The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 58 Four Signatures (42)
With a gesture of despair the banker cried out: "If not, what? If he is really innocent, why doesn't he explain?"

"It is our business to find out why he does not explain," replied Holmes. "If it is possible, Mr. Holder, we shall go together to your house in Streatham. It will take an hour." , conduct a detailed investigation."

My friends asked me to accompany them to investigate there, and I was very eager to go there, because my curiosity and sympathy had been completely aroused by this strange thing.My opinion is the same as that of the guest, and it is obvious that his son did it.However, I still have great confidence in my friend's judgment. He thinks that the explanation accepted by everyone is unreasonable, so there must be a few breakthroughs.

On the way to the south of the city, he sat in the car without saying a word, his chin resting on his chest, his hat covered his eyes, and he entered a state of deep thought.Our guest received a glimmer of hope, confidence and spirit from Holmes' explanation.He even chatted wildly with me about his career.After a short train ride and some walking, we arrived at the banker's Fairbairn lodgings.

The house in Fairbairn was a large house of white stone set back from the road.The dual carriageway ran along the snow-covered lawn to two large closed iron gates.To the right is a small clump of low shrubs dotted along a hedge-lined path that connects the intersection with the kitchen door, which serves as the entry and exit path for the hawkers.On the left is the path leading to the stables. This path is not in the courtyard, it is a public road, but it is obviously not commonly used.Holmes made us wait for him at the door, while he himself walked slowly round the house, past the peddler's passage and the path leading to the stables.It took him a long time to walk this way, and Mr. Holder and I decided it would be better to go inside than to wait outside.We went inside and waited for Holmes by the fire in the dining room.As we sat in silence, a young lady opened the door and entered.She was of medium height, very slender, with black eyes and hair, which seemed to darken against the exceptionally pale skin.I can't remember ever seeing such a pale woman.Even her lips were bloodless, and her eyes looked red and swollen, probably from crying.She came in silently, and it seemed to me that she was suffering far more than the banker.It is obvious that she is a strong and self-controlled lady, and because of this, the sadness she is showing now is even more striking.She skipped me and walked straight to her uncle, stroking his head with a woman's tenderness and affection.

She asked, "Dad, you've asked the police to release Arthur, haven't you?"

"No, my boy, this matter must be investigated."

"But I do believe he's innocent. You know a woman's instincts. I know he's done nothing wrong, and I'm afraid you'll regret it later on by being so hard on him."

"Then why doesn't he give any explanation if he's innocent?"

"Who knows? Perhaps he was annoyed at your suspicion of him."

"How can you tell me not to doubt him, when I clearly saw the crown in his hand."

"Well, it's possible he just picked it up and looked at it. Believe me! He's innocent. Let the matter pass, and no one mention it again, just think of poor Arthur is in prison, and my heart aches uncontrollably."

"I must find the three emeralds, I must! Mary, because your deep affection for Arthur has blinded your eyes, and you cannot see what it has caused, and there is no way I can let it go like this Yes, I have purposely called a gentleman from London to help me investigate the matter more deeply."

"Is this the gentleman?" She turned and stared at me.

"No, it's his friend. He's looking outside by himself. He should be on the path leading to the stables."

"The stable lane?" Her black eyebrows rose. "What could he find out there? Oh, I think this is him. I believe, sir, about my cousin Arthur's innocence." , you will definitely be able to prove it."

"I quite agree with you, and I am sure that with you we can prove it," said Holmes, stepping up to the shoe soles to wipe the snow from the soles of his shoes. "It is a great honor to be with Mary Hall. Miss De, can I ask you a question or two?"

"Certainly, sir, if you think it can be of any help in the matter."

"Did you hear anything last night?"

"No, I didn't wake up until my uncle spoke loudly."

"You shut all the doors and windows last night, but weren't all the windows bolted?"

"It's all locked."

"Are the windows still bolted this morning?"

"Yes, they are still latched."

"Your maid has a lover, doesn't she? I heard you told your uncle about her going out last night?"

"Yes, she is the maid who was busy in the living room. Maybe she heard what uncle said about the crown."

"I understand. What you mean is that she probably went out and told her lover about it, and then the two planned to steal the crown."

The banker cried out impatiently: "But these are groundless claims. I have told you that I saw Arthur take the crown in his hand."

"Please calm down, Mr. Holder. We'll have to make a detailed investigation. Miss Holder, I suppose you saw her come back from near the kitchen door, didn't you?"

"Yes, I was checking whether the doors and windows were fastened when I saw her sneak in. I also noticed that person in the dark."

"do you know him?"

"Oh, yes, I do! His name is Francis Prosper, and he is the greengrocer who brings me the vegetables."

Holmes said: "He is standing on the left side of the door. In other words, he is still a certain distance away from entering the door?"

"Yes, that's it."

"Should this man have a wooden prosthetic leg?"

There was a sudden look of fear in the young lady's eyes."What? You are like a magician. How do you know that?" She said, smiling, but Holmes's face was not.

"I should very much like to go up-stairs at once," said Holmes. "It seems I'd better go out of the house again, and perhaps look at the windows below before I go upstairs."

He walked quickly past the windows, stopping only at the one that looked out from the living room onto the stable path.He stretched out his hand to open the window, carefully inspecting the window sill with the magnifying glass he carried with him.At last he said, "Let's go upstairs now."

