the adventure of the sussex vampire-第3章

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Bob　Ferguson　in　the　character　of　fiend　or　devil。

　　〃Madame；〃　I　said；　〃your　husband　loves　you　dearly。　He　is　deeply

grieved　at　this　happening。〃

　　Again　she　turned　on　me　those　glorious　eyes。

　　〃He　loves　me。　Yes。　But　do　I　not　love　him？　Do　I　not　love　him　even

to　sacrifice　myself　rather　than　break　his　dear　heart？　That　is　how　I

love　him。　And　yet　he　could　think　of　me…　he　could　speak　of　me　so。〃

　　〃He　is　full　of　grief；　but　he　cannot　understand。〃

　　〃No；　he　cannot　understand。　But　he　should　trust。〃

　　〃Will　you　not　see　him？〃　I　suggested。

　　〃No；　no；　I　cannot　forget　those　terrible　words　nor　the　look　upon

his　face。　I　will　not　see　him。　Go　now。　You　can　do　nothing　for　me。

Tell　him　only　one　thing。　I　want　my　child。　I　have　a　right　to　my

child。　That　is　the　only　message　I　can　send　him。〃　She　turned　her　face

to　the　wall　and　would　say　no　more。

　　I　returned　to　the　room　downstairs；　where　Ferguson　and　Holmes　still

sat　by　the　fire。　Ferguson　listened　moodily　to　my　account　of　the

interview。

　　〃How　can　I　send　her　the　child？〃　he　said。　〃How　do　I　know　what　strange

impulse　might　come　upon　her？　How　can　I　ever　forget　how　she　rose　from

beside　it　with　its　blood　upon　her　lips？〃　He　shuddered　at　the

recollection。　〃The　child　is　safe　with　Mrs。　Mason；　and　there　he　must

remain。〃

　　A　smart　maid；　the　only　modern　thing　which　we　had　seen　in　the

house；　had　brought　in　some　tea。　As　she　was　serving　it　the　door

opened　and　a　youth　entered　the　room。　He　was　a　remarkable　lad；

pale…faced　and　fair…haired；　with　excitable　light　blue　eyes　which

blazed　into　a　sudden　flame　of　emotion　and　joy　as　they　rested　upon

his　father。　He　rushed　forward　and　threw　his　arms　round　his　neck　with

the　abandon　of　a　loving　girl。

　　〃Oh；　daddy；〃　he　cried；　〃I　did　not　know　that　you　were　due　yet。　I

should　have　been　here　to　meet　you。　Oh；　I　am　so　glad　to　see　you！〃

　　Ferguson　gently　disengaged　himself　from　the　embrace　with　some　little

show　of　embarrassment。

　　〃Dear　old　chap；〃　said　he；　patting　the　flaxen　head　with　a　very　tender

hand。　〃I　came　early　because　my　friends；　Mr。　Holmes　and　Dr。　Watson；

have　been　persuaded　to　come　down　and　spend　an　evening　with　us。〃

　　〃Is　that　Mr。　Holmes；　the　detective？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　The　youth　looked　at　us　with　a　very　penetrating　and；　as　it　seemed

