the adventure of the second stain-第1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！


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　SECOND　STAIN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle

　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　SECOND　STAIN



　　I　had　intended　〃The　Adventure　of　the　Abbey　Grange〃　to　be　the　last　of

those　exploits　of　my　friend；　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes；　which　I　should

ever　communicate　to　the　public。　This　resolution　of　mine　was　not　due　to

any　lack　of　material；　since　I　have　notes　of　many　hundreds　of　cases

to　which　I　have　never　alluded；　nor　was　it　caused　by　any　waning

interest　on　the　part　of　my　readers　in　the　singular　personality　and

unique　methods　of　this　remarkable　man。　The　real　reason　lay　in　the

reluctance　which　Mr。　Holmes　has　shown　to　the　continued　publication

of　his　experiences。　So　long　as　he　was　in　actual　professional

practice　the　records　of　his　successes　were　of　some　practical　value

to　him；　but　since　he　has　definitely　retired　from　London　and　betaken

himself　to　study　and　bee…farming　on　the　Sussex　Downs；　notoriety　has

become　hateful　to　him；　and　he　has　peremptorily　requested　that　his

wishes　in　this　matter　should　be　strictly　observed。　It　was　only　upon　my

representing　to　him　that　I　had　given　a　promise　that　〃The　Adventure

of　the　Second　Stain〃　should　be　published　when　the　times　were　ripe；　and

pointing　out　to　him　that　it　is　only　appropriate　that　this　long

series　of　episodes　should　culminate　in　the　most　important

international　case　which　he　has　ever　been　called　upon　to　handle；

that　I　at　last　succeeded　in　obtaining　his　consent　that　a　carefully

guarded　account　of　the　incident　should　at　last　be　laid　before　the

public。　If　in　telling　the　story　I　seem　to　be　somewhat　vague　in　certain

details；　the　public　will　readily　understand　that　there　is　an　excellent

reason　for　my　reticence。

　　It　was；　then；　in　a　year；　and　even　in　a　decade；　that　shall　be

nameless；　that　upon　one　Tuesday　morning　in　autumn　we　found　two

visitors　of　European　fame　within　the　walls　of　our　humble　room　in　Baker

Street。　The　one；　austere；　high…nosed；　eagle…eyed；　and　dominant；　was

none　other　than　the　illustrious　Lord　Bellinger；　twice　Premier　of

Britain。　The　other；　dark；　clear…cut；　and　elegant；　hardly　yet　of　middle

age；　and　endowed　with　every　beauty　of　body　and　of　mind；　was　the

Right　Honourable　Trelawney　Hope；　Secretary　for　European　Affairs；　and

the　most　rising　statesman　in　the　country。　They　sat　side　by　side　upon

our　paper…littered　settee；　and　it　was　easy　to　see　from　their　worn

and　anxious　faces　that　it　was　business　of　the　most　pressing　importance

which　had　brought　them。　The　Premier's　thin；　blue…veined　hands　were

clasped　tightly　over　the　ivory　head　of　his　umbrella；　and　his　gaunt；

ascetic　face　looked　gloomily　from　Holmes　to　me。　The　European　Secretary

pulled　nervously　at　his　moustache　and　fidgeted　with　the　seals　of　his

watch…chain。

　　〃When　I　discovered　my　loss；　Mr。　Holmes；　which　was　at　eight　o'clock

this　morning；　I　at　once　informed　the　Prime　Minister。　It　was　at　his

suggestion　that　we　have　both　come　to　you。〃

　　〃Have　you　informed　the　police？〃

　　〃No；　sir；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister；　with　the　quick；　decisive

