the adventure of the empty house-第4章

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

tightened　on　the　trigger。　There　was　a　strange；　loud　whiz　and　a　long；

silvery　tinkle　of　broken　glass。　At　that　instant　Holmes　sprang　like　a

tiger　on　to　the　marksman's　back；　and　hurled　him　flat　upon　his　face。　He

was　up　again　in　a　moment；　and　with　convulsive　strength　he　seized

Holmes　by　the　throat；　but　I　struck　him　on　the　head　with　the　butt　of　my

revolver；　and　he　dropped　again　upon　the　floor。　I　fell　upon　him；　and　as

I　held　him　my　comrade　blew　a　shrill　call　upon　a　whistle。　There　was　the

clatter　of　running　feet　upon　the　pavement；　and　two　policemen　in

uniform；　with　one　plain…clothes　detective；　rushed　through　the　front

entrance　and　into　the　room。

　　〃That　you；　Lestrade？〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Yes；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　took　the　job　myself。　It's　good　to　see　you　back

in　London；　sir。〃

　　〃I　think　you　want　a　little　unofficial　help。　Three　undetected　murders

in　one　year　won't　do；　Lestrade。　But　you　handled　the　Molesey　Mystery

with　less　than　your　usual…　that's　to　say；　you　handled　it　fairly　well。〃

　　We　had　all　risen　to　our　feet；　our　prisoner　breathing　hard；　with　a

stalwart　constable　on　each　side　of　him。　Already　a　few　loiterers　had

begun　to　collect　in　the　street。　Holmes　stepped　up　to　the　window；

closed　it；　and　dropped　the　blinds。　Lestrade　had　produced　two

candles；　and　the　policemen　had　uncovered　their　lanterns。　I　was　able　at

last　to　have　a　good　look　at　our　prisoner。

　　It　was　a　tremendously　virile　and　yet　sinister　face　which　was

turned　towards　us。　With　the　brow　of　a　philosopher　above　and　the　jaw　of

a　sensualist　below；　the　man　must　have　started　with　great　capacities

for　good　or　for　evil。　But　one　could　not　look　upon　his　cruel　blue　eyes；

with　their　drooping；　cynical　lids；　or　upon　the　fierce；　aggressive　nose

and　the　threatening；　deep…lined　brow；　without　reading　Nature's

plainest　danger…signals。　He　took　no　heed　of　any　of　us；　but　his　eyes

were　fixed　upon　Holmes's　face　with　an　expression　in　which　hatred　and

amazement　were　equally　blended。　〃You　fiend！〃　he　kept　on　muttering。

〃You　clever；　clever　fiend！〃

　　〃Ah；　Colonel！〃　said　Holmes；　arranging　his　rumpled　collar。　〃‘Journeys

end　in　lovers'　meetings；'　as　the　old　play　says。　I　don't　think　I　have

had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　since　you　favoured　me　with　those

