the naval treaty-第6章

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　　〃But　not　where　such　large　interests　are　at　stake？〃

　　〃I　don't　know　that。　To　my　certain　knowledge　he　has　acted　on　behalf

of　three　of　the　reigning　houses　of　Europe　in　very　vital　matters。〃

　　〃But　you　know　him　well；　Watson。　He　is　such　an　inscrutable　fellow

that　I　never　quite　know　what　to　make　of　him。　Do　you　think　he　is

hopeful？　Do　you　think　he　expects　to　make　a　success　of　it？〃

　　〃He　has　said　nothing。〃

　　〃That　is　a　bad　sign。〃

　　〃On　the　contrary。　I　have　noticed　that　when　he　is　off　the　trail　he

generally　says　so。　It　is　when　he　is　on　a　scent　and　is　not　quite

absolutely　sure　yet　that　it　is　the　right　one　that　he　is　most　taciturn。

Now；　my　dear　fellow；　we　can't　help　matters　by　making　ourselves　nervous

about　them；　so　let　me　implore　you　to　go　to　bed　and　so　be　fresh　for

whatever　may　await　us　to…morrow。〃

　　I　was　able　at　last　to　persuade　my　companion　to　take　my　advice；

though　I　knew　from　his　excited　manner　that　there　was　not　much　hope

of　sleep　for　him。　Indeed；　his　mood　was　infectious；　for　I　lay　tossing

half　the　night　myself；　brooding　over　this　strange　problem　and

inventing　a　hundred　theories；　each　of　which　was　more　impossible　than

the　last。　Why　had　Holmes　remained　at　Woking？　Why　had　he　asked　Miss

Harrison　to　remain　in　the　sick…room　all　day？　Why　had　he　been　so

careful　not　to　inform　the　people　at　Briarbrae　that　he　intended　to

remain　near　them？　I　cudgelled　my　brains　until　I　fell　asleep　in　the

endeavour　to　find　some　explanation　which　would　cover　all　these　facts。

　　It　was　seven　o'clock　when　I　awoke；　and　I　set　off　at　once　for

Phelps's　room　to　find　him　haggard　and　spent　after　a　sleepless　night。

His　first　question　was　whether　Holmes　had　arrived　yet。

　　〃He'll　be　here　when　he　promised；〃　said　I；　〃and　not　an　instant　sooner

or　later。〃

　　And　my　words　were　true；　for　shortly　after　eight　a　hansom　dashed　up

to　the　door　and　our　friend　got　out　of　it。　Standing　in　the　window　we

saw　that　his　left　hand　was　swathed　in　a　bandage　and　that　his　face

was　very　grim　and　pale。　He　entered　the　house；　but　it　was　some　little

time　before　he　came　upstairs。

　　〃He　looks　like　a　beaten　man；〃　cried　Phelps。

　　I　was　forced　to　confess　that　he　was　right。　〃After　all；〃　said　I；　〃the

clue　of　the　matter　lies　probably　here　in　town。〃

　　Phelps　gave　a　groan。

　　〃I　don't　know　how　it　is；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　had　hoped　for　so　much　from