manner　for　which　he　was　famous。　〃We　have　not　done　so；　nor　is　it

possible　that　we　should　do　so。　To　inform　the　police　must；　in　the

long　run；　mean　to　inform　the　public。　This　is　what　we　particularly

desire　to　avoid。〃

　　〃And　why；　sir？〃

　〃Because　the　document　in　question　is　of　such　immense　importance

that　its　publication　might　very　easily…　I　might　almost　say　probably…

lead　to　European　complications　of　the　utmost　moment。　It　is　not　too

much　to　say　that　peace　or　war　may　hang　upon　the　issue。　Unless　its

recovery　can　be　attended　with　the　utmost　secrecy；　then　it　may　as

well　not　be　recovered　at　all；　for　all　that　is　aimed　at　by　those　who

have　taken　it　is　that　its　contents　should　be　generally　known。〃

　　〃I　understand。　Now；　Mr。　Trelawney　Hope；　I　should　be　much　obliged

if　you　would　tell　me　exactly　the　circumstances　under　which　this

document　disappeared。〃

　〃That　can　be　done　in　a　very　few　words；　Mr。　Holmes。　The　letter…　for　it

was　a　letter　from　a　foreign　potentate…　was　received　six　days　ago。　It

was　of　such　importance　that　I　have　never　left　it　in　my　safe；　but

have　taken　it　across　each　evening　to　my　house　in　Whitehall　Terrace；

and　kept　it　in　my　bedroom　in　a　locked　despatch…box。　It　was　there

last　night。　Of　that　I　am　certain。　I　actually　opened　the　box　while　I

was　dressing　for　dinner　and　saw　the　document　inside。　This　morning　it

was　gone。　The　despatch…box　had　stood　beside　the　glass　upon　my

dressing…table　all　night。　I　am　a　light　sleeper；　and　so　is　my　wife。

We　are　both　prepared　to　swear　that　no　one　could　have　entered　the

room　during　the　night。　And　yet　I　repeat　that　the　paper　is　gone。〃

　　〃What　time　did　you　dine？〃

　　〃Half…past　seven。〃

　　〃How　long　was　it　before　you　went　to　bed？〃

　　〃My　wife　had　gone　to　the　theatre。　I　waited　up　for　her。　It　was

half…past　eleven　before　we　went　to　our　room。〃

　　〃Then　for　four　hours　the　despatch…box　had　lain　unguarded？〃

　　〃No　one　is　ever　permitted　to　enter　that　room　save　the　house…maid

in　the　morning；　and　my　valet；　or　my　wife's　maid；　during　the　rest　of

the　day。　They　are　both　trusty　servants　who　have　been　with　us　for

some　time。　Besides；　neither　of　them　could　possibly　have　known　that

there　was　anything　more　valuable　than　the　ordinary　departmental　papers

in　my　despatch…box。〃

　　〃Who　did　know　of　the　existence　of　that　letter？〃

　　〃No　one　in　the　house。〃

　　〃Surely　your　wife　knew？'

