Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 73 Adventure History 33
One morning, standing in front of the oriel window overlooking the street, I saw a madman running towards me, so I beckoned Holmes to come and see: "My friend, look at this madman. It is wonderful that his family let him run out alone." Pitiful."

It is a bright morning in February.On the ground, the thick snow from the previous day still covered the road, shining brightly in the winter sun.The snow in the middle of the Baker Street road was crushed into a gray-brown band by passing traffic; while the snow piled high on the sidewalks was still white.My friend slowly got out of his armchair, stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and glanced over my back.The sidewalks had been swept but were still slippery and dangerous, so there were far fewer people on the streets than usual.In fact, there was no one else in the direction of the subway station except this eccentric gentleman who had caught my attention was walking in this direction.The man was about fifty years old.He is tall and burly, with a dignified appearance; he has a big face, distinct features and outstanding appearance.He was dressed in dark, but rich clothes: a black frock coat, a shiny hat, a pair of very elegant brown high boots, wrapped in leggings; the trousers were well made and pearl-gray.But his demeanor was in an absurd contrast to his dignified dress and appearance, for he was running hard, jumping now and then, as a man who is tired of running often takes in this position to lighten his legs. .As he was running, his hands were still shaking together, his head was shaking constantly, and he even made faces, which looked ugly.

"What's the matter with him?" I couldn't help asking. "He's looking at the number."

"I suppose he came here for us." Holmes rubbed his hands.

"Come here?"

"Yes. I think he came to ask for advice. I think I saw a sign. Ha! Isn't it?" Just as he was talking, the man had hurried to the door, panting heavily, and pulled the doorbell all the way. The house can hear it.

Within a few minutes he was in our room, still panting and gesticulating, eyes full of worry and disappointment.This look made our smile disappear, and we were shocked and sympathized with him very much.For a while, he was still speechless, shivering blindly as if losing his mind, pulling his hair.Suddenly, he jumped up and slammed his head against the wall.We were so scared that we quickly grabbed him and dragged him to the center of the house.Sherlock Holmes pushed him into an easy-chair, patted his hand, and chatted with him.

He said, "Have you come to me to tell me something about you? You are very tired. Take a little rest, and I will happily study any little thing you bring up in a little while."

The man sat for 2 minutes, his chest heaving violently.He tried to stabilize his emotions, then wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, shut his mouth tightly, and turned his face to us.

"You must think I'm crazy?" he said.

"I think you must be in some serious trouble," said Holmes.

"My God, what trouble have I been in! . . . It happened so suddenly, without warning, and so terrible. I thought I was going to lose my mind. It's the fate of every man to suffer. But Two things came in a very terrible way indeed, and I was at a loss for what to do when they happened to me so suddenly. If it doesn't work out, the most honorable person in our country may be implicated."

"Calm down, sir, and tell us who you are and what has happened," asked Holmes.

"You may have heard the name," replied the man. "I am Holder of Needlework Street—Alexander Holder of Stevenson's Bank."

We are familiar with the name, it is the second largest private bank in the City of London, and he is the main partner.What could have brought the first class of citizens of London to such a miserable state?We waited with great curiosity for him to pull himself together and tell what had happened.

"Time is precious," he said, "so the inspector of the police department suggested that I come here to meet you, so I hurried here. I was out of breath just now due to lack of exercise. I am much better now, and I will try my best." To make a long story short, I will tell you clearly and simply.

"Of course, as you all know, a successful bank depends on being able to find profitable investments for its funds, and on being able to increase the number of business contacts and depositors. One of the most profitable ways to invest money is when there are infallible In the case of guarantee, the money is loaned out in the form of loans. Many nobles have borrowed large sums of money from us with their famous paintings, books or gold and silver tableware as collateral.

"Yesterday morning in the bank office my clerk handed me a business card. I took it with a shock because the name is very familiar even to you. He is known all over the world, in the UK He was also of the highest and most honorable rank. I was flattered when he came in, but he cut straight to the point, as if eager to accomplish an unpleasant task.