to　me；　unfriendly　gaze。

　　〃What　about　your　other　child；　Mr。　Ferguson？〃　asked　Holmes。　〃Might　we

make　the　acquaintance　of　the　baby？〃

　　〃Ask　Mrs。　Mason　to　bring　baby　down；〃　said　Ferguson。　The　boy　went　off

with　a　curious；　shambling　gait　which　told　my　surgical　eyes　that　he　was

suffering　from　a　weak　spine。　Presently　he　returned；　and　behind　him

came　a　tall；　gaunt　woman　bearing　in　her　arms　a　very　beautiful　child；

dark…eyed；　golden…haired；　a　wonderful　mixture　of　the　Saxon　and　the

Latin。　Ferguson　was　evidently　devoted　to　it；　for　he　took　it　into　his

arms　and　fondled　it　most　tenderly。

　　Fancy　anyone　having　the　heart　to　hurt　him；〃　he　muttered　as　he

glanced　down　at　the　small；　angry　red　pucker　upon　the　cherub　throat。

　　It　was　at　this　moment　that　I　chanced　to　glance　at　Holmes　and　saw　a

most　singular　intentness　in　his　expression。　His　face　was　as　set　as

if　it　had　been　carved　out　of　old　ivory；　and　his　eyes；　which　had

glanced　for　a　moment　at　father　and　child；　were　now　fixed　with　eager

curiosity　upon　something　at　the　other　side　of　the　room。　Following

his　gaze　I　could　only　guess　that　he　was　looking　out　through　the　window

at　the　melancholy；　dripping　garden。　It　is　true　that　a　shutter　had　half

closed　outside　and　obstructed　the　view；　but　none　the　less　it　was

certainly　at　the　window　that　Holmes　was　fixing　his　concentrated

attention。　Then　he　smiled；　and　his　eyes　came　back　to　the　baby。　On

its　chubby　neck　there　was　this　small　puckered　mark。　Without

speaking；　Holmes　examined　it　with　care。　Finally　he　shook　one　of　the

dimpled　fists　which　waved　in　front　of　him。

　　〃Good…bye；　little　man。　You　have　made　a　strange　start　in　life。　Nurse；

I　should　wish　to　have　a　word　with　you　in　private。〃

　　He　took　her　aside　and　spoke　earnestly　for　a　few　minutes。　I　only

heard　the　last　words；　which　were：　〃Your　anxiety　will　soon；　I　hope；

be　set　at　rest。〃　The　woman；　who　seemed　to　be　a　sour；　silent　kind　of

creature；　withdrew　with　the　child。

　　〃What　is　Mrs。　Mason　like？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃Not　very　prepossessing　externally；　as　you　can　see；　but　a　heart　of

gold；　and　devoted　to　the　child。〃

　　〃Do　you　like　her；　Jack？〃　Holmes　turned　suddenly　upon　the　boy。　His

expressive　mobile　face　shadowed　over；　and　he　shook　his　head。

　　〃Jacky　has　very　strong　likes　and　dislikes；〃　said　Ferguson；　putting

his　arm　round　the　boy。　〃Luckily　I　am　one　of　his　likes。〃

　　The　boy　cooed　and　nestled　his　head　upon　his　father's　breast。

Ferguson　gently　disengaged　him。

　　〃Run　away；　little　Jacky；〃　said　he；　and　he　watched　his　son　with

loving　eyes　until　he　disappeared。　〃Now；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　he　continued　when

the　boy　was　gone；　〃I　really　feel　that　I　have　brought　you　on　a　fool's

errand；　for　what　can　you　possibly　do　save　give　me　your　sympathy？　It

must　be　an　exceedingly　delicate　and　complex　affair　from　your　point

of　view。〃

　　〃It　is　certainly　delicate；〃　said　my　friend　with　an　amused　smile；

〃but　I　have　not　been　struck　up　to　now　with　its　complexity。　It　has　been

a　case　for　intellectual　deduction；　but　when　this　original　intellectual

deduction　is　confirmed　point　by　point　by　quite　a　number　of　independent

incidents；　then　the　subjective　becomes　objective　and　we　can　say

confidently　that　we　have　reached　our　goal。　I　had；　in　fact；　reached

it　before　we　left　Baker　Street；　and　the　rest　has　merely　been

observation　and　confirmation。〃

　　Ferguson　put　his　big　hand　to　his　furrowed　forehead。

　　〃For　heaven's　sake；　Holmes；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃if　you　can　see　the

truth　in　this　matter；　do　not　keep　me　in　suspense。　How　do　I　stand？　What

shall　I　do？　I　care　nothing　as　to　how　you　have　found　your　facts　so　long

as　you　have　really　got　them。〃

　　〃Certainly　I　owe　you　an　explanation；　and　you　shall　have　it。　But

you　will　permit　me　to　handle　the　matter　in　my　own　way？　Is　the　lady

capable　of　seeing　us；　Watson？〃

　　〃She　is　ill；　but　she　is　quite　rational。〃

　　〃Very　good。　It　is　only　in　her　presence　that　we　can　clear　the

matter　up。　Let　us　go　up　to　her。〃

　　〃She　will　not　see　me；〃　cried　Ferguson。

　　〃Oh；　yes；　she　will；〃　said　Holmes。　He　scribbled　a　few　lines　upon　a

sheet　of　paper。　〃You　at　least　have　the　entree；　Watson。　Will　you　have

the　goodness　to　give　the　lady　this　note？〃

　　I　ascended　again　and　handed　the　note　to　Dolores；　who　cautiously

opened　the　door。　A　minute　later　I　heard　a　cry　from　within；　a　cry　in

which　joy　and　surprise　seemed　to　be　blended。　Dolores　looked　out。

　　〃She　will　see　them。　She　will　leesten；〃　said　she。

　　At　my　summons　Ferguson　and　Holmes　came　up。　As　we　entered　the　room

Ferguson　took　a　step　or　two　towards　his　wife；　who　had　raised　herself

in　the　bed；　but　she　held　out　her　hand　to　repulse　him。　He　sank　into

an　armchair；　while　Holmes　seated　himself　beside　him；　after　bowing　to

the　lady；　who　looked　at　him　with　wide…eyed　amazement。

　　〃I　think　we　can　dispense　with　Dolores；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Oh；　very　well；

