the adventure of the empty house-第3章

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start　upon　the　notable　adventure　of　the　empty　house。〃

　　It　was　indeed　like　old　times　when；　at　that　hour；　I　found　myself

seated　beside　him　in　a　hansom；　my　revolver　in　my　pocket；　and　the

thrill　of　adventure　in　my　heart。　Holmes　was　cold　and　stern　and　silent。

As　the　gleam　of　the　street…lamps　flashed　upon　his　austere　features；

I　saw　that　his　brows　were　drawn　down　in　thought　and　his　thin　lips

compressed。　I　knew　not　what　wild　beast　we　were　about　to　hunt　down　in

the　dark　jungle　of　criminal　London；　but　I　was　well　assured；　from　the

bearing　of　this　master　huntsman；　that　the　adventure　was　a　most　grave

one…　while　the　sardonic　smile　which　occasionally　broke　through　his

ascetic　gloom　boded　little　good　for　the　object　of　our　quest。

　　I　had　imagined　that　we　were　bound　for　Baker　Street；　but　Holmes

stopped　the　cab　at　the　corner　of　Cavendish　Square。　I　observed　that

as　he　stepped　out　he　gave　a　most　searching　glance　to　right　and　left；

and　at　every　subsequent　street　corner　he　took　the　utmost　pains　to

assure　that　he　was　not　followed。　Our　route　was　certainly　a　singular

one。　Holmes's　knowledge　of　the　byways　of　London　was　extraordinary；　and

on　this　occasion　he　passed　rapidly　and　with　an　assured　step　through

a　network　of　mews　and　stables；　the　very　existence　of　which　I　had　never

known。　We　emerged　at　last　into　a　small　road；　lined　with　old；　gloomy

houses；　which　led　us　into　Manchester　Street；　and　so　to　Blandford

Street。　Here　he　turned　swiftly　down　a　narrow　passage；　passed　through　a

wooden　gate　into　a　deserted　yard；　and　then　opened　with　a　key　the

back　door　of　a　house。　We　entered　together；　and　he　closed　it　behind　us。

　　The　place　was　pitch　dark；　but　it　was　evident　to　me　that　it　was　an

empty　house。　Our　feet　creaked　and　crackled　over　the　bare　planking；　and

my　outstretched　hand　touched　a　wall　from　which　the　paper　was　hanging

in　ribbons。　Holmes's　cold；　thin　fingers　closed　round　my　wrist　and

led　me　forward　down　a　long　hall；　until　I　dimly　saw　the　murky

fanlight　over　the　door。　Here　Holmes　turned　suddenly　to　the　right　and

we　found　ourselves　in　a　large；　square；　empty　room；　heavily　shadowed　in

the　corners；　but　faintly　lit　in　the　centre　from　the　lights　of　the

street　beyond。　There　was　no　lamp　near；　and　the　window　was　thick　with

dust；　so　that　we　could　only　just　discern　each　other's　figures

within。　My　companion　put　his　hand　upon　my　shoulder　and　his　lips

close　to　my　ear。

　　〃Do　you　know　where　we　are？〃　he　whispered。

　　〃Surely　that　is　Baker　Street〃　I　answered；　staring　through　the　dim

window。

　　〃Exactly。　We　are　in　Camden　House；　which　stands　opposite　to　our　own

old　quarters。〃

　　〃But　why　are　we　here？〃

　　〃Because　it　commands　so　excellent　a　view　of　that　picturesque　pile。

Might　I　trouble　you；　my　dear　Watson；　to　draw　a　little　nearer　to　the

window；　taking　every　precaution　not　to　show　yourself；　and　then　to　look

up　at　our　old　rooms…　the　starting　point　of　so　many　of　your　little

fairy…tales？　We　will　see　if　my　three　years　of　absence　have　entirely

taken　away　my　power　to　surprise　you。〃

　　I　crept　forward　and　looked　across　at　the　familiar　window。　As　my　eyes

