the adventure of the sussex vampire-第2章

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anyone's　deputy。〃

　　〃It　is　simpler　to　deal　direct；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Of　course　it　is。　But　you　can　imagine　how　difficult　it　is　when　you

are　speaking　of　the　one　woman　whom　you　are　bound　to　protect　and

help。　What　can　I　do？　How　am　I　to　go　to　the　police　with　such　a　story？

And　yet　the　kiddies　have　got　to　be　protected。　Is　it　madness；　Mr。

Holmes？　Is　it　something　in　the　blood？　Have　you　any　similar　case　in

your　experience？　For　God's　sake；　give　me　some　advice；　for　I　am　at　my

wit's　end。〃

　　〃Very　naturally；　Mr。　Ferguson。　Now　sit　here　and　pull　yourself

together　and　give　me　a　few　clear　answers。　I　can　assure　you　that　I　am

very　far　from　being　at　my　wit's　and；　and　that　I　am　confident　we

shall　find　some　solution。　First　of　all；　tell　me　what　steps　you　have

taken。　Is　your　wife　still　near　the　children？〃

　　〃We　had　a　dreadful　scene。　She　is　a　most　loving　woman；　Mr。　Holmes。　If

ever　a　woman　loved　a　man　with　all　her　heart　and　soul；　she　loves　me。

She　was　cut　to　the　heart　that　I　should　have　discovered　this

horrible；　this　incredible；　secret。　She　would　not　even　speak。　She

gave　no　answer　to　my　reproaches；　save　to　gaze　at　me　with　a　sort　of

wild；　despairing　look　in　her　eyes。　Then　she　rushed　to　her　room　and

locked　herself　in。　Since　then　she　has　refused　to　see　me。　She　has　a

maid　who　was　with　her　before　her　marriage；　Dolores　by　name…　a　friend

rather　than　a　servant。　She　takes　her　food　to　her。〃

　　〃Then　the　child　is　in　no　immediate　danger？〃

　　〃Mrs。　Mason；　the　nurse；　has　sworn　that　she　will　not　leave　it　night

or　day。　I　can　absolutely　trust　her。　I　am　more　uneasy　about　poor　little

Jack；　for；　as　I　told　you　in　my　note；　he　has　twice　been　assaulted　by

her。〃

　　〃But　never　wounded？〃

　　〃No；　she　struck　him　savagely。　It　is　the　more　terrible　as　he　is　a

poor　little　inoffensive　cripple。〃　Ferguson's　gaunt　features　softened

as　he　spoke　of　his　boy。　〃You　would　think　that　the　dear　lad's　condition

would　soften　anyone's　heart。　A　fall　in　childhood　and　a　twisted

spine；　Mr。　Holmes。　But　the　dearest；　most　loving　heart　within。〃

　　Holmes　had　picked　up　the　letter　of　yesterday　and　was　reading　it

over。　〃What　other　inmates　are　there　in　your　house；　Mr。　Ferguson？〃

　　〃Two　servants　who　have　not　been　long　with　us。　One　stable…hand；

Michael；　who　sleeps　in　the　house。　My　wife；　myself；　my　boy　Jack；

baby；　Dolores；　and　Mrs。　Mason。　That　is　all。〃

　　〃I　gather　that　you　did　not　know　your　wife　well　at　the　time　of　your

marriage？〃

　　〃I　had　only　known　her　a　few　weeks。〃

　　〃How　long　had　this　maid　Dolores　been　with　her？〃

　　〃Some　years。〃

　　〃Then　your　wife's　character　would　really　be　better　known　by

Dolores　than　by　you？〃

　　〃Yes；　you　may　say　so。〃

　　Holmes　made　a　note。

　　〃I　fancy；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　may　be　of　more　use　at　Lamberley　than

