The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 180 New Detective Case (2)
"'I know so. I will say so, for my cards are very good, and it will do no harm to tell you. I have been fortunate enough to have all the affection of this young lady, though I have made all my past experience clear. Told her. I also told her that there might be someone with ulterior motives - I hope you know yourselves - who would come and slander her against me, and I forewarned her how to deal with them. You've probably heard of hypnosis Suggestions, Mr. Holmes? Well, you will see how such suggestions work, and hypnotize a person of character over vulgarity and frivolity. So her visit to you is of interest. Prepared, no doubt, she will receive you too, for she is so obedient to her father's will—except for that one little thing.'

"You see, Watson, there was no way to go on at this point, so I took my leave as pompously as I could, but he stopped me just as I was about to open the door.

"'By the way, Mr. Holmes,' said he, 'do you know Le Brun, the French detective?'

"'know.'

"'Do you know what happened to him?'

"'It is said that he was wounded by a gang of hooligans in Montmartre, and crippled for life.'

"'Yes. It so happens that he has been investigating my case before this. I would advise you, Mr. Holmes, not to interfere in this matter. It is an unfortunate errand, and several people have already asked for it. My last advice to you is: you go your way, I go my way, well water does not cross river water. Goodbye!'

"You see, Watson, that is the case, and you now know the state of affairs."

"Looks like he's a dangerous guy."

"Very dangerous. I'm not afraid of his intimidation, but he's a man of his word."

"Can't you leave it alone? Does it really matter that he marries this girl?"

"Since he did murder his ex-wife, I don't think it's an ordinary thing. Besides, the client in this case is also an extraordinary person! Well, let's not talk about that. After coffee, you'd better go with me. Go home, because Shinwell is home waiting to report to me."

And we did see him, a big, gruff, red-faced, typical scurvy, with those dark, animated eyes the only sign of his inner cunning mind.It seemed as if he had just returned from his peculiar world, bringing with him another figure, the slender, fiery young woman who sat next to him.Her face was pale and tense, and although she was young, she showed the haggardness of decadence and sorrow, and it was easy to see the scars left by the years of dissolute life on her face.

"This is Miss Kitty Wind," said Shinwell, with a sort of introduction, waving his fat hand. "There's nothing she doesn't know—well, let her speak for herself. I had your note within an hour." , I found her."

"It's easy to find me," said the young woman. "I'm always in hell in London. Fat Shinwell stays there too. We're old companions, Fatty. But, damn it! If there's still If there is any justice, there is one man who deserves nineteen hells! He is the man you are dealing with, Mr. Holmes."

Holmes smiled. "I take it that you sympathize with us, Miss Wind."

"If I can help you get him what he deserves, then I will follow you obediently!" The female guest said through gritted teeth.There was a most violent hatred in her pale, eager face, and in her angry eyes. "Mr. Holmes, you don't need to know about my past. It doesn't matter. But my life is entirely Gruner's making. I wish I could send him to hell!" She clasped her hands frantically into the air. , "My God, if only I could push him into that abyss, think of how many people he has pushed into the abyss!"

"Do you know the current situation?"

"The fat guy has told me. This time that guy has found another fool and is going to marry her. You must stop this. Of course you know this villain very well, and you must not let any sane and pure girl Get in touch with him."

"But she's not sane. She's madly in love with him. I've told her everything about him, and she doesn't care about anything."

"Did she know about the murder?"

"know."

"My God, she is really strong!"

"She thought it was all slander against him."

"Why don't you come up with evidence to convince this girl?"

"So, can you help us do this?"

"Aren't I living proof? If I stand before her eyes and tell her how that man played me—"

"Would you like to do this?"

"Of course I would!"

"Well, it might try. But he has confessed his sin to her, and has her forgiveness, and I don't think she will come to the subject again."

"I'm sure he'll never tell her everything," said Miss Wind, "and I'm well aware of one or two other murders besides that one. He talked about so-and-so in that soft voice that he always used, and then looked me straight in the eye and said, 'He's going to be dead in a month'. I'm not talking big. But I don't care about anything--you see , I was madly in love with him back then too. His behavior was to me then as it is to this poor fool now! But then something woke me up. Yes. My God, if it wasn't Relying on his eloquence, I left him that night. It was a diary—a yellow leather book with a lock, with his family's golden crest on the outside. I guess he was drunk that night and asked to Otherwise he would never have shown me that thing."

"what exactly is it?"

"Let me tell you, Mr. Holmes, this fellow collects women, and takes pride in it, as one collects butterflies. He has everything in that book, photographs, names, and descriptions. It is a This record of the most indecent bestiality, such a thing no human being can do. But nevertheless, Adelbert Gruner has such a notebook. 'The Soul I Destroyed', he completely You can write such words on the book cover, as long as he is willing to do so. However, this is all off-topic, because this book is useless to you, and even if it is useful, you will not get it. "

"Where is it?"

