a scandal in bohemia-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SCANDAL　IN　BOHEMIA

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1



　　To　Sherlock　Holmes　she　is　always　the　woman。　I　have　seldom　heard

him　mention　her　under　any　other　name。　In　his　eyes　she　eclipses　and

predominates　the　whole　of　her　sex。　It　was　not　that　he　felt　any　emotion

akin　to　love　for　Irene　Adler。　All　emotions；　and　that　one　particularly；

were　abhorrent　to　his　cold；　precise　but　admirably　balanced　mind。　He

was；　I　take　it；　the　most　perfect　reasoning　and　observing　machine

that　the　world　has　seen；　but　as　a　lover　he　would　have　placed　himself

in　a　false　position。　He　never　spoke　of　the　softer　passions；　save

with　a　gibe　and　a　sneer。　They　were　admirable　things　for　the

observer…　excellent　for　drawing　the　veil　from　men's　motives　and

actions。　But　for　the　trained　reasoner　to　admit　such　intrusions　into

his　own　delicate　and　finely　adjusted　temperament　was　to　introduce　a

distracting　factor　which　might　throw　a　doubt　upon　all　his　mental

results。　Grit　in　a　sensitive　instrument；　or　a　crack　in　one　of　his

own　high…power　lenses；　would　not　be　more　disturbing　than　a　strong

emotion　in　a　nature　such　as　his。　And　yet　there　was　but　one　woman　to

him；　and　that　woman　was　the　late　Irene　Adler；　of　dubious　and

questionable　memory。

　　I　had　seen　little　of　Holmes　lately。　My　marriage　had　drifted　us

away　from　each　other。　My　own　complete　happiness；　and　the

home…centred　interests　which　rise　up　around　the　man　who　first　finds

himself　master　of　his　own　establishment；　were　sufficient　to　absorb　all

my　attention；　while　Holmes；　who　loathed　every　form　of　society　with　his

whole　Bohemian　soul；　remained　in　our　lodgings　in　Baker　Street；

buried　among　his　old　books；　and　alternating　from　week　to　week

between　cocaine　and　ambition；　the　drowsiness　of　the　drug；　and　the

fierce　energy　of　his　own　keen　nature。　He　was　still；　as　ever；　deeply

attracted　by　the　study　of　crime；　and　occupied　his　immense　faculties

and　extraordinary　powers　of　observation　in　following　out　those

clues；　and　clearing　up　those　mysteries　which　had　been　abandoned　as

hopeless　by　the　official　police。　From　time　to　time　I　heard　some

vague　account　of　his　doings：　of　his　summons　to　Odessa　in　the　case　of

the　Trepoff　murder；　of　his　clearing　up　of　the　singular　tragedy　of

the　Atkinson　brothers　at　Trincomalee；　and　finally　of　the　mission　which

he　had　accomplished　so　delicately　and　successfully　for　the　reigning

family　of　Holland。　Beyond　these　signs　of　his　activity；　however；

which　I　merely　shared　with　all　the　readers　of　the　daily　press；　I

knew　little　of　my　former　friend　and　companion。

　　One　night…　it　was　on　the　twentieth　of　March；　1888…　I　was　returning

from　a　journey　to　a　patient　（for　I　had　now　returned　to　civil

practice）；　when　my　way　led　me　through　Baker　Street。　As　I　passed　the

well…remembered　door；　which　must　always　be　associated　in　my　mind

with　my　wooing；　and　with　the　dark　incidents　of　the　Study　in　Scarlet；　I

was　seized　with　a　keen　desire　to　see　Holmes　again；　and　to　know　how

he　was　employing　his　extraordinary　powers。　His　rooms　were

brilliantly　lit；　and；　even　as　I　looked　up；　I　saw　his　tall；　spare

figure　pass　twice　in　a　dark　silhouette　against　the　blind。　He　was

pacing　the　room　swiftly；　eagerly；　with　his　head　sunk　upon　his　chest

and　his　hands　clasped　behind　him。　To　me；　who　knew　his　every　mood　and

habit；　his　attitude　and　manner　told　their　own　story。　He　was　at　work

again。　He　had　risen　out　of　his　drug…created　dreams　and　was　hot　upon

the　scent　of　some　new　problem。　I　rang　the　bell　and　was　shown　up　to　the

chamber　which　had　formerly　been　in　part　my　own。

　　His　manner　was　not　effusive。　It　seldom　was；　but　he　was　glad；　I

think；　to　see　me。　With　hardly　a　word　spoken；　but　with　a　kindly　eye；　he

waved　me　to　an　armchair；　threw　across　his　case　of　cigars；　and

indicated　a　spirit　case　and　a　gasogene　in　the　corner。　Then　he　stood

before　the　fire　and　looked　me　over　in　his　singular　introspective

fashion。

　　〃Wedlock　suits　you；〃　he　remarked。　〃I　think；　Watson；　that　you　have

put　on　seven　and　a　half　pounds　since　I　saw　you。〃

　　〃Seven！〃　I　answered。

　　〃Indeed；　I　should　have　thought　a　little　more。　just　a　trifle　more；

I　fancy；　Watson。　And　in　practice　again；　I　observe。　You　did　not　tell　me

that　you　intended　to　go　into　harness。〃

　　〃Then；　how　do　you　know？'