　　〃No；　sir。　I　had　said　nothing　to　my　wife　until　I　missed　the　paper

this　morning。〃

　　The　Premier　nodded　approvingly。

　　〃I　have　long　known；　sir；　how　high　is　your　sense　of　public　duty；〃

said　he。　〃I　am　convinced　that　in　the　case　of　a　secret　of　this

importance　it　would　rise　superior　to　the　most　intimate　domestic　ties。

　　The　European　Secretary　bowed。

　　〃You　do　me　no　more　than　justice；　sir。　Until　this　morning　I　have

never　breathed　one　word　to　my　wife　upon　this　matter。〃

　　〃Could　she　have　guessed？〃

　　〃No；　Mr。　Holmes；　she　could　not　have　guessed…　nor　could　anyone　have

guessed。〃

　　〃Have　you　lost　any　documents　before？〃

　　〃No；　sir。〃

　　〃Who　is　there　in　England　who　did　know　of　the　existence　of　this

letter？〃

　　〃Each　member　of　the　Cabinet　was　informed　of　it　yesterday；　but　the

pledge　of　secrecy　which　attends　every　Cabinet　meeting　was　increased　by

the　solemn　warning　which　was　given　by　the　Prime　Minister。　Good

heavens；　to　think　that　within　a　few　hours　I　should　myself　have　lost

it！〃　His　handsome　face　was　distorted　with　a　spasm　of　despair；　and

his　hands　tore　at　his　hair。　For　a　moment　we　caught　a　glimpse　of　the

natural　man；　impulsive；　ardent；　keenly　sensitive。　The　next　the

aristocratic　mask　was　replaced；　and　the　gentle　voice　had　returned。

〃Besides　the　members　of　the　Cabinet　there　are　two；　or　possibly

three；　departmental　officials　who　know　of　the　letter。　No　one　else　in

England；　Mr。　Holmes；　I　assure　you。〃

　　〃But　abroad？〃

　　〃I　believe　that　no　one　abroad　has　seen　it　save　the　man　who　wrote　it。

I　am　well　convinced　that　his　Ministers…　that　the　usual　official

channels　have　not　been　employed。〃

　　Holmes　considered　for　some　little　time。

　　〃Now；　sir；　I　must　ask　you　more　particularly　what　this　document　is；

and　why　its　disappearance　should　have　such　momentous　consequences？〃

　　The　two　statesmen　exchanged　a　quick　glance　and　the　Premier's

shaggy　eyebrows　gathered　in　a　frown。

　　〃Mr。　Holmes；　the　envelope　is　a　long；　thin　one　of　pale　blue　colour。

There　is　a　seal　of　red　wax　stamped　with　a　crouching　lion。　It　is

addressed　in　large；　bold　handwriting　to…〃

　　〃I　fear；　sir；〃　said　Holmes；　〃that；　interesting　and　indeed

essential　as　these　details　are；　my　inquiries　must　go　more　to　the

root　of　things。　What　was　the　letter？〃

　　〃That　is　a　State　secret　of　the　utmost　importance；　and　I　fear　that

I　cannot　tell　you；　nor　do　I　see　that　it　is　necessary。　If　by　the　aid　of

the　powers　which　you　are　said　to　possess　you　can　find　such　an　envelope

as　I　describe　with　its　enclosure；　you　will　have　deserved　well　of

your　country；　and　earned　any　reward　which　it　lies　in　our　power　to

bestow。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　rose　with　a　smile。

　　〃You　are　two　of　the　most　busy　men　in　the　country；〃　said　he；　〃and

in　my　own　small　way　I　have　also　a　good　many　calls　upon　me。　I　regret

exceedingly　that　I　cannot　help　you　in　this　matter；　and　any

continuation　of　this　interview　would　be　a　waste　of　time。〃

　　The　Premier　sprang　to　his　feet　with　that　quick；　fierce　gleam　of

his　deep…set　eyes　before　which　a　Cabinet　has　cowered。　〃I　am　not

accustomed；　sir；〃　he　began；　but　mastered　his　anger　and　resumed　his

seat。　For　a　minute　or　more　we　all　sat　in　silence。　Then　the　old

statesman　shrugged　his　shoulders。

　　〃We　must　accept　your　terms；　Mr。　Holmes。　No　doubt　you　are　right；

and　it　is　unreasonable　for　us　to　expect　you　to　act　unless　we　give

you　our　entire　confidence。〃

　　〃I　agree　with　you；〃　said　the　younger　statesman。

　　〃Then　I　will　tell　you；　relying　entirely　upon　your　honour　and　that　of

your　colleague；　Dr。　Watson。　I　may　appeal　to　your　patriotism　also；

for　I　could　not　imagine　a　greater　misfortune　for　the　country　than　that

this　affair　should　come　out。〃

　　〃You　may　safely　trust　us。〃

　　〃The　letter；　then；　is　from　a　certain　foreign　potentate　who　bas

been　ruffled　by　some　recent　Colonial　developments　of　this　country。

It　has　been　written　hurriedly　and　upon　his　own　responsibility

entirely。　Inquiries　have　shown　that　his　Ministers　know　nothing　of

the　matter。　At　the　same　time　it　is　couched　in　so　unfortunate　a　manner；

and　certain　phrases　in　it　are　of　so　provocative　a　character；　that

its　publication　would　undoubtedly　lead　to　a　most　dangerous　state　of

feeling　in　this　country。　There　would　be　such　a　ferment；　sir；　that　I　do

not　hesitate　to　say　that　within　a　week　of　the　publication　of　that

letter　this　country　would　be　involved　in　a　great　war。〃

　　Holmes　wrote　a　name　upon　a　slip　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　the

Premier。

　　〃Exactly。　It　was　he。　And　it　is　this　letter…　this　letter　which　may

well　mean　the　expenditure　of　a　thousand　millions　and　the　lives　of　a

hundred　thousand　men…　which　has　become　lost　in　this　unaccountable

fashion。〃

　　〃Have　you　informed　the　sender？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　a　cipher　telegram　has　been　despatched。〃

　　〃Perhaps　he　desires　the　publication　of　the　letter。〃

　　〃No；　sir；　we　have　strong　reason　to　believe　that　he　already

understands　that　he　has　acted　in　an　indiscreet　and　hot…headed

manner。　It　would　be　a　greater　blow　to　him　and　to　his　country　than　to

us　if　this　letter　were　to　come　out。〃

　　〃If　this　is　so；　whose　interest　is　it　that；　the　letter　should　come

out？　Why　should　anyone　desire　to　steal　it　or　to　publish　it？〃

　　〃There；　Mr。　Holmes；　you　take　me　into　regions　of　high　international

politics。　But　if　you　consider　the　European　situation　you　will　have

no　difficulty　in　perceiving　the　motive。　The　whole　of　Europe　is　an

armed　camp。　There　is　a　double　league　which　makes　a　fair　balance　of

military　power。　Great　Britain　holds　the　scales。　If　Britain　were　driven

into　war　with　one　confederacy；　it　would　assure　the　supremacy　of　the

other　confederacy；　whether　they　joined　in　the　war　or　not。　Do　you

follow？〃

　　〃Very　clearly。　It　is　then　the　interest　of　the　enemies　of　this

potentate