The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 143 Uncanny Valley (5)
"It is worth noting!" continued Holmes. "Of course, it may be a mere coincidence, but it is also possible that he is nervous and aware of the danger he is about to face. Did you notice something in his behavior yesterday, Ames?" Abnormal?"

"Sir, I do sense that he seems a little restless and agitated."

"Haha, it seems that this attack was not completely unexpected. Our investigation has made some progress, hasn't it? Mr. MacDonald, maybe you still have any questions?"

"No, Mr. Holmes. After all, you are an expert in this field."

"Then, let's study this card that says 'VV341' again. The card is made of thick and hard paper. Do you have this kind of paper in your manor?"

"I don't think so."

Holmes went to the desk, dipped the ink from the inkwell, tried each pen on the blotting-paper, and continued: "The writing on the card is not here. There is only black ink here, and the card The ink is purple, and the handwriting is thick, but the pens here are fine nibs, so the card should be written elsewhere. Ames, can you understand the meaning of this card?"

"No, sir, I don't understand at all."

"What do you think, Mr. MacDonald?"

"Like a logo of a secret organization, it may have some connection with the logo on the forearm of the deceased."

"I think so too," White Mason said.

"Okay, let's take it as a reasonable assumption for now. On this basis, let's see how much we can solve the problem we are facing. The killer sent by that organization sneaked into the manor, waiting for Mr. Douglas, and using this musket Nearly knocked his head off, then waded across the moat and disappeared without a trace. He only left this card so that the papers would print it, so that other henchmen in that organization would know: their The revenge has been avenged. This series of things are all connected, but this musket...why does he use this musket?"

"Yes."

"Also, what about the missing ring?"

"It really doesn't explain it."

"It's past two o'clock in the afternoon, why hasn't anyone been arrested yet? If I'm not mistaken, the police have been searching for a drenched outsider within a radius of forty miles since dawn."

"Yes, Mr. Holmes."

"Then unless he has a hiding place nearby, or has changed into dry clothes, the police won't let him slip easily. But so far, he has slipped under the nose of the police. It fell off." Then Holmes went to the window, examined the marks on the sill with his magnifying glass, and said, "This is obviously a shoe print. The sole of the foot is very wide. This man probably has figure-footed feet. Strange, I guess. Everyone who comes here to look at the footprints will probably say that the sole is a good model. But, of course, the shoe print is not clear. What is under the table next to it?"

"Mr. Douglas's dumb-bell," Ames answered.

"There's only one dumbbell. Where's the other one?"

"I don't know, Mr. Holmes. There may have been only one of them. I haven't seen one for some months."

"A dumbbell..." said Holmes thoughtfully, but before he could finish, there was a sharp knock on the door.A tall, dark-skinned man poked his head in from the outside. He looked capable, clean-shaven, and gave the occupants a quick sweep of his haughty and suspicious eyes.I recognized at once that he was the same Cecil Barker.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation," Buck said, "However, it is necessary for you to understand the latest situation."

"Has the murderer been apprehended?"

"Not so lucky. Found his bike, though, and the guy dropped his bike. Come and see, it's not a hundred yards outside the hall door."

I saw three or four servants and a few onlookers standing on the carriageway, and they were checking the bicycle—it was hidden in the bushes just now, and people dragged it out after they found it.It was an old Lucky Whitworth, and it had a lot of mud on it, as if it had been a long way.There was a tool bag on the back of the seat with a wrench and an oil can, but I couldn't find any information about the owner of the car.

"It would be very helpful to us if we had the license plate number," the officer said, "but we should be content to find the car. Even if we don't know where he fled to, at least we can figure out where he came from." Come on. But, why did he abandon the car? How did he escape after abandoning it? Mr. Holmes, we don't seem to have figured out the case yet."

"No idea at all?" my friend replied thoughtfully, "I don't think so!"

People in Five Plays

When he returned to the house again, White Mason asked, "Have you checked all the places in the room that need to be checked?"

"The inspection is now complete," replied Inspector Macdonald, and Holmes nodded in agreement.

"So, would you like to hear the testimony of some people in the manor now? Just use this dining room, Ames, and please tell what you know first."

The steward's statement was simple and clear, giving the impression of honesty and reliability.When Mr Douglas first moved to Birlstone five years ago, he came to the estate.He knew Mr. Douglas to be a very rich gentleman, who had made a good deal in America.Mr. Douglas has always been amiable and understanding- perhaps Ames is not quite used to this, but he is quite a competent housekeeper.He had never seen anything that frightened Mr. Douglas, on the contrary, Mr. Douglas was the most daring man he had ever met.The reason Mr. Douglas had the drawbridge raised every night was simply to follow the old custom of the old manor, which he liked to keep alive.

