the greek interpreter-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


means　of　information。　Now　you　will　find　the　carriage　waiting；　and　my

friend　will　see　you　on　your　way。'

　　〃I　was　hurried　through　the　hall　and　into　the　vehicle；　again

obtaining　that　momentary　glimpse　of　trees　and　a　garden。　Mr。　Latimer

followed　closely　at　my　heels　and　took　his　place　opposite　to　me　without

a　word。　In　silence　we　again　drove　for　an　interminable　distance　with

the　windows　raised；　until　at　last；　just　after　midnight；　the　carriage

pulled　up。

　　〃'You　will　get　down　here；　Mr。　Melas；'　said　my　companion。　'I　am　sorry

to　leave　you　so　far　from　your　house；　but　there　is　no　alternative。

Any　attempt　upon　your　part　to　follow　the　carriage　can　only　end　in

injury　to　yourself。'

　　〃He　opened　the　door　as　he　spoke；　and　I　had　hardly　time　to　spring　out

when　the　coachman　lashed　the　horse　and　the　carriage　rattled　away。　I

looked　around　me　in　astonishment。　I　was　on　some　sort　of　a　heathy

common　mottled　over　with　dark　clumps　of　furze…bushes。　Far　away

stretched　a　line　of　houses；　with　a　light　here　and　there　in　the　upper

windows。　On　the　other　side　I　saw　the　red　signal…lamps　of　a　railway。

　　〃The　carriage　which　had　brought　me　was　already　out　of　sight。　I　stood

gazing　round　and　wondering　where　on　earth　I　might　be；　when　I　saw

someone　coming　towards　me　in　the　darkness。　As　he　came　up　to　me　I

made　out　that　he　was　a　railway　porter。

　　〃'Can　you　tell　me　what　place　this　is？'　I　asked。

　　〃'Wandsworth　Common；'　said　he。

　　〃'Can　I　get　a　train　into　town？'

　　〃'If　you　walk　on　a　mile　or　so　to　Clapham　Junction；'　said　he；　'you'll

just　be　in　time　for　the　last　to　Victoria。'

　　〃So　that　was　the　end　of　my　adventure；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　do　not　know

where　I　was；　nor　whom　I　spoke　with；　nor　anything　save　what　I　have　told

you。　But　I　know　that　there　is　foul　play　going　on；　and　I　want　to　help

that　unhappy　man　if　I　can。　I　told　the　whole　story　to　Mr。　Mycroft

Holmes　next　morning；　and　subsequently　to　the　police。〃

　　We　all　sat　in　silence　for　some　little　time　after　listening　to　this

extraordinary　narrative。　Then　Sherlock　looked　across　at　his　brother。

　　〃Any　steps？〃　he　asked。

　　Mycroft　picked　up　the　Daily　News；　which　was　lying　on　the　side…table。



　　〃Anybody　supplying　any　information　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　a

Greek　gentleman　named　Paul　Kratides；　from　Athens；　who　is　unable　to

speak　English；　will　be　rewarded。　A　similar　reward　paid　to　anyone

giving　information　about　a　Greek　lady　whose　first　name　is　Sophy。　X

2473'



　　〃That　was　in　all　the　dailies。　No　answer。〃

　　〃How　about　the　Greek　legation？〃

　　〃I　have　inquired。　They　know　nothing。〃

　　〃A　wire　to　the　head　of　the　Athens　police；　then？〃

　〃Sherlock　has　all　the　energy　of　the　family；〃　said　Mycroft；　turning　to

me。　〃Well；　you　take　the　case　up　by　all　means　and　let　me　know　if　you　do

any　good。〃

　　〃Certainly；〃　answered　my　friend；　rising　from　his　chair。　〃I'll　let

you　know；　and　Mr。　Melas　also。　In　the　meantime；　Mr。　Melas；　I　should

certainly　be　on　my　guard　if　I　were　you；　for　of　course　they　must　know

through　these　advertisements　that　you　have　betrayed　them。〃

　　As　we　walked　home　together；　Holmes　stopped　at　a　telegraph　office　and

sent　of　several　wires。

　　〃You　see；　Watson；〃　he　remarked；　〃our　evening　has　been　by　no　means

wasted。　Some　of　my　most　interesting　cases　have　come　to　me　in　this

way　through　Mycroft。　The　problem　which　we　have　just　listened　to；

although　it　can　admit　of　but　one　explanation；　has　still　some

distinguishing　features。〃

　　〃You　have　hopes　of　solving　it？〃

　　〃Well；　knowing　as　much　as　we　do；　it　will　be　singular　indeed　if　we

fail　to　discover　the　rest。　You　must　yourself　have　formed　some　theory

which　will　explain　the　facts　to　which　we　have　listened。〃

　　〃In　a　vague　way；　yes。〃

　　〃What　was　your　idea；　then？〃

　　〃It　seemed　to　me　to　be　obvious　that　this　Greek　girl　had　been　carried

off　by　the　young　Englishman　named　Harold　Latimer。〃

　　〃Carried　off　from　where？〃

　　〃Athens；　perhaps。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　shook　his　head。　〃This　young　man　could　not　talk　a

