一七年鼕末一個下霜的早晨，黎明時分，有人推動我的肩膀，我醒來一看原來是福
　　 爾摩斯。他手裏拿着蠟燭，帶着焦急的面容，俯身告訴我發生了一件緊急案子。
　　 他喊道：“快，華生，快！事情十分急迫。什麽也不要問，穿上衣服趕快走！”
　　 十分鐘後我們乘上馬車。馬車隆隆地行駛在寂靜的街道上，直奔查林十字街火車站。天
　　 色已經微微發亮，在倫敦的灰白色晨霧中時而可以朦朧地看到一兩個上早班的工人。福爾摩斯裹在厚厚的大衣裏一言不發，我也是同樣，因為天氣很冷，而且我們也沒吃早飯。
　　 在火車站上我們喝過熱茶，走進車廂找到座位，這時纔感到身體逐漸暖和過來。火車是
　　 開往肯特郡的，一路上福爾摩斯不停地講着，我衹是聽。他從口袋裏拿出一封信，大聲讀
　　 道：
　　 肯特，瑪爾捨姆，格蘭其莊園
　　 下午三點三十分
　　 親愛的福爾摩斯先生：
　　 我希望你能夠立刻協助我解决這樁極特殊的案件。處理這一類案件正是你的特長。現在
　　 除去已把那位夫人放開之外，現場一切東西全未移動，我請求你火速趕來，因為單獨留下優
　　 斯塔斯爵士是不妥當的。
　　 您的忠實朋友　　　　 斯坦萊·霍普金
　　 福爾摩斯說：“霍普金找我到現場有七次，每次確實都很需要我的幫助。我想你一定已
　　 經把他的案子全收到你的集子裏去了，當然我承認你很會選材，這彌補了你敘述不夠得力的
　　 缺陷。但是你看待一切問題總是從寫故事的角度出發，而不是從科學破案的角度，這樣就毀
　　 壞了這些典型案例的示範性。你把偵破的技巧和細節一筆帶過，以便盡情地描寫動人心弦的
　　 情節，你這樣做，衹能使讀者的感情一時激動，並不能使讀者受到教育。”
　　 我有些不高興地說：“你為什麽不自己寫呢？”
　　 “親愛的華生，我是要寫的。你知道，目前我很忙，但是我想在我的晚年寫一本教科
　　 書，要把全部偵查藝術寫進去。我們現在要偵查的象是一件謀殺案。”
　　 “這麽說你認為優斯塔斯爵士已經死了？”
　　 “我想是這樣的。霍普金的信說明他心情相當激動，可是他並不是易動感情的人。我想
　　 一定是有人被害，等我們去驗屍。如果是自殺，他不會找我們的。信中談到已把夫人放開，
　　 好象是在發生慘案的時候，她被鎖在自己的屋中。華生，這個案件是發生在上流社會裏，你
　　 看信紙的質地很好，上面有Ｅ、Ｂ兩個字母組成的圖案做為傢徽，出事地點是個風景如畫的
　　 地方。霍普金不會隨便寫信的，所以我們今天上午一定夠忙的。兇殺是在昨天夜裏十二點以
　　 前發生的。”
　　 “你怎麽知道呢？”
　　 “算一下火車往來以及辦事的時間就可以知道。出事後要找當地的，還要報告
　　 蘇格蘭場，霍普金要去現場，還要發信找我，這至少需要一整夜。好，齊賽爾賀斯特火車站
　　 已經到了，我們這些疑問馬上就會得到解决。”
　　 在狹窄的鄉村小道上我們匆匆忙忙地走了兩英裏，來到一座庭園的門前。一個看門的老
　　 人走過來，給我們打開了大門，他憔悴的面容證實這裏確實發生了不幸的事件。一進富麗堂
　　 皇的庭園，就看見兩排老榆樹，恰好形成一條林蔭道，通嚮一座低矮而寬敞的房屋，正面有
　　 帕拉弟奧式的柱子。房屋①的中央部分被常春藤覆蓋着顯得十分古老陳舊，但是從高大的窗
　　 戶可以看出，這棟房子進行過改建，並且有一側完全是新建的。年輕機智的霍普金正站在門
　　 道裏迎接我們，看樣子顯得很焦急。
　　 --------------
　　 ①帕拉弟奧（１５１８年，１５８０年），意大利建築傢。——譯者註
　　 “福爾摩斯先生，華生大夫，你們來了我真高興。不是情況緊急，我是不會如此冒昧
　　 的。現在夫人已經蘇醒過來，她把事情講得很清楚，所以我們要做的事不多了。你還記得路
　　 易珊姆那夥強盜嗎？”
　　 “怎麽，就是那三個姓阮達爾的嗎？”
　　 “是的，父親和兩個兒子。毫無疑問是他們幹的。兩周以前他們在西頓漢姆做了案，有
　　 人發現後報告了我們。這麽快就又害了人，真是殘酷，一定是他們幹的。一定要把他們絞
　　 死！”
　　 “那麽優斯塔斯爵士死了？”
　　 “是的，他的頭部被通條打破了。”
　　 “車夫在路上告訴我，爵士的姓名是優斯塔斯·布萊肯斯特爾。”
　　 “不錯。他是肯特郡最大的富翁。夫人正在盥洗室，真可憐，她遭遇了這樣可怕的事，
　　 我剛一看見她的時候，她簡直象是個半死的人。你最好見見她，聽她給你們敘述一下。然後
　　 我們再一起去餐廳查看。”
　　 布萊肯斯特爾夫人是個很不平常的人，象她這樣儀態優柔、風度高雅、容貌美麗的女人
　　 我還很少看到。她有白皙的皮膚、金黃色的頭髮、深藍色的眼睛，加上她那秀麗的面容，真
　　 可謂天姿國色。可是這樁不幸的事件使她神情陰鬱，臉色憔悴。她的一隻眼睛紅腫，可以看
　　 出，她不僅忍受着精神上的、而且還忍受着肉體上的痛苦。她的女僕——一個神色嚴厲的高
　　 個子婦女，正用稀釋了的醋不停地給她衝洗眼睛。夫人品憊地躺在睡椅上。我剛一進屋就看
　　 出，她那靈敏的、富有觀察力的目光以及臉上的機警的神情表明：她的智慧和勇氣並沒有被
　　 這樁慘案所動搖。她穿着藍白相間的寬大的晨服，身旁還放着一件鑲有白色金屬起的黑色餐
　　 服。
　　 她厭倦地說：“霍普金先生，所發生的事情我已經都告訴你了。你能不能替我重複一遍
　　 呢？不過，如果你認為有必要的話，我就再講一次。他們去過餐廳了嗎？”
　　 “我想還是讓他們先聽夫人講講為好。”
　　 “既然如此，我就再重複一遍，我一想到餐廳裏的屍體，就感到非常恐怖。"她渾身顫
　　 抖，擡起手來擋住臉，這時寬大晨服袖口嚮下滑動，露出她的前臂。福爾摩斯驚訝地喊道：
　　 夫人，您受傷不止一處！這是怎麽一回事？
　　 紅腫的傷痕。她匆忙地用衣服把它蓋住。並且說道：“沒有什麽。這和夜裏的慘案沒有關
　　 係。你和你的朋友都請坐，我把一切都告訴你們。
　　 “我是優斯塔斯·布萊肯斯特爾的妻子。我結婚已經有一年了。我們的婚姻是不幸的，
　　 我想沒有必要掩蓋這一點。即使我想否認，我的鄰居們也會告訴你的。對於婚後雙方的關
　　 係，也許我也應負一部分責任。我是在澳大利亞南部比較自由、不很守舊的環境中長大的，
　　 這裏拘謹的、講究禮節的英國式生活不合我的口味。不過主要的原因是由另外一件人所共知
　　 的事情引起的，那就是：布萊肯斯特爾爵士已經嗜酒成癖，和這樣的人在一起，哪怕是一小
　　 時，也會使人感到煩惱。把一個活潑伶俐的婦女整日整夜地拴在他身邊，你能想象出這是多
　　 麽無法忍受的事嗎？誰要是認為這樣的婚姻不能解除那簡直就是犯罪，是褻瀆神聖，是敗壞
　　 道德。你們荒謬的法律會給英國帶來一場災難，上帝是會製止一切不義行為的。”她從睡椅
　　 上坐直身子，兩頰漲紅，她的眼睛從青腫的眼眶裏發出憤怒的光芒。那個神色嚴厲的女僕有
　　 力而又溫和地把夫人的頭部放回到靠墊上，她憤怒的高亢的說話聲漸漸變成了激動的嗚咽。
　　 停了一會兒她繼續說：
　　 “昨天夜裏，所有的僕人全象往常一樣睡在這所房子新建的那一邊。這棟房子正中部分
　　 包括起居室、它後面的廚房以及我們樓上的臥室。我的女僕梯芮薩住在我臥室上面的閣樓。
　　 這個正中部分沒有別人住，無論什麽聲音都不會傳到新建的一側驚醒僕人們。這些情況強盜
　　 們一定都知道，否則他們决不會這樣肆無忌憚。
　　 “優斯塔斯爵士大約十點半休息。那時僕人們都已經回到他們自己的屋子。衹有我的女
　　 僕還沒有睡，她在閣樓上自己的房間裏，聽候吩咐。在我上樓前總要親自去各處看看是不是
　　 一切都收拾妥當了，這是我的習慣，因為優斯塔斯是靠不住的。我總是先到廚房、食起室、
　　 獵槍室、彈子房、客廳，最後到餐廳。我走到餐廳的窗戶前，窗戶上還挂着厚窗簾，我忽地
　　 感到一陣風吹到臉上，這纔看到窗戶還開着。我把窗簾嚮旁邊一掀，呵，迎面竟站着一個寬
　　 肩膀的壯年人，他象是剛剛走進屋裏。餐廳的窗戶是高大的法國式的窗戶，也可以當作通到
　　 草坪的門。當時我手中拿着我臥室裏的蠟燭臺，藉着蠟燭的微光，我看見這個人背後，還有
　　 兩個人正要進來。我嚇得退後了一步，這個人立即嚮我撲來。他先抓住我的手腕，然後又卡
　　 住我的脖子。我正要開口喊，他的拳頭便狠狠地打在我的眼睛上，把我在地。我一定是
　　 昏過去了好幾分鐘，因為等我蘇醒過來的時候，看見他們已經把叫傭人的鈴繩弄斷，把我緊
　　 緊地縛在餐桌一頭的一把橡木椅子上。我全身被縛得很牢，一點也動不了，嘴裏塞着手絹，
　　 喊不出聲。正在這時我倒黴的丈夫來到餐廳。顯然他是聽到了一些可疑的聲音，所以他是有
　　 準備的。他穿着睡衣和睡褲，手裏拿着他喜歡用的黑刺李木棍。他衝嚮強盜，可是那個年紀
　　 較大的早已蹲子從爐柵上拿起了通條，當爵士走過的時候，他兇猛地嚮爵士頭上打去。
　　 爵士一聲便倒下了，再也未動一動。我又一次昏過去，我失去知覺的時間大概還是幾分
　　 鐘。我睜開眼睛的時候看到，他們從餐具櫃裏把刀叉拿出，還拿了一啤酒，每人手中有個玻
　　 璃杯。我已經說過，一個強盜年紀較大有鬍子，其他兩個是尚未成年的孩子。他們可能是一
　　 傢人——父親帶着兩個兒子。他們在一起耳語了一會兒，然後走過來看看是否已把我縛緊。
　　 後來，他們出去了，並且隨手關上了窗戶。又過了足足一刻鐘我纔把手絹從口裏弄出去，這
　　 時我喊叫女僕來解開我。其他的僕人們也聽到了，我們找來，又立即和倫敦聯繫。
　　 先生們，我知道的就是這些，我希望以後不要讓我再重複這段痛苦的經歷了。”
　　 霍普金問：“福爾摩斯先生，有什麽問題嗎？”
　　 福爾摩斯說：“我不想再使布萊肯斯特爾夫人感到不耐煩，也不想再耽誤她的時間了。
　　 然後他對女僕說：“在我去餐廳以前，希望你講講你看到的情況。”
　　 她說：“這三個人還沒有走進屋子，我就已經看見他們了。當時我正坐在我臥室的窗戶
　　 旁，在月光下我看到大門那兒有三個人，但是那時我沒有把這當回事。過了一個多小時以
　　 後，我聽見女主人的喊聲，纔跑下樓去，看見這可憐的人兒。正象她自己所說的那樣，爵士
　　 倒在地板上，他的血和腦漿濺了滿屋子。我想這些事使她嚇昏過去，她被綁在那兒，衣服上
　　 濺了許多血點。要不是這位澳大利亞阿得雷德港的瑪麗·弗萊澤女士，也就是這位格蘭其莊
　　 園的布萊肯斯特爾夫人變得性格堅強，那她一定會失掉生活的勇氣了。先生們，你們詢問她
　　 的時間已經夠長的了，現在她該回到自己的屋裏，好好地休息一會兒了。”
　　 這個瘦削的女僕象母親般溫柔地把她的手搭在女主人肩上，把她領走了。
　　 霍普金說：“她倆一直在一起。這位夫人是由她從小照料大的，十八個月前夫人離開澳
　　 大利亞，她也隨同來到了英國。她的名字叫梯芮薩·瑞特，這種女僕現在沒處找了。福爾摩
　　 斯先生，請從這邊走。”
　　 福爾摩斯表情豐富的臉上，原來那種濃厚的興致已經消失了，我知道這是由於案情並不
　　 復雜，喪失了它的吸引力。看來事情衹剩下逮捕罪犯，而逮捕一般罪犯又何必麻煩他呢？此
　　 刻我的朋友眼睛中流露出的煩惱，正象一個學識淵博的專傢被請去看病，卻發現患者衹是一
　　 般疾病時所感到的那種煩惱。不過格蘭其莊園的餐廳倒是景象奇異，足以引起福爾摩斯的重
　　 視，並且能夠再度激其他那漸漸消失的興趣。
　　 這間餐廳又高又大，屋頂的橡木天花板上刻滿了花紋，四周的墻壁上畫着一排排的鹿頭
　　 和古代武器，墻壁下端有橡木嵌板。門的對面是剛纔談過的高大的法國式窗戶，其右側有三
　　 扇小窗戶，鼕季的微弱陽光從這裏射進來，其左側有個很大很深的壁爐，上面是又大又厚的
　　 壁爐架。壁爐旁有把沉重的橡木椅子，兩邊有扶手，下面有橫木。椅子的花棱上係着一根紫
　　 紅色的繩子，繩子從椅子的兩邊穿過連到下面的橫木上。在釋放這位婦人的時候，繩子被解
　　 開了，但是打的結子仍然留在繩子上。這些細節衹是後來我們纔註意到，因為我們的註意力
　　 完全被躺在壁爐前虎平地毯上的屍體吸引住了。
　　 一眼看上去，死者大約四十歲，體格魁梧，身材高大。他仰臥在地上，又短又黑的鬍須
　　 中露出呲着的白牙。他兩手握拳放在頭前，一根短粗的黑刺李木棍橫放在他的兩手上。他面
