zài bèi kè jiē de zhè zuò xiǎo xiǎo de wǔ tái shàng， wǒ men yǐ jīng kàn dào bù shǎo rén wù de chū chǎng hé tuì chǎng dōuhěn bù xún cháng， kě shì huí yì qǐ lái， zhǐ yòu céng jīng róng huò shuò shì、 bó shì děng xué wèi de sāng 'ěr ní kè fū tè · hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr de shǒu cì dēng chǎng zuì wéi tū rán， zuì wéi jīng rén。 nà zhāng jīhū yìn bù xià tā de quán bù xué shù tóu xián de xiǎo míng piàn gāng gāng sòng lái jǐ miǎo zhōng， tā zì jǐ jiù jǐn gēn zhe jìn lái liǎo。 tā shēn cái gāo dà， qì yǔ xuān 'áng， shén qíng shí fēn zhuāng yán， sì hū lěng jìng hé wěn zhòng quán jí yú yī shēn。 dàn shì dāng tā zǒu jìn wū lái suí shǒu guān shàng mén hòu， jìng lì jí kào zhe zhuō zǐ yáo huàng qǐ lái， suí hòu biàn sì zhī wú lì dì diē dǎo zài dì bǎn shàng， nà kuí wú de shēn qū pú fú zài bì lú qián de xióng píng dì tǎn shàng， tā shī qù liǎo zhī jué。
　　 wǒ men jí máng zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， piàn kè zhī jiān， wǒ men jīng yà dì、 mò mò dì zhù shì zhe zhè sōu chén luò hǎi dǐ de páng dà chuán zhǐ， xiǎn rán zài liáo kuò de shēng mìng hǎi yáng shàng xiān qǐ liǎo jí jù de、 zhì mìng de fēng bào。 fú 'ěr mó sī cōng máng dì ná qǐ yī gè zuò diàn fàng zài tā de tóu xià， wǒ biàn gǎn jǐn bǎ bái lán dì sòng dào tā de chún biān。 tā yīn chén 'ér yòu cāng bái de miàn kǒng shàng， bù mǎn liǎo yōu chóu de zhòu wén， yǎn jīng jǐn bì zhe， yǎn wō fā hēi， zuǐ jiǎo sōng chí 'ér xià chuí， hú xū méi yòu xiū jiǎn， xiǎn dé 'āo tū bù píng。 yī lǐng hé chèn yī dài zhe cháng tú lǚ xíng de huī chén， tóu fā luàn péng péng de。 wú yí tǎng zài wǒ men miàn qián de shì yī gè yōu shāng guò dù de rén。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wèn： “ huá shēng， zhè shì zěn me yī huí shì？ ”
　　“ jí dù shuāi jié， kě néng zhǐ shì yóu yú jī 'è hé pí láo suǒ zhì。 " wǒ yī miàn shuō yī miàn mō zhe tā xì wēi de mài bó， gǎn dào tā de shēng mìng lì yǐ jīng yóu bēn téng de quán yuán biàn chéng liǎo juān dī xì liú。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī cóng lái rén fàng biǎo de kǒu dài zhōng ná chū yī zhāng huǒ chē piào， shuō：“ zhè shì cóng yīng gé lán běi bù de mài kè 'ěr dùn dào lún dūn de wǎng fǎn chē piào。 xiàn zài hái bù dào shí 'èr diǎn， tā yī dìng dòng shēn hěn zǎo。”
　　 guò liǎo yī huì 'ér， tā nà jǐn bì de yǎn jiǎn kāi shǐ chàn dòng， tā tái qǐ tóu lái yòng yī shuāng huī sè dāi zhì de yǎn jīng kàn zhe wǒ men。 jiē zhe tā pá liǎo qǐ lái， xiū kuì dé liǎn sè fā hóng。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， qǐng yuán liàng wǒ de shuāi ruò， wǒ yòu xiē guòfèn láolèi。 zuì hǎo nín néng gěi wǒ yī bēi niú nǎi hé yī kuài bǐng gān， nà yàng de huà wǒ yī dìng huì hǎo xiē。 xiè xiè nín liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ qīn zì dào zhè 'ér lái shì wéi liǎo qǐng nín yī dìng gēn wǒ zǒu yī tàng。 wǒ pà diàn bào bù zú yǐ shǐ nín xiāng xìn zhè gè 'àn jiàn shí fēn jǐn pò。”
　　“ nín xiān huī fù hǎo liǎo ……”
　　“ wǒ yǐ jīng wán quán hǎo liǎo。 wǒ méi yòu xiǎng dào wǒ huì zhè yàng xū ruò。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ xī wàng nín hé wǒ chéng xià yī tàng huǒ chē dào mài kè 'ěr dùn qù。”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu yáo liǎo yáo tóu。
　　“ wǒ de tóng shì huá shēng dà fū huì gào sù nín wǒ men xiàn zài hěn máng。 fèi 'ěr sī wén jiàn 'àn qǐng wǒ chǔlǐ， hái yòu 'ā bā jiā wén ní jiā de móu shā 'àn jí jiāng kāi tíng shěn pàn。 mù qián chú fēi shì jí qí zhòng dà de 'àn jiàn， fǒu zé wǒ bù huì lí kāi lún dūn。”
　　 wǒ men de kè rén tān kāi shuāng shǒu dà shēng shuō：“ zhòng dà！ huò 'ěr dé ruì sī gōng jué de dú shēng zǐ bèi jié zǒu de shì， nín yī diǎn yě méi yòu tīng dào má？”
　　“ shénme！ jiù shì nà wèi qián rèn nèi gé dà chén má？”
　　“ zhèng shì tā。 wǒ men céng jīng jìn lì bù shǐ xīn wén jiè zhī dào， kě shì zuó tiān wǎn shàng zài huán qiú xì yuàn yǐ yòu liǎo liú yán。 wǒ xiǎng zhè shì huò xǔ yǐ jīngzhuàn dào nín de 'ěr zhōng liǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī jí máng cóng xǔ duō běn cān kǎo zī liào zhōng， shēn shǒu qǔ chū " Ｈ " nà juàn。
　　“ ' huò 'ěr dé ruì sī， dì liù shì gōng jué、 jiā dé xūn jué、 shū mì yuàn gù wèn ①…… ' tóu xián gòu duō liǎo！ ' bó wéi lì nán jué、 kǎ sī dùn bó jué…… ' tiān 'ā， duō shǎo tóu xián！ ' zì yī jiǔ nián qǐ rèn hā lāi mǔ jùn de jùn cháng。 yú yī bā bā bā nián qǔ 'ài dí sī · chá lǐ · ài bō duō 'ěr jué shì de nǚ 'ér。 tā xì sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué de jì chéng rén hé dú shēng zǐ。 yōng yòu 'èr shí wǔ wàn yīng mǔ tǔ dì。 zài lán kāi xià hé wēi 'ěr shì yòu kuàng chǎn。 dì zhǐ： kǎ 'ěr dùn zhù zhái qū； hā lāi mǔ jùn， huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ dǐ； wēi 'ěr shì， bān gē 'ěr， kǎ sī dùn chéng bǎo。 yī bā qī 'èr nián hǎi jūn dà chén， céng rèn shǒu xí guó wù dà chén…… ' tā dāng rán shì guó wáng zuì wěi dà de chén mín zhī yī lou！”
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　　① Ｋ ｎ ｉ ｇ ｈ ｔ ｏ fｔｈ ｅ Ｇ ａ ｒｔｅｒ yīng guó qí shì de zuì gāo děng jí。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ bù dàn shì zuì wěi dà de 'ér qiě yě xǔ shì zuì fù yòu de。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ zhī dào nín jīng tōng nín de zhí yè， bìng qiě yuàn yì wèile nín de shì yè jié jìn quán lì。 dàn shì wǒ bù fáng gào sù nín， gōng jué dà rén qīn zì duì wǒ jiǎng liǎo， shuí néng gào sù tā， tā de 'ér zǐ bèi jié chí dào shénme dì fāng qù liǎo， jiāng huì dé dào wǔ qiān bàng de jù kuǎn， yào shì hái néng shuō chū jié chí tā 'ér zǐ de rén de xìng míng， jiù yào zài jiā yī qiān bàng。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ ā， zhè yàng de bào chóu zhēn shì tài yōu hòu liǎo！ huá shēng， wǒ kàn wǒ men jiù tóng hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì dào yīng gé lán běi bù zǒu yī tàng bā！ hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， qǐng nín xiān hē niú nǎi， rán hòu gào sù wǒ fā shēng liǎo shénme shì qíng yǐ jí zài shénme shí hòu hé zěn yàng fā shēng de。 zuì hòu hái yòu， nín zhè wèi xiū dào yuàn gōng xué de bó shì yǔ zhè gè 'àn jiàn shì shénme guān xì， wèishénme zài chū shì hòu de dì sān tiān héng héng nín de wèi xiū jiǎn de hú xū shuō míng shì guò liǎo sān tiān héng héng nín cái lái dào zhè lǐ， yào qiú wǒ men xiàn chū wēi bó de lì liàng。”
　　 wǒ men de kè rén yòng guò liǎo niú nǎi hé bǐng gān， tā de yī shuāng yǎn jīng chóngxīn fā chū guāng máng， liǎn jiá jiàn jiàn hóng rùn qǐ lái， zhè shí tā kāi shǐ yòu lì 'ér qīng xī dì xù shù shì qíng de jīng guò。
　　“ xiān shēng men， wǒ xiān yào gào sù nín men， xiū dào yuàn gōng xué shì suǒ yù bèi xué xiào， wǒ shì chuàng jiàn rén yě shì xiào cháng。《 hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr duì hè lā sī zhī guǎn jiàn》 zhè① běn shū huò xǔ huì shǐ nín men xiǎng qǐ wǒ de míng zì。 yī bān shuō lái xiū dào yuàn gōng xué shì bù cuò de， zài yīng gé lán zhè suǒ gōng xué shì zuì hǎo de、 zuì yōu xiù de yù bèi xué xiào。 bù lāi kè wò tè dì fāng de lāi wǎ sī tuō kè bó jué yǐ jí kǎ qí kǎ tè · suǒ mǔ cí jué shì děng réndōu bǎ tā men de 'ér zǐ tuō fù gěi wǒ。 sān gè xīng qī yǐ qián， huò 'ěr dé ruì sī gōng jué pài liǎo tā de mì shū wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng lái gào sù wǒ， tā yào bǎ tā de dú shēng zǐ hé jì chéng rén、 shí suì de sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué jiāo wǒ guǎn jiào。 nà shí wǒ gǎn dào wǒ de xué xiào yǐ jīng dá dào dǐng shèng shí qī liǎo。 wàn wàn méi yòu xiǎng dào zhè jìng rán shì wǒ yī shēng zhōng zuì bēi cǎn 'è yùn de qián zòu。
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　　① hè lā sī（ gōng yuán qián ６ ５ héng ８） luó mǎ shī rén， yǐ xiě sòng shī chū míng。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ wǔ yuè yī hào zhè gè hái zǐ lái dào liǎo xué xiào， nà shí zhèng shì xià jì xué qī de kāi shǐ。 tā shì yī gè tǎo rén xǐ huān de shàonián， ér tā zì jǐ yě hěn kuài dì xí guàn liǎo wǒ men de shēng huó。 wǒ kě yǐ gào sù nín héng héng wǒ xiāng xìn wǒ shuō huà yī xiàng shì jǐn shèn de， kě shì chū liǎo zhè jiàn bù xìng de shì， wǒ biàn bù yí zài bǎ yī xiē qíng kuàng liú zài xīn zhōng liǎo héng héng tā zài jiā bìng bù tài kuài lè。 gōng jué de hūn hòu shēng huó bìng bù píng jìng， zhè shì yī gè gōng kāi de mì mì。 hòu lái shuāng fāng tóng yì fēn jū， gōng jué fū rén dìng jū zài fǎ guó nán bù。 zhè shì shì zài bù jiǔ yǐ qián fā shēng de。 wǒ men zhī dào zhè gè hái zǐ duì yú tā de mǔ qīn huái yòu gèng wéi shēn hòu de gǎn qíng。 tā de mǔ qīn lí kāi huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ yǐ hòu， tā mèn mèn bù lè， yīn cǐ gōng jué yuàn yì bǎ tā sòng dào wǒ de xué xiào lái。 tā dào xiào cái liǎng zhōu， biàn hé wǒ men hěn shú xī liǎo， ér qiě tā xiǎn dé shí fēn kuài lè。
　　“ zuì hòu yī cì jiàn dào tā shì zài wǔ yuè shí sān rì yè wǎn， jiù shì zhè xīng qī yī de yè wǎn。 tā de fáng jiān zài 'èr lóu， shì gè lǐ jiān， yào chuān guò lìng yī jiān yòu liǎng gè hái zǐ zhù de jiào dà de fáng jiān cái néng zǒu dào。 zhè liǎng gè hái zǐ dāng yè sī háo méi yòu chá jué yòu shénme dòng jìng， suǒ yǐ kě yǐ kěn dìng xiǎo sà 'ěr tè 'ěr méi yòu cóng zhè 'ér zǒu chū qù。 tā de chuāng hù shì kāi zhe de， chuāng shàng yòu yī kē zhuó zhuàng de cháng chūn téng lián dào dì miàn。 zài dì miàn shàng méi yòu zhǎo dào zú jì， dàn shì zhǐ yòu zhè gè chuāng hù shì chū zǒu de wéi yī tú jìng。
　　“ xīng qī 'èr shàng wǔ qī diǎn fā xiàn tā yǐ jīng bù zài liǎo， tā de chuáng shì shuì guò de。 lín zǒu yǐ qián， tā wán quán chuān hǎo liǎo yī fú， jiù shì tā cháng chuān de xiào fú héng héng hēi sè yī dùn shàng yī hé shēn huī sè de kù zǐ。 méi yòu hén jì shuō míng yòu rén jìn guò wū zǐ， ruò① yòu hǎn jiào hé sī dǎ de shēng yīn yī dìng tīng dé dào， yīn wéi zhù zài wài miàn yī jiān de nián jì jiào dà de hái zǐ kāng tè shuì jué yī xiàng shì hěn qīng de。
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　　① yīng guó yī dùn gōng xué suǒ chuān de xiào fú shàng yī， cháng xiù， qián xiōng fān lǐng jiào dà， cháng duǎn zhǐ dào yāo bù。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ fā xiàn sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué shī zōng yǐ hòu， wǒ lì jí zhào jí quán jiàodiǎn míng， bāo kuò suǒ yòu de xué shēng、 jiào shī yǐ jí pú rén。 zhè shí wǒ men cái què dìng liǎo sà 'ěr tè 'ěr bù shì dú zì chū zǒu de， yīn wéi dé yǔ jiào shī hēi dǐ gé yě bù jiàn liǎo。 tā de fáng jiān zài 'èr lóu mò duān， hé sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué de fáng jiān quán cháo zhe yī gè fāng xiàng。 tā de chuáng pū yě shì shuì guò de， dàn shì tā xiǎn rán méi yòu wán quán chuān hǎo yī fú jiù zǒu liǎo héng héng chèn yī hé wà zǐ hái zài dì bǎn shàng。 háo wú yí wèn tā shì shùn zhe cháng chūn téng xià qù de， zài tā zhe dì de cǎo dì shàng， tā de zú jì qīng xī kě jiàn。 tā píng rì fàng zài cǎo dì bàng xiǎo péng zǐ lǐ de zì xíng chē nà shí yě bù jiàn liǎo。
　　“ hēi dǐ gé hé wǒ zài yī qǐ yǐ yòu liǎng nián liǎo， tā lái de shí hòu dài lái de jiè shào xìn gěi tā de píng yǔ hěn hǎo， dàn shì tā shì yī gè yōu yù guǎ yán de rén， zài jiào shī hé xué shēng zhōng bù tài shòu huān yíng。 táo wáng zhě de zōng yǐng yī diǎn yě chá bù dào， zhí dào xiàn zài， yǐ jīng shì xīng qī sì de shàng wǔ liǎo， hái hé xīng qī 'èr yī yàng yī wú suǒ zhī。 dāng rán chū shì hòu wǒ men lì kè dào huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ xún zhǎo guò。 fǔ dǐ lí xué xiào bù guò jǐ yīng lǐ， wǒ men yǐ wéi tā yě xǔ yóu yú xiǎng jiā xīnqiè tū rán huí dào tā fù qīn nà 'ér liǎo， dàn shì zài nà 'ér méi yòu tīng dào rèn hé xiāo xī。 gōng jué wàn fēn jiāo lǜ， zhì yú wǒ zì jǐ， nín 'èr wèi yǐ jīng qīn yǎn kàn dào liǎo， zhè gè shì jiàn de zé rèn hé yóu cǐ yǐn qǐ de dān yōu bǎ wǒ nòng dé diē dǎo zài dì shī qù shén zhì。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ kěn qiú nín zài zhè gè 'àn jiàn shàng， shǐ chū nín de quán bù lì liàng， zài nín de yī shēng zhōng pà shì hěn nán yòu néng gěi nín dài lái zhè yàng dà hǎo chù de 'àn zǐ liǎo。”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī jù jīng huì shén dì tīng zhe zhè wèi bù xìng de xiào cháng de xù shù。 tā de jǐn suǒ de méi tóu， biǎo míng tā duì yú zhè jiàn shì yǐ jīng kāi shǐ liǎo quán shén guàn zhù de sī kǎo， wán quán bù xū yào wǒ de quàn shuō liǎo。 yīn wéi chú liǎo bào chóu yōu hòu yǐ wài， zhè gè 'àn zǐ yě yǐn qǐ liǎo tā nà duì yú fù zá de、 fēi tóng xún cháng de 'àn jiàn de xīng qù。 tā ná chū tā de bǐ jì běn jì xià liǎo jǐ jiàn zhòng yào qíng kuàng。
　　 tā yán lì dì shuō：“ nín tài shū hū liǎo， méi yòu zǎo xiē lái zhǎo wǒ， zhí děng dào fā shēng liǎo jí dà de zhàng 'ài yǐ hòu， cái ràng wǒ kāi shǐ zhēn chá。 yī gè hángjiā zài cháng chūn téng hé cǎo dì nà 'ér jìng huì kàn bù chū yī diǎn xiàn suǒ， zhè shì bù kě xiǎng xiàng de。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhè bù yīnggāi zé guài wǒ。 gōng jué dà rén xiǎng yào bì kāi liú yán fěi yǔ， tā dān xīn zhè huì bǎ tā de jiā tíng bù xìng gōng zhī yú zhòng。 tā duì yú liú yán zhè yī lèi shì qíng jiǎn zhí shēn 'è tòng jué。”
　　“ guān fāng bù shì yǐ jīng zuò liǎo yī xiē diào chá liǎo má？”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng， dàn shì jiēguǒ shǐ rén dà shī suǒ wàng。 míng xiǎn de xiàn suǒ dé dào dé hěn kuài， zhè shì yóu yú yòu rén bào gào shuō， zài lín jìn de huǒ chē zhàn shàng kàn jiàn yī gè hái zǐ hé yī gè qīng nián chéng zǎo bān huǒ chē。 zuó tiān wǎn shàng wǒ men cái zhī dào， zhè liǎng rén bèi gēn zōng dào liǎo lì wù pǔ， jiēguǒ chá míng tā men hé zhè gè 'àn jiàn háo wú guān xì。 wǒ de xīn qíng shì zhè yàng de jù sàng hé shī wàng， yī yè wèi mián， rán hòu chéng zǎo bān huǒ chē jìng zhí lái dào liǎo nín zhè 'ér。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng zài zhuī zōng zhè gè xū jiǎ de xiàn suǒ de shí hòu， dāng dì de diào chá biàn fàng sōng liǎo bā？”
　　“ wán quán méi yòu jìn xíng。”
　　“ suǒ yǐ yòu sān tiān de shí jiān bái bái làng fèi diào liǎo。 zhè gè 'àn jiàn chǔlǐ dé tài bù tuǒ dāng liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ yǐ jīng gǎn jué dào liǎo， bìng qiě chéng rèn zhè yī diǎn。”
　　“ kě shì zhè gè 'àn jiàn yīnggāi néng gòu dé dào zuì zhōng jiě jué。 wǒ hěn yuàn yì yán jiū zhè gè 'àn jiàn， nín liǎo jiě zhè hái zǐ hé nà wèi dé yǔ jiào shī de guān xì má？”
　　“ yī diǎn yě bù liǎo jiě。”
　　“ zhè gè hái zǐ shì zài tā de bān shàng má？”
　　“ bù shì， ér qiě wǒ tīng shuō， zhè gè hái zǐ cóng lái yě méi yòu hé tā shuō guò yī jù huà。”
　　“ zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng dǎo shì hěn shǎo jiàn。 zhè hái zǐ yòu zì xíng chē má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ lìng wài hái diū liǎo yī liàng zì xíng chē má？”
　　“ yě méi yòu。”
　　“ què shí má？”
　　“ què shí。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ de yì sī shì， zhè wèi dé guó rén bìng méi yòu zài shēn yè lǐ xié zhe zhè gè hái zǐ qì chē chū zǒu。 shì má？”
　　“ shì de， kěn dìng méi yòu。”
　　“ nín xiǎng yīnggāi zěn yàng jiě shì ní？”
　　“ zhè liàng zì xíng chē kě néng shì gè。 chē huò xǔ cáng zài mǒu gè dì fāng， rán hòu zhè liǎng rén tú bù zǒu diào。”
　　“ hěn kě néng shì zhè yàng de， bù guò ná zì xíng chē zuò huǎng zǐ sì hū xiāng dāng huāng miù， shì bù shì？ péng zǐ lǐ hái yòu bié de zì xíng chē má？”
　　“ hái yòu jǐ liàng。”
　　“ yào shì tā xiǎng shǐ rén rèn wéi tā men qì chē zǒu diào， tā bù huì cáng qǐ liǎng liàng má？”
　　“ wǒ kàn tā huì de。”