"'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have heard that you are often in the loan business.'

"'Yes—if the collateral is worth something,' I replied.

"'I am in desperate need of fifty thousand pounds,' said he. 'Of course I can borrow ten times that from a friend, but I would rather manage the matter myself. You should know that in my With this position, it would be extremely unwise to casually accept favors from others.'

"'May I ask, then, approximately how long you will need the money?' I asked.

"'Next Monday I'll be able to get back the big money that's due. So I'm sure I can pay back the loan. I don't care about the interest, as long as it looks reasonable to you. The most important thing for me is to get the money right away .'

"'I would have been glad to lend you my personal money so that no further negotiations would be necessary,' said I, 'but on the one hand it would burden me a little. On the other hand, if I If this matter is to be done in the name of the bank, in order to treat my partner fairly, I think I must insist on a full business guarantee even for you.'

"'Exactly.' He held up a black square Moroccan leather case and asked me, 'Have you ever heard of an emerald crown?'

"I affirmed, 'This is one of the most valuable public possessions of our empire.'

"'Yes!' he said, and he opened the box, and the treasure was set against the soft flesh-colored velvet, which looked extraordinarily gorgeous and precious. He continued, 'There are 39 large emeralds on it, only the gold carvings on it. The value is difficult to estimate. Even at the lower estimate, this crown is worth twice the amount I borrowed. I am going to put it with you as collateral.'

"Holding this priceless box in my hand, I was at a loss, and my eyes turned from the box to the client.

"'Do you doubt its value?' he asked.

"'Of course not. I'm just a little uncertain about...'

"'I am absolutely sure of getting it back in four days, or I would never have done it. It is only a formality, and is the security sufficient?'

"'Enough is enough.'

"'Mr. Holder, you should understand that I do this as a testament to my confidence in you. I count on you not only to be discreet, but to avoid any gossip that may arise from it. And above all, You shall take all possible precautions in preserving this crown, for any loss of it would be a great scandal. And any damage to it would be as serious as the loss of it all. For these emeralds are like no other in the world, but now I put It remains with you, in the utmost confidence I have placed in you. I will come and fetch it myself next Monday morning.'

"Because my client was in a hurry to leave, and I couldn't say anything more, I immediately called the cashier and asked him to pay the client fifty thousand pounds notes. But when I was sitting alone in the office again Looking at this precious box on the table, I still feel uneasy about taking such a heavy responsibility. If an accident happens to such a national treasure, the consequences will be disastrous. I began to regret it, but it was too late , I can only lock it in my personal safe and continue working.

"In the evening, I felt that it would be imprudent to put such a valuable thing in a safe. So I decided that for the next few days I would carry this box with me back and forth, and never leave it. I then hired a car. I hired the cab, and came home with the treasure. I took it upstairs, and locked it in a large chest of drawers in the living room, and I was a little relieved.

Mr. Holmes, I shall now give some account of my family, in order to give you a general idea of ​​the whole situation.My groom and footman slept outside the house, and neither could be talked about.I have three female supporters in my family who have been with me for many years and are all infallible and unquestionable.In addition, there is a named Lucy?Paar's maid, she has only been in my house for a few months, but her good character has satisfied me very much.She was a very pretty girl, and she had admirers hanging about her, which we thought was the only fault in her, but we believed her to be a good girl in every way.

"That is the case with servants. My family itself is very simple. I am a widower with an only son named Arthur. But he has disappointed me, Mr. Holmes. People say I spoiled him, and when his wife died, I think he is the only one worthy of my love. I can't bear to see him unhappy for a moment. I have always been responsive to him. If I had been stricter with him earlier, it might have been better for us both .