Mr. Douglas seldom went to London, and seldom left the village, but he had been in Tunbridge Wells on a shopping trip the day before the murder.Ames had noticed that Mr. Douglas had been uncharacteristically that day, becoming irritable and irritable.On the night of the murder, Ames was still awake and was packing silverware in the back pantry when he heard the alarm bell go off.But he didn't hear the gunshot, because the pantry and kitchen were located at the back of the manor, separated by several gates and a long corridor, and it was really difficult to hear the gunshot.Mrs. Allen also ran out after hearing the rapid ringing of the bell, and came here with him.When they got here, Ames saw Mrs. Douglas coming down the stairs.No, she wasn't going very fast, Ames thought, and Mrs. Douglas didn't look particularly alarmed.She had hardly gone downstairs when Mr Barker rushed out of the study, stopped Mrs Douglas, and begged her to go back to her room.

"For God's sake, go back to your room!" cried Mr. Barker. "Poor Jack is dead, and you can't be brought back. For God's sake, go back!"

After Mr. Barker's persuasion, Mrs. Douglas went upstairs.She neither screamed nor cried.Mrs. Allen, the housekeeper, helped her upstairs, and they stayed together in the bedroom.Afterwards, Ames and Mr. Barker returned to the study, and they saw everything in the house, which was exactly the same as what they saw after the police station sent someone.The oil lamp was still burning, and the candle had been extinguished.They poked their heads out of the window, but the darkness obscured their vision and they could not hear anything.Then they ran to the hall, Ames shook the iron chain to lower the drawbridge, and Mr Barker hurried to the police station to report the incident.

This is the testimony of Steward Ames.The account of the housekeeper Mrs. Allen only further confirmed the testimony of the housekeeper Ames.The housekeeper's bedroom was closer to the front hall than the pantry where Ames kept her silverware, and she was about to go to bed when she heard the alarm bell go off.Her hearing was not very good, so she didn't hear the gunshot, and the study was indeed far away.She vaguely heard something, but she thought it was the door being shut, though it must have been at least half an hour or so before the bell rang.When Ames ran to the front hall, she also came here, just in time to see Mr. Barker coming out of the study, pale and emotional.Mrs. Douglas was also downstairs at that time, but Mr. Barker stopped her and advised her to go to her room.Mrs. Douglas said something, but she did not catch it.

"Help her up and stay in the room with her!" Mr. Barker said to Mrs. Allen.

So Mrs. Allen led Mrs. Douglas back to the bedroom and kept comforting her.Mrs. Douglas trembled with fright, but made no sign of going downstairs again.She was just sitting in her pajamas by the fireplace in her bedroom, with her head in her hands.Mrs. Allen was with her almost all night.As for the other servants, they were all asleep at the time and did not hear the gunshot, and they didn't know what happened until the police arrived.They lived at the far end of the estate, so they probably couldn't hear anything.

Mrs. Allen, the housekeeper, did not add anything new except expressing sadness and shock when she was questioned.

Then, Mr. Cecil Barker, as an eyewitness at the scene, began to tell what he saw at that time.There was little new to add to his testimony beyond what had already been reported to the police.He was completely convinced that the murderer had escaped through the window, and the blood on the windowsill was the proof.Moreover, since the drawbridge was raised, the murderer had no other means of escape, nor could he have drowned in his escape, since the moat was no more than three feet deep.Nor could he imagine where the murderer would have fled.And that bicycle, if it was the murderer's, why didn't he ride it away?

Mr. Barker, however, had a very definite idea of ​​the murderer.Douglas was taciturn during his lifetime, and he kept his past life tight-lipped and never mentioned it.When he was very young, he immigrated from Ireland to America, and his life gradually became rich.Mr. Barker first met him in California, and then the two partnered to run a mining business in a place called Benito Canni, which was very successful.Soon after, however, Douglas suddenly sold his property and set off for England.At that time he was still a widower.Then Buck also sold his property and came to live in London, so he resumed his friendship with him.His impression of Douglas was that there always seemed to be some potential danger threatening him.Buck had always believed that his sudden departure from California and his purchase of the estate in the secluded English countryside had something to do with this potential threat.Buck guessed that there must be some secret organization, an organization that would never allow him to deviate, had been following him and trying to kill him.Although Douglas never mentioned to him what organization it was, or how he had offended them, Buck picked it up in his words.Buck believed that the words on this card must be related to that secret organization.

"How long have you been in California with Douglas?" asked Officer MacDonald.

"Five years."

"You mean, he's been single all this time?"

"He's a widower."

"Have you ever heard him talk about his ex-wife?"

"Barely, I just remember him mentioning that she was of German descent. I've seen a picture of her once. She was a very beautiful woman. She died of typhoid fever a year before I met Douglas."

"Do you know of any particular part of America that Douglas had been intimately associated with in the past?"

"He was in Chicago for a time, and he knew that city very well, and I heard him talk about some areas that produced coal and iron. He traveled a lot in his lifetime."

"Has he been involved in politics? Is this secret organization connected to a political party?"

"No, he never cared about politics."

"Do you think he committed any crime?"

"On the contrary, I have never met a second person with such integrity."

