adventure09-第2章

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never　be　easy　in　my　mind　until　I　know　what　has　become

of　my　poor　man　with　the　sticking…plaster　upon　his

face。〃



〃I　am　all　attention；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes。



〃This　is　Wednesday　evening；〃　said　Mr。　Melas。　　〃Well

then；　it　was　Monday　nightonly　two　days　ago；　you

understandthat　all　this　happened。　　I　am　an

interpreter；　as　perhaps　my　neighbor　there　has　told

you。　　I　interpret　all　languagesor　nearly　allbut　as

I　am　a　Greek　by　birth　and　with　a　Grecian　name；　it　is

with　that　particular　tongue　that　I　am　principally

associated。　　For　many　years　I　have　been　the　chief

Greek　interpreter　in　London；　and　my　name　is　very　well

known　in　the　hotels。



It　happens　not　unfrequently　that　I　am　sent　for　at

strange　hours　by　foreigners　who　get　into　difficulties；

or　by　traveler　who　arrive　late　and　wish　my　services。　

I　was　not　surprised；　therefore；　on　Monday　night　when　a

Mr。　Latimer；　a　very　fashionably　dressed　young　man；

came　up　to　my　rooms　and　asked　me　to　accompany　him　in　a

cab　which　was　waiting　at　the　door。　　A　Greek　friend　had

come　to　see　him　upon　business；　he　said；　and　as　he

could　speak　nothing　but　his　own　tongue；　the　services

of　an　interpreter　were　indispensable。　　He　gave　me　to

understand　that　his　house　was　some　little　distance

off；　in　Kensington；　and　he　seemed　to　be　in　a　great

hurry；　bustling　me　rapidly　into　the　cab　when　we　had

descended　to　the　street。



〃I　say　into　the　cab；　but　I　soon　became　doubtful　as　to

whether　it　was　not　a　carriage　in　which　I　found　myself。　

It　was　certainly　more　roomy　than　the　ordinary

four…wheeled　disgrace　to　London；　and　the　fittings；

though　frayed；　were　of　rich　quality。　　Mr。　Latimer

seated　himself　opposite　to　me　and　we　started　off

through　Charing　Cross　and　up　the　Shaftesbury　Avenue。　

We　had　come　out　upon　Oxford　Street　and　I　had　ventured

some　remark　as　to　this　being　a　roundabout　way　to

Kensington；　when　my　words　were　arrested　by　the

extraordinary　conduct　of　my　companion。



〃He　began　by　drawing　a　most　formidable…looking

bludgeon　loaded　with　lead　from　his　pocket；　and

switching　it　backward　and　forward　several　times；　as　if

to　test　its　weight　and　strength。　　Then　he　placed　it

without　a　word　upon　the　seat　beside　him。　　Having　done

this；　he　drew　up　the　windows　on　each　side；　and　I　found

to　my　astonishment　that　they　were　covered　with　paper

so　as　to　prevent　my　seeing　through　them。



〃'I　am　sorry　to　cut　off　your　view；　Mr。　Melas；'　said

he。　　'The　fact　is　that　I　have　no　intention　that　you

should　see　what　the　place　is　to　which　we　are　driving。　

It　might　possibly　be　inconvenient　to　me　if　you　could

find　your　way　there　again。'



〃As　you　can　imagine；　I　was　utterly　taken　aback　by　such

an　address。　　My　companion　was　a　powerful；

broad…shouldered　young　fellow；　and；　apart　from　the

weapon；　I　should　not　have　had　the　slightest　chance　in

a　struggle　with　him。



〃'This　is　very　extraordinary　conduct；　Mr。　Latimer；'　I

stammered。　　'You　must　be　aware　that　what　you　are　doing

is　quite　illegal。'



〃'It　is　somewhat　of　a　liberty；　no　doubt；'　said　he；

'but　we'll　make　it　up　to　you。　　I　must　warn　you；

however；　Mr。　Melas；　that　if　at　any　time　to…night　you

attempt　to　raise　an　alarm　or　do　anything　which　is

against　my　interests；　you　will　find　it　a　very　serious

thing。　　I　beg　you　to　remember　that　no　one　knows　where

you　are；　and　that；　whether　you　are　in　this　carriage　or

in　my　house；　you　are　equally　in　my　power。'