madame；　if　you　would　rather　she　stayed　I　can　see　no　objection。　Now；

Mr。　Ferguson；　I　am　a　busy　man　with　many　calls；　and　my　methods　have

to　be　short　and　direct。　The　swiftest　surgery　is　the　least　painful。　Let

me　first　say　what　will　ease　your　mind。　Your　wife　is　a　very　good；　a

very　loving；　and　a　very　ill…used　woman。〃

　　Ferguson　sat　up　with　a　cry　of　joy。

　　〃Prove　that；　Mr。　Holmes；　and　I　am　your　debtor　forever。〃

　　〃I　will　do　so；　but　in　doing　so　I　must　wound　you　deeply　in　another

direction。〃

　　〃I　care　nothing　so　long　as　you　clear　my　wife。　Everything　on　earth　is

insignificant　compared　to　that。〃

　　〃Let　me　tell　you；　then；　the　train　of　reasoning　which　passed

through　my　mind　in　Baker　Street。　The　idea　of　a　vampire　was　to　me

absurd。　Such　things　do　not　happen　in　criminal　practice　in　England。　And

yet　your　observation　was　precise。　You　had　seen　the　lady　rise　from

beside　the　child's　cot　with　the　blood　upon　her　lips。〃

　　〃I　did。〃

　　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　that　a　bleeding　wound　may　be　sucked　for

some　other　purpose　than　to　draw　the　blood　from　it？　Was　there　not　a

queen　in　English　history　who　sucked　such　a　wound　to　draw　poison　from

it？〃

　　〃Poison！〃

　　〃A　South　American　household。　My　instinct　felt　the　presence　of

those　weapons　upon　the　wall　before；　my　eyes　ever　saw　them。　It　might

have　been　other　poison；　but　that　was　what　occurred　to　me。　When　I　saw

that　little　empty　quiver　beside　the　small　bird…bow；　it　was　just　what　I

expected　to　see。　If　the　child　were　pricked　with　one　of　those　arrows

dipped　in　curare　or　some　other　devilish　drug；　it　would　mean　death　if

the　venom　were　not　sucked　out。

　　〃And　the　dog！　If　one　were　to　use　such　a　poison；　would　one　not　try　it

first　in　order　to　see　that　it　had　not　lost　its　power？　I　did　not

foresee　the　dog；　but　at　least　I　understand　him　and　he　fitted　into　my

reconstruction。

　　〃Now　do　you　understand？　Your　wife　feared　such　all　attack。　She　saw　it

made　and　saved　the　child's　life；　and　yet　she　shrank　from　telling　you

all　the　truth；　for　she　knew　how　you　loved　the　boy　and　feared　lest　it

break　your　heart。〃

　　〃Jacky！〃

　　〃I　watched　him　as　you　fondled　the　child　just　now。　His　face　was

clearly　reflected　in　the　glass　of　the　window　where　the　shutter

formed　a　background。　I　saw　such　jealousy；　such　cruel　hatred；　as　I　have

seldom　seen　in　a　human　face。〃

　　〃My　Jacky！〃

　　〃You　have　to　face　it；　Mr。　Ferguson。　It　is　the　more　painful　because

it　is　a　distorted　love；　a　maniacal　exaggerated　love　for　you；　and

possibly　for　his　dead　mother；　which　has　prompted　his　action。　His

very　soul　is　consumed　with　hatred　for　this　splendid　child；　whose

health　and　beauty　are　a　contrast　to　his　own　weakness。〃

　　〃Good　God！　It　is　incredible！〃

　　〃Have　I　spoken　the　truth；　madame？〃

　　The　lady　was　sobbing；　with　her　face　buried　in　the　pillows。　Now　she

turned　to　her　husband。

　　〃How　could　I　tell　you；　Bob？　I　felt　the　blow　it　would　be　to　you。　It

was　better　that　I　should　wait　and　that　it　should　come　from　some

other　lips　than　mine。　When　this　gentleman；　who　seems　to　have　powers　of

magic；　wrote　that　he　knew　all；　I　was　glad。〃

　　〃I　think　a　year　at　sea　would　be　my　prescription　for　Master　Jacky；〃

said　Holmes；　rising　from　his　chair。　〃Only　one　thing　is　still

clouded；　madame。　We　can　quite　understand　your　attacks　upon　Master

Jacky。　There　is　a　limit　to　a　mother's　patience。　But　how　did　you　dare

to　leave　the　child　these　last　two　days？〃

　　〃I　had　told　Mrs。　Mason。　She　knew。〃

　　〃Exactly。　So　I　imagined。〃

　　Ferguson　was　standing　by　the　bed；　choking；　his　hands　outstretched

and　quivering。

　　〃This；　I　fancy；　is　the　time　for　our　exit；　Watson；〃　said　Holmes　in

a　whisper。　〃If　you　will　take　one　elbow　of　the　too　faithful　Dolores；

I　will　take　the　other。　There；　now；〃　he　added　as　he　closed　the　door

behind　him；　〃I　think　we　may　leave　them　to　settle　the　rest　among

themselves。〃

　　I　have　only　one　further　note　of　this　case。　It　is　the　letter　which

Holmes　wrote　in　final　answer　to　that　with　which　the　narrative

begins。　It　ran　thus：



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BAKER　STREET；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Nov。　21st。