　　“ dāng rán tā huì。 huǎng zǐ de shuō fǎ jiě shì bù tōng。 dàn shì zhè gè qíng jié kě yǐ zuò wéi diào chá de liáng hǎo kāi duān。 zǒng zhī， yī liàng zì xíng chē shì bù róng yì yǐn cáng huò shì huǐ diào de。 hái yòu yī gè wèn tí。 zhè gè hái zǐ shī zōng de qián yī tiān yòu rén lái kàn guò tā má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ tā shōu dào guò shénme xìn méi yòu？”
　　“ yòu yī fēng。”
　　“ shuí jì lái de？”
　　“ tā de fù qīn。”
　　“ nín píng cháng chāi tā de xìn kàn má？”
　　“ bù。”
　　“ nín zěn me zhī dào shì tā de fù qīn jì lái de ní？”
　　“ xìn fēng shàng yòu tā jiā de jiā huī， bǐ jì shì gōng jué tè yòu de gāngjìng bǐ jì。 cǐ wài， gōng jué yě jì dé tā xiě guò。”
　　“ zài zhè fēng xìn yǐ qián tā shénme shí hòu hái shōu dào guò xìn？”
　　“ shōu dào zhè fēng xìn de qián jǐ tiān。”
　　“ tā shōu dào guò cóng fǎ guó lái de xìn má？”
　　“ cóng lái méi yòu。”
　　“ nǐ dāng rán míng bái wǒ tí zhè gè wèn tí de yì yì suǒ zài。 zhè gè hái zǐ bù shì bèi jié zǒu， biàn shì zì yuàn chū zǒu。 zài hòu zhě de qíng kuàng xià， nín huì liào xiǎng dào yào yòu wài jiè de suō shǐ， shǐ dé zhè yàng xiǎo de hái zǐ zuò chū zhè zhǒng shì qíng。 rú guǒ méi yòu kè rén lái kàn tā， jiào suō yī dìng lái zì xìn zhōng， suǒ yǐ wǒ xiǎng yào nòng qīng shuí hé tā tōng xìn。”
　　“ kǒng pà wǒ bāng bù liǎo duō dà máng。 jù wǒ suǒ zhī， zhǐ yòu tā fù qīn hé tā tōng xìn。”
　　“ tā fù qīn qià qiǎo jiù zài tā shī zōng de nà tiān gěi tā xiě liǎo xìn。 fù qīn hé 'ér zǐ zhī jiān de guān xì shì hěn qīn jìn de má？”
　　“ gōng jué wú lùn hé shuídōu bù qīn jìn。 tā de xīn sī wán quán chén jìn zài gōng zhòng de zhòng dà wèn tí shàng， duì yú yī bān de qíng gǎn， tā shì wú dòng yú zhōng de。 dàn shì jiù gōng jué běn rén lái shuō， tā dài zhè gè hái zǐ shì hěn hǎo de。”
　　“ hái zǐ de gǎn qíng shì zài tā mǔ qīn yī biān bā？”
　　“ shì de。”
　　“ hái zǐ zhè yàng shuō guò má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ nà me， gōng jué ní？”
　　“ āi！ tā yě méi yòu。”
　　“ nín zěn me huì zhī dào de ní？”
　　“ gōng jué dà rén de mì shū zhān mǔ shì · wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng hé wǒ sī xià tán guò。 shì tā gěi wǒ jiǎng liǎo zhè gè hái zǐ de gǎn qíng。”
　　“ wǒ míng bái liǎo。 hái yào wèn yī xià， gōng jué zuì hòu sòng lái de nà fēng xìn héng héng hái zǐ zǒu liǎo yǐ hòu zài tā de wū zhōng zhǎo dào méi yòu？”
　　“ méi yòu， tā bǎ xìn dài zǒu liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ kàn wǒ men gāi qù yóu sī dùn chē zhàn liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ yào jiào yī liàng sì lún mǎ chē。 guò yī kè zhōng wǒ men jiù huì zài jiàn dào nín。 hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr xiān shēng， rú guǒ nín yào wǎng huí dǎ diàn bào， zuì hǎo shì ràng nín zhōu wéi de rén men yǐ wéi diào chá réng rán jì xù jìn xíng， shì zài lì wù pǔ， huò shì zài zhè gè jiǎ xiàn suǒ shǐ nǐ men xiǎng dào de rèn hé dì fāng。 tóng shí wǒ yào zài nín de xué xiào fù jìn qiāoqiāo dì zuò diǎn gōng zuò， yě xǔ hén jì shàng wèi wán quán xiāo shī， huá shēng hé wǒ zhè liǎng zhǐ lǎo liè gǒu hái kě yǐ xiù chū yī diǎn qì wèi lái。”
　　 dāng tiān wǎn shàng wǒ men dào liǎo hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr xiān shēng zhù míng xué xiào de suǒ zài dì pí kè zhèn； zhè 'ér kōng qì qīng liáng shǐ rén gǎn dào shuǎng kuài。 wǒ men dào dá de shí hòu， tiān sè yǐ jīng hēi liǎo。 dà tīng de zhuō zǐ shàng fàng zhe yī zhāng míng piàn， guǎn jiā xiàng zhù rén 'ěr yǔ liǎo jǐ jù， bó shì zhuǎn guò shēn lái， liǎn sè shí fēn jī dòng。
　　 tā shuō：“ gōng jué zài cǐ， gōng jué hé wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng zài shū fáng。 xiān shēng men qǐng jìn lái， wǒ yào bǎ nǐ men jiè shào gěi tā。”
　　 zhè wèi zhù míng jiā de zhào piàn wǒ dāng rán hěn shú xī liǎo， kě shì tā běn rén hé tā de zhào piàn dà bù xiāng tóng。 tā shì yī gè shēn cái gāo dà， shén tài zhuāng yán de rén， yī zhe kǎo jiū， liǎn xíng shòu cháng， bí zǐ cháng dé yòu xiē chū qí， yòu wān yòu cháng。 tā de miàn sè cāng bái xiàng sǐ rén yī yàng， zài yòu cháng yòu xī de hóng rùn de hú xū chèn tuō xià gèng wéi pà rén， hú xū piāo dào bái sè bèi xīn shàng， bèi xīn qián hái yòu biǎo liàn de liàn zhuì shǎn shuò fā guāng。 gōng jué jiù shì zhè yàng zhuāng yán dì chū xiàn zài wǒ men miàn qián， tā zhàn zài bì lú qián dì tǎn de zhèng zhōng yāng lěng dàn dì kàn zhe wǒ men。 zài tā de bàng biān zhàn zhe yī gè hěn nián qīng de rén， wǒ cāi dào tā jiù shì nà wèi sī rén mì shū wáng 'ěr dé。 tā shēn cái bù gāo， shén sè jǐn zhāng 'ér yòu jǐng jué， yī shuāng dàn lán sè de yǎn jīng xiǎn dé hěn cōng míng， miàn kǒng yì yú liú lù gǎn qíng。 tā yòng jiān kè 'ér yòu kěn dìng de yǔ diào lì jí kāi shǐ jiǎng huà。
　　“ hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， wǒ jīn tiān shàng wǔ lái guò， dàn shì yǐ jīng wǎn liǎo， bù néng zǔ zhǐ nín qù lún dūn liǎo。 wǒ tīng shuō nín de mù de shì qǐng xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng lái chéng bàn zhè gè 'àn zǐ。 hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， nín méi yòu hé gōng jué dà rén shāng liàng， jìng rán cǎi qǔ zhè yī bù zhòu， shì dà rén yì liào bù dào de。”
　　“ shì zài wǒ liǎo jiě dào yǐ jīng wú fǎ……”
　　“ gōng jué dà rén jué duì méi yòu rèn wéi yǐ jīng wú fǎ bàn lǐ。”
　　“ kě shì wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng， nà……”
　　“ hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， nín shí fēn liǎo jiě， dà rén tè bié dān xīn zhè shì huì chuán dào gōng zhòng zhōng qù。 tā de yì sī shì zhī dào zhè shì de rén yuè shǎo yuè hǎo。”
　　 shòu dào wēihè de bó shì shuō：“ gǎi biàn yī xià zhè gè 'ān pái bù nán。 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng míng tiān kě yǐ chéng zǎo chē huí dào lún dūn。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī háo bù jiè yì dì shuō：“ wǒ xiǎng bù bì， bó shì， bù bì。 běi bù dì qū de kōng qì shǐ rén jīng shén zhèn fèn， bìng qiě gǎn dào shuǎng kuài， suǒ yǐ wǒ xiǎng zài nǐ men de cǎo yuán zhù jǐ tiān， hǎohǎo dì yòng wǒ de tóu nǎo xiǎng xiǎng。 zhù zài nín de xué xiào hái shì zhù zài cūn zhōng lǚ diàn， dāng rán yóu nín jué dìng。”
　　 wǒ kàn dé chū kě lián de bó shì shí fēn yóu yù bù jué， dàn shì hóng hú xū gōng jué de dī chén xiǎng liàng de shēng yīn héng héng jiǎn zhí xiàng wǔ fàn de mǐn xíng líng shēng héng héng bāng liǎo tā de máng。
　　“ hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， wǒ tóng yì wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng de yì jiàn， nín yào shì xiān hé wǒ shāng liàng yī xià jiù tuǒ dāng liǎo。 jì rán nín yǐ jīng bǎ shì qíng gào sù liǎo fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ men jiù bù néng bù qǐng tā bāng máng。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， yī dìng bù yào zhù dào lǚ diàn qù， nín dào huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ lái hé wǒ zhù zài yī qǐ， wǒ huì gāo xīng de。”
　　“ xiè xiè gōng jué dà rén。 wèile diào chá， wǒ xiǎng wǒ liú zài shì qíng fā shēng de xiàn chǎng gèng hé shì yī xiē。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， suí nín biàn。 nín yào xiàng wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng hé wǒ liǎo jiě shénme qíng kuàng， zhǐ guǎn tí chū。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ jiāng lái kě néng xū yào dào nín fǔ zhōng jiàn nín。 xiàn zài zhǐ xiǎng wèn nín yī xià， duì yú nín 'ér zǐ de shén mì shī zōng， nín xiǎng dào liǎo shénme qǐ yīn méi yòu？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng。”
　　“ qǐng yuán liàng， wǒ tí pò shǐ nín tòng kǔ de shì， zhè shì wǒ wú fǎ bì miǎn de。 nín rèn wéi gōng jué fū rén hé zhè jiàn shì yòu shénme guān xì má？”
　　 kě yǐ kàn chū zhè wèi wěi dà rén wù chí yí bù jué。
　　 tā zhōng yú shuō：“ wǒ xiǎng bù huì。”
　　“ jié chí zhè gè hái zǐ de lìng yī gè míng xiǎn de qǐ yīn shì wèile suǒ qǔ shú jīn。 yòu méi yòu xiàng nín lè suǒ zhè lèi shì ní？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng。”
　　“ gōng jué， hái yòu yī gè wèn tí。 wǒ liǎo jiě dào zài shì jiàn fā shēng de nà yī tiān nín gěi tā xiě guò xìn。”
　　“ bù shì zài nà yī tiān， shì zài qián yī tiān。”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng。 kě shì， tā shì zài nà yī tiān shōu dào de， shì má？”
　　“ shì de。”
　　“ zài nín de xìn zhōng yòu méi yòu shénme huà shǐ tā xīn qíng bù wěn dìng， dǎo zhì tā zhè yàng zuò ní？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng， kěn dìng méi yòu。”
　　“ xìn shì bù shì nín qīn zì jì chū de？”
　　 gōng jué zhèng yào dá huà， tā de mì shū què qiǎng xiān shuō：“ gōng jué cóng lái bù zì jǐ jì xìn。 zhè yī fēng xìn hé qí tā de xìn yī qǐ bǎi zài shū fáng de zhuō zǐ shàng， shì wǒ qīn zì fàng dào yóu dài lǐ de。”
　　“ nín kě yǐ kěn dìng zài zhè xiē xìn zhōng yòu zhè yī fēng？”
　　“ shì de， wǒ kàn dào liǎo。”
　　“ nà yī tiān gōng jué xiě liǎo duō shǎo fēng xìn？”
　　“ èr shí huò sān shí。 wǒ de shū xìn wǎng lái shì dà liàng de。 kě shì zhè jué bù huì yǔ běn 'àn yòu shénme xiāng gān bā？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ bù shì wán quán wú guān。”
　　 gōng jué jì xù shuō：“ wǒ yǐ jīng jiàn yì yào bǎ zhù yì lì zhuǎn dào fǎ guó nán bù。 wǒ shuō guò wǒ bù xiāng xìn gōng jué fū rén huì cù shǐ hái zǐ zuò chū zhè yàng huāng táng de jǔ dòng， dàn shì zhè hái zǐ fēi cháng gāng bì zì yòng， zài zhè gè dé guó rén de suō shǐ hé bāng zhù xià， tā yòu kě néng páo dào gōng jué fū rén nà 'ér qù。 hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， wǒ men gāi huí huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ qù liǎo。”
　　 wǒ kàn chū hái yòu yī xiē bié de wèn tí fú 'ěr mó sī xiǎng yào tí chū， kě shì zhè wèi guì zú tū rán biǎo shì huì jiàn jié shù liǎo。 xiǎn rán hé yī gè mò shēng rén tán lùn tā de jiā tíng sī shì， shì hé tā de nóng hòu de guì zú qì zhì gé gé bù rù de， bìng qiě tā bù xiǎng zào chéng zhè yàng de qíng kuàng： suí zhe měi gè wèn tí de tí chū， tā xì xīn yǎn gài de mǒu xiē lì shǐ shì jiàn huì bèi wú qíng dì jiē lù chū lái。
　　 zhè wèi guì zú hé tā de mì shū zǒu liǎo zhī hòu， wǒ de péng yǒu lì jí kāi shǐ jǐn jí de zhēn chá， tā shì yī guàn zhè yàng jí pò de。
　　 wǒ men zǎi xì jiǎn chá liǎo hái zǐ de fáng jiān， kě shì méi yòu dé chū shénme jiēguǒ， bù guò wǒ men gèng jiā xiāng xìn， tā zhǐ néng cóng chuāng hù táo zǒu。 dé yǔ jiào shī de fáng jiān hé cái wù méi yòu tí gōng gèng duō de xiàn suǒ。 tā chuāng qián de yī gè cháng chūn téng zhī chà， jīng shòu bù zhù tā de tǐ zhòng 'ér zhé duàn liǎo。 dēng guāng xià， wǒ men kàn dào yóu lǜ de xiǎo cǎo dì shàng， tā làxià de dì fāng yòu yī gè zú gēn de hén jì。 cǎo dì shàng de zhè gè zú jì zhèng míng dé yǔ jiào shī zài yè wǎn zǒu diào liǎo。
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī dú zì lí kāi liǎo zhù chù， shí yī diǎn yǐ hòu cái huí lái。 tā nòng dào yī zhāng zhè gè dì qū de dà de guān fāng dì tú， ná dào wǒ de wū zǐ lǐ， fàng dào chuáng shàng pū kāi， bìng bǎ dēng fàng zài dì tú zhèng zhōng bǎi hǎo。 rán hòu tā yī miàn kàn zhe yī miàn chōu yān， ǒu 'ěr yòng yān wèi nóng liè de yān dǒu zhǐ diǎn zhe yǐn qǐ wǒ men zhù yì de dì fāng。
　　 tā shuō：“ huá shēng， zhè gè 'àn zǐ shǐ wǒ hěn gǎn xīng qù。 cóng 'àn qíng lái kàn， kě yǐ kěn dìng dì tú shàng yòu xiē dì diǎn shì zhí dé zhù yì de。 chèn zhe zhè gè 'àn jiàn gāng kāi shǐ bàn lǐ， wǒ xiǎng ràng nǐ míng bái， hé wǒ men de zhēn chá yòu mìqiè guān xì de， shì nà xiē tè shū de dì xíng。
　　“ qǐng kàn dì tú。 zhè gè yán sè jiào shēn de fāng kuài shì xiū dào yuàn gōng xué， wǒ chā shàng yī gēn zhēn。 zhè yī tiáo shì dà lù。 tā shì dōng xī xiàng de， jīng guò xué xiào mén qián。 nǐ hái kě yǐ kàn dào zài xué xiào de dōng xī liǎng miàn yī yīng lǐ nèi méi yòu xiǎo lù。 rú guǒ zhè liǎng gè rén shì yán zhe dà lù zǒu diào de huà， nà me zhǐ yòu zhè yī tiáo lù。”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng de。”
　　“ wǒ men hěn xìng yùn， kě yǐ dà zhì chá qīng， zài chū shì de nà tiān wǎn shàng méi yòu shénme rén zǒu guò zhè tiáo lù。 zài wǒ fàng yān dǒu de zhè gè dì fāng， yòu yī gè xiāng cūn cóng shí 'èr diǎn dào liù diǎn zhàn gǎng。 nǐ kě yǐ kàn chū， zhè 'ér shì dōng miàn de dì yī gè jiāo chā lù kǒu。 zhè gè shuō tā yī zhí méi yòu lí kāi guò tā de gǎng wèi， bìng qiě kěn dìng bù guǎn dà rén hái shì xiǎo hái， zhǐ yào shì jīng guò zhè tiáo lù tā bù huì kàn bù jiàn de。 jīn tiān wǎn shàng wǒ hé zhè gè tán guò huà， yǐ wǒ kàn tā shì yī gè wán quán kě kào de rén。 nà me dōng biān jiù méi shì liǎo。 wǒ men xiàn zài kàn kàn xī biān。 zhè 'ér yòu yī gè lǚ diàn， diàn míng shì ' hóng niú '， nǚ diàn zhù shēng liǎo bìng。 tā pài rén qù mài kè 'ěr dùn qǐng dà fū， dàn shì dà fū chū zhěn kàn lìng yī gè bìng rén qù liǎo， suǒ yǐ dì 'èr tiān shàng wǔ cái dào。 lǚ diàn de rén yī yè dōuhěn liú xīn， děng dài dà fū dào lái， bìng qiě yī zhí yòu gè rén wàng zhe dà lù。 tā men shuō méi yòu rén zǒu guò。 yào shì tā men de huà kě kào， wǒ men kě yǐ xìng yùn dì rèn wéi xī miàn yě méi yòu shì， yóu cǐ kě jiàn， táo páo de rén gēn běn méi yòu zǒu dà lù。”
　　 wǒ fǎn wèn dào：“ nà me zì xíng chē ní？”
　　“ shì de， wǒ men hěn kuài jiù yào tán dào zì xíng chē liǎo。 jì xù wǒ men de tuī lùn： rú guǒ tā men méi yòu zǒu dà lù， nà me yī dìng shì chuān guò xiāng cūn xiàng xué xiào de běi miàn huò nán miàn qù liǎo。 zhè shì wú yí de。 wǒ men héng liàng yī xià zhè liǎng zhǒng qíng kuàng。 kě yǐ kàn chū， xué xiào de nán miàn shì yī gēng dì， fēn chéng xiǎo piàn， zhōng jiān yòu shí tóu qiáng。 wǒ rèn wéi zài zhè yàng de dì fāng shì wú fǎ qí zì xíng chē de。 wǒ men kě yǐ bù kǎo lǜ nán miàn liǎo。 wǒ men kàn kàn běi miàn。 zhè 'ér yòu yī piàn xiǎo shù lín， biāo wéi ' xiāo gǎng '， zài yuǎn yī diǎn yòu yī qǐ fú de huāng yě， jiào zuò xià jí 'ěr huāng yuán， yán shēn yòu shí yīng lǐ， dì shì jiàn jiàn zēng gāo。 huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ zài zhè piàn huāng yě de yī biān， cóng dà lù zǒu yòu shí yīng lǐ， chuān huāng yě dì zǒu zhǐ yòu liù yīng lǐ。 nà 'ér shì yī kuài tè bié huāng liáng de píng dì。 yòu jǐ zuò nóng mín de xiǎo péng zǐ， tā men zài nà 'ér yǎng niú yáng děng jiā chù， hái yòu huī jiū hé má yù。 chú cǐ zhī wài， zài nǐ zǒu dào chái sī tè fěi 'ěr dé dà lù zhī qián shénme yě kàn bù jiàn liǎo。 lìng yī biān yòu gè jiào táng， jǐ jiān nóng shè hé yī zuò lǚ diàn。 zài wǎng yuǎn chù qù， shān biàn dǒu liǎo， xiǎn rán wǒ men yīnggāi zài běi miàn xún zhǎo。”
　　 wǒ zài yī cì wèn：“ nà me zì xíng chē ní？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bù nài fán dì shuō：“ hǎo， hǎo！ yī gè zì xíng chē qí dé hǎo de rén， bù yī dìng fēi dé zài dà lù shàng cái néng qǐ。 huāng yuán shàng yòu xǔ duō xiǎo lù jiāo cuò， ér qiě nà shí yuè liàng zhèng yuán。 wō， shénme shēng yīn？”
　　 yī zhèn jí cù de qiāo mén shēng， suí zhe jìn lái liǎo hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì。 tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe yī dǐng lán sè de dǎ bǎn qiú shí dài de mào zǐ， mào dǐng shàng yòu bái sè de Ｖ xíng huā wén。
　　 tā hǎn dào：“ wǒ men zhōng yú zhǎo dào liǎo yī gè xiàn suǒ！ xiè tiān xiè dì！ wǒ men zhì shǎo zhī dào liǎo zhè wèi shàoye zǒu guò de lù jìng！ zhè shì tā de mào zǐ。”
　　“ zài nǎ 'ér zhǎo dào de？”
　　“ zài jí bǔ sài rén de dà péng chē shàng， tā men zài zhè piàn huāng yuán sù guò yíng。 tā men shì xīng qī 'èr zǒu de。 jīn tiān zhuī dào tā men， bìng qiě jiǎn chá liǎo tā men de měi liàng chē， fā xiàn liǎo zhè dǐng mào zǐ。”
　　“ tā men zěn yàng jiě shì ní？”