"Of course, I hope he will inherit my business in the future, but unfortunately he is not the kind of person with career talent. He is dissolute and headstrong, and frankly, I dare not let him handle large sums of money. Now he is still young, but he has He was a member of an aristocratic club, where he behaved so well that he soon became the confidant of a group of extravagant rich children. There he learned a lot, bet big at the card table, and played at the racetrack. He spends money like crazy, and often comes to me to ask me to advance his allowance to pay his gambling debts. He is always trying to break off with his circle of friends, but every time he is under the influence of his friend Sir George Burnwell. Return to the old business.

"At the same time, I'm really not at all surprised that someone like Sir George Burnwell was able to exert influence over Arthur. I'm not surprised that my son often brings him home. He's so handsome that even I It is inevitable to be confused by him. He is older than Arthur, well-informed, eloquent, and good-looking if a little cynical. But his personality, his sarcastic conversation and his eyes make me feel that he is completely Unreliable. Not only do I see my little Mary in the same way, she has a woman's insight into character.

"Mary is my niece. My brother died five years ago, and I took her in as my own daughter. She was very good at housekeeping, and she had all the gentleness and quietness of a woman, and the utmost docility. She was My right and left hands, there is only one thing she violated my wishes. My son really loves her, and he proposed to her twice, but he refused. If anyone can lead my son to the right path, I think only She. But now everything is irreparable.

"Mr. Holmes, now that you know all about our family, I will continue to tell you the story of this misfortune.

I told Arthur and Mary that night, over coffee in the drawing-room after supper, and told them that the valuable treasure was in my house, without mentioning the name of the client.I'm sure Lucy?Parr left the room as soon as she brought the coffee, but I'm not sure if she left the door behind.Mary and Arthur were very interested, and would have liked to see the famous crown, but I thought it best not to touch it.

"'Where did you put it?' asked Arthur.

"'In my own cupboard.'

"'Oh, I hope it doesn't get stolen in the night,' said he.

"'The cabinet is locked,' I said.

"'Any old key will work in that cabinet. I used a kitchen pantry key to open it when I was a kid.'

"He was always flippant, so I paid little attention to what he said. But when he followed me into the room that night, he looked very grave.

"'Dad, can you give me two hundred pounds?'

"'No!' I was very stern, 'I have been too generous with you in money.'

"'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have the money, or I shall never have the face of stepping into that club again!'

"'That would be great!' I exclaimed.

"'Yes, you are right. But you will not let me go away dishonorably, I cannot bear the disgrace. At any rate, I must get the money. If you won't give it to me, Then I'll find another way.'

"I was so angry that he was asking me for money for the third time this month. I said loudly to him, 'You're not going to get a penny from me,' and he didn't say a word. out of my room.

"After he was gone, I opened the big chest of drawers to see if my treasures were safe, and then I locked it again. Then I started to walk around the house to see if everything was in order and there was nothing wrong. Usually, this task It belonged to Mary, but that night I thought it would be best for me to inspect it myself. When I went downstairs, I saw Mary alone at the side window in the hall. But when I went to her, she closed and latched the window.

"'Uncle, tell me,' she seemed a little nervous, 'will you allow Lucy to go out this evening?'

"'of course not.'

"'She has just come in by the back door, and I believe she was going to meet someone by the side door, and that is not safe, and she must be stopped.'

"'You must speak to her in the morning, and if it doesn't suit you, I will. Is everything locked up?'

"'It's all locked up, uncle.'

"'Well, good night, then!' I kissed her, went upstairs to the bedroom, and soon fell asleep.

"I have told you all I can, Mr. Holmes, which may have some bearing on the case. If there is any point which is not clear, please bring it up at once."

"You made it very clear."

"I'm usually a heavy sleeper and worried that something was wrong, so I woke up more often than usual. Around [-]am I was woken up by some kind of noise in the house, which died down before I was fully awake. But I always felt that somewhere a window had been gently closed. I leaned sideways and listened intently. Suddenly, I heard clear footsteps in the next room. I quietly got out of bed, from my living room Looking out from the corner of the door.

"'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you rascal, you thief! How dare you touch that crown?'

(End of this chapter)