the adventure of the copper beeches-第4章

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old　Toller；　my　groom；　is　the　only　man　who　can　do　anything　with　him。　We

feed　him　once　a　day；　and　not　too　much　then；　so　that　he　is　always　as

keen　as　mustard。　Toller　lets　him　loose　every　night；　and　God　help　the

trespasser　whom　he　lays　his　fangs　upon。　For　goodness'　sake　don't　you

ever　on　any　pretext　set　your　foot　over　the　threshold　at　night；　for

it's　as　much　as　your　life　is　worth。〃

　　〃The　warning　was　no　idle　one；　for　two　nights　later　I　happened　to

look　out　of　my　bedroom　window　about　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。　It　was

a　beautiful　moonlight　night；　and　the　lawn　in　front　of　the　house　was

silvered　over　and　almost　as　bright　as　day。　I　was　standing；　rapt　in　the

peaceful　beauty　of　the　scene；　when　I　was　aware　that　something　was

moving　under　the　shadow　of　the　copper　beeches。　As　it　emerged　into

the　moonshine　I　saw　what　it　was。　It　was　a　giant　dog；　as　large　as　a

calf；　tawny　tinted；　with　hanging　jowl；　black　muzzle；　and　huge

projecting　bones。　It　walked　slowly　across　the　lawn　and　vanished　into

the　shadow　upon　the　other　side。　That　dreadful　sentinel　sent　a　chill　to

my　heart　which　I　do　not　think　that　any　burglar　could　have　done。

　　〃And　now　I　have　a　very　strange　experience　to　tell　you。　I　had；　as　you

know；　cut　off　my　hair　in　London；　and　I　had　placed　it　in　a　great　coil

at　the　bottom　of　my　trunk。　One　evening；　after　the　child　was　in　bed；

I　began　to　amuse　myself　by　examining　the　furniture　of　my　room　and　by

rearranging　my　own　little　things。　There　was　an　old　chest　of　drawers　in

the　room；　the　two　upper　ones　empty　and　open；　the　lower　one　locked。　I

had　filled　the　first　two　with　my　linen；　and　as　I　had　still　much　to

pack　away　I　was　naturally　annoyed　at　not　having　the　use　of　the　third

drawer。　It　struck　me　that　it　might　have　been　fastened　by　a　mere

oversight；　so　I　took　out　my　bunch　of　keys　and　tried　to　open　it。　The

very　first　key　fitted　to　perfection；　and　I　drew　the　drawer　open。　There

was　only　one　thing　in　it；　but　I　am　sure　that　you　would　never　guess

what　it　was。　It　was　my　coil　of　hair。

　　〃I　took　it　up　and　examined　it。　It　was　of　the　same　peculiar　tint；　and

the　same　thickness。　But　then　the　impossibility　of　the　thing　obtruded

itself　upon　me。　How　could　my　hair　have　been　locked　in　the　drawer？　With

trembling　hands　I　undid　my　trunk；　turned　out　the　contents；　and　drew

from　the　bottom　my　own　hair。　I　laid　the　two　tresses　together；　and　I

assure　you　that　they　were　identical。　Was　it　not　extraordinary？

Puzzle　as　I　would；　I　could　make　nothing　at　all　of　what　it　meant。　I

returned　the　strange　hair　to　the　drawer；　and　I　said　nothing　of　the

matter　to　the　Rucastles　as　I　felt　that　I　had　put　myself　in　the　wrong

by　opening　a　drawer　which　they　had　locked。

　　〃I　am　naturally　observant；　as　you　may　have　remarked；　Mr。　Holmes；　and

I　soon　had　a　pretty　good　plan　of　the　whole　house　in　my　head。　There　was

one　wing；　however；　which　appeared　not　to　be　inhabited　at　all。　A　door

which　faced　that　which　led　into　the　quarters　of　the　Tollers　opened

into　this　suite；　but　it　was　invariably　locked。　One　day；　however；　as

I　ascended　the　stair；　I　met　Mr。　Rucastle　coming　out　through　this　door；

his　keys　in　his　hand；　and　a　look　on　his　face　which　made　him　a　very

different　person　to　the　round；　jovial　man　to　whom　I　was　accustomed。

His　cheeks　were　red；　his　brow　was　all　crinkled　with　anger；　and　the

veins　stood　out　at　his　temples　with　passion。　He　locked　the　door　and

hurried　past　me　without　a　word　or　a　look。

　　〃This　aroused　my　curiosity；　so　when　I　went　out　for　a　walk　in　the

grounds　with　my　charge；　I　strolled　round　to　the　side　from　which　I

could　see　the　windows　of　this　part　of　the　house。　There　were　four　of

them　in　a　row；　three　of　which　were　simply　dirty；　while　the　fourth

was　shuttered　up。　They　were　evidently　all　deserted。　As　I　strolled　up

and　down；　glancing　at　them　occasionally；　Mr。　Rucastle　came　out　to

me；　looking　as　merry　and　jovial　as　ever。

　　〃'Ah！'　said　he；　'you　must　not　think　me　rude　if　I　passed　you

without　a　word；　my　dear　young　lady。　I　was　preoccupied　with　business

matters。'

