The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 101 The Return (16)
Stanley Hopkins leads us into the house and introduces us to a gaunt, gray-haired woman—the victim's widow.Her face was emaciated and deeply lined, her eyes were red-rimmed, and the depths of her eyes still hid fear, showing that she had suffered and abused for many years.Her daughter accompanied her, a pale, fair-haired girl.Talking about her father's death, she was very happy, and she wanted to bless the man who stabbed her father to death.Her eyes flickered with defiance.Black Peter has made a mess of his home, and we come out into the sunshine feeling reborn.We then proceeded along a path through the fields trodden by the dead.

This log cabin is the simplest type of housing, surrounded by wooden walls and a wooden roof, with a window near the door and another window at the other end.Stanley Hopkins took the key from his pocket, stooped to unlock it, and stopped suddenly with an expression of alert surprise on his face.

"The lock was picked," he said.

This is an indisputable fact.There were knife marks on the wooden door, and the paint on it was scratched white, as if it had just been pried.Holmes had been examining the windows.

"Somebody's still trying to break in through the window. Whoever it is, he failed. He didn't get in. It must have been done by some stupid thief."

"It's very unusual," said the young sergeant. "I can swear there were no traces of these here last night."

I reminded, "Perhaps some curious person from the village came here."

"Improbable. No one in the village dares to come here, let alone break into the cottage. What do you think, Mr. Holmes?"

"I think we're lucky."

"You mean that this man will come again?"

"Very likely. He didn't expect the door to be closed when he came last time. So he's going to use the pocket-knife to get in. He didn't get in. What's he going to do?"

"Come back next night with more suitable tools."

"I think so too. We'd be wrong if we didn't wait here for him. Let me go in and see what's going on in the cabin."

The traces of the murder had been removed, but the furniture remained as it had been that night.Holmes checked the furniture one by one with great concentration. The work took nearly two hours, but he did not show any result.On one occasion he paused for a moment.

"Hopkins, did you take anything off this shelf?"

"I didn't move anything."

"Something must have been taken. There is less dust in this corner of the shelf than elsewhere. It may be a book lying flat, or a small case. Well, we have nothing to do for the time being. Watson, Let's walk in the beautiful grove and enjoy a few hours of singing. Hopkins, let's meet here this evening to see if we can meet this gentleman who was here last night."

It was after eleven o'clock when we set up our little ambush.Hopkins advocated leaving the cabin door open, which Holmes thought would arouse the suspicion of the stranger.The lock is a very simple lock, and only a small piece of strong iron can be opened.Holmes also suggested that we wait not inside but outside, in the bushes near the corner.If the man lights a lamp, we shall be able to see him, and see what his purpose is in sneaking in at night.

The waiting hours were long and tedious, but there was a sense of adventure, like that of a hunter at a pool waiting to catch an animal to drink.What kind of beast has stalked here in the dark?Is it a wounding tiger, which can only be caught after a hard fight with its sharp teeth and sharp claws, or a probing jackal, a threat only to the faint of heart and the defenseless?

We lay in wait in the bushes, silently waiting for whatever might happen.At first, there were footsteps of people returning to the village late and conversations in the village, which aroused our vigilance, but these irrelevant sounds disappeared one after another as the night deepened, except for the occasional sound from the church in the distance. Aside from the chiming of the bells telling the time of night, and the rustling of the drizzle on the leaves above our heads, there was silence all around us.

The clock had struck 02:30, the darkest hour before dawn, when we were all startled by a low, sharp ticking from the gate.Someone came in and walked down the path.Then there was a long silence, and I was thinking that the sound was just a false alarm, when there was the sound of light footsteps from the other side of the hut, followed by the sound of friction and collision of metal objects. unlock.This time his technique was better, or his tools better, for soon there was a click and a rattle of the hinges.Then a match was struck, followed by a steady stream of candle light illuminating the interior of the cabin.Through the tulle curtains, we all stared at the scene inside.

The intruder was a thin young man, whose deathly pallor was accentuated by a black beard.He looked just over 20 years old.I never saw a thief so frightened and frightened as he was; his teeth were evidently chattering, and every limb was shaking.He was dressed like a gentleman, in a Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers, and a cap.We watched him stare around in horror, then put the candle stub on the table and go into a corner where we couldn't see him.He came back with a large book, one of the logbooks that lined the shelves.Leaning against the table, he quickly flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for.He clenched his fists, made an angry gesture, closed the book, put it back in its place, and blew out the candle.Before he could turn around and walk out of the hut, Hopkin's hand had already grabbed his collar.I heard him let out a long sigh when he realized he was under arrest.The candles were lit again.Under the supervision of the detective, the young man shivered and curled up.He sat on the storage box and looked at us bewilderedly.

Stanley Hopkins said, "My boy, who are you? What are you doing here?"

The man pulled himself together, tried to stay calm, and looked at us.