here。　It　is　eminently　a　case　for　personal　investigation。　If　the　lady

remains　in　her　room；　our　presence　could　not　annoy　or　inconvenience

her。　Of　course；　we　would　stay　at　the　inn。〃

　　Ferguson　gave　a　gesture　of　relief。

　　〃It　is　what　I　hoped；　Mr。　Holmes。　There　is　an　excellent　train　at

two　from　Victoria　if　you　could　come。〃

　　〃Of　course　we　could　come。　There　is　a　lull　at　present。　I　can　give　you

my　undivided　energies。　Watson；　of　course；　comes　with　us。　But　there　are

one　or　two　points　upon　which　I　wish　to　be　very　sure　before　I　start。

This　unhappy　lady；　as　I　understand　it；　has　appeared　to　assault　both

the　children；　her　own　baby　and　your　little　son？〃

　　〃That　is　so。〃

　　〃But　the　assaults　take　different　forms；　do　they　not？　She　has

beaten　your　son。〃

　　〃Once　with　a　stick　and　once　very　savagely　with　her　hands。〃

　　〃Did　she　give　no　explanation　why　she　struck　him？〃

　　〃None　save　that　she　hated　him。　Again　and　again　she　said　so。〃

　　〃Well；　that　is　not　unknown　among　stepmothers。　A　posthumous　jealousy；

we　will　say。　Is　the　lady　jealous　by　nature？〃

　　〃Yes；　she　is　very　jealous…　jealous　with　all　the　strength　of　her

fiery　tropical　love。〃

　　〃But　the　boy…　he　is　fifteen；　I　understand；　and　probably　very

developed　in　mind；　since　his　body　has　been　circumscribed　in　action。

Did　he　give　you　no　explanation　of　these　assaults？〃

　　〃No；　he　declared　there　was　no　reason。〃

　　〃Were　they　good　friends　at　other　times？〃

　　〃No；　there！　was　never　any　love　between　them。〃

　　〃Yet　you　say　he　is　affectionate？〃

　　〃Never　in　the　world　could　there　be　so　devoted　a　son。　My　life　is

his　life。　He　is　absorbed　in　what　I　say　or　do。〃

　　Once　again　Holmes　made　a　note。　For　some　time　he　sat　lost　in　thought。

　　〃No　doubt　you　and　the　boy　were　great　comrades　before　this　second

marriage。　You　were　thrown　very　close　together；　were　you　not？〃

　　〃Very　much　so。〃

　　〃And　the　boy；　having　so　affectionate　a　nature；　was　devoted；　no

doubt；　to　the　memory　of　his　mother？〃

　　〃Most　devoted。〃

　　〃He　would　certainly　seem　to　be　a　most　interesting　lad。　There　is

one　other　point　about　these　assaults。　Were　the　strange　attacks　upon

the　baby　and　the　assaults　upon　your　son　at　the　same　period？〃

　　〃In　the　first　case　it　was　so。　It　was　is　if　some　frenzy　had　seized

her；　and　she　had　vented　her　rage　upon　both。　In　the　second　case　it

was　only　Jack　who　suffered。　Mrs。　Mason　had　no　complaint　to　make

about　the　baby。〃

　　〃That　certainly　complicates　matters。〃

　　〃I　don't　quite　follow　you；　Mr。　Holmes。〃

　　〃Possibly　not。　One　forms　provisional　theories　and　waits　for　time

or　fuller　knowledge　to　explode　them。　A　bad　habit；　Mr。　Ferguson；　but

human　nature　is　weak。　I　fear　that　your　old　friend　here　has　given　an

exaggerated　view　of　my　scientific　methods。　However；　I　will　only　say　at

the　present　stage　that　your　problem　does　not　appear　to　me　to　be

insoluble；　and　that　you　may　expect　to　find　us　at　Victoria　at　two

o'clock。〃

　　It　was　evening　of　a　dull；　foggy　November　day　when；　having　left　our

bags　at　the　Chequers；　Lamberley；　we　drove　through　the　Sussex　clay　of　a

long　winding　lane　and　finally　reached　the　isolated　and　ancient

farmhouse　in　which　Ferguson　dwelt。　It　was　a　large；　straggling

building；　very　old　in　the　centre；　very　new　at　the　wings　with

towering　Tudor　chimneys　and　a　lichen…spotted；　high…pitched　roof　of

Horsham　slabs。　The　doorsteps　were　worn　into　curves；　and　the　ancient

tiles　which　lined　the　porch　were　marked　with　the　rebus　of　a　cheese　and

a　man　after　the　original　builder。　Within；　the　ceilings　were　corrugated

with　heavy　oaken　beams；　and　the　uneven　floors　sagged　into　sharp

curves。　An　odour　of　age　and　decay　pervaded　the　whole　crumbling

building。

　　There　was　one　very　large　central　room　into　which　Ferguson　led　us。

Here；　in　a　huge　old…fashioned　fireplace　with　an　iron　screen　behind

it　dated　1670；　there　blazed　and　spluttered　a　splendid　log　fire。

　　The　room；　as　I　gazed　round；　was　a　most　singular　mixture　of　dates　and

of　places。　The　half…panelled　walls　may　well　have　belonged　to　the

original　yeoman　farmer　of　the　seventeenth　century。　They　were

ornamented；　however；　on　the　lower　part　by　a　line　of　well…chosen　modern

water…colours；　while　above；　where　yellow　plaster　took　the　place　of

oak；　there　was　hung　a　fine　collection　of　South　American　utensils　and

weapons；　which　had　been　brought；　no　doubt；　by　the　Peruvian　lady

upstairs。　Holmes　rose；　with　that　quick　curiosity　which　sprang　from　his

eager　mind；　and　examined　them　with　some　care。　He　returned　with　his

eyes　full　of　thought。

　　〃Hullo！〃　he　cried。　〃Hullo！〃

　　A　spaniel　had　lain　in　a　basket　in　the　corner。　It　came　slowly　forward

towards　its　master；　walking　with　difficulty。　Its　hind　legs　moved

irregularly　and　its　tail　was　on　the　ground。　It　licked　Ferguson's　hand。

　　〃What　is　it；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃The　dog。　What's　the　matter　with　it？〃

