Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 36 Four Signatures 14
"Missing: Mr. Mordekai Smith and his eldest son left Smith's Wharf on the steamer 'Dawn' at about 221:[-] on Tuesday morning and have not returned. The hull is black with two red lines and a black funnel with a white line If anyone knows the whereabouts of the two of them or the steamboat, please contact Mrs. Smith at Smith Wharf or No. [-] B Baker Street, and I will be very grateful."

Just looking at the address on Baker Street above, I knew it belonged to Holmesden.The wording of this advertisement is so wonderful that even criminals would not suspect anything else when they saw it, but thought it was a common advertisement for wives looking for husbands. "

Time passed so slowly, and as soon as I heard a knock at the door or heavy footsteps in the street, I thought Holmes had returned, or someone who had seen the advertisement came to report.I tried to concentrate on the book, but unfortunately I was always distracted: Is there insufficient evidence, and Holmes' inference is wrong?Or is his theory fundamentally flawed?Or was he suffering from severe self-deception?Since we knew each other, I have never seen his guess wrong; but then again, a wise man is bound to make mistakes, and I think he may have believed in himself too much.I like to regard the originally very common and simple problems as intricate and complicated cases, so that I make mistakes again and again.But I saw the evidence with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears the reasons for his inferences.Even if some of these strange facts are insignificant, they all point in one direction.I can only admit that, even if Holmes has made some mistakes in his judgment, the case itself is extremely complicated.

The day went by so slowly.But there has been no news from Holmes, and I am very anxious.At three o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Jones came unexpectedly, and this time his attitude was very different from before.In addition to humility, there is also some self-ashamedness.

He said: "Good day, I heard that Mr. Holmes has gone out?"

"Yes, please sit down and wait, I don't know when he will be back. The Ruowood tragedy is too annoying to understand."

"I thought I'd caught Mr. Sholto. But he's proved the fact that he's been with someone since he left his brother. So there's no time for him not to be the one who came into the house. It's a hard case." , my prestige in the police station has been shaken a little. I really hope to get help from Mr. Holmes."

"Everyone needs help from time to time."

He said affirmatively: "Sir, Mr. Sherlock Holmes is really great, and ordinary people can't compare with him. I have seen many cases he handles, and he has found out the truth in every case. His handling methods are changing." Infinity. Although he sometimes has acute illnesses, he is generally capable of being a most responsible and authoritative police officer. To be honest, I am far behind. He sent me a telegram this morning. Says he's got a new lead on the Sholto case. Here's that telegram..."

He handed me the telegram.The telegram was sent from Poplar at twelve o'clock.The content of the telegram was: Please go to Baker Street immediately, if I am not in, please wait a moment.I found traces of the Sholto case.If you want to see the end of this case for yourself, join me tonight. "

I said, "It's such a joy, he must have connected the broken wire."

Jones said in a very proud tone: "So he sometimes makes mistakes. Our detective experts, may this time be in vain, but we should not let go of a glimmer of hope. This is our responsibility. Listen, there is a knock at the door, perhaps Mr Holmes has returned."

Gradually there was the sound of heavy footsteps on the floor and slow panting, and it could be heard that the man was having difficulty breathing; during this time he rested twice more, as if going up the stairs was difficult.When the visitor finally entered the floor, his guess was confirmed.The person who came was an old man, dressed in a sailor's uniform, with an overcoat buttoned up to the neck.He was hunched over, his legs were trembling, and he was panting badly.A very old-fashioned look.His shoulders were trembling uncontrollably, as if he was struggling to breathe, and he was leaning on a thick wooden stick.His face was covered by a scarf, only his gray eyebrows and beard were exposed, with a pair of shining eyes in the middle, which seemed a bit inconsistent with his old appearance. He looked like a respected navigator, but his family Falling in the middle of the road.

I asked him, "What's the matter with you?"

He glanced about him slowly, with the manner of an old man, and said: "Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes at home?"

"Not at home, but I can represent him. You can tell me if you have anything."