He said: "I presume you are detectives? You may think that Captain Gary's death is related to me. I can assure you that I am innocent."

Hopkins said, "We'll find out. Give your name first."

"John Hopeley Nelgan."

I saw a quick exchange of glances between Holmes and Hopkins.

"What are you doing here?"

"I have something confidential, can I trust you?"

"No, you don't have to."

"Then why should I tell you?"

"If you don't answer, it may be against you when you are interrogated."

The young man was a little embarrassed. He said, "Okay! I tell you, there is no need to hide it. But I don't want to let the old rumors spread again. Have you heard of Dawson and Nergen Company?"

I could tell from Hopkins' expression that he had never heard of the company, but Holmes was intrigued.

He said: "You mean the bankers in the west? They've lost a million pounds. Half the households in Cornwall have been bankrupted. Nergan has disappeared."

"Yes, my father is Nergen."

We've finally got a bit of definite information, but there seems to be a lot of distance between a banker on the run from debt and Captain Peter Gary nailed to the wall with his own harpoon.We all listened intently to the young man.

"My father was the principal party and Dawson was retired. I was just ten years old, but I could already feel the shame and the horror of it. People said my father stole all the securities and ran away. That's not the case .My father was convinced that if he was given some time to convert the securities into cash, everything would be fine and he would be able to pay off all debts. As soon as the summons for my father's arrest was issued, he went to Norway on his small yacht. I I still remember the night before he left, he said goodbye to my mother. He left us a list of securities he took away, and swore he would come back to clear his name, and no one who trusted him would Affected. But since then nothing has been heard from him, nor himself nor the yacht. My mother and I both believe that he and the yacht and all the securities he carried are sunk at the bottom of the sea. We have a reliable friend who is also A businessman, who had not long ago discovered securities that my father had carried off on the London market. You can easily imagine our surprise at hearing this news. I have spent months tracing the origin of these securities, After many twists and turns, I discovered that the first person to sell the securities was Captain Peter Gary, the owner of the cottage.

"Of course I looked into this man too. I found out that he had been in charge of a whaling ship which happened to be returning from the Arctic Ocean when my father was crossing to Norway. Scratching. My father's yacht was probably blown north to meet Captain Gary's boat. If this is true, what will happen to my father? Anyway, if I can figure out the securities from Peter Gary's talk How it came to market proves that my father didn't sell the securities and that he didn't take them out to get rich in the first place.

"I came to Sussex to visit the captain at the time when this murder took place. I learned about the cabin from reports. It said the ship's logbook was still kept in the cabin. It occurred to me that if I could see what happened on the Unicorn of the Seas in August [-], it might be possible to solve the mystery of my father's disappearance. I was trying to get these logbooks last night , but failed to open the door. I opened the door again this evening and found the logbook, but found that the part of the record in August had been torn off, and I was also caught by you."

Hopkins asked, "Is that the whole truth?"

"Yes, that's the whole truth," he said with evasive eyes.

"Have you nothing else to say?"

He hesitated for a moment and said, "No."

"Haven't you been here before last night?"

"No."

Hopkins held up the evidence notebook, the blood-stained cover and the initials of the man's name on the first page, and shouted, "So how do you explain that?"

The poor man was so dismayed that, covering his face with his hands, and trembling all over, he said bitterly, "Where did you get this book? I don't know. I think I lost it in the hotel."

Hopkins said sternly: "That's enough. If you have anything to say, go to court. You will go with me to the police station now. Mr. Holmes, I am very grateful that you and your friend are here to help." Me. As it turns out, you didn't have to make this trip, and I would have done the case without you. But I want to thank you anyway. I've got room for you at the Branbright Hotel, and now we can We went to the village together."

"What do you think of the matter, Watson?" asked Holmes as we drove back to London in the next morning.

"I don't think you are satisfied."

"Oh, my dear Watson, I am quite satisfied. But I disagree with Stanley Hopkins methods, and I am disappointed in him. I would have hoped he would have handled it better. A detective always Whether there is a second possibility should be explored, and guarded against. It is the first principle in the investigation of crime."

"Then what is the second possibility in this case?"

"It's the clues I've been investigating myself. It's hard to say that I might find nothing. But at least I'm going to check it out."

There are several letters waiting for Holmes to read in Baker Street.He grabbed one and opened it, and immediately let out a small triumphant laugh.

"Excellent, Watson! A second possibility is developing. Do you have a telegram? Please write me two: 'Ratcliffe Street, Maritime Co., Semna. Send three, tomorrow morning.' Ten o'clock.--Basil.' That's the name I'm playing the character by. The other one reads: 'Major Stanley Hopkins, 46 Lord Street, Braston. Tomorrow 09 :30 Come to breakfast. Urgent. If not, call back.--Sherlock Holmes.' Watson, this nasty case has troubled me for ten days. I will get it out of my mind. I trust tomorrow The final result will be heard."