　　〃That's　what　puzzled　the　vet。　A　sort　of　paralysis。　Spinal

meningitis；　he　thought。　But　it　is　passing。　He'll　be　all　right　soon…

won't　you；　Carlo？〃

　　A　shiver　of　assent　passed　through　the　drooping　tail。　The　dog's

mournful　eyes　passed　from　one　of　us　to　the　other。　He　knew　that　we　were

discussing　his　case。

　　〃Did　it　come　on　suddenly？〃

　　〃In　a　single　night。〃

　　〃How　long　ago？〃

　　〃It　may　have　been　four　months　ago。〃

　　〃Very　remarkable。　Very　suggestive。〃

　　〃What　do　you　see　in　it；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃A　confirmation　of　what　I　had　already　thought。〃

　　〃For　God's　sake；　what　do　you　think；　Mr。　Holmes？　It　may　be　a　mere

intellectual　puzzle　to　you；　but　it　is　life　and　death　to　me！　My　wife

a　would…be　murderer…　my　child　in　constant　danger！　Don't　play　with

me；　Mr。　Holmes。　It　is　too　terribly　serious。〃

　　The　big　Rugby　three…quarter　was　trembling　all　over。　Holmes　put　his

hand　soothingly　upon　his　arm。

　　〃I　fear　that　there　is　pain　for　you；　Mr。　Ferguson；　whatever　the

solution　may　be；〃　said　he。　〃I　would　spare　you　all　I　can。　I　cannot

say　more　for　the　instant；　but　before　I　leave　this　house　I　hope　I　may

have　something　definite。〃

　　〃Please　God　you　may！　If　you　will　excuse　me；　gentlemen；　I　will　go

up　to　my　wife's　room　and　see　if　there　has　been　any　change。〃

　　He　was　away　some　minutes；　during　which　Holmes　resumed　his

examination　of　the　curiosities　upon　the　wall。　When　our　host　returned

it　was　clear　from　his　downcast　face　that　he　had　made　no　progress。　He

brought　with　him　a　tall；　slim；　brownfaced　girl。

　　〃The　tea　is　ready；　Dolores；〃　said　Ferguson。　〃See　that　your

mistress　has　everything　she　can　wish。〃

　　〃She　verra　ill；〃　cried　the　girl；　looking　with　indignant　eyes　at

her　master。　〃She　no　ask　for　food。　She　verra　ill。　She　need　doctor。　I

frightened　stay　alone　with　her　without　doctor。〃

　　Ferguson　looked　at　me　with　a　question　in　his　eyes。

　　〃I　should　be　so　glad　if　I　could　be　of　use。〃

　　〃Would　your　mistress　see　Dr。　Watson？〃

　　〃I　take　him。　I　no　ask　leave。　She　needs　doctor。〃

　　〃Then　I'll　come　with　you　at　once。〃

　　I　followed　the　girl；　who　was　quivering　with　strong　emotion；　up　the

staircase　and　down　an　ancient　corridor。　At　the　end　was　an　iron…clamped

and　massive　door。　It　struck　me　as　I　looked　at　it　that　if　Ferguson

tried　to　force　his　way　to　his　wife　he　would　find　it　no　easy　matter。

The　girl　drew　a　key　from　her　pocket；　and　the　heavy　oaken　planks

creaked　upon　their　old　hinges。　I　passed　in　and　she　swiftly　followed；

fastening　the　door　behind　her。

　　On　the　bed　a　woman　was　lying　who　was　clearly　in　a　high　fever。　She

was　only　half　conscious；　But　as　I　entered　she　raised　a　pair　of

frightened　but　beautiful　eyes　and　glared　at　me　in　apprehension。　Seeing

a　stranger；　she　appeared　to　be　relieved　and　sank　back　with　a　sigh　upon

the　pillow。　I　stepped　up　to　her　with　a　few　reassuring　words；　and　she

lay　still　while　I　took　her　pulse　and　temperature。　Both　were　high；

and　yet　my　impression　was　that　the　condition　was　rather　that　of　mental

and　nervous　excitement　than　of　any　actual　seizure。

　　〃She　lie　like　that　one　day；　two　day。　I　'fraid　she　die；〃　said　the

girl。

　　The　woman　turned　her　flushed　and　handsome　face　towards　me。

　　〃Where　is　my　husband？〃

　　〃He　is　below　and　would　wish　to　see　you。〃

　　〃I　will　not　see　him。　I　will　not　see　him。〃　Then　she　seemed　to

wander　off　into　delirium。　〃A　fiend！　A　fiend！　Oh；　what　shall　I　do

with　this　devil？〃

　　〃Can　I　help　you　in　any　way？〃

　　〃No。　No　one　can　help。　It　is　finished。　All　is　destroyed。　Do　what　I

will；　all　is　destroyed。〃

　　The　woman　must　have　some　strange　delusion。　I　could　not　see　honest

Bob　Ferguson　in　the　character　of　fiend　or　devil。

　　〃Madame；〃　I　said；　〃your　husband