the pursuit of the house-boat-第10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！


vessel　at　his　own　price。〃

〃But　we'd　never　be　able　to　pay；〃　said　Hamlet。

〃Ha…ha！〃　laughed　Holmes。　　〃It　is　evident　that　you　know　nothing　of　the　laws　of　trade　nowadays。　　Don't　pay！〃

〃But　how　can　we？〃　asked　Raleigh。

〃The　method　is　simple。　　You　haven't　anything　to　pay　with；〃　returned　Holmes。　　〃Let　him　sue。　　Suppose　he　gets　a　verdict。　　You　haven't　anything　he　can　attachif　you　have；　make　it　over　to　your　wives　or　your　fiancees〃

〃Is　that　honest？〃　asked　Hamlet；　shaking　his　head　doubtfully。

〃It's　business；〃　said　Holmes。

〃But　suppose　he　wants　an　advance　payment？〃　queried　Hamlet。

〃Give　him　a　check　drawn　to　his　own　order。　　He'll　have　to　endorse　it　when　he　deposits　it；　and　that　will　make　him　responsible；〃　laughed　Holmes。

〃What　a　simple　thing　when　you　understand　it！〃　commented　Raleigh。

〃Very；〃　said　Holmes。　　〃Business　is　getting　by　slow　degrees　to　be　an　exact　science。　　It　reminds　me　of　the　Brighton　mystery；　in　which　I　played　a　modest　part　some　ten　years　ago；　when　I　first　took　up　ferreting　as　a　profession。　　I　was　sitting　one　night　in　my　room　at　one　of　the　Brighton　hotels；　which　shall　be　nameless。　　I　never　give　the　name　of　any　of　the　hotels　at　which　I　stop；　because　it　might　give　offence　to　the　proprietors　of　other　hotels；　with　the　result　that　my　books　would　be　excluded　from　sale　therein。　　Suffice　it　to　say　that　I　was　spending　an　early　summer　Sunday　at　Brighton　with　my　friend　Watson。　　We　had　dined　well；　and　were　enjoying　our　evening　smoke　together　upon　a　small　balcony　overlooking　the　water；　when　there　came　a　timid　knock　on　the　door　of　my　room。

〃'Watson；'　said　I；　'here　comes　some　one　for　advice。　　Do　you　wish　to　wager　a　small　bottle　upon　it？'

〃'Yes；'　he　answered；　with　a　smile。　　'I　am　thirsty　and　I'd　like　a　small　bottle；　and　while　I　do　not　expect　to　win；　I'll　take　the　bet。　　I　should　like　to　know；　though；　how　you　know。'

〃'It　is　quite　simple；'　said　I。　　'The　timidity　of　the　knock　shows　that　my　visitor　is　one　of　two　classes　of　personsan　autograph…hunter　or　a　client；　one　of　the　two。　　You　see　I　give　you　a　chance　to　win。　　It　may　be　an　autograph…hunter；　but　I　think　it　is　a　client。　　If　it　were　a　creditor；　he　would　knock　boldly；　even　ostentatiously；　if　it　were　the　maid；　she　would　not　knock　at　all；　if　it　were　the　hall…boy；　he　would　not　come　until　I　had　rung　five　times　for　him。　　None　of　these　things　has　occurred；　the　knock　is　the　half…hearted　knock　which　betokens　either　that　the　person　who　knocked　is　in　trouble；　or　is　uncertain　as　to　his　reception。　　I　am　willing；　however；　considering　the　heat　and　my　desire　to　quench　my　thirst；　to　wager　that　it　is　a　client。'

〃'Done；'　said　Watson；　and　I　immediately　remarked；　'Come　in。'

〃The　door　opened；　and　a　man　of　about　thirty…five　years　of　age；　in　a　bathing…suit；　entered　the　room；　and　I　saw　at　a　glance　what　had　happened。

〃'Your　name　is　Burgess；'　I　said。　　'You　came　here　from　London　this　morning；　expecting　to　return　to…night。　　You　brought　no　luggage　with　you。　　After　luncheon　you　went　bathing。　　You　had　machine　No。　35；　and　when　you　came　out　of　the　water　you　found　that　No。　35　had　disappeared；　with　your　clothes　and　the　silver　watch　your　uncle　gave　you　on　the　day　you　succeeded　to　his　business。'

〃Of　course；　gentlemen；〃　observed　the　detective；　with　a　smile　at　Sir　Walter　and　Hamlet〃of　course　the　man　fairly　gasped；　and　I　continued：　'You　have　been　lying　face　downward　in　the　sand　ever　since；　waiting　for　nightfall；　so　that　you　could　come　to　me　for　assistance；　not　considering　it　good　form　to　make　an　afternoon　call　upon　a　stranger　at　his　hotel；　clad　in　a　bathing…suit。　　Am　I　correct？'

〃'Sir；'　he　replied；　with　a　look　of　wonder；　'you　have　narrated　my　story　exactly　as　it　happened；　and　I　find　I　have　made　no　mistake　in　coming　to　you。　　Would　you　mind　telling　me　what　is　your　course　of　reasoning？'

