cases one can place a man in his true decade with tolerable confidence. I say normal cases, because ill-health and physical weakness reproduce the signs of old age, even when the invalid is a youth. In this case, looking at the bold, strong hand of the one, and the rather broken-backed appearance of the other, which still retains its legibility although the t's have begun to lose their crossing, we can say that the one was a young man and the other was advanced in years without being positively decrepit."
"Excellent!" cried Mr. Acton again.
"There is a further point, however, which is subtler and of greater interest. There is something in common between these hands. They belong to men who are blood-relatives. It may be most obvious to you in the Greek e's, but to me there are many small points which indicate the same thing. I have no doubt at all that a family mannerism can be traced in these two specimens of writing. I am only, of course, giving you the leading results now of my examination of the paper. There were twenty-three other deductions which would be of more interest to experts than to you. They all tend to deepen the impression upon my mind that the Cunninghams, father and son, had written this letter.
"Having got so far, my next step was, of course, to examine into the details of the crime, and to see how far they would help us. I went up to the house with the Inspector, and saw all that was to be seen. The wound upon the dead man was, as I was able to determine with absolute confidence, fired from a revolver at the distance of something over four yards. There was no powder-blackening on the clothes. Evidently, therefore, Alec Cunningham had lied when he said that the two men were struggling when the shot was fired. Again, both father and son agreed as to the place where the man escaped into the road. At that point, however, as it happens, there is a broadish ditch, moist at the bottom. As there were no indications of bootmarks about this ditch, I was absolutely sure not only that the Cunninghams had again lied, but that there had never been any unknown man upon the scene at all.
"And now I have to consider the motive of this singular crime. To get at this, I endeavored first of all to solve the reason of the original burglary at Mr. Acton's. I understood, from something which the Colonel told us, that a lawsuit had been going on between you, Mr. Acton, and the Cunninghams. Of course, it instantly occurred to me that they had broken into your library with the intention of getting at some document which might be of importance in the case."
"Precisely so," said Mr. Acton. "There can be no possible doubt as to their intentions. I have the clearest claim upon half of their present estate, and if they could have found a single paper--which, fortunately, was in the strong-box of my solicitors--they would undoubtedly have crippled our case."
"There you are," said Holmes, smiling. "It was a dangerous, reckless attempt, in which I seem to trace the influence of young Alec. Having found nothing they tried to divert suspicion by making it appear to be an ordinary burglary, to which end they carried off whatever they could lay their hands upon. That is all clear enough, but there was much that was still obscure. What I wanted above all was to get the missing part of that note. I was certain that Alec had torn it out of the dead man's hand, and almost certain that he must have thrust it into the pocket of his dressing-gown. Where else could he have put it? The only question was whether it was still there. It was worth an effort to find out, and for that object we all went up to the house.
"The Cunninghams joined us, as you doubtless remember, outside the kitchen door. It was, of course, of the very first importance that they should not be reminded of the existence of this paper, otherwise they would naturally destroy it without delay. The Inspector was about to tell them the importance which we attached to it when, by the luckiest chance in the world, I tumbled down in a sort of fit and so changed the conversation.
"Good heavens!" cried the Colonel, laughing, "do you mean to say all our sympathy was wasted and your fit an imposture?"
"Speaking professionally, it was admirably done," cried I, looking in amazement at this man who was forever confounding me with some new phase of his astuteness.
"It is an art which is often useful," said he. "When I recovered I managed, by a device which had perhaps some little merit of ingenuity, to get old Cunningham to write the word 'twelve,' so that I might compare it with the 'twelve' upon the paper."
"Oh, what an ass I have been!" I exclaimed.