　　 色黝黑，鷹鈎鼻，本來相貌倒還英俊，而現在卻是面孔歪麯，猙獰可怖。顯然他是在床上聽
　　 到聲音的，因為他穿着華麗的綉花睡衣，褲腿下露出來一雙光着的腳。他的頭部傷得很重，
　　 屋子裏到處都濺滿鮮血，可見他所受到的那致命的一擊是非常兇狠的。他身旁放着那根很粗
　　 的通條，猛烈的撞擊已經使它折彎。福爾摩斯檢查了通條和屍首。
　　 然後他說道：“這個上了年紀的阮達爾，一定是個很有力氣的人。”
　　 霍普金說：“正是這樣。我有關於他的一些材料，他是個很粗暴的傢夥。”
　　 “我們要想抓到他是不會有什麽睏難的。”
　　 “一點也不睏難。我們一直在追查他的去嚮，以前有人說他去了美國。既然我們知道這
　　 夥人還在英國，我相信他們肯定逃不掉。每個港口都已經知道了這件事，傍晚以前我們要懸
　　 賞緝拿他們。不過使我感到奇怪的是，既然他們知道夫人能夠說出他們的外貌，並且我們也
　　 能認出他們，為什麽他們還會做出這種蠢事？”
　　 “人們會認為，為了滅口，這夥強盜準會把布萊肯斯特爾夫人弄死。”
　　 我提醒他說：“他們也許沒有料到夫人昏過去後一會兒就又蘇醒了。”
　　 “那倒很有可能。如果他們以為她當時完全失去了知覺，那他們也許不會要她的命。霍
　　 普金，關於這個爵士有什麽情況嗎？我好象聽到過有關他的一些怪事。”
　　 他清醒的時候心地善良，但是等他醉了或是半醉的時候就成了個地道的惡魔。我說他
　　 半醉，因為他爛醉如泥的時候倒不多。他一醉就象着了魔，什麽事都幹得出來。儘管他有錢
　　 又有勢，不過據我所知，社交活動他很少參加。聽說他把狗浸在煤油裏，然後用火燒，而且
　　 狗是夫人的，這件事費了很大勁兒纔平息下來。還有一次他把水瓶嚮女僕梯芮薩·瑞特扔
　　 去，這也惹起了一場風波。我們兩人私下裏說，總而言之，這個傢沒有他倒好。你在看什
　　 麽？”
　　 福爾摩斯跪在地上，仔細觀察縛過夫人的那根紅繩子上的結子，然後又細心地檢查強盜
　　 拉斷了的那一頭繩子。
　　 他說：“繩子往下一拉，廚房的鈴聲應該是很響的。”
　　 “沒人聽得到。廚房在這棟房子的後面。”
　　 “這個情況強盜怎麽會知道的呢？他怎麽敢不顧一切地拉這根鈴繩呢？”
　　 “福爾摩斯先生，你說得很對。這個問題，我也反復地考慮過。強盜一定很熟悉這棟房
　　 子，熟悉這裏的習慣。他肯定知道僕人們睡覺較早，知道沒人能聽到廚房的鈴聲。所以他準
　　 和某個僕人有勾結。這是顯而易見的。可是僕人有八個，而且全都行為端正。”
　　 福爾摩斯說：“如果每個僕人的情況都基本一樣，那就要懷疑主人嚮她頭上扔過水瓶的
　　 那個。可是這樣就會懷疑到那個女僕所忠心服侍的女主人身上。不過這一點是次要的，你抓
　　 到阮達爾以後弄清同謀大概就不難了。夫人所講的情況需要證實，我們可以通過現場的實物
　　 來證實。"他走到窗前，打開那扇法國式的窗戶，看了一看說：“窗戶下的地面很硬，這裏
　　 不會有什麽痕跡。壁爐架上的蠟燭是點過的。”
　　 “對，他們是藉着這些蠟燭和夫人臥室的蠟燭光亮走出去的。”
　　 “他們拿走了什麽東西？”
　　 “拿的東西不多，衹從餐具櫃裏拿走了六個盤子。布萊肯斯特爾夫人認為優斯塔斯爵士
　　 的死使強盜們驚慌失措，所以來不及搶劫，不然的話，他們一定會把這棟房子劫掠一空。”
　　 “這樣解釋很有道理。據說他們喝了點兒酒。”
　　 “那一定是為了鎮定神經。”
　　 “正是。餐具櫃上的三個玻璃杯大概沒有移動吧？”
　　 “沒有動，還象原來那樣放着。”
　　 “我們看看。喂，這是什麽？”
　　 三個杯子並排在一起，每個杯子都裝過酒，其中一個杯子裏還有葡萄酒的渣滓。酒瓶靠
　　 近酒杯，裏面還有大半啤酒，旁邊放着一個長長的骯髒的軟木塞。瓶塞的式樣和瓶上的塵土
　　 說明殺人犯喝的不是一般的酒。
　　 福爾摩斯的態度突然有了改變。他的表情不再那樣淡漠，我看見他炯炯有神的雙眼迸射
　　 出智慧和興奮的光芒。他拿起軟木塞，認真地察看着。
　　 他問：“他們怎樣拔出這瓶塞的？”
　　 霍普金指了指半開的抽屜。抽屜裏放着幾條餐巾和一把大的拔塞鑽。
　　 “布萊肯斯特爾夫人說沒說用拔塞鑽的事？”
　　 “沒說，想必是這夥強盜開酒瓶的時候，她已經失去了知覺。”
　　 實際上他們沒有用拔塞鑽。用的可能是小刀上帶的蠃旋，這個蠃旋不會超過一英寸半
　　 長。仔細觀察軟木塞的上部可以看出，蠃旋插了三次纔拔出軟木塞。其實用拔塞鑽卡住瓶
　　 塞，一下便能拔出來。你抓到這個人的時候，你會弄清他身上有把多用小刀。”
　　 “分析得太妙了！"霍普金說。
　　 “可是這些玻璃杯意味着什麽，我不清楚。布萊肯斯特爾夫人確實看見這三個人喝酒
　　 了，是不是？”
　　 “是的，這一點她記得很清楚。”
　　 “那麽，這個情況就說到這兒。還有什麽可說的嗎？可是，霍普金，你要承認，這三個
　　 玻璃杯很特別。怎麽？你看不出有什麽特別的地方？那好，不管它了。可能一個人有些專門
　　 知識和能力，便不願意采取就在手頭的簡單解釋，而要去尋求復雜的答案。當然，玻璃杯的
　　 事也可能是偶然的。好，霍普金，再見吧！我看我幫不了你的忙了，對你說來，好象案子已
　　 經很清楚。抓到阮達爾或是有什麽新的情況，請你告訴我。我相信你很快就會順利地結束這
　　 個案件。華生，走吧，我想我們到傢可以好好地做點事。”
　　 回傢的路上，我看到福爾摩斯臉上帶着睏惑不解的神情。時而他努力驅散疑團，豁然暢
　　 談；時而疑竇叢生，雙眉緊皺，目光茫然；可以看出，他的思想又回到了格蘭其莊園堂皇的
　　 餐廳。正當我們的火車從一個郊區小站緩緩地開動的時候，他卻突如其來地跳到站臺上，而
　　 且隨手把我也拉下了火車。
　　 火車轉過彎完全消失了，他說：“好朋友，請原諒，讓你感到突然，因為我心裏忽然産
　　 生一個念頭，華生，不管怎麽樣，這個案子我不能不管。我的本能迫使我這樣做。事情顛倒
　　 了，全顛倒了，我敢說是顛倒了。可是夫人說的話無懈可擊，女僕的證明又很充分，就連細
　　 節也相當準確。哪些是我不同意的呢？三個酒杯，就是那三個酒杯。如果我沒把事情看成理
　　 所當然，沒有被編造的事實攪亂我的思想，如果我這時再去察看一切，是不是會得到更多的
　　 實證呢？我相信一定會的。華生，我們坐在這條凳子上等候去齊塞爾賀斯特的火車吧。我現
　　 在告訴你我的證據，不過你先要從心裏排除這種想法，即認為女僕和女主人所說的一切都必
　　 然是真實的。萬萬不能讓這位夫人討人喜歡的性格影響你的判斷力。
　　 “如果我們冷靜地思考一下，夫人講的話裏有些細節是可以引起我們的懷疑的。那些強
　　 盜們兩周以前已經在西頓漢姆鬧得不象樣子了。他們的活動和外貌已經登在報紙上，所以誰
　　 想要編造一個有強盜的事，當然就會想到他們。事實上，已經弄到一大筆錢財的強盜往往都
　　 是想要安安靜靜地享受一下，而不會輕易再去冒險。另外，強盜們一般不會那麽早地去打
　　 劫，也不會用打傷一位婦女的辦法來阻止她喊叫，事實上，打她，她會更用力地喊叫。另外，如果強盜人數多，足以對付一個人的時候，他們一般不會殺人。還有，他們一般都很貪
　　 婪，能拿的東西，都會拿走，不會衹拿一點。最後一點，強盜們喝酒一般都是喝得淨光，不
　　 會剩下大半瓶。華生，有這麽多不一般的事，你的看法怎樣呢？”
　　 “這些事加到一起，意義當然很大，可是每件事就其本身來說又是有可能的。我看最奇
　　 怪的是竟會把夫人綁在椅子上。”
　　 這一點我還沒完全弄清。華生，顯然應該是他們或者殺了她，或者把她弄到看不見他
　　 們逃跑的地方。但是，不管怎樣說，這位夫人所講的話並不全是事實。此外，還有酒杯的問
　　 題。”
　　 “酒杯又怎麽樣呢？”
　　 “酒杯的情況你弄清了嗎？”
　　 “我弄得很清楚。”
　　 “說是有三個人用杯子喝酒。你覺得這可能嗎？”
　　 “為什麽不可能？三個杯子全沾了酒。”
　　 “是的，可是衹有一個杯子裏有渣滓。你註意到這一點沒有？你是怎麽看的呢？”
　　 “倒酒時最後一杯很可能是有渣滓的。”
　　 “不對。酒瓶是盛滿酒的，所以不能想象前兩杯很清，第三杯很濁。有兩種解釋，衹有
　　 兩種。一種是：倒滿了第二個杯子以後，用力地搖動了酒瓶，所以第三杯有渣滓。但是這好
　　 象不太可能。對，肯定是不可能的。”
　　 “那麽你又怎樣解釋呢？”
　　 “衹用了兩個杯子，兩個杯子的渣滓都倒在第三個杯子裏，所以産生了假象，好象有三
　　 個人在那兒喝酒。這樣，所有的渣滓不是都在第三個杯子裏了嗎？對，我想一定是這樣的。
　　 如果對於這個小小的細節我碰巧做出了符合事實的解釋，那麽這就是說夫人和她的女僕故意
　　 對我們撒謊，她們說的話一個字也不能相信，於是，這個案件立刻變成一件很不尋常的案
　　 子。她們掩護罪犯一定有重大的理由，因此我們不能依靠她們，這就得全憑我們自己設法弄
　　 清當時的情況。這也就是我目前的打算。華生，去西頓漢姆的火車來了。”
　　 格蘭其莊園的人們對於我們的返回感到非常驚訝。斯坦萊·霍普金已經去總部匯報，所
　　 以福爾摩斯走進餐廳，從裏面鎖上門，認真仔細地檢查了兩個小時。結果為他由邏輯推理所
　　 得出的正確結論提供了可靠的依據。他坐在一個角落裏仔細觀察着，好象一個學生聚精會神
　　 地註視着教授的示範動作。我跟隨着他，進行細緻入微的檢查。窗戶、窗簾、地毯、椅子、
　　 繩子，逐個地仔細查看，認真思考。爵士的屍體已經移走，其餘的一切仍是我們早上見到的
　　 那樣。最使我感到意外的是，福爾摩斯竟然爬到堅固的壁爐架上。那根斷了的僅剩下幾英寸
　　 的紅色繩頭仍然連在一根鐵絲上，正高高地懸在他頭上。他仰着頭朝繩頭看了好一會兒，為
　　 了離繩頭更近，他一條腿跪在墻上的一個木托座上。這使他和那根斷了的繩子衹離幾英寸遠
　　 了，可是引其他註意的好象不是繩子而是托座本身。後來，他滿意地跳了下來。
　　 他說：“華生，行了，我們的案子解决了，這是我們的故事集裏最特殊的一個案件。
　　 咳，我多遲鈍呵，幾乎犯了最嚴重的錯誤！現在除了幾點細節還不太清楚外，事情的全部過
　　 程已經清晰完整了。”
　　 “你弄清哪些人是罪犯了？”
　　 “華生老兄，衹有一個罪犯，但是是個非常難對付的人。他健壯得象頭獅子——他一下
　　 能把通條打彎。他身高六英尺三英寸，靈活得象衹鬆鼠，他的手很靈巧，還有頭腦也非常聰
　　 明，因為這整個巧妙的故事是他編造的。我們遇到的是這個特殊人物的精心傑作。可是在鈴
　　 繩上卻露出了破綻，鈴繩本來不應該顯出破綻的。”
　　 “怎麽一回事呢？”
　　 “華生，如果你想把鈴繩拉下來，你認為繩子應當從哪兒斷呢？當然是在和鐵絲相接的
　　 地方。為什麽這根繩子在離鐵絲三英寸的地方斷了呢？”
　　 “因為那兒磨損了？”
　　 “對。我們能夠檢查的這一頭是磨損了的。這個人很狡猾，用刀子故意磨損繩子的一
　　 頭。可是另外一頭沒有磨損。從這裏你看不清，但是從壁爐架上看，那一頭切得很平，沒有
　　 任何磨損的痕跡。你可以想出原來是怎麽一回事。這個人需要一根繩子，可是怕鈴一響發出
　　 警報，所以他不把繩子拉斷。他怎麽辦呢？他跳上壁爐架，還是夠不到，於是又把一條腿跪
　　 在托座上——托座上的塵土有痕跡——於是拿出他的小刀切斷繩子。我夠不着那個地方，至
　　 少還差三英寸，因此我推測出他比我高三英寸。你看橡木椅子座上的痕跡！那是什麽？”
　　 “血。”
　　 “確實是血。這一點表明夫人的謊言不值一駁。強盜行兇的時候，她若是坐在椅子上，
　　 那麽血跡又是從哪兒來的呢？一定是她丈夫死後她纔坐到椅子上的。我敢保證，那件黑色衣
　　 服也有同樣的痕跡。華生，我們並沒有失敗，而是勝利了，是以失敗開始，以勝利告終。我
　　 要和保姆梯芮薩談幾句話。為了得到我們所需要的情況，我們談話時一定要加倍小心。”
　　 嚴厲的澳大利亞保姆梯芮薩很引人註意，她沉默寡言，秉性多疑，而且沒有禮貌。福爾
　　 摩斯對她態度友好，溫和地傾聽着她的敘述，過了一陣，終於贏得了她的信任。她沒有掩蓋
　　 她對於已死的主人的痛恨。
