The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 64 Memoirs (5) ([-])
"'Trust me, Jack!' she cried. 'Trust me one more time. You'll never regret it. You know, I'd never hide you if it wasn't for your own good. It's our business Life. If you come home with me, everything will be all right; if you insist on going in, then we really are all over.'

"Her attitude was sincere and desperate, and I stood at the door hesitantly.

"'For me to believe you can, but on one condition, and one condition only,' I said at last, 'that from now on you must cease this secrecy. You have the right to keep your secrecy, but you must Promise me that you won't go out late at night again, and don't do anything without me knowing. If you swear that this will never happen again, I will forget about the past.'

"'I know you will believe me,' she cried, with relief, 'to do exactly what you want. Come on, get out of here and go home.'

"Still tugging at my sleeve, she pulled me away from the cottage. As I was leaving, I looked back and saw a leaden face looking at us from an upstairs window. My wife and this eccentric What is it to the person who is here? What is it to that impudent, ugly woman I saw that day? It is a strange mystery. I know I will not be at peace until I solve this mystery.

"After that, I stayed at home for two days, and my wife kept the promise. As far as I know, she never took a step out of the door. However, on the third day, I have ample evidence that she couldn't escape the mysterious attraction. , so that she broke her promise, her husband and her responsibilities.

"I went to the city that day, but instead of coming back by the 36:[-] train as usual, I came back by the [-]:[-] train. As soon as I entered the door, the maid ran in in a panic. hall.

"'Where is the ma'am?' I asked.

"'I think she's gone for a walk,' she replied.

"Bewildered, I ran upstairs to see if she was really not at home. I happened to look out of the window at this moment, and I saw the maid who had been talking to me just now, running across the field to the cottage. I understood what had happened. What. My wife went thither again, and told the maid to call her as soon as I came back. Shaking with rage, I ran downstairs and chased it out, determined to find out the matter thoroughly. .I saw my wife and maid running back down the path, but I didn't stop to talk to them. The secrets in this little villa have darkened my life, and I swear I can't let it go any further. When I walked to the front of the room, I twisted the doorknob and rushed into the corridor without even knocking on the door.

"There was no movement downstairs. The kettle was tinkling on the kitchen stove. A big black cat was lying in a bamboo basket. The woman I had seen before was nowhere to be seen. I ran into another room, and there was no one either." People. Later, I ran upstairs, and the other two rooms were also empty. It turned out that there was no one in the whole villa. The furniture and murals in the rooms were very ordinary and vulgar, except for the room where I saw the strange face from the window. Comfortable and well-furnished, I was furious when I saw a full-length photo of my wife, which I had taken of her three months earlier, hanging on the mantelpiece.

"I stayed in the villa for a while to make sure that no one was coming out of the villa. My heart was heavier than ever. When I entered the house, my wife came to the front hall, but I was so sad and angry that I didn't want to talk to her. Speaking, I rushed past her into my study. Before I could close the door, she followed.

"'I'm sorry I didn't keep my promise, Jack,' said she, 'but if you know the truth, I'm sure you'll forgive me.'

"'Well, tell me everything now,' said I.

"'No, Jack,' she cried aloud.

"'If you don't tell me who lives in that villa and who you sent your picture to, we can't trust each other.' I walked past her and left the house. It happened yesterday, Mr. Holmes, and I have not seen her since. That's all I know about this strange incident. This is the first time that there has been discord between us. It shocks me very much. , I don't know how to deal with it. It suddenly occurred to me this morning that you could help me, so I came to you in a hurry, and everything depends on you. If there is any point I haven't made clear, please ask me. However, I I really can't bear such pain, please tell me what to do."

Holmes and I listened to this curious incident with rapt attention.The man was very excited and spoke incoherently.My friend, propping his chin, sat in deep thought.

"Please tell me," he said at last, "are you sure that the face you see behind the window is that of a man?"

"I can't be sure because I always see this face from a distance."

"Obviously, you don't have a good impression of this face."

"The complexion was unnatural and the expression was strangely dull. When I got closer, it disappeared."

"How long has it been since your wife asked you for a hundred pounds?"

"About two months."

"Have you seen a picture of her ex-husband?"

"No, shortly after his death, there was a fire in Atlanta, and all her papers were burned."

"You said you saw she had a death certificate, didn't you?"

"Yes, she got a copy after this fire."

"Does anyone you know know of her past in America?"

"No."

"Or have you ever heard from there?"

"No."

"Thank you. Now I'm going to think about this matter a little bit. If the villa is still empty, we will be in a bit of trouble. However, I think the residents inside may have got the news before you went in, so in advance Hidden, and may be back at the cottage now. We can find it out easily. I advise you to go back to Norbury and look at the windows of that cottage again. If you are sure that there are people living in it, don't force it, just give My friend and I will just send a telegram. We will be at your place within an hour when we receive the telegram, and we will find out the situation soon.”

