The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 115 The Return (30)
"Only two cups were used, and the dregs of both cups were poured into the third cup, thus creating the illusion that three people were drinking there. Then, did not all the dregs go into the third cup? Yes, I think it must be so. If I happen to give a factual interpretation of this little detail, it means that the lady and her maids have deliberately lied to us, and cannot believe a word they say, so Well, the case at once turned into a very unusual one. They must have had some serious reason for covering the criminal, so we cannot rely on them, and we must try to find out the circumstances ourselves. This is my present plan. Watson, go The Seatonham train is coming."

We returned to the Grange, and the people there were very surprised.Stanley Hopkins had reported to the headquarters, so Holmes went into the dining-room, locked the door from the inside, and examined it carefully for two hours, and found a solid basis for the correct conclusion he had just drawn from his reasoning.He sat in a corner and observed carefully, like a studious student watching the professor's demonstration movements attentively.I followed him, making minute examinations.Windows, curtains, carpets, chairs, ropes, carefully examine one by one, and think carefully.Sir's body has been removed, and everything else remains as we saw it in the morning.What surprised me most was that Holmes climbed onto the solid mantelpiece.Only a few inches of the broken purple-red cord was still attached to a wire, hanging high above his head.He looked up at the end of the rope for a long time, and in order to get closer to the end of the rope, he knelt on a wooden bracket on the wall.He was thus within inches of the broken cord, but it was not the cord that seemed to attract his attention but the bracket itself.Later, he jumped down with satisfaction.

He said: "Well, Watson, our case is solved, and it is the most extraordinary case in our collection. I am not as quick as ever, Kah, and have almost made the worst mistake! Now, except for a few The details are still unclear, but the whole process of the matter is clear and complete."

"Have you found out who the criminals are?"

"There is but one criminal, Mr. Watson, and a very formidable man. He is as strong as a lion, and can bend a picker at one blow. He is six feet three inches tall, nimble as a squirrel, and has dexterous hands. A very clever mind, too, for he alone made up this ingenious story. What we have come across is the work of this particular man. But there is a breach in the bell-rope, which should not have been."

"What's the matter?"

"Watson, if you pull the bell-rope down, where do you think it should break? Where it meets the wire, of course. But why did the rope break three inches from the wire?"

"Because it's worn down there?"

"Yes. The end we were able to check was frayed. This man was very cunning and deliberately frayed one end of the rope with a knife. But the other end was not frayed. You can't see it from here, but from the mantelpiece, the end was cut. It was flat, without any sign of wear and tear. You can figure out what it was. The man needed a rope, but he didn't break it because he was afraid the bell would sound the alarm. What did he do? He Hopped up on the mantelpiece, still out of reach, then knelt down on the bracket again--there were marks of dust on the bracket--and took out his pocket knife and cut the rope. I couldn't reach the place, at least three inches, so I reckon he's three inches taller than me. Look at the mark on the oak seat, what's that?"

"Blood."

"It is indeed blood. This shows that the lady's lie is not worth refuting. If she was sitting on the chair when the robber committed the crime, where did the blood come from? She must have sat on the chair after her husband died. Yes. I can assure you that the black dress bears the same traces. We did not fail, Watson, but we began with defeat and ended with victory. I want to have a few words with Teresa, the maid. To get what we need You have to be very careful when you talk."

Teresa, an unsmiling Australian nanny, attracts attention. She is quiet, suspicious and lacks manners.Holmes treated her in a friendly manner, listened tenderly to her account, and after a while finally won her confidence.She made no secret of her hatred for her dead master.

"Yes, sir, he threw the water-bottle at me. I heard him yell at the mistress once, and I told him he wouldn't dare to do so if the mistress's brother was here. So he took the water-bottle and threw it at me. I threw it. If the mistress hadn't stopped him, he might have thrown it a dozen times in a row. He always abused the mistress, and the mistress just put up with it out of face, and the lady didn't want to tell me how she was abused. .You saw the scar on the lady's arm this morning. The lady refused to tell me, but I know it was from a pin. The damned devil! God forgive me if I say that about him even though he is dead Well! When we first met him, he was very nice, but that was 28 months ago, and it felt like 28 years to both of us. The mistress had just arrived in London. She had never been It was the first time she had ever traveled away from home. Sir, with his title, his money, and his false London airs, he won his mistress's heart. Mistress went astray and was punished, and she deserved it. We met him the second month after London. We were in London in June, and that's July. They got married last January. Ah, she's downstairs in the living room, she's sure I'll see you, but you mustn't ask too many questions, because there's enough pain already."

