the adventure of the missing three-quarter-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　MISSING　THREE…QUARTER

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle



　　We　were　fairly　accustomed　to　receive　weird　telegrams　at　Baker

Street；　but　I　have　a　particular　recollection　of　one　which　reached　us

on　a　gloomy　February　morning；　some　seven　or　eight　years　ago；　and

gave　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes　a　puzzled　quarter　of　an　hour。　It　was

addressed　to　him；　and　ran　thus：



　　Please　await　me。　Terrible　misfortune。　Right　wing　three…quarter

missing；　indispensable　to…morrow。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OVERTON。



　　〃Strand　postmark；　and　dispatched　ten　thirty…six；〃　said　Holmes；

reading　it　over　and　over。　〃Mr。　Overton　was　evidently　considerably

excited　when　he　sent　it；　and　somewhat　incoherent　in　consequence。　Well；

well；　he　will　be　here；　I　daresay；　by　the　time　I　have　looked　through

the　Times；　and　then　we　shall　know　all　about　it。　Even　the　most

insignificant　problem　would　be　welcome　in　these　stagnant　days。〃

　　Things　had　indeed　been　very　slow　with　us；　and　I　had　learned　to　dread

such　periods　of　inaction；　for　I　knew　by　experience　that　my　companion's

brain　was　so　abnormally　active　that　it　was　dangerous　to　leave　it

without　material　upon　which　to　work。　For　years　I　had　gradually

weaned　him　from　that　drug　mania　which　had　threatened　once　to　check　his

remarkable　career。　Now　I　knew　that　under　ordinary　conditions　he　no

longer　craved　for　this　artificial　stimulus；　but　I　was　well　aware

that　the　fiend　was　not　dead　but　sleeping；　and　I　have　known　that　the

sleep　was　a　light　one　and　the　waking　near　when　in　periods　of

idleness　I　have　seen　the　drawn　look　upon　Holmes's　ascetic　face；　and

the　brooding　of　his　deep…set　and　inscrutable　eyes。　Therefore　I　blessed

this　Mr。　Overton　whoever　he　might　be；　since　he　had　come　with　his

enigmatic　message　to　break　that　dangerous　calm　which　brought　more

peril　to　my　friend　than　all　the　storms　of　his　tempestuous　life。

　　As　we　had　expected；　the　telegram　was　soon　followed　by　its　sender；

and　the　card　of　Mr。　Cyril　Overton；　Trinity　College；　Cambridge；

announced　the　arrival　of　an　enormous　young　man；　sixteen　stone　of　solid

bone　and　muscle；　who　spanned　the　doorway　with　his　broad　shoulders；　and

looked　from　one　of　us　to　the　other　with　a　comely　face　which　was

haggard　with　anxiety。

　　〃Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes？〃

　　My　companion　bowed。

　　〃I've　been　down　to　Scotland　Yard；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　saw　Inspector