"I could see that you were commiserating me over my weakness," said Holmes, laughing. "I was sorry to cause you the sympathetic pain which I know that you felt. We then went upstairs together, and having entered the room and seen the dressing-gown hanging up behind the door, I contrived, by upsetting a table, to engage their attention for the moment, and slipped back to examine the pockets. I had hardly got the paper, however--which was, as I had expected, in one of them--when the two Cunninghams were on me, and would, I verily believe, have murdered me then and there but for your prompt and friendly aid. As it is, I feel that young man's grip on my throat now, and the father has twisted my wrist round in the effort to get the paper out of my hand. They saw that I must know all about it, you see, and the sudden change from absolute security to complete despair made them perfectly desperate.
"I had a little talk with old Cunningham afterwards as to the motive of the crime. He was tractable enough, though his son was a perfect demon, ready to blow out his own or anybody else's brains if he could have got to his revolver. When Cunningham saw that the case against him was so strong he lost all heart and made a clean breast of everything. It seems that William had secretly followed his two masters on the night when they made their raid upon Mr. Acton's, and having thus got them into his power, proceeded, under threats of exposure, to levy blackmail upon them. Mr. Alec, however, was a dangerous man to play games of that sort with. It was a stroke of positive genius on his part to see in the burglary scare which was convulsing the country side an opportunity of plausibly getting rid of the man whom he feared. William was decoyed up and shot, and had they only got the whole of the note and paid a little more attention to detail in the accessories, it is very possible that suspicion might never have been aroused."
"And the note?" I asked.
Sherlock Holmes placed the subjoined paper before us.
If you will only come around to the east gate you will will very much surprise you and be of the greatest service to you and also to Annie Morrison. But say nothing to anyone upon the matter
"It is very much the sort of thing that I expected," said he. "Of course, we do not yet know what the relations may have been between Alec Cunningham, William Kirwan, and Annie Morrison. The results shows that the trap was skillfully baited. I am sure that you cannot fail to be delighted with the traces of heredity shown in the p's and in the tails of the g's. The absence of the i-dots in the old man's writing is also most characteristic. Watson, I think our quiet rest in the country has been a distinct success, and I shall certainly return much invigorated to Baker Street to-morrow."
我查閱筆記，看到在四月十四日，我曾收到一封從裏昂發來的電報，通知我，福爾摩斯在杜朗旅館臥病在床。沒過二十四小時，我就趕到他的病房，發現他的癥狀不甚嚴重，方纔放心。不過，甚至象他這樣鋼鐵般的體質，在兩個多月調查的勞累之下，也免不了垮了下來。在這段期間，他每天最少工作十五小時，而且他嚮我說，還有一次他夜以繼日地工作了五天。甚至勝利的喜悅也不能使他在如此可怕的勞累之後恢復過來。在他的名字響遍歐洲，各處發來的賀電在他屋中堆積如山的時候，我發現福爾摩斯依然感到很痛苦，神情沮喪。消息傳來，三個國傢的都失敗了，而他卻贏得了成功，他在各方面都挫敗了歐洲最高超的詐騙犯玩弄的鬼把戲。即使這樣，也不能使他從疲憊中振作起來。
三天以後，我們一起回到了貝剋街。不過，換個環境對我的朋友顯然會更好一些，乘此大好春光，到鄉間去呆一個星期，這種想法對我也充滿着吸引力。我的老朋友海特上校在阿富汗時，請我給他治過病。他現在在薩裏郡的賴蓋特附近買了一所住宅，經常邀請我到他那裏去作客。最近，他說，衹要我的朋友願意和我一起去，他也會很高興地款待他。我轉彎抹角地把這意思說了出來，當福爾摩斯聽說主人是個單身漢，而且他完全可以自由行動時，他同意了我的計劃。在從裏昂回來後一個星期，我們便來到了上校的住所。海特是一個灑脫的老軍人，見多識廣，他很快就發覺，他和福爾摩斯很談得來，這正是我料到的。
在我們來到的那天傍晚，我們吃過晚餐，坐在上校的貯槍室裏。福爾摩斯伸開四肢躺在沙發上，海特和我正在看他那貯藏東方武器的小軍械室。
“順便說一下，”上校突然說道，“我想從這裏拿一支手槍帶上樓去，以防遇到警報。”
“警報？！”我說道。
“是的，最近我們這個地區出了事，使我們大受驚擾。老阿剋頓是本地的一個富紳。上星期一有人闖進他的住宅。他雖然沒有遭到很大損失，可是那些傢夥卻依然逍遙法外。”
“沒有一點綫索嗎？”福爾摩斯望着上校問道。
“現在還沒有綫索。不過這是小事一樁，是我們村子裏的一件小小的犯罪案件，在你辦過這樣巨大的國際案件之後，它一定不會引起你的註意吧，福爾摩斯先生。”
福爾摩斯擺手叫他不要稱贊自己，可是卻面露笑容，說明這些贊美之詞使他很高興。
“有什麽重要的徵候沒有？”
“我想沒有。那裏盜賊在藏書室大搜了一通，儘管費了很大勁，卻沒得到什麽東西。整個藏書室翻了個底朝天，抽屜全敲打開了，書籍都被翻得亂七八糟。結果衹有一捲蒲柏翻譯的荷馬的詩，兩衹鍍金燭臺，一方象牙鎮紙，一個橡木製的小晴雨計和一團綫不見了。”
“真是五花八門，稀奇古怪！”我喊道。
“唉，這些傢夥顯然是順手牽羊，碰到什麽拿什麽。”
福爾摩斯在沙發上哼了一聲。
“地區應當從這裏面發現一些綫索，”福爾摩斯說道，“喂，顯然是……”
可是我伸出手指警告他道：“你是到這裏來休息的，我親愛的朋友。在你的神經還十分疲憊的情況下，請你務必不要着手搞新的案件。”
福爾摩斯聳了聳肩，無可奈何地嚮上校那裏溜了一眼，我們便轉到無關緊要的話題上去了。
然而，凡事自有天定，命裏註定我作為醫生提醒他註意的所有那些話都白費了。因為第二天早晨，這個案件本身迫使我們進行了幹預，使我們不能置之不理，我們的鄉村之行發生了我們兩人都料想不到的變化。我們正進早餐時，上校的管傢一點禮節也不顧地闖了進來。
“您聽到消息了嗎？先生，”他氣喘籲籲地說道，“是在坎寧安傢裏！先生。”
“又是盜竊吧！”上校手中舉着一杯咖啡，大聲地說道。
“殺了人呢！”
上校不由驚呼了一聲，“天哪！”他說道：“那麽，是誰被害了？是治安官還是他的兒子？”
“都不是，先生。是馬車夫威廉。子彈射穿了他的心髒，他再也說不出話了，先生。”
“那麽，是誰槍殺了他呢？”
“是那個盜賊，先生。他飛也似地跑掉了，逃得無影無蹤。他剛剛從廚房窗戶闖進去，威廉就撞上了他。為了保護主人的財産，威廉就喪了命。”
“那是什麽時候？”
“是在昨天夜裏，先生，大約十二點鐘。”
“啊，那麽，一會兒我們去看看，”上校說道，又沉着地坐下來吃他的早飯。“這是一件很不幸的事，”管傢走後，上校補充說道，“老坎寧安是我們這裏的頭面人物，也是一個非常正派的人。他對此一定是很傷心的，因為這個人侍候了他好幾年，是一個很好的僕人。案犯顯然就是那個闖進阿剋頓傢的惡棍。”
“也就是偷盜那一堆稀奇古怪的東西的那個人嗎？”福爾摩斯沉思地說道。
“對。”
“哦！這可能是世界上一件最簡單的事情，不過，初看起來，還是有點兒奇怪，是不是？在人們意料中，一夥在鄉村活動的盜賊總是要改變他們的作案地點，絶不會在幾天之內在同一地區兩次闖進住宅進行偷盜。在你昨晚談到采取預防措施時，我記得我腦子裏閃現過一個想法：這地方可能是英國盜賊最不註意的教區了。由此可見，我還有許多需要學習的東西。”
“我想這是本地的小偷幹的，”上校說道，“假使是這樣的話，當然，阿剋頓和坎寧安傢正好是他要光顧的地方了。因為他們兩傢是此地最大的人傢。”
“也是最富有的人傢嗎？”
“對，他們應當算是最富有的了。不過他們兩傢已經打了好幾年的官司。我想，這場官司吸去了他們雙方不少血汗。老阿剋頓曾經提出，要求得到坎寧安傢的一半財産，而律師們則從中漁利。”
“如果這是當地惡棍作的案，要把他追查出來不是很睏難的。”福爾摩斯打着呵欠說道，“好了，華生，我不打算幹預這件事。”
“警官福雷斯特求見，先生，”管傢突然打開門，說道。