　　〃I　assured　him　that　I　was　not　offended。　'By　the　way；'　said　I；　'you

seem　to　have　quite　a　suite　of　spare　rooms　up　there；　and　one　of　them

has　the　shutters　up。'

　　〃He　looked　surprised　and；　as　it　seemed　to　me；　a　little　startled　at

my　remark。

　　〃'Photography　is　one　of　my　hobbies；'　said　he。　'I　have　made　my　dark

room　up　there。　But；　dear　me！　what　an　observant　young　lady　we　have　come

upon。　Who　would　have　believed　it？'　He　spoke　in　a　jesting　tone；　but

there　was　no　jest　in　his　eyes　as　he　looked　at　me。　I　read　suspicion

there　and　annoyance；　but　no　jest。

　　〃Well；　Mr。　Holmes；　from　the　moment　that　I　understood　that　there

was　something　about　that　suite　of　rooms　which　I　was　not　to　know；　I　was

all　on　fire　to　go　over　them。　It　was　not　mere　curiosity；　though　I

have　my　share　of　that。　It　was　more　a　feeling　of　duty…a　feeling　that

some　good　might　come　from　my　penetrating　to　this　place。　They　talk　of

woman's　instinct；　perhaps　it　was　woman's　instinct　which　gave　me　that

feeling。　At　any　rate；　it　was　there；　and　I　was　keenly　on　the　lookout

for　any　chance　to　pass　the　forbidden　door。

　　〃It　was　only　yesterday　that　the　chance　came。　I　may　tell　you　that；

besides　Mr。　Rucastle；　both　Toller　and　his　wife　find　something　to　do　in

these　deserted　rooms；　and　I　once　saw　him　carrying　a　large　black

linen　bag　with　him　through　the　door。　Recently　he　has　been　drinking

hard；　and　yesterday　evening　he　was　very　drunk；　and　when　I　came

upstairs　there　was　the　key　in　the　door。　I　have　no　doubt　at　all　that　he

had　left　it　there。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Rucastle　were　both　downstairs；　and　the

child　was　with　them；　so　that　I　had　an　admirable　opportunity。　I

turned　the　key　gently　in　the　lock；　opened　the　door；　and　slipped

through。

　　〃There　was　a　little　passage　in　front　of　me；　unpapered　and

uncarpeted；　which　turned　at　a　right　angle　at　the　farther　end。　Round

this　corner　were　three　doors　in　a　line；　the　first　and　third　of　which

were　open。　They　each　led　into　an　empty　room；　dusty　and　cheerless；　with

two　windows　in　the　one　and　one　in　the　other；　so　thick　with　dirt　that

the　evening　light　glimmered　dimly　through　them。　The　centre　door　was

closed；　and　across　the　outside　of　it　had　been　fastened　one　of　the

broad　bars　of　an　iron　bed；　padlocked　at　one　end　to　a　ring　in　the　wall；

and　fastened　at　the　other　with　stout　cord。　The　door　itself　was

locked　as　well；　and　the　key　was　not　there。　This　barricaded　door

corresponded　clearly　with　the　shuttered　window　outside；　and　yet　I

could　see　by　the　glimmer　from　beneath　it　that　the　room　was　not　in

darkness。　Evidently　there　was　a　skylight　which　let　in　light　from

above。　As　I　stood　in　the　passage　gazing　at　the　sinister　door　and

wondering　what　secret　it　might　veil；　I　suddenly　heard　the　sound　of

steps　within　the　room　and　saw　a　shadow　pass　backward　and　forward

against　the　little　slit　of　dim　light　which　shone　out　from　under　the

door。　A　mad；　unreasoning　terror　rose　up　in　me　at　the　sight；　Mr。

Holmes。　My　overstrung　nerves　failed　me　suddenly；　and　I　turned　and

ran…ran　as　though　some　dreadful　hand　were　behind　me　clutching　at　the

skirt　of　my　dress。　I　rushed　down　the　passage；　through　the　door；　and

straight　into　the　arms　of　Mr。　Rucastle；　who　was　waiting　outside。

　　〃'So；'　said　he；　smiling；　'it　was　you；　then。　I　thought　that　it　must

be　when　I　saw　the　door　open。'

　　〃'Oh；　I　am　so　frightened！'　I　panted。

　　〃'My　dear　young　lady！　my　dear　young　lady！'…you　cannot　think　how

caressing　and　soothing　his　manner　was…；'and　what　has　frightened　you；

my　dear　lady？'