The sheriff arrived punctually, and we sat down to a good breakfast prepared by Mrs. Hudson.The young sheriff took great pleasure in handling the case beautifully.

"Do you really think your solution is right?" asked Holmes.

"I don't think there's a better solution."

"In my opinion, the case is not really closed."

"Mr. Holmes, your point of view is beyond my expectations. Is there any further inquiry?"

"Does your explanation take care of all aspects?"

"No doubt. I found out that this Nergen was at the Brambright Hotel on the day of the accident, pretending to be playing golf. And his room was on the first floor, so he could go out whenever he wanted. That night He went to Woodman Lee Manor to meet Peter Gary in the cabin, and the two had an argument, and he stabbed Captain Gary to death with a harpoon. Horrified by his behavior, he accidentally fell off while running out of the house. Notebook, which he had with him to question Peter Gary about various securities. You may have noticed that some securities were marked and most were unmarked. The marked ones were found on the London market and traced out. Others may still be in Gary's hands. According to my own account, young Nelgan was anxious to get these securities into his father's possession, so as to pay creditors. After he ran away, he dared not go into the cabin for some time, But in the end he had to go back to the cabin again in order to find out what he wanted to know. Isn't it quite obvious and clear?"

Holmes shook his head with a smile, and said, "I think there is only one loophole, that is, it is impossible for him to kill people. Did you use the harpoon to pierce the body of an animal? No? Well, dear sir, you must pay great attention to these details." .My friend Watson can tell you that I spent the whole morning doing this exercise. It is not an easy task. The arm needs to be strong and the throw must be accurate. The steel fork pokes out very hard. It would sink into the wall. Do you think this weak and anemic young man can complete such a ferocious blow? Was he drinking rum with Black Peter in the middle of the night? It was his silhouette that was seen on the curtain two days ago No, no, Hopkins, there must be a strong man, and we must find this man."

The Sheriff's face grew longer and longer at Holmes' utterance.His confidence and ambition were shattered.But he still had to fight, and he would not give up his position easily: "Mr. Holmes, you cannot deny that Nergen was present that night. The notebook is the evidence. Even if you find fault, my reasoning can still convince the jury. Besides, you Where is the strong criminal you spoke of?"

"I think he is going up the stairs," said Holmes calmly. "I reckon you'd better put that gun where it can be easily reached, Watson." He stood up and put a piece of paper with writing on it against the wall table and said, "We're ready."

Mrs. Hudson opened the door as soon as she heard rough conversation outside, and said that three persons wanted to see Captain Basil.

"Let them in one by one," said Holmes.

The first one to enter was a small, laughable-looking man, with rosy cheeks and grizzled, shaggy sideburns.

Holmes took a letter from his pocket and asked, "What's your name?"

"James Lancaster."

"I'm sorry, Lancaster, but it's full. Here's a half-pound, if you please go to that room and wait a few minutes."

The second was slender and thin, with straight hair and sunken cheeks.His name is Hugh Pattins.He, too, was not employed, and was also given half a guinea, and made to wait.

The third applicant had a very different appearance, with a ferocious pug-dog face framed in a mass of unkempt hair and beard, with heavy, tufted eyebrows hanging down over two savage black eyes.He saluted, and stood aside like a sailor, turning his hat with both hands.

"What's your name?" said Holmes.

"Patrick Cairns."

"A harpooner?"

"Yes, sir. I have sailed twenty-six times."

"I think it's in Port Dandy?"

"Yes, sir."

"How much do you earn?"

"Eight pounds a month."

"Can you go to sea with the expedition at once?"

"As long as I bring what I need."

"Do you have proof?"

"Yes, sir." He took out a roll of oily, scuffed sheets from his pocket.Holmes looked at it and returned it to him.

He said, "You're exactly what I'm looking for. The contract is on the table against the wall. You sign it and it's settled."

Holmes leaned on his shoulder, and threw his hands round his neck.

He said, "All right."

I heard the clang of metal, followed by the roar of an enraged bull.Immediately afterwards the seaman and Holmes wrestled on the ground.Although Holmes had swiftly put the handcuffs on him, he was as strong as a cow, and if Hopkins and I had not gone up to help, Holmes would have been overwhelmed by the seaman in no time.When I brought the muzzle of the pistol relentlessly to his temple, he understood the futility of resistance.We tied rope around his ankles and stood up, panting.

Sherlock Holmes said: "I am sorry, Hopkins, but the omelet is probably cold. But the breakfast will be all the better when you think that the case has been successfully concluded."

Stanley Hopkins was so astonished that he could not speak. He blushed and said without thinking: "Mr. Holmes, I don't know what to say. It seems that I have fooled myself from the beginning. Now I understand." I should never forget that I am the student and you are the teacher. Although I have just seen what you do, I do not yet understand why you did it or what it means."

(End of this chapter)