一個機警的年輕警官走進室內。
“早安，上校，”他說道，“我希望不致打擾你們，不過我們聽說貝剋街的福爾摩斯先生在這裏。”
上校把手嚮我的朋友那裏一揮，警官便點頭致意，說道：“我們想你大概願意光臨指導，福爾摩斯先生。”
“命運是違背你的意志的，華生。”福爾摩斯笑容可掬地說道，“你進來時，我們正在聊着這件案子呢，警官。或許你能使我們知道得更詳細一些。”當他照平素習慣的姿式嚮後仰靠在椅背上時，我知道我的計劃又落空了。
“阿剋頓案件，我們還沒有綫索。但是目前這個案子，我們有許多綫索，可以進行工作。毫無疑問，這兩個案子是同一夥人幹的。有人看到作案人了。”
“啊？！”
“是的，先生。但是作案人在開槍打死了可憐的威廉·柯萬之後，象鹿一樣飛快地跑掉了。坎寧安先生從臥室的窗戶看到了他，亞歷剋·坎寧安先生從後面的走廊看到了他。是十一點三刻發出的警報。坎寧安先生剛剛睡下，亞歷剋先生穿着睡衣正在吸煙。他們兩人都聽見了馬車夫威廉的呼救聲，於是亞歷剋先生跑下樓去看是怎麽一回事。後門開着。他走到樓梯腳下時，看到兩個人正在外面扭打。其中一個放了一槍，另一個倒下了。兇手便跑過花園越過籬笆，逃走了。坎寧安先生從他的臥室望出去，看見這個傢夥跑到大路上，但轉眼之間就消失了。亞歷剋先生停下來看看他是否還能拯救這個垂死的人，結果就讓這個惡棍逃走了。除了知道兇手中等身材、穿着深色衣服外，我們還沒掌握有關他容貌的綫索，但我們正在竭力調查，如果他是一個外鄉人，我們馬上可以把他查出來。”
“那個威廉怎麽樣了？在臨終之前，他說過什麽話沒有？”
“一個字也沒有說。他和他母親住在僕人住房裏。因為他為人非常忠厚，我們想，可能他到廚房裏去，是想看看那裏是否平安無事。當然，阿剋頓案件，使每個人都提高了警惕。那強盜剛剛把門推開——鎖已經被撬開——威廉便碰上他了。”
“威廉在出去之前對他母親說過什麽沒有？”
“他母親年高耳聾，我們從她那裏打聽不到什麽東西。她受到這次驚嚇，幾乎變傻了。不過，我知道她平常也不怎麽精明。但是，有一個非常重要的情況。請看！”
警官從筆記本裏取出一角撕壞的紙，把它鋪在膝蓋上。
“我們發現死者的手裏抓着這張紙條。看來它是從一張較大的紙上撕下來的。你可以看到，上面提到的時間正是這個可憐的傢夥遭到不幸的時刻。你看，要麽是兇手從死者手中撕去一塊，要麽是死者從兇手那裏奪回這一角。這張紙條讀起來很象是一種同人約會的短柬。”
福爾摩斯拿起這張小紙片。下面是它的復製品。
“我們姑且認為這是一種約會，”警官繼續說道，“當然也就可以相信：雖然威廉·柯萬素有忠厚之名，但也可能與盜賊有勾結。他可能在那裏迎接盜賊，甚至幫助盜賊闖進門內，後來他們兩人可能又鬧翻了。”
“這字體倒是非常有趣，”福爾摩斯把這張紙條聚精會神地察看了一番，說道，“這比我想象的要深奧得多。”他雙手抱頭沉思，警官看到這件案子居然使這位大名鼎鼎的倫敦偵探如此勞神，不禁喜形於色。
“你剛纔說，”福爾摩斯過了一會兒說道，“可能盜賊和僕人之間有默契，這張紙也許是一個人給另一個人的密約信，這確實是一個獨到的見解，並非完全不可能。可是這張紙條上明明寫着……”他又雙手抱頭，沉思了片刻。當他再擡起頭時，我很驚奇地看到他又象未病時那樣滿面紅光，目光炯炯，精力充沛，一躍而起。
“我告訴你們，”他說道，“我很想悄悄地去看一看，瞭解一下這個案子的一些細節。它有些地方非常吸引我。如果你允許的話，上校，我想告別你和我的朋友華生，跟警官一起去跑一趟，驗證一下我的一兩點想法。半小時後，我再來見你。”
過了一個半小時，警官獨自一人回來了。
“福爾摩斯先生正在田野裏踱來踱去，”他說道，“他要我們四個人一起到那所屋子裏去看看。”
“到坎寧安先生傢裏去？”
“是的，先生。”
“去做什麽呢？”
警官聳了聳肩，說道：“我不十分清楚，先生。我衹跟你說，我認為福爾摩斯先生的病還沒有全好。他表現得非常古怪，而且過於激動。”
“我認為，你不必大驚小怪，”我說道，“我經常發現，當他好象瘋瘋癲癲的時候，他已經胸有成竹了。”
“有人會說，他的方法簡直是發瘋，”警官嘟嘟囔囔地說，“不過他急着要去調查，上校，所以如果你們準備好了，我們最好現在就去。”
我們看到福爾摩斯低着頭，雙手插在褲兜裏，正在田野上踱來踱去。
“這件事變得更有趣了，”福爾摩斯說道，“華生，你發起的鄉間旅行已經獲得了明顯的成功。我度過了一個奇妙的早晨。”
“我知道，你已經到犯罪現場去過了，”上校說道。
“是的，我和警官一起已經對現場檢查了一下。”
“有什麽成績嗎？”
“啊，我們看到了一些非常有趣的東西。我們邊走邊談吧，我把我們做的事都告訴你們。首先，我們看到了那具不幸的屍體。他確實象警官講的那樣，死於槍傷。”
“那麽，你對這有什麽懷疑嗎？”
“啊，還是對每件事都考察一下好。我們的偵察並不是徒勞的。後來我們會見了坎寧安先生和他的兒子，因為他們能夠指出兇手逃跑時越過花園籬笆的確切地點。這是極為重要的。”
“那當然了。”
“後來我們又看了看那個可憐人的母親。但是她年老體弱，我們從她那裏未能得到任何情況。”
“那麽，你調查的結果到底是什麽呢？”
“結果就是我確信這一犯罪行為是很奇特的。或許我們眼下這次訪問可以使它多少明朗一些。警官，我認為我們兩個人都同意，死者手中的這張紙片上面寫着的時間，正是他死去的時間，這一點是極為重要的。”
“這就給我們提供了一個綫索，福爾摩斯先生。”
“這確實給我們提供了一個綫索。寫這張便條的人，就是要威廉·柯萬在那個時間起床的人。可是這張紙的那一半在哪裏呢？”
“我仔細地檢查了地面，希望能找到它。”警官說道。
“它是從死者手中撕去的。為什麽有人那麽急切地要得到它呢？因為它可以證明他的罪行。撕下以後他又怎麽處理它呢？他把它塞進衣袋裏，很可能沒有註意到有一角紙片還抓在死者手裏。如果我們能夠得到撕走的那片紙，顯然，對我們解開這個謎大有幫助。”
“是的，可是我們沒有捉到罪犯，怎能從罪犯的衣袋裏得到它呢？”
“啊，啊，這是值得仔細考慮的。而且還有另外一點也很明顯。這張便條是給威廉的。寫便條的人是不會親自交給他的，不然的話，他當然可以把內容親口嚮他說了。那麽，是誰把便條帶給死者的呢？或許是通過郵局寄來的？”
“我已經查問過了，”警官說道，“昨天下午，威廉從郵局接到一封信。信封已經被他毀掉了。”
“好極了！”福爾摩斯拍了拍警官的背，大聲說道，“你已經見過郵差了。和你一起工作，我非常高興。好，這就是那間僕人住房，上校，如果你願意進來，我把犯罪現場指給你看。”
我們走過被害者住的漂亮的小屋，走上一條兩旁橡樹挺立的大路，來到一所華麗的安妮女王時代的古宅，門楣上刻着馬爾博羅［一七○九年在西班牙王位繼承戰中馬爾博羅指揮英國人及其同盟軍戰勝了法國人。——譯者註］的日期。福爾摩斯和警官領着我們兜了一圈，然後我們來到旁門前。門外便是花園，花園的籬包外面是大路。
一個站在廚房門旁。
“請把門打開，警官，”福爾摩斯說道，“喂，小坎寧安先生就是站在樓梯上看到那兩個人搏鬥的，兩人搏鬥之處就是我們現在站的地方，老坎寧安先生就是在左起第二扇窗戶旁看到那個傢夥剛剛逃到矮樹叢左邊的。他兒子也這麽說。他們兩個人都提到矮樹叢。後來亞歷剋先生跑出來，跪在受傷者身旁。你們看，這兒地面非常硬，沒有給我們留下絲毫痕跡。”福爾摩斯正說着，有兩個人繞過屋角，走上了花園的小徑。一個年齡較大，面容剛毅，面部皺紋很深，目光抑鬱不歡；另外一個是打扮得很漂亮的年青人，他神情活潑，滿面笑容，衣着華麗，與我們為之而來的案件，形成非常奇異的對比。
“還在調查這件事嗎？”他對福爾摩斯說道，“我想你們倫敦人是不會失敗的。但你似乎不象很快就能把案破了。”
“啊，你必須給我們一些時間，”福爾摩斯愉快地說道。
“這對你是很必要的，”亞歷剋·坎寧安說道，“哦，我根本看不出有什麽綫索。”
“衹有一個綫索，”回答道，“我們認為，衹要我們能找到……天哪！福爾摩斯先生，這是怎麽回事？”
我那可憐的朋友的臉上，突然現出極為可怕的表情。他的兩眼直往上翻，痛得臉都變了形。他忍不住地哼了一聲，臉朝下跌倒在地上。他突然發病，又那麽厲害，把我們嚇了一跳。我們急忙把他擡到廚房裏，讓他躺在一把大椅子上。他吃力地呼吸了一會兒，終於又站了起來，為自己身體虛弱而感到羞愧和抱歉。
“華生會告訴諸位，我生了一場重病剛剛復元。”福爾摩斯解釋道，“這種神經痛很容易突然發作。”
“是不是用我的馬車把你送回傢去？”老坎寧安問道。
“唉，既然我已經到了這裏，有一點我還想把它摸清楚。
我們能夠很容易就查清它的。”
“是什麽問題呢？”
“啊，據我看來，可憐的威廉的到來，很可能不在盜賊進屋之前，而在盜賊進屋之後。看來你們衹是想當然地認為，雖然門被弄開了，強盜卻沒有進屋。”
“我想這是十分明顯的，”坎寧安先生嚴肅地說道，“呃，我的兒子亞歷剋還沒有睡，如果有人走動，他是一定能夠聽到的。”
“他那時坐在什麽地方？”
“我那時正坐在室裏吸煙。”
“哪一扇窗子是室的？”
“左邊最後一扇窗子，緊挨着我父親臥室的那一扇。”
“那你們兩個房間的燈自然都亮着的羅？”
“不錯。”
“現在有幾點是很奇怪的，”福爾摩斯微笑着說道，“一個盜賊，而且是一個頗有經驗的盜賊，一看燈光就知道這一傢有兩個人還沒睡，卻有意闖進屋裏去，這難道不奇怪嗎？”
“他一定是一個冷靜沉着的老手。”
“啊，當然了，要不是這個案子稀奇古怪，我們也就不會來嚮你請教了，”亞歷剋先生說道，“不過，你說在威廉抓住盜賊以前，盜賊已經進了這間屋子，我認為這種看法簡直荒唐可笑。屋子不是沒有被搞亂，也沒有發現丟東西嗎？”
“這要看是什麽東西了，”福爾摩斯說道，“你不要忘記，我們是跟這樣一個強盜打交道——他很不簡單，看來有他自己的一套辦法。你看看，他從阿剋頓傢拿去的那些古怪東西，都是些什麽呢？一個綫團，一方鎮紙，還有一些我不知道的其它零星東西。”
“好了，我們一切都托付給你了，福爾摩斯先生，”老坎寧安說道，“一切聽從你或警官的吩咐。”
“首先，”福爾摩斯說道，“我想請你自己出一個賞格，因為官方要同意這筆款子，可能要費一些時間，同時這些事情也不可能馬上就給辦。我已經起了個草，如果你不反對的話，請你簽字。我想，五十鎊足夠了。”
“我情願出五百鎊，”治安官接過福爾摩斯遞給他的那張紙和鉛筆，說道。“但是，這不完全對，”他瀏覽了一下底稿，又補充了一句。
“我寫得太倉促了。”
“你看你開頭寫的：‘鑒於星期二凌晨零點三刻發生了一次搶劫未遂案，’等等。事實上，是發生在十一點三刻。”
我看到出了這個差錯很痛心，因為我知道，福爾摩斯對這類疏忽，總是感到很尷尬。把事實搞得很準確，是他的特長。可是他最近的病把他折騰得夠嗆，眼前這件小事，也足以嚮我表明，他的身體還遠遠沒有復原。顯然，他感到很窘。
警官揚了揚眉毛，亞歷剋·坎寧安則哈哈大笑起來。那個老紳士立即把寫錯的地方改正了，把這張紙還給了福爾摩斯。
“盡快送去付印吧，”老坎寧安說道，“我認為你的想法是很高明的。”福爾摩斯卻小心翼翼地把這張紙收起來，夾在他的記事本裏。
“現在，”他說道，“我們最好一起把這宅院仔細檢查一下，弄清楚這個古怪的盜賊是否確實沒有偷走任何東西。”
在進屋之前，福爾摩斯仔細檢查了那扇弄壞了的門。很顯然，那是用一把鑿子或一把堅固的小刀插進去，把鎖撬開的。我們可以看到利器插進去以後在木頭上留下的痕跡。
“那麽，你們不用門閂嗎？”福爾摩斯問道。
“我們一嚮認為沒有必要。”
“你們沒有養狗嗎？”
“養了，可是我們用鐵鏈子把狗拴在房子的另一邊。”
“僕人們是什麽時候去睡覺的？”
“十點鐘左右。”
“我聽說威廉平常不是也在這個時候去睡覺的嗎？”
“是的。”