word　of　Greek。　The　lady　could　talk　English　fairly　well。　Inference…that

she　had　been　in　England　some　little　time；　but　he　had　not　been　in

Greece。〃

　　〃Well；　then；　we　will　presume　that　she　had　once　come　on　a　visit　to

England；　and　that　this　Harold　had　persuaded　her　to　fly　with　him。〃

　　〃That　is　more　probable。〃

　　〃Then　the　brother…for　that；　I　fancy；　must　be　the

relationship…comes　over　from　Greece　to　interfere。　He　imprudently

puts　himself　into　the　power　of　the　young　man　and　his　older

associate。　They　seize　him　and　use　violence　towards　him　in　order　to

make　him　sign　some　papers　to　make　over　the　girl's　fortune…of　which

he　may　be　trustee…to　them。　This　he　refuses　to　do。　In　order　to

negotiate　with　him　they　have　to　get　an　interpreter；　and　they　pitch

upon　this　Mr。　Melas；　having　used　some　other　one　before。　The　girl　is

not　told　of　the　arrival　of　her　brother　and　finds　it　out　by　the

merest　accident。

　　〃Excellent；　Watson！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃I　really　fancy　that　you　are

not　far　from　the　truth。　You　see　that　we　hold　all　the　cards；　and　we

have　only　to　fear　some　sudden　act　of　violence　on　their　part。　If　they

give　us　time　we　must　have　them。〃

　　〃But　how　can　we　find　where　this　house　lies？〃

　　〃Well；　if　our　conjecture　is　correct　and　the　girl's　name　is　or　was

Sophy　Kratides；　we　should　have　no　difficulty　in　tracing　her。　That　must

be　our　main　hope；　for　the　brother　is；　of　course；　a　complete

stranger。　It　is　clear　that　some　time　has　elapsed　since　this　Harold

established　these　relations　with　the　girl…some　weeks；　at　any

rate…since　the　brother　in　Greece　has　had　time　to　hear　of　it　and　come

across。　If　they　have　been　living　in　the　same　place　during　this　time；

it　is　probable　that　we　shall　have　some　answer　to　Mycroft's

advertisement。〃

　　We　had　reached　our　house　in　Baker　Street　while　we　had　been

talking。　Holmes　ascended　the　stair　first；　and　as　he　opened　the　door　of

our　room　he　gave　a　start　of　surprise。　Looking　over　his　shoulder；　I　was

equally　astonished。　His　brother　Mycroft　was　sitting　smoking　in　the

armchair。

　　〃Come　in；　Sherlock！　Come　in；　sir；〃　said　he　blandly；　smiling　at　our

surprised　faces。　〃You　don't　expect　such　energy　from　me；　do　you；

Sherlock？　But　somehow　this　can　attracts　me。〃

　　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃

　　〃I　passed　you　in　a　hansom。〃

　　〃There　has　been　some　new　development？〃

　　〃I　had　an　answer　to　my　advertisement。〃

　　〃Ah！〃

　　〃Yes；　it　came　within　a　few　minutes　of　your　leaving。〃

　　〃And　to　what　effect？〃

　　Mycroft　Holmes　took　out　a　sheet　of　paper。

　　〃Here　it　is；〃　said　he；　〃Written　with　a　J　pen　on　royal　cream　paper　by

a　middle…aged　man　with　a　weak　constitution。



　　〃SIR　＇he　says＇：

　　　　〃In　answer　to　your　advertisement　of　to…day's　date；　I　beg　to　inform

you　that　I　know　the　young　lady　in　question　very　well。　If　you　should

care　to　call　upon　me　I　could　give　you　some　particulars　as　to　her

painful　history。　She　is　living　at　present　at　The　Myrtles；　Beckenham。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Yours　faithfully；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃J。　DAVENPORT。



　　〃He　writes　from　Lower　Brixton；〃　said　Mycroft　Holmes。　〃Do　you　not

think　that　we　might　drive　to　him　now；　Sherlock；　and　learn　these

particulars？〃

　　〃My　dear　Mycroft；　the　brother's　life　is　more　valuable　than　the

sister's　story。　I　think　we　should　call　at　Scotland　Yard　for

Inspector　Gregson　and　go　straight　out　to　Beckenham。　We　know　that　a　man

is　being　done　to　death；　and　every　hour　may　be　vital。〃

　　〃Better　pick　up　Mr。　Melas　on　our　way；〃　I　suggested。　〃We　may　need

an　interpreter。〃

　　〃Excellent；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes。　〃Send　the　boy　for　a　four…wheeler；