Stanley　Hopkins。　He　advised　me　to　come　to　you。　He　said　the　case；　so

far　as　he　could　see；　was　more　in　your　line　than　in　that　of　the　regular

police。〃

　　〃Pray　sit　down　and　tell　me　what　is　the　matter。〃

　　〃It's　awful；　Mr。　Holmes…　simply　awfull　I　wonder　my　hair　isn't

gray。　Godfrey　Staunton…　you've　heard　of　him；　of　course？　He's　simply

the　hinge　that　the　whole　team　turns　on。　I'd　rather　spare　two　from

the　pack；　and　have　Godfrey　for　my　three…quarter　line。　Whether　it's

passing；　or　tackling；　or　dribbling；　there's　no　one　to　touch　him；　and

then；　he's　got　the　head；　and　can　hold　us　all　together。　What　am　I　to

do？　That's　what　I　ask　you；　Mr。　Holmes。　There's　Moorhouse；　first

reserve；　but　he　is　trained　as　a　half；　and　he　always　edges　right　in

on　to　the　scrum　instead　of　keeping　out　on　the　touchline。　He's　a　fine

place…kick；　it's　true；　but　then　he　has　no　judgment；　and　he　can't

sprint　for　nuts。　Why；　Morton　or　Johnson；　the　Oxford　fliers；　could　romp

round　him。　Stevenson　is　fast　enough；　but　he　couldn't　drop　from　the

twenty…five　line；　and　a　three…quarter　who　can't　either　punt　or　drop

isn't　worth　a　place　for　pace　alone。　No；　Mr。　Holmes；　we　are　done　unless

you　can　help　me　to　find　Godfrey　Staunton。〃

　　My　friend　had　listened　with　amused　surprise　to　this　long　speech；

which　was　poured　forth　with　extraordinary　vigour　and　earnestness；

every　point　being　driven　home　by　the　slapping　of　a　brawny　hand　upon

the　speaker's　knee。　When　our　visitor　was　silent　Holmes　stretched　out

his　hand　and　took　down　letter　〃S〃　of　his　commonplace　book。　For　once　he

dug　in　vain　into　that　mine　of　varied　information。

　　〃There　is　Arthur　H。　Staunton；　the　rising　young　forger；〃　said　he；

〃and　there　was　Henry　Staunton；　whom　I　helped　to　hang；　but　Godfrey

Staunton　is　a　new　name　to　me。〃

　　It　was　our　visitor's　turn　to　look　surprised。

　　〃Why；　Mr。　Holmes；　I　thought　you　knew　things；〃　said　he。　〃I　suppose；

then；　if　you　have　never　heard　of　Godfrey　Staunton；　you　don't　know

Cyril　Overton　either？〃

　　Holmes　shook　his　head　good　humouredly。

　　〃Great　Scott！〃　cried　the　athlete。　〃Why；　I　was　first　reserve　for

England　against　Wales；　and　I've　skippered　the　'Varsity　all　this

year。　But　that's　nothing！　I　didn't　think　there　was　a　soul　in　England

who　didn't　know　Godfrey　Staunton；　the　crack　three…quarter；

Cambridge；　Blackheath；　and　five　Internationals。　Good　Lord！　Mr。　Holmes；

where　have　you　lived？〃

　　Holmes　laughed　at　the　young　giant's　naive　astonishment。

　　〃You　live　in　a　different　world　to　me；　Mr。　Overton…　a　sweeter　and

healthier　one。　My　ramifications　stretch　out　into　many　sections　of

society；　but　never；　I　am　happy　to　say；　into　amateur　sport；　which　is

the　best　and　soundest　thing　in　England。　However；　your　unexpected　visit

this　morning　shows　me　that　even　in　that　world　of　fresh　air　and　fair

play；　there　may　be　work　for　me　to　do。　So　now；　my　good　sir；　I　beg　you

to　sit　down　and　to　tell　me；　slowly　and　quietly；　exactly　what　it　is

that　has　occurred；　and　how　you　desire　that　I　should　help　you。〃

　　Young　Overton's　face　assumed　the　bothered　look　of　the　man　who　is

more　accustomed　to　using　his　muscles　than　his　wits；　but　by　degrees；

with　many　repetitions　and　obscurities　which　I　may　omit　from　his

narrative；　he　laid　his　strange　story　before　us。

　　〃It's　this　way；　Mr。　Holmes。　As　I　have　said；　I　am　the　skipper　of

the　Rugger　team　of　Cambridge　'Varsity；　and　Godfrey　Staunton　is　my　best

man。　To…morrow　we　play　Oxford。　Yesterday　we　all　came　up；　and　we

settled　at　Bentley's　private　hotel。　At　ten　o'clock　I　went　round　and

saw　that　all　the　fellows　had　gone　to　roost；　for　I　believe　in　strict

training　and　plenty　of　sleep　to　keep　a　team　fit。　I　had　a　word　or　two

with　Godfrey　before　he　turned　in。　He　seemed　to　me　to　be　pale　and

bothered。　I　asked　him　what　was　the　matter。　He　said　he　was　all　right…

just　a　touch　of　headache。　I　bade　him　good…night　and　left　him。　Half

an　hour　later；　the　porter　tells　me　that　a　rough　looking　man　with　a

beard　called　with　a　note　for　Godfrey。　He　had　not　gone　to　bed；　and

the　note　was　taken　to　his　room。　Godfrey　read　it；　and　fell　back　in　a

chair　as　if　he　had　been　pole…axed。　The　porter　was　so　scared　that　he

was　going　to　fetch　me；　but　Godfrey　stopped　him；　had　a　drink　of

water；　and　pulled　himself　together。　Then　he　went　downstairs；　said　a

few　words　to　the　man　who　was　waiting　in　the　hall；　and　the　two　of

them　went　off　together。　The　last　that　the　porter　saw　of　them；　they

were　almost　running　down　the　street　in　the　direction　of　the　Strand。

This　morning　Godfrey's　room　was　empty；　his　bed　had　never　been　slept

in；　and　his　things　were　all　just　as　I　had　seen　them　the　night

before。　He　had　gone　off　at　a　moment's　notice　with　this　stranger；　and

no　word　has　come　from　him　since。　I　don't　believe　he　will　ever　come

back。　He　was　a　sportsman；　was　Godfrey；　down　to　his　marrow；　and　he

wouldn't　have　stopped　his　training　and　let　in　his　skipper　if　it　were

not　for　some　cause　that　was　too　strong　for　him。　No：　I　feel　as　if　he

were　gone　for　good；　and　we　should　never　see　him　again。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　listened　with　the　deepest　attention　to　this　singular