The banker's bedroom was simply furnished, with a gray carpet on the floor, a large chest of drawers and a long mirror.Holmes went to the cabinet and stared at the lock on it carefully.

"What key was the lock with?" he asked.

"It's what my son used to say, the key to the kitchen cupboard."

"Is it with you?"

"Just put it on the dressing table."

Holmes took the key and opened the door. "It's a sound-absorbing lock," he said, "and it's not surprising that you didn't wake up. I think this box is for the crown. I want to see it." He opened the box Open it, take out the crown and place it on the table.This is a dazzling piece of jewelry art, and the 36 green jade stones are something I have never seen before.There was a crack in the side of the crown, and three green jades from one corner were missing.

Holmes said: "Now, Mr. Holder, this corner is symmetrical with the side where the green jade is missing. Please try and see if you can break it off."

The banker took a few steps back in fright."I just didn't have the guts to do that," he said.

"Then let me try it!" Holmes snapped it off violently, but the crown did not budge.He said: "My hand is very strong. Although I used a lot of strength just now, it is really not easy to break it. It is even more impossible for an ordinary person to break it. Holder Sir, if I did just now, what would happen? The sound should be like a gunshot. You can be sure that this happened so close to you, and you didn't even notice it ?"

"I can't think of anything, I can't think of anything."

"But things will gradually become clear. Miss Holder, what do you think of this matter?"

"I'm just as clueless as my uncle."

"When you saw your son, he wasn't wearing shoes, was he?"

"Nothing but pants and a shirt."

"Thank you very much. We have indeed learned a lot from this inquiry. We are very lucky. If we have not been able to clarify the truth of the matter, it is definitely our fault. Mr. Holder, I hope Go outside and investigate."

He proposed to go out alone. His reason was that too many people would add some useless footprints, which would bring unnecessary trouble to his work.It took about an hour or so for him to come back. His feet were covered with snow, but the expression on his face was still unpredictable.

"I've seen all there is to see, Mr. Holder," said Holmes. "I think I'd better get back to my lodgings now."

"But where are the emeralds, Mr. Holmes?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Then I'll lose them forever!" cried the banker, clasping his hands. "My son, didn't you give me hope?"

"There is still no change in my opinion," Holmes said.

"My God, so, what the hell happened in my bedroom last night?"

"If you would come to my place tomorrow morning between nine and ten, I would be honored to explain to you more clearly what I know. Can I understand this, as long as the missing green jade, you will not limit the amount of money I need."

"I'd pay for all my possessions, just to get them back."

"Okay, I'll try to find out as soon as I can before tomorrow morning. Goodbye, maybe I'll come again before evening."

As for my friend, I already knew very well that he was absolutely sure of the case.But I can't figure out what kind of conclusion he came to.On the way back, I wanted to get something out of his mouth several times, but he always avoided talking about it, and I had to give up this idea.Before three o'clock, we returned home.He hurried back to his room, and after a while came downstairs in the image of a tramp.With his collar turned up, in a scuffed overcoat, a red tie, and a pair of shabby leather boots, he dressed himself in the typical tramp fashion.

"It's all right with me," he said, looking in the mirror. "I wanted you to go with me, Watson. Maybe I've found a clue, or maybe it's just my guess, but It won't take long to figure out which possibility it is. I'll be back in a few hours." He cut off a piece of beef on the sideboard, put it in the bread, put it in his pocket, and on the road.

Just after tea, I saw him returning excitedly with an old boot with elastic in his hand.He threw the boot against the wall and went to pour tea.

"I'm just passing by," he said, "and I have to go now."

"Where to go?"

"Oh, over there in the West End. It may take longer. If I come back too late, you don't have to wait for me."

"How's it going?"

"Oh, all right. I've been in Streatham just now, but I didn't go into the house. There's a curious and interesting suspicion, which I won't let lightly pass. I can't sit here chatting any more, I must take off this tramp suit at once and put on my own respectable clothes."

From his actions, I can see that he has gained a lot.His eyes were shining, and there was even a blush on his sallow cheeks.He went upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the door, and I knew he was off again, on the hunt that was his natural passion.

He still didn't come back until midnight, so I went back to my room to rest.He used to be busy investigating cases and stayed out all night, so what happened today didn't surprise me.

When I went downstairs to have breakfast early in the morning, I saw him sitting at the table with coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other. He looked in good spirits and was very tidy, but as for when he came back, I don’t know. It is not clear.

"I'm sorry, Watson, but I'll eat first," he said. "You haven't forgotten that we have an appointment with that client this morning, have you?"

"Ah, it's past nine o'clock." I replied, "He should be here, I heard the doorbell."

Sure enough, it was our banker who came.To my shock, a great change had taken place in him. The broad, full face had become thin and shriveled, and the hair was graying.He was very tired, and looked more pitiful than when he had been excited yesterday.He sat on the chair I pushed him.

"I don't know what I did wrong to be punished like this," he said. "Two days ago I was a happy and rich man with no troubles. Now I am in this situation, which is even more unexpected. Unfortunately, Mary also left me."

"She's gone?" said Holmes.

"Yes, I was in the hall this morning and saw the letter she left me on the table. When I went to her bedroom, I found that she was no longer there, and there was no sign of anyone sleeping in her bed. Looking back , I said to her last night that if she had married my son, nothing like this would have happened. Maybe I spoke too strongly.

"Her letter read:
(End of this chapter)