The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 181 New Detective Case (3)
On the seventh day, the wound was healed and the stitches were removed, but the newspaper reported that he had erysipelas.Whether he was really sick or not, I had to tell him about a piece of news that appeared in the evening paper that same day.According to the news, Baron Gruner will sail to the United States in three days to take care of important property matters, and after his return he will hold a wedding with Miss Violet de Melville and so on.When I read this news to Holmes, Holmes's pale face expressed a look of cold concentration, but anxiety was evident.

"What?!" he exclaimed. "Three days later. I think the scoundrel is trying to get out of danger. But he can't get away, Watson! I won't let him get away! Now, Watson, it will take a lot of money." I have strength."

"I am at your disposal, Holmes."

"Well, please spend 24 hours from now on studying Chinese porcelain wholeheartedly."

He didn't explain anything, and I didn't ask any questions.Long experience has taught me to obey.But as I left his room and walked into Baker Street, my mind began to calculate how I was going to carry out such a bizarre order.So I drove to the London Library in St. James's Square, and with the help of my friend Lomax, the deputy librarian, I borrowed a rather large book and returned to my lodgings.

It is said that the lawyer who takes his case so carefully that he can cross-examine a witness on Monday forgets all his rote knowledge by Saturday.Obviously I dare not claim to be an authority on ceramics, but from the evening to the next morning, I can say that I studied all night long, and I did memorize the seals of famous pottery artists, the mysterious Jiazi chronology, Hongwu and Yongle The logo of Tang Yin, the calligraphy of Tang Yin and the history of the heyday in the early Song and Yuan Dynasties and so on.All this knowledge filled my head when I went to see Holmes the next evening.He was down and about, though you wouldn't have guessed that from the newspaper reports.He supported his bandage-covered head with his hands, and sat deeply in his usual easy chair.

"Hey, Holmes," said I, "you are supposed to be dying from the news in the papers."

"Well," he said, "that's exactly the look I'm trying to create. Well, what's your study like?"

"At least I did my best."

"That's good. You might be able to talk to an expert about this?"

"I think so."

"Then please bring me that little box on the mantelpiece."

He opened the lid of the box and took out a small object tightly wrapped in oriental silk.He opened the package again, revealing a very delicate, dark blue small saucer.

"This thing must be handled with care. It is a genuine Ming Dynasty carved porcelain, and there is no better one in Christie's Market , a complete set is worth a fortune—but in fact, it is hard to say whether there is a complete set other than the Forbidden City in Beijing. No real collector will be jealous when he sees this thing.”

"What am I going to use it for?"

Holmes handed me a card which read: "Dr. Hill Barton, 3V9 Half Moon Street."

"This is your name to-night, Watson. You are going to call on Baron Gruner. I know a little of his habits, and he is free at about eight o'clock in the evening. Write to him beforehand and let him know." You are going to visit and tell him that you will bring him a rare piece of Ming Dynasty porcelain. It is better to call yourself a doctor, and you can play the role realistically. Say you are a collector and happen to get this set of treasures. Listen Said that the baron is an expert in this field, so I showed it to him for appreciation, and if the price is right, you are willing to sell this batch of porcelain."

"What price?"

"Good question, Watson. It would be a disaster if you didn't even know the price of your goods. This dish was brought to me by Sir James, in the collection of his client. That is to say, it is unique in the world." , It’s priceless, it’s not an exaggeration.”

"I can propose an expert estimate."

"Excellent! Watson, you are really inspired today. You can propose an auction house such as Christie's to estimate the price, but it is not good to propose the price yourself."

"What if he won't see me?"

"Yes, he will see you. He is a typical collector. He is recognized as an authority on Chinese porcelain. You sit down, Watson, and you write the contents of my letter. There is no need to ask for an answer, just explain You want to come and explain why you are here."

The letter is well written, short, courteous, and capable of appealing to a collector's curiosity.As soon as the letter was written, a street messenger was sent to deliver it.That evening, with my precious saucer in hand and Dr. Patton's card in my pocket, I ventured out.

The splendor of the house grounds suggests that Gruner was indeed quite wealthy, as Sir James had previously stated.A winding passage lined with precious shrubs leads to a garden decorated with statues.Built in the heyday of a South African gold-mining lord, the house was a long, low house with turrets, architecturally somber as a nightmare, but impressive in its size and solidity.A well-looking, bishop-like butler escorted me into the hall to a valet in rich plush, who presented me before the Baron.

The Baron was standing in front of a large open chest between two windows, in which he kept some of his Chinese ceramics.As I entered the room, he turned around with a brown vase in his hand.