　　〃But　his　voice　was　just　a　little　too　coaxing。　He　overdid　it。　I　was

keenly　on　my　guard　against　him。

　　'I　was　foolish　enough　to　go　into　the　empty　wing；'　I　answered。　'But

it　is　so　lonely　and　eerie　in　this　dim　light　that　I　was　frightened

and　ran　out　again。　Oh；　it　is　so　dreadfully　still　in　there！'

　　〃'Only　that？'　said　he；　looking　at　me　keenly。

　　〃'Why；　what　did　you　think？'　I　asked。

　　〃'Why　do　you　think　that　I　lock　this　door？'

　　〃'I　am　sure　that　I　do　not　know。'

　　〃'It　is　to　keep　people　out　who　have　no　business　there。　Do　you

see？'　He　was　still　smiling　in　the　most　amiable　manner。

　　〃'I　am　sure　if　I　had　known…'

　　〃'Well；　then；　you　know　now。　And　if　you　ever　put　your　foot　over

that　threshold　again'…here　in　an　instant　the　smile　hardened　into　a

grin　of　rage；　and　he　glared　down　at　me　with　the　face　of　a

demon…'I'll　throw　you　to　the　mastiff。'

　　〃I　was　so　terrified　that　I　do　not　know　what　I　did。　I　suppose　that

I　must　have　rushed　past　him　into　my　room。　I　remember　nothing　until　I

found　myself　lying　on　my　bed　trembling　all　over。　Then　I　thought　of

you；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　could　not　live　there　longer　without　some　advice。

I　was　frightened　of　the　house；　of　the　man；　of　the　woman；　of　the

servants；　even　of　the　child。　They　were　all　horrible　to　me。　If　I

could　only　bring　you　down　all　would　be　well。　Of　course　I　might　have

fled　from　the　house；　but　my　curiosity　was　almost　as　strong　as　my

fears。　My　mind　was　soon　made　up。　I　would　send　you　a　wire。　I　put　on

my　hat　and　cloak；　went　down　to　the　office；　which　is　about　half　a

mile　from　the　house；　and　then　returned；　feeling　very　much　easier。　A

horrible　doubt　came　into　my　mind　as　I　approached　the　door　lest　the　dog

might　be　loose；　but　I　remembered　that　Toller　had　drunk　himself　into

a　state　of　insensibility　that　evening；　and　I　knew　that　he　was　the　only

one　in　the　household　who　had　any　influence　with　the　savage　creature；

or　who　would　venture　to　set　him　free。　I　slipped　in　and　lay　awake

half　the　night　in　my　joy　at　the　thought　of　seeing　you。　I　had　no

difficulty　in　getting　leave　to　come　into　Winchester　this　morning；

but　I　must　be　back　before　three　o'clock；　for　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Rucastle　are

going　on　a　visit；　and　will　be　away　all　the　evening；　so　that　I　must

look　after　the　child。　Now　I　have　told　you　all　my　adventures；　Mr。

Holmes；　and　I　should　be　very　glad　if　you　could　tell　me　what　it　all

means；　and；　above　all；　what　I　should　do。〃

　　Holmes　and　I　had　listened　spellbound　to　this　extraordinary　story。　My

friend　rose　now　and　paced　up　and　down　the　room；　his　hands　in　his

pockets；　and　an　expression　of　the　most　profound　gravity　upon　his　face。

　　〃Is　Toller　still　drunk？〃　he　asked。

　　〃Yes。　I　heard　his　wife　tell　Mrs。　Rucastle　that　she　could　do

nothing　with　him。〃

　　〃That　is　well。　And　the　Rucastles　go　out　to…night？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Is　there　a　cellar　with　a　good　strong　lock？〃

　　〃Yes；　the　wine…cellar。〃

　　〃You　seem　to　me　to　have　acted　all　through　this　matter　like　a　very

brave　and　sensible　girl；　Miss　Hunter。　Do　you　think　that　you　could

perform　one　more　feat？　I　should　not　ask　it　of　you　if　I　did　not　think

you　a　quite　exceptional　woman。〃

　　〃I　will　try。　What　is　it？〃

　　〃We　shall　be　at　the　Copper　Beeches　by　seven　o'clock；　my　friend　and

I。　The　Rucastles　will　be　gone　by　that　time；　and　Toller　will；　we

hope；　be　incapable。　There　only　remains　Mrs。　Toller；　who　might　give　the

alarm。　If　you　could　send　her　into　the　cellar　on　some　errand；　and

then　turn　the　key　upon　her；　you　would　facilitate　matters　immensely。〃

　　〃I　will　do　it。〃

　　〃Excellent！　We　shall　then　look　thoroughly　into　the　affair。　Of　course

there　is　only　one　feasible　explanation。　You　have　been　brought　there　to

personate　someone；　and　the　real　person　is　impr