The maid walked into the living room with us.Mrs. Brackenstall was still reclining on the couch, somewhat more refreshed.The maid again began to apply hot compresses to the mistress's bruised eyes.

"I hope you're not coming to question me again," said the lady.

"No," said Holmes very gently. "I will not cause you unnecessary distress, Mrs. Brackenstall. I wish you peace, for I know you have suffered a great deal. If you will Trust me as a friend, and the facts will prove that I will not disappoint your sincerity."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Tell me the truth."

"Mr. Holmes!"

"It's no use covering up, Mrs. Brackenstall. You may have heard of my little reputation. I swear by my reputation that what you're telling is a complete fabrication."

The master and the servant stared at Holmes together. The lady's face was pale, and her eyes showed fear.

Teresa shouted: "You are a shameless fellow! You say my mistress is lying?"

Holmes rose from his chair and said, "Have you nothing to say to me?"

"I said it all."

"Mrs. Brackenstall, think again. Wouldn't it be better to be frank?"

After a while, there was a moment of hesitation on Madam's beautiful face, and then a strong thought made her firm again, and finally, she fell into a dull expression again, and said blankly: "I've said everything I know. "

Holmes took up his hat, shrugged his shoulders, and said: "I am sorry." Without another word, we walked out of the drawing-room and the house.There is a pool in the courtyard, and my friend goes to the pool.The pool was completely frozen, but a hole had been punched in the ice to feed a swan.Holmes gazed at the sink, and then went on to the gate.He wrote a hasty note to Hopkins in the porter's room and handed it to the porter.

He said: "Things may work or they may fail. But to prove that we didn't come for nothing the second time, we must do something for Hopkins. Right now I can't tell him what we are going to do. I think now we should Go to the office of the shipping company on the Adelaide-Southampton route, which is probably at the end of Polmore Street. There is another route from England to South Australia, but we will go to this one first. Big company."

The manager of the company met with us as soon as he saw Holmes' business card, and Holmes quickly got what he needed.In June [-] only one ship reached a British port.The ship was called the Rock of Gibraltar, and it was the largest and best ship of the company.A search of the passenger list revealed the names of Ms Fraser and the maid of Adelaide.Now the ship is heading to South Australia, somewhere south of the Suez Canal.It is largely unchanged from [-], save for one change--first mate Jack Crocker has been appointed captain of the newly built "Rock of Bath" which is due to sail from Southampton in two days' time .The captain lives at Seatonham, and he may come to the company shortly to take instructions, and we can see him if we will wait.

Mr. Holmes did not want to see him, but only wanted to know his past behavior and conduct.

The manager felt that his work performance was flawless and that none of the crew on board could match him.As for his personality, he is also reliable.But when he got off the ship, he was a rough, rash fellow, quick-tempered and excitable, but he was faithful, sincere, and kind.When Holmes learned the main facts, we left the shipping company on the Adelaide-Southampton route, and rode to Scotland Yard in a carriage.But he didn't go in, but sat in the carriage and fell into deep thought.After a while he told the coachman to drive to the telegraph office in Charing Cross, and he sent a telegram, and we returned to Baker Street.

When we entered the house, he said: "No, Watson, I cannot do this. There is no way to rescue him once the summons is issued. Once or twice I was deeply aware that I would do more harm by finding out the criminal than by committing the crime." The incident itself has done more harm. I have now learned the need for caution, and I would rather deceive the laws of England than my own conscience. We need to learn more before we act."

Towards evening, Hopkins came.His affairs were not going well enough, and he said: "I see you are a magician, Mr. Holmes. I sometimes think you have superhuman powers. How do you know that the stolen silver is under the sink?"

"I don't know."

"But you asked me to check the pool."

"Did you find the silver?"

"found it."

"I'm glad I helped you."

"You didn't help me, though. You made things more difficult. What kind of robber is this who steals silver and throws it in a nearby cistern?"

"Of course the behavior is queer. I just thought that a man who steals silver without needing it is a scammer, and he must be anxious to get rid of it."

"Why do you have such an idea?"

"I just think there is such a possibility. After the robbers came out of the window, they saw a pool in front of them. There was a hole in the ice of the pool. Wouldn't it be best to hide here?"

Stanley Hopkins exclaimed: "Ah, the best place to hide things! Yes, yes, I see it all! It was early in the day, and there were people in the street, and they would be seen with their silver, So they sank the silver in the sink, intending to return for it when there was no one around. That is a good explanation, Mr. Holmes, and it is more convincing than your speculation about the fraud."