"Doctor, please sit down," he said, "I'm going through my own collection, wondering if I can afford to pay a high price to add to it. You see, this little vase is from the Tang Dynasty, an antique from the seventh century, you may have some Interested. I believe this is the most exquisite workmanship and the most beautiful enamel. Did you bring the Ming Dynasty dish you mentioned?"

I carefully opened the package and handed it to him.He sat down at the desk, drew the lamp closer, and began to appreciate carefully as it was getting darker.At this time, the yellow light shone on his face, and I could look at his face calmly.

He was indeed a very handsome man.He can indeed enjoy the reputation of handsome men in Europe.He was no more than medium height, but his figure was graceful and agile.His complexion is dark, similar to that of an oriental man, with big black and tired eyes, and he is very attractive to the opposite sex.His temple hair is black, his beard is short and pointed, and his facial features are regular and pleasing to the eye, except for his thin lips.If I've ever seen the face of a murderer, it's here--it's a grim cut in the face, the corners of the mouth drawn tight, unfeeling, and menacing.It was unwise for him to raise the corners of his beard to reveal the corners of his mouth, for this was a natural warning of danger, which alerted the victim.He has a refined tone and a suave manner.In terms of age, I think he is only in his early thirties, but afterwards I found out that he is 42 years old.

"Very well—really very well!" he began at last. "Such precious works of art are indeed rare. But you say you have a set of six identical trays? How is that possible? In the whole of England I only I have heard of one of these, and it is in a private collection, and would never come to the market. With all due respect, Dr. Barton, how did you acquire it?"

"That doesn't matter." I said as nonchalantly as possible. "Anyway, you can tell it's genuine, and as for the price, I suggest getting an expert's opinion."

"It's so mysterious," said his large black eyes, with a suspicious look. "In dealing in such a precious object, I would of course like to know all the details about it. It is genuine, and I have no doubts about that." No doubt. But--I must take into account all possible circumstances--what if it turns out afterward that you had no right to sell it?"

"I promise it won't happen."

"This naturally leads to another question, which is, what is the value of your guarantee?"

"My credit bank is responsible for this."

"Naturally. But this transaction still makes me feel too weird and uneasy."

"It's up to you to make a deal or not," I said nonchalantly. "I think of you first because I know you are a famous connoisseur, but I won't have any difficulty in making a deal elsewhere."

"Who told you I was a connoisseur?"

"I know you have written a book on the subject."

"Have you read that book?"

"No."

"My fellow, I am getting more and more confused! You claim to be a connoisseur and collector of rare treasures, and you don't take the time to consult the only book that can tell you the value of your own treasures, How do you explain that?"

"I'm a busy man, I'm a full-time doctor."

"That's an irrelevant question. If a man is really interested in it, no matter how busy he is, he will take some time to study it. And you write that you are a connoisseur."

"I'm a connoisseur."

"Can I ask you a few questions to try you out? I have to tell you the truth, the doctor - if you are a doctor - is getting suspicious. Excuse me, do you know about Emperor Shomu of Japan and his and the vicinity of Nara Is it related to the Shosoin? Why, are you at a loss? Then please tell us about the Northern Wei Dynasty’s position in the history of ceramics.”

I jumped up pretending to be angry.

"Sir, this is too much," I said, "I'm here to show you face, not to be tested by you as a child. My knowledge of ceramics may be second only to yours, but I can't answer such rude questions .”

He glared at me.The laziness in his eyes was completely gone.His eyes sharpened suddenly, and teeth flashed between his murderous lips.

"What are you doing? You are not a doctor at all, let alone a collector of cultural relics. You are a spy of Sherlock Holmes. You are fooling me. I heard that this fellow is dying, so he sent spies to find out about me. You broke into my house without permission. Wow! It's easy for you to come in, but hard to get out!"

He jumps up from his chair and I step back for him to charge, because he's blowing a tantrum.Maybe he suspected me from the very beginning, maybe I showed my flaws during the questioning process, in short, it is obvious that I can't deceive him.He reached into a small drawer and rummaged frantically.At this time, the movement from behind reached his ears, and he stood there listening attentively.

"Hoo!" he cried, "Hoo!" and he sprang into the little room behind him.

I jumped to the door in one stride.That scene is something I will never forget in my life.The large window leading into the garden was open, and in front of it stood Holmes ghostly, with a bloodstained bandage wrapped around his head, and his face pale.In a blink of an eye he was gone, and I heard the sound of his body brushing against the leaves.The owner of the house roared and rushed to the window.

It was too late to say it, and then I saw a woman's arm stretched out from the bushes.Meanwhile, the Baron uttered a terrible cry—a cry that will forever remain in my memory.He covered his face with his hands, and ran about the room, banging his head against the walls.Then he fell on the carpet and rolled around, and screams echoed through the house.

"Water! For God's sake, bring water!" he cried.