“這就怪了，正在這個出事的夜晚，他卻起來了。現在，如果你肯領我們查看一下這所住宅，我將感到很高興，坎寧安先生。”
我們經過廚房旁邊石板鋪的走廊，沿着一道木樓梯，逕直來到住宅的二樓。我們登上了樓梯平臺。它的對面，是另一條通嚮前廳裝飾得較為華麗的樓梯。從這個樓梯平臺過去，就是客廳和幾間臥室，其中包括坎寧安先生和他兒子的臥室。
福爾摩斯不慌不忙地走着，留神着這所房子的式樣。我從他的表情可以看出，他在緊緊地跟蹤着一條綫索，可我還是一點也猜不出他所跟蹤的是什麽。
“我說先生，”坎寧安先生有些不耐煩地說道，“這肯定是非常不必要的。樓梯口就是我的臥室。我兒子的臥室就在隔壁。我倒要請你判斷一下，這賊要是上了樓，而我們竟毫無覺察，這可能嗎？”
“我想，你應當到房子四周去調查，尋找新的綫索，”坎寧安的兒子陰險地笑道。
“我還要請你們再將就我一會兒，比如說，我很想看看從臥室的窗戶可以嚮前望出去多遠。我知道，這是你兒子的臥室，”福爾摩斯把門推開說道，“這就是發出警報時他正坐在那裏吸煙的室吧！它的窗子朝嚮什麽地方？”福爾摩斯走過臥室，推開門，把另一間屋子四下打量了一番。
“我想現在你總該滿意了吧？”坎寧安先生尖刻地說道。
“謝謝你，我認為我想看的都看到了。”
“那麽，如果你真的認為必要的話，可以到我的房間裏去。”
“如果不太打擾你的話，那就去吧！”
治安官聳了聳肩，領着我們走進他自己的臥室。室內的傢具、擺設很簡單、平常，是一間普普通通的房間。當我們嚮着窗子走去時，福爾摩斯慢騰騰地走，以至他和我都落在了大傢的後面。床的旁邊，有一盤桔子和一瓶水。我們走過床邊時，福爾摩斯把身子探到我的前面，故意把所有這些東西打翻在地。玻璃瓶摔得粉碎，水果滾得到處都是，這驚得我張口結舌！
“看你弄的，華生，”福爾摩斯沉着地說道，“你把地毯弄了個一塌糊塗。”
我慌亂地俯來，開始揀水果，我知道，我的朋友想讓我來承擔責任，是有一定原因的。其他人也一邊揀水果，一邊把桌子重新扶起來。
“哎呀！”警官喊道，“他到哪兒去了？”
福爾摩斯不見了。
“請在這裏等一等，”亞歷剋·坎寧安說道，“我看，這個人神經有些不正常，父親，你來，我們一起去看看他鑽到哪裏去了！”
他們衝出門去，警官、上校和我留在房裏面面相覷。
“哎呀，我同意主人亞歷剋的看法，”警官說道，“這可能是他犯病的結果，可是我似乎覺得……”
他的話還沒講完，突然傳來一陣尖叫聲，“來人啊！來人啊！殺人啦！”我聽出這是我朋友的聲音，不禁毛骨悚然。我發瘋似地從室內衝嚮樓梯平臺。呼救聲低下來，變成嘶啞的，含混不清的喊叫，從我們第一次進去的那間屋裏傳來。我直衝進去，一直跑進裏面的室。那坎寧安父子二人正把歇洛剋·福爾摩斯按倒在地上，小坎寧安正用雙手掐住福爾摩斯的喉嚨，那老坎寧安似乎正扭住他的一隻手腕。我們三個人立即把他們從福爾摩斯身上拉開。福爾摩斯搖搖晃晃地站起來，面色蒼白，顯然已經筋疲力盡了。
“趕快逮捕這兩個人，警官，”福爾摩斯氣喘籲籲地說道。
“以什麽罪名逮捕呢？”
“罪名就是謀殺他們的馬車夫威廉·柯萬。”
警官兩眼盯着福爾摩斯直。
“啊，好啦，福爾摩斯先生，”警官終於說道，“我相信，你不是真的要……”
“咳，先生，你看看他們的臉！”福爾摩斯粗暴地大聲說道。
的確，我還從來沒有見過這樣一種自認有罪的面部表情。
那老的似乎呆若木雞，堅定的臉上現出沉痛慍怒的表情。另一方面，那兒子卻失掉了原有的活潑態度，變得象兇神惡煞一般，雙目露出睏獸般的逼人兇光，已沒有絲毫文雅神氣。警官一言不發，走嚮門口，吹起了警笛。兩名應聲而至。
“我衹好這樣，坎寧安先生，”警官說道，“我相信這一切可能都是一場可笑的誤會，不過你可以看到——啊，你想幹嘛？放下它！”他舉手打去，亞歷剋準備擊發的手槍咔噠一聲被打落在地。
“別動，”福爾摩斯說道，從容地用腳踩住手槍，“它在審訊時纔有用。可這纔是我們真正需要的呢。”他舉起一個小紙團說道。
“那張紙被撕走的那部分！”警官喊道。
“一點也不錯。”
“在哪裏找到的？”
“在我預料它所在的地方找到的。我馬上就把整個案子給你們講清楚。上校，我認為你和華生現在可以回去了。我最多一小時就會和你們再次見面。我和警官要訊問罪犯幾句，但在午餐時我一定會趕回去的。”
福爾摩斯非常守約，一小時以後，他同我們在上校的吸煙室裏又會面了。他由一個矮小的老紳士陪伴前來。福爾摩斯嚮我介紹，這就是阿剋頓先生，頭一件盜竊案就發生在他的傢裏。
“我嚮你們說明這件小案子時，我希望阿剋頓先生也在場聽一聽，”福爾摩斯說道，“自然，他對案子的詳情也很感興趣。我親愛的上校，接待了象我這樣一個愛闖禍的人，我恐怕你一定感到後悔吧。”
“恰恰相反，”上校熱情地答道，“我認為有機會學習你的偵探方法，是我最大的榮幸。我承認，這是完全出乎我意料之外的，我也完全不能解釋你所獲得的結果。我連一點兒綫索也沒有看出來。”
“我恐怕我的解釋會使你們失望的，可是無論對於我的朋友華生，還是對於任何認真關心我的工作方法的人，我的工作方法是一點也不保密的。不過，因為我在室裏遭到襲擊，我想喝一點白蘭地定定神，上校。剛纔我的氣力已經用盡了。”
“我相信你的神經痛不會再這樣突然發作了。”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯放聲大笑起來。“我們待會兒再談這件事，”福爾摩斯說道，“我把這件案子按順序給你們講一講，並把促使我下决心的幾點告訴你們。如果有不十分清楚的地方，請隨時問我。
“在偵探藝術中，最主要的就在於能夠從衆多的事實中，看出哪些是要害問題，哪些是次要問題。否則，你的精力不但不能集中，反而會被分散。所以，這個案子從一開始，我就毫不懷疑，全案的關鍵一定在於死者手中那張碎紙片。
“在討論這個問題以前，我想提請你們註意，如果亞歷剋·坎寧安講的那一套是真的，如果兇手在打死威廉·柯萬之後馬上就逃跑了，那麽，兇手顯然不能從死者手中撕去那張紙。可是如果不是兇手撕的，那就一定是亞歷剋·坎寧安本人，因為在那個老人下樓以前，幾個僕人已經在現場了。這一點是很簡單的，可是警官卻忽略了。因為他一開始，就推測這些鄉紳們與本案無關。那時，我决心不持任何偏見，而按照事實給我指引的方向走。因此，一開始調查，我便以懷疑的眼光註視着亞歷剋·坎寧安先生扮演的角色。
“我非常仔細地檢查了警官交給我們的那張紙角。我立即清楚地看出，這是一張非常值得註意的東西。這就是那張條子。現在你們沒有看出某些很能說明問題的地方嗎？”
“字體看起來很不規則。”上校說道。
“我親愛的先生，”福爾摩斯大聲說道，“毫無疑問，它是由兩個人交替着寫出來的。我衹要請你們註意‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’字中那兩個蒼勁有力的‘ｔ’字，再請你們把它跟‘ｑｕａｒｔｅｒ’和‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’中那兩個軟弱無力的‘ｔ’字對比一下，你們馬上就可以看出事情的。從這四個字的簡單分析上，你們就可以滿有把握地說，那‘ｌｅａｒｎ’和‘ｍａｙｂｅ’是出自筆鋒蒼勁有力的人的手筆，而那‘ｗｈａｔ’是那筆鋒軟弱無力的人寫的。”
“天哪，這真是一清二楚的！”上校喊道，“那兩人究竟為什麽要用這樣一種方式來寫這封信呢？”
“這事顯然是一種犯罪行為，其中的一個人不相信另外一個人，於是他决定，不管幹什麽兩個人都得一起動手。很清楚，這兩個人中，那個寫‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’的人是主謀。”
“那你根據什麽說的呢？”
“我們可以從對比兩個人的筆跡中推斷出來。不過我們有更有力的理由。如果你註意檢查一下這張紙，你就會得出一個結論：那個筆鋒蒼勁有力的人首先把他所要寫的字全部寫完，留下許多空白，叫另一個人去填寫。而這些空白並不是都很富餘的，你可以看出，第二個人在‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’之間填寫‘ｑｕａｒｔｅｒ’一詞時，寫得非常擠，說明‘ａｔ’和‘ｔｏ’那兩個字是先寫好的了。那個把他所要寫的字首先寫完的人，毫無疑問，就是策劃這一案件的人。”
“太妙了！”阿剋頓先生大聲說道。
“不過這是顯而易見的，”福爾摩斯說道，“然而，我們現在要談到重要的一點。可能，你們不知道，專傢們可以根據一個人的筆跡，相當準確地推斷他的年齡，在正常情況下，可以相當有把握地斷定一個人的歲數。我說，‘在正常情況下’，這是因為不健康和體質弱是老年人的特點，如果年輕人是一個病人，他的字跡也就帶有老年人的特點。在這件案子裏，衹要看看一個人的筆跡粗壯有力，另一個人的筆跡雖然軟弱無力，卻依然十分清楚，不過‘ｔ’字少了一橫，我們就可以說，其中的一個人是一個年輕人，另一個人雖未十分衰老，卻也上年紀了。”
“妙極了！”阿剋頓先生又大聲說道。
“還有一點，是非常微妙而有趣的。這兩人的筆跡有某些相同之處。他們是屬於同一血統的人，對你們來說，最明顯的可能就是那個‘ｅ’寫得象希臘字母‘ε’。不過，在我看來，很多細小的地方都可以說明同樣的問題。我毫不懷疑，從書寫的風格上看，這兩種筆跡是出於一傢人的手筆。當然，我現在對你們講的，衹是我檢查這張紙的主要結果。還有二十三點別的推論結果，專傢們大概比你們更感興趣。而所有這一切加深了我的印象，坎寧安父子二人寫了這封信。
“我既得到這樣的結論，當然，下一步就是調查犯罪的細節，看看它們對我們能有多大幫助。我和警官來到他們的住所，看到我們所要看的一切。我絶對有把握斷定：死者身上的傷口是在四碼開外用手槍打的。死者衣服上沒有火藥痕跡。
因此，很明顯，亞歷剋·坎寧安說什麽兇手在搏鬥中開了槍，完全是撒謊。還有，父子二人異口同聲指出這個人逃往大路經過的地方。然而，碰巧，這地方有一條寬闊的溝，溝底是潮濕的。由於溝的附近並沒有發現腳印，我不僅絶對相信坎寧安父子又一次撒了謊，而且肯定現場根本沒有來過任何來歷不明的人。
“現在我必須考慮這件奇案的犯罪動機了。為了達到這一點，我首先要搞清在阿剋頓先生傢發生的頭一件盜竊案的起因。從上校告訴我們的某些事情裏，我瞭解到，阿剋頓先生，你和坎寧安傢正打着一場官司。當然，我立即想到，他們闖到你書房裏去，一定是想偷取有關此案的某個重要文件。”
“一點也不錯，”阿剋頓先生說道，“毫無疑問，他們是想這樣幹的。我完全有權要求獲得他們現有財産的一半。可是如果他們能找到我那一紙證據，他們就一定能夠勝訴，不過，幸運得很，我已經把這張證據放在我律師的保險箱裏了。”
“你看怎麽樣，”福爾摩斯微笑着說，“這是一次危險而魯莽的嘗試，我似乎覺得這是亞歷剋做的。他們找不到什麽，就故布疑陣，順手牽羊地拿走一些東西，使人把它當做一件普通的盜竊案。這一點是再清楚不過了，但是還有不少地方仍然模糊不清。首先，我要找到被撕走的那半張紙條。我確信它是亞歷剋從死者手中撕下的，也確信他一定把它塞進了睡衣的口袋裏。不然，他能把它放到別的什麽地方呢？唯一的問題是，它是否還在衣袋裏。這是很值得下功夫去把它找到的。為了這個目的，我們大傢一同到他們傢裏去了。
“你們大概還記得，坎寧安父子是在廚房門外跟我們碰上的。當然，頭等重要的是，不能在他們面前提及這張紙的事，否則他們就會毫不遲延地把它毀掉。在警官正要把我們對這張紙的重視告訴他們時，我裝做突然發病暈倒在地，纔把話題岔開。”
“哎呀！”上校笑着喊道，“你是說，我們大傢都白為你着急了，你突然發病原來是裝的？”
“從職業觀點上說，這一手做得太漂亮了，”我大聲地說道，一邊驚奇地望着這位經常運用變幻莫測的手法把我搞得暈頭轉嚮的人。