〃'It　is　plain　as　day；'　said　I。　　'I　am　the　person　with　the　red　beard　with　whom　you　came　down　third　class　from　London　this　morning；　and　you　told　me　your　name　was　Burgess　and　that　you　were　a　butcher。　　When　you　looked　to　see　the　time；　I　remarked　upon　the　oddness　of　your　watch；　which　led　to　your　telling　me　that　it　was　the　gift　of　your　uncle。'

〃'True；'　said　Burgess；　'but　I　did　not　tell　you　I　had　no　luggage。'

〃'No；'　said　I；　'but　that　you　hadn't　is　plain；　for　if　you　had　brought　any　other　clothing　besides　that　you　had　on　with　you；　you　would　have　put　it　on　to　come　here。　　That　you　have　been　robbed　I　deduce　also　from　your　costume。'

〃'But　the　number　of　the　machine？'　asked　Watson。

〃'Is　on　the　tag　on　the　key　hanging　about　his　neck；'　said　I。

〃'One　more　question；'　queried　Burgess。　　'How　do　you　know　I　have　been　lying　face　downward　on　the　beach　ever　since？'

〃'By　the　sand　in　your　eyebrows；'　I　replied；　and　Watson　ordered　up　the　small　bottle。〃

〃I　fail　to　see　what　it　was　in　our　conversation；　however；〃　observed　Hamlet；　somewhat　impatient　over　the　delay　caused　by　the　narration　of　this　tale；　〃that　suggested　this　train　of　thought　to　you。〃

〃The　sequel　will　show；〃　returned　Holmes。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　put　in　Raleigh。　　〃Can't　we　put　off　the　sequel　until　a　later　issue？　　Remember；　Mr。　Holmes；　that　we　are　constantly　losing　time。〃

〃The　sequel　is　brief；　and　I　can　narrate　it　on　our　way　to　the　office　of　the　Navigation　Company；〃　observed　the　detective。　　〃When　the　bottle　came　I　invited　Mr。　Burgess　to　join　us；　which　he　did；　and　as　the　hour　was　late　when　we　came　to　separate；　I　offered　him　the　use　of　my　parlor　overnight。　　This　he　accepted；　and　we　retired。

〃The　next　morning　when　I　arose　to　dress；　the　mystery　was　cleared。〃

〃You　had　dreamed　its　solution？〃　asked　Raleigh。

〃No；〃　replied　Holmes。　　〃Burgess　had　disappeared　with　all　my　clothing；　my　false…beard；　my　suit…case；　and　my　watch。　　The　only　thing　he　had　left　me　was　the　bathing…suit　and　a　few　empty　small　bottles。〃

〃And　why；　may　I　ask；〃　put　in　Hamlet；　as　they　drew　near　to　Charon's　office〃why　does　that　case　remind　you　of　business　as　it　is　conducted　to…day？〃

〃In　this；　that　it　is　a　good　thing　to　stay　out　of　unless　you　know　it　all；〃　explained　Holmes。　　〃I　omitted　in　the　case　of　Burgess　to　observe　one　thing　about　him。　　Had　I　observed　that　his　nose　was　rectilinear；　incurved；　and　with　a　lifted　base；　and　that　his　auricular　temporal　angle　was　between　96　and　97　degrees；　I　should　have　known　at　once　that　he　was　an　impostor　Vide　Ottolenghui　on　'Ears　and　Noses　I　Have　Met；'　pp。　631…640。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　can　tell　a　criminal　by　his　ears？〃　demanded　Hamlet。

〃If　he　has　anyyes；　but　I　did　not　know　that　at　the　time　of　the　Brighton　mystery。　　Therefore　I　should　have　stayed　out　of　the　case。　But　here　we　are。　　Good…morning；　Charon。〃

By　this　time　the　trio　had　entered　the　private　office　of　the　president　of　the　Styx　Navigation　Company；　and　in　a　few　moments　the　vessel　was　chartered　at　a　fabulous　price。

On　the　return　to　the　wharf；　Sir　Walter　somewhat　nervously　asked　Holmes　if　he　thought　the　plan　they　had　settled　upon　would　work。

〃Charon　is　a　very　shrewd　old　fellow；〃　said　he。　　〃He　may　outwit　us　yet。〃

〃The　chances　are　just　two　and　one…eighth　degrees　in　your　favor；〃　observed　Holmes；　quietly；　with　a　glance　at　Raleigh's　ears。　　〃The　temporal　angle　of　your　ears　is　93。125　degrees；　whereas　Charon's　stand　out　at　91；　by　my　otometer。　　To　that　extent　your　criminal　instincts　are　superior　to　his。　　If　criminology　is　an　exact　science；　reasoning　by　your　respective　ears；　you　ought　to　beat　him　out　by　a　perceptible　though　possibly　narrow　margin。〃