I grabbed a water bottle from the coffee table and ran towards him.At this moment the butler and several footmen arrived.When I got down on one knee and turned the wounded man's face to the light, one of the servants passed out.The sulfuric acid had eaten away his entire face, dripping from his ears and chin.One eye was clouded white, and the other was red and swollen.The face that I was obsessed with just now is completely unrecognizable now, just like a wonderful oil painting that has been smeared by a painter with a thick sponge, and has lost its original style. terror.

I briefly told the servants about the situation where the acid was thrown just now.A few servants climbed up the windows, and some rushed out onto the grass, but it was dark and raining again.While howling, the wounded cursed the Avenger who spilled acid. "She's that witch Wind!" he yelled. "The devil, she can't run away! Can't run away! My God, it hurts me."

My medical profession came into play at this point, I simply treated his face with water, and gave him painkillers and sedatives.In the face of this disaster, his doubts about me were completely dispelled, and he held my hand tightly, as if I was his only savior.I might have shed tears of sympathy at such a ruin of beauty, if I had not thought of his self-inflicted life of crime.At this point, I was disgusted by his burning palms, so I was relieved when his family doctor and consulting specialist came to replace me.There was also a police inspector, and I handed him my real business card.Not only would it be foolish to do otherwise, but it would be useless, as the Scotland Yard police knew me and Holmes.I then left this gloomy house and returned to Baker Street.

Holmes was sitting in his usual easy chair, pale and exhausted.Not only because of his injuries, but also because of the events of tonight, he was shocked to hear my account of the disfigurement of the Baron.

"That is the price of evil, Watson, purely evil!" said he. "Sooner or later it will end like this. God knows, this man is full of evil." He added.Then he picked up a yellow notebook from the table. "This is what the woman said. If this book can't cancel the marriage, then there is nothing in the world that can be done. But this book can achieve its goal, and it will definitely be achieved. This is what any self-respecting woman can do. intolerable."

"Is this his love diary?"

"Or his promiscuous diary, or whatever you want to call it. When the woman first mentioned the diary, I thought it would be a powerful weapon if we could get hold of it. I didn't Say something, because this woman might give it away. But I've been thinking about it. Then they wounded me and gave me a chance to make the baron think it unnecessary to guard against me. It's all good. I was going to wait a few more God, but his visit to the United States hastened my action. He will never leave such a revealing document at home, so we must act immediately. It is impossible to steal it at night, he is very careful. But if It's a good chance to get his attention at night. You and your blue saucer will be used here. But I must find out where this book is. I know I only have a few Minutes to act, because my time is limited by your knowledge of ceramics. So, at the last minute, I found this girl. How do I know what is the little bag she secretly hides in her arms What? I thought she came here for my mission, but who would have thought that she would have her own special mission."

"He already guessed that I was sent by you."

"That's all I'm afraid of. But you've hung around him long enough for me to get the journal, just not enough for me to escape safely—welcome, welcome!"

The bell rang, and Sir James was invited.After listening to the whole story of Holmes, he said: "You have really performed a miracle, an absolute miracle! But if the injury is as serious as Dr. Watson said, we can call off the marriage without using a diary. "

Holmes shook his head.

"A woman like de Merville wouldn't do that. She would love him all the more as a disfigured martyr. It is not his form that we want to destroy, but his This diary will bring her to her senses, and I think it is the only thing in the world that can calm her down. It is written in his own hand, and she will believe it."

Sir James took the diary and the precious saucer.Since I had my own business to attend to, I went out into the street with him.A carriage is waiting.He jumped into the car, said a hasty word to the driver in the cockade, and drove away hastily.He hung the half of his coat over the window to hide the family coat of arms on the carriage, but I had already seen it clearly by the light from one of the transom windows.I was so taken aback that I turned and ran upstairs to Holmes' room.

"I found out who our client is," I excitedly announced my new news loudly. "Who do you think it is—"

"A faithful friend and a generous gentleman," said Holmes, stopping me with his hand, "I need say no more."

I don't know how this sinful diary was used.It may be that Sir James has done it, or it is more likely that he has left this difficult business to the lady's father.All in all, the effect is very satisfactory.

Three days later there appeared in the papers that the wedding of Baron Adelbert Gruner to Mademoiselle Violette de Merville had been called off.The same paper also published the first hearing of the Crown Court against Miss Kitty Wind, charged with the serious charge of throwing acid.However, considering the motive of the crime, it is justifiable, and the result was only the lightest sentence for this type of crime.Sherlock Holmes was also threatened with theft charges, but since the case was out of the need to handle the case, and the client was a prominent nobleman, even the usually impartial British courts became flexible and humane.He was never arraigned.

white faced soldier
(End of this chapter)