“這是一種藝術，經常用得着的，”福爾摩斯說道，“我恢復常態以後，便又略施小計，讓老坎寧安寫上了‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’［英文的十二。英文十一點三刻，寫為差一刻十二點。福爾摩斯故意將時間寫為差一刻一點，以使坎寧安於更正時留下他的筆跡。——譯者註］這個字，這樣，我就可以和寫在密約信上的‘ｔｗｅｌｖｅ’進行對比了。”
“哎呀，我是多麽蠢笨啊！”我喊叫道。
“我可以看出，你出時對我的身體虛弱很同情，”福爾摩斯微笑着說道，“我知道你當時一定感到非常着急，我很過意不去。後來我們一同上樓。我進了那間屋子，看到睡衣挂在門後，便有意弄翻了一張桌子，設法吸引住他們的註意力，然後溜回去檢查那件睡衣的口袋。我剛剛拿到那張紙——它不出我所料，在他們當中的一個人的睡衣兜裏——坎寧安父子二人就撲到我身上，我相信，如果不是你們及時來救我，他們就一定會當場把我弄死的。事實上，我感到那個年輕人已經掐住我的喉嚨，他父親把我的手腕扭過去，要從我手裏奪回那張紙。你瞧，他們知道我已經瞭解了事情的全部，他們原來覺得絶對保險，可是一下子完全陷入了絶境，於是就鋌而走險了。
“後來，我跟老坎寧安談了幾句，問他的犯罪動機是什麽。他很老實，他兒子卻是一個十足的惡棍，如果他拿到了他那把手槍，他就會把他自己或別的人打死。坎寧安看到案情對他十分不利，便完全失去信心，把一切都坦白交待了。看來，那天晚上，當威廉的兩個主人突然闖入阿剋頓的住宅時，威廉悄悄地跟上了他們。威廉這樣瞭解了他們的隱私，就要挾着要揭發他們，開始對他們進行敲詐勒索。然而，亞歷剋先生是一個慣於玩這類把戲的危險人物。他天才地看出震驚全鄉的盜竊案是一個可以幹掉他所畏懼的人的機會。他們把威廉誘騙出來，將他擊斃了。他們衹要把那張完整的紙條弄到手，並對他們同謀作案的細節稍稍加以註意，就很可能不會引起別人懷疑了。”
“可是那張紙條呢？”
歇洛剋·福爾摩斯把這張撕走的紙條放在我們面前。
（密約信譯為—如果你在十一點三刻到東門口，你將得知一件極為意外、對你和安妮·莫裏森都有極大好處的事。但不要將這件事告訴任何人。）
“這正是我所希望得到的那個東西，”福爾摩斯說道，“當然，我們還不知道在亞歷剋·坎寧安、威廉·柯萬和安妮·莫裏森之間有什麽關係。從事情的結局可以看出，這個圈套是安排得異常巧妙的。我相信，當你們發現那些“ｐ”和“ｇ”的尾端都具有相同的特點時，你們一定會感到很高興的。那老人寫‘ｉ”字不點上面那一點，也是很獨特的。華生，我認為我們在鄉間安靜地休養收到了顯著的成效，明天我回到貝剋街一定會精力充沛了。”
On referring to my notes I see that it was upon the 14th of April that I received a telegram from Lyons which informed me that Holmes was lying ill in the Hotel Dulong. Within twenty-four hours I was in his sick-room, and was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in his symptoms. Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked less than fifteen hours a day, and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to his task for five days at a stretch. Even the triumphant issue of his labors could not save him from reaction after so terrible an exertion, and at a time when Europe was ringing with his name and when his room was literally ankle-deep with congratulatory telegrams I found him a prey to the blackest depression. Even the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of three countries had failed, and that he had outmanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindler in Europe, was insufficient to rouse him from his nervous prostration.
Three days later we were back in Baker Street together; but it was evident that my friend would be much the better for a change, and the thought of a week of spring time in the country was full of attractions to me also. My old friend, Colonel Hayter, who had come under my professional care in Afghanistan, had now taken a house near Reigate in Surrey, and had frequently asked me to come down to him upon a visit. On the last occasion he had remarked that if my friend would only come with me he would be glad to extend his hospitality to him also. A little diplomacy was needed, but when Holmes understood that the establishment was a bachelor one, and that he would be allowed the fullest freedom, he fell in with my plans and a week after our return from Lyons we were under the Colonel's roof. Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much of the world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common.
On the evening of our arrival we were sitting in the Colonel's gun-room after dinner, Holmes stretched upon the sofa, while Hayter and I looked over his little armory of Eastern weapons.
"By the way," said he suddenly, "I think I'll take one of these pistols upstairs with me in case we have an alarm."
"An alarm!" said I.
"Yes, we've had a scare in this part lately. Old Acton, who is one of our county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday. No great damage done, but the fellows are still at large."
"No clue?" asked Holmes, cocking his eye at the Colonel.
"None as yet. But the affair is a petty one, one of our little country crimes, which must seem too small for your attention, Mr. Holmes, after this great international affair."
Holmes waved away the compliment, though his smile showed that it had pleased him.
"Was there any feature of interest?"
"I fancy not. The thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains. The whole place was turned upside down, drawers burst open, and presses ransacked, with the result that an odd volume of Pope's 'Homer,' two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter-weight, a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine are all that have vanished."
"What an extraordinary assortment!" I exclaimed.
"Oh, the fellows evidently grabbed hold of everything they could get."
Holmes grunted from the sofa.
"The county police ought to make something of that," said he; "why, it is surely obvious that--"
But I held up a warning finger.
"You are here for a rest, my dear fellow. For Heaven's sake don't get started on a new problem when your nerves are all in shreds."
Holmes shrugged his shoulders with a glance of comic resignation towards the Colonel, and the talk drifted away into less dangerous channels.