"Were there any oddities in his life when he was in California?"

"He likes to come to the mountains, work and rest in our mines, and he always tries to avoid crowded places. That's why I first thought: someone is following him. Later, he suddenly decided to move to Europe, I was even more sure It happened. I believe he must have had some kind of warning beforehand, because in the week or so since he was gone, five or six people asked for news of him."

"Who are those people?"

"Oh, they all look very ruthless. They came to the mines and asked about Douglas. I told them that Douglas was in Europe, and I don't know where to find him. You can see that they have no good for him. .”

"Are these people Americans? Californians, too?"

"I don't know much about the Californians, but they're Americans, but they're not miners. I can't guess what they do, I just hope they get out of here."

"That was six years ago, right?"

"Almost seven years."

"So, you guys worked together in California for five years, that is to say, he had a grudge with those people 11 years ago?"

"Is such that."

"It seems that there must be some sworn hatred in this. After such a long time, I still hold it in my heart. The reason for the hatred is by no means a trivial matter."

"I think this is the shadow of Douglas' life, the nightmare that he will never get rid of."

"However, why doesn't a person seek the protection of the police when he knows that his life is being threatened and he knows what dangers he will encounter?"

"It is a danger that no one can possibly protect against. One thing you should know: he always goes out with a weapon, and his pistol never leaves his pocket. Unfortunately, last night he wore only dressing gown, left the pistol in the bedroom. I suppose he thought he was safe when the drawbridge was up."

"I'm trying to get some dates," MacDonald said. "It's been six years since Douglas left California. You came in the second year after that, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"It's been five years since he remarried. In other words, you happened to be here the year he got married."

"About a month before he got married. I was best man at the time."

"Did you know Mrs. Douglas before they were married?"

"No, I didn't. It had been ten years since I left England."

"But after that, you saw her often, didn't you?"

Buck looked at the detective and said solemnly: "Since then, I have seen her often. The reason for this is that when you go to visit a friend, you will not miss his wife, right? If you think there is something in it What connection..."

"Mr. Barker, I have not made any assumptions. I am only responsible for inquiring all the facts connected with this case, and I do not mean to offend you."

"But it's rude of you to ask that," replied Buck angrily.

"We just want to know some facts. It will be beneficial to you and everyone to clarify the facts. Does Mr. Douglas have no objection to your friendship with Mrs. Douglas?"

Buck's face became even paler, and his two strong hands clenched together convulsively. "You have no right to ask such questions!" he cried. "What does this have to do with your case?"

"I have to ask you that question."

"Then I refuse to answer."

"You can refuse to answer, but you have to know that refusing is an answer in itself, because you cannot deny it, and if there is no secret, you will not refuse to answer my question."

Buck was silent for a while with a sullen face, his thick black eyebrows were furrowed, and he was thinking hard.Then he looked up and smiled, and said: "Well, I think you gentlemen are doing business after all, and I have no right to interfere with it. I just want to ask you not to bother Mrs. Douglas with this kind of question. She is tired enough now." Yes. I can tell you that poor Douglas has one fault, and that is his jealousy. He is very kind to me--no one treats a friend as he is to me. He is also devoted to his wife. He would like me to come here Come, and often send for me. But if he sees his wife and I chatting together, or if there seems to be some mutual sympathy between us, he will immediately get jealous, lose control, and say the wildest things Come. I have sworn more than once that I would never come here again. But afterward he wrote to me and begged my pardon, and I had no choice but to let it go. But, gentlemen, you may I take these words as a conclusion, and I dare say that there is no wife in the world who loves her husband so much and is as faithful as Mrs. Douglas, nor can I find anyone who is more sincere to my friends than I am."

His words were earnest and sincere, but Sergeant MacDonald did not change the subject. He asked: "You know that the wedding ring was taken from the deceased's finger?"

"It seems so," said Buck.

"What do you mean 'looks like'? It's simply not true."

Buck seemed a little hesitant and at a loss at this moment.He explained: "By that I mean, maybe he took the ring off himself."

"As a matter of fact, now that the ring is no longer there, whoever took it off, any one would immediately think of the connection between this tragedy and his marriage, wouldn't it?"

Buck shrugged his broad shoulders and said: "I can't explain what it means, but if you're implying that this case might lead to something bad for Mrs. Douglas's reputation," his eyes lit up instantly. Anger, and then, obviously trying to hold back his emotions, "Then, you've gone astray. That's all I'm going to say."

"I don't think I have any questions to ask now," said MacDonald coldly.

"There is one more little question," said Sherlock Holmes. "When you came into this room there was only one candle burning on the table, was there?"

"Yes."

"Did you see the tragic scene here from the candlelight?"

"good."

"Then, you immediately rang the alarm bell?"

"Correct."

"Are they coming soon?"

"About 1 minutes."

"But when they arrived at this time, they saw that the candles had been extinguished and the oil lamps had been lit. Doesn't it seem strange?"

Buck looked a little at a loss again.

(End of this chapter)