"What if the villa is still empty?"

"In that case, I'll go tomorrow and discuss it with you. Goodbye. But the important thing is that you don't worry about it until the truth of the matter is clarified."

"I fear something is wrong, Watson," said my friend, returning from seeing Mr. Grant Munro to the door. "What do you think?"

"It's a tricky thing," I replied.

"By the way, if I'm not mistaken, there must be fraud in it."

"So who is behind the scenes?"

"Oh, that must be the one who lived in the only comfortable room and hung her picture on the mantel-wall. Indeed, Watson, that wooden face behind the window is quite remarkable. Nor will the case be dropped."

"Have you already made an inference?"

"Yes, but the inference is only provisional. But it would surprise me if it turned out to be incorrect. I think the woman's ex-husband lived in the cottage."

"Why do you think so?"

"Otherwise, how can she explain her panic and determination not to let her current husband in? In my opinion, the facts are roughly this: this woman married in the United States, and her ex-husband was infected with some bad habits, or Had some terrible disease that made him inaccessible or diminished. She ditched him and went back to England, incognito, to start a new life. She showed her current husband a copy of someone else's death certificate. Having been married for three years without incident, she was convinced that she was in a very safe place. But her tracks were suddenly discovered by her ex-husband, or, presumably, by some slut who was involved with the patient. They wrote threateningly. To come and expose her. She asked for a hundred pounds to try to get rid of them. But they still came. When the husband mentioned to the wife that the villa had new residents, she knew that they were the people she wanted to get rid of. Wait for the husband When she was fast asleep, she slipped out and tried to persuade them to give her a quiet life. This time was unsuccessful, and she went again next morning, but as her husband told us, she came out just to meet him. At this time Only then did she agree not to go again. But two days later, she tried again, hoping to get rid of these horrible neighbors. This time she brought the photos they asked her for. Just as she was meeting with her ex-husband, the maid suddenly came running It was reported that her husband was back. Now she guessed that her husband would come straight to the villa, and urged the people of the villa to slip through the back door into the nearby fir grove. So, what her husband saw was an empty house. But if he goes again tonight, the house will be empty. What do you think of my reasoning?"

"It's all speculation."

"But at least it agrees with all the facts. If any new discrepancies are discovered, there is still time for us to re-guess. Until we have received the telegram from our friend at Norbury, we will have to hold back. "

We didn't have to wait long, though.No sooner had tea been finished than the telegram came.

Telegram said:

The villa is still inhabited.I saw the face behind the window again.Please come by the seven o'clock train, everything is waiting for you.

When we got off the train, he was already waiting inside the station.In the light of the station, we see him pale, distraught, and trembling.

"They are still there, Mr. Holmes," said he, gripping my friend's sleeve with his hand. "As I passed the villa, I saw a light in it. Now we must get to it at once."

"What, then, is your plan?" asked Holmes as we walked down the dark, tree-shaded path.

"I intend to break in and find out for myself who is in the villa. I want you two to be my witnesses."

"Your wife once warned you that it's best not to find out the truth. Do you still want to rush in desperately?"

"Yes, I am determined to do so."

"Well, I think you're right. It's better to know the truth than to have endless doubts. We'd better go at once. Although, legally speaking, we are wrong to do so. But I think it's worth it .”

It was very dark that night, when we turned from the main road into a narrow fence-lined lane, the sky began to drizzle, and Mr. Grant Munro rushed forward impatiently, and we stumbled behind him.

"That's the light of my house," he whispered, pointing to the lights flickering in the bushes, "this is the villa I'm going into."

When he spoke, we had turned the corner in the path, and the villa was just around the corner.The door was ajar, and a light yellow light leaked from the crack of the door.A room upstairs was also lit, and a dark figure flashed past the window.

"Here's the monster!" cried Grant Munro. "You can see someone here. Come with me, and we'll figure it all out at once."

As we approached the door, suddenly a woman stepped out of the darkness and stood in the yellowish shadow of the lamp.She stood against the light, and I couldn't see her face clearly, but she raised her arms in a gesture of pleading.

"Jack, for God's sake, don't!" she cried. "I knew you'd come tonight. Please think carefully, my dear! Believe me again, you'll never regret it."

"Effie, I've trusted you for too long," he yelled. "Let me go! I gotta get in. My friend and I gotta get this over with!" He pushed his wife away and we followed behind him.As soon as the door opened, an old woman ran up to stop him, but he pushed her away, and we were all upstairs in a moment.Grant Munro ran into the lighted room, and we followed.

It was a warm, comfortable, and lovingly furnished bedroom, with two candles each burning on the table and on the fireplace.In the corner of the room, a little girl was sitting bent over a table.As soon as she saw us through the door, she turned her head away immediately.However, we can see her in a red top and long white gloves.I cried out in horror as she turned her head suddenly towards us.Her face was an eerie leaden gray, expressionless.Immediately, the mystery was revealed.Holmes smiled, and reaching up behind the child's ear, pulled a mask from her face, revealing that she was a black girl as black as coal.Seeing our surprised expression, she showed a row of white teeth happily.Seeing her funny look, I couldn't help laughing out loud.But Grant Munro put one hand on his chest and stood dumbfounded on the spot.