　　“ tā men yòu tángsè yòu sǎ huǎng， shuō shì xīng qī 'èr zǎo chén zài huāng yuán shàng shí dào de。 zhè qún 'è gùn， tā men zhī dào hái zǐ zài nǎ 'ér！ xiè xiè shàng dì， bǎ tā mendōu guān qǐ lái liǎo。 fǎ lǜ de wēi lì， huò shì gōng jué de jīn qián， zǒng huì shǐ tā men shuō chū tā men zhī dào de qíng kuàng。”
　　 bó shì lí kāi zhī hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ zhè hěn hǎo。 zhì shǎo zhèng shí liǎo wǒ men de shè xiǎng， bì xū zài xià jí 'ěr huāng yuán de zhè yī biān zhǎo cái huì yòu jiēguǒ。 chú qù dài bǔ liǎo zhè xiē jí bǔ sài rén zhī wài， què shí méi yòu zuò shénme。 huá shēng， nǐ qiáo！ héng chuān huāng yuán yòu yī tiáo shuǐ dào。 dì tú shàng zhè 'ér yǐ jīng biāo chū lái liǎo。 yòu de dì fāng shuǐ dào biàn kuān chéng wéi zhǎo zé， yóu qí shì zài huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ hé xué xiào zhī jiān de yī píng dì qū。 zài zhè yàng gān zào de tiān qì， dào bié chù qù zhǎo hén jì shì tú láo de， dàn shì zài zhè yī dài， yòu kě néng zhǎo dào liú xià de hén jì。 míng tiān yī qīng zǎo wǒ lái jiào nǐ， nǐ hé wǒ yī qǐ chū qù shì shì， kàn néng fǒu gěi zhè gè shén mì de 'àn jiàn zhǎo chū yī xiàn guāng míng。”
　　 tiān gāng gāng fā liàng， wǒ yī zhēng yǎn jiù kàn dào fú 'ěr mó sī de xì cháng de shēn zǐ zhàn zài wǒ de chuáng biān。 tā yǐ jīng chuān hǎo liǎo yī fú， bìng qiě xiǎn rán yǐ jīng chū qù guò liǎo。
　　 tā shuō：“ wǒ yǐ jīng kàn guò nà piàn chuāng qián de cǎo dì hé zì xíng chē chē péng， hái zài ' xiāo gǎng ' suí biàn zǒu liǎo zǒu。 huá shēng， kě kě yǐ jīng zhǔ hǎo， fàng zài lǐ wū， wǒ bì xū qǐng nǐ kuài xiē， yīn wéi wǒ men jīn tiān yòu hěn duō shì yào zuò。”
　　 tā de yǎn jīng shén cǎi yì yì， liǎng jiá yóu yú xīng fèn 'ér hóng rùn， hǎo xiàng yī wèi qiǎo jiàng kàn zhe tā de jīng xīn jié zuò jí jiāng wán chéng。 zhè shì yī gè líng huó、 jī jǐng de fú 'ěr mó sī， hé zài bèi kè jiē de nà gè nèi xiàng、 duō sī、 miàn sè cāng bái de fú 'ěr mó sī dà bù xiāng tóng。 dāng wǒ kàn dào tā líng huó de shēn tǐ、 yuè yuè yù shì de yàng zǐ， wǒ yù gǎn dào děng dài wǒ men de yī dìng shì shí fēn láolèi de yī tiān。
　　 rán 'ér zhè yī tiān de kāi tóu， què lìng rén dà shī suǒ wàng。 wǒ men mǎn huái xī wàng dì dà bù yuè guò fù yòu ní tàn de huáng hè sè de huāng yuán， zhōng jiān jīng guò wú shù de yáng cháng xiǎo dào， zhōng yú lái dào yī piàn kāi kuò de lǜ sè zhǎo zé dì shàng， zhè zhèng shì bǎ wǒ men hé huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ gé kāi de nà piàn cháo shī dì dài。 rú guǒ zhè gè hái zǐ huí jiā liǎo， tā bì dìng jīng guò zhè 'ér， ér qiě tā bù kě néng jīng guò 'ér bù liú hén jì， dàn shì bù guǎn shì zhè gè hái zǐ de hái shì nà gè dé guó rén de zú jì quán kàn bù dào。 wǒ de péng yǒu dài zhe yīn chén de miàn róng zài shī dì de biān yuán duó lái duó qù， jíqiè dì guān chá zhe shī dì shàng de měi piàn wū ní yòu wú hén jì。 dào chù shì yáng qún de tí hén， zài yī、 èr yīng lǐ yǐ wài de yī píng dì fāng yòu niú de tí yìn。 zài méi yòu shénme bié de liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yōu yù dì kàn zhe qǐ fú de guǎng kuò huāng yuán shuō：“ qián miàn hái yòu yī piàn shī dì， wǒ men qù chá kàn yī xià。 qiáo， kuài qiáo！ zhè shì shénme？”
　　 wǒ men zǒu shàng yī tiáo hěn zhǎi de hēi yóu yóu de xiǎo dào。 zài xiǎo dào de zhōng jiān， shī rùn de ní tǔ shàng， míng xiǎn dì yìn yòu zì xíng chē de guǐ jì。
　　 wǒ hǎn dào：“ ā！ wǒ men zhǎo dào liǎo。”
　　 dàn shì fú 'ěr mó sī yáo yáo tóu， bìng bù xiǎn dé gāo xīng， fǎn 'ér lù chū mí huò bù jiě de yàng zǐ， xiàng shì qī wàng zhe shénme shìde。
　　 tā shuō：“ dāng rán shì yī liàng zì xíng chē， dàn shì kěn dìng bù shì nà liàng zì xíng chē。 wǒ shú xī de chē tāi de guǐ jì jiù yòu sì shí 'èr zhǒng。 nǐ kě yǐ kàn chū zhè shì dèng lù pǔ pái de chē tāi， wài tāi shì jiā hòu de。 dé yǔ jiào shī hēi dǐ gé de chē tāi shì pà mò pái， yòu tiáo zhuàng huā wén。 shù xué lǎo shī 'ài wéi lín duì yú zhè yī diǎn liǎo jiě dé hěn qīng chǔ。 suǒ yǐ zhè bù shì hēi dǐ gé de zì xíng chē zǒu guò de hén jì。”
　　“ nà me， zhè shì nà gè hái zǐ de？”
　　“ yòu kě néng， zhǐ yào wǒ men néng gòu zhèng míng zhè gè hái zǐ yòu chē。 kě shì wǒ men gēn běn bù néng zhèng míng。 nǐ kàn， zì xíng chē de guǐ jì shuō míng qì chē rén shì cóng xué xiào fāng xiàng qí lái de。”
　　“ yě xǔ shì xiàng xué xiào qù de？”
　　“ bù， bù， qīn 'ài de huá shēng。 dāng rán shì chéng dān zhòng liàng de hòu lún， yā chū de guǐ jì shēn。 zhè lǐ yòu jǐ chù hòu lún de guǐ jì hé qián lún de jiāo chā， qián lún de guǐ jì jiào qiǎn bèi mái zhù liǎo。 wú yí shì cóng xué xiào lái de。 zhè hé wǒ men de zhēn chá yě kě néng yòu guān， yě kě néng wú guān， bù guò zài wǒ men lí kāi zhī qián， hái shì fǎn huí qù kàn yī xià bā。”
　　 wǒ men fǎn huí qù， zǒu liǎo jǐ bǎi mǎ， lái dào yī kuài zhǎo zé dì， zì xíng chē de guǐ jì jiù bù jiàn liǎo。 wǒ men yán zhe xiǎo dào jì xù zǒu， dào liǎo yī chù yòu quán shuǐ dī dá zuò xiǎng de dì fāng。 zhè lǐ yòu yòu zì xíng chē de guǐ jì， kě shì jīhū bèi niú tí de hén jì mǒ diào。 zài wǎng qián jiù méi yòu hén jì liǎo， nà yī tiáo xiǎo dào yī zhí tōng xiàng " xiāo gǎng "， yě jiù shì xué xiào hòu miàn de nà piàn xiǎo shù lín。 chē zǐ yī dìng shì cóng xiǎo shù lín lǐ chū lái de。 fú 'ěr mó sī zuò zài yī kuài dà shí tóu shàng， yòng shǒu tuō zhù xià bā。 wǒ chōu liǎo liǎng zhī yān， tādōu yī dòng wèi dòng。
　　 guò liǎo yī huì 'ér tā shuō：“ yòu kě néng shì zhè yàng， yī gè jiǎo huá de rén， huì bǎ zì xíng chē de wài tāi huàn liǎo， liú xià de guǐ jì shǐ rén bù yì biàn rèn。 wǒ shì yuàn yì gēn néng gòu xiǎng chū zhè zhǒng bàn fǎ de zuì fàn dǎ jiāo dào de。 zhè gè wèn tí wǒ men xiān bù guǎn， hái shì zhù yì nà piàn shī dì， nà lǐ bù shǎo dì fāng wǒ men hái méi yòu chá kàn。”
　　 zài nà piàn shī dì de biān yuán shàng， wǒ men jì xù xì tǒng dì jìn xíng chá kàn， bù jiǔ jiù shōu dào liǎo liáng hǎo de chéng jì。 zài zhè piàn shī dì de dī wā chù， yòu tiáo ní nìng de xiǎo dào， fú 'ěr mó sī zǒu jìn xiǎo dào de shí hòu， gāo xīng dé hǎn chū liǎo shēng。 zài xiǎo dào de zhèng zhōng xiàng shì yī kǔn diàn xiàn mó cā dì miàn liú xià liǎo hén jì。 zhè zhèng shì pà mò lún tāi de hén jì。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xǐ yuè dì hǎn dào：“ zhè yī dìng shì hēi dǐ gé xiān shēng！ huá shēng， wǒ de tuī lùn shì xiāng dāng zhèng què de。”
　　“ wǒ zhù hè nǐ。”
　　“ kě shì wǒ men hái yòu xǔ duō shì yào zuò。 láo jià， qǐng nǐ bù yào zǒu zài xiǎo dào shàng。 wǒ men xiàn zài suí zhe guǐ jì zǒu。 wǒ xiǎng bù huì hěn yuǎn liǎo。”
　　 wǒ men jì xù xiàng qián zǒu， fā xiàn zhè piàn huāng yuán chuān chā zhe xǔ duō xiǎo kuài shī dì。 zì xíng chē de guǐ jì shí yǐn shí xiàn， yǐ xī kě biàn。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ háo wú yí wèn， qì chē rén zhǔn shì zài jiā kuài sù dù， nǐ kàn zhè lǐ de guǐ jì， qián hòu lún tāi yī yàng qīng chǔ， yī yàng shēn。 zhè zhǐ néng biǎo míng qì chē rén bǎ quán shēn zhòng liàng dū jiā zài chē bǎ shàng， xiàng shì bǐ sài de shí hòu qí zuì hòu de yī duàn lù chéng。 yā！ tā shuāi dǎo liǎo。”
　　 zài zì xíng chē liú xià de hén jì shàng， yòu kuān de、 xíng zhuàng bù guī zé de bān diǎn， yán xù jǐ mǎ yuǎn。 rán hòu yòu jǐ gè jiǎo yìn， suí hòu lún tāi de guǐ jì yòu chū xiàn liǎo。
　　 wǒ tí xǐng tā：“ chē xiàng yī biān huá dǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ yī shù yā huài liǎo de jīn què huā gěi wǒ kàn， duǒ duǒ huáng huā shàng jiàn mǎn liǎo zǐ hóng sè de wū diǎn， wǒ dà wéi jīng yà， zài xiǎo dào shàng de shí nán cǎo yě zhān mǎn liǎo yǐ níng jié de xuè diǎn。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ huá shēng， zhàn kāi！ bù yào zēng jiā duō yú de jiǎo yìn！ wǒ miàn qián de qíng kuàng shì shénme ní？ tā shòu shāng shuāi dǎo， zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， yòu shàng chē， jì xù qí。 kě shì méi yòu lìng yī liàng zì xíng chē de hén jì。 niú yáng tí hén zài lìng yī biān de xiǎo dào shàng。 tā bù huì bèi gōng niú gù là sāng kǎn hǔ huàn shàn sào ≌ chuǎn chuáng huàn qiāo * rèn hé rén de jiǎo yìn。 huá shēng， wǒ men hái yào xiàng qián zǒu。 wǒ men jǐn suí xuè jì hé zì xíng chē de guǐ jì， zhè gè rén yī dìng táo tuō bù liǎo。”
　　 wǒ men jì xù zhuī zōng， yī huì 'ér， jiù kàn dào lún tāi de guǐ jì zài cháo shī 'ér guāng huá de xiǎo dào shàng jí jù dì dǎ qǐ wān lái。 wǒ xiàng qián yī kàn， tū rán yī yǎn kàn dào zài mì mì de jīng dòu cóng zhōng yòu jiàn jīn shǔ wù pǐn shǎn shuò fā guāng。 wǒ men páo guò qù cóng lǐ miàn tuō chū liǎo yī liàng zì xíng chē， lún tāi shì pà mò pái de， yòu yī zhǐ jiǎo dèng zǐ wān zhe， chē qián bù mǎn shì xuè diǎn hé yī dào dào de xuè hén， hěn shì xià rén。 zài 'ǎi shù cóng de lìng yī biān yòu yī zhǐ xié lù zài wài miàn。 wǒ men jí máng páo guò qù， fā xiàn zhè wèi bù xìng de qí chē rén jiù tǎng zài nà 'ér。 tā shēn cái gāo dà， mǎn liǎn hú xū， dài zhe yǎn jìng， yī gè jìng piàn yǐ jīng bù jiàn liǎo。 tā de sǐ yīn shì tóu bù shòu dào chén zhòng de yī jī， bù fēn lú gǔ fěn suì。 shòu dào zhè yàng de zhòng shāng yǐ hòu tā hái néng jì xù qì chē， shuō míng zhè gè rén jīng lì bǎo mǎn， ér qiě hěn yòu yǒng qì。 tā chuān zhe xié， dàn shì méi chuān wà zǐ， shàng yī chǎng kāi zhe lù chū yī jiàn shuì jué chuān de chèn yī。 háo wú yí wèn zhè jiù shì nà wèi dé yǔ jiào shī liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī gōng jìng dì bǎ shī tǐ fānzhuàn liǎo yī xià， jìn xíng liǎo zǎi xì de jiǎn chá。 rán hòu tā zuò xià chén sī liǎo piàn kè。 cóng tā zhòu qǐ de méi tóu wǒ kě yǐ kàn chū， tā rèn wéi zhè jù cǎn bù rěn dǔ de shī tǐ， duì yú wǒ men de diào chá bìng méi yòu duō shǎo tuī dòng。
　　 tā zhōng yú kāi liǎo kǒu：“ huá shēng， jué dìng xià yī bù zěn me bàn， shì yòu xiē kùn nán。 wǒ de xiǎng fǎ shì jì xù diào chá xià qù， wǒ men yǐ jīng yòng liǎo zhè me duō shí jiān， suǒ yǐ zài yě bù néng bái bái làng fèi diào nǎ pà shì yī xiǎo shí。 lìng yī fāng miàn， wǒ men bì xū bǎ fā xiàn shī tǐ zhè jiàn shì bào gào gěi， bìng qiě yào kàn hù hǎo zhè gè kě lián rén de shī tǐ。”
　　“ wǒ kě yǐ sòng huí nǐ de biàn tiáo。”
　　“ kě shì wǒ xū yào nǐ péi tóng wǒ hé xié zhù wǒ， hē， nǐ qiáo！ nà 'ér yòu yī gè rén zài wā ní méi。 bǎ tā jiào lái， ràng tā qù zhǎo。”
　　 wǒ bǎ zhè gè nóng mín dài guò lái， fú 'ěr mó sī ràng zhè gè shòu liǎo jīng de rén bǎ yī zhāng biàn tiáo sòng gěi hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì。
　　 rán hòu tā shuō：“ huá shēng， jīn tiān shàng wǔ wǒ men dé dào liǎng tiáo xiàn suǒ。 yī gè shì 'ān zhuāng zhe pà mò pái lún tāi de zì xíng chē， ér qiě zhè liàng chē dǎo zhì wǒ men huò dé gāng cái fā xiàn de qíng kuàng。 lìng yī xiàn suǒ shì 'ān zhuāng zhe dèng lù pǔ pái jiā hòu lún tāi de zì xíng chē。 zài wǒ men diào chá zhè yī xiàn suǒ zhī qián， wǒ men hǎohǎo xiǎng xiǎng， nǎ xiē qíng kuàng shì wǒ men què shí zhǎng wò liǎo de， yǐ biàn chōng fēn lì yòng zhè xiē qíng kuàng， bǎ běn zhì de dōng xī hé 'ǒu rán de dōng xī fēn kāi。
　　“ shǒu xiān wǒ xī wàng nǐ néng míng què zhè gè hái zǐ yī dìng shì zì yuàn zǒu diào de。 tā cóng chuāng hù xià lái zhī hòu， bù shì tā yī gè rén biàn shì hé lìng wài yī gè rén yī qǐ zǒu diào liǎo。 zhè yī diǎn shì què qiē wú yí de。”
　　 wǒ tóng yì tā de yì jiàn。
　　“ nà me， wǒ men tán tán nà gè bù xìng de dé yǔ jiào shī。 zhè gè hái zǐ shì wán quán chuān hǎo yī fú páo diào de。 suǒ yǐ zhèng míng tā yù xiān zhī dào yào gànshénme。 dàn shì zhè wèi dé guó rén méi yòu chuān shàng wà zǐ jiù zǒu liǎo。 tā yī dìng shì gēn jù jǐn jí qíng kuàng xíng dòng de。”
　　“ zhè shì wú yí de liǎo。”
　　“ wèishénme tā chū qù ní？ yīn wéi tā cóng wò shì de chuāng hù kàn jiàn zhè gè hái zǐ páo diào liǎo； yīn wéi tā xiǎng gǎn shàng tā bǎ tā dài huí lái。 tā chāo qí tā de zì xíng chē qù zhuī zhè gè hái zǐ， zài zhuī gǎn de lù shàng zāo dào liǎo bù xìng。”
　　“ sì hū shì zhè yàng de。”
　　“ xiàn zài wǒ tán wǒ tuī duàn de zuì wéi guān jiàn de bù fēn。 yī gè chéng rén zhuī yī gè xiǎo hái shí zì rán shì páo zhe qù zhuī。 tā zhī dào tā huì gǎn shàng hái zǐ de。 dàn shì zhè wèi dé guó rén méi yòu zhè yàng zuò。 tā yǐ kào tā de zì xíng chē。 wǒ tīng shuō tā qí chē qí dé hěn hǎo。 yào shì tā méi yòu kàn dào zhè gè hái zǐ néng gòu xùn sù páo diào， tā shì bù huì zhè yàng zuò de。”
　　“ zhè shè jí dào lìng wài nà liàng zì xíng chē。”
　　“ wǒ men jì xù shè xiǎng dāng shí qíng kuàng： lí kāi xué xiào wǔ yīng lǐ tā yù dào bù xìng héng héng bù shì zhòngdàn 'ér wáng， dǎ qiāng shì lián yī gè hái zǐ dū huì de。 qǐng nǐ zhù yì， ér shì yóu yú yī zhǐ qiáng zhuàng de shǒu bì jǐyǔ cán kù de yī jī。 nà me zhè gè hái zǐ zài táo páo guò chéng zhōng yī dìng yòu rén péi tóng。 táo páo shì kuài sù de， yīn wéi yī wèi shàn yú qì chē de rén pǐn liǎo wǔ yīng lǐ cái gǎn shàng tā men。 wǒ men chá kàn guò cǎn 'àn fā shēng de xiàn chǎng。 wǒ men zhǎo dào liǎo shénme ní？ jǐ gè niú yáng tí hén， cǐ wài shénme yě méi yòu liǎo。 zài xiàn chǎng zhōu wéi wǒ rào liǎo yī gè hěn dà de juàn zǐ， wǔ shí mǎ zhī nèi méi yòu xiǎo dào。 lìng yī gè qì chē de rén kě néng bù huì yǔ zhè jiàn móu shā 'àn yòu shénme guān xì， ér qiě nà lǐ yě méi yòu rén de zú jì。”
　　 wǒ hǎn dào：“ fú 'ěr mó sī， zhè shì bù kě néng de shì。”
　　 tā shuō：“ duì jí liǎo！ nǐ de kàn fǎ hěn zhèng què。 shì qíng bù kě néng shì wǒ suǒ xù shù de nà yàng， suǒ yǐ yī dìng yòu yī xiē fāng miàn wǒ shuō dé bù duì。 nǐ yǐ jīng kàn chū zhè yī diǎn liǎo。 nǐ néng zhǐ chū nǎ gè dì fāng cuò liǎo má？”
　　“ tā huì bù huì yóu yú shuāi dǎo 'ér pèng suì liǎo lú gǔ？”
　　“ zài shī dì shàng huì fā shēng zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng má？”
　　“ wǒ shì jiǎn zhí méi yòu bàn fǎ liǎo。”
　　“ bù yào zhè yàng shuō， bǐ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ nán dé duō de wèn tí wǒ mendōu jiě jué guò。 zhì shǎo wǒ men zhǎng wò liǎo xǔ duō qíng kuàng， wèn tí shì wǒ men yào huì lì yòng tā。 jì rán yǐ jīng chōng fēn lì yòng liǎo nà liàng zhuāng yòu pà mò chē tāi de zì xíng chē suǒ tí gōng de cái liào， wǒ men xiàn zài zài lái kàn kàn 'ān zhuāng zhe dèng lù pǔ jiā hòu chē tāi de zì xíng chē néng gòu gěi wǒ men tí gōng shénme dōng xī。”
　　 wǒ men zhǎo dào zhè liàng zì xíng chē de guǐ jì， bìng qiě yán zhe tā xiàng qián zǒu liǎo yī duàn lù chéng， huāng yuán suí jí shàng shēng chéng wéi xié pō， xié pō shàng cháng mǎn cháng cháng de cóng shēng de shí nán cǎo， wǒ men hái guò liǎo yī tiáo shuǐ dào。 guǐ jì méi yòu gěi wǒ men tí gōng gèng duō de cái liào。 zài dèng lù qì chē tāi guǐ jì zhōng zhǐ de dì fāng， yòu yī tiáo lù yī tóu tōng xiàng huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ dǐ， fǔ dǐ lóu fáng de xióng wěi jiān dǐng zài wǒ men zuǒ fāng jǐ yīng lǐ wài sǒng lì， lìng yī tóu tōng dào qián fāng yī zuò dì shì jiào dī de yǐn yǐn yuē yuē de nóng cūn。 zhè zhèng shì dì tú shàng biāo zhì zhe chái sī tè fěi 'ěr dé dà lù de dì fāng。
　　 wǒ men lái dào yī jiā wài guān kě zēng 'ér yòu 'āng zàng de lǚ diàn， lǚ diàn de mén shàng guà zhe yī kuài zhāo pái， zhāo pái shàng huà zhe yī zhǐ zhèng zài bó dǒu de gōng jī。 zhè shí fú 'ěr mó sī tū rán fā chū liǎo yī shēng， bìng qiě fú zhù wǒ de jiān bǎng yǐ miǎn shuāi dǎo。 zhè zhǒng shǐ rén háo wú bàn fǎ de huái gǔ niǔ shāng， tā yǐ jīng yòu guò yī cì。 tā jiān nán dì tiào dào mén qián， nà 'ér dūn zhe yī gè pí fū yǒu hēi de、 nián jì jiào dà de rén， zuǐ lǐ diāo zhe yī zhī hēi sè de ní zhì yān dǒu。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ nǐ hǎo， lú bīn · hēi sī xiān shēng。”
　　 zhè gè xiāng xià rén tái qǐ yī shuāng jiǎo huá de yǎn jīng， shè chū huái yí de mù guāng， dá dào：“ nǐ shì shuí， nǐ zěn me huì zhǔn què dì zhī dào wǒ de míng zì？”