〃His　words　were　quiet；　but　he　had　a　rasping　way　of

saying　them　which　was　very　menacing。　　I　sat　in　silence

wondering　what　on　earth　could　be　his　reason　for

kidnapping　me　in　this　extraordinary　fashion。　　Whatever

it　might　be；　it　was　perfectly　clear　that　there　was　no

possible　use　in　my　resisting；　and　that　I　could　only

wait　to　see　what　might　befall。



〃For　nearly　two　hours　we　drove　without　my　having　the

least　clue　as　to　where　we　were　going。　　Sometimes　the

rattle　of　the　stones　told　of　a　paved　causeway；　and　at

others　our　smooth；　silent　course　suggested　asphalt；

but；　save　by　this　variation　in　sound；　there　was

nothing　at　all　which　could　in　the　remotest　way　help　me

to　form　a　guess　as　to　where　we　were。　　The　paper　over

each　window　was　impenetrable　to　light；　and　a　blue

curtain　was　drawn　across　the　glass　work　in　front。　　It

was　a　quarter…past　seven　when　we　left　Pall　Mall；　and

my　watch　showed　me　that　it　was　ten　minutes　to　nine

when　we　at　last　came　to　a　standstill。　　My　companion

let　down　the　window；　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　low；

arched　doorway　with　a　lamp　burning　above　it。　　As　I　was

hurried　from　the　carriage　it　swung　open；　and　I　found

myself　inside　the　house；　with　a　vague　impression　of　a

lawn　and　trees　on　each　side　of　me　as　I　entered。　

Whether　these　were　private　grounds　；however；　or

bona…fide　country　was　more　than　I　could　possibly

venture　to　say。



〃There　was　a　colored　gas…lamp　inside　which　was　turned

so　low　that　I　could　see　little　save　that　the　hall　was

of　some　size　and　hung　with　pictures。　　In　the　dim　light

I　could　make　out　that　the　person　who　had　opened　the

door　was　a　small；　mean…looking；　middle…aged　man　with

rounded　shoulders。　　As　he　turned　towards　us　the　glint

of　the　light　showed　me　that　he　was　wearing　glasses。



〃'Is　this　Mr。　Melas；　Harold？'　said　he。



〃'Yes。'



〃'Well　done；　well　done！　　No　ill…will；　Mr。　Melas；　I

hope；　but　we　could　not　get　on　without　you。　　If　you

deal　fair　with　us　you'll　not　regret　it；　but　if　you　try

any　tricks；　God　help　you！'　　He　spoke　in　a　nervous；

jerky　fashion；　and　with　little　giggling　laughs　in

between；　but　somehow　he　impressed　me　with　fear　more

than　the　other。



〃'What　do　you　want　with　me？'　I　asked。



〃'Only　to　ask　a　few　questions　of　a　Greek　gentleman　who

is　visiting　us；　and　to　let　us　have　the　answers。　　But

say　no　more　than　you　are　told　to　say；　or'　here　came

the　nervous　giggle　again'you　had　better　never　have

been　born。'



〃As　he　spoke　he　opened　a　door　and　showed　the　way　into

a　room　which　appeared　to　be　very　richly　furnished；　but

again　the　only　light　was　afforded　by　a　single　lamp

half…turned　down。　　The　chamber　was　certainly　large；

and　the　way　in　which　my　feet　sank　into　the　carpet　as　I

stepped　across　it　told　me　of　its　richness。　　I　caught

glimpses　of　velvet　chairs；　a　high　white　marble

mantel…piece；　and　what　seemed　to　be　a　suit　of　Japanese

armor　at　one　side　of　it。　　There　was　a　chair　just　under

the　lamp；　and　the　elderly　man　motioned　that　I　should

sit　in　it。　　The　younger　had　left　us；　but　he　suddenly

returned　through　another　door；　leading　with　him　a

gentleman　clad　in　some　sort　of　loose　dressing…gown　who

moved　slowly　towards　us。　　As　he　came　into　the　circle

of　dim　light　which　enables　me　to　see　him　more　clearly

I　was　thrilled　with　horror　at　his　appearance。　　He　was

deadly　pale　and　terribly　emaciated；　with　the

protruding；　brilliant　eyes　of　a　man　whose　spirit　was

greater　than　his　strength。　　But　what　shocked　me　more

than　any　signs　of　physical　weakness　was　that　his　face

was　grotesquely　criss…crossed　with　sticking…plaster；

and　that　one　large　pad　of　it　was　fastened　over　his

mouth。



〃'Have　you　the　slate；　Harold？'　cried　the　older　man；　as

this　strange　being　fell　rather　than　sat　down　into　a

chair。　　'Are　his　hands　loose？　　Now；　then；　give　him　the

pencil。　　You　are　to　ask　the　questions；　Mr。　Melas；　and

he　will　write　the　answers。　　Ask　him　first　of　all

whether　he　is　prepared　to　sign　the　papers？'