attentions　as　I　lay　on　the　ledge　above　the　Reichenbach　Fall。〃

　　The　colonel　still　stared　at　my　friend　like　a　man　in　a　trance。　〃You

cunning；　cunning　fiend！〃　was　all　that　he　could　say。

　　〃I　have　not　introduced　you　yet；〃　said　Holmes。　〃This；　gentlemen；　is

Colonel　Sebastian　Moran；　once　of　Her　Majesty's　Indian　Army；　and　the

best　heavy…game　shot　that　our　Eastern　Empire　has　ever　produced。　I

believe　I　am　correct　Colonel；　in　saying　that　your　bag　of　tigers

still　remains　unrivalled？〃

　　The　fierce　old　man　said　nothing；　but　still　glared　at　my　companion。

With　his　savage　eyes　and　bristling　moustache　he　was　wonderfully　like　a

tiger　himself。

　　〃I　wonder　that　my　very　simple　stratagem　could　deceive　so　old　a

shikari；〃　said　Holmes。　〃It　must　be　very　familiar　to　you。　Have　you

not　tethered　a　young　kid　under　a　tree；　lain　above　it　with　your

rifle；　and　waited　for　the　bait　to　bring　up　your　tiger？　This　empty

house　is　my　tree；　and　you　are　my　tiger。　You　have　possibly　had　other

guns　in　reserve　in　case　there　should　be　several　tigers；　or　in　the

unlikely　supposition　of　your　own　arm　failing　you。　These；〃　he　pointed

around；　〃are　my　other　guns。　The　parallel　is　exact。〃

　　Colonel　Moran　sprang　forward　with　a　snarl　of　rage；　but　the

constables　dragged　him　back。　The　fury　upon　his　face　was　terrible　to

look　at。

　　〃I　confess　that　you　had　one　small　surprise　for　me；〃　said　Holmes。

〃I　did　not　anticipate　that　you　would　yourself　make　use　of　this　empty

house　and　this　convenient　front　window。　I　had　imagined　you　as

operating　from　the　street；　where　my　friend；　Lestrade　and　his　merry　men

were　awaiting　you。　With　that　exception；　all　has　gone　as　I　expected。〃

　　Colonel　Moran　turned　to　the　official　detective。

　　〃You　may　or　may　not　have　just　cause　for　arresting　me；〃　said　he；　〃but

at　least　there　can　be　no　reason　why　I　should　submit　to　the　gibes　of

this　person。　If　I　am　in　the　hands　of　the　law；　let　things　be　done　in

a　legal　way。〃

　　〃Well；　that's　reasonable　enough；〃　said　Lestrade。　〃Nothing　further

you　have　to　say；　Mr。　Holmes；　before　we　go？〃

　　Holmes　had　picked　up　the　powerful　air…gun　from　the　floor；　and　was

examining　its　mechanism。

　　〃An　admirable　and　unique　weapon；〃　said　he；　〃noiseless　and　of

tremendous　power：　I　knew　Von　Herder；　the　blind　German　mechanic；　who

constructed　it　to　the　order　of　the　late　Professor　Moriarty。　For

years　I　have　been　aware　of　its　existance　though　I　have　never　before

had　the　opportunity　of　handling　it。　I　commend　it　very　specially　to

your　attention；　Lestrade　and　also　the　bullets　which　fit　it。〃

　　〃You　can　trust　us　to　look　after　that；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　Lestrade；　as

the　whole　party　moved　towards　the　door。　〃Anything　further　to　say？〃

　　〃Only　to　ask　what　charge　you　intend　to　prefer？〃

　　〃What　charge；　sir？　Why；　of　course；　the　attempted　murder　of　Mr。

Sherlock　Holmes。〃

　　〃Not　so；　Lestrade。　I　do　not　propose　to　appear　in　the　matter　at

all。　To　you；　and　to　you　only；　belongs　the　credit　of　the　remarkable

arrest　which　you　have　effected。　Yes；　Lestrade；　I　congratulate　you！

With　your　usual　happy　mixture　of　cunning　and　audacity；　you　have　got

him。〃

　　〃Got　him！　Got　whom；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃The　man　that　the　whole　force　has　been　seeking　in　vain…　Colonel

Sebastian　Moran；　who　shot　the　Honourable　Ronald　Adair　with　an

expanding　bullet　from　an　air…gun　through　the　open　window　of　the

second…floor　front　of　No。　427　Park　Lane；　upon　the　thirtieth　of　last

month。　That's　the　charge；　Lestrade。　And　now；　Watson；　if　you　can　endure

the　draught　from　a　broken　window；　I　think　that　half　an　hour　in　my

study　over　a　cigar　may　afford　you　some　profitable　amusement。〃



　　Our　old　chambers　had　been　left　unchanged　through　the　supervision

of　Mycroft　Holmes　and　the　immediate　care　of　Mrs。　Hudson。　As　I

entered　I　saw；　it　is　true；　an　unwonted　tidiness；　but　the　old　landmarks

were　all　in　their　place。　There　were　the　chemical　corner　and　the

acid…stained；　deal…topped　table。　There　upon　a　shelf　was　the　row　of

formidable　scrap…books　and　books　of　reference　which　many　of　our

fellow…citizens　would　have　been　so　glad　to　burn。　The　diagrams；　the

violin…case；　and　the　pipe…rack…　even　the　Persian　slipper　which

contained　the　tobacco…　all　met　my　eyes　as　I　glanced　round　me。　There

were　two　occupants　of　the　room…　one；　Mrs。　Hudson；　who　beamed　upon　us

both　as　we　entered…　the　other；　the　strange　dummy　which　had　played　so

important　a　part　in　the　evening's　adventures。　It　was　a　waxcoloured

model　of　my　friend；　so　admirably　done　that　it　was　a　perfect　facsimile。

It　stood　on　a　small　pedestal　table　with　an　old　dressing…gown　of

Holmes's　so　draped　round　it　that　the　illusion　from　the　street　was

absolutely　perfect。

　　〃I　hope　you　observed　all　precautions；　Mrs。　Hudson？〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃I　went　to　it　on　my　knees；　sir；　just　as　you　told　me。〃

