Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 34 Four Signatures 12
It was eight or nine o'clock in the morning. After a night of hard work, I felt so tired that I could even walk with a limp.In the process of investigating this case, I have learned a lot, seeing Holmes' dedication and vitality to his career when he is working.Because everyone has never had a good impression of Basolonio Scholto, so I don't have much regret for his murder, and I don't have much hatred for the murderer.Because he didn't want to kill people.But when it comes to treasures, that's another matter.It stands to reason that at least part of the treasure should belong to Miss Mostan.I should do my best to retrieve those treasures and return them to Miss Morstan.Of course, if she has these treasures, then I may lose her.Even so so what?True love should be great and noble and should not be limited by this idea.If Holmes will find the murderer, I shall have to work ten times as hard to recover the treasure.

After taking a shower and changing at home, I feel refreshed and radiant.When we came downstairs, breakfast was served, and Holmes was already sitting there drinking his coffee.

Pointing to an open newspaper, he smiled and said to me: "This simple-minded Jones and an equally shallow reporter have already reached a conclusion on this case. Oh, maybe you are tired, let's eat yours first." Ham and eggs."

I took the paper, and it was a "Standard," with "The Curious Case of Upper Ruowood" proclaimed:

"Mr. Basolonio Sholto, the owner of the Sakura Swamp Villa in Shangpowood, was killed at twelve o'clock last night. This newspaper learned that there were no obvious injuries on the body of the deceased, and only a batch of Indian treasures inherited by the deceased were missing from the indoor property. Mr. Dieus Sholto was the brother of the deceased. He, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson who came to visit with him first discovered the murdered. At this time, detective Ethelney Jones happened to meet Ruo Wood Police Station, so he rushed to the scene half an hour later. Mr. Ethelney Jones is a well-known detective in the city's police station. Dieus Sholto. At the same time, Mrs. Burns, the housekeeper, Thor? Superb and careful observation confirmed that the murderer entered and exited through a secret door in the roof room. From this, we can see that this is by no means an ordinary theft. The smooth progress of the case shows that the leadership of experienced police officers and the timely response of the police station Efficient handling is essential. This safe handling has shown that it is worth considering the suggestion to disperse police detectives across the city in order to arrive at the scene of the accident in time.

Holmes sipped his coffee and said with a smile: "This is really remarkable! What do you think about it?"

"We also came close to being arrested as murderers."

"It's ridiculous to me too. If he has another brainstorm, maybe we won't be arrested."

At this time, the doorbell rang loudly, and then Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, was heard arguing loudly with others.

I rose, and said: "Good heavens, Holmes. Are they really after us?"

"No, that's impossible. How could that be! This is our unofficial army—the Baker Street Motley crew."

While talking, the sound of walking barefoot and talking loudly came from the corridor, and twelve ragged, filthy street street children came in.Although they were noisy all the way, there was still order, and in a moment they stood in a line facing us, waiting to give them instructions, a taller, older boy stood in the front.His pompous, solemn appearance was so disproportionate to his emaciated, shabby appearance that it seemed ridiculous.

"At your order, sir, I brought them all at once, and the fare was three shillings and sixpence," said the boy.

Holmes took out the money, and said: "Here is the money. You will come alone when you have something to do. They only need to listen to you, Wiggins, and you don't need to bring them all. There is no room for so many people in this room. Come now." , now that all have come this time, you can all hear my orders with your own ears. I am now looking for a steamer named Dawn, the owner of which is Mordekai Smith. The black hull is embedded with two Red line, with a white line on the chimney. This boat is now on the lower reaches of the London River. Also, ask a child to watch at Mordecay Smith's Pier on the opposite bank of Milkbank Prison. If you see this boat coming back, please tell me immediately Report. You must search carefully on both sides of the downstream separately. As soon as you have news, report it immediately. Are you clear?"

"Yes, sir," said Wiggins.

"The same rewards, plus four shillings for those who find the boat," said Holmes, giving the children money. "This is your advance payment for the day. Go now!"

Each gave a shilling.The children went downstairs happily, and after a while, I saw them disappear on the road.

Holmes rose and left the table.He lit his pipe with a match, and said: "Don't underestimate these children, they can run around, see all kinds of new things, and eavesdrop on other people's conversations, as long as the boat is still floating on the water." , They will be able to find it. I estimate that there will be news before dark. During this period of time, we will have a good rest. The following actions cannot be carried out. "

"Let Toby eat what we have left. Will you sleep a little longer, Holmes?"

"No, I'm not tired. I'm just like this. I have a unique physique. When I have work, I don't feel tired at any time. On the contrary, I will be listless when I am idle. I have to think carefully when I take the time off. Let me tell you about the strange case that the lady client entrusted us with. It is supposed to be not difficult. How many people with wooden legs are there in London? Not to mention that one, it is even rarer."

"The other one? You're talking about him again."

"You may have an opinion, Watson, but I don't want to keep it a secret from you. Consider again the clues and evidence we have. Small footprints, no shoes, a wooden stick with a stone attached to it. The dexterous movements, coupled with the poisonous wooden thorns, connect these all into a thread, do you have any insights?"

I yelled, "A stranger, probably an Indian who came back with Jonathan Small."

"It doesn't look like that. When I first saw that strange weapon, I thought so too. But when I found the small footprints that were different from ordinary people, I gave up my original idea. Indian natives have thin and long feet, while When Muslims wear sandals, the laces are tight between the toes near the big toe. Over time, the big toe is separated from the other toes. Therefore, although some Indians are very short, they will never Leave such footprints. Also, these wooden thorns can only be blown out through the blowpipe. In this way, where do you think you can find such a creature?"

"South America."

He reached for a thick book from the shelf, "This is the first volume of the newly published Geographical Dictionary, which can be regarded as the latest authoritative work. Look, what is written here?"'The Andaman Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal , 340 miles from Sumatra. 'Ah, and more. 'Wet weather, coral reefs, sharks, Port Buller, prison camps, Rhodes Island, poplars...' So here it is. 'The natives of the Andaman Islands can be called the shortest people in the world. Anthropologists call them the Bushi blacks in Africa, or the Dige Indians in America, or the dwarf Fuegos.The average person here is a little over three feet tall, and older people are even shorter.They are fierce, irritable and stubborn by nature, but once you establish mutual trust and friendship with them, they will be true to you until death. 'Transformed appearance.The hands and feet are extremely small.Because of their fierceness and stubbornness, the British officials failed despite their best efforts.They were always a menace, a scourge to sailors.For shipwrecked sailors, they were especially terrifying.They often hit their enemies on the head with wooden clubs embedded with stones, or stab people with poisoned arrows.The result of this kind of fighting, without exception, ended in a feast of human flesh. 'Ha, what a strange and great nation!Watson.If this guy is left alone and left alone, the consequences will be disastrous.I guess, Jonathan Small hired him as a last resort. "

"But how did he find such an accomplice?"

"Oh, that's not clear. But since we already know that Small is from the Andaman Islands, it's not surprising that the native is with him. No doubt we will Details will come. Watson, you do seem to be exhausted. Lie down on that sofa and see if I can put you to sleep."

He picked up the violin from the corner of the room, and after I lay on the sofa, he began to play a low-pitched lullaby—I could hear that it was his own composition, because he had a talent for impromptu composition.To this day, I still vaguely remember his thin fingers, his sincere face and the trembling of his bowstring up and down.At that time, I seemed to be quietly floating in the ocean of music until I fell into a dream.In the dream, I saw Mei Li?Morstan was smiling sweetly at me.

(End of this chapter)