　　 “是的，先生，他對準我扔過水瓶。有一次我聽見他駡女主人，我跟他說要是女主人的
　　 兄弟在這兒的話，他就不敢駡了。所以他就拿起水瓶嚮我扔過來。要不是我的女主人攔阻
　　 他，說不定他要接連扔上十幾次。他總是女主人，而女主人卻顧全面子不願吵鬧。並且
　　 夫人不願告訴我她怎樣受到。你今天早上看到夫人手臂上有傷痕，這些夫人是不肯和我
　　 說的，可是我知道那是別針紮的。這個可惡的魔鬼！這個人已經死了，我還是這樣說他，上
　　 帝寬恕我吧！我們初次見到他的時候，他非常和藹可親，可那是十八個月以前的事，我們兩
　　 人都感到象是過了十八年似的。那時女主人剛到倫敦。以前她從來沒有離開過傢，那是她第
　　 一次出外旅行。爵士用他的封號、金錢和虛偽的倫敦氣派贏得了女主人的歡心。女主人走錯
　　 了路，受到了懲罰，真是夠她受的。到倫敦後的第二個月，我們就遇見了他。我們六月到
　　 的，那就是七月遇見的。他們去年正月結了婚。呵，她又下樓到起居室來了，她準會見你
　　 的，但是你千萬不要提過多的問題，因為這一切已經夠她難受的了。”
　　 女僕和我們一起走進起居室。布萊肯斯特爾夫人仍然靠在那張睡椅上，精神顯得好了一
　　 些。女僕又開始給女主人熱敷青腫的眼睛。
　　 夫人說：“我希望你不是再次來盤問我。”
　　 福爾摩斯很溫和地說：“不是的。布萊肯斯特爾夫人，我不會給你造成一些不必要的苦
　　 惱。我的願望是讓你安靜，因為我知道你已經遭受了很多的痛苦。如果你願意把我當做朋友
　　 一樣地信任我，事實將會證明我不會辜負你的誠意。”
　　 “你要我做什麽呢？”
　　 “告訴我真實的情況。”
　　 “福爾摩斯先生！”
　　 “布萊肯斯特爾夫人，掩蓋是沒有用的。你也許聽過我的小小的名聲。我用我的名譽擔
　　 保，你所講的完全是編造出來的。”
　　 布萊肯斯特爾夫人和女僕一起凝視着福爾摩斯，夫人臉色蒼白，雙眼流露出恐懼的目
　　 光。
　　 梯芮薩喊道：“你是個無恥的傢夥！你是不是說我的女主人撒謊了？”
　　 福爾摩斯從椅子上站了起來。
　　 “你沒有什麽要和我說的了嗎？”
　　 “我全說了。”
　　 “布萊肯斯特爾夫人，再想一想。坦率一些不是更好嗎？”
　　 隔了一會兒，夫人美麗的臉龐上露出了猶豫不决的神色，繼而是一種堅决的表示，最
　　 後，她重新陷入了一種呆滯的神態。她茫然地說：
　　 “我知道的都說了。”
　　 福爾摩斯拿其他的帽子，聳了聳肩說：“對不起。"我們再也沒有說什麽，便走出了這
　　 間起居室，離開了這棟房子。庭院中有個水池，我的朋友嚮水池走去。水池已經完全凍住
　　 了，但是為了養活一隻天鵝，冰面上打了一個洞。福爾摩斯註視了一下水池，便繼續往前走
　　 到大門。他在門房裏匆忙地給霍普金寫了一封短箋，交給了看門人。
　　 他說：“事情也可能成功，也可能失敗。但是為了證明我們第二次不是白來，我們一定
　　 要幫霍普金做點事情。現在我還不能告訴他我們要做什麽。我看現在我們應該到阿得雷德—
　　 —南安普敦航綫的海運公司的辦公室去，這個公司大概是在波爾莫爾街的盡頭。英國通往南
　　 澳大利亞還有另外一條航綫，不過，我們還是先去這傢較大的公司。”
　　 公司經理見到福爾摩斯的名片以後，立即會見了我們，福爾摩斯很快地得到了他所需要
　　 的情況。一五年六月衹有一條航船到了英國港口。這條船叫"直布羅陀磐石"號，是這傢
　　 公司最大最好的船衹。查閱了旅客名單，發現了阿得雷德的弗萊澤女士和女僕的名字。現在
　　 這衹船正要開往南澳大利亞，在蘇伊士運河以南的某個地方。它和一五年比較基本沒有
　　 變化，衹有一個變動——大副傑剋·剋洛剋已被任命為新造的"巴斯磐石"號船的船長，這衹
　　 船過兩天要從南安普敦開航。船長住在西頓漢姆，他可能過一會兒來公司接受指示，如果我
　　 們願意等，可以見到他。
　　 福爾摩斯先生並不想見他，但是想瞭解他過去的表現和品行。
　　 經理認為他的工作表現是完美無瑕的。船上沒有一個官員能夠比得上他。至於為人方
　　 面，他也是可靠的。但是下船以後，卻是一個粗野、冒失的傢夥，性情急躁，容易激動，然
　　 而他忠實，誠懇，熱心腸。福爾摩斯瞭解到主要的情況後，我們就離開了阿得雷德——南安
　　 起敦海運公司，乘馬車來到蘇格蘭場。可是他沒有進去，卻坐在馬車裏，皺着眉頭沉思。過
　　 了一會兒，他叫馬車夫駕車到查林十字街的電報局，拍了一份電報，然後我們就回到貝剋
　　 街。
　　 我們走進屋子以後，他說：“華生，不，我不能這樣做。傳票一發出便無法搭救他了。
　　 曾經有一兩次，我深深意識到，由於我查出罪犯而造成的害處要比犯罪事件本身所造成的害
　　 處更大。我現在已經懂得需要謹慎，我最好是哄騙一下英國的法律，而不要哄騙我的良心。
　　 我們先要瞭解更多的情況，然後再行動。”
　　 快到傍晚的時候，霍普金來了。他的事情進行得不夠順利。
　　 “福爾摩斯先生，我看你真是個魔術師。我有時候認為你有神仙一樣的能力。你怎麽會
　　 知道丟失的銀器在水池底下呢？”
　　 “我並不知道。”
　　 “但是你讓我檢查水池。”
　　 “你找到這些銀器了？”
　　 “找到了。”
　　 “我很高興幫助了你。”
　　 “可是，你並沒有幫助我。你使得事情更睏難了。偷了銀器又丟到附近的水池裏，這是
　　 什麽強盜呢？”
　　 “這種行為當然是很古怪的。我衹是想：不需要銀器而偷了銀器的人，也就是為了製造
　　 而偷的人，一定急於丟掉銀器。”
　　 “為什麽你會産生這樣的想法呢？”
　　 “我不過是想可能如此。強盜們從窗戶那裏出來以後，看到眼前有個水池，水池的冰面
　　 上還有一個洞，藏在這裏不是最好嗎？”
　　 斯坦萊·霍普金高聲說：“啊，藏東西的最好的地方！是的，是的，我全都明白了！那
　　 時天色還早，街上有人，他們拿着銀器怕被人看見，所以他們把銀器沉到水池裏，打算沒有
　　 人的時候回來再拿。這個解釋很恰當，福爾摩斯先生，比你的有關的說法要好。”
　　 “是的，你的解釋很好。無疑，我的想法是不着邊際的，但是，你必須承認他們再也找
　　 不到這些銀器了。”
　　 “是的，先生，是的。不過這都歸功於你。可是，我卻受到很大挫折。”
　　 “挫折？”
　　 “是的，福爾摩斯先生。阮達爾一夥強盜今天上午在紐約被捕。”
　　 “哎呀，霍普金！這當然和你的說法——他們昨天夜裏在肯特郡殺人，不一致了。”
　　 “正是這樣，完全不相符合。不過，除去阮達爾們，還有別的三個一夥的強盜，或者也
　　 許是還未聽說過的新強盜。”
　　 “是的，這是完全可能的。你打算怎麽辦呢？”
　　 “福爾摩斯先生，我要是不把案子弄個水落石出，我是不安心的。你有什麽啓發給我
　　 嗎？”
　　 “我已經告訴你了。”
　　 “是什麽呢？”
　　 “我提出那是個。”
　　 “為什麽是個，福爾摩斯先生，為什麽？”
　　 “當然，這確實是個問題。但是我衹不過給你提出這個看法。你也許會覺得這種看法有
　　 些道理。你不留下來吃飯了？那好，再見吧，請告訴我們你的進展情況。”
　　 吃過晚飯，收拾了桌子，福爾摩斯又談到這個案子。他點上了煙斗，換上拖鞋，把腳放
　　 到燃得很旺的壁爐前。突然他看了一下表。
　　 “華生，我想事態會有新的發展。”
　　 “什麽時候？”
　　 “就是現在，幾分鐘之內。我猜想你一定認為我剛纔對待霍普金態度不好。”
　　 “我相信你的判斷。”
　　 “華生，你的回答太妙了。你應該這樣看，我所瞭解到的情況是屬於非官方的，他所了
　　 解到的是屬於官方的。我有權利做出個人的判斷，可是他沒有。他要把他知道的一切全說出
　　 去，不然的話，他就不忠於職守。在一個還沒有定論的案子裏，我不想使他處於不利的地
　　 位，所以我保留我所瞭解到的情況，直到我的看法確定以後再說。”
　　 “什麽時候確定呢？”
　　 “時候已經到了。現在請你看這場奇怪的戲劇的最後一幕。”
　　 剛一聽到樓梯上有聲音，我們的屋門就被打開了，進來的是一個最標準的青年男子。他
　　 的個子很高，長着金黃色的鬍須，深藍色的眼睛，皮膚帶着受過熱帶太陽照射的那種顔色，
　　 步伐是那樣敏捷，這足以說明他不但身體強壯而且非常靈活。他隨手關好門，就站在那裏，
　　 兩手握成拳，胸膛一起一伏，努力壓製着心中難以控製的感情。
　　 “請坐，船長剋洛剋。你收到我的電報了吧？”
　　 我們的客人坐到一把扶手椅上，用疑問的眼光逐個望着我們。
　　 “我收到了你的電報，並且按照你的要求準時來了。我聽說你去過辦公室。我是無法逃
　　 脫了。先說最壞的事吧！你打算把我怎麽辦？逮捕我？你說啊！你不能坐在那兒和我玩貓捉
　　 老鼠的把戲啊！”
　　 福爾摩斯說：“給他一支雪茄。剋洛剋船長，抽抽煙，你要控製住自己的感情。如果我
　　 把你當成罪犯，我就不會坐在這兒和你一起抽煙了，這一點你要相信。坦率地把一切都告訴
　　 我，我們可以想些辦法。和我耍花招，我便要使你毀滅。”
　　 “你想要我做什麽呢？”
　　 “對我老老實實地講講昨天晚上格蘭其莊園出的事——我提醒你，老老實實地、什麽也
　　 不加什麽也不減地講出來。我已經瞭解到了很多，如果你有半點隱瞞，我就要到窗口吹警
　　 哨，那時我就再也管不了你了。”
　　 這位水手想了一會兒，然後用黧黑的手拍了一下腿。
　　 他喊道：“看我的運起吧！我相信你是言行一致、守信用的人，我告訴你整個經過。但
　　 是有一點我要先說清楚：涉及到我自己，我什麽也不後悔，也不害怕，我可以再做一遍這種
　　 事，並且以此自豪。那個該死的傢夥，他有幾條命，我就弄死他幾次！但是，涉及夫人，瑪
　　 麗——瑪麗·弗萊澤，我不願意用夫人這個可詛咒的名字稱呼她。為了她，我願意付出我的
　　 生命來換取她美麗的一笑。我一想到使她陷入了睏境，我就心神不安。可是，可是我能有什
　　 麽別的辦法呢？先生們，我告訴你們我的事情，然後請你們設身處地想一想，我有什麽別的
　　 辦法呢？
　　 “我要從頭說起。你好象全知道了，所以我估計你知道我們是在'直布羅陀磐石'號上相
　　 遇的，她是旅客，我是大副。從我遇見她的第一天氣，她就成了我心上唯一的人。在航行中
　　 一天一天地我越來越愛她，我曾多次在值夜班的時候在黑暗中跪在甲板上，俯吻着甲板，
　　 是因為我知道她從那兒走過。她和我沒有特別的交往。她象一般婦女那樣對待我，我並沒有
　　 怨言。愛情衹是單獨地存在於我這方面，而她的一面衹是朋友、友誼。我們分別的時候她仍
　　 是無所牽挂，而我卻不再是個自由的人了。
　　 “我第二次航海回來以後，聽說她結了婚。當然她可以和她喜愛的人結婚。爵位、金
　　 錢，她是有權享受的。她生來就是應該享受一切美好和高貴的東西。對於她的結婚我並不悲
　　 傷，我不是個自私的傢夥。我反而高興，她交了好運，躲開了一個一文不名的水手。我就是
　　 這樣愛瑪麗·弗萊澤的。
　　 “我沒想到會再遇到她，可是上次航行以後我被提升，而新船還沒下海，所以我要和我
　　 的水手們在西頓漢姆等兩個月。有一天，我在鄉村的一條小道上走着，遇見了她的老女僕，
　　 梯芮薩·瑞特。梯芮薩把她的一切以及她丈夫的一切，全詳細地告訴了我。先生們，我告訴
　　 你們，這簡直要使我氣瘋了。那個醉鬼，連舔她的鞋跟都不配，竟敢動手打她。我又一次遇
　　 見了梯芮薩。後來我見到了瑪麗本人，以後又見到她一次。往後她不想再見我了。但是有一
　　 天我得到通知要在一周內出海，於是我决定出發以前見她一次。梯芮薩總是幫助我的，因為
　　 她愛瑪麗，她象我一樣痛恨那個惡棍。梯芮薩告訴了我她們的生活習慣。瑪麗經常在樓下自
　　 己的小屋裏看書看到很晚。昨天晚上我悄悄地去到那裏輕輕敲她的窗戶。起初她不肯給我開
　　 窗，但是我知道她內心是愛我的，她不肯讓我夜裏在外面受凍。她低聲對我說，要我拐過去
　　 到正面的大窗戶，我拐過去看見窗戶開着，我走進餐廳。我又一次聽她親口說出使我非常氣
　　 憤的事，我也再一次咒駡那個我心愛的人的野獸。先生們，我和她衹是站在窗戶後面，
　　 上帝作證，我們是完全清白的，這時那個人象瘋子似地衝了進來，用最難聽的話駡她，並且