　　“ nǐ tóu shàng de zhāo pái shàng míng míng xiě zhe má。 kàn chū shuí shì yī jiā zhī zhù yě bù nán。 wǒ xiǎng nǐ de mǎ jiù lǐ dà gài méi yòu mǎ chē zhè lèi dōng xī bā？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ wǒ de jiǎo jiǎn zhí bù néng luò dì。”
　　“ nà jiù bù yào luò dì。”
　　“ kě shì wǒ bù néng zǒu lù 'ā。”
　　“ nà me nǐ jiù tiào。”
　　 lú bīn · hēi sī xiān shēng de tài dù jué bù shì yòu lǐ mào de， dàn shì fú 'ěr mó sī què hé 'ǎi chǔzhī。
　　 tā shuō：“ péng yǒu， nǐ qiáo， wǒ què shí fēi cháng kùn nán。 zhǐ yào néng wǎng qián jiù xíng， zěn me zǒu wǒ dǎo bù jiè yì。”
　　 guāi qiǎo de diàn zhù shuō：“ wǒ yě bù jiè yì。”
　　“ wǒ de shì qíng hěn zhòng yào。 nǐ yào shì jiè gěi wǒ yī liàng zì xíng chē yòng， wǒ yuàn gěi nǐ yī bàng jīn bì。”
　　 diàn zhù rén shù qǐ liǎo tā de 'ěr duǒ。
　　“ nǐ yào shàng nǎ 'ér qù？”
　　“ dào huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ。”
　　 diàn zhù rén yòng fěng cì de yǎn guāng kàn zhe wǒ men zhān mǎn ní tǔ de yī fú shuō：“ dà gài shì gōng jué de rén bā？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wēn hòu dì xiào zhe。
　　“ fǎn zhèng tā jiàn dào wǒ men shì huì gāo xīng de。”
　　“ wèishénme？”
　　“ yīn wéi wǒ men gěi tā dài lái yòu guān tā shī zōng de 'ér zǐ de xiāo xī。”
　　 diàn zhù rén xiǎn rán chī liǎo yī jīng。
　　“ shénme？ nǐ men zhǎo dào tā 'ér zǐ de zōng jì liǎo má？”
　　“ yòu rén shuō tā zài lì wù pǔ。 měi shí měi kè dōukě néng zhǎo dào tā。”
　　 diàn zhù rén hú xū wèi guā de yīn chén de miàn kǒng shàng biǎo qíng zài yī cì xùn sù dì biàn huà zhe， tā de tài dù tū rán biàn dé wēn hé liǎo。
　　 tā shuō：“ wǒ bù xiàng yī bān rén nà yàng zhù fú tā shì yòu lǐ yóu de， yīn wéi wǒ céng jīng shì tā de mǎ chē fū de tóu 'ér， tā duì wǒ hěn huài。 jiù shì tā， lián yī jù xiàng yàng de huà dōuméi shuō， jiù bǎ wǒ jiě gù liǎo。 kě shì wǒ tīng dào zài lì wù pǔ kě néng zhǎo dào xiǎo gōng jué de xiāo xī， wǒ hái shì gāo xīng de， wǒ bāng zhù nǐ men bǎ xiāo xī sòng dào gōng jué fǔ shàng qù bā。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ wǒ men xiān yào chī xiē dōng xī。 rán hòu nǐ bǎ zì xíng chē ná lái。”
　　“ wǒ méi yòu zì xíng chē。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī ná chū yī bàng jīn bì。
　　“ wǒ gēn nǐ shuō， wǒ méi yòu zì xíng chē。 wǒ gěi nǐ men liǎng pǐ mǎ qí dào gōng jué fǔ。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ hǎo， hǎo， wǒ men chī wán dōng xī zài shuō zhè shì。”
　　 zài yòng shí bǎn gài de chú fáng lǐ， dāng zhǐ shèng xià wǒ men liǎng rén de shí hòu， nà niǔ shāng de huái gǔ huī fù zhī kuài què shí jīng rén。 xiàn zài yè wǎn jí jiāng jiàng lín， ér wǒ men zì cóng qīng zǎo yī zhí méi yòu chī dōng xī， suǒ yǐ wǒ men chī fàn yòng liǎo yī xiē shí jiān。 rán hòu fú 'ěr mó sī xiàn rù chén sī zhī zhōng， yòu yī 'èr cì tā zǒu dào chuāng hù bàng biān， dāi dāi dì xiàng wài níng shì。 chuāng hù duì zhe yī gè 'āng zàng de yuàn zǐ。 zài yuǎn chù jiǎo luò lǐ yòu zuò tiě jiàng lú， yī gè lā tà de hái zǐ zhèng zài gōng zuò。 lìng wài yī biān jiù shì mǎ jiù。 yòu yī cì fú 'ěr mó sī gāng cóng chuāng hù biān zǒu huí lái zuò xià， lì jí yòu cóng yǐ zǐ shàng tū rán lì qǐ shēn lái， yī miàn hái hǎn zhe。
　　“ tiān 'ā！ wǒ xiāng xìn wǒ nòng qīng chǔ liǎo！ shì de， yī dìng shì zhè yàng de。 huá shēng， nǐ jì dé jīn tiān kàn jiàn guò niú tí de hén jì má？”
　　“ shì de， yòu yī xiē。”
　　“ zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ wō， hǎo duō dì fāng。 shī dì shàng， xiǎo dào shàng， yǐ jí kě lián de hēi dǐ gé yù dào bù xìng de fù jìn。”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng de。 nà me， huá shēng， zài huāng yuán shàng nǐ kàn jiàn liǎo duō shǎo niú ní？”
　　“ wǒ bù jì dé kàn jiàn guò niú。”
　　“ zhēn guài， huá shēng， wǒ men yī lù shàng dū kàn jiàn niú tí de hén jì， kě shì zài zhěng gè huāng yuán shàng què méi yòu yù dào yī tiáo niú。 duō me qí guài 'ā？”
　　“ shì de， shì hěn guài。”
　　“ huá shēng， xiàn zài nǐ nǔ lì huí xiǎng yī xià， zài xiǎo dào shàng nǐ kàn jiàn guò zhè xiē hén jì má？”
　　“ bù cuò！ kàn jiàn liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ néng xiǎng qǐ hén jì yòu shí shì zhè yàng de má？ " tā bǎ yī xiē miàn bāo xiè pái liè chéng héng héng ----　 ·····　 héng héng yòu yòu shí shì zhè yàng de。
　　----·····
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　　----········ héng héng " yòu shí 'ǒu rán xiàng zhè yàng， " héng héng
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　　--------········ héng héng " nǐ néng jì zhù zhè xiē má？”
　　“ bù， bù néng。”
　　“ dàn shì wǒ néng。 wǒ kě yǐ fā shì shì rú cǐ。 rán 'ér zhǐ néng zài yòu gōng fū de shí hòu， wǒ men huí qù yàn zhèng yī xià。 wǒ zhēn shì qīng shuài liǎo， dāng shí méi yòu zuò chū jié lùn。”
　　“ nǐ de jié lùn shì shénme？”
　　“ zhǐ néng shuō nà shì yī tóu guài niú， yòu zǒu， yòu páo， yòu fēi chí。 huá shēng， wǒ gǎn shuō yī gè xiāng cūn kè diàn lǎo bǎn de tóu nǎo xiǎng bù chū zhè yàng yī gè。 jiě jué zhè gè wèn tí sì hū méi yòu zhàng 'ài liǎo， zhǐ shì nà gè hái zǐ hái zài tiě jiàng lú nà lǐ。 wǒ men liù chū qù， kàn kàn néng zhǎo dào shénme。”
　　 zài nà yáo yáo yù zhuì de mǎ péng lǐ yòu liǎng pǐ zōng máo péng luàn、 wèi jīng shū lǐ de mǎ， fú 'ěr mó sī tái qǐ qí zhōng yī pǐ de qián tí kàn liǎo kàn， fā chū yī zhèn dà xiào。
　　“ mǎ zhǎng shì jiù de， què shì xīn dīng shàng qù de， zhǎng dīng hái shì xīn de。 zhè de què shì gè diǎn xíng 'àn lì。 ràng wǒ men dào tiě jiàng lú nà 'ér qù kàn kàn。”
　　 wǒ men zǒu liǎo guò qù， nà gè hái zǐ yǐ jiù gànhuó， bìng bù lǐ cǎi wǒ men。 wǒ kàn dào fú 'ěr mó sī de yǎn jīng cóng yòu biān dào zuǒ biān sǎo shì zhe dì shàng de yī duī làn tiě hé mù kuài。 tū rán wǒ men tīng dào shēn hòu yòu jiǎo bù shēng， shì diàn zhù rén lái liǎo。 tā nóng méi jǐn zhòu， mù guāng xiōng hěn， yǒu hēi de miàn kǒng yóu yú nǎo nù 'ér fā zhǎng。 tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe yī gēn bāo zhe tiě tóu de duǎn gùn zǐ， qì shì xiōng xiōng dì cháo wǒ men zǒu lái， zhè shǐ wǒ bù yóu dé qù mō wǒ kǒu dài zhōng de shǒu qiāng。
　　 tā hǎn dào：“ nǐ men liǎng gè gāi sǐ de zhēn tàn！ zài zhè 'ér gànshénme？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī lěng dàn dì shuō：“ zěn me， lú bīn · hēi sī xiān shēng， dà gài shì nǐ pà wǒ men fā xiàn shénme bā。”
　　 diàn zhù rén jié lì kòng zhì zì jǐ， tā zhēng níng de zuǐ jiǎo sōng chí xià lái， lù chū jiǎ xiào。 zhè bǐ jǐn bì de shí hòu hái yào xià rén。
　　 tā shuō：“ qǐng nín zài wǒ de tiě jiàng lú zhè 'ér suí biàn sōu chá。 bù guò， xiān shēng， méi yòu dé dào wǒ de yǔn xǔ jiù tàn tóu tàn nǎo shì bù xíng de， suǒ yǐ wǒ yuàn yì ràng nín jìn kuài fù zhàng， lí kāi wǒ zhè 'ér yuè zǎo yuè hǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ hǎo bā， hēi sī xiān shēng， wǒ men méi yòu 'è yì， wǒ men zhǐ shì kàn liǎo yī xià nǐ de mǎ。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ hái dé zǒu zhe qù。 wǒ kàn lù shì bù yuǎn de。”
　　“ dào gōng jué fǔ de dà mén bù chāo guò liǎng yīng lǐ。 zǒu zuǒ biān nà tiáo lù。 " tā yòng yùn nù de yǎn jīng kàn zhe wǒ men， zhí dào wǒ men lí kāi tā de diàn zhǐ。
　　 wǒ men zài lù shàng méi yòu zǒu duō yuǎn， yīn wéi yī zhuǎn guò wān， dāng diàn zhù rén kàn bù jiàn wǒ men de shí hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī jiù lì jí tíng liǎo xià lái。
　　 tā shuō：“ zhèng xiàng hái zǐ men cháng shuō de， zhù zài lǚ diàn shì wēn nuǎn de。 hǎo xiàng wǒ měi lí kāi zhè gè lǚ diàn yī bù dū gǎn jué gèng lěng yī diǎn。 bù， wǒ jué bù néng lí kāi zhè gè lǚ diàn。”
　　 wǒ shuō：“ wǒ què xìn zhè gè lú bīn · hēi sī shì zhī dào zhěng gè shì jiàn de。 zài wǒ yù dào guò de 'è gùn lǐ， tā shì zuì huài de。”
　　“ wō， tā gěi nǐ zhè yàng de yìn xiàng má？ hái yòu nà xiē mǎ， nà gè tiě jiàng lú。 shì de， zhè gè ' dǒu jī ' lǚ diàn shì gè yòu yì sī de dì fāng。 hái shì ràng wǒ men zài qiāoqiāo dì kàn kàn tā bā。”
　　 wǒ men de bèi hòu shì yī gè xié cháng de shān pō， sǎnluò zhe yī dà kuài yī dà kuài de huī sè shí huī shí。 wǒ men lí kāi dà lù wǎng shān shàng zǒu qù， zhè shí wǒ wǎng huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ fāng xiàng kàn liǎo yī yǎn， qià hǎo jiàn dào yī gè qí zì xíng chē de rén jí chí 'ér lái。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yī zhǐ shǒu yòng lì 'àn xià wǒ de jiān bǎng， yī miàn shuō：“ huá shēng， dūn xià。 " wǒ men hái méi yòu lái dé jí cáng qǐ lái， zhè gè rén yǐ jīng zài dà lù shàng fēi chí 'ér guò。 tòu guò fēi yáng de chén tǔ， wǒ yī shùn jiān kàn dào yī zhāng jī dòng de cāng bái miàn kǒng héng héng liǎn shàng měi yī tiáo zhòu wén dū xiǎn chū jīng jù， zuǐ zhāng zhe， yǎn jīng máng rán dì zhí shì qián fāng。 zhè gè rén xiàng shì wǒ men zuó tiān wǎn shàng jiàn dào de yī guān chǔ chǔ de wáng 'ěr dé de yī fú màn huà xiào xiàng。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī hǎn dào：“ gōng jué de mì shū！ huá shēng， wǒ men kàn kàn tā gànshénme。”
　　 wǒ men gǎn máng mài guò yī kuài kuài shí tóu， bù yī huì 'ér wǒ men lái dào yī chù kě yǐ kàn jiàn lǚ diàn qián mén de dì fāng。 wáng 'ěr dé de zì xíng chē kào zài mén biān de qiáng shàng。 méi yòu rén zài lǚ diàn lǐ zǒu dòng， cóng chuāng hù xiàng lǐ kàn yě kàn bù jiàn rèn hé miàn kǒng。 tài yáng luò dào gōng jué fǔ de gāo gāo de jiān dǐng de hòu miàn liǎo， huáng hūn jiàn jiàn jiàng lín。 méng lóng zhōng wǒ men kàn dào， zài lǚ diàn de mǎ jiù nà 'ér guà zhe liǎng zhǎn lián tōng de qì dēng。 guò yī huì 'ér tīng dào mǎ tí dā dā de xiǎng shēng， shēng yīn zhuǎn dào dà lù shàng， suí jí xùn měng dì yán zhe chái sī tè fěi 'ěr dé dà lù bēn chí 'ér qù。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī dī shēng shuō：“ huá shēng， nǐ kàn zhè shì zěn me yī huí shì？”
　　“ xiàng shì táo páo。”
　　“ wǒ kàn jiàn shì yī gè rén chéng zhe dān qí mǎ chē。 kěn dìng bù shì wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng， tā hái zài mén nà 'ér。”
　　 hēi 'àn zhōng tū rán chū xiàn yī piàn hóng sè dēng guāng。 dēng guāng xià chū xiàn liǎo mì shū de shēn yǐng， tā tàn tóu tàn nǎo dì xiàng hēi 'àn zhōng kuī shì zhe， xiǎn rán tā zài děng dài zhe mǒu gè rén。 bù yī huì 'ér， tīng dào lù shàng yòu jiǎo bù shēng， jiè zhe dēng guāng wǒ men yòu kàn dào dì 'èr gè shēn yǐng yī shǎn， mén guān shàng liǎo， yòu shì yī qī hēi 'àn。 wǔ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， lóu xià de yī gè fáng jiān lǐ， yī zhǎn dēng diǎn liàng liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ ' dǒu jī ' lǚ diàn de xí guàn shì hěn guài de。”
　　“ jiǔ bā jiān shè zài lìng yī miàn。”
　　“ shì de， zhè xiē rén shì rén men shuō de sī rén zhù kè。 zài zhè yàng de shēn yè， wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng zài nà gè hēi wō lǐ dào dǐ gànshénme， dào nà 'ér hé tā jiàn miàn de rén yòu shì shuí。 huá shēng， wǒ men bì xū mào yī xià xiǎn， jìn lì bǎ zhè jiàn shì diào chá dé gèng qīng chǔ diǎn。”
　　 wǒ men liǎng gè tōu tōu dì xià liǎo shān pō， lái dào dà lù， rán hòu wān， fǔ xíng dào lǚ diàn de mén qián。 zì xíng chē réng rán kào zài qiáng shàng。 fú 'ěr mó sī huá liǎo yī gēn huǒ chái qù zhào hòu lún。 huǒ guāng zhào liàng jiā hòu de dèng lù qì chē tāi shí， wǒ tīng dào tā qīng qīng dì xiào liǎo yī shēng。 zài wǒ men de tóu shàng jiù shì yòu dēng guāng de chuāng hù。
　　“ huá shēng， wǒ bì xū wǎng lǐ kàn kàn。 yào shì nǐ wān xià yāo bìng qiě fú zhe qiáng， wǒ xiǎng wǒ kě yǐ kàn dào。”
　　 bù yī huì 'ér tā de liǎng zhǐ jiǎo yǐ jīng dèng zài wǒ de jiān bǎng shàng， dàn shì tā hái méi yòu zhàn zhí yòu lì jí xià lái liǎo。
　　 tā shuō：“ péng yǒu， wǒ men zhè yī tiān gōng zuò dé gòu cháng liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ men néng gòu nòng dào de qíng kuàng dū nòng dào liǎo。 dào xué xiào hái yào zǒu hěn yuǎn， wǒ men yuè kuài dòng shēn yuè hǎo。”
　　 dāng wǒ men pí bèi dì chuān guò huāng yuán shí， tā hěn shǎo kāi kǒu jiǎng huà， dào liǎo xué xiào tā méi yòu jìn qù， què jì xù xiàng mài kè 'ěr dùn chē zhàn zǒu qù， zài nà 'ér tā fā liǎo jǐ fēng diàn bào。 huí xiào hòu tā yòu qù 'ān wèi hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì， bó shì zhèng wéi nà wèi jiào shī de sǐ wáng 'ér bēi shāng bù yǐ。 hòu lái tā jìn dào wǒ wū zǐ lǐ， réng rán xiàng yī zǎo chū fā shí nà yàng jīng lì bǎo mǎn hé jī jǐng。 tā shuō：“ wǒ de péng yǒu， yī qiē shùn lì， wǒ bǎo zhèng míng tiān wǎn shàng yǐ qián wǒ men jiù kě yǐ jiě jué zhè gè shén mì de 'àn jiàn。”
　　 dì 'èr tiān zǎo shàng shí yī diǎn zhōng， wǒ de péng yǒu hé wǒ yǐ jīng zǒu dào huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ zhù míng de zǐ shān lín yìn dào shàng。 pú rén yǐn dǎo wǒ men jīng guò yī lì suō bái shì de mén tīng， jìn rù gōng jué de shū fáng。 wǒ men jiàn dào wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng， wén yǎ 'ér yòu yòu lǐ mào， dàn shì zài tā de guǐ mì de yǎn jīng hé chàn dòng de miàn róng zhōng， réng rán qián cáng zhe zuó tiān yè lǐ nà zhǒng jí dù kǒng jù de hén jì。
　　“ nín shì lái jiàn gōng jué de bā？ hěn yí hàn， gōng jué shēn tǐ hěn bù shū shì， bù xìng de xiāo xī shǐ tā yī zhí bù 'ān。 wǒ men zuó tiān xià wǔ shōu dào hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì dǎ lái de diàn bào， gào sù liǎo wǒ men nín fā xiàn de shì qíng。”
　　“ wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng， wǒ bì xū jiàn gōng jué。”
　　“ dàn shì tā zài wò shì。”
　　“ wǒ dào wò shì qù jiàn tā。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yǐ lěng jìng jiān jué de tài dù， xiàng zhè wèi mì shū biǎo míng， quàn zǔ tā shì wú yòng de。
　　“ hǎo bā， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ gào sù tā nín zài zhè lǐ。”
　　 děng liǎo yī xiǎo shí zhī hòu， zhè wèi wěi dà de guì zú cái chū xiàn。 tā miàn sè sǐ huī， sǒng zhe shuāng jiān， wǒ jué dé tā hǎo xiàng bǐ qián tiān shàng wǔ lǎo liǎo xǔ duō。 tā zhuāng yán dì hé wǒ men hán xuān guò hòu， biàn zuò zài shū zhuō bàng， tā hóng rùn de hú xū chuí sǎ zài zhuō shàng。
　　 dàn shì wǒ péng yǒu de yǎn jīng què dīng zài mì shū shēn shàng， tā zhèng zhàn zài gōng jué de yǐ zǐ bàng biān。
　　“ gōng jué， wǒ xiǎng yào shì wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng bù zài chǎng， wǒ kě yǐ tán dé suí biàn yī xiē。”
　　 mì shū de liǎn sè biàn dé gèng cāng bái liǎo， bìng qiě 'è hěn hěn dì kàn liǎo fú 'ěr mó sī yī yǎn。
　　“ yào shì gōng jué nín yuàn yì……”
　　“ shì de， shì de， nǐ zuì hǎo zǒu kāi。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nín yào shuō shénme ní？”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu děng dài tuì chū qù de mì shū bǎ mén wán quán guān hǎo， cái shuō：“ gōng jué， shì qíng shì zhè yàng de， wǒ de tóng shì huá shēng dà fū hé wǒ dé dào hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì de xǔ nuò， tā shuō jiě jué zhè gè 'àn jiàn shì yòu bào chóu de。 wǒ xī wàng nín qīn kǒu shuō dìng cǐ shì。”
　　“ dāng rán liǎo， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。”
　　“ rú guǒ tā shuō dé wú wù de huà， shuí yào gào sù nín nín de 'ér zǐ zài nǎ lǐ， jiāng huì dé dào wǔ qiān bàng。”
　　“ duì de。”
　　“ yào shì shuō chū kòu yā nín 'ér zǐ de rén de míng zì， kě yǐ zài dé yī qiān bàng。”
　　“ duì de。”
　　“ zhè yī xiàng bù jǐn bāo kuò dài zǒu nín 'ér zǐ de rén de míng zì， ér qiě yě bāo kuò nà xiē gòng móu kòu yā tā de rén men de míng zì， shì má？”
　　 gōng jué bù nài fán dì shuō：“ shì de， shì de， xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， yào shì nǐ de zhēn chá gōng zuò zuò hǎo liǎo， nǐ biàn méi yòu lǐ yóu bào yuàn dài yù dī。”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu dài zhe tān lán de yàng zǐ， cuō zhe tā de liǎng zhǐ shǒu， zhè shǐ wǒ gǎn dào chī jīng， yīn wéi wǒ zhī dào tā yī xiàng suǒ fèi hěn dī。