"I have something to say to him personally."

"I have told you, I can represent him, about Mordekai Smith's ship?"

"Yes, I know where the ship is. I also know where the man he's after is, and where the treasure is. I know all that."

Jones and I were quite surprised and looked at him intently.I said:

"Then please tell me, and I will pass it on to him."

With old man's irascibility and obstinacy, he repeated: "I'll tell him only. No, no, I can't waste a day on this matter. If Mr. Holmes is not at home, I'm sorry, but let him figure it out for himself." I'm going to inquire about these news. I don't like the looks of the two of you, so I won't tell you a word. "

He shuffled toward the door, Ethelney?Jones hurriedly ran up to him, stopped him, and said, "My friend, please sit patiently for a while. Since you have something urgent to report, you might as well wait a little longer. Why are you in such a hurry to leave! Whether you are Yes, we shall keep you until our friend returns."

The old man wanted to rush out the door, but Ethelney?Jones leaned his broad back against the door, blocking the old man's way.

The old man poked the floor with his cane, and cried, "You two are so insolent!" I came here for a friend, and you two, whom I have never met, forced me to stay and treated me So rude! "

I said, "Don't be in a hurry! We will definitely make up for the time you have lost. Please sit on the sofa over there. Mr. Holmes will be back in a moment."

He sat down on the sofa with great reluctance and covered his face with his hands.Jones and I resumed our conversation, smoking our cigars.Suddenly, we heard Holmes' voice: "I think you should give me a cigar too."

The two of us were taken aback and instinctively jumped out of our chairs.Holmes sat beside us with a wide smile.

I shouted in surprise, "Holmes! It's you! But where is that old man?"

He took out a lock of white hair and said, "The old man is here, with the wig, beard, and eyebrows. I didn't expect my makeup to cover both of you."

Jones said happily: "Ah, Mr. Holmes, you are quite an excellent actor. With your ability, imitating the old man's cough, plus your imitation skills on your legs, you can earn ten pounds a week. You didn't completely hide it from us, though, and I think I recognized the look in your eyes."

He lit a cigarette and said: "I have been playing this image for a day. You know, after our friend wrote a book about me and published it, many criminals gradually got to know me. There is no way, maybe face to face with criminals I'll have to keep my grooming simple for the business. Did you get my telegram?"

"I came by telegram."

"How is your case going?"

"I have no idea. I've already released two due to lack of evidence, and there's not much evidence for the remaining two."

"It doesn't matter, if you follow my arrangement, after a while, two people will fill their vacancies. All the credit can go to you, provided that all actions are subject to my arrangement, do you agree?"

"As long as the criminals can be caught and brought to justice."

"Good. First of all, a speedboat must be prepared, and it must be a steamboat. It will be at Westminster Pier at seven o'clock tonight."

"It's easy to handle. There is always a police speedboat parked there. I can just make a phone call when the time comes."

"To prevent criminals from resisting, two strong police officers are needed."

"There are always two or three people waiting in the speedboat. Anything else?"

"As long as the murderer is caught, the treasure will be in hand. Half of it should belong to a young lady. I want my friend to deliver the treasure box to her first. Watson, what do you think?" "

"I feel very honored."

Jones shook his head and said, "I'm afraid this is inconsistent with the usual regulations, but you can accommodate it. After reading it, you must send it back immediately."

"Of course. Lastly, as you know, I've always liked to know all the details of a case, so I'm going to see Small tell the whole story of the case himself, and I'm going to be under police guard Your Majesty, conduct an informal interrogation with him. Do you have any objection to this?"

"You have the whole case in your hands. If you can catch this man named Small, you can interrogate him as much as you want. But I am not sure that this man exists.

"So, you agree?"

"I totally agree, is there anything else I want?"

"Lastly, I would like to keep you to dinner with us. It will be ready in half an hour. I have oysters and a pair of grouse here, and some white wine of my own accord. You don't know, Watson, that I am also a housekeeper." insiders."

(End of this chapter)