his　return。　But　surely　his　hand　was　not　tied　up　like　that　yesterday。

What　can　be　the　matter？〃

　　〃You　are　not　wounded；　Holmes？〃　I　asked　as　my　friend　entered　the

room。

　　〃Tut；　it　is　only　a　scratch　through　my　own　clumsiness；〃　he

answered；　nodding　his　good…morning　to　us。　〃This　case　of　yours；　Mr。

Phelps；　is　certainly　one　of　the　darkest　which　I　have　ever

investigated。〃

　　〃I　feared　that　you　would　find　it　beyond　you。〃

　　〃It　has　been　a　most　remarkable　experience。〃

　　〃That　bandage　tells　of　adventures；〃　said　I。　〃Won't　you　tell　us

what　has　happened？〃

　　〃After　breakfast；　my　dear　Watson。　Remember　that　I　have　breathed

thirty　miles　of　Surrey　air　this　morning。　I　suppose　that　there　has　been

no　answer　from　my　cabman　advertisement？　Well；　well；　we　cannot　expect

to　score　every　time。〃

　　The　table　was　all　laid；　and　just　as　I　was　about　to　ring　Mrs。

Hudson　entered　with　the　tea　and　coffee。　A　few　minutes　later　she

brought　in　three　covers；　and　we　all　drew　up　to　the　table；　Holmes

ravenous；　I　curious；　and　Phelps　in　the　gloomiest　state　of　depression。

　　〃Mrs。　Hudson　has　risen　to　the　occasion；〃　said　Holmes；　uncovering　a

dish　of　curried　chicken。　〃Her　cuisine　is　a　little　limited；　but　she　has

as　good　an　idea　of　breakfast　as　a　Scotchwoman。　What　have　you　there；

Watson？〃

　　〃Ham　and　eggs；〃　I　answered。

　　〃Good！　What　are　you　going　to　take；　Mr。　Phelps…curried　fowl　or

eggs；　or　will　you　help　yourself？〃

　　〃Thank　you。　I　can　eat　nothing；〃　said　Phelps。

　　〃Oh；　come！　Try　the　dish　before　you。〃

　　〃Thank　you；　I　would　really　rather　not。〃

　　〃Well；　then；〃　said　Holmes　with　a　mischievous　twinkle；　〃I　suppose

that　you　have　no　objection　to　helping　me？〃

　　Phelps　raised　the　cover；　and　as　he　did　so　he　uttered　a　scream　and

sat　there　staring　with　a　face　as　white　as　the　plate　upon　which　he

looked。　Across　the　centre　of　it　was　lying　a　little　cylinder　of

blue…gray　paper。　He　caught　it　up；　devoured　it　with　his　eyes；　and

then　danced　madly　about　the　room；　pressing　it　to　his　bosom　and

shrieking　out　in　his　delight。　Then　he　fell　back　into　an　armchair；　so

limp　and　exhausted　with　his　own　emotions　that　we　had　to　pour　brandy

down　his　throat　to　keep　him　from　fainting。

　　〃There！　there！〃　said　Holmes　soothingly；　patting　him　upon　the

shoulder。　〃It　was　too　bad　to　spring　it　on　you　like　this；　but　Watson

here　will　tell　you　that　I　never　can　resist　a　touch　of　the　dramatic。〃

　　Phelps　seized　his　hand　and　kissed　it。　〃God　bless　you！〃　he　cried。

〃You　have　saved　my　honour。〃

　　〃Well；　my　own　was　at　stake；　you　know；〃　said　Holmes。　〃I　assure　you　it

is　just　as　hateful　to　me　to　fail　in　a　case　as　it　can　be　to　you　to

blunder　over　a　commission。〃

　　Phelps　thrust　away　the　precious　document　into　the　innermost　pocket

of　his　coat。

　　〃I　have　not　the　heart　to　interrupt　your　breakfast　any　further；　and

yet　I　am　dying　to　know　how　you　got　it　and　where　it　was。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　swallowed　a　cup　of　coffee　and　turned　his　attention

to　the　ham　and　eggs。　Then　he　rose；　lit　his　pipe；　and　settled　himself

down　into　his　chair。

　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　did　first；　and　how　I　came　to　do　it