narrative。

　　〃What　did　you　do？〃　he　asked。

　　〃I　wired　to　Cambridge　to　learn　if　anything　had　been　heard　of　him

there。　I　have　had　an　answer。　No　one　has　seen　him。〃

　　〃Could　he　have　got　back　to　Cambridge？〃

　　〃Yes；　there　is　a　late　train…　quarter…past　eleven。〃

　　〃But；　so　far　as　you　can　ascertain；　he　did　not　take　it？〃

　　〃No；　he　has　not　been　seen。〃

　　〃What　did　you　do　next？〃

　　〃I　wired　to　Lord　Mount…James。〃

　　〃Why　to　Lord　Mount…James？〃

　　〃Godfrey　is　an　orphan；　and　Lord　Mount…James　is　his　nearest　relative…

his　uncle；　I　believe。〃

　　〃Indeed。　This　throws　new　light　upon　the　matter。　Lord　Mount…James

is　one　of　the　richest　men　in　England。〃

　　〃So　I've　heard　Godfrey　say。〃

　　〃And　your　friend　was　closely　related？〃

　　〃Yes；　he　was　his　heir；　and　the　old　boy　is　nearly　eighty…　cram　full

of　gout；　too。　They　say　he　could　chalk　his　billiard…cue　with　his

knuckles。　He　never　allowed　Godfrey　a　shilling　in　his　life；　for　he　is

an　absolute　miser；　but　it　will　all　come　to　him　right　enough。〃

　　〃Have　you　heard　from　Lord　Mount…James？〃

　　〃No。〃

　　〃What　motive　could　your　friend　have　in　going　to　Lord　Mount…James？〃

　　〃Well；　something　was　worrying　him　the　night　before；　and　if　it　was　to

do　with　money　it　is　possible　that　he　would　make　for　his　nearest

relative；　who　had　so　much　of　it；　though　from　all　I　have　heard　he　would

not　have　much　chance　of　getting　it。　Godfrey　was　not　fond　of　the　old

man。　He　would　not　go　if　he　could　help　it。〃

　　〃Well；　we　can　soon　determine　that。　If　your　friend　was　going　to　his

relative；　Lord　Mount…James；　you　have　then　to　explain　the　visit　of　this

rough…looking　fellow　at　so　late　an　hour；　and　the　agitation　that　was

caused　by　his　coming。〃

　　Cyril　Overton　pressed　his　hands　to　his　head。　〃I　can　make　nothing

of　it；〃　said　he。

　　〃Well；　well；　I　have　a　clear　day；　and　I　shall　be　happy　to　look　into

the　matter；〃　said　Holmes。　〃I　should　strongly　recommend　you　to　make

your　preparations　for　your　match　without　reference　to　this　young

gentleman。　It　must；　as　you　say；　have　been　an　overpowering　necessity

which　tore　him　away　in　such　a　fashion；　and　the　same　necessity　is

likely　to　hold　him　away。　Let　us　step　round　together　to　the　hotel；

and　see　if　the　porter　can　throw　any　fresh　light　upon　the　matter。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　was　a　past…master　in　the　art　of　putting　a　humble

witness　at　his　ease；　and　very　soon；　in　the　privacy　of　Godfrey

Staunton's　abandoned　room；　he　had　extracted　all　that　the　porter　had　to

tell。　The　visitor　of　the　night　before　was　not　a　gentleman；　neither　was

he　a　workingman。　He　was　simply　what　the　porter　described　as　a

〃medium　looking　chap；〃　a　man　of　fifty；　beard　grizzled；　pale　face；

quietly　dressed。　He　seemed　himself　to　be　agitated。　The　porter　had

observed　his　hand　trembling　when　he　had　held　out　the　note。　Godfrey

Staunton　had　crammed　the　note　into　his　pocket。　Staunton　had　not　shaken

hands　with　the　man　in　the　hall。　They　had　exchanged　a　few　sentences；　of

which　the　porter　had　only　distinguished　the　one　word　〃time。〃　Then　they

had　hurried　off　in　the　manner　described。　It　was　just　half…past　ten

by　the　hall　clock。

　　〃Let　me　see；〃　said　Holmes；　seating　himself　on　Staunton's　bed。　〃You

are　the　day　porter；　are　you　not？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　go　off　duty　at　eleven。〃

　　〃The　night　porter　saw　nothing；　I　suppose？〃

　　〃No；　sir；　one　theatre　party　came　in　late。　No　one　else。〃

　　〃Were　you　on　duty　all　day　yesterday？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir。〃

　　〃Did　you　take　any　messages　to　Mr。　Staunton？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　one　telegram。〃

　　〃Ah！　that's　interesting。　What　o'clock　was　this？〃

　　〃About　six。〃

　　〃Where　was　Mr。　Staunton　when　he　received　it？〃

　　〃Here　in　his　room。〃

　　〃Were　you　present　when　he　opened　it？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　I