　　〃Excellent。　You　carried　the　thing　out　very　well。　Did　you　observe

where　the　bullet　went？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir。　I'm　afraid　it　has　spoilt　your　beautiful　bust；　for　it

passed　right　through　the　head　and　flattened　itself　on　the　wall。　I

picked　it　up　from　the　carpet。　Here　it　is！〃

　　Holmes　held　it　out　to　me。　〃A　soft　revolver　bullet；　as　you

perceive；　Watson。　There's　genius　in　that；　for　who　would　expect　to　find

such　a　thing　fired　from　an　airgun？　All　right；　Mrs。　Hudson。　I　am　much

obliged　for　your　assistance。　And　now；　Watson；　let　me　see　you　in　your

old　seat　once　more；　for　there　are　several　points　which　I　should　like

to　discuss　with　you。〃

　　He　had　thrown　off　the　seedy　frockcoat；　and　now　he　was　the　Holmes

of　old　in　the　mouse…coloured　dressing…gown　which　he　took　from　his

effigy。

　　〃The　old　shikari's　nerves　have　not　lost　their　steadiness；　nor　his

eyes　their　keenness；〃　said　he；　with　a　laugh；　as　he　inspected　the

shattered　forehead　of　his　bust。

　　〃Plumb　in　the　middle　of　the　back　of　the　head　and　smack　through　the

brain。　He　was　the　best　shot　in　India；　and　I　expect　that　there　are

few　better　in　London。　Have　you　heard　the　name？〃

　　〃No；　I　have　not。〃

　　〃Well；　well；　such　is　fame！　But；　then；　if　I　remember　right；　you　had

not　heard　the　name　of　Professor　James　Moriarty；　who　had　one　of　the

great　brains　of　the　century。　Just　give　me　down　my　index　of　biographies

from　the　shelf。〃

　　He　turned　over　the　pages　lazily；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and

blowing　great　clouds　from　his　cigar。

　　〃My　collection　of　M's　is　a　fine　one；〃　said　he。　〃Moriarty　himself

is　enough　to　make　any　letter　illustrious；　and　here　is　Morgan　the

poisoner；　and　Merridew　of　abominable　memory；　and　Mathews；　who

knocked　out　my　left　canine　in　the　waiting　room　at　Charing　Cross；

and；　finally；　here　is　our　friend　of　to…night。〃

　　He　handed　over　the　book；　and　I　read：



　　Moran；　Sebastian；　Colonel。　Unemployed。　Formerly　1st　Bangalore

Pioneers。　Born　London；　1840。　Son　of　Sir　Augustus　Moran；　C。B。；　once

British　Minister　to　Persia。　Educated　Eton　and　Oxford。　Served　in　Jowaki

Campaign；　Afghan　Campaign；　Charasiab　（despatches）；　Sherpur；　and　Cabul。

Author　of　Heavy　Game　of　the　Western　Himalayas　（1881）；　Three　Months

in　the　Jungle　（1884）。　Address：　Conduit　Street。　Clubs：　The

Anglo…Indian；　the　Tankerville；　the　Bagatelle　Card　Club。



　　On　the　margin　was　written；　in　Holmes's　precise　hand：



　　　　　The　second　most　dangerous　man　in　London。



　　〃This　is　astonishing；〃　said　I；　as　I　handed　back　the　volume。　〃The

man's　career　is　that　of　an　honourable　soldier。〃

　　〃It　is　true；〃　Holmes　answered。　〃Up　to　a　certain　point　he　did　well。

He　was　always　a　man　of　iron　nerve；　and　the　story　is　still　told　in

India　how　he　crawled　down　a　drain　after　a　wounded　man…eating　tiger。

There　are　some　trees；　Watson；　which　grow　to　a　certain　height；　and　then

suddenly　develop　some　unsightly　eccentricity。　You　will　see　it　often　in

humans。　I　have　a　theory　that　the　individual　represents　in　his

development　the　whole　procession　of　his　ancestors；　and　that　such　a

sudden　turn　to　good　or　evil　stands　for　some　strong　influence　which

came　into　the　line　of　his　pedigree。　The　person　becomes；　as　it　were；

the　epitome　of　the　history　of　his　own　family。〃

　　〃It　is　surely　rather　fanciful。〃

　　〃Well；　I　don't　insist　upon　it。　Whatever　the　cause；　Colonel　Moran

began　to　go　wrong。　Without　any　open　scandal；　he　still　made　India　too

hot　to　hold　him。　He　retired；　came　to　London；　and　again　acquired　an

evil　name。　It　was　at　this　time　that　he　was　sought　out　by　Professor

Moriarty；　to　whom　for　a　time　he　was　chief　of　the　staff。　Moriarty

supplied　him　liberally　with　money；　and　used　him　only　in　one　or　two

very　high…class　jobs；　which　no　ordinary　criminal　could　have

undertaken。　You　may　have　some　recollection　of　the　death　of　Mrs。

Stewart；　of　Lauder；　in　1887。　Not？　Well；　I　am　sure　Moran　was　at　the

bottom　of　it；　but　nothing　could　be　proved。　So　cleverly　was　the　colonel

concealed　that；　even　when　the　Moriarty　gang　was　broken　up；　we　could

not　incriminate　him。　You　remember　at　that　date；　when　I　called　upon　you

in　your　rooms；　how　I　put　up　the　shutters　for　fear　of　air…guns？　No

doubt　you　t