　　 用手中的棍子朝她臉上掄去。我跳過去抓普通條，我們兩人品死搏鬥起來。請看我的手臂，
　　 他第一下就打中了我。然後該我打了，我象打爛南瓜似地一下將他揍死。你以為我後悔嗎？
　　 不，不是他死便是我亡，更重要的是，不是他死便是瑪麗死，我怎麽能夠讓瑪麗留在一個瘋
　　 子的手中呢？這就是我殺死他的過程。是我的錯嗎？先生們，要是你們二位中有一人處在我
　　 的地位上，又該怎麽辦呢？
　　 “他打瑪麗的時候，瑪麗尖叫了一聲，梯芮薩聽到聲音從樓上屋子裏下來。餐具櫃上有
　　 一啤酒，我打開往瑪麗的口裏倒了一點，因為她嚇得半死。然後我自己也喝了一口。梯芮薩
　　 非常鎮靜，是我們二人出的主意，我們弄成象強盜殺人似的。梯芮薩一再給她的女主人重複
　　 講我們編造的故事，而我爬上去切斷鈴繩。然後我把瑪麗綁在椅子上，並把繩子的末端弄成
　　 磨損的樣子，不然的話，人們會懷疑強盜怎麽會上去割繩子。後來我拿了一些銀器，以便裝
　　 成莊園遭到搶劫。接着我就走了，並且商量好一刻鐘後報警。我把銀器丟進水池裏，就到西
　　 頓漢姆去了，我感到這是我一生中做的最大的好事。這就是事實，全部事實，福爾摩斯先
　　 生，是不是打算要我償命呢？”
　　 福爾摩斯默默地抽着煙，有一會兒沒講話。然後他走嚮我們的客人，並且握住他的手。
　　 他說：“你所說的正是我想到的。我知道你的每一句話全是真實的。衹有雜技演員或水
　　 手才能從墻上的托座夠到鈴繩，衹有水手會打那把椅子上的那種繩結。這位夫人衹有在那一
　　 次航海旅行時和水手有接觸，她既然盡力掩護這個水手，說明水手和她社會地位相同，也說
　　 明她愛這個水手。所以你知道，我一旦抓住正確的綫索，找你是極其容易的。”
　　 “原來我以為永遠不會識破我們的計謀。”
　　 “我相信那個永遠不會。剋洛剋船長，雖然我承認你是在受到極為嚴重的挑釁之後
　　 纔行動的，可是事情是嚴重的。我不能肯定你的自衛是否可以算作合法。這要大英帝國陪審
　　 團來决定。可是我非常同情你，因此你可以在二十四小時內逃走，我保證沒有人阻攔你。”
　　 “這樣就可以沒事了？”
　　 “肯定不會有什麽事了。”
　　 水手的臉都氣紅了。
　　 “一個男子漢怎麽能提出這樣的建議呢？我還懂得一點法律，我知道這樣瑪麗要被當成
　　 同謀而遭到拘禁。你想我能讓她承擔後果，而我自己溜掉嗎？不，福爾摩斯先生，讓他們隨
　　 便怎樣處置我全行，可是看在上帝面上，請你想辦法使瑪麗不受審判。”
　　 福爾摩斯嚮這位水手第二次伸過手去。
　　 “我衹是試探你一下，這次你又經受住了考驗。不過，我要承擔很大的責任。我已經啓
　　 發過霍普金，如果他不善於思考，我就不再管了。剋洛剋船長，是這樣，我們將按照法律的
　　 適當形式予以解决。剋洛剋船長，你是犯人。華生，你是一位英國陪審員，你當陪審員最合
　　 適了。我是法官。陪審員先生們，你們已經聽取了證詞。你們認為這個犯人有罪還是無
　　 罪？”
　　 我說：“無罪，法官大人。”
　　 “人民的呼聲便是上帝的呼聲。剋洛剋船長，你可以退堂了。衹要法律不能找出其他受
　　 害者，我保證你的安全。過一年後你再回到這位婦女身邊，但願她的未來和你的未來都能證
　　 明我們今夜作出的判决是正確的。"

　　It was on a bitterly cold and frosty morning during the winter of '97 that I was awakened by a tugging at my shoulder. It was Holmes. The candle in his hand shone upon his eager, stooping face and told me at a glance that something was amiss.
　　
　　"Come, Watson, come!" he cried. "The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!"
　　
　　Ten minutes later we were both in a cab and rattling through the silent streets on our way to Charing Cross Station. The first faint winter's dawn was beginning to appear, and we could dimly see the occasional figure of an early workman as he passed us, blurred and indistinct in the opalescent London reek. Holmes nestled in silence into his heavy coat, and I was glad to do the same, for the air was most bitter and neither of us had broken our fast. It was not until we had consumed some hot tea at the station, and taken our places in the Kentish train, that we were sufficiently thawed, he to speak and I to listen. Holmes drew a note from his pocket and read it aloud:--
　　
　　"Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent, "3.30 a.m. "MY DEAR MR. HOLMES, --- I should be very glad of your immediate assistance in what promises to be a most remarkable case. It is something quite in your line. Except for releasing the lady I will see that everything is kept exactly as I have found it, but I beg you not to lose an instant, as it is difficult to leave Sir Eustace there. "Yours faithfully, STANLEY HOPKINS."
　　
　　"Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on each occasion his summons has been entirely justified," said Holmes. "I fancy that every one of his cases has found its way into your collection, and I must admit, Watson, that you have some power of selection which atones for much which I deplore in your narratives. Your fatal habit of looking at everything from the point of view of a story instead of as a scientific exercise has ruined what might have been an instructive and even classical series of demonstrations. You slur over work of the utmost finesse and delicacy in order to dwell upon sensational details which may excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader."
　　
　　"Why do you not write them yourself?" I said, with some bitterness.
　　
　　"I will, my dear Watson, I will. At present I am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my declining years to the composition of a text-book which shall focus the whole art of detection into one volume. Our present research appears to be a case of murder."
　　
　　"You think this Sir Eustace is dead, then?"
　　
　　"I should say so. Hopkins's writing shows considerable agitation, and he is not an emotional man. Yes, I gather there has been violence, and that the body is left for our inspection. A mere suicide would not have caused him to send for me. As to the release of the lady, it would appear that she has been locked in her room during the tragedy. We are moving in high life, Watson; crackling paper, `E.B.' monogram, coat-of-arms, picturesque address. I think that friend Hopkins will live up to his reputation and that we shall have an interesting morning. The crime was committed before twelve last night."
　　
　　"How can you possibly tell?"
　　
　　"By an inspection of the trains and by reckoning the time. The local police had to be called in, they had to communicate with Scotland Yard, Hopkins had to go out, and he in turn had to send for me. All that makes a fair night's work. Well, here we are at Chislehurst Station, and we shall soon set our doubts at rest."
　　