"My God!" he exclaimed, "what the hell is going on here?"

"I'll tell you what's going on," said his wife firmly, with a proud look at the crowd. "You forced me to tell you that now we both must find a solution. My husband died in Atlanta, But our children are still alive."

"your child?"

She took out the silver box from her bosom and said, "You've never seen it opened, have you?"

"I thought it wouldn't open."

She pushed the spring, and the lid popped open instantly.Inside the box was a photo of a man. The man was handsome and gentle, but his complexion was clearly of African descent.

"He is John Hebron of Atlanta," said the lady, "and there was no nobler man in the world. In order to marry him, I disowned my kind, but while he lived, I I have never regretted my choice. It is a pity that our only child has inherited her father's blood and is not like me. Little Lucy is even darker than her father. No matter the color of her skin is black or white, she is It's my dear daughter, it's my little baby." Hearing these words, the little one ran to snuggle up beside the woman.

"It's just that her physique is not good, and changing the environment may make her uncomfortable. I entrusted her to be raised by a loyal Scottish maid. I never thought of abandoning her. Ever since I met you, Jack, I know I am in love with you and I dare not tell you that my baby is still alive. God please forgive me, I was afraid I would lose you and never had the courage to tell you. I can only choose one of you two, I was so cowardly that I finally abandoned my daughter for you. For three years, I have not told you about it, but I have often heard about her through the nanny, and know that she is all right. However, I finally Couldn't stop wanting to see the baby. I tried to repress it, but it didn't work. I knew it was dangerous, but I was determined to have the baby, if only for a few weeks. So I sent a hundred pounds to the nanny , told her that there is a small villa here, let her live next to me, and I don't have to come out to contact her at all. I told her not to let the child go outside the house during the day, and to cover the child's face and hands, so that even If someone saw her from the window, they wouldn't gossip about a little black man living next door. If I hadn't been too cautious, I wouldn't have made such a mistake. I'm afraid that you will find out the truth and I will be washed away. dizzy.

"It was you who first told me that someone was staying in this small villa. I wanted to wait until the next morning, but I was so excited that I couldn't sleep because I knew it would be difficult for you to wake up, so I slipped out. Unexpectedly, you found out , and I began to have trouble. The next day you found out about my secret, but you magnanimously did not press the question. Three days later, you broke in through the front door, but the nurse and child escaped through the back door. Tonight, everything Finally the truth is revealed. May I ask how you plan to deal with me and the child?" She clenched her hands, waiting for an answer.

After ten minutes, Grant Munro broke the silence.His words left me with pleasant and deep memories.He picked up the child, kissed her, and then, with the child in one arm and his wife in the other, turned and walked towards the door.

"We can go home and discuss it slowly," he said. "I'm not a saint, Effie, but I think it's better than you think."

My friend tugged at my sleeve as Holmes and I followed him out of the lane.

"I think," said he, "that we'd better go back to London than Norbury."

He did not mention the case all evening, until he came back to the bedroom with a lighted candle and said:

"Watson, if you feel that I am overconfident or not diligent enough in investigating cases in the future, please whisper 'Norbury' in my ear. I will be very grateful."

stockbroker's secretary
Shortly after my marriage I bought a practice in Paddington from old Mr Farquhar.There was a period of time when Mr. Farquhar's clinic business was very busy, but due to his old age and illness, his clinic business gradually cooled down.Because people think, that is: only when a doctor is healthy can he cure others; if he can't even heal himself, then people will question his medical skills.So, the poorer the old doctor was, the lesser his income.By the time I bought the clinic, his income had dropped from £300 a year to just over £[-].I am confident that I am young and full of energy, and I think that this clinic will surely return to its former prosperity in a few years.

During the three months that followed the opening of the clinic, I was so occupied with patients that I had no time for Baker Street, and I saw very little of my friend Sherlock Holmes.And Sherlock Holmes, apart from the need to solve cases, rarely travels elsewhere.

One day in June, after breakfast, while I was leafing through the British Medical Journal, I was quite surprised when I heard a bell ring, followed by the high-pitched, piercing voice of my old friend.

"Ah, my dear Watson," said Holmes, striding into the room. "It is a great pleasure to meet you! The case of the 'Four Signatures' has frightened your Madam, and I think she is now fully recovered."

"Thank you, we're all fine." I said, shaking his hand warmly.

He sank into the rocking-chair, and went on: "Despite your medical busyness, I hope you will not entirely forget your interest in our little method of reasoning."

I replied: "On the contrary, last night, I looked through the original notes and classified our detection records."

"I believe you will not be satisfied with the information collected so far?"

(End of this chapter)