fell　upon　it；　I　gave　a　gasp　and　a　cry　of　amazement。　The　blind　was

down；　and　a　strong　light　was　burning　in　the　room。　The　shadow　of　a

man　who　was　seated　in　a　chair　within　was　thrown　in　hard；　black　outline

upon　the　luminous　screen　of　the　window。　There　was　no　mistaking　the

poise　of　the　head；　the　squareness　of　the　shoulders；　the　sharpness　of

the　features。　The　face　was　turned　half…round；　and　the　effect　was

that　of　one　of　those　black　silhouettes　which　our　grandparents　loved　to

frame。　It　was　a　perfect　reproduction　of　Holmes。　So　amazed　was　I　that　I

threw　out　my　hand　to　make　sure　that　the　man　himself　was　standing

beside　me。　He　was　quivering　with　silent　laughter。

　　〃Well？〃　said　he。

　　〃Good　heavens！〃　I　cried。　〃It　is　marvellous。〃

　　〃I　trust　that　age　doth　not　wither　nor　custom　stale　my　infinite

variety；〃　said　he；　and　I　recognized　in　his　voice　the　joy　and　pride

which　the　artist　takes　in　his　own　creation。　〃It　really　is　rather

like　me；　is　it　not？〃

　　〃I　should　be　prepared　to　swear　that　it　was　you。〃

　　〃The　credit　of　the　execution　is　due　to　Monsieur　Oscar　Meunier；　of

Grenoble；　who　spent　some　days　in　doing　the　moulding。　It　is　a　bust　in

wax。　The　rest　I　arranged　myself　during　my　visit　to　Baker　Street　this

afternoon。〃

　　〃But　why？〃

　　〃Because；　my　dear　Watson；　I　had　the　strongest　possible　reason　for

wishing　certain　people　to　think　that　I　was　there　when　I　was　really

elsewhere。〃

　　〃And　you　thought　the　rooms　were　watched？〃

　　〃I　knew　that　they　were　watched。〃

　　〃By　whom？〃

　　〃By　my　old　enemies；　Watson。　By　the　charming　society　whose　leader

lies　in　the　Reichenbach　Fall。　You　must　remember　that　they　knew；　and

only　they　knew；　that　I　was　still　alive。　Sooner　or　later　they

believed　that　I　should　come　back　to　my　rooms。　They　watched　them

continuously；　and　this　morning　they　saw　me　arrive。〃

　　〃How　do　you　know？〃

　　〃Because　I　recognized　their　sentinel　when　I　glanced　out　of　my

window。　He　is　a　harmless　enough　fellow；　Parker　by　name；　a　garroter

by　trade；　and　a　remarkable　performer　upon　the　jew's…harp。　I　cared

nothing　for　him。　But　I　cared　a　great　deal　for　the　much　more　formidable

person　who　was　behind　him；　the　bosom　friend　of　Moriarty；　the　man　who

dropped　the　rocks　over　the　cliff；　the　most　cunning　and　dangerous

criminal　in　London。　That　is　the　man　who　is　after　me　to…night　Watson；

and　that　is　the　man　who　is　quite　unaware　that　we　are　after　him。〃

　　My　friend's　plans　were　gradually　revealing　themselves。　From　this

convenient　retreat；　the　watchers　were　being　watched　and　the　trackers

tracked。　That　angular　shadow　up　yonder　was　the　bait；　and　we　were　the

hunters。　In　silence　we　stood　together　in　the　darkness　and　watched

the　hurrying　figures　who　passed　and　repassed　in　front　of　us。　Holmes

was　silent　and　motionless；　but　I　could　tell　that　he　was　keenly

alert；　and　that　his　eyes　were　fixed　intently　upon　the　stream　of

passers…by。　It　was　a　bleak　and　boisterous　night　and　the　wind

whistled　shrilly　down　the　long　street。　Many　people　were　moving　to

and　fro；　most　of　them　muffled　in　their　coats　and　cravats。　Once　or

twice　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　had　seen　the　same　figure　before；　and　I