　　A drive of a couple of miles through narrow country lanes brought us to a park gate, which was opened for us by an old lodge-keeper, whose haggard face bore the reflection of some great disaster. The avenue ran through a noble park, between lines of ancient elms, and ended in a low, widespread house, pillared in front after the fashion of Palladio. The central part was evidently of a great age and shrouded in ivy, but the large windows showed that modern changes had been carried out, and one wing of the house appeared to be entirely new. The youthful figure and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley Hopkins confronted us in the open doorway.
　　
　　"I'm very glad you have come, Mr. Holmes. And you too, Dr. Watson! But, indeed, if I had my time over again I should not have troubled you, for since the lady has come to herself she has given so clear an account of the affair that there is not much left for us to do. You remember that Lewisham gang of burglars?"
　　
　　"What, the three Randalls?"
　　
　　"Exactly; the father and two sons. It's their work. I have not a doubt of it. They did a job at Sydenham a fortnight ago, and were seen and described. Rather cool to do another so soon and so near, but it is they, beyond all doubt. It's a hanging matter this time."
　　
　　"Sir Eustace is dead, then?"
　　
　　"Yes; his head was knocked in with his own poker."
　　
　　"Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me."
　　
　　"Exactly -- one of the richest men in Kent. Lady Brackenstall is in the morning-room. Poor lady, she has had a most dreadful experience. She seemed half dead when I saw her first. I think you had best see her and hear her account of the facts. Then we will examine the dining-room together."
　　
　　Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person. Seldom have I seen so graceful a figure, so womanly a presence, and so beautiful a face. She was a blonde, golden-haired, blue-eyed, and would, no doubt, have had the perfect complexion which goes with such colouring had not her recent experience left her drawn and haggard. Her sufferings were physical as well as mental, for over one eye rose a hideous, plum-coloured swelling, which her maid, a tall, austere woman, was bathing assiduously with vinegar and water. The lady lay back exhausted upon a couch, but her quick, observant gaze as we entered the room, and the alert expression of her beautiful features, showed that neither her wits nor her courage had been shaken by her terrible experience. She was enveloped in a loose dressing-gown of blue and silver, but a black sequin-covered dinner-dress was hung upon the couch beside her.
　　
　　"I have told you all that happened, Mr. Hopkins," she said, wearily; "could you not repeat it for me? Well, if you think it necessary, I will tell these gentlemen what occurred. Have they been in the dining-room yet?"
　　
　　"I thought they had better hear your ladyship's story first."
　　
　　"I shall be glad when you can arrange matters. It is horrible to me to think of him still lying there." She shuddered and buried her face in her hands. As she did so the loose gown fell back from her forearms. Holmes uttered an exclamation.
　　
　　"You have other injuries, madam! What is this?" Two vivid red spots stood out on one of the white, round limbs. She hastily covered it.
　　
　　"It is nothing. It has no connection with the hideous business of last night. If you and your friend will sit down I will tell you all I can.
　　
　　"I am the wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. I have been married about a year. I suppose that it is no use my attempting to conceal that our marriage has not been a happy one. I fear that all our neighbours would tell you that, even if I were to attempt to deny it. Perhaps the fault may be partly mine. I was brought up in the freer, less conventional atmosphere of South Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties and its primness, is not congenial to me. But the main reason lies in the one fact which is notorious to everyone, and that is that Sir Eustace was a confirmed drunkard. To be with such a man for an hour is unpleasant. Can you imagine what it means for a sensitive and high-spirited woman to be tied to him for day and night? It is a sacrilege, a crime, a villainy to hold that such a marriage is binding. I say that these monstrous laws of yours will bring a curse upon the land -- Heaven will not let such wickedness endure." For an instant she sat up, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes blazing from under the terrible mark upon her brow. Then the strong, soothing hand of the austere maid drew her head down on to the cushion, and the wild anger died away into passionate sobbing. At last she continued:--
　　
　　"I will tell you about last night. You are aware, perhaps, that in this house all servants sleep in the modern wing. This central block is made up of the dwelling-rooms, with the kitchen behind and our bedroom above. My maid Theresa sleeps above my room. There is no one else, and no sound could alarm those who are in the farther wing. This must have been well known to the robbers, or they would not have acted as they did.