and　we　shall　be　off　at　once。〃　He　opened　the　table…drawer　as　he

spoke；　and　I　noticed　that　he　slipped　his　revolver　into　his　pocket。

〃Yes；〃　said　he　in　answer　to　my　glance；　〃I　should　say；　from　what　we

have　heard；　that　we　are　dealing　with　a　particularly　dangerous　gang。〃

　　It　was　almost　dark　before　we　found　ourselves　in　Pall　Mall；　at　the

rooms　of　Mr。　Melas。　A　gentleman　had　just　called　for　him；　and　he　was

gone。

　　〃Can　you　tell　me　where？〃　asked　Mycroft　Holmes。

　　〃I　don't　know；　sir；〃　answered　the　woman　who　had　opened　the　door；

〃I　only　know　that　he　drove　away　with　the　gentleman　in　a　carriage。〃

　　〃Did　the　gentleman　give　a　name？〃

　　〃No；　sir。〃

　　〃He　wasn't　a　tall；　handsome。　dark　young　man？〃

　　〃Oh；　no；　sir。　He　was　a　little　gentleman；　with　glasses；　thin　in　the

face；　but　very　pleasant　in　his　ways；　for　he　was　laughing　all　the

time　that　he　was　talking。〃

　　〃Come　along！〃　cried　Sherlock　Holmes　abruptly。　〃This　grows

serious；〃　he　observed　as　we　drove　to　Scotland　Yard。　〃These　men　have

got　hold　of　Melas　again。　He　is　a　man　of　no　physical　courage；　as　they

are　well　aware　from　their　experience　the　other　night。　This　villain　was

able　to　terrorize　him　the　instant　that　he　got　into　his　presence。　No

doubt　they　want　his　professional　services；　but；　having　used　him；

they　may　be　inclined　to　punish　him　for　what　they　will　regard　as　his

treachery。〃

　　Our　hope　was　that；　by　taking　train；　we　might　get　to　Beckenham　as

soon　as　or　sooner　than　the　carriage。　On　reaching　Scotland　Yard；

however；　it　was　more　than　an　hour　before　we　could　get　Inspector

Gregson　and　comply　with　the　legal　formalities　which　would　enable　us　to

enter　the　house。　It　was　a　quarter　to　ten　before　we　reached　London

Bridge；　and　half　past　before　the　four　of　us　alighted　on　the

Beckenham　platform。　A　drive　of　half　a　mile　brought　us　to　The　Myrtles…a

large；　dark　house　standing　back　from　the　road　in　its　own　grounds。　Here

we　dismissed　our　cab　and　made　our　way　up　the　drive　together。

　　〃The　windows　are　all　dark；〃　remarked　the　inspector。　〃The　house　seems

deserted。〃

　　〃Our　birds　are　flown　and　the　nest　empty；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Why　do　you　say　so？〃

　　〃A　carriage　heavily　loaded　with　luggage　has　passed　out　during　the

last　hour。〃

　　The　inspector　laughed。　〃I　saw　the　wheel…tracks　in　the　light　of　the

gate…lamp；　but　where　does　the　luggage　come　in？〃

　　〃You　may　have　observed　the　same　wheel…tracks　going　the　other　way。

But　the　outward…bound　ones　were　very　much　deeper…so　much　so　that　we

can　say　for　a　certainty　that　there　was　a　very　considerable　weight　on

the　carriage。〃

　　〃You　get　a　trifle　beyond　me　there；〃　said　the　inspector；　shrugging

his　shoulders。　〃It　will　not　be　an　easy　door　to　force；　but　we　will

try　if　we　cannot　make　someone　hear　us。〃

　　He　hammered　loudly　at　the　knocker　and　pulled　at　the　bell；　but

without　any　success。　Holmes　had　slipped　away；　but　he　came　back　in　a

few　minutes。

　　〃I　have　a　window　open；〃　said　he。

　　〃It　is　a　mercy　that　you　are　on　the　side　of　the　force；　and　not

against　it；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　remarked　the　inspector　as　he　noted　the　clever

way　in　which　my　friend　had　forced　back　the　catch。　〃Well；　I　think

that　under　the　circumstances　we　may　enter　without　an　invitation。〃

　　One　after　the　other　we　made　our　way　into　a　large　apartment；　which

was　evidently　that　in　which　Mr。　Melas　had　found　himself。　The　inspector

had　lit　his　lantern；　and　by　its　light　we　could　see　the　two　doors；

the　curtain；　the　lamp；　and　the　suit　of　Japanese　mail　as　he　had

described　them。　On　the　table　lay　two　glasses；　an　empty

brandy…bottle；　and　the　remains　of　a　meal。

　　〃What　is　that？〃　asked　Holmes　suddenly。

　　We　all　stood　still　and　listened。　A　low　moaning　sound　was　com