"Yes, your explanation is very good. My thinking seems to be a bit far-fetched, but you must admit that they can't find the silver again."

"Yes, sir. But it's all due to you. And yet, I've been terribly frustrated."

"frustration?"

"Yes, Mr. Holmes. Randall's band of robbers were arrested this morning in New York."

"Why, Hopkins! That doesn't agree with what you said about them killing people in Kent last night."

"That's right. It doesn't match at all. But apart from Randall and the others, there are three other gangs of robbers, perhaps new gangs that the police haven't heard of yet."

"Yes, it is quite possible. What are you going to do about it?"

"Mr. Holmes, I cannot rest easy until the case is brought to light. Do you have any advice for me?"

"I gave it to you."

"what is it then?"

"I said it was a hoax."

"Why a hoax? Why, Mr. Holmes?"

"Of course, that's a real question. But I'm just giving you an opinion. You may find some truth in it. You're not staying for dinner? Well, bye, and keep us posted on how you're progressing. "

After supper and the table cleared, Holmes returned to the case.He lit his pipe, put on his slippers, and put his feet in front of the blazing fire.Suddenly, he looked at his watch.

"Watson, I think there will be some new developments in the case."

"When?"

"Now, in a few minutes. I suppose you thought my treatment of Hopkins unkind."

"I trust your judgment."

"Your answer, Watson, is excellent. You should see it this way. My knowledge is unofficial, and his knowledge is official. I have a right to personal judgment, which he cannot. He will tell all he knows, or he will be negligent. I don't want to put him at a disadvantage in an open case, so I don't tell him what I know until my We can only speak after the opinion is determined.”

"When will it be confirmed?"

"The time has come. Now I invite you to the last scene of this wonderful drama."

As soon as we heard a sound on the stairs, the door of our room was opened, and a handsome young man entered.He was tall, with a blond beard, dark blue eyes, and skin the color of the tropical sun.He has a quick gait, which shows that he is physically strong and very mobile.He closed the door casually, and stood there with his fists clenched and his chest heaving, trying to suppress his agitated emotions.

"Sit down, Captain Crocker. Did you get my telegram?"

Our guests seated themselves in an arm-chair, and eyed each of us suspiciously.

"I got your telegram and came punctually as you asked. I heard you were at the company office, and I can't escape. Tell me the worst! What are you going to do with me? Arrest me? Tell me! You can't sit here and play cat and mouse with me!"

"Give him a cigar," said Holmes. "Have a cigarette, Captain Crocker, and you must control your emotions. If I took you for a criminal, I wouldn't sit here and smoke with you. You have to believe that." .Tell me all frankly, and we can do something. If you play tricks with me, no one can save you."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Tell me honestly what happened at the Grange last night. I want to warn you, honestly, don't embellish or cut corners. I have learned a lot, and if you hide anything, I will Go to the window and blow the whistle, then there's nothing I can do."

The sailor thought for a moment, then slapped his dark hand on his leg, and exclaimed, "It's only my luck! I trust you to be a man of your word and your word, and I will tell you the whole story. But One thing I want to be clear about myself, I have no regrets or fear, I can do it again and be proud of it. That damn devil, how many lives he has, I will kill him a few times But when it comes to Mrs. Mary--Mary Fraser, I don't want to call her Mrs. Dame by that damned name. For her I would give my life for her beautiful smile. When I think that I made She is in trouble, and fidgets. But, but what else can I do? Gentlemen, I will tell you everything, and then put yourself in your shoes, what else can I do?
"I'm going to start at the beginning. You seem to know it all, so I assume you know that we met on the Rock of Gibraltar, she was the passenger and I was the mate. From the first day I met her, she She was the only one in my heart. My love for her grew more and more during the voyage. I have knelt on the deck in the dark many times during the night watch and kissed the deck just because I saw her go by. .She has no special relationship with me. She treats me like other women, and I have no complaints. Love is just my wish, and in her view we are just friends. When we parted, she still had nothing to worry about, and I But already worried.

"After I came back from my second voyage, I heard that she was married. Of course she can marry whoever she likes. She is entitled to titles and money. She was born to enjoy all good and noble things. She married I'm not sad, I'm not a selfish fellow. I'm glad she had the good fortune of not marrying a penniless sailor. That's how I love Mary Fraser.

(End of this chapter)