　　
　　"Sir Eustace retired about half-past ten. The servants had already gone to their quarters. Only my maid was up, and she had remained in her room at the top of the house until I needed her services. I sat until after eleven in this room, absorbed in a book. Then I walked round to see that all was right before I went upstairs. It was my custom to do this myself, for, as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted. I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the gun-room, the billiard-room, the drawing-room, and finally the dining-room. As I approached the window, which is covered with thick curtains, I suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face and realized that it was open. I flung the curtain aside and found myself face to face with a broad-shouldered, elderly man who had just stepped into the room. The window is a long French one, which really forms a door leading to the lawn. I held my bedroom candle lit in my hand, and, by its light, behind the first man I saw two others, who were in the act of entering. I stepped back, but the fellow was on me in an instant. He caught me first by the wrist and then by the throat. I opened my mouth to scream, but he struck me a savage blow with his fist over the eye, and felled me to the ground. I must have been unconscious for a few minutes, for when I came to myself I found that they had torn down the bell-rope and had secured me tightly to the oaken chair which stands at the head of the dining-room table. I was so firmly bound that I could not move, and a handkerchief round my mouth prevented me from uttering any sound. It was at this instant that my unfortunate husband entered the room. He had evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he came prepared for such a scene as he found. He was dressed in his shirt and trousers, with his favourite blackthorn cudgel in his hand. He rushed at one of the burglars, but another -- it was the elderly man -- stooped, picked the poker out of the grate, and struck him a horrible blow as he passed. He fell without a groan, and never moved again. I fainted once more, but again it could only have been a very few minutes during which I was insensible. When I opened my eyes I found that they had collected the silver from the sideboard, and they had drawn a bottle of wine which stood there. Each of them had a glass in his hand. I have already told you, have I not, that one was elderly, with a beard, and the others young, hairless lads. They might have been a father with his two sons. They talked together in whispers. Then they came over and made sure that I was still securely bound. Finally they withdrew, closing the window after them. It was quite a quarter of an hour before I got my mouth free. When I did so my screams brought the maid to my assistance. The other servants were soon alarmed, and we sent for the local police, who instantly communicated with London. That is really all that I can tell you, gentlemen, and I trust that it will not be necessary for me to go over so painful a story again."
　　
　　"Any questions, Mr. Holmes?" asked Hopkins.
　　
　　"I will not impose any further tax upon Lady Brackenstall's patience and time," said Holmes. "Before I go into the dining-room I should like to hear your experience." He looked at the maid.
　　
　　"I saw the men before ever they came into the house," said she. "As I sat by my bedroom window I saw three men in the moonlight down by the lodge gate yonder, but I thought nothing of it at the time. It was more than an hour after that I heard my mistress scream, and down I ran, to find her, poor lamb, just as she says, and him on the floor with his blood and brains over the room. It was enough to drive a woman out of her wits, tied there, and her very dress spotted with him; but she never wanted courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of Adelaide, and Lady Brackenstall of Abbey Grange hasn't learned new ways. You've questioned her long enough, you gentlemen, and now she is coming to her own room, just with her old Theresa, to get the rest that she badly needs."
　　
　　With a motherly tenderness the gaunt woman put her arm round her mistress and led her from the room.
　　
　　"She has been with her all her life," said Hopkins. "Nursed her as a baby, and came with her to England when they first left Australia eighteen months ago. Theresa Wright is her name, and the kind of maid you don't pick up nowadays. This way, Mr. Holmes, if you please!"
　　
　　The keen interest had passed out of Holmes's expressive face, and I knew that with the mystery all the charm of the case had departed. There still remained an arrest to be effected, but what were these commonplace rogues that he should soil his hands with them? An abstruse and learned specialist who finds that he has been called in for a case of measles would experience something of the annoyance which I read in my friend's eyes. Yet the scene in the dining-room of the Abbey Grange was sufficiently strange to arrest his attention and to recall his waning interest.
　　
　　It was a very large and high chamber, with carved oak ceiling, oaken panelling, and a fine array of deer's heads and ancient weapons around the walls. At the farther end from the door was the high French window of which we had heard. Three smaller windows on the right-hand side filled the apartment with cold winter sunshine. On the left was a large, deep fireplace, with a massive, over-hanging oak mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace was a heavy oaken chair with arms and cross-bars at the bottom. In and out through the open woodwork was woven a crimson cord, which was secured at each side to the crosspiece below. In releasing the lady the cord had been slipped off her, but the knots with which it had been secured still remained. These details only struck our attention afterwards, for our thoughts were entirely absorbed by the terrible object which lay upon the tiger-skin hearthrug in front of the fire.
　　
　　It was the body of a tall, well-made man, about forty years of age. He lay upon his back, his face upturned, with his white teeth grinning through his short black beard. His two clenched hands were raised above his head, and a heavy blackthorn stick lay across them. His dark, handsome, aquiline features were convulsed into a spasm of vindictive hatred, which had set his dead face in a terribly fiendish expression. He had evidently been in his bed when the alarm had broken out, for he wore a foppish embroidered night-shirt, and his bare feet projected from his trousers. His head was horribly injured, and the whole room bore witness to the savage ferocity of the blow which had struck him down. Beside him lay the heavy poker, bent into a curve by the concussion. Holmes examined both it and the indescribable wreck which it had wrought.
　　
　　"He must be a powerful man, this elder Randall," he remarked.
　　
　　"Yes," said Hopkins. "I have some record of the fellow, and he is a rough customer."
　　
　　"You should have no difficulty in getting him."
　　
　　"Not the slightest. We have been on the look-out for him, and there was some idea that he had got away to America. Now that we know the gang are here I don't see how they can escape. We have the news at every seaport already, and a reward will be offered before evening. What beats me is how they could have done so mad a thing, knowing that the lady could describe them, and that we could not fail to recognise the description."
　　
　　"Exactly. One would have expected that they would have silenced Lady Brackenstall as well."
　　
　　"They may not have realized," I suggested, "that she had recovered from her faint."
　　
　　"That is likely enough. If she seemed to be senseless they would not take her life. What about this poor fellow, Hopkins? I seem to have heard some queer stories about him."
　　
　　"He was a good-hearted man when he was sober, but a perfect fiend when he was drunk, or rather when he was half drunk, for he seldom really went the whole way. The devil seemed to be in him at such times, and he was capable of anything. From what I hear, in spite of all his wealth and his title, he very nearly came our way once or twice. There was a scandal about his drenching a dog with petroleum and setting it on fire -- her ladyship's dog, to make the matter worse -- and that was only hushed up with difficulty. Then he threw a decanter at that maid, Theresa Wright; there was trouble about that. On the whole, and between ourselves, it will be a brighter house without him. What are you looking at now?"
　　
　　Holmes was down on his knees examining with great attention the knots upon the red cord with which the lady had been secured. Then he carefully scrutinized the broken and frayed end where it had snapped off when the burglar had dragged it down.
　　
　　"When this was pulled down the bell in the kitchen must have rung loudly," he remarked.
　　
　　"No one could hear it. The kitchen stands right at the back of the house."
　　
　　"How did the burglar know no one would hear it? How dared he pull at a bell-rope in that reckless fashion?"
　　
　　"Exactly, Mr. Holmes, exactly. You put the very question which I have asked myself again and again. There can be no doubt that this fellow must have known the house and its habits. He must have perfectly understood that the servants would all be in bed at that comparatively early hour, and that no one could possibly hear a bell ring in the kitchen. Therefore he must have been in close league with one of the servants. Surely that is evident. But there are eight servants, and all of good character."
　　
　　"Other things being equal," said Holmes, "one would suspect the one at whose head the master threw a decanter. And yet that would involve treachery towards the mistress to whom this woman seems devoted. Well, well, the point is a minor one, and when you have Randall you will probably find no difficulty in securing his accomplice. The lady's story certainly seems to be corroborated, if it needed corroboration, by every detail which we see before us." He walked to the French window and threw it open. "There are no signs here, but the ground is iron hard, and one would not expect them. I see that these candles on the mantelpiece have been lighted."
　　
　　"Yes; it was by their light and that of the lady's bedroom candle that the burglars saw their way about."
　　
　　"And what did they take?"
　　
　　"Well, they did not take much -- only half-a-dozen articles of plate off the sideboard. Lady Brackenstall thinks that they were themselves so disturbed by the death of Sir Eustace that they did not ransack the house as they would otherwise have done."
　　
　　"No doubt that is true. And yet they drank some wine, I understand."
　　
　　"To steady their own nerves."
　　
　　"Exactly. These three glasses upon the sideboard have been untouched, I suppose?"
　　
　　"Yes; and the bottle stands as they left it."
　　
　　"Let us look at it. Halloa! halloa! what is this?"
　　
　　The three glasses were grouped together, all of them tinged with wine, and one of them containing some dregs of bees-wing. The bottle stood near them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay a long, deeply-stained cork. Its appearance and the dust upon the bottle showed that it was no common vintage which the murderers had enjoyed.
　　
　　A change had come over Holmes's manner. He had lost his listless expression, and again I saw an alert light of interest in his keen, deep-set eyes. He raised the cork and examined it minutely.
　　
　　"How did they draw it?" he asked.
　　
　　Hopkins pointed to a half-opened drawer. In it lay some table linen and a large cork-screw.
　　
　　"Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw was used?"
　　
　　"No; you remember that she was senseless at the moment when the bottle was opened."
　　
　　"Quite so. As a matter of fact that screw was NOT used. This bottle was opened by a pocket-screw, probably contained in a knife, and not more than an inch and a half long. If you examine the top of the cork you will observe that the screw was driven in three times before the cork was extracted. It has never been transfixed. This long screw would have transfixed it and drawn it with a single pull. When you catch this fellow you will find that he has one of these multiplex knives in his possession."
　　
　　"Excellent!" said Hopkins.
　　
　　"But these glasses do puzzle me, I confess. Lady Brackenstall actually SAW the three men drinking, did she not?"
　　
　　"Yes; she was clear about that."
　　
　　"Then there is an end of it. What more is to be said? And yet you must admit that the three glasses are very remarkable, Hopkins. What, you see nothing remarkable! Well, well, let it pass. Perhaps when a man has special knowledge and special powers like my own it rather encourages him to seek a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand. Of course, it must be a mere chance about the glasses. Well, good morning, Hopkins. I don't see that I can be of any use to you, and you appear to have your case very clear. You will let me know when Randall is arrested, and any further developments which may occur. I trust that I shall soon have to congratulate you upon a successful conclusion. Come, Watson, I fancy that we may employ ourselves more profitably at home."
　　
　　During our return journey I could see by Holmes's face that he was much puzzled by something which he had observed. Every now and then, by an effort, he would throw off the impression and talk as if the matter were clear, but then his doubts would settle down upon him again, and his knitted brows and abstracted eyes would show that his thoughts had gone back once more to the great dining-room of the Abbey Grange in which this midnight tragedy had been enacted. At last, by a sudden impulse, just as our train was crawling out of a suburban station, he sprang on to the platform and pulled me out after him.