　　〃I　see　it；　I　deduce　it。　How　do　I　know　that　you　have　been　getting

yourself　very　wet　lately；　and　that　you　have　a　most　clumsy　and　careless

servant　girl？〃

　　〃My　dear　Holmes；〃　said　I；　〃this　is　too　much。　You　would　certainly

have　been　burned；　had　you　lived　a　few　centuries　ago。　It　is　true　that　I

had　a　country　walk　on　Thursday　and　came　home　in　a　dreadful　mess；　but

as　I　have　changed　my　clothes　I　can't　imagine　how　you　deduce　it。　As

to　Mary　Jane；　she　is　incorrigible；　and　my　wife　has　given　her　notice；

but　there；　again；　I　fail　to　see　how　you　work　it　out。〃

　　He　chuckled　to　himself　and　rubbed　his　long；　nervous　hands　together。

　　〃It　is　simplicity　itself；〃　said　he；　〃my　eyes　tell　me　that　on　the

inside　of　your　left　shoe；　just　where　the　firelight　strikes　it；　the

leather　is　scored　by　six　almost　parallel　cuts。　Obviously　they　have

been　caused　by　someone　who　has　very　carelessly　scraped　round　the　edges

of　the　sole　in　order　to　remove　crusted　mud　from　it。　Hence；　you　see；　my

double　deduction　that　you　had　been　out　in　vile　weather；　and　that　you

had　a　particularly　malignant　boot…slitting　specimen　of　the　London

slavey。　As　to　your　practice；　if　a　gentleman　walks　into　my　rooms

smelling　of　iodoform；　with　a　black　mark　of　nitrate　of　silver　upon

his　right　forefinger；　and　a　bulge　on　the　right　side　of　his　top…hat

to　show　where　he　has　secreted　his　stethoscope；　I　must　be　dull；　indeed；

if　I　do　not　pronounce　him　to　be　an　active　member　of　the　medical

profession。〃

　　I　could　not　help　laughing　at　the　ease　with　which　he　explained　his

process　of　deduction。　〃When　I　hear　you　give　your　reasons；〃　I　remarked；

〃the　thing　always　appears　to　me　to　be　so　ridiculously　simple　that　I

could　easily　do　it　myself；　though　at　each　successive　instance　of

your　reasoning　I　am　baffled　until　you　explain　your　process　And　yet　I

believe　that　my　eyes　are　as　good　as　yours。〃

　　〃Quite　so；〃　he　answered；　lighting　a　cigarette；　and　throwing

himself　down　into　an　armchair。　〃You　see；　but　you　do　not　observe。　The

distinction　is　clear。　For　example；　you　have　frequently　seen　the

steps　which　lead　up　from　the　hall　to　this　room。〃

　　〃Frequently。〃

　　〃How　often？〃

　　〃Well；　some　hundreds　of　times。〃

　　〃Then　how　many　are　there？〃

　　〃How　many？　I　don't　know。〃

　　〃Quite　so！　You　have　not　observed。　And　yet　you　have　seen。　That　is

just　my　point。　Now；　I　know　that　there　are　seventeen　steps；　because　I

have　both　seen　and　observed。　By　the　way；　since　you　are　interested　in

these　little　problems；　and　since　you　are　good　enough　to　chronicle

one　or　two　of　my　trifling　experiences；　you　may　be　interested　in　this。〃

He　threw　over　a　sheet　of　thick；　pink…tinted　note…paper　which　had

been　lying　open　upon　the　table。　〃It　came　by　the　last　post；〃　said　he。

〃Read　it　aloud。〃

　　The　note　was　undated；　and　without　either　signature　or　address。



　　〃There　will　call　upon　you　to…night；　at　a　quarter　to　eight　o'clock

＇it　said＇；　a　gentleman　who　desires　to　consult　you　upon　a　matter　of　the

very　deepest　moment。　Your　recent　services　to　one　of　the　royal　houses

of　Europe　have　shown　that　you　are　one　who　may　safely　be　trusted　with

matters　which　are　of　an　importance　which　can　hardly　be　exaggerated。

This　account　of　you　we　have　from　all　quarters　received。　Be　in　your

chamber　then　at　that　hour；　and　do　not　take　it　amiss　if　your　visitor

wear　a　mask。



　　〃This　is　indeed　a　mystery；〃　I　remarked。　〃What　do　you　imagine　that　it

means？〃

　　〃I　have　no　data　yet。　It　is　a　capital　mistake　to　theorize　before