It was destined, however, that all my professional caution should be wasted, for next morning the problem obtruded itself upon us in such a way that it was impossible to ignore it, and our country visit took a turn which neither of us could have anticipated. We were at breakfast when the Colonel's butler rushed in with all his propriety shaken out of him.
"Have you heard the news, sir?" he gasped. "At the Cunningham's sir!"
"Burglary!" cried the Colonel, with his coffee-cup in mid-air.
"Murder!"
The Colonel whistled. "By Jove!" said he. "Who's killed, then? The J.P. or his son?"
"Neither, sir. It was William the coachman. Shot through the heart, sir, and never spoke again."
"Who shot him, then?"
"The burglar, sir. He was off like a shot and got clean away. He'd just broke in at the pantry window when William came on him and met his end in saving his master's property."
"What time?"
"It was last night, sir, somewhere about twelve."
"Ah, then, we'll step over afterwards," said the Colonel, coolly settling down to his breakfast again. "It's a baddish business," he added when the butler had gone; "he's our leading man about here, is old Cunningham, and a very decent fellow too. He'll be cut up over this, for the man has been in his service for years and was a good servant. It's evidently the same villains who broke into Acton's."
"And stole that very singular collection," said Holmes, thoughtfully.
"Precisely."
"Hum! It may prove the simplest matter in the world, but all the same at first glance this is just a little curious, is it not? A gang of burglars acting in the country might be expected to vary the scene of their operations, and not to crack two cribs in the same district within a few days. When you spoke last night of taking precautions I remember that it passed through my mind that this was probably the last parish in England to which the thief or thieves would be likely to turn their attention--which shows that I have still much to learn."
"I fancy it's some local practitioner," said the Colonel. "In that case, of course, Acton's and Cunningham's are just the places he would go for, since they are far the largest about here."
"And richest?"
"Well, they ought to be, but they've had a lawsuit for some years which has sucked the blood out of both of them, I fancy. Old Acton has some claim on half Cunningham's estate, and the lawyers have been at it with both hands."
"If it's a local villain there should not be much difficulty in running him down," said Holmes with a yawn. "All right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle."
"Inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door.
The official, a smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped into the room. "Good-morning, Colonel," said he; "I hope I don't intrude, but we hear that Mr. Holmes of Baker Street is here."
The Colonel waved his hand towards my friend, and the Inspector bowed.
"We thought that perhaps you would care to step across, Mr. Holmes."
"The fates are against you, Watson," said he, laughing. "We were chatting about the matter when you came in, Inspector. Perhaps you can let us have a few details." As he leaned back in his chair in the familiar attitude I knew that the case was hopeless.
"We had no clue in the Acton affair. But here we have plenty to go on, and there's no doubt it is the same party in each case. The man was seen."
"Ah!"
"Yes, sir. But he was off like a deer after the shot that killed poor William Kirwan was fired. Mr. Cunningham saw him from the bedroom window, and Mr. Alec Cunningham saw him from the back passage. It was quarter to twelve when the alarm broke out. Mr. Cunningham had just got into bed, and Mr. Alec was smoking a pipe in his dressing-gown. They both heard William the coachman calling for help, and Mr. Alec ran down to see what was the matter. The back door was open, and as he came to the foot of the stairs he saw two men wrestling together outside. One of them fired a shot, the other dropped, and the murderer rushed across the garden and over the hedge. Mr. Cunningham, looking out of his bedroom, saw the fellow as he gained the road, but lost sight of him at once. Mr. Alec stopped to see if he could help the dying man, and so the villain got clean away. Beyond the fact that he was a middle-sized man and dressed in some dark stuff, we have no personal clue; but we are making energetic inquiries, and if he is a stranger we shall soon find him out."
"What was this William doing there? Did he say anything before he died?"
"Not a word. He lives at the lodge with his mother, and as he was a very faithful fellow we imagine that he walked up to the house with the intention of seeing that all was right there. Of course this Acton business has put every one on their guard. The robber must have just burst open the door--the lock has been forced--when William came upon him."
"Did William say anything to his mother before going out?"
"She is very old and deaf, and we can get no information from her. The shock has made her half-witted, but I understand that she was never very bright. There is one very important circumstance, however. Look at this!"
He took a small piece of torn paper from a note-book and spread it out upon his knee.
"This was found between the finger and thumb of the dead man. It appears to be a fragment torn from a larger sheet. You will observe that the hour mentioned upon it is the very time at which the poor fellow met his fate. You see that his murderer might have torn the rest of the sheet from him or he might have taken this fragment from the murderer. It reads almost as though it were an appointment."
Holmes took up the scrap of paper, a fac-simile of which is here reproduced.
d at quarter to twelve learn what maybe
"Presuming that it is an appointment," continued the Inspector, "it is of course a conceivable theory that this William Kirwan--though he had the reputation of being an honest man, may have been in league with the thief. He may have met him there, may even have helped him to break in the door, and then they may have fallen out between themselves."
"This writing is of extraordinary interest," said Holmes, who had been examining it with intense concentration. "These are much deeper waters than I had though." He sank his head upon his hands, while the Inspector smiled at the effect which his case had had upon the famous London specialist.
"Your last remark," said Holmes, presently, "as to the possibility of there being an understanding between the burglar and the servant, and this being a note of appointment from one to the other, is an ingenious and not entirely impossible supposition. But this writing opens up--" He sank his head into his hands again and remained for some minutes in the deepest thought. When he raised his face again, I was surprised to see that his cheek was tinged with color, and his eyes as bright as before his illness. He sprang to his feet with all his old energy.
"I'll tell you what," said he, "I should like to have a quiet little glance into the details of this case. There is something in it which fascinates me extremely. If you will permit me, Colonel, I will leave my friend Watson and you, and I will step round with the Inspector to test the truth of one or two little fancies of mine. I will be with you again in half an hour."
An hour and half had elapsed before the Inspector returned alone.
"Mr. Holmes is walking up and down in the field outside," said he. "He wants us all four to go up to the house together."
"To Mr. Cunningham's?"
"Yes, sir."
"What for?"
The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. "I don't quite know, sir. Between ourselves, I think Mr. Holmes had not quite got over his illness yet. He's been behaving very queerly, and he is very much excited."
"I don't think you need alarm yourself," said I. "I have usually found that there was method in his madness."
"Some folks might say there was madness in his method," muttered the Inspector. "But he's all on fire to start, Colonel, so we had best go out if you are ready."
We found Holmes pacing up and down in the field, his chin sunk upon his breast, and his hands thrust into his trousers pockets.
"The matter grows in interest," said he. "Watson, your country-trip has been a distinct success. I have had a charming morning."
"You have been up to the scene of the crime, I understand," said the Colonel.
"Yes; the Inspector and I have made quite a little reconnaissance together."
"Any success?"
"Well, we have seen some very interesting things. I'll tell you what we did as we walk. First of all, we saw the body of this unfortunate man. He certainly died from a revolver wound as reported."
"Had you doubted it, then?"
"Oh, it is as well to test everything. Our inspection was not wasted. We then had an interview with Mr. Cunningham and his son, who were able to point out the exact spot where the murderer had broken through the garden-hedge in his flight. That was of great interest."
"Naturally."
"Then we had a look at this poor fellow's mother. We could get no information from her, however, as she is very old and feeble."
"And what is the result of your investigations?"
"The conviction that the crime is a very peculiar one. Perhaps our visit now may do something to make it less obscure. I think that we are both agreed, Inspector that the fragment of paper in the dead man's hand, bearing, as it does, the very hour of his death written upon it, is of extreme importance."
"It should give a clue, Mr. Holmes."
"It does give a clue. Whoever wrote that note was the man who brought William Kirwan out of his bed at that hour. But where is the rest of that sheet of paper?"
"I examined the ground carefully in the hope of finding it," said the Inspector.
"It was torn out of the dead man's hand. Why was some one so anxious to get possession of it? Because it incriminated him. And what would he do with it? Thrust it into his pocket, most likely, never noticing that a corner of it had been left in the grip of the corpse. If we could get the rest of that sheet it is obvious that we should have gone a long way towards solving the mystery."
"Yes, but how can we get at the criminal's pocket before we catch the criminal?"
"Well, well, it was worth thinking over. Then there is another obvious point. The note was sent to William. The man who wrote it could not have taken it; otherwise, of course, he might have delivered his own message by word of mouth. Who brought the note, then? Or did it come through the post?"
"I have made inquiries," said the Inspector. "William received a letter by the afternoon post yesterday. The envelope was destroyed by him."
"Excellent!" cried Holmes, clapping the Inspector on the back. "You've seen the postman. It is a pleasure to work with you. Well, here is the lodge, and if you will come up, Colonel, I will show you the scene of the crime."
We passed the pretty cottage where the murdered man had lived, and walked up an oak-lined avenue to the fine old Queen Anne house, which bears the date of Malplaquet upon the lintel of the door. Holmes and the Inspector led us round it until we came to the side gate, which is separated by a stretch of garden from the hedge which lines the road. A constable was standing at the kitchen door.
