a scandal in bohemia-第2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！


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

cloak　which　was　thrown　over　his　shoulders　was　lined　with

flame…coloured　silk　and　secured　at　the　neck　with　a　brooch　which

consisted　of　a　single　flaming　beryl。　Boots　which　extended　halfway　up

his　calves；　and　which　were　trimmed　at　the　tops　with　rich　brown　fur；

completed　the　impression　of　barbaric　opulence　which　was　suggested　by

his　whole　appearance。　He　carried　a　broad…brimmed　hat　in　his　hand；

while　he　wore　across　the　upper　part　of　his　face；　extending　down　past

the　cheekbones；　a　black　vizard　mask；　which　he　had　apparently

adjusted　that　very　moment；　for　his　hand　was　still　raised　to　it　as　he

entered。　From　the　lower　part　of　the　face　he　appeared　to　be　a　man　of

strong　character；　with　a　thick；　hanging　lip；　and　a　long；　straight　chin

suggestive　of　resolution　pushed　to　the　length　of　obstinacy。

　　〃You　had　my　note？〃　he　asked　with　a　deep　harsh　voice　and　a　strongly

marked　German　accent。　〃I　told　you　that　I　would　call。〃　He　looked　from

one　to　the　other　of　us；　as　if　uncertain　which　to　address。

　　〃Pray　take　a　seat；〃　said　Holmes。　〃This　is　my　friend　and　colleague；

Dr。　Watson；　who　is　occasionally　good　enough　to　help　me　in　my　cases。

Whom　have　I　the　honour　to　address？〃

　　〃You　may　address　me　as　the　Count　Von　Kramm；　a　Bohemian　nobleman。　I

understand　that　this　gentleman；　your　friend；　is　a　man　of　honour　and

discretion；　whom　I　may　trust　with　a　matter　of　the　most　extreme

importance。　If　not；　I　should　much　prefer　to　communicate　with　you

alone。〃

　　I　rose　to　go；　but　Holmes　caught　me　by　the　wrist　and　pushed　me　back

into　my　chair。　〃It　is　both；　or　none；〃　said　he。　〃You　may　say　before

this　gentleman　anything　which　you　may　say　to　me。〃

　　The　Count　shrugged　his　broad　shoulders。　〃Then　I　must　begin；〃　said

he；　〃by　binding　you　both　to　absolute　secrecy　for　two　years；　at　the　end

of　that　time　the　matter　will　be　of　no　importance。　At　present　it　is　not

too　much　to　say　that　it　is　of　such　weight　it　may　have　an　influence

upon　European　history。〃

　　〃I　promise；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃And　I。〃

　　〃You　will　excuse　this　mask；〃　continued　our　strange　visitor。　〃The

august　person　who　employs　me　wishes　his　agent　to　be　unknown　to　you；

and　I　may　confess　at　once　that　the　title　by　which　I　have　just　called

myself　is　not　exactly　my　own。〃

　　〃I　was　aware　of　it；〃　said　Holmes　drily。

　　〃The　circumstances　are　of　great　delicacy；　and　every　precaution　has

to　be　taken　to　quench　what　might　grow　to　be　an　immense　scandal　and

seriously　compromise　one　of　the　reigning　families　of　Europe。　To

speak　plainly；　the　matter　implicates　the　great　House　of　Ormstein；

hereditary　kings　of　Bohemia。〃

　　〃I　was　also　aware　of　that；〃　murmured　Holmes；　settling　himself　down

in　his　armchair　and　closing　his　eyes。

　　Our　visitor　glanced　with　some　apparent　surprise　at　the　languid；

lounging　figure　of　the　man　who　had　been　no　doubt　depicted　to　him　as

the　most　incisive　reasoner　and　most　energetic　agent　in　Europe。

Holmes　slowly　reopened　his　eyes　and　looked　impatiently　at　his　gigantic

client。

　　〃If　your　Majesty　would　condescend　to　state　your　case；〃　he

remarked；　〃I　should　be　better　able　to　advise　you。〃

　　The　man　sprang　from　his　chair　and　paced　up　and　down　the　room　in

uncontrollable　agitation。　Then；　with　a　gesture　of　desperation；　he　tore

the　mask　from　his　face　and　hurled　it　upon　the　ground。　〃You　are　right；〃

he　cried；　〃I　am　the　King。　Why　should　I　attempt　to　conceal　it？〃

　　〃Why；　indeed？〃　murmured　Holmes。　〃Your　Majesty　had　not　spoken

before　I　was　aware　that　I　was　addressing　Wilhelm　Gottsreich

Sigismond　von　Ormstein；　Grand　Duke　of　Cassel…Felstein；　and

hereditary　King　of　Bohemia。〃

　　〃But　you　can　understand；〃　said　our　strange　visitor；　sitting　down

once　more　and　passing　his　hand　over　his　high　white　forehead；　〃you

can　understand　that　I　am　not　accustomed　to　doing　such　business　in　my

own　person。　Yet　the　matter　was　so　delicate　that　I　could　not　confide　it

to　an　agent　without　putting　myself　in　his　power。　I　have　come　incognito

from　Prague　for　the　purpose　of　consulting　you。〃

　　〃Then；　pray　consult；〃　said　Holmes；　shutting　his　eyes　once　more。

　　〃The　facts　are　briefly　these：　Some　five　years　ago；　during　a

lengthy　visit　to　Warsaw；　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　the　well…known