one　has　data。　Insensibly　one　begins　to　twist　facts　to　suit　theories；

instead　of　theories　to　suit　facts。　But　the　note　itself。　What　do　you

deduce　from　it？〃

　　I　carefully　examined　the　writing；　and　the　paper　upon　which　it　was

written。

　　〃The　man　who　wrote　it　was　presumably　well　to　do；〃　I　remarked；

endeavouring　to　imitate　my　companion's　processes。　〃Such　paper　could

not　be　bought　under　half　a　crown　a　packet。　It　is　peculiarly　strong　and

stiff。〃

　　〃Peculiar…　that　is　the　very　word；〃　said　Holmes。　〃It　is　not　an

English　paper　at　all。　Hold　it　up　to　the　light。〃

　　I　did　so；　and　saw　a　large　‘E'　with　a　small　‘g'；　a　‘P；'　and　a　large

‘G'　with　a　small　‘t'　woven　into　the　texture　of　the　paper。

　　〃What　do　you　make　of　that？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃The　name　of　the　maker；　no　doubt；　or　his　monogram；　rather。〃

　　〃Not　at　all。　The　‘G'　with　the　small　‘t'　stands　for　‘Gesellschaft；'

which　is　the　German　for　‘Company。'　It　is　a　customary　contraction

like　our　‘Co。'　‘P；'　of　course；　stands　for　‘Papier。'　Now　for　the

‘Eg。'　Let　us　glance　at　our　Continental　Gazetteer。〃　He　took　down　a

heavy　brown　volume　from　his　shelves。　〃Eglow；　Eglonitz…　here　we　are；

Egria。　It　is　in　a　German…speaking　country…　in　Bohemia；　not　far　from

Carlsbad。　‘Remarkable　as　being　the　scene　of　the　death　of

Wallenstein；　and　for　its　numerous　glass…factories　and　paper…mills。'

Ha；　ha；　my　boy；　what　do　you　make　of　that？'　His　eyes　sparkled；　and　he

sent　up　a　great　blue　triumphant　cloud　from　his　cigarette。

　　〃The　paper　was　made　in　Bohemia；〃　I　said。

　　〃Precisely。　And　the　man　who　wrote　the　note　is　a　German。　Do　you

note　the　peculiar　construction　of　the　sentence…　‘This　account　of　you

we　have　from　all　quarters　received。'　A　Frenchman　or　Russian　could

not　have　written　that。　It　is　the　German　who　is　so　uncourteous　to　his

verbs。　It　only　remains；　therefore；　to　discover　what　is　wanted　by

this　German　who　writes　upon　Bohemian　paper　and　prefers　wearing　a

mask　to　showing　his　face。　And　here　he　comes；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；

to　resolve　all　our　doubts。〃

　　As　he　spoke　there　was　the　sharp　sound　of　horses'　hoofs　and　grating

wheels　against　the　curb；　followed　by　a　sharp　pull　at　the　bell。

Holmes　whistled。

　　〃A　pair；　by　the　sound；〃　said　he。　〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　glancing　out

of　the　window。　〃A　nice　little　brougham　and　a　pair　of　beauties。　A

hundred　and　fifty　guineas　apiece。　There's　money　in　this　case；

Watson；　if　there　is　nothing　else。〃

　　〃I　think　that　I　had　better　go；　Holmes。〃

　　〃Not　a　bit；　Doctor。　Stay　where　you　are。　I　am　lost　without　my

Boswell。　And　this　promises　to　be　interesting。　It　would　be　a　pity　to

miss　it。〃

　　〃But　your　client…〃

　　〃Never　mind　him。　I　may　want　your　help；　and　so　may　he。　Here　he　comes。

Sit　down　in　that　armchair；　Doctor；　and　give　us　your　best　attention。〃

　　A　slow　and　heavy　step；　which　had　been　heard　upon　the　stairs　and　in

the　passage；　paused　immediately　outside　the　door。　Then　there　was　a

loud　and　authoritative　tap。

　　〃Come　in！〃　said　Holmes。

　　A　man　entered　who　could　hardly　have　been　less　than　six　feet　six

inches　in　height；　with　the　chest　and　limbs　of　a　Hercules。　His　dress

was　rich　with　a　richness　which　would；　in　England；　he　looked　upon　as

akin　to　bad　taste。　Heavy　bands　of　astrakhan　were　slashed　across　the

sleeves　and　fronts　of　his　double…breasted　coat；　while　the　deep　blue

cloak　which　was　thrown　over　his　shoulders　was　lined　with

flam