　　 tā shuō：“ gōng jué， wǒ xiǎng nín de zhī piào běn jiù zài zhuō zǐ shàng bā， nín gěi wǒ kāi yī zhāng liù qiān bàng de zhī piào， wǒ jiāng fēi cháng gāo xīng。 zuì hǎo nín zài bèi qiān yī xià。 wǒ de dài lǐ yínháng shì ' chéng xiāng yínháng niú jīn jiē zhī xíng '。”
　　 gōng jué yán jùn 'ér yòu jiāng zhí dì zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， lěng dàn dì kàn zhe wǒ de péng yǒu。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ shì shuō xiào huà má？ zhè kě bù shì dòu xiào de shì。”
　　“ gōng jué， yī diǎn yě méi yòu。 wǒ xiàn zài zuì rèn zhēn bù guò liǎo。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ de yì sī shì shénme ní？”
　　“ wǒ de yì sī shì wǒ yǐ jīng zhèng dé liǎo zhè bǐ bào chóu。 wǒ zhī dào nǐ de 'ér zǐ zài nǎ lǐ， bìng qiě wǒ zhì shǎo zhī dào jǐ gè kòu yā tā de rén。”
　　 gōng jué de hóng hú xū zài cāng bái dé kě pà de miàn kǒng shàng yù jiā hóng dé xià rén。
　　 tā qì chuǎn xū xū dì shuō：“ tā zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ tā zài， huò zhě shuō zuó tiān wǎn shàng zài ' dǒu jī ' lǚ diàn， lí nín de huā yuán dà mén liǎng yīng lǐ。”
　　 gōng jué kào zài liǎo yǐ zǐ shàng。
　　“ nǐ yào kòng gào shuí？”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī de huí dá shǐ rén dà chī yī jīng。 tā xùn sù zǒu xiàng qián qù 'àn zhe gōng jué de jiān bǎng。
　　 tā shuō：“ wǒ kòng gào de jiù shì nín。 gōng jué， xiàn zài má fán nǐ kāi zhī piào bā！”
　　 wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì wàng jì gōng jué dāng shí de biǎo xiàn， tā cóng yǐ zǐ shàng tiào qǐ lái， liǎng shǒu jǐn wò zhe quán， xiàng shì yī gè diào jìn shēn yuān lǐ de rén。 rán hòu tā yòu shī yòng guì zú de jí dà zì wǒ kòng zhì lì cái zuò liǎo xià lái， bǎ liǎn mái zài liǎng shǒu zhōng。 hǎo jǐ fēn zhōng tā méi jiǎng huà。
　　 tā zhōng yú kāi kǒu liǎo， dàn shì méi yòu tái tóu：“ nǐ dū zhī dào liǎo má？”
　　“ zuó tiān wǎn shàng wǒ kàn jiàn nín hé tā men zài yī qǐ。”
　　“ chú qù nǐ de péng yǒu， hái yòu bié rén zhī dào má？”
　　“ wǒ duì shuí yě méi yòu jiǎng guò。”
　　 gōng jué chàn dǒu dì ná qǐ gāng bǐ， bìng qiě dǎ kāi liǎo tā de zhī piào běn。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ shuō huà shì suàn shù de， suī rán nǐ dé dào de qíng kuàng duì wǒ bù lì， wǒ hái shì yào gěi nǐ kāi zhī piào。 zuì chū guī dìng bào chóu de shí hòu， wǒ méi yòu xiǎng dào shì qíng huì yòu biàn huà。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ hé nǐ de péng yǒu dōushì jǐn shèn de rén， shì má？”
　　“ wǒ hěn nán lǐ jiě gōng jué de yì sī。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ míng bái dì shuō bā。 yào shì zhǐ yòu nǐ men liǎng rén zhī dào zhè gè shì jiàn， nà me biàn méi yòu lǐ yóu ràng cǐ shì chuán chū qù。 wǒ xiǎng fù gěi nǐ men de zǒng shù yīnggāi shì yī wàn 'èr qiān bàng， duì má？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wēi xiào liǎo bìng qiě yáo yáo tóu。
　　“ gōng jué， wǒ pà shì qíng bìng bù nà yàng róng yì chǔlǐ。 xué xiào jiào shī de sǐ wáng yào kǎo lǜ zài nèi。”
　　“ kě shì zhān mǔ shì duì cǐ yī wú suǒ zhī。 nǐ bù néng ràng tā fù zhè gè zé rèn。 zhè shì nà gè xiōng cán de 'è gùn gān de， tā bù xìng gù yōng liǎo zhè gè rén。”
　　“ gōng jué， wǒ shì zhè yàng kàn de。 dāng yī gè rén fàn xià yī zhuāng zuì xíng de shí hòu， duì yú yóu cǐ 'ér yǐn qǐ lìng yī zuì xíng， tā yě yòu dào yì shàng de zé rèn。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， cóng dào yì shàng lái shuō， wú yí nǐ shì duì de， dàn shì jué duì bù shì cóng fǎ lǜ de jiǎo dù lái shuō。 zài yī jiàn móu shā 'àn zhōng， yī gè bù zài xiàn chǎng de rén bù yìng shòu dào xíng fá， hé kuàng tā fēi cháng tòng hèn hé zēng 'è shā hài rén。 wáng 'ěr dé yī tīng dào zhè jiàn shì， biàn xiàng wǒ wán quán tǎn bái liǎo， bìng qiě tā shì nà yàng dì huǐ hèn。 bù guò yī xiǎo shí， tā biàn hé shā rén fàn duàn jué liǎo wǎng lái。 wō， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ yī dìng jiù jiù tā， yī dìng jiù jiù tā！ wǒ gēn nǐ shuō， nǐ yī dìng jiù jiù tā！ " gōng jué zài yě kòng zhì bù zhù zì jǐ liǎo， tā miàn kǒng jìng luán qǐ lái， zài wū nèi duó lái duó qù， bìng qiě liǎng shǒu wò quán zài kōng zhōng huī dòng。 zuì hòu tā hǎo bù róng yì cái 'ān jìng xià lái， zài shū zhuō bàng zuò xià。 tā shuō：“ wǒ zàn shǎng nǐ de xíng dòng。 nǐ méi yòu hé rèn hé rén jiǎng cǐ shì， ér shì xiān lái zhè lǐ。 zhì shǎo wǒ men kě yǐ shāng liàng zěn yàng jìn liàng zhì zhǐ kě zēng de liú yán。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ shì de。 gōng jué， wǒ xiǎng zhǐ yòu nǐ wǒ zhī jiān de chè dǐ tǎn shuài cái néng cù chéng zhè yī diǎn。 wǒ xiǎng yào jìn wǒ de zuì dà nǔ lì lái bāng zhù nín， dàn shì wèicǐ， wǒ bì xū zǎi xì dì liǎo jiě shì qíng de qíng kuàng。 wǒ míng bái nín shuō de shì wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng， bìng qiě zhī dào tā bù shì shā rén fàn。”
　　“ shā rén fàn yǐ jīng táo páo liǎo。”
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī jū jǐn dì wēi xiào liǎo yī xià。
　　“ gōng jué， nín kě néng méi yòu tīng dào guò wǒ xiǎng yòu de míng shēng shì bù tài xiǎo de， fǒu zé nín bù huì xiǎng dào mán zhù wǒ shì bù yì de。 gēn jù wǒ de bào gào， yǐ jīng zài zuó tiān wǎn shàng shí yī diǎn zhōng dài bǔ liǎo lú bīn · hēi sī xiān shēng。 jīn tiān zǎo chén wǒ lí kāi xué xiào zhī qián， shōu dào liǎo dāng dì jǐng cháng de diàn bào。”
　　 gōng jué yǎng shēn kào zài yǐ bèi shàng， bìng qiě jīng yì dì kàn zhe wǒ de péng yǒu。
　　 tā shuō：“ nǐ hǎo xiàng yòu fēi fán de néng lì。 lú bīn · hēi sī yǐ jīng zhuā dào liǎo？ zhī dào zhè jiàn shì wǒ hěn gāo xīng， dàn yuàn bù huì yǐng xiǎng zhān mǔ shì de mìng yùn。”
　　“ nín de mì shū？”
　　“ bù， xiān shēng， wǒ de 'ér zǐ。”
　　 xiàn zài shì fú 'ěr mó sī lù chū chī jīng de yàng zǐ liǎo。
　　“ wǒ tǎn shuài dì shuō， zhè jiàn shì wǒ wán quán bù zhī dào， qǐng gōng jué shuō dé qīng chǔ yī xiē。”
　　“ wǒ duì nǐ yī diǎn yě bù yǐn mán。 wǒ tóng yì nǐ de yì jiàn， zài zhè yàng de jué jìng zhōng， bù guǎn duì wǒ shuō lái shì duō me tòng kǔ， zhǐ yòu chè dǐ tǎn shuài dì shuō míng yī qiē cái shì zuì hǎo de bàn fǎ。 shì zhān mǔ shì de yú chǔn hé dù jì， bǎ wǒ yǐn dào zhè yàng de jué jìng zhōng。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， dāng wǒ hái hěn nián qīng de shí hòu， wǒ shì yǐ yī shēng zhǐ yòu yī cì de rè liàn zhī qíng zài liàn 'ài zhe。 wǒ xiàng zhè wèi nǚ shì qiú hūn， tā jù jué liǎo， lǐ yóu shì zhè zhǒng hūn yīn huì fáng 'ài wǒ de qián tú。 jiǎ rú tā hái huó zhe de huà， wǒ kěn dìng bù huì hé rèn hé rén jié hūn de。 dàn shì， tā sǐ liǎo bìng qiě liú xià liǎo zhè gè hái zǐ， wèile tā， wǒ fǔ yù hé péi yǎng zhè gè hái zǐ。 wǒ bù néng xiàng rén men chéng rèn wǒ men de fù zǐ guān xì， dàn shì wǒ shǐ tā shòu dào zuì hǎo de jiào yù， bìng qiě zài tā chéng rén yǐ hòu， bǎ tā liú zài shēn biān。 wǒ méi yòu xiǎng dào， tā chèn wǒ bù liú xīn shí nòng qīng liǎo shí qíng， cóng cǐ yǐ hòu tā yī zhí làn yòng wǒ gěi tā de quán lì， bìng qiě zài tā lì suǒ néng jí de fàn wéi nèi zhì zào liú yán fěi yǔ， zhè shì wǒ fēi cháng zēng 'è de。 wǒ de hūn yīn de bù xìng hé tā liú zài fǔ lǐ yòu xiē guān xì。 yóu qí shì tā yī zhí zēng hèn wǒ de nián yòu de hé fǎ jì chéng rén。 nǐ yī dìng huì wèn wèishénme zài zhè yàng de qíng kuàng xià， wǒ réng rán liú zhān mǔ shì zài wǒ jiā zhōng。 nà zhǐ shì yīn wéi zài tā de miàn kǒng shàng wǒ kàn dào tā mǔ qīn de miàn kǒng， wèile tā mǔ qīn de yuán gù， wǒ shòu de tòng kǔ shì méi yòu zhōng jié de。 tā suǒ yòu de kě 'ài zhī chù héng héng méi yòu yī diǎn shì zhān mǔ shì bù néng shǐ wǒ lián xiǎng huò huí yì qǐ lái de。 wǒ jiǎn zhí bù néng ràng tā zǒu。 wǒ fēi cháng dān xīn tā huì shāng hài 'ā sè， jiù shì sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué， wèile 'ān quán， suǒ yǐ wǒ bǎ tā sòng dào hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì de xué xiào。
　　“ zhān mǔ shì hé hēi sī zhè jiā huǒ yòu lái wǎng， yīn wéi hēi sī shì wǒ de diàn hù， zhān mǔ shì shì shōu zū rén。 hēi sī shì gè chún cuì de 'è gùn， kě shì shuō lái yě guài， zhān mǔ shì hé tā chéng liǎo mì yǒu。 zhān mǔ shì zǒng shì xǐ huān jié jiāo xià liú péng yǒu。 zhān mǔ shì jué dìng jié chí sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué de shí hòu， tā lì yòng liǎo zhè gè rén de bāng zhù。 nǐ jì dé zài zhào shì de qián yī tiān wǒ gěi 'ā sè xiě guò xìn。 zhān mǔ shì dǎ kāi liǎo zhè fēng xìn， bìng qiě sài jìn yī zhāng biàn tiáo， yào 'ā sè zài xué xiào fù jìn de xiǎo lín zǐ ' xiāo gǎng ' jiàn tā。 tā yòng liǎo gōng jué fū rén de míng yì， zhè yàng hái zǐ biàn lái liǎo。 nà tiān bàng wǎn zhān mǔ shì qí zì xíng chē qù de， wǒ gào sù nǐ de zhè xiē qíng kuàng dōushì tā qīn zì xiàng wǒ gòngrèn de， zài xiǎo lín zǐ zhōng huì jiàn 'ā sè。 tā duì 'ā sè shuō， tā mǔ qīn hěn xiǎng jiàn tā， bìng qiě zhèng zài huāng yuán shàng děng hòu tā， zhǐ yào tā bàn yè zài dào xiǎo lín zǐ qù， biàn yòu yī gè rén qí zhe mǎ bǎ tā dài dào tā mǔ qīn nà 'ér。 kě lián de 'ā sè luò rù liǎo juàn tào。 ā sè 'àn shí fù yuē， kàn jiàn hēi sī zhè jiā huǒ， hái qiān zhe yī pǐ xiǎo mǎ。 ā sè shàng liǎo mǎ， tā men biàn yī tóng chū fā liǎo。 shí jì shàng yòu rén zhuī gǎn tā men， zhè xiē shì zhān mǔ shì zuó tiān cái tīng shuō de， hēi sī yòng tā de gùn zǐ dǎ liǎo zhuī gǎn de rén， zhè gè rén yīn shāng zhòng sǐ qù。 hēi sī bǎ 'ā sè dài dào tā de lǚ diàn， bǎ tā guān zài lóu shàng de yī jiān wū zhōng， yóu hēi sī tài tài zhào guǎn， tā shì yī gè shàn liáng de nǚ rén， dàn shì wán quán shòu tā xiōng cán de zhàng fū de kòng zhì。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhè jiù shì wǒ liǎng tiān yǐ qián dì yī cì jiàn dào nǐ shí de qíng kuàng。 wǒ dāng shí zhī dào dé bìng bù bǐ nǐ duō。 nǐ huì wèn zhān mǔ shì zhè yàng zuò de dòng jī shì shénme。 wǒ zhǐ néng shuō， zài zhān mǔ shì duì yú wǒ de jì chéng rén de zēng hèn zhōng， yòu xǔ duō shì wú fǎ jiě shì hé nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng de。 zài tā kàn lái， tā zì jǐ yīnggāi shì wǒ de quán bù cái chǎn de jì chéng rén， bìng qiě tā shēn wéi yuàn hèn shǐ tā dé bù dào jì chéng quán de fǎ lǜ。 tóng shí tā yě yòu yī gè míng què de dòng jī， tā jíqiè dì yào qiú wǒ bù zūn shǒu fǎ lǜ de guī dìng， bìng qiě tā rèn wéi wǒ yòu quán lì zhè yàng zuò。 tā yòng jìn gè zhǒng gè yàng de bàn fǎ， xiǎng shǐ wǒ bù ràng 'ā sè chéng wéi jì chéng rén， bìng qiě zài yí zhǔ shàng xiě míng chǎn yè gěi tā。 tā zhī dào dé hěn qīng chǔ， wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì qíng yuàn dì zhāo lái chǔzhì tā。 wǒ shì shuō tā zhǔn huì zhè yàng yào xié wǒ， dàn shì shí jì shàng tā méi yòu zhè yàng zuò， yīn wéi duì tā lái shuō shì qíng fā zhǎn hěn kuài， tā méi yòu shí jiān shí xiàn tā de jìhuà。
　　“ shǐ tā de jìhuà huǐ miè de shì nǐ fā xiàn liǎo hēi dǐ gé de shī tǐ。 zhān mǔ shì tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī， dà wéi jīng kǒng。 zuó tiān wǒ men 'èr rén zhèng zuò zài zhè jiànshū fáng lǐ， xiāo xī lái liǎo。 hè kè sī tǎ bù 'ěr bó shì dǎ lái yī fēng diàn bào。 zhān mǔ shì jí wéi yōu shāng hé jī dòng， yǐ zhì wǒ de huái yí lì jí biàn chéng liǎo kěn dìng， zhè zhǒng huái yí zài cǐ yǐ qián bù shì wán quán méi yòu de， yú shì wǒ zé bèi liǎo tā de suǒ wéi。 tā chè dǐ tǎn shuài dì chéng rèn liǎo yī qiē。 rán hòu tā 'āi qiú wǒ bǎ zhè gè mì mì zài bǎo chí sān tiān， yǐ biàn gěi tā zuì 'è de tóng móu bǎo zhù xìng mìng de jī huì。 wǒ duì tā de 'āi qiú ràng bù liǎo， wǒ duì tā zǒng shì ràng bù de， tā lì jí gǎn dào lǚ diàn jǐng gào hēi sī， bìng qiě zī zhù tā táo páo。 wǒ bái tiān qù nà 'ér shì bù huì bù yǐn qǐ yì lùn de， suǒ yǐ yè wǎn yī dào， wǒ jí cōng máng dì qù kàn wǒ qīn 'ài de 'ā sè。 wǒ jiàn tā 'ān rán wú yàng， zhǐ shì tā suǒ jīng lì de bào lì xíng wéi shǐ tā jí wéi jīng kǒng。 wèile zūn shǒu wǒ de nuò yán， dàn yě shì wéi bèi wǒ de yì yuàn， wǒ dāyìng bǎ hái zǐ zài liú zài nà lǐ sān tiān， yóu hēi sī tài tài zhào gù。 hěn míng xiǎn xiàng bào gào hái zǐ zài nà lǐ 'ér bù shuō shuí shì shā rén fàn shì bù kě néng de， ér qiě wǒ yě kàn dé hěn qīng chǔ， shā rén fàn shòu dào chéng fá bù huì bù qiān lián wǒ bù xìng de zhān mǔ shì。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ yào qiú tǎn shuài， wǒ xiāng xìn nǐ de huà， suǒ yǐ wǒ háo wú yǐn mán dì、 háo wú bǎo liú dì gào sù liǎo nǐ yī qiē。 nǐ shì bù shì yě huì xiàng wǒ yī yàng dì tǎn shuài ní？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ huì de。 gōng jué， wǒ shǒu xiān bì xū gào sù nín， zài fǎ lǜ miàn qián nín chù yú hěn bù lì de dì wèi。 nín kuān shù liǎo zhòng zuì fàn， bìng xié zhù shā rén fàn táo tuō， yīn wéi wǒ bù néng bù huái yí， wáng 'ěr dé zī zhù tā de tóng móu táo páo de qián shì cóng nín nà 'ér dé lái de。”
　　 gōng jué diǎn tóu biǎo shì chéng rèn。
　　“ zhè què shí shì yī jiàn yán zhòng de shì qíng。 zài wǒ kàn lái， gèng yìng shòu dào zhǐ zé de shì， nín duì yú nín xiǎo 'ér zǐ de tài dù。 nín bǎ tā jì xù liú zài hǔ xué lǐ sān tiān。”
　　“ tā men yán sù dì zuò liǎo bǎo zhèng……”
　　“ nuò yán、 bǎo zhèng duì yú zhè yàng de rén men suàn dé liǎo shénme！ nín wú fǎ bǎo zhèng tā bù huì zài bèi guǎi zǒu。 wèile qiān jiù nín fàn zuì de zhǎngzǐ， nín shǐ nín wú gū de yòu zǐ chǔyú bù yìng zāo shòu de wēi xiǎn zhī zhōng。 zhè shì hěn bù gōng píng de xíng wéi。”
　　 jiāo 'ào de huò 'ěr dé ruì sī gōng jué bù xí guàn yú zài zì jǐ de fǔ nèi shòu dào zhè yàng de píng lùn。 tā de liǎn cóng gāo gāo de qián 'é dào xià bā wán quán hóng liǎo， kě shì liáng xīn shǐ tā chén mò。
　　“ wǒ huì bāng zhù nín de， kě shì yào yòu yī gè tiáo jiàn。 zhè jiù shì nín bǎ nín de yōng rén jiào lái， wǒ yào 'àn zhào wǒ de yì yuàn fā chū mìng lìng。”
　　 gōng jué yī jù huà yě méi yòu shuō， àn liǎo yī xià diàn líng。 yī gè pú rén jìn lái liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ nǐ yī dìng hěn gāo xīng nǐ de xiǎo zhù rén zhǎo dào liǎo。 gōng jué xī wàng nǐ lì kè jià shǐ mǎ chē dào ' dǒu jī ' lǚ diàn qù bǎ sà 'ěr tè 'ěr xūn jué jiē huí jiā lái。”
　　 gāo xīng de pú rén zǒu chū qù hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ jì rán wǒ men yǐ jīng bǎ wò zhù liǎo wèi lái， duì yú guò qù de shì jiù kě yǐ kuān róng yī diǎn。 wǒ bù chǔyú guān fāng de dì wèi， zhǐ yào zhèng yì dé dào shēn zhāng， wǒ méi yòu lǐ yóu bǎ wǒ zhī dào de shì qíng shuō chū qù。 zhì yú hēi sī wǒ méi yòu shénme kě shuō de， jiǎo xíng jià zài děng dài zhe tā， wǒ bù xiǎng chū lì zhěng jiù tā。 wǒ bù zhī dào tā huì shuō chū shénme， dàn shì háo wú yí wèn， gōng jué nín kě yǐ shǐ tā míng bái， chén mò duì tā shì yòu hǎo chù de。 cóng de guān diǎn lái kàn， tā jié chí zhè gè hái zǐ shì wéi liǎo dé dào shú jīn。 rú guǒ tā men zì jǐ zhǎo bù dào gèng duō de wèn tí， wǒ méi yòu bì yào cù shǐ tā men bǎ wèn tí kàn dé gèng fù zá。 rán 'ér wǒ jǐng gào nín， gōng jué， zhān mǔ shì · wáng 'ěr dé xiān shēng jì xù liú zài nín de jiā zhōng zhǐ huì dài lái bù xìng。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ lǐ jiě zhè yī diǎn。 yǐ jīng shuō hǎo， tā jiāng yǒng yuǎn lí kāi wǒ， qù 'ào dà lì yà zì jǐ móu shēng。”