adventuress；　Irene　Adler。　The　name　is　no　doubt　familiar　to　you。〃

　　〃Kindly　look　her　up　in　my　index；　Doctor；〃　murmured　Holmes　without

opening　his　eyes。　For　many　years　he　had　adopted　a　system　of

docketing　all　paragraphs　concerning　men　and　things；　so　that　it　was

difficult　to　name　a　subject　or　a　person　on　which　he　could　not　at

once　furnish　information。　In　this　case　I　found　her　biography

sandwiched　in　between　that　of　a　Hebrew　rabbi　and　that　of　a

staff…commander　who　had　written　a　monograph　upon　the　deep…sea　fishes。

　　〃Let　me　see！〃　said　Holmes。　〃Hum！　Born　in　New　Jersey　in　the　year

1858。　Contralto…　hum！　La　Scala；　hum！　Prima　donna　Imperial　Opera　of

Warsaw…　yes！　Retired　from　operatic　stage…　ha！　Living　in　London…

quite　so！　Your　Majesty；　as　I　understand；　became　entangled　with　this

young　person；　wrote　her　some　compromising　letters；　and　is　now　desirous

of　getting　those　letters　back。〃

　　〃Precisely　so。　But　how…〃

　　〃Was　there　a　secret　marriage？〃

　　〃None。〃

　　〃No　legal　papers　or　certificates？〃

　　〃None。〃

　　〃Then　I　fail　to　follow　your　Majesty。　If　this　young　person　should

produce　her　letters　for　blackmailing　or　other　purposes；　how　is　she

to　prove　their　authenticity？〃

　　〃There　is　the　writing。〃

　　〃Pooh；　pooh！　Forgery。〃

　　〃My　private　note…paper。〃

　　〃Stolen。〃

　　〃My　own　seal。〃

　　〃Imitated。〃

　　〃My　photograph。〃

　　〃Bought。〃

　　〃We　were　both　in　the　photograph。〃

　　〃Oh　dear！　That　is　very　bad！　Your　Majesty　has　indeed　committed　an

indiscretion。〃

　　〃I　was　mad…　insane。〃

　　〃You　have　compromised　yourself　seriously。〃

　　〃I　was　only　Crown　Prince　then。　I　was　young。　I　am　but　thirty　now。〃

　　〃It　must　be　recovered。〃

　　〃We　have　tried　and　failed。〃

　　〃Your　Majesty　must　pay。　It　must　be　bought。〃

　　〃She　will　not　sell。〃

　　〃Stolen；　then。〃

　　〃Five　attempts　have　been　made。　Twice　burglars　in　my　pay　ransacked

her　house。　Once　we　diverted　her　luggage　when　she　travelled。　Twice

she　has　been　waylaid。　There　has　been　no　result。〃

　　〃No　sign　of　it？〃

　　〃Absolutely　none。〃

　　Holmes　laughed。　〃It　is　quite　a　pretty　little　problem；〃　said　he。

　　〃But　a　very　serious　one　to　me；〃　returned　the　King　reproachfully。

　　〃Very；　indeed。　And　what　does　she　propose　to　do　with　the　photograph？〃

　　〃To　ruin　me。〃

　　〃But　how？〃

　　〃I　am　about　to　be　married。〃

　　〃So　I　have　heard。〃

　　〃To　Clotilde　Lothman　von　Saxe…Meningen；　second　daughter　of　the

King　of　Scandinavia。　You　may　know　the　strict　principles　of　her　family。

She　is　herself　the　very　soul　of　delicacy。　A　shadow　of　a　doubt　as　to　my

conduct　would　bring　the　matter　to　an　end。〃

　　〃And　Irene　Adler？〃

　　〃Threatens　to　send　them　the　photograph。　And　she　will　do　it。　I　know

that　she　will　do　it。　You　do　not　know　her；　but　she　has　a　soul　of　steel。

She　has　the　face　of　the　most　beautiful　of　women；　and　the　mind　of　the

most　resolute　of　men。　Rather　than　I　should　marry　another　woman；

there　are　no　lengths　to　which　she　would　not　go…　none。〃

　　〃You　are　sure　that　she　has　not　sent　it　yet？〃

　　〃I　am　sure。〃

　　〃And　why？〃

　　〃Because　she　has　said　that　she　would　send　it　on　the　day　when　the

betrothal　was　publicly　proclaimed。　That　will　be　next　Monday。〃

　　〃Oh；　then　we　have　three　days　yet；〃　said　Holmes　with　a　yawn。　〃That　is

very　fortunate；　as　I　have　one　or　two　matters　of　importance　to　look

into　just　at　present。　Your　Majesty　will；　of　course；　stay　in　London　for

the　present？〃

　　〃Certainly。　You　will　find　me　at　the　Langham　under　the　name　of　the

Count　Von　Kramm。〃

　　〃Then　I　shall　drop　you　a　line　to　let　you　know　how　we　progress。〃