"Throw the door open, officer," said Holmes. "Now, it was on those stairs that young Mr. Cunningham stood and saw the two men struggling just where we are. Old Mr. Cunningham was at that window--the second on the left--and he saw the fellow get away just to the left of that bush. Then Mr. Alec ran out and knelt beside the wounded man. The ground is very hard, you see, and there are no marks to guide us." As he spoke two men came down the garden path, from round the angle of the house. The one was an elderly man, with a strong, deep-lined, heavy-eyed face; the other a dashing young fellow, whose bright, smiling expression and showy dress were in strange contract with the business which had brought us there.
"Still at it, then?" said he to Holmes. "I thought you Londoners were never at fault. You don't seem to be so very quick, after all."
"Ah, you must give us a little time," said Holmes good-humoredly.
"You'll want it," said young Alec Cunningham. "Why, I don't see that we have any clue at all."
"There's only one," answered the Inspector. "We thought that if we could only find--Good heavens, Mr. Holmes! What is the matter?"
My poor friend's face had suddenly assumed the most dreadful expression. His eyes rolled upwards, his features writhed in agony, and with a suppressed groan he dropped on his face upon the ground. Horrified at the suddenness and severity of the attack, we carried him into the kitchen, where he lay back in a large chair, and breathed heavily for some minutes. Finally, with a shamefaced apology for his weakness, he rose once more.
"Watson would tell you that I have only just recovered from a severe illness," he explained. "I am liable to these sudden nervous attacks."
"Shall I send you home in my trap?" asked old Cunningham.
"Well, since I am here, there is one point on which I should like to feel sure. We can very easily verify it."
"What was it?"
"Well, it seems to me that it is just possible that the arrival of this poor fellow William was not before, but after, the entrance of the burglary into the house. You appear to take it for granted that, although the door was forced, the robber never got in."
"I fancy that is quite obvious," said Mr. Cunningham, gravely. "Why, my son Alec had not yet gone to bed, and he would certainly have heard any one moving about."
"Where was he sitting?"
"I was smoking in my dressing-room."
"Which window is that?"
"The last on the left next my father's."
"Both of your lamps were lit, of course?"
"Undoubtedly."
"There are some very singular points here," said Holmes, smiling. "Is it not extraordinary that a burglary--and a burglar who had had some previous experience--should deliberately break into a house at a time when he could see from the lights that two of the family were still afoot?"
"He must have been a cool hand."
"Well, of course, if the case were not an odd one we should not have been driven to ask you for an explanation," said young Mr. Alec. "But as to your ideas that the man had robbed the house before William tackled him, I think it a most absurd notion. Wouldn't we have found the place disarranged, and missed the things which he had taken?"
"It depends on what the things were," said Holmes. "You must remember that we are dealing with a burglar who is a very peculiar fellow, and who appears to work on lines of his own. Look, for example, at the queer lot of things which he took from Acton's--what was it?--a ball of string, a letter-weight, and I don't know what other odds and ends."
"Well, we are quite in your hands, Mr. Holmes," said old Cunningham. "Anything which you or the Inspector may suggest will most certainly be done."
"In the first place," said Holmes, "I should like you to offer a reward--coming from yourself, for the officials may take a little time before they would agree upon the sum, and these things cannot be done too promptly. I have jotted down the form here, if you would not mind signing it. Fifty pounds was quite enough, I thought."
"I would willingly give five hundred," said the J.P., taking the slip of paper and the pencil which Holmes handed to him. "This is not quite correct, however," he added, glancing over the document.
"I wrote it rather hurriedly."
"You see you begin, 'Whereas, at about a quarter to one on Tuesday morning an attempt was made,' and so on. It was at a quarter to twelve, as a matter of fact."
I was pained at the mistake, for I knew how keenly Holmes would feel any slip of the kind. It was his specialty to be accurate as to fact, but his recent illness had shaken him, and this one little incident was enough to show me that he was still far from being himself. He was obviously embarrassed for an instant, while the Inspector raised his eyebrows, and Alec Cunningham burst into a laugh. The old gentleman corrected the mistake, however, and handed the paper back to Holmes.
"Get it printed as soon as possible," he said; "I think your idea is an excellent one."
Holmes put the slip of paper carefully away into his pocket-book.
"And now," said he, "it really would be a good thing that we should all go over the house together and make certain that this rather erratic burglar did not, after all, carry anything away with him."
Before entering, Holmes made an examination of the door which had been forced. It was evident that a chisel or strong knife had been thrust in, and the lock forced back with it. We could see the marks in the wood where it had been pushed in.
"You don't use bars, then?" he asked.
"We have never found it necessary."
"You don't keep a dog?"
"Yes, but he is chained on the other side of the house."
"When do the servants go to bed?"
"About ten."
"I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour."
"Yes."
"It is singular that on this particular night he should have been up. Now, I should be very glad if you would have the kindness to show us over the house, Mr. Cunningham."
A stone-flagged passage, with the kitchens branching away from it, led by a wooden staircase directly to the first floor of the house. It came out upon the landing opposite to a second more ornamental stair which came up from the front hall. Out of this landing opened the drawing-room and several bedrooms, including those of Mr. Cunningham and his son. Holmes walked slowly, taking keen note of the architecture of the house. I could tell from his expression that he was on a hot scent, and yet I could not in the least imagine in what direction his inferences were leading him.
"My good sir," said Mr. Cunningham with some impatience, "this is surely very unnecessary. That is my room at the end of the stairs, and my son's is the one beyond it. I leave it to your judgment whether it was possible for the thief to have come up here without disturbing us."
"You must try round and get on a fresh scent, I fancy," said the son with a rather malicious smile.
"Still, I must ask you to humor me a little further. I should like, for example, to see how far the windows of the bedrooms command the front. This, I understand is your son's room"--he pushed open the door--"and that, I presume, is the dressing-room in which he sat smoking when the alarm was given. Where does the window of that look out to?" He stepped across the bedroom, pushed open the door, and glanced round the other chamber.
"I hope that you are satisfied now?" said Mr. Cunningham, tartly.
"Thank you, I think I have seen all that I wished."
"Then if it is really necessary we can go into my room."
"If it is not too much trouble."
The J. P. shrugged his shoulders, and led the way into his own chamber, which was a plainly furnished and commonplace room. As we moved across it in the direction of the window, Holmes fell back until he and I were the last of the group. Near the foot of the bed stood a dish of oranges and a carafe of water. As we passed it Holmes, to my unutterable astonishment, leaned over in front of me and deliberately knocked the whole thing over. The glass smashed into a thousand pieces and the fruit rolled about into every corner of the room.
"You've done it now, Watson," said he, coolly. "A pretty mess you've made of the carpet."
I stooped in some confusion and began to pick up the fruit, understanding for some reason my companion desired me to take the blame upon myself. The others did the same, and set the table on its legs again.
"Hullo!" cried the Inspector, "where's he got to?"
Holmes had disappeared.
"Wait here an instant," said young Alec Cunningham. "The fellow is off his head, in my opinion. Come with me, father, and see where he has got to!"
They rushed out of the room, leaving the Inspector, the Colonel, and me staring at each other.
"'Pon my word, I am inclined to agree with Master Alec," said the official. "It may be the effect of this illness, but it seems to me that--"
His words were cut short by a sudden scream of "Help! Help! Murder!" With a thrill I recognized the voice of that of my friend. I rushed madly from the room on to the landing. The cries, which had sunk down into a hoarse, inarticulate shouting, came from the room which we had first visited. I dashed in, and on into the dressing-room beyond. The two Cunninghams were bending over the prostrate figure of Sherlock Holmes, the younger clutching his throat with both hands, while the elder seemed to be twisting one of his wrists. In an instant the three of us had torn them away from him, and Holmes staggered to his feet, very pale and evidently greatly exhausted.
"Arrest these men, Inspector," he gasped.
"On what charge?"
"That of murdering their coachman, William Kirwan."
The Inspector stared about him in bewilderment. "Oh, come now, Mr. Holmes," said he at last, "I'm sure you don't really mean to--"
"Tut, man, look at their faces!" cried Holmes, curtly.
Never certainly have I seen a plainer confession of guilt upon human countenances. The older man seemed numbed and dazed with a heavy, sullen expression upon his strongly-marked face. The son, on the other hand, had dropped all that jaunty, dashing style which had characterized him, and the ferocity of a dangerous wild beast gleamed in his dark eyes and distorted his handsome features. The Inspector said nothing, but, stepping to the door, he blew his whistle. Two of his constables came at the call.
"I have no alternative, Mr. Cunningham," said he. "I trust that this may all prove to be an absurd mistake, but you can see that--Ah, would you? Drop it!" He struck out with his hand, and a revolver which the younger man was in the act of cocking clattered down upon the floor.
"Keep that," said Holmes, quietly putting his foot upon it; "you will find it useful at the trial. But this is what we really wanted." He held up a little crumpled piece of paper.
"The remainder of the sheet!" cried the Inspector.
"Precisely."
"And where was it?"
"Where I was sure it must be. I'll make the whole matter clear to you presently. I think, Colonel, that you and Watson might return now, and I will be with you again in an hour at the furthest. The Inspector and I must have a word with the prisoners, but you will certainly see me back at luncheon time."
Sherlock Holmes was as good as his word, for about one o'clock he rejoined us in the Colonel's smoking-room. He was accompanied by a little elderly gentleman, who was introduced to me as the Mr. Acton whose house had been the scene of the original burglary.