　　“ gōng jué， shì qíng yào shì zhè yàng de huà， wǒ jiàn yì nín hé gōng jué fū rén jìn lì hé hǎo， huī fù nǐ men zhōng duàn liǎo de guān xì， yīn wéi nín zì jǐ shuō guò， nín hūn hòu de bù xìng， shì yóu zhān mǔ shì zào chéng de。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhè jiàn shì wǒ yě 'ān pái liǎo， jīn tiān shàng wǔ wǒ gěi gōng jué fū rén xiě liǎo xìn。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng zhàn qǐ shēn lái shuō：“ zhè yàng de huà， wǒ xiǎng wǒ de péng yǒu hé wǒ kě yǐ qìng xìng， wǒ men zài zhè lǐ duǎn duǎn de tíng liú qǔ dé liǎo liáng hǎo de chéng jì。 hái yòu yī jiàn xiǎo shì， wǒ xī wàng nòng míng bái。 hēi sī zhè jiā huǒ gěi mǎ dīng shàng liǎo mào chōng niú de tí jì de tiě zhǎng， shì bù shì cóng wáng 'ěr dé nà lǐ xué lái de zhè yàng bù xún cháng de yī zhāo？”
　　 gōng jué zhàn zhe xiǎng liǎo yī huì 'ér， liǎn shàng xiǎn chū shí fēn jīng yà de yàng zǐ， rán hòu dǎ kāi yī gè wū mén， bǎ wǒ men yǐn jìn yī jiān zhuāng shì dé xiàng bó wù guǎn de dà wū zǐ lǐ。 tā dài wǒ men zǒu dào yī gè jiǎo luò lǐ， nà 'ér yòu gè bō lí guì， bìng qiě zhǐ gěi wǒ men kàn shàng miàn de míng wén。
　　“ cǐ tiě zhǎng cóng huò 'ěr dé ruì sī fǔ dǐ de hù chéng háo zhōng wā chū。 gōng mǎ shǐ yòng， dàn tiě zhǎng dǐ bù dǎ chéng lián zhǐ xíng zhuàng， yǐ shǐ zhuī gǎn zhě mí shī fāng xiàng。 dà gài shǔ yú zhōng shì jì huò 'ěr dé ruì sī de jīng cháng zhēng fá de nán jué suǒ yòu。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī dǎ kāi liǎo guì zǐ gài， fǔ mō liǎo yī xià tiě zhǎng， tā de shǒu zhǐ cháo shī liǎo， tā de pí fū shàng liú xià yī céng báobáo de xīn ní tǔ。
　　 tā guān hǎo bō lí guì shuō：“ xiè xiè nín， zhè shì wǒ zài yīng gé lán běi bù kàn dào de dì 'èr jiàn zuì yòu yì sī de dōng xī。”
　　“ nà me dì yī jiàn ní？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī zhé qí tā de zhī piào， xiǎo xīn dì fàng dào bǐ jì běn lǐ。 tā zhēn xī dì qīng pāi yī xià bǐ jì běn， bìng qiě shuō：“ wǒ shì yī gè qióng rén。 " rán hòu bǎ běn fàng jìn tā nèi yī kǒu dài de shēn chù。

　　WE have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage at Baker Street, but I cannot recollect anything more sudden and startling than the first appearance of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded him by a few seconds, and then he entered himself -- so large, so pompous, and so dignified that he was the very embodiment of self-possession and solidity. And yet his first action when the door had closed behind him was to stagger against the table, whence he slipped down upon the floor, and there was that majestic figure prostrate and insensible upon our bearskin hearthrug.
　　
　　We had sprung to our feet, and for a few moments we stared in silent amazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage, which told of some sudden and fatal storm far out on the ocean of life. Then Holmes hurried with a cushion for his head and I with brandy for his lips. The heavy white face was seamed with lines of trouble, the hanging pouches under the closed eyes were leaden in colour, the loose mouth drooped dolorously at the corners, the rolling chins were unshaven. Collar and shirt bore the grime of a long journey, and the hair bristled unkempt from the well-shaped head. It was a sorely-stricken man who lay before us.
　　
　　"What is it, Watson?" asked Holmes.
　　
　　"Absolute exhaustion -- possibly mere hunger and fatigue," said I, with my finger on the thready pulse, where the stream of life trickled thin and small.
　　
　　"Return ticket from Mackleton, in the North of England," said Holmes, drawing it from the watch-pocket. "It is not twelve o'clock yet. He has certainly been an early starter."
　　
　　The puckered eyelids had begun to quiver, and now a pair of vacant, grey eyes looked up at us. An instant later the man had scrambled on to his feet, his face crimson with shame.
　　
　　"Forgive this weakness, Mr. Holmes; I have been a little overwrought. Thank you, if I might have a glass of milk and a biscuit I have no doubt that I should be better. I came personally, Mr. Holmes, in order to ensure that you would return with me. I feared that no telegram would convince you of the absolute urgency of the case."
　　
　　"When you are quite restored ----"
　　
　　"I am quite well again. I cannot imagine how I came to be so weak. I wish you, Mr. Holmes, to come to Mackleton with me by the next train."
　　
　　My friend shook his head.
　　
　　"My colleague, Dr. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy at present. I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents, and the Abergavenny murder is coming up for trial. Only a very important issue could call me from London at present."
　　
　　"Important!" Our visitor threw up his hands. "Have you heard nothing of the abduction of the only son of the Duke of Holdernesse?"
　　
　　"What! the late Cabinet Minister?"
　　
　　"Exactly. We had tried to keep it out of the papers, but there was some rumour in the GLOBE last night. I thought it might have reached your ears."
　　
　　Holmes shot out his long, thin arm and picked out Volume "H" in his encyclopaedia of reference.
　　
　　"`Holdernesse, 6th Duke, K.G., P.C.' -- half the alphabet! `Baron Beverley, Earl of Carston' -- dear me, what a list! `Lord Lieutenant of Hallamshire since 1900. Married Edith, daughter of Sir Charles Appledore, 1888. Heir and only child, Lord Saltire. Owns about two hundred and fifty thousand acres. Minerals in Lancashire and Wales. Address: Carlton House Terrace; Holdernesse Hall, Hallamshire; Carston Castle, Bangor, Wales. Lord of the Admiralty, 1872; Chief Secretary of State for --' Well, well, this man is certainly one of the greatest subjects of the Crown!"
　　
　　"The greatest and perhaps the wealthiest. I am aware, Mr. Holmes, that you take a very high line in professional matters, and that you are prepared to work for the work's sake. I may tell you, however, that his Grace has already intimated that a cheque for five thousand pounds will be handed over to the person who can tell him where his son is, and another thousand to him who can name the man, or men, who have taken him."
　　
　　"It is a princely offer," said Holmes. "Watson, I think that we shall accompany Dr. Huxtable back to the North of England. And now, Dr. Huxtable, when you have consumed that milk you will kindly tell me what has happened, when it happened, how it happened, and, finally, what Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable, of the Priory School, near Mackleton, has to do with the matter, and why he comes three days after an event -- the state of your chin gives the date -- to ask for my humble services."
　　
　　Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits. The light had come back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks as he set himself with great vigour and lucidity to explain the situation.
　　
　　"I must inform you, gentlemen, that the Priory is a preparatory school, of which I am the founder and principal. `Huxtable's Sidelights on Horace' may possibly recall my name to your memories. The Priory is, without exception, the best and most select preparatory school in England. Lord Leverstoke, the Earl of Blackwater, Sir Cathcart Soames -- they all have entrusted their sons to me. But I felt that my school had reached its zenith when, three weeks ago, the Duke of Holdernesse sent Mr. James Wilder, his secretary, with the intimation that young Lord Saltire, ten years old, his only son and heir, was about to be committed to my charge. Little did I think that this would be the prelude to the most crushing misfortune of my life.
　　
　　"On May 1st the boy arrived, that being the beginning of the summer term. He was a charming youth, and he soon fell into our ways. I may tell you -- I trust that I am not indiscreet, but half-confidences are absurd in such a case -- that he was not entirely happy at home. It is an open secret that the Duke's married life had not been a peaceful one, and the matter had ended in a separation by mutual consent, the Duchess taking up her residence in the South of France. This had occurred very shortly before, and the boy's sympathies are known to have been strongly with his mother. He moped after her departure from Holdernesse Hall, and it was for this reason that the Duke desired to send him to my establishment. In a fortnight the boy was quite at home with us, and was apparently absolutely happy.
　　
　　"He was last seen on the night of May 13th -- that is, the night of last Monday. His room was on the second floor, and was approached through another larger room in which two boys were sleeping. These boys saw and heard nothing, so that it is certain that young Saltire did not pass out that way. His window was open, and there is a stout ivy plant leading to the ground. We could trace no footmarks below, but it is sure that this is the only possible exit.
　　
　　"His absence was discovered at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. His bed had been slept in. He had dressed himself fully before going off in his usual school suit of black Eton jacket and dark grey trousers. There were no signs that anyone had entered the room, and it is quite certain that anything in the nature of cries, or a struggle, would have been heard, since Caunter, the elder boy in the inner room, is a very light sleeper.
　　
　　"When Lord Saltire's disappearance was discovered I at once called a roll of the whole establishment, boys, masters, and servants. It was then that we ascertained that Lord Saltire had not been alone in his flight. Heidegger, the German master, was missing. His room was on the second floor, at the farther end of the building, facing the same way as Lord Saltire's. His bed had also been slept in; but he had apparently gone away partly dressed, since his shirt and socks were lying on the floor. He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy, for we could see the marks of his feet where he had landed on the lawn. His bicycle was kept in a small shed beside this lawn, and it also was gone.
　　
　　"He had been with me for two years, and came with the best references; but he was a silent, morose man, not very popular either with masters or boys. No trace could be found of the fugitives, and now on Thursday morning we are as ignorant as we were on Tuesday. Inquiry was, of course, made at once at Holdernesse Hall. It is only a few miles away, and we imagined that in some sudden attack of home-sickness he had gone back to his father; but nothing had been heard of him. The Duke is greatly agitated -- and as to me, you have seen yourselves the state of nervous prostration to which the suspense and the responsibility have reduced me. Mr. Holmes, if ever you put forward your full powers, I implore you to do so now, for never in your life could you have a case which is more worthy of them."
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes had listened with the utmost intentness to the statement of the unhappy schoolmaster. His drawn brows and the deep furrow between them showed that he needed no exhortation to concentrate all his attention upon a problem which, apart from the tremendous interests involved, must appeal so directly to his love of the complex and the unusual. He now drew out his note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda.
　　
　　"You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner," said he, severely. "You start me on my investigation with a very serious handicap. It is inconceivable, for example, that this ivy and this lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer."
　　
　　"I am not to blame, Mr. Holmes. His Grace was extremely desirous to avoid all public scandal. He was afraid of his family unhappiness being dragged before the world. He has a deep horror of anything of the kind."
　　
　　"But there has been some official investigation?"
　　
　　"Yes, sir, and it has proved most disappointing. An apparent clue was at once obtained, since a boy and a young man were reported to have been seen leaving a neighbouring station by an early train. Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no connection whatever with the matter in hand. Then it was that in my despair and disappointment, after a sleepless night, I came straight to you by the early train."
　　
　　"I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue was being followed up?"
　　
　　"It was entirely dropped."
　　
　　"So that three days have been wasted. The affair has been most deplorably handled."
　　
　　"I feel it, and admit it."
　　
　　"And yet the problem should be capable of ultimate solution. I shall be very happy to look into it. Have you been able to trace any connection between the missing boy and this German master?"
　　
　　"None at all."
　　
　　"Was he in the master's class?"
　　
　　"No; he never exchanged a word with him so far as I know."
　　
　　"That is certainly very singular. Had the boy a bicycle?"
　　
　　"No."
　　
　　"Was any other bicycle missing?"
　　
　　"No."
　　
　　"Is that certain?"
　　
　　"Quite."
　　
　　"Well, now, you do not mean to seriously suggest that this German rode off upon a bicycle in the dead of the night bearing the boy in his arms?"
　　
　　"Certainly not."
　　
　　"Then what is the theory in your mind?"
　　
　　"The bicycle may have been a blind. It may have been hidden somewhere and the pair gone off on foot."
　　
　　"Quite so; but it seems rather an absurd blind, does it not? Were there other bicycles in this shed?"
　　
　　"Several."
　　
　　"Would he not have hidden A COUPLE had he desired to give the idea that they had gone off upon them?"
　　
　　"I suppose he would."
　　
　　"Of course he would. The blind theory won't do. But the incident is an admirable starting-point for an investigation. After all, a bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to destroy. One other question. Did anyone call to see the boy on the day before he disappeared?"
　　
　　"No."
　　
　　"Did he get any letters?"
　　
　　"Yes; one letter."
　　
　　"From whom?"
　　
　　"From his father."
　　
　　"Do you open the boys' letters?"
　　
　　"No."
　　
　　"How do you know it was from the father?"
　　
　　"The coat of arms was on the envelope, and it was addressed in the Duke's peculiar stiff hand. Besides, the Duke remembers having written."
　　
　　"When had he a letter before that?"
　　
　　"Not for several days."
　　
　　"Had he ever one from France?"
　　
　　"No; never.
　　
　　"You see the point of my questions, of course. Either the boy was carried off by force or he went of his own free will. In the latter case you would expect that some prompting from outside would be needed to make so young a lad do such a thing. If he has had no visitors, that prompting must have come in letters. Hence I try to find out who were his correspondents."
　　
　　"I fear I cannot help you much. His only correspondent, so far as I know, was his own father."
　　
　　"Who wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance. Were the relations between father and son very friendly?"
　　
　　"His Grace is never very friendly with anyone. He is completely immersed in large public questions, and is rather inaccessible to all ordinary emotions. But he was always kind to the boy in his own way."
　　
　　"But the sympathies of the latter were with the mother?"
　　
　　"Yes."
　　
　　"Did he say so?"
　　
　　"No."
　　
　　"The Duke, then?"
　　
　　"Good heavens, no!"
　　
　　"Then how could you know?"