especially　noticed　two　men　who　appeared　to　be　sheltering　themselves

from　the　wind　in　the　doorway　of　a　house　some　distance　up　the　street。　I

tried　to　draw　my　companion's　attention　to　them；　but　he　gave　a　little

ejaculation　of　impatience；　and　continued　to　stare　into　the　street。

More　than　once　he　fidgeted　with　his　feet　and　tapped　rapidly　with　his

fingers　upon　the　wall。　It　was　evident　to　me　that　he　was　becoming

uneasy；　and　that　his　plans　were　not　working　out　altogether　as　he　had

hoped。　At　last；　as　midnight　approached　and　the　street　gradually

cleared；　he　paced　up　and　down　the　room　in　uncontrollable　agitation。

I　was　about　to　make　some　remark　to　him；　when　I　raised　my　eyes　to　the

lighted　window；　and　again　experienced　almost　as　great　a　surprise　as

before。　I　clutched　Holmes's　arm；　and　pointed　upward。

　　〃The　shadow　has　moved！〃　I　cried。

　　It　was　indeed　no　longer　the　profile；　but　the　back；　which　was

turned　towards　us。

　　Three　years　had　certainly　not　smoothed　the　asperities　of　his

temper　or　his　impatience　with　a　less　active　intelligence　than　his　own。

　　〃Of　course　it　has　moved；〃　said　he。　〃Am　I　such　a　farcical　bungler；

Watson；　that　I　should　erect　an　obvious　dummy；　and　expect　that　some

of　the　sharpest　men　in　Europe　would　be　deceived　by　it？　We　have　been　in

this　room　two　hours；　and　Mrs。　Hudson　has　made　some　change　in　that

figure　eight　times；　or　once　in　every　quarter　of　an　hour。　She　works

it　from　the　front；　so　that　her　shadow　may　never　be　seen。　Ah！〃　He

drew　in　his　breath　with　a　shrill；　excited　intake。　In　the　dim　light　I

saw　his　head　thrown　forward；　his　whole　attitude　rigid　with

attention。　Outside　the　street　was　absolutely　deserted。　Those　two　men

might　still　be　crouching　in　the　doorway；　but　I　could　no　longer　see

them。　All　was　still　and　dark；　save　only　that　brilliant　yellow　screen

in　front　of　us　with　the　black　figure　outlined　upon　its　centre。　Again

in　the　utter　silence　I　heard　that　thin；　sibilant　note　which　spoke　of

intense　suppressed　excitement。　An　instant　later　he　pulled　me　back　into

the　blackest　corner　of　the　room；　and　I　felt　his　warning　hand　upon　my

lips。　The　fingers　which　clutched　me　were　quivering。　Never　had　I

known　my　friend　more　moved；　and　yet　the　dark　street　still　stretched

lonely　and　motionless　before　us。

　　But　suddenly　I　was　aware　of　that　which　his　keener　senses　had　already

distinguished。　A　low；　stealthy　sound　came　to　my　ears；　not　from　the

direction　of　Baker　Street；　but　from　the　back　of　the　very　house　in

which　we　lay　concealed。　A　door　opened　and　shut。　An　instant　later　steps

crept　down　the　passage…　steps　which　were　meant　to　be　silent；　but　which

reverberated　harshly　through　the　empty　house。　Holmes　crouched　back

against　the　wall；　and　I　did　the　same；　my　hand　closing　upon　the

handle　of　my　revolver。　Peering　through　the　gloom；　I　saw　the　vague

outline　of　a　man；　a　shade　blacker　than　the　blackness　of　the　open　door。

He　stood　for　an　instant；　and　then　he　crept　forward；　crouching；

menacing；　into　the　room。　He　was　within　three　yards　of　us；　this

sinister　figure；　and　I　had　braced　myself　to　meet　his　spring；　before

I　realized　that　he　had　no　idea　of　our　presence。　He　passed　close　beside

us；　stole　over　to　the　window；　and　very　softly　and　noiselessly　raised

it　for　half　a　foot。　As　he　sank　to　the　level　of　this　opening；　the　light

of　the　street；　no　longer　dimmed　by　the　dusty　glass；　fell　full　upon　his

face。　The　man　seemed　to　be　beside　himself　with　excitement。　His　two

eyes　shone　like　stars；　and　his　features　were　working　convulsively。

He　was　an　elderly　man；　with　a　thin；　projecting　nose；　a　high；　bald

forehead；　and　a　huge　grizzled　moustache。　An　opera　hat　was　pushed　to

the　back　of　his　head；　and　an　evening　dress　shirt…front　gleamed　out

through　his　open　overcoat。　His　face　was　gaunt　and　swarthy；　scored　with

deep；　savage　lines。　In　his　hand　he　carried　what　appeared　to　be　a

stick；　but　as　he　laid　it　down　upon　the　floor　it　gave　a　metallic　clang。

Then　from　the　pocket　of　his　overcoat　he　drew　a　bulky　object；　and　he

busied　himself　in　some　task　which　ended　with　a　loud；　sharp　click；　as

if　a　spring　or　bolt　had　fallen　into　its　place。　Still　kneeling　upon　the

floor　he　bent　forward　and　threw　all　his　weight　and　strength　upon

some　lever；　with　the　result　that　there　came　a　long；　whirling；　grinding

noise；　ending　once　more　in　a　powerful　click。　He　straightened　himself

then；　and　I　saw　that　what　he　held　in　his　hand　was　a　sort　of　gun；

with　a　curiously　misshapen　butt。　He　opened　it　at　the　breech；　put

something　in；　and　snapped　the　breech…lock。　Then；　crouching　down；　he

rested　the　end　of　the　barrel　upon　the　ledge　of　the　open　window；　and

I　saw　his　long　moustache　droop　over　the　stock　and　his　eye　gleam　as

it　peered　along　the　sights。　I　heard　a　little　sigh　of　satisfaction　as

he　cuddled　the　butt　into　his　shoulder；　and　saw　that　amazing　target；

the　black　man　on　the　yellow　ground；　standing　clear　at　the　end　of　his

foresight。　For　an　instant　he　was　rigid　and　motionless。　Then　his　finger

tightened　on　the　trigg