"I wished Mr. Acton to be present while I demonstrated this small matter to you," said Holmes, "for it is natural that he should take a keen interest in the details. I am afraid, my dear Colonel, that you must regret the hour that you took in such a stormy petrel as I am."
"On the contrary," answered the Colonel, warmly, "I consider it the greatest privilege to have been permitted to study your methods of working. I confess that they quite surpass my expectations, and that I am utterly unable to account for your result. I have not yet seen the vestige of a clue."
"I am afraid that my explanation may disillusion you but it has always been my habit to hide none of my methods, either from my friend Watson or from any one who might take an intelligent interest in them. But, first, as I am rather shaken by the knocking about which I had in the dressing-room, I think that I shall help myself to a dash of your brandy, Colonel. My strength had been rather tried of late."
"I trust that you had no more of those nervous attacks."
Sherlock Holmes laughed heartily. "We will come to that in its turn," said he. "I will lay an account of the case before you in its due order, showing you the various points which guided me in my decision. Pray interrupt me if there is any inference which is not perfectly clear to you.
"It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize, out of a number of facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated. Now, in this case there was not the slightest doubt in my mind from the first that the key of the whole matter must be looked for in the scrap of paper in the dead man's hand.
"Before going into this, I would draw your attention to the fact that, if Alec Cunningham's narrative was correct, and if the assailant, after shooting William Kirwan, had instantly fled, then it obviously could not be he who tore the paper from the dead man's hand. But if it was not he, it must have been Alec Cunningham himself, for by the time that the old man had descended several servants were upon the scene. The point is a simple one, but the Inspector had overlooked it because he had started with the supposition that these county magnates had had nothing to do with the matter. Now, I make a point of never having any prejudices, and of following docilely wherever fact may lead me, and so, in the very first stage of the investigation, I found myself looking a little askance at the part which had been played by Mr. Alec Cunningham.
"And now I made a very careful examination of the corner of paper which the Inspector had submitted to us. It was at once clear to me that it formed part of a very remarkable document. Here it is. Do you not now observe something very suggestive about it?"
"It has a very irregular look," said the Colonel.
"My dear sir," cried Holmes, "there cannot be the least doubt in the world that it has been written by two persons doing alternate words. When I draw your attention to the strong t's of 'at' and 'to', and ask you to compare them with the weak ones of 'quarter' and 'twelve,' you will instantly recognize the fact. A very brief analysis of these four words would enable you to say with the utmost confidence that the 'learn' and the 'maybe' are written in the stronger hand, and the 'what' in the weaker."
"By Jove, it's as clear as day!" cried the Colonel. "Why on earth should two men write a letter in such a fashion?"
"Obviously the business was a bad one, and one of the men who distrusted the other was determined that, whatever was done, each should have an equal hand in it. Now, of the two men, it is clear that the one who wrote the 'at' and 'to' was the ringleader."
"How do you get at that?"
"We might deduce it from the mere character of the one hand as compared with the other. But we have more assured reasons than that for supposing it. If you examine this scrap with attention you will come to the conclusion that the man with the stronger hand wrote all his words first, leaving blanks for the other to fill up. These blanks were not always sufficient, and you can see that the second man had a squeeze to fit his 'quarter' in between the 'at' and the 'to,' showing that the latter were already written. The man who wrote all his words first is undoubtedly the man who planned the affair."
"Excellent!" cried Mr. Acton.
"But very superficial," said Holmes. "We come now, however, to a point which is of importance. You may not be aware that the deduction of a man's age from his writing is one which has brought to considerable accuracy by experts. In normal cases one can place a man in his true decade with tolerable confidence. I say normal cases, because ill-health and physical weakness reproduce the signs of old age, even when the invalid is a youth. In this case, looking at the bold, strong hand of the one, and the rather broken-backed appearance of the other, which still retains its legibility although the t's have begun to lose their crossing, we can say that the one was a young man and the other was advanced in years without being positively decrepit."
"Excellent!" cried Mr. Acton again.
"There is a further point, however, which is subtler and of greater interest. There is something in common between these hands. They belong to men who are blood-relatives. It may be most obvious to you in the Greek e's, but to me there are many small points which indicate the same thing. I have no doubt at all that a family mannerism can be traced in these two specimens of writing. I am only, of course, giving you the leading results now of my examination of the paper. There were twenty-three other deductions which would be of more interest to experts than to you. They all tend to deepen the impression upon my mind that the Cunninghams, father and son, had written this letter.
"Having got so far, my next step was, of course, to examine into the details of the crime, and to see how far they would help us. I went up to the house with the Inspector, and saw all that was to be seen. The wound upon the dead man was, as I was able to determine with absolute confidence, fired from a revolver at the distance of something over four yards. There was no powder-blackening on the clothes. Evidently, therefore, Alec Cunningham had lied when he said that the two men were struggling when the shot was fired. Again, both father and son agreed as to the place where the man escaped into the road. At that point, however, as it happens, there is a broadish ditch, moist at the bottom. As there were no indications of bootmarks about this ditch, I was absolutely sure not only that the Cunninghams had again lied, but that there had never been any unknown man upon the scene at all.
"And now I have to consider the motive of this singular crime. To get at this, I endeavored first of all to solve the reason of the original burglary at Mr. Acton's. I understood, from something which the Colonel told us, that a lawsuit had been going on between you, Mr. Acton, and the Cunninghams. Of course, it instantly occurred to me that they had broken into your library with the intention of getting at some document which might be of importance in the case."
"Precisely so," said Mr. Acton. "There can be no possible doubt as to their intentions. I have the clearest claim upon half of their present estate, and if they could have found a single paper--which, fortunately, was in the strong-box of my solicitors--they would undoubtedly have crippled our case."
"There you are," said Holmes, smiling. "It was a dangerous, reckless attempt, in which I seem to trace the influence of young Alec. Having found nothing they tried to divert suspicion by making it appear to be an ordinary burglary, to which end they carried off whatever they could lay their hands upon. That is all clear enough, but there was much that was still obscure. What I wanted above all was to get the missing part of that note. I was certain that Alec had torn it out of the dead man's hand, and almost certain that he must have thrust it into the pocket of his dressing-gown. Where else could he have put it? The only question was whether it was still there. It was worth an effort to find out, and for that object we all went up to the house.
"The Cunninghams joined us, as you doubtless remember, outside the kitchen door. It was, of course, of the very first importance that they should not be reminded of the existence of this paper, otherwise they would naturally destroy it without delay. The Inspector was about to tell them the importance which we attached to it when, by the luckiest chance in the world, I tumbled down in a sort of fit and so changed the conversation.
"Good heavens!" cried the Colonel, laughing, "do you mean to say all our sympathy was wasted and your fit an imposture?"
"Speaking professionally, it was admirably done," cried I, looking in amazement at this man who was forever confounding me with some new phase of his astuteness.
"It is an art which is often useful," said he. "When I recovered I managed, by a device which had perhaps some little merit of ingenuity, to get old Cunningham to write the word 'twelve,' so that I might compare it with the 'twelve' upon the paper."
"Oh, what an ass I have been!" I exclaimed.
"I could see that you were commiserating me over my weakness," said Holmes, laughing. "I was sorry to cause you the sympathetic pain which I know that you felt. We then went upstairs together, and having entered the room and seen the dressing-gown hanging up behind the door, I contrived, by upsetting a table, to engage their attention for the moment, and slipped back to examine the pockets. I had hardly got the paper, however--which was, as I had expected, in one of them--when the two Cunninghams were on me, and would, I verily believe, have murdered me then and there but for your prompt and friendly aid. As it is, I feel that young man's grip on my throat now, and the father has twisted my wrist round in the effort to get the paper out of my hand. They saw that I must know all about it, you see, and the sudden change from absolute security to complete despair made them perfectly desperate.
"I had a little talk with old Cunningham afterwards as to the motive of the crime. He was tractable enough, though his son was a perfect demon, ready to blow out his own or anybody else's brains if he could have got to his revolver. When Cunningham saw that the case against him was so strong he lost all heart and made a clean breast of everything. It seems that William had secretly followed his two masters on the night when they made their raid upon Mr. Acton's, and having thus got them into his power, proceeded, under threats of exposure, to levy blackmail upon them. Mr. Alec, however, was a dangerous man to play games of that sort with. It was a stroke of positive genius on his part to see in the burglary scare which was convulsing the country side an opportunity of plausibly getting rid of the man whom he feared. William was decoyed up and shot, and had they only got the whole of the note and paid a little more attention to detail in the accessories, it is very possible that suspicion might never have been aroused."
"And the note?" I asked.
Sherlock Holmes placed the subjoined paper before us.
If you will only come around to the east gate you will will very much surprise you and be of the greatest service to you and also to Annie Morrison. But say nothing to anyone upon the matter
"It is very much the sort of thing that I expected," said he. "Of course, we do not yet know what the relations may have been between Alec Cunningham, William Kirwan, and Annie Morrison. The results shows that the trap was skillfully baited. I am sure that you cannot fail to be delighted with the traces of heredity shown in the p's and in the tails of the g's. The absence of the i-dots in the old man's writing is also most characteristic. Watson, I think our quiet rest in the country has been a distinct success, and I shall certainly return much invigorated to Baker Street to-morrow."
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