　　
　　"I have had some confidential talks with Mr. James Wilder, his Grace's secretary. It was he who gave me the information about Lord Saltire's feelings."
　　
　　"I see. By the way, that last letter of the Duke's -- was it found in the boy's room after he was gone?"
　　
　　"No; he had taken it with him. I think, Mr. Holmes, it is time that we were leaving for Euston."
　　
　　"I will order a four-wheeler. In a quarter of an hour we shall be at your service. If you are telegraphing home, Mr. Huxtable, it would be well to allow the people in your neighbourhood to imagine that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool, or wherever else that red herring led your pack. In the meantime I will do a little quiet work at your own doors, and perhaps the scent is not so cold but that two old hounds like Watson and myself may get a sniff of it."
　　
　　That evening found us in the cold, bracing atmosphere of the Peak country, in which Dr. Huxtable's famous school is situated. It was already dark when we reached it. A card was lying on the hall table, and the butler whispered something to his master, who turned to us with agitation in every heavy feature.
　　
　　"The Duke is here," said he. "The Duke and Mr. Wilder are in the study. Come, gentlemen, and I will introduce you."
　　
　　I was, of course, familiar with the pictures of the famous statesman, but the man himself was very different from his representation. He was a tall and stately person, scrupulously dressed, with a drawn, thin face, and a nose which was grotesquely curved and long. His complexion was of a dead pallor, which was more startling by contrast with a long, dwindling beard of vivid red, which flowed down over his white waistcoat, with his watch-chain gleaming through its fringe. Such was the stately presence who looked stonily at us from the centre of Dr. Huxtable's hearthrug. Beside him stood a very young man, whom I understood to be Wilder, the private secretary. He was small, nervous, alert, with intelligent, light-blue eyes and mobile features. It was he who at once, in an incisive and positive tone, opened the conversation.
　　
　　"I called this morning, Dr. Huxtable, too late to prevent you from starting for London. I learned that your object was to invite Mr. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this case. His Grace is surprised, Dr. Huxtable, that you should have taken such a step without consulting him."
　　
　　"When I learned that the police had failed ----"
　　
　　"His Grace is by no means convinced that the police have failed."
　　
　　"But surely, Mr. Wilder ----"
　　
　　"You are well aware, Dr. Huxtable, that his Grace is particularly anxious to avoid all public scandal. He prefers to take as few people as possible into his confidence."
　　
　　"The matter can be easily remedied," said the brow-beaten doctor; "Mr. Sherlock Holmes can return to London by the morning train."
　　
　　"Hardly that, Doctor, hardly that," said Holmes, in his blandest voice. "This northern air is invigorating and pleasant, so I propose to spend a few days upon your moors, and to occupy my mind as best I may. Whether I have the shelter of your roof or of the village inn is, of course, for you to decide."
　　
　　I could see that the unfortunate doctor was in the last stage of indecision, from which he was rescued by the deep, sonorous voice of the red-bearded Duke, which boomed out like a dinner-gong.
　　
　　"I agree with Mr. Wilder, Dr. Huxtable, that you would have done wisely to consult me. But since Mr. Holmes has already been taken into your confidence, it would indeed be absurd that we should not avail ourselves of his services. Far from going to the inn, Mr. Holmes, I should be pleased if you would come and stay with me at Holdernesse Hall."
　　
　　"I thank your Grace. For the purposes of my investigation I think that it would be wiser for me to remain at the scene of the mystery."
　　
　　"Just as you like, Mr. Holmes. Any information which Mr. Wilder or I can give you is, of course, at your disposal."
　　
　　"It will probably be necessary for me to see you at the Hall," said Holmes. "I would only ask you now, sir, whether you have formed any explanation in your own mind as to the mysterious disappearance of your son?"
　　
　　"No, sir, I have not."
　　
　　"Excuse me if I allude to that which is painful to you, but I have no alternative. Do you think that the Duchess had anything to do with the matter?"
　　
　　The great Minister showed perceptible hesitation.
　　
　　"I do not think so," he said, at last.
　　
　　"The other most obvious explanation is that the child has been kidnapped for the purpose of levying ransom. You have not had any demand of the sort?"
　　
　　"No, sir."
　　
　　"One more question, your Grace. I understand that you wrote to your son upon the day when this incident occurred."
　　
　　"No; I wrote upon the day before."
　　
　　"Exactly. But he received it on that day?"
　　
　　"Yes."
　　
　　"Was there anything in your letter which might have unbalanced him or induced him to take such a step?"
　　
　　"No, sir, certainly not."
　　
　　"Did you post that letter yourself?"
　　
　　The nobleman's reply was interrupted by his secretary, who broke in with some heat.
　　
　　"His Grace is not in the habit of posting letters himself," said he. "This letter was laid with others upon the study table, and I myself put them in the post-bag."
　　
　　"You are sure this one was among them?"
　　
　　"Yes; I observed it."
　　
　　"How many letters did your Grace write that day?"
　　
　　"Twenty or thirty. I have a large correspondence. But surely this is somewhat irrelevant?"
　　
　　"Not entirely," said Holmes.
　　
　　"For my own part," the Duke continued, "I have advised the police to turn their attention to the South of France. I have already said that I do not believe that the Duchess would encourage so monstrous an action, but the lad had the most wrong-headed opinions, and it is possible that he may have fled to her, aided and abetted by this German. I think, Dr. Huxtable, that we will now return to the Hall."
　　
　　I could see that there were other questions which Holmes would have wished to put; but the nobleman's abrupt manner showed that the interview was at an end. It was evident that to his intensely aristocratic nature this discussion of his intimate family affairs with a stranger was most abhorrent, and that he feared lest every fresh question would throw a fiercer light into the discreetly shadowed corners of his ducal history.
　　
　　When the nobleman and his secretary had left, my friend flung himself at once with characteristic eagerness into the investigation.
　　
　　The boy's chamber was carefully examined, and yielded nothing save the absolute conviction that it was only through the window that he could have escaped. The German master's room and effects gave no further clue. In his case a trailer of ivy had given way under his weight, and we saw by the light of a lantern the mark on the lawn where his heels had come down. That one dint in the short green grass was the only material witness left of this inexplicable nocturnal flight.
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes left the house alone, and only returned after eleven. He had obtained a large ordnance map of the neighbourhood, and this he brought into my room, where he laid it out on the bed, and, having balanced the lamp in the middle of it, he began to smoke over it, and occasionally to point out objects of interest with the reeking amber of his pipe.
　　
　　"This case grows upon me, Watson," said he. "There are decidedly some points of interest in connection with it. In this early stage I want you to realize those geographical features which may have a good deal to do with our investigation.
　　
　　GRAPHIC
　　
　　"Look at this map. This dark square is the Priory School. I'll put a pin in it. Now, this line is the main road. You see that it runs east and west past the school, and you see also that there is no side road for a mile either way. If these two folk passed away by road it was THIS road."
　　
　　"Exactly."
　　
　　"By a singular and happy chance we are able to some extent to check what passed along this road during the night in question. At this point, where my pipe is now resting, a country constable was on duty from twelve to six. It is, as you perceive, the first cross road on the east side. This man declares that he was not absent from his post for an instant, and he is positive that neither boy nor man could have gone that way unseen. I have spoken with this policeman to-night, and he appears to me to be a perfectly reliable person. That blocks this end. We have now to deal with the other. There is an inn here, the Red Bull, the landlady of which was ill. She had sent to Mackleton for a doctor, but he did not arrive until morning, being absent at another case. The people at the inn were alert all night, awaiting his coming, and one or other of them seems to have continually had an eye upon the road. They declare that no one passed. If their evidence is good, then we are fortunate enough to be able to block the west, and also to be able to say that the fugitives did NOT use the road at all."
　　
　　"But the bicycle?" I objected.
　　
　　"Quite so. We will come to the bicycle presently. To continue our reasoning: if these people did not go by the road, they must have traversed the country to the north of the house or to the south of the house. That is certain. Let us weigh the one against the other. On the south of the house is, as you perceive, a large district of arable land, cut up into small fields, with stone walls between them. There, I admit that a bicycle is impossible. We can dismiss the idea. We turn to the country on the north. Here there lies a grove of trees, marked as the `Ragged Shaw,' and on the farther side stretches a great rolling moor, Lower Gill Moor, extending for ten miles and sloping gradually upwards. Here, at one side of this wilderness, is Holdernesse Hall, ten miles by road, but only six across the moor. It is a peculiarly desolate plain. A few moor farmers have small holdings, where they rear sheep and cattle. Except these, the plover and the curlew are the only inhabitants until you come to the Chesterfield high road. There is a church there, you see, a few cottages, and an inn. Beyond that the hills become precipitous. Surely it is here to the north that our quest must lie."
　　
　　"But the bicycle?" I persisted.
　　
　　"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon was at the full. Halloa! what is this?"
　　
　　There was an agitated knock at the door, and an instant afterwards Dr. Huxtable was in the room. In his hand he held a blue cricket-cap, with a white chevron on the peak.
　　
　　"At last we have a clue!" he cried. "Thank Heaven! at last we are on the dear boy's track! It is his cap."
　　
　　"Where was it found?"
　　
　　"In the van of the gipsies who camped on the moor. They left on Tuesday. To-day the police traced them down and examined their caravan. This was found."
　　
　　"How do they account for it?"
　　
　　"They shuffled and lied -- said that they found it on the moor on Tuesday morning. They know where he is, the rascals! Thank goodness, they are all safe under lock and key. Either the fear of the law or the Duke's purse will certainly get out of them all that they know."
　　
　　"So far, so good," said Holmes, when the doctor had at last left the room. "It at least bears out the theory that it is on the side of the Lower Gill Moor that we must hope for results. The police have really done nothing locally, save the arrest of these gipsies. Look here, Watson! There is a watercourse across the moor. You see it marked here in the map. In some parts it widens into a morass. This is particularly so in the region between Holdernesse Hall and the school. It is vain to look elsewhere for tracks in this dry weather; but at THAT point there is certainly a chance of some record being left. I will call you early to-morrow morning, and you and I will try if we can throw some little light upon the mystery."
　　
　　The day was just breaking when I woke to find the long, thin form of Holmes by my bedside. He was fully dressed, and had apparently already been out.
　　
　　"I have done the lawn and the bicycle shed," said he. "I have also had a ramble through the Ragged Shaw. Now, Watson, there is cocoa ready in the next room. I must beg you to hurry, for we have a great day before us."
　　
　　His eyes shone, and his cheek was flushed with the exhilaration of the master workman who sees his work lie ready before him. A very different Holmes, this active, alert man, from the introspective and pallid dreamer of Baker Street. I felt, as I looked upon that supple figure, alive with nervous energy, that it was indeed a strenuous day that awaited us.
　　
　　And yet it opened in the blackest disappointment. With high hopes we struck across the peaty, russet moor, intersected with a thousand sheep paths, until we came to the broad, light-green belt which marked the morass between us and Holdernesse. Certainly, if the lad had gone homewards, he must have passed this, and he could not pass it without leaving his traces. But no sign of him or the German could be seen. With a darkening face my friend strode along the margin, eagerly observant of every muddy stain upon the mossy surface. Sheep-marks there were in profusion, and at one place, some miles down, cows had left their tracks. Nothing more.
　　
　　"Check number one," said Holmes, looking gloomily over the rolling expanse of the moor. "There is another morass down yonder and a narrow neck between. Halloa! halloa! halloa! what have we here?"
　　
　　We had come on a small black ribbon of pathway. In the middle of it, clearly marked on the sodden soil, was the track of a bicycle.
　　
　　"Hurrah!" I cried. "We have it."
　　
　　But Holmes was shaking his head, and his face was puzzled and expectant rather than joyous.
　　
　　"A bicycle, certainly, but not THE bicycle," said he. "I am familiar with forty-two different impressions left by tyres. This, as you perceive, is a Dunlop, with a patch upon the outer cover. Heidegger's tyres were Palmer's, leaving longitudinal stripes. Aveling, the mathematical master, was sure upon the point. Therefore, it is not Heidegger's track."
　　
　　"The boy's, then?"
　　
　　"Possibly, if we could prove a bicycle to have been in his possession. But this we have utterly failed to do. This track, as you perceive, was made by a rider who was going from the direction of the school."
　　
　　"Or towards it?"
　　
　　"No, no, my dear Watson. The more deeply sunk impression is, of course, the hind wheel, upon which the weight rests. You perceive several places where it has passed across and obliterated the more shallow mark of the front one. It was undoubtedly heading away from the school. It may or may not be connected with our inquiry, but we will follow it backwards before we go any farther."
　　
　　We did so, and at the end of a few hundred yards lost the tracks as we emerged from the boggy portion of the moor. Following the path backwards, we picked out another spot, where a spring trickled across it. Here, once again, was the mark of the bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows. After that there was no sign, but the path ran right on into Ragged Shaw, the wood which backed on to the school. From this wood the cycle must have emerged. Holmes sat down on a boulder and rested his chin in his hands. I had smoked two cigarettes before he moved.
　　
　　"Well, well," said he, at last. "It is, of course, possible that a cunning man might change the tyre of his bicycle in order to leave unfamiliar tracks. A criminal who was capable of such a thought is a man whom I should be proud to do business with. We will leave this question undecided and hark back to our morass again, for we have left a good deal unexplored."
　　
　　We continued our systematic survey of the edge of the sodden portion of the moor, and soon our perseverance was gloriously rewarded. Right across the lower part of the bog lay a miry path. Holmes gave a cry of delight as he approached it. An impression like a fine bundle of telegraph wires ran down the centre of it. It was the Palmer tyre.
　　
　　"Here is Herr Heidegger, sure enough!" cried Holmes, exultantly. "My reasoning seems to have been pretty sound, Watson."
　　
　　"I congratulate you."
　　
　　"But we have a long way still to go. Kindly walk clear of the path. Now let us follow the trail. I fear that it will not lead very far."
　　
　　We found, however, as we advanced that this portion of the moor is intersected with soft patches, and, though we frequently lost sight of the track, we always succeeded in picking it up once more.
　　
　　"Do you observe," said Holmes, "that the rider is now undoubtedly forcing the pace? There can be no doubt of it. Look at this impression, where you get both tyres clear. The one is as deep as the other. That can only mean that the rider is throwing his weight on to the handle-bar, as a man does when he is sprinting. By Jove! he has had a fall."
　　
　　There was a broad, irregular smudge covering some yards of the track. Then there were a few footmarks, and the tyre reappeared once more.
　　
　　"A side-slip," I suggested.
　　
　　Holmes held up a crumpled branch of flowering gorse. To my horror I perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson. On the path, too, and among the heather were dark stains of clotted blood.
　　
　　"Bad!" said Holmes. "Bad! Stand clear, Watson! Not an unnecessary footstep! What do I read here? He fell wounded, he stood up, he remounted, he proceeded. But there is no other track. Cattle on this side path. He was surely not gored by a bull? Impossible! But I see no traces of anyone else. We must push on, Watson. Surely with stains as well as the track to guide us he cannot escape us now."
　　
　　Our search was not a very long one. The tracks of the tyre began to curve fantastically upon the wet and shining path. Suddenly, as I looked ahead, the gleam of metal caught my eye from amid the thick gorse bushes. Out of them we dragged a bicycle, Palmer-tyred, one pedal bent, and the whole front of it horribly smeared and slobbered with blood. On the other side of the bushes a shoe was projecting. We ran round, and there lay the unfortunate rider. He was a tall man, full bearded, with spectacles, one glass of which had been knocked out. The cause of his death was a frightful blow upon the head, which had crushed in part of his skull. That he could have gone on after receiving such an injury said much for the vitality and courage of the man. He wore shoes, but no socks, and his open coat disclosed a night-shirt beneath it. It was undoubtedly the German master.
　　
　　Holmes turned the body over reverently, and examined it with great attention. He then sat in deep thought for a time, and I could see by his ruffled brow that this grim discovery had not, in his opinion, advanced us much in our inquiry.
　　
　　"It is a little difficult to know what to do, Watson," said he, at last. "My own inclinations are to push this inquiry on, for we have already lost so much time that we cannot afford to waste another hour. On the other hand, we are bound to inform the police of the discovery, and to see that this poor fellow's body is looked after."
　　
　　"I could take a note back."
　　
　　"But I need your company and assistance. Wait a bit! There is a fellow cutting peat up yonder. Bring him over here, and he will guide the police."
　　
　　I brought the peasant across, and Holmes dispatched the frightened man with a note to Dr. Huxtable.
　　
　　"Now, Watson," said he, "we have picked up two clues this morning. One is the bicycle with the Palmer tyre, and we see what that has led to. The other is the bicycle with the patched Dunlop. Before we start to investigate that, let us try to realize what we DO know so as to make the most of it, and to separate the essential from the accidental."
　　
　　"First of all I wish to impress upon you that the boy certainly left of his own free will. He got down from his window and he went off, either alone or with someone. That is sure."
　　
　　I assented.
　　
　　"Well, now, let us turn to this unfortunate German master. The boy was fully dressed when he fled. Therefore, he foresaw what he would do. But the German went without his socks. He certainly acted on very short notice."
　　
　　"Undoubtedly."
　　
　　"Why did he go? Because, from his bedroom window, he saw the flight of the boy. Because he wished to overtake him and bring him back. He seized his bicycle, pursued the lad, and in pursuing him met his death."
　　
　　"So it would seem."
　　
　　"Now I come to the critical part of my argument. The natural action of a man in pursuing a little boy would be to run after him. He would know that he could overtake him. But the German does not do so. He turns to his bicycle. I am told that he was an excellent cyclist. He would not do this if he did not see that the boy had some swift means of escape."
　　
　　"The other bicycle."
　　
　　"Let us continue our reconstruction. He meets his death five miles from the school -- not by a bullet, mark you, which even a lad might conceivably discharge, but by a savage blow dealt by a vigorous arm. The lad, then, HAD a companion in his flight. And the flight was a swift one, since it took five miles before an expert cyclist could overtake them. Yet we survey the ground round the scene of the tragedy. What do we find? A few cattle tracks, nothing more. I took a wide sweep round, and there is no path within fifty yards. Another cyclist could have had nothing to do with the actual murder. Nor were there any human footmarks."
　　
　　"Holmes," I cried, "this is impossible."
　　
　　"Admirable!" he said. "A most illuminating remark. It IS impossible as I state it, and therefore I must in some respect have stated it wrong. Yet you saw for yourself. Can you suggest any fallacy?"
　　
　　"He could not have fractured his skull in a fall?"
　　
　　"In a morass, Watson?"
　　
　　"I am at my wit's end."
　　
　　"Tut, tut; we have solved some worse problems. At least we have plenty of material, if we can only use it. Come, then, and, having exhausted the Palmer, let us see what the Dunlop with the patched cover has to offer us."
　　
　　We picked up the track and followed it onwards for some distance; but soon the moor rose into a long, heather-tufted curve, and we left the watercourse behind us. No further help from tracks could be hoped for. At the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop tyre it might equally have led to Holdernesse Hall, the stately towers of which rose some miles to our left, or to a low, grey village which lay in front of us, and marked the position of the Chesterfield high road.
　　
　　As we approached the forbidding and squalid inn, with the sign of a game-cock above the door, Holmes gave a sudden groan and clutched me by the shoulder to save himself from falling. He had had one of those violent strains of the ankle which leave a man helpless. With difficulty he limped up to the door, where a squat, dark, elderly man was smoking a black clay pipe.
　　
　　"How are you, Mr. Reuben Hayes?" said Holmes.
　　
　　"Who are you, and how do you get my name so pat?" the countryman answered, with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes.
　　
　　"Well, it's printed on the board above your head. It's easy to see a man who is master of his own house. I suppose you haven't such a thing as a carriage in your stables?"
　　
　　"No; I have not."
　　
　　"I can hardly put my foot to the ground."
　　
　　"Don't put it to the ground."
　　
　　"But I can't walk."
　　
　　"Well, then, hop."
　　
　　Mr. Reuben Hayes's manner was far from gracious, but Holmes took it with admirable good-humour.
　　
　　"Look here, my man," said he. "This is really rather an awkward fix for me. I don't mind how I get on."
　　
　　"Neither do I," said the morose landlord.
　　
　　"The matter is very important. I would offer you a sovereign for the use of a bicycle."
　　
　　The landlord pricked up his ears.
　　
　　"Where do you want to go?"
　　
　　"To Holdernesse Hall."
　　
　　"Pals of the Dook, I suppose?" said the landlord, surveying our mud-stained garments with ironical eyes.
　　
　　Holmes laughed good-naturedly.
　　
　　"He'll be glad to see us, anyhow."
　　
　　"Why?"
　　
　　"Because we bring him news of his lost son."
　　
　　The landlord gave a very visible start.
　　
　　"What, you're on his track?"
　　
　　"He has been heard of in Liverpool. They expect to get him every hour."
　　
　　Again a swift change passed over the heavy, unshaven face. His manner was suddenly genial.
　　
　　"I've less reason to wish the Dook well than most men," said he, "for I was his head coachman once, and cruel bad he treated me. It was him that sacked me without a character on the word of a lying corn-chandler. But I'm glad to hear that the young lord was heard of in Liverpool, and I'll help you to take the news to the Hall."