"How would I know where it was? It's been over a year since I left him. All I know is where it was. He's a cunning cat in many ways, with a habit of not moving an inch, so maybe It still sits in a shelf in an old cupboard in the inner study. Do you know his dwelling?"

"I have been in his study," said Holmes.

"Really? You've just taken on this case, and you're moving really fast. I think Gruner has met his match this time. The outer study is the room with the Chinese china—between the windows." There's a big glass cabinet. Behind his desk there's a door leading into the inner study, which is a small room where he keeps his papers and such."

"Isn't he afraid of being stolen?"

"He's a bold man. Even his worst enemies think so. He's capable of defending himself. There's a burglar alarm at night. Besides, there's nothing to steal except the china."

"It's no use," Shinwell said decisively, in an expert tone. "No one who buys stolen goods wants such goods that can neither be melted nor resold."

"Very well," said Holmes. "Well, Miss Wind, would you come here at five o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and if so, I shall consider whether to arrange for you to meet the lady as you suggest. Thank you." assistance. Needless to say, my client will of course consider generously..."

"Never mind, Mr. Holmes," cried the young woman, "I'm not here for the money. Just let me see the man go down in the shit, and I'll get the best pay. So long as you're after him." , I can come anytime. Fatty can tell you where to find me."

I did not see Holmes again until the following evening, when we dined again in the restaurant in the Strand.I was eager to see how the two women met.He shrugged and told me what had happened.

"No trouble was expended in arranging the interview," said Holmes, "for the young lady, in order to make up for her disobedience in matters of life, endeavored to obey her father in minor matters. The General telephoned. Said everything was ready, and the hot-tempered Miss Wende also came on time, so at 05:30 in the afternoon, a carriage took us to the residence of the old general - 104 Berkeley Square. It was a more solemn building than a church The old, forbidding gray London castle. When the servant showed me into a large drawing room with yellow curtains, the lady was already waiting for us, her face was solemn, calm, and pale. As awe-inspiring as a snowman in the mountains.

"Watson, I don't know how to describe her to you. Perhaps you can see her before this case is over, and you can use your vocabulary to describe her. She is beautiful and cold, She is as pure and flawless as an angel. It is difficult for us to accept that such a woman who is like a non-human being is fascinated by a hooligan like a beast. Maybe this is the mutual attraction between two opposite extremes, such as the relationship between the spirit and the body. Attraction, the attraction of savages to angels.

"Of course she already knew why we had come—she had been vaccinated by the scoundrel. She seemed a little surprised to see Miss Wind, but she motioned for us to sit down, like the venerable prior at Meet two beggars.

"'Sir,' she said, in a voice that seemed to come from an iceberg, 'I have long admired your name. As I understand it, you have come to divide me and my fiancé, the Baron Gruner. When you met, I have something to say first, no matter what you say, it will not affect my current attitude in the slightest."

"I'm so sorry for her, Watson. You know I'm not good with words, and I'm not easily emotional. But I really persuaded her that day from the bottom of my heart as a father would a daughter. I described to her a woman in marriage What a dreadful position a woman must be in when she finds out the truth about a man later, and has to surrender to embraces with bloodstained hands. I have nothing to hide from her—speaking of future humiliation, terror, pain, despair, etc. But all my caring words failed to move her, nor could she show a trace of emotion in her blank eyes. I was reminded of the hypnotic state that hooligan said. She looked like she was living far away. In the frantic dream of the hustle and bustle. But her answer was decisive.

"'I have listened patiently to the end of what you have to say, Mr. Holmes,' said she, 'but it has done nothing to me. I know that the life of Adalbert, my fiancé, has had its ups and downs, and has incurred some violent hatred and injustice. slander. You are the last of a chain of men who have come here to slander in my presence. Perhaps you mean well, but I hear you are a hired detective against barons and hired The Baron Yu is the same to you. But in any case, I hope you can understand this: I love him, he loves me, and the opinions of the world are deaf to me. If his noble temperament is very Occasionally, if there is a slight deviation, I may be specially sent by God to help him recover his true noble character. However,'Here her eyes fell on my companion,'May I ask who is this lady?'

"I was about to answer, but this girl spoke up like a whirlwind. If you want to see the contest between ice and fire, look at these two women.

"'I'll tell you who I am,' she jumped up from her chair, her mouth twisted in anger, 'I was his last mistress. I was one of the hundreds he seduced, spoiled, and abandoned One of the people, as he is about to do to you. Your personal destination is probably the grave, and maybe that's for the best. I tell you, stupid woman, if you marry this man, he will put You die. It may break your heart, it may kill you, it's one way or the other. I don't say this out of concern for you. I don't care if you live or die. I did it out of pure hatred for him, out of revenge, and I did what he did to me. But it's all the same, and you don't have to stare at me like that, my lady, and you may soon become less valuable than I am.'