afterwards；〃　said　he。　〃After　leaving　you　at　the　station　I　went　for　a

charming　walk　through　some　admirable　Surrey　scenery　to　a　pretty　little

village　called　Ripley；　where　I　had　my　tea　at　an　inn　and　took　the

precaution　of　filling　my　flask　and　of　putting　a　paper　of　sandwiches　in

my　pocket。　There　I　remained　until　evening；　when　I　set　off　for　Woking

again　and　found　myself　in　the　highroad　outside　Briarbrae　just　after

sunset。

　　〃Well；　I　waited　until　the　road　was　clear…it　is　never　a　very

frequented　one　at　any　time；　I　fancy…and　then　I　clambered　over　the

fence　into　the　grounds。〃

　　〃Surely　the　gate　was　open！'　ejaculated　Phelps。

　　〃Yes；　but　I　have　a　peculiar　taste　in　these　matters。　I　chose　the

place　where　the　three　fir…trees　stand；　and　behind　their　screen　I　got

over　without　the　least　chance　of　anyone　in　the　house　being　able　to　see

me。　I　crouched　down　among　the　bushes　on　the　other　side　and　crawled

from　one　to　the　other…witness　the　disreputable　state　of　my　trouser

knees…until　I　had　reached　the　clump　of　rhododendrons　just　opposite

to　your　bedroom　window。　There　I　squatted　down　and　awaited

developments。

　　〃The　blind　was　not　down　in　your　room；　and　I　could　see　Miss

Harrison　sitting　there　reading　by　the　table。　It　was　quarter…past　ten

when　she　closed　her　book；　fastened　the　shutters；　and　retired。

　　〃I　heard　her　shut　the　door　and　felt　quite　sure　that　she　had　turned

the　key　in　the　lock。〃

　　〃The　key！〃　ejaculated　Phelps。

　　〃Yes；　I　had　given　Miss　Harrison　instructions　to　lock　the　door　on　the

outside　and　take　the　key　with　her　when　she　went　to　bed。　She　carried

out　every　one　of　my　injunctions　to　the　letter；　and　certainly　without

her　cooperation　you　would　not　have　that　paper　in　your　coat…pocket。　She

departed　then　and　the　lights　went　out；　and　I　was　left　squatting　in　the

rhododendron…bush。

　　〃The　night　was　fine；　but　still　it　was　a　very　weary　vigil。　Of

course　it　has　the　sort　of　excitement　about　it　that　the　sportsman　feels

when　he　lies　beside　the　water　course　and　waits　for　the　big　game。　It

was　very　long；　though…almost　as　long；　Watson；　as　when　you　and　I　waited

in　that　deadly　room　when　we　looked　into　the　little　problem　of　the

Speckled　Band。　There　was　a　church…clock　down　at　Woking　which　struck

the　quarters；　and　I　thought　more　than　once　that　it　had　stopped。　At

last；　however；　about　two　in　the　morning；　I　suddenly　heard　the　gentle

sound　of　a　bolt　being　pushed　back　and　the　creaking　of　a　key。　A

moment　later　the　servants'　door　was　opened；　and　Mr。　Joseph　Harrison

stepped　out　into　the　moonlight。〃

　　〃Joseph！〃　ejaculated　Phelps。

　　〃He　was　bare…headed；　but　he　had　a　black　cloak　thrown　over　his

shoulder；　so　that　he　could　conceal　his　face　in　an　instant　if　there

were　any　alarm。　He　walked　on　tiptoe　under　the　shadow　of　the　wall；

and　when　he　reached　the　window　he　worked　a　long…bladed　knife　through

the　sash　and　pushed　back　the　catch。　Then　he　flung　open　the　window；　and

putting　his　knife　through　the　crack　in　the　shutters；　he　thrust　the　bar

up　and　swung　them　open。

　　〃From　where　I　lay　I　had　a　perfect　view　of　the　inside　of　the　room　and

of　every　one　of　his　movements。　He　lit　the　two　candles　which　stood　upon

the　mantelpiece；　and　then　he　proceeded　to　turn　back　the　corner　of

the　carpet　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　door。　Presently　he　stooped

and　picked　out　a　square　piece　of　board；　such　as　is　usually　left　to

enable　plumbers　to　get　at　the　joints　of　the　gas…pipes。　This　one

covered；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　the　T　joint　which　gives　off　the　pipe

which　supplies　the　kitchen　underneath。　Out　of　this　hiding…place　he

drew　that　little　cylinder　of　paper；　pushed　down　the　board；

rearranged　the　carpet；　blew　out　the　candles；　and　walked　straight

into　my　arms　as　I　stood　waiting　for　him　outside　the　window。

　　〃Well；　he　has　rather　more　viciousness　than　I　gave　him　credit　for；

has　Master　Joseph。　He　flew　at　me　with　his　knife；　and　I　had　to　grasp

him　twice；　and　got　a　cut　over　the　knuckles；　before　I　had　the　upper

hand　of　him。　He　looked　murder　out　of　the　only　eye　he　could　see　with

when　we　had　finished；　but　he　listened　to　reason　and　gave　up　the

papers。　Having　got　them　I　let　my　man　go；　but　I　wired　full

particulars　to　Forbes　this　morning。　If　he　is　quick　enough　to　catch　his

bird；　well　and　good。　But　if；　as　I　shrewdly　suspect；　he　finds　the

nest　empty　before　he　gets　there；　why；　all　the　better　for　the

government。　I　fancy　that　Lord　Holdhurst；　for　one；　and　Mr。　Percy　Phelps

for　another；　would　very　much　rather　that　the　affair　never　got　as　far

as　a　police…court。〃

　　〃My　God！〃　gasped　our　client。　〃Do　you　tell　me　that　during　these

long　ten　weeks　of　agony　the　stolen　papers　were　within　the　very　room

with　me　all　the　time？〃

　　〃So　it　was。〃

　　〃And　Joseph！　Joseph　a　villain　and　a　thief！〃

　　〃Hum！　I　am　afraid　Joseph's　character　is　a　rather　deeper　and　more

dangerous　one　than　one　might　judge　from　his　appearance。　From　what　I

have　heard　from　him　this　morning；　I　gather　that　he　has　lost　heavily　in

dabbling　with　stocks；　and　that　he　is　ready　to　do　anything　on　earth

to　better　his　fortunes。　Being　an　absolutely　selfish　man；　when　a　chance

presents　itself　he　did　not　allow　either　his　sister's　happiness　or　your

reputation　to　hold　his　hand。〃

　　Percy　Phelps　sank　back　in　his　chair。　〃My　head　whirls；〃　said　he。

〃Your　words　have　dazed　me。〃

　　〃The　principal　difficulty　in　your　case；〃　remarked　Holmes　in　his

didactic　fashion；　〃lay　in　the　fact　of　there　being　too　much　evidence。

What　was　vital　was　overlaid　and　hidden　by　what　was　irrelevant。　Of

all　the　facts　which　were　presented　to　us　we　had　to　pick　just　those

which　we　deemed　to　be　essential；　and　then　piece　them　together　in　their

order；　so　as　to　reconstruct　this　very　remarkable　chain　of　events。　I

had　already　begun　to　suspect　Joseph　from　the　fact　that　you　had

intended　to　travel　home