　　
　　"Excuse me, my dear fellow," said he, as we watched the rear carriages of our train disappearing round a curve; "I am sorry to make you the victim of what may seem a mere whim, but on my life, Watson, I simply CAN'T leave that case in this condition. Every instinct that I possess cries out against it. It's wrong -- it's all wrong -- I'll swear that it's wrong. And yet the lady's story was complete, the maid's corroboration was sufficient, the detail was fairly exact. What have I to put against that? Three wine-glasses, that is all. But if I had not taken things for granted, if I had examined everything with care which I would have shown had we approached the case DE NOVO and had no cut-and-dried story to warp my mind, would I not then have found something more definite to go upon? Of course I should. Sit down on this bench, Watson, until a train for Chislehurst arrives, and allow me to lay the evidence before you, imploring you in the first instance to dismiss from your mind the idea that anything which the maid or her mistress may have said must necessarily be true. The lady's charming personality must not be permitted to warp our judgment.
　　
　　"Surely there are details in her story which, if we looked at it in cold blood, would excite our suspicion. These burglars made a considerable haul at Sydenham a fortnight ago. Some account of them and of their appearance was in the papers, and would naturally occur to anyone who wished to invent a story in which imaginary robbers should play a part. As a matter of fact, burglars who have done a good stroke of business are, as a rule, only too glad to enjoy the proceeds in peace and quiet without embarking on another perilous undertaking. Again, it is unusual for burglars to operate at so early an hour; it is unusual for burglars to strike a lady to prevent her screaming, since one would imagine that was the sure way to make her scream; it is unusual for them to commit murder when their numbers are sufficient to overpower one man; it is unusual for them to be content with a limited plunder when there is much more within their reach; and finally I should say that it was very unusual for such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do all these unusuals strike you, Watson?"
　　
　　"Their cumulative effect is certainly considerable, and yet each of them is quite possible in itself. The most unusual thing of all, as it seems to me, is that the lady should be tied to the chair."
　　
　　"Well, I am not so clear about that, Watson; for it is evident that they must either kill her or else secure her in such a way that she could not give immediate notice of their escape. But at any rate I have shown, have I not, that there is a certain element of improbability about the lady's story? And now on the top of this comes the incident of the wine-glasses."
　　
　　"What about the wine-glasses?"
　　
　　"Can you see them in your mind's eye?"
　　
　　"I see them clearly."
　　
　　"We are told that three men drank from them. Does that strike you as likely?"
　　
　　"Why not? There was wine in each glass."
　　
　　"Exactly; but there was bees-wing only in one glass. You must have noticed that fact. What does that suggest to your mind?"
　　
　　"The last glass filled would be most likely to contain bees-wing."
　　
　　"Not at all. The bottle was full of it, and it is inconceivable that the first two glasses were clear and the third heavily charged with it. There are two possible explanations, and only two. One is that after the second glass was filled the bottle was violently agitated, and so the third glass received the bees-wing. That does not appear probable. No, no; I am sure that I am right."
　　
　　"What, then, do you suppose?"
　　
　　"That only two glasses were used, and that the dregs of both were poured into a third glass, so as to give the false impression that three people had been here. In that way all the bees-wing would be in the last glass, would it not? Yes, I am convinced that this is so. But if I have hit upon the true explanation of this one small phenomenon, then in an instant the case rises from the commonplace to the exceedingly remarkable, for it can only mean that Lady Brackenstall and her maid have deliberately lied to us, that not one word of their story is to be believed, that they have some very strong reason for covering the real criminal, and that we must construct our case for ourselves without any help from them. That is the mission which now lies before us, and here, Watson, is the Chislehurst train."
　　
　　The household of the Abbey Grange were much surprised at our return, but Sherlock Holmes, finding that Stanley Hopkins had gone off to report to head-quarters, took possession of the dining-room, locked the door upon the inside, and devoted himself for two hours to one of those minute and laborious investigations which formed the solid basis on which his brilliant edifices of deduction were reared. Seated in a corner like an interested student who observes the demonstration of his professor, I followed every step of that remarkable research. The window, the curtains, the carpet, the chair, the rope -- each in turn was minutely examined and duly pondered. The body of the unfortunate baronet had been removed, but all else remained as we had seen it in the morning. Then, to my astonishment, Holmes climbed up on to the massive mantelpiece. Far above his head hung the few inches of red cord which were still attached to the wire. For a long time he gazed upward at it, and then in an attempt to get nearer to it he rested his knee upon a wooden bracket on the wall. This brought his hand within a few inches of the broken end of the rope, but it was not this so much as the bracket itself which seemed to engage his attention. Finally he sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction.
　　
　　"It's all right, Watson," said he. "We have got our case -- one of the most remarkable in our collection. But, dear me, how slow-witted I have been, and how nearly I have committed the blunder of my lifetime! Now, I think that with a few missing links my chain is almost complete."
　　
　　"You have got your men?"
　　
　　"Man, Watson, man. Only one, but a very formidable person. Strong as a lion -- witness the blow that bent that poker. Six foot three in height, active as a squirrel, dexterous with his fingers; finally, remarkably quick-witted, for this whole ingenious story is of his concoction. Yes, Watson, we have come upon the handiwork of a very remarkable individual. And yet in that bell-rope he has given us a clue which should not have left us a doubt."
　　
　　"Where was the clue?"
　　
　　"Well, if you were to pull down a bell-rope, Watson, where would you expect it to break? Surely at the spot where it is attached to the wire. Why should it break three inches from the top as this one has done?"
　　
　　"Because it is frayed there?"
　　
　　"Exactly. This end, which we can examine, is frayed. He was cunning enough to do that with his knife. But the other end is not frayed. You could not observe that from here, but if you were on the mantelpiece you would see that it is cut clean off without any mark of fraying whatever. You can reconstruct what occurred. The man needed the rope. He would not tear it down for fear of giving the alarm by ringing the bell. What did he do? He sprang up on the mantelpiece, could not quite reach it, put his knee on the bracket -- you will see the impression in the dust -- and so got his knife to bear upon the cord. I could not reach the place by at least three inches, from which I infer that he is at least three inches a bigger man than I. Look at that mark upon the seat of the oaken chair! What is it?"
　　
　　"Blood."
　　
　　"Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone puts the lady's story out of court. If she were seated on the chair when the crime was done, how comes that mark? No, no; she was placed in the chair AFTER the death of her husband. I'll wager that the black dress shows a corresponding mark to this. We have not yet met our Waterloo, Watson, but this is our Marengo, for it begins in defeat and ends in victory. I should like now to have a few words with the nurse Theresa. We must be wary for awhile, if we are to get the information which we want."
　　
　　She was an interesting person, this stern Australian nurse. Taciturn, suspicious, ungracious, it took some time before Holmes's pleasant manner and frank acceptance of all that she said thawed her into a corresponding amiability. She did not attempt to conceal her hatred for her late employer.
　　
　　"Yes, sir, it is true that he threw the decanter at me. I heard him call my mistress a name, and I told him that he would not dare to speak so if her brother had been there. Then it was that he threw it at me. He might have thrown a dozen if he had but left my bonny bird alone. He was for ever illtreating her, and she too proud to complain. She will not even tell me all that he has done to her. She never told me of those marks on her arm that you saw this morning, but I know very well that they come from a stab with a hat-pin. The sly fiend -- Heaven forgive me that I should speak of him so, now that he is dead, but a fiend he was if ever one walked the earth. He was all honey when first we met him, only eighteen months ago, and we both feel as if it were eighteen years. She had only just arrived in London. Yes, it was her first voyage -- she had never been from home before. He won her with his title and his money and his false London ways. If she made a mistake she has paid for it, if ever a woman did. What month did we meet him? Well, I tell you it was just after we arrived. We arrived in June, and it was July. They were married in January of last year. Yes, she is down in the morning-room again, and I have no doubt she will see you, but you must not ask too much of her, for she has gone through all that flesh and blood will stand."
　　
　　Lady Brackenstall was reclining on the same couch, but looked brighter than before. The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow.
　　
　　"I hope," said the lady, "that you have not come to cross-examine me again?"
　　
　　"No," Holmes answered, in his gentlest voice, "I will not cause you any unnecessary trouble, Lady Brackenstall, and my whole desire is to make things easy for you, for I am convinced that you are a much-tried woman. If you will treat me as a friend and trust me you may find that I will justify your trust."
　　
　　"What do you want me to do?"
　　
　　"To tell me the truth."
　　
　　"Mr. Holmes!"
　　
　　"No, no, Lady Brackenstall, it is no use. You may have heard of any little reputation which I possess. I will stake it all on the fact that your story is an absolute fabrication."
　　
　　Mistress and maid were both staring at Holmes with pale faces and frightened eyes.
　　
　　"You are an impudent fellow!" cried Theresa. "Do you mean to say that my mistress has told a lie?"
　　
　　Holmes rose from his chair.
　　
　　"Have you nothing to tell me?"
　　
　　"I have told you everything."
　　
　　"Think once more, Lady Brackenstall. Would it not be better to be frank?"
　　
　　For an instant there was hesitation in her beautiful face. Then some new strong thought caused it to set like a mask.
　　
　　"I have told you all I know."
　　
　　Holmes took his hat and shrugged his shoulders. "I am sorry," he said, and without another word we left the room and the house. There was a pond in the park, and to this my friend led the way. It was frozen over, but a single hole was left for the convenience of a solitary swan. Holmes gazed at it and then passed on to the lodge gate. There he scribbled a short note for Stanley Hopkins and left it with the lodge-keeper.
　　
　　"It may be a hit or it may be a miss, but we are bound to do something for friend Hopkins, just to justify this second visit," said he. "I will not quite take him into my confidence yet. I think our next scene of operations must be the shipping office of the Adelaide-Southampton line, which stands at the end of Pall Mall, if I remember right. There is a second line of steamers which connect South Australia with England, but we will draw the larger cover first."
　　
　　Holmes's card sent in to the manager ensured instant attention, and he was not long in acquiring all the information which he needed. In June of '95 only one of their line had reached a home port. It was the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, their largest and best boat. A reference to the passenger list showed that Miss Fraser of Adelaide, with her maid, had made the voyage in her. The boat was now on her way to Australia, somewhere to the south of the Suez Canal. Her officers were the same as in '95, with one exception. The first officer, Mr. Jack Croker, had been made a captain and was to take charge of their new ship, the BASS ROCK, sailing in two days' time from Southampton. He lived at Sydenham, but he was likely to be in that morning for instructions, if we cared to wait for him.
　　
　　No; Mr. Holmes had no desire to see him, but would be glad to know more about his record and character.
　　
　　His record was magnificent. There was not an officer in the fleet to touch him. As to his character, he was reliable on duty, but a wild, desperate fellow off the deck of his ship, hot-headed, excitable, but loyal, honest, and kind-hearted. That was the pith of the information with which Holmes left the office of the Adelaide-Southampton company. Thence he drove to Scotland Yard, but instead of entering he sat in his cab with his brows drawn down, lost in profound thought. Finally he drove round to the Charing Cross telegraph office, sent off a message, and then, at last, we made for Baker Street once more.