　　
　　"Thank you," said Holmes. "We'll have some food first. Then you can bring round the bicycle."
　　
　　"I haven't got a bicycle."
　　
　　Holmes held up a sovereign.
　　
　　"I tell you, man, that I haven't got one. I'll let you have two horses as far as the Hall."
　　
　　"Well, well," said Holmes, "we'll talk about it when we've had something to eat."
　　
　　When we were left alone in the stone-flagged kitchen it was astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered. It was nearly nightfall, and we had eaten nothing since early morning, so that we spent some time over our meal. Holmes was lost in thought, and once or twice he walked over to the window and stared earnestly out. It opened on to a squalid courtyard. In the far corner was a smithy, where a grimy lad was at work. On the other side were the stables. Holmes had sat down again after one of these excursions, when he suddenly sprang out of his chair with a loud exclamation.
　　
　　"By Heaven, Watson, I believe that I've got it!" he cried. "Yes, yes, it must be so. Watson, do you remember seeing any cow-tracks to-day?"
　　
　　"Yes, several."
　　
　　"Where?"
　　
　　"Well, everywhere. They were at the morass, and again on the path, and again near where poor Heidegger met his death."
　　
　　"Exactly. Well, now, Watson, how many cows did you see on the moor?"
　　
　　"I don't remember seeing any."
　　
　　"Strange, Watson, that we should see tracks all along our line, but never a cow on the whole moor; very strange, Watson, eh?"
　　
　　"Yes, it is strange."
　　
　　"Now, Watson, make an effort; throw your mind back! Can you see those tracks upon the path?"
　　
　　"Yes, I can."
　　
　　"Can you recall that the tracks were sometimes like that, Watson" -- he arranged a number of bread-crumbs in this fashion -- : : : : : -- "and sometimes like this" -- : . : . : . : . -- "and occasionally like this" -- . ` . ` . ` . "Can you remember that?"
　　
　　"No, I cannot."
　　
　　"But I can. I could swear to it. However, we will go back at our leisure and verify it. What a blind beetle I have been not to draw my conclusion!"
　　
　　"And what is your conclusion?"
　　
　　"Only that it is a remarkable cow which walks, canters, and gallops. By George, Watson, it was no brain of a country publican that thought out such a blind as that! The coast seems to be clear, save for that lad in the smithy. Let us slip out and see what we can see."
　　
　　There were two rough-haired, unkempt horses in the tumble-down stable. Holmes raised the hind leg of one of them and laughed aloud.
　　
　　"Old shoes, but newly shod -- old shoes, but new nails. This case deserves to be a classic. Let us go across to the smithy."
　　
　　The lad continued his work without regarding us. I saw Holmes's eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood which was scattered about the floor. Suddenly, however, we heard a step behind us, and there was the landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn over his savage eyes, his swarthy features convulsed with passion. He held a short, metal-headed stick in his hand, and he advanced in so menacing a fashion that I was right glad to feel the revolver in my pocket.
　　
　　"You infernal spies!" the man cried. "What are you doing there?"
　　
　　"Why, Mr. Reuben Hayes," said Holmes, coolly, "one might think that you were afraid of our finding something out."
　　
　　The man mastered himself with a violent effort, and his grim mouth loosened into a false laugh, which was more menacing than his frown.
　　
　　"You're welcome to all you can find out in my smithy," said he. "But look here, mister, I don't care for folk poking about my place without my leave, so the sooner you pay your score and get out of this the better I shall be pleased."
　　
　　"All right, Mr. Hayes -- no harm meant," said Holmes. "We have been having a look at your horses, but I think I'll walk after all. It's not far, I believe."
　　
　　"Not more than two miles to the Hall gates. That's the road to the left." He watched us with sullen eyes until we had left his premises.
　　
　　We did not go very far along the road, for Holmes stopped the instant that the curve hid us from the landlord's view.
　　
　　"We were warm, as the children say, at that inn," said he. "I seem to grow colder every step that I take away from it. No, no; I can't possibly leave it."
　　
　　"I am convinced," said I, "that this Reuben Hayes knows all about it. A more self-evident villain I never saw."
　　
　　"Oh! he impressed you in that way, did he? There are the horses, there is the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting place, this Fighting Cock. I think we shall have another look at it in an unobtrusive way."
　　
　　A long, sloping hillside, dotted with grey limestone boulders, stretched behind us. We had turned off the road, and were making our way up the hill, when, looking in the direction of Holdernesse Hall, I saw a cyclist coming swiftly along.
　　
　　"Get down, Watson!" cried Holmes, with a heavy hand upon my shoulder. We had hardly sunk from view when the man flew past us on the road. Amid a rolling cloud of dust I caught a glimpse of a pale, agitated face -- a face with horror in every lineament, the mouth open, the eyes staring wildly in front. It was like some strange caricature of the dapper James Wilder whom we had seen the night before.
　　
　　"The Duke's secretary!" cried Holmes. "Come, Watson, let us see what he does."
　　
　　We scrambled from rock to rock until in a few moments we had made our way to a point from which we could see the front door of the inn. Wilder's bicycle was leaning against the wall beside it. No one was moving about the house, nor could we catch a glimpse of any faces at the windows. Slowly the twilight crept down as the sun sank behind the high towers of Holdernesse Hall. Then in the gloom we saw the two side-lamps of a trap light up in the stable yard of the inn, and shortly afterwards heard the rattle of hoofs, as it wheeled out into the road and tore off at a furious pace in the direction of Chesterfield.
　　
　　"What do you make of that, Watson?" Holmes whispered.
　　
　　"It looks like a flight."
　　
　　"A single man in a dog-cart, so far as I could see. Well, it certainly was not Mr. James Wilder, for there he is at the door."
　　
　　A red square of light had sprung out of the darkness. In the middle of it was the black figure of the secretary, his head advanced, peering out into the night. It was evident that he was expecting someone. Then at last there were steps in the road, a second figure was visible for an instant against the light, the door shut, and all was black once more. Five minutes later a lamp was lit in a room upon the first floor.
　　
　　"It seems to be a curious class of custom that is done by the Fighting Cock," said Holmes.
　　
　　"The bar is on the other side."
　　
　　"Quite so. These are what one may call the private guests. Now, what in the world is Mr. James Wilder doing in that den at this hour of night, and who is the companion who comes to meet him there? Come, Watson, we must really take a risk and try to investigate this a little more closely."
　　
　　Together we stole down to the road and crept across to the door of the inn. The bicycle still leaned against the wall. Holmes struck a match and held it to the back wheel, and I heard him chuckle as the light fell upon a patched Dunlop tyre. Up above us was the lighted window.
　　
　　"I must have a peep through that, Watson. If you bend your back and support yourself upon the wall, I think that I can manage."
　　
　　An instant later his feet were on my shoulders. But he was hardly up before he was down again.
　　
　　"Come, my friend," said he, "our day's work has been quite long enough. I think that we have gathered all that we can. It's a long walk to the school, and the sooner we get started the better."
　　
　　He hardly opened his lips during that weary trudge across the moor, nor would he enter the school when he reached it, but went on to Mackleton Station, whence he could send some telegrams. Late at night I heard him consoling Dr. Huxtable, prostrated by the tragedy of his master's death, and later still he entered my room as alert and vigorous as he had been when he started in the morning. "All goes well, my friend," said he. "I promise that before to-morrow evening we shall have reached the solution of the mystery."
　　
　　At eleven o'clock next morning my friend and I were walking up the famous yew avenue of Holdernesse Hall. We were ushered through the magnificent Elizabethan doorway and into his Grace's study. There we found Mr. James Wilder, demure and courtly, but with some trace of that wild terror of the night before still lurking in his furtive eyes and in his twitching features.
　　
　　"You have come to see his Grace? I am sorry; but the fact is that the Duke is far from well. He has been very much upset by the tragic news. We received a telegram from Dr. Huxtable yesterday afternoon, which told us of your discovery."
　　
　　"I must see the Duke, Mr. Wilder."
　　
　　"But he is in his room."
　　
　　"Then I must go to his room."
　　
　　"I believe he is in his bed."
　　
　　"I will see him there."
　　
　　Holmes's cold and inexorable manner showed the secretary that it was useless to argue with him.
　　
　　"Very good, Mr. Holmes; I will tell him that you are here."
　　
　　After half an hour's delay the great nobleman appeared. His face was more cadaverous than ever, his shoulders had rounded, and he seemed to me to be an altogether older man than he had been the morning before. He greeted us with a stately courtesy and seated himself at his desk, his red beard streaming down on to the table.
　　
　　"Well, Mr. Holmes?" said he.
　　
　　But my friend's eyes were fixed upon the secretary, who stood by his master's chair.
　　
　　"I think, your Grace, that I could speak more freely in Mr. Wilder's absence."
　　
　　The man turned a shade paler and cast a malignant glance at Holmes.
　　
　　"If your Grace wishes ----"
　　
　　"Yes, yes; you had better go. Now, Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?"
　　
　　My friend waited until the door had closed behind the retreating secretary.
　　
　　"The fact is, your Grace," said he, "that my colleague, Dr. Watson, and myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable that a reward had been offered in this case. I should like to have this confirmed from your own lips."
　　
　　"Certainly, Mr. Holmes."
　　
　　"It amounted, if I am correctly informed, to five thousand pounds to anyone who will tell you where your son is?"
　　
　　"Exactly."
　　
　　"And another thousand to the man who will name the person or persons who keep him in custody?"
　　
　　"Exactly."
　　
　　"Under the latter heading is included, no doubt, not only those who may have taken him away, but also those who conspire to keep him in his present position?"
　　
　　"Yes, yes," cried the Duke, impatiently. "If you do your work well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you will have no reason to complain of niggardly treatment."
　　
　　My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an appearance of avidity which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes.
　　
　　"I fancy that I see your Grace's cheque-book upon the table," said he. "I should be glad if you would make me out a cheque for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps, for you to cross it. The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, are my agents."
　　
　　His Grace sat very stern and upright in his chair, and looked stonily at my friend.
　　
　　"Is this a joke, Mr. Holmes? It is hardly a subject for pleasantry."
　　
　　"Not at all, your Grace. I was never more earnest in my life."
　　
　　"What do you mean, then?"
　　
　　"I mean that I have earned the reward. I know where your son is, and I know some, at least, of those who are holding him."
　　
　　The Duke's beard had turned more aggressively red than ever against his ghastly white face.
　　
　　"Where is he?" he gasped.
　　
　　"He is, or was last night, at the Fighting Cock Inn, about two miles from your park gate."
　　
　　The Duke fell back in his chair.
　　
　　"And whom do you accuse?"
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes's answer was an astounding one. He stepped swiftly forward and touched the Duke upon the shoulder.
　　
　　"I accuse YOU," said he. "And now, your Grace, I'll trouble you for that cheque."
　　
　　Never shall I forget the Duke's appearance as he sprang up and clawed with his hands like one who is sinking into an abyss. Then, with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic self-command, he sat down and sank his face in his hands. It was some minutes before he spoke.
　　
　　"How much do you know?" he asked at last, without raising his head.
　　
　　"I saw you together last night."
　　
　　"Does anyone else besides your friend know?"
　　
　　"I have spoken to no one."
　　
　　The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened his cheque-book.
　　
　　"I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write your cheque, however unwelcome the information which you have gained may be to me. When the offer was first made I little thought the turn which events might take. But you and your friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes?"
　　
　　"I hardly understand your Grace."
　　
　　"I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of this incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. I think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not?"
　　
　　But Holmes smiled and shook his head.
　　
　　"I fear, your Grace, that matters can hardly be arranged so easily. There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for."
　　
　　"But James knew nothing of that. You cannot hold him responsible for that. It was the work of this brutal ruffian whom he had the misfortune to employ."
　　
　　"I must take the view, your Grace, that when a man embarks upon a crime he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it."
　　
　　"Morally, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right. But surely not in the eyes of the law. A man cannot be condemned for a murder at which he was not present, and which he loathes and abhors as much as you do. The instant that he heard of it he made a complete confession to me, so filled was he with horror and remorse. He lost not an hour in breaking entirely with the murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must save him -- you must save him! I tell you that you must save him!" The Duke had dropped the last attempt at self-command, and was pacing the room with a convulsed face and with his clenched hands raving in the air. At last he mastered himself and sat down once more at his desk. "I appreciate your conduct in coming here before you spoke to anyone else," said he. "At least, we may take counsel how far we can minimize this hideous scandal."
　　
　　"Exactly," said Holmes. "I think, your Grace, that this can only be done by absolute and complete frankness between us. I am disposed to help your Grace to the best of my ability; but in order to do so I must understand to the last detail how the matter stands. I realize that your words applied to Mr. James Wilder, and that he is not the murderer."
　　
　　"No; the murderer has escaped."
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes smiled demurely.
　　
　　"Your Grace can hardly have heard of any small reputation which I possess, or you would not imagine that it is so easy to escape me. Mr. Reuben Hayes was arrested at Chesterfield on my information at eleven o'clock last night. I had a telegram from the head of the local police before I left the school this morning."
　　
　　The Duke leaned back in his chair and stared with amazement at my friend.
　　
　　"You seem to have powers that are hardly human," said he. "So Reuben Hayes is taken? I am right glad to hear it, if it will not react upon the fate of James."
　　
　　"Your secretary?"
　　
　　"No, sir; my son."
　　
　　It was Holmes's turn to look astonished.
　　
　　"I confess that this is entirely new to me, your Grace. I must beg you to be more explicit."
　　
　　"I will conceal nothing from you. I agree with you that complete frankness, however painful it may be to me, is the best policy in this desperate situation to which James's folly and jealousy have reduced us. When I was a very young man, Mr. Holmes, I loved with such a love as comes only once in a lifetime. I offered the lady marriage, but she refused it on the grounds that such a match might mar my career. Had she lived I would certainly never have married anyone else. She died, and left this one child, whom for her sake I have cherished and cared for. I could not acknowledge the paternity to the world; but I gave him the best of educations, and since he came to manhood I have kept him near my person. He surprised my secret, and has presumed ever since upon the claim which he has upon me and upon his power of provoking a scandal, which would be abhorrent to me. His presence had something to do with the unhappy issue of my marriage. Above all, he hated my young legitimate heir from the first with a persistent hatred. You may well ask me why, under these circumstances, I still kept James under my roof. I answer that it was because I could see his mother's face in his, and that for her dear sake there was no end to my long-suffering. All her pretty ways, too -- there was not one of them which he could not suggest and bring back to my memory. I COULD not send him away. But I feared so much lest he should do Arthur -- that is, Lord Saltire -- a mischief that I dispatched him for safety to Dr. Huxtable's school.
　　
　　"James came into contact with this fellow Hayes because the man was a tenant of mine, and James acted as agent. The fellow was a rascal from the beginning; but in some extraordinary way James became intimate with him. He had always a taste for low company. When James determined to kidnap Lord Saltire it was of this man's service that he availed himself. You remember that I wrote to Arthur upon that last day. Well, James opened the letter and inserted a note asking Arthur to meet him in a little wood called the Ragged Shaw, which is near to the school. He used the Duchess's name, and in that way got the boy to come. That evening James bicycled over -- I am telling you what he has himself confessed to me -- and he told Arthur, whom he met in the wood, that his mother longed to see him, that she was awaiting him on the moor, and that if he would come back into the wood at midnight he would find a man with a horse, who would take him to her. Poor Arthur fell into the trap. He came to the appointment and found this fellow Hayes with a led pony. Arthur mounted, and they set off together. It appears -- though this James only heard yesterday -- that they were pursued, that Hayes struck the pursuer with his stick, and that the man died of his injuries. Hayes brought Arthur to his public-house, the Fighting Cock, where he was confined in an upper room, under the care of Mrs. Hayes, who is a kindly woman, but entirely under the control of her brutal husband.
　　
　　"Well, Mr. Holmes, that was the state of affairs when I first saw you two days ago. I had no more idea of the truth than you. You will ask me what was James's motive in doing such a deed. I answer that there was a great deal which was unreasoning and fanatical in the hatred which he bore my heir. In his view he should himself have been heir of all my estates, and he deeply resented those social laws which made it impossible. At the same time he had a definite motive also. He was eager that I should break the entail, and he was of opinion that it lay in my power to do so. He intended to make a bargain with me -- to restore Arthur if I would break the entail, and so make it possible for the estate to be left to him by will. He knew well that I should never willingly invoke the aid of the police against him. I say that he would have proposed such a bargain to me, but he did not actually do so, for events moved too quickly for him, and he had not time to put his plans into practice.
　　
　　"What brought all his wicked scheme to wreck was your discovery of this man Heidegger's dead body. James was seized with horror at the news. It came to us yesterday as we sat together in this study. Dr. Huxtable had sent a telegram. James was so overwhelmed with grief and agitation that my suspicions, which had never been entirely absent, rose instantly to a certainty, and I taxed him with the deed. He made a complete voluntary confession. Then he implored me to keep his secret for three days longer, so as to give his wretched accomplice a chance of saving his guilty life. I yielded -- as I have always yielded -- to his prayers, and instantly James hurried off to the Fighting Cock to warn Hayes and give him the means of flight. I could not go there by daylight without provoking comment, but as soon as night fell I hurried off to see my dear Arthur. I found him safe and well, but horrified beyond expression by the dreadful deed he had witnessed. In deference to my promise, and much against my will, I consented to leave him there for three days under the charge of Mrs. Hayes, since it was evident that it was impossible to inform the police where he was without telling them also who was the murderer, and I could not see how that murderer could be punished without ruin to my unfortunate James. You asked for frankness, Mr. Holmes, and I have taken you at your word, for I have now told you everything without an attempt at circumlocution or concealment. Do you in turn be as frank with me."
　　
　　"I will," said Holmes. "In the first place, your Grace, I am bound to tell you that you have placed yourself in a most serious position in the eyes of the law. You have condoned a felony and you have aided the escape of a murderer; for I cannot doubt that any money which was taken by James Wilder to aid his accomplice in his flight came from your Grace's purse."
　　
　　The Duke bowed his assent.
　　
　　"This is indeed a most serious matter. Even more culpable in my opinion, your Grace, is your attitude towards your younger son. You leave him in this den for three days."
　　
　　"Under solemn promises ----"
　　
　　"What are promises to such people as these? You have no guarantee that he will not be spirited away again. To humour your guilty elder son you have exposed your innocent younger son to imminent and unnecessary danger. It was a most unjustifiable action."
　　
　　The proud lord of Holdernesse was not accustomed to be so rated in his own ducal hall. The blood flushed into his high forehead, but his conscience held him dumb.
　　
　　"I will help you, but on one condition only. It is that you ring for the footman and let me give such orders as I like."
　　
　　Without a word the Duke pressed the electric bell. A servant entered.
　　
　　"You will be glad to hear," said Holmes, "that your young master is found. It is the Duke's desire that the carriage shall go at once to the Fighting Cock Inn to bring Lord Saltire home.
　　
　　"Now," said Holmes, when the rejoicing lackey had disappeared, "having secured the future, we can afford to be more lenient with the past. I am not in an official position, and there is no reason, so long as the ends of justice are served, why I should disclose all that I know. As to Hayes I say nothing. The gallows awaits him, and I would do nothing to save him from it. What he will divulge I cannot tell, but I have no doubt that your Grace could make him understand that it is to his interest to be silent. From the police point of view he will have kidnapped the boy for the purpose of ransom. If they do not themselves find it out I see no reason why I should prompt them to take a broader point of view. I would warn your Grace, however, that the continued presence of Mr. James Wilder in your household can only lead to misfortune."
　　
　　"I understand that, Mr. Holmes, and it is already settled that he shall leave me for ever and go to seek his fortune in Australia."
　　
　　"In that case, your Grace, since you have yourself stated that any unhappiness in your married life was caused by his presence, I would suggest that you make such amends as you can to the Duchess, and that you try to resume those relations which have been so unhappily interrupted."
　　
　　"That also I have arranged, Mr. Holmes. I wrote to the Duchess this morning."
　　
　　"In that case," said Holmes, rising, "I think that my friend and I can congratulate ourselves upon several most happy results from our little visit to the North. There is one other small point upon which I desire some light. This fellow Hayes had shod his horses with shoes which counterfeited the tracks of cows. Was it from Mr. Wilder that he learned so extraordinary a device?"
　　
　　The Duke stood in thought for a moment, with a look of intense surprise on his face. Then he opened a door and showed us into a large room furnished as a museum. He led the way to a glass case in a corner, and pointed to the inscription.
　　
　　"These shoes," it ran, "were dug up in the moat of Holdernesse Hall. They are for the use of horses; but they are shaped below with a cloven foot of iron, so as to throw pursuers off the track. They are supposed to have belonged to some of the marauding Barons of Holdernesse in the Middle Ages."
　　
　　Holmes opened the case, and moistening his finger he passed it along the shoe. A thin film of recent mud was left upon his skin.
　　
　　"Thank you," said he, as he replaced the glass. "It is the second most interesting object that I have seen in the North."
　　
　　"And the first?"
　　
　　Holmes folded up his cheque and placed it carefully in his note-book. "I am a poor man," said he, as he patted it affectionately and thrust it into the depths of his inner pocket.