With　which　assurance　Raleigh　went　ahead　with　his　preparations；　and　within　twelve　hours　the　Gehenna　was　under　way；　carrying　a　full　complement　of　crew　and　officers；　with　every　state…room　on　board　occupied　by　some　spirit　of　the　more　illustrious　kind。

Even　Shylock　was　on　board；　though　no　one　knew　it；　for　in　the　dead　of　night　he　had　stolen　quietly　up　the　gang…plank　and　had　hidden　himself　in　an　empty　water…cask　in　the　forecastle。

〃'Tisn't　Venice；〃　he　said；　as　he　sat　down　and　breathed　heavily　through　the　bung　of　the　barrel；　〃but　it's　musty　and　damp　enough；　and；　considering　the　cost；　I　can't　complain。　　You　can't　get　something　for　nothing；　even　in　Hades。〃



CHAPTER　VIII：　　ON　BOARD　THE　〃GEHENNA〃



When　the　Gehenna　had　passed　down　the　Styx　and　out　through　the　beautiful　Cimmerian　Harbor　into　the　broad　waters　of　the　ocean；　and　everything　was　comparatively　safe　for　a　while　at　least；　Sherlock　Holmes　came　down　from　the　bridge；　where　he　had　taken　his　place　as　the　commander　of　the　expedition　at　the　moment　of　departure。　　His　brow　was　furrowed　with　anxiety；　and　through　his　massive　forehead　his　brain　could　be　seen　to　be　throbbing　violently；　and　the　corrugations　of　his　gray　matter　were　not　pleasant　to　witness　as　he　tried　vainly　to　squeeze　an　idea　out　of　them。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　Demosthenes；　anxiously。　　〃We　are　not　in　any　danger；　are　we？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Holmes。　　〃But　I　am　somewhat　puzzled　at　the　bubbles　on　the　surface　of　the　ocean；　and　the　ripples　which　we　passed　over　an　hour　or　two　ago；　barely　perceptible　through　the　most　powerful　microscope；　indicate　to　my　mind　that　for　some　reason　at　present　unknown　to　me　the　House…boat　has　changed　her　course。　　Take　that　bubble　floating　by。　　It　is　the　last　expiring　bit　of　aerial　agitation　of　the　House…boat's　wake。　　Observe　whence　it　comes。　　Not　from　the　Azores　quarter；　but　as　if　instead　of　steering　a　straight　course　thither　the　House…boat　had　taken　a　sharp　turn　to　the　north…east；　and　was　making　for　Havre；　or；　in　other　words；　Paris　instead　of　London　seems　to　have　become　their　destination。〃

Demosthenes　looked　at　Holmes　with　blank　amazement；　and；　to　keep　from　stammering　out　the　exclamation　of　wonder　that　rose　to　his　lips；　he　opened　his　bonbonniere　and　swallowed　a　pebble。

〃You　don't　happen　to　have　a　cocaine　tablet　in　your　box；　do　you？〃　queried　Holmes。

〃No；〃　returned　the　Greek。　　〃Cocaine　makes　me　flighty　and　nervous；　but　these　pebbles　sort　of　ballast　me　and　hold　me　down。　　How　on　earth　do　you　know　that　that　bubble　comes　from　the　wake　of　the　House…boat？〃

〃By　my　chemical　knowledge；　merely；〃　replied　Holmes。　　〃A　merely　worldly　vessel　leaves　a　phosphorescent　bubble　in　its　wake。　　That　one　we　have　just　discovered　is　not　so；　but　sulphurescent；　if　I　may　coin　a　word　which　it　seems　to　me　the　English　language　is　very　much　in　need　of。　　It　proves；　then；　that　the　bubble　is　a　portion　of　the　wake　of　a　Stygian　craft；　and　the　only　Stygian　craft　that　has　cleared　the　Cimmerian　Harbor　for　years　is　the　House…boatQ。　E。　D。〃

〃We　can　go　back　until　we　find　the　ripple　again；　and　follow　that；　I　presume；〃　sneered　Le　Coq；　who　did　not　take　much　stock　in　the　theories　of　his　great　rival；　largely　because　he　was　a　detective　by　intuition　rather　than　by　study　of　the　science。

〃You　can　if　you　want　to；　but　it　is　better　not　to；〃　rejoined　Holmes；　simply；　as　though　not　observing　the　sneer；　〃because　the　ripple　represents　the　outer　lines　of　the　angle　of　disturbance　in　the　water；　and　as　any　one　of　the　sides　to　an　angle　is　greater　than　the　perpendicular　from　the　hypothenuse　to　the　apex；　you'd　merely　be　going　the　long　way。　　This　is　especially　important　when　you　consider　the　formation　of　the　bow　of　the　House…boat；　which　is　rounded　like　the　stern　of　most　vessels；　and　comes　near　to　making　a　pair　of　ripples　at　an　angle　of　ninety　degrees。〃

〃Then；〃　observed　Sir　Walter；　with　a　sigh　of　disappointment；　〃we　must　change　our　course　and　sail　for　Paris？〃

〃I　am　a