　　
　　"No, I couldn't do it, Watson," said he, as we re-entered our room. "Once that warrant was made out nothing on earth would save him. Once or twice in my career I feel that I have done more real harm by my discovery of the criminal than ever he had done by his crime. I have learned caution now, and I had rather play tricks with the law of England than with my own conscience. Let us know a little more before we act."
　　
　　Before evening we had a visit from Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things were not going very well with him.
　　
　　"I believe that you are a wizard, Mr. Holmes. I really do sometimes think that you have powers that are not human. Now, how on earth could you know that the stolen silver was at the bottom of that pond?"
　　
　　"I didn't know it."
　　
　　"But you told me to examine it."
　　
　　"You got it, then?"
　　
　　"Yes, I got it."
　　
　　"I am very glad if I have helped you."
　　
　　"But you haven't helped me. You have made the affair far more difficult. What sort of burglars are they who steal silver and then throw it into the nearest pond?"
　　
　　"It was certainly rather eccentric behaviour. I was merely going on the idea that if the silver had been taken by persons who did not want it, who merely took it for a blind as it were, then they would naturally be anxious to get rid of it."
　　
　　"But why should such an idea cross your mind?"
　　
　　"Well, I thought it was possible. When they came out through the French window there was the pond, with one tempting little hole in the ice, right in front of their noses. Could there be a better hiding-place?"
　　
　　"Ah, a hiding-place -- that is better!" cried Stanley Hopkins. "Yes, yes, I see it all now! It was early, there were folk upon the roads, they were afraid of being seen with the silver, so they sank it in the pond, intending to return for it when the coast was clear. Excellent, Mr. Holmes -- that is better than your idea of a blind."
　　
　　"Quite so; you have got an admirable theory. I have no doubt that my own ideas were quite wild, but you must admit that they have ended in discovering the silver."
　　
　　"Yes, sir, yes. It was all your doing. But I have had a bad set-back."
　　
　　"A set-back?"
　　
　　"Yes, Mr. Holmes. The Randall gang were arrested in New York this morning."
　　
　　"Dear me, Hopkins! That is certainly rather against your theory that they committed a murder in Kent last night."
　　
　　"It is fatal, Mr. Holmes, absolutely fatal. Still, there are other gangs of three besides the Randalls, or it may be some new gang of which the police have never heard."
　　
　　"Quite so; it is perfectly possible. What, are you off?"
　　
　　Yes, Mr. Holmes; there is no rest for me until I have got to the bottom of the business. I suppose you have no hint to give me?"
　　
　　"I have given you one."
　　
　　"Which?"
　　
　　"Well, I suggested a blind."
　　
　　"But why, Mr. Holmes, why?"
　　
　　"Ah, that's the question, of course. But I commend the idea to your mind. You might possibly find that there was something in it. You won't stop for dinner? Well, good-bye, and let us know how you get on."
　　
　　Dinner was over and the table cleared before Holmes alluded to the matter again. He had lit his pipe and held his slippered feet to the cheerful blaze of the fire. Suddenly he looked at his watch.
　　
　　"I expect developments, Watson."
　　
　　"When?"
　　
　　"Now -- within a few minutes. I dare say you thought I acted rather badly to Stanley Hopkins just now?"
　　
　　"I trust your judgment."
　　
　　"A very sensible reply, Watson. You must look at it this way: what I know is unofficial; what he knows is official. I have the right to private judgment, but he has none. He must disclose all, or he is a traitor to his service. In a doubtful case I would not put him in so painful a position, and so I reserve my information until my own mind is clear upon the matter."
　　
　　"But when will that be?"
　　
　　"The time has come. You will now be present at the last scene of a remarkable little drama."
　　
　　There was a sound upon the stairs, and our door was opened to admit as fine a specimen of manhood as ever passed through it. He was a very tall young man, golden-moustached, blue-eyed, with a skin which had been burned by tropical suns, and a springy step which showed that the huge frame was as active as it was strong. He closed the door behind him, and then he stood with clenched hands and heaving breast, choking down some overmastering emotion.
　　
　　"Sit down, Captain Croker. You got my telegram?"
　　
　　Our visitor sank into an arm-chair and looked from one to the other of us with questioning eyes.
　　
　　"I got your telegram, and I came at the hour you said. I heard that you had been down to the office. There was no getting away from you. Let's hear the worst. What are you going to do with me? Arrest me? Speak out, man! You can't sit there and play with me like a cat with a mouse."
　　
　　"Give him a cigar," said Holmes. "Bite on that, Captain Croker, and don't let your nerves run away with you. I should not sit here smoking with you if I thought that you were a common criminal, you may be sure of that. Be frank with me, and we may do some good. Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you."
　　
　　"What do you wish me to do?"
　　
　　"To give me a true account of all that happened at the Abbey Grange last night -- a TRUE account, mind you, with nothing added and nothing taken off. I know so much already that if you go one inch off the straight I'll blow this police whistle from my window and the affair goes out of my hands for ever."
　　
　　The sailor thought for a little. Then he struck his leg with his great, sun-burned hand.
　　
　　"I'll chance it," he cried. "I believe you are a man of your word, and a white man, and I'll tell you the whole story. But one thing I will say first. So far as I am concerned I regret nothing and I fear nothing, and I would do it all again and be proud of the job. Curse the beast, if he had as many lives as a cat he would owe them all to me! But it's the lady, Mary -- Mary Fraser -- for never will I call her by that accursed name. When I think of getting her into trouble, I who would give my life just to bring one smile to her dear face, it's that that turns my soul into water. And yet -- and yet -- what less could I do? I'll tell you my story, gentlemen, and then I'll ask you as man to man what less could I do.
　　
　　"I must go back a bit. You seem to know everything, so I expect that you know that I met her when she was a passenger and I was first officer of the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR. From the first day I met her she was the only woman to me. Every day of that voyage I loved her more, and many a time since have I kneeled down in the darkness of the night watch and kissed the deck of that ship because I knew her dear feet had trod it. She was never engaged to me. She treated me as fairly as ever a woman treated a man. I have no complaint to make. It was all love on my side, and all good comradeship and friendship on hers. When we parted she was a free woman, but I could never again be a free man.
　　
　　"Next time I came back from sea I heard of her marriage. Well, why shouldn't she marry whom she liked? Title and money -- who could carry them better than she? She was born for all that is beautiful and dainty. I didn't grieve over her marriage. I was not such a selfish hound as that. I just rejoiced that good luck had come her way, and that she had not thrown herself away on a penniless sailor. That's how I loved Mary Fraser.
　　
　　"Well, I never thought to see her again; but last voyage I was promoted, and the new boat was not yet launched, so I had to wait for a couple of months with my people at Sydenham. One day out in a country lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid. She told me about her, about him, about everything. I tell you, gentlemen, it nearly drove me mad. This drunken hound, that he should dare to raise his hand to her whose boots he was not worthy to lick! I met Theresa again. Then I met Mary herself -- and met her again. Then she would meet me no more. But the other day I had a notice that I was to start on my voyage within a week, and I determined that I would see her once before I left. Theresa was always my friend, for she loved Mary and hated this villain almost as much as I did. From her I learned the ways of the house. Mary used to sit up reading in her own little room downstairs. I crept round there last night and scratched at the window. At first she would not open to me, but in her heart I know that now she loves me, and she could not leave me in the frosty night. She whispered to me to come round to the big front window, and I found it open before me so as to let me into the dining-room. Again I heard from her own lips things that made my blood boil, and again I cursed this brute who mishandled the woman that I loved. Well, gentlemen, I was standing with her just inside the window, in all innocence, as Heaven is my judge, when he rushed like a madman into the room, called her the vilest name that a man could use to a woman, and welted her across the face with the stick he had in his hand. I had sprung for the poker, and it was a fair fight between us. See here on my arm where his first blow fell. Then it was my turn, and I went through him as if he had been a rotten pumpkin. Do you think I was sorry? Not I! It was his life or mine, but far more than that it was his life or hers, for how could I leave her in the power of this madman? That was how I killed him. Was I wrong? Well, then, what would either of you gentlemen have done if you had been in my position?"
　　
　　"She had screamed when he struck her, and that brought old Theresa down from the room above. There was a bottle of wine on the sideboard, and I opened it and poured a little between Mary's lips, for she was half dead with the shock. Then I took a drop myself. Theresa was as cool as ice, and it was her plot as much as mine. We must make it appear that burglars had done the thing. Theresa kept on repeating our story to her mistress, while I swarmed up and cut the rope of the bell. Then I lashed her in her chair, and frayed out the end of the rope to make it look natural, else they would wonder how in the world a burglar could have got up there to cut it. Then I gathered up a few plates and pots of silver, to carry out the idea of a robbery, and there I left them with orders to give the alarm when I had a quarter of an hour's start. I dropped the silver into the pond and made off for Sydenham, feeling that for once in my life I had done a real good night's work. And that's the truth and the whole truth, Mr. Holmes, if it costs me my neck."
　　
　　Holmes smoked for some time in silence. Then he crossed the room and shook our visitor by the hand.
　　
　　"That's what I think," said he. "I know that every word is true, for you have hardly said a word which I did not know. No one but an acrobat or a sailor could have got up to that bell-rope from the bracket, and no one but a sailor could have made the knots with which the cord was fastened to the chair. Only once had this lady been brought into contact with sailors, and that was on her voyage, and it was someone of her own class of life, since she was trying hard to shield him and so showing that she loved him. You see how easy it was for me to lay my hands upon you when once I had started upon the right trail."
　　
　　"I thought the police never could have seen through our dodge."
　　
　　"And the police haven't; nor will they, to the best of my belief. Now, look here, Captain Croker, this is a very serious matter, though I am willing to admit that you acted under the most extreme provocation to which any man could be subjected. I am not sure that in defence of your own life your action will not be pronounced legitimate. However, that is for a British jury to decide. Meanwhile I have so much sympathy for you that if you choose to disappear in the next twenty-four hours I will promise you that no one will hinder you."
　　
　　"And then it will all come out?"
　　
　　"Certainly it will come out."
　　
　　The sailor flushed with anger.
　　
　　"What sort of proposal is that to make a man? I know enough of law to understand that Mary would be had as accomplice. Do you think I would leave her alone to face the music while I slunk away? No, sir; let them do their worst upon me, but for Heaven's sake, Mr. Holmes, find some way of keeping my poor Mary out of the courts."
　　
　　Holmes for a second time held out his hand to the sailor.
　　
　　"I was only testing you, and you ring true every time. Well, it is a great responsibility that I take upon myself, but I have given Hopkins an excellent hint, and if he can't avail himself of it I can do no more. See here, Captain Croker, we'll do this in due form of law. You are the prisoner. Watson, you are a British jury, and I never met a man who was more eminently fitted to represent one. I am the judge. Now, gentleman of the jury, you have heard the evidence. Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?"
　　
　　"Not guilty, my lord," said I.
　　
　　"Vox populi, vox Dei. You are acquitted, Captain Croker. So long as the law does not find some other victim you are safe from me. Come back to this lady in a year, and may her future and yours justify us in the judgment which we have pronounced this night."