"'I don't think it necessary to go on,' said Miss de Merville coldly; 'and my last words are that I know that my fiancé has been haunted by treacherous women three times in his life, and I am sure that even if he does I have already sincerely repented of any wrong things I have done.”

"'Three times!' my companion shrieked, 'you fool! utter fool!'

"'Mr. Holmes,' said the icy voice, 'I beg you to end this interview. I have come to see you by my father's order, but I have not come to hear her raving.'

"When Miss Wind heard the other party say that she was speaking crazy words, she suddenly jumped forward while cursing. If I hadn't reacted quickly and grabbed her wrist, she would have grabbed that irritating woman by the hair. I took her to the door, and I was lucky enough to get her into the carriage without much fuss. To tell you the truth, Watson, I was very angry, though I appeared calm, because in the There is something repulsive in the extreme self-confidence and calmness of the woman we are trying to save. The above is what happened, and now you understand. It seems that I have to find another way. Our first move It has failed. I will keep in touch with you, Watson, and may be of use to you. But perhaps the next step is theirs and not ours."

Indeed.Their blow came—or his blow, I believe the lady was unaware of it.Just two days after I last spoke to Holmes, I read a shocking headline in the Cross Street newspaper:

Holmes fatally attacked
I stood dumbfounded for a long time.Then I remember that I grabbed a newspaper in a panic, forgot to pay, and was reprimanded by the newspaper seller. Finally, I stood in front of a pharmacy and found that horrible telegram, which read:

We regret to learn that the well-known private detective Mr. Holmes was fatally attacked this morning and is in critical condition.No detailed reports have been obtained so far, but it is said that the incident took place outside the Royal Café on Rigging Street around twelve o'clock.Mr. Holmes was attacked by two men with sticks. He was hit on the head and body, and the doctor diagnosed his injuries as serious.He was taken to Charing Cross Road Hospital immediately and, at his insistence, was sent back to his home in Baker Street.Witnesses said the attacker, who appeared to be well-dressed, fled from the crowd through the Royal Cafe towards Glasshouse Street.It is estimated that the murderer belonged to a criminal group that was often detected by Sherlock Holmes astutely.

Needless to say, after a quick glance at the news, I jumped into a carriage and drove straight to Baker Street.In the hall I met the eminent surgeon, Sir Leslie Oakshott.

"No immediate danger," was his reply, "two scalp lacerations and several bad bruises. A few stitches and morphine have been given, and one should rest quietly, but a few minutes of conversation will not matter much. "

So I walked softly into the dark bedroom.The patient was wide awake when I heard a faint hoarse voice calling my name.The curtains were drawn three-quarters of the way down, but a ray of slanting sunlight shone in on the bandaged head.A bright red blood stain soaked the white gauze.I sat down next to him, hanging my head sadly.

"Now, Watson, don't be so frightened," he said in a weak voice, "the situation is not serious."

"Thank goodness! I hope so!"

"You know, I'm a stickman. I can handle that guy. I can't stand the second guy."

"What can I do for you, Holmes? Of course it was the bad guy who set them on. As soon as you speak, I'll go and peel him!"

"Calm down, old friend! We can't do that, the police will have to catch them. But they're ready to get away with it, we can be sure of that. Of course, we're taking advantage of the opportunity. First try to exaggerate my injuries." .They'll come to you for information, and you'll have to blow it up. You'll be lucky to live a week, concussion, coma—you name it! Make it as serious as possible."

"But what about Sir Leslie Oakshott?"

"It's easy for him. He's going to see me at my worst and I'll figure it out."

"Is there anything else I should do?"

"Yes. Tell Shinwell Johnson to tell that girl to hide, they're going to get her in trouble. Of course they know she's helping me with this case. If they dared to attack me, they probably wouldn't let her go." Pass her. This matter is urgent and will be done tonight."

"I'll go right away. What else is there?"

"Put my pipe and box on the table. Good! You come here every morning, and we shall discuss the plan of battle."

That night, Johnson and I immediately sent Miss Wind to a remote suburb for shelter.

In the next few days, rumors continued to spread, and the public believed that Holmes was on the verge of death.Many newspapers also reported on his condition.But my daily visits have taught me that this is not the case.His strong body and strong will are doing wonders.He recovered quickly, and sometimes I guess he felt he was recovering faster than he pretended to me.The man had a secrecy that often caused such dramatic effect that even the closest friends were left to wonder what he was up to.Because he firmly believes that only those who plan alone are safe planners.I'm closer to him than anyone else, but I still feel a disconnect from him at times.

(End of this chapter)