〃The　man's　eyes　flashed　fire。



〃'Never！'　he　wrote　in　Greek　upon　the　slate。



〃'On　no　condition？'　I　asked；　at　the　bidding　of　our

tyrant。



〃'Only　if　I　see　her　married　in　my　presence　by　a　Greek

priest　whom　I　know。'



〃The　man　giggled　in　his　venomous　way。



〃'You　know　what　awaits　you；　then？'



〃'I　care　nothing　for　myself。'



〃These　are　samples　of　the　questions　and　answers　which

made　up　our　strange　half…spoken；　half…written

conversation。　　Again　and　again　I　had　to　ask　him

whether　he　would　give　in　and　sign　the　documents。　

Again　and　again　I　had　the　same　indignant　reply。　　But

soon　a　happy　thought　came　to　me。　　I　took　to　adding　on

little　sentences　of　my　own　to　each　question；　innocent

ones　at　first；　to　test　whether　either　of　our

companions　knew　anything　of　the　matter；　and　then；　as　I

found　that　they　showed　no　signs　I　played　a　more

dangerous　game。　　Our　conversation　ran　something　like

this：



〃'You　can　do　no　good　by　this　obstinacy。　　Who　are　you？'



〃'I　care　not。　　I　am　a　stranger　in　London。'



〃'Your　fate　will　be　upon　your　own　head。　　How　long　have

you　been　here？'



〃'Let　it　be　so。　　Three　weeks。'



〃'The　property　can　never　be　yours。　　What　ails　you？'



〃'It　shall　not　go　to　villains。　　They　are　starving　me。'



〃'You　shall　go　free　if　you　sign。　　What　house　is　this？'



〃'I　will　never　sign。　　I　do　not　know。'



〃'You　are　not　doing　her　any　service。　　What　is　your

name？'



〃'Let　me　hear　her　say　so。　　Kratides。'



〃'You　shall　see　her　if　you　sign。　　Where　are　you　from？'



〃'Then　I　shall　never　see　her。　　Athens。'



〃Another　five　minutes；　Mr。　Holmes；　and　I　should　have

wormed　out　the　whole　story　under　their　very　noses。　　My

very　next　question　might　have　cleared　the　matter　up；

but　at　that　instant　the　door　opened　and　a　woman

stepped　into　the　room。　　I　could　not　see　her　clearly

enough　to　know　more　than　that　she　was　tall　and

graceful；　with　black　hair；　and　clad　in　some　sort　of

loose　white　gown。



〃'Harold；'　said　she；　speaking　English　with　a　broken

accent。　　'I　could　not　stay　away　longer。　　It　is　so

lonely　up　there　with　onlyOh；　my　God；　it　is　Paul！'



〃These　last　words　were　in　Greek；　and　at　the　same

instant　the　man　with　a　convulsive　effort　tore　the

plaster　from　his　lips；　and　screaming　out　'Sophy！　

Sophy！'　rushed　into　the　woman's　arms。　　Their　embrace

was　but　for　an　instant；　however；　for　the　younger　man

seized　the　woman　and　pushed　her　out　of　the　room；　while

the　elder　easily　overpowered　his　emaciated　victim；　and

dragged　him　away　through　the　other　door。　　For　a　moment

I　was　left　alone　in　the　room；　and　I　sprang　to　my　feet

with　some　vague　idea　that　I　might　in　some　way　get　a

clue　to　what　this　house　was　in　which　I　found　myself。　

Fortunately；　however；　I　took　no　steps；　for　looking　up

I　saw　that　the　older　man　was　standing　in　the　door…way

with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　me。



〃'That　will　do；　Mr。　Melas；'　said　he。　　'You　perceive

that　we　have　taken　you　into　our　confidence　over　some

very　private　business。　　We　should　not　have　troubled

you；　only　that　our　friend　who　speaks　Greek　and　who

began　these　negotiations　has　been　forced　to　return　to

the　East。　　It　was　quite　necessary　for　us　to　find　some

one　to　take　his　place；　and　we　were　fortunate　in

hearing　of　your　powers。'



〃I　bowed。



〃'There　are　five　sovereigns　here；'　said　he；　walking　up

to　me；　'which　will；　I　hope；　be　a　sufficient　fee。　　But

remember；'　he　added；　tapping　me　lightly　on　the　chest

and　giggling；　'if　you　speak　to　a　human　soul　about

thisone　human　soul；　mindwell；　may　God　have　mercy

upon　your　soul！〃