　　〃Pray　do　so。　I　shall　be　all　anxiety。〃

　　〃Then；　as　to　money？〃

　　〃You　have　carte　blanche。〃

　　〃Absolutely？〃

　　〃I　tell　you　that　I　would　give　one　of　the　provinces　of　my　kingdom

to　have　that　photograph。〃

　　〃And　for　present　expenses？〃

　　The　King　took　a　heavy　chamois　leather　bag　from　under　his　cloak　and

laid　it　on　the　table。

　　〃There　are　three　hundred　pounds　in　gold　and　seven　hundred　in　notes；〃

he　said。

　　Holmes　scribbled　a　receipt　upon　a　sheet　of　his　note…book　and

handed　it　to　him。

　　〃And　Mademoiselle's　address？〃　he　asked。

　　〃Is　Briony　Lodge；　Serpentine　Avenue；　St。　John's　Wood。〃

　　Holmes　took　a　note　of　it。　〃One　other　question；〃　said　he。　〃Was　the

photograph　a　cabinet？〃

　　〃It　was。〃

　　〃Then；　good…night；　your　Majesty；　and　I　trust　that　we　shall　soon　have

some　good　news　for　you。　And　good…night；　Watson；〃　he　added；　as　the

wheels　of　the　royal　brougham　rolled　down　the　street。　〃If　you　will　be

good　enough　to　call　to…morrow　afternoon　at　three　o'clock　I　should　like

to　chat　this　little　matter　over　with　you。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2



　　At　three　o'clock　precisely　I　was　at　Baker　Street；　but　Holmes　had　not

yet　returned。　The　landlady　informed　me　that　he　had　left　the　house

shortly　after　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning。　I　sat　down　beside　the

fire；　however；　with　the　intention　of　awaiting　him；　however　long　he

might　be。　I　was　already　deeply　interested　in　his　inquiry；　for；

though　it　was　surrounded　by　none　of　the　grim　and　strange　features

which　were　associated　with　the　two　crimes　which　I　have　already

recorded；　still；　the　nature　of　the　case　and　the　exalted　station　of　his

client　gave　it　a　character　of　its　own。　Indeed；　apart　from　the　nature

of　the　investigation　which　my　friend　had　on　hand；　there　was

something　in　his　masterly　grasp　of　a　situation；　and　his　keen；　incisive

reasoning；　which　made　it　a　pleasure　to　me　to　study　his　system　of　work；

and　to　follow　the　quick；　subtle　methods　by　which　he　disentangled　the

most　inextricable　mysteries。　So　accustomed　was　I　to　his　invariable

success　that　the　very　possibility　of　his　failing　had　ceased　to　enter

into　my　head。

　　It　was　close　upon　four　before　the　door　opened；　and　a　drunken…looking

groom；　ill…kempt　and　side…whiskered；　with　an　inflamed　face　and

disreputable　clothes；　walked　into　the　room。　Accustomed　as　I　was　to

my　friend's　amazing　powers　in　the　use　of　disguises；　I　had　to　look

three　times　before　I　was　certain　that　it　was　indeed　he。　With　a　nod

he　vanished　into　the　bedroom；　whence　he　emerged　in　five　minutes

tweed…suited　and　respectable；　as　of　old。　Putting　his　hands　into　his

pockets；　he　stretched　out　his　legs　in　front　of　the　fire　and　laughed

heartily　for　some　minutes。

　　〃Well；　really！〃　he　cried；　and　then　he　choked　and　laughed　again　until

he　was　obliged　to　lie　back；　limp　and　helpless；　in　the　chair。

　　〃What　is　it？〃

　　〃It's　quite　too　funny。　I　am　sure　you　could　never　guess　how　I

employed　my　morning；　or　what　I　ended　by　doing。〃

　　〃I　can't　imagine。　I　suppose　that　you　have　been　watching　the

habits；　and　perhaps　the　house；　of　Miss　Irene　Adler。〃

　　〃Quite　so；　but　the　sequel　was　rather　unusual。　I　will　tell　you；

however。　I　left　the　house　a　little　after　eight　o'clock　this　morning　in

the　character　of　a　groom　out　of　work。　There　is　a　wonderful　sympathy

and　freemasonry　among　horsy　men。　Be　one　of　them；　and　you　will　know　all

that　there　is　to　know。　I　soon　found　Briony　Lodge。　It　is　a　bijou　villa；

with　a　garden　at　the　back；　but　built　out　in　f