The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 96 The Return (11)
There was a shot and I saw blood spurting from Woodley's chest.He screamed, turned around, and fell on his back to the ground, his ugly red face instantly turned mottled and pale, very scary.The old man was wearing a white cassock, and he was swearing at this moment, and I had never heard of such profanity.He drew out his pistol, but before he could raise it, he saw Holmes' muzzle pointed at him.

"Enough," said my friend coldly, "throw the gun down! Pick it up, Watson! Put it at his head! Thank you. And you, Carruthers, put your Give me the guns too. We need no more violence. Come, give me the guns!"

"So, who are you?"

"My name is Sherlock Holmes."

"oops!"

"I can see that you have heard my name. I will have to do it until the police arrive. Now, you!" cried Holmes to the terrified groom in the glade. "Come here. Come here! Ride this note to Farnham." Holmes tore a page from his notebook, scribbled a few words, and said, "Take this to the Sheriff at the Police Station. Before he arrives, I have to do it for you to monitor you."

Holmes's strong and controlling character is controlling the tragic scene, and all the people can only obey him obediently.Williamson and Carruthers carried the wounded Woodley into the house, and I supported the frightened girl.The wounded man lay in bed, and I examined him at Holmes' request.When I reported the results to him, he was sitting in the old-fashioned tapestry dining room with Williamson and Carruthers under his watch.

"He's still alive," I reported.

"What!" cried Carruthers, jumping down from his chair, "I'll go upstairs and kill him first. Didn't you tell me that that angelic girl was bound for the rest of her life by the madman Woodley?"

"You needn't question that," said Holmes. "She was not his wife at all, for two very good reasons. First, we are quite sure to doubt Williamson's right to officiate."

"I'm ordained," cried the old wretch.

"You have been removed from the priesthood long ago."

"If you have been a pastor for one day, you will be a pastor for life."

"I don't think so. What about the marriage certificate?"

"Yes, the marriage certificate is in my pocket."

"There is no doubt that you were brought in by intrigue. Either way, forced marriage is absolutely unacceptable and a serious violation of the law. You will realize this before you are punished by the law. Unless I was mistaken, and you'll have time to figure it out in the next ten years or so. As for you, Carruthers, you'd be better off if you didn't draw out your gun."

"I am only beginning to think of it now, Mr. Holmes, but when I think of all the precautions I have taken to protect that girl -- because I love her, Mr. Holmes, and this is the first time I know what love is -- I think of She fell into the clutches of one of South Africa's most ruthless thugs, a notoriety feared from the Kimberley to Johannesburg, and it drives me mad. Ah, Mr. Holmes, you may not believe it, but I know these rascals lurk in this house , but ever since the girl was hired by me, every time she passed the house, I escorted her by bike, and saw her arrive safely at the train station before leaving. I kept a certain distance from her, and put on a beard, I just don't want her to recognize me, because she is a kind and noble girl, and if she thinks that I am following her on the village road, she will not be employed by me for long."

"Why not tell her the danger?"

"Because in that case, she will still leave me. I don't want this to happen. Even if she doesn't love me, as long as I can see her beautiful face and hear her voice at home, then I am satisfied .”

"Well," said I, "Mr. Carruthers, you call that love. I think it's selfish."

"Probably both. In any case, I couldn't let her go. Besides, with this group around her, it would be better if someone was around to protect her. Then, when I got the telegram, I knew they were going to do something. "

"What telegram?"

Carruthers drew a telegram from his pocket.

"This is it," he said.

The telegram was very simple and clear: "The old man is dead."

"Well!" said Holmes, "I think I know what it is, and that, as you say, this telegram will entice them into their hands. You may wait for the police to arrive, while you wait for the police to arrive." Tell me all you know."

The old rogue in the white cassock burst out a stream of obscenities. "By God!" he said, "Bob, if you give away our secret, I'll do to you what you did to Jack Woodley. You can tell as much about the girl as you want, that's It's your own business, but if you want to betray your friend to this plainclothes policeman, then you are looking for your own death."

"Your reverend, there is no need to get so excited," said Holmes, lighting his cigarette. "The case is plainly against you. I am merely asking a few details out of my own curiosity. However, if it would be inconvenient for you Tell me, then I'll tell you, and then you'll see what else you can keep. First of all, three of you came from South Africa to play the game—you Williamson, you Carruthers, and Wood profit."

"Number one lie," said the old fellow, "I never saw them two months ago, and I've never been to Africa in my life, so you can put this lie in your pipe and burn it together." Get out, meddling Mr Holmes."

"He's telling the truth," said Carruthers.

"Well, well, you two are from far away, and the venerable clergyman is a native. You met Ralph Smith in South Africa. You were sure he wouldn't live long, and you And found out that his niece will inherit his estate. Am I right?"

Carruthers nodded, and Williamson cursed.

"She was Ralph's next of kin, without a doubt, and you know that old man won't leave a will."

"He couldn't read at all," said Carruthers.

"So the two of you came all the way to England to find out about this girl. Your respective plans were that one would marry her and the other would share a portion of the estate. For some reason Woodley was chosen to be her wife. Husband. What is the reason?"

"We played cards on the road, and Woodley won on the girl."

"I see. You tricked the girl into your house so that Woodley could come and woo her. But she saw that Woodley was such a villain that she didn't want to have anything to do with him. And you yourself fell in love with If you want to get this girl, it will completely upset your plans. You can't bear to think that the villain is about to have the girl."

"Yes, indeed, I cannot bear it any longer."

"So you quarreled. He went off in a huff, and left you alone, and he made his own way."

"I see, Williamson, that the gentleman has said all we have to say, and we have nothing more to say," cried Carruthers, with a wry smile. "Yes, he knocked me over when we quarreled. Whatever Well, I and him in the fight. I never saw him again. Turns out he was acquainted with the excommunicated clergyman. I found out they rented a house here, and that's where she went to the station. The only way that must be passed. I have been paying attention to her since then, because I feel that there is an evil spirit here. I visit them again and again, because I want to know what they are planning. Two days ago, Woodley brought Came to my house with this telegram saying Ralph Smith was dead. Woodley asked me if I would abide by the terms I had agreed upon. I said I would not. He asked me if I wanted to marry the girl and share a portion of the property to him. I said I would like to do it, but the girl wouldn't. Woodley said: 'Let's get her first, and she'll change her mind about things in a week or two.' I said I wouldn't. Likes to use force. So he took on his rascally rascal nature and walked away cursing, swearing to get her no matter what. The girl is going to fire me this weekend, and I've got a buggy ready to take her off. She went to the station, but she was always uneasy, and came on her bicycle. However, she had already started, and before I could catch up, disaster struck. As soon as I saw you gentlemen put her in the carriage Come back, I knew right away it was bad."

Holmes got up and threw the cigarette butt into the fireplace. "My senses have always been dull, Watson," he said. "When you say that you see a cyclist as if he were adjusting his tie in the bushes, that alone makes sense to me. I am glad, however, that we broke Such a queer and in some respects unique case. I was delighted to see three district policemen coming up the drive, and the little groom was going as fast as they were, so it seemed that either Reverend, and that funny bridegroom, because their behavior this morning violated the law, they will never see their future. Watson, I think, with your medical skills, you can examine Miss Smith's body and tell her Well, if she recovers, we'll send her home. If she's not fully recovered, you can hint that we're going to send a telegram to a young engineer at the Midland Company, which will make her more or less cured. As for You, Mr. Carruthers, I think you have done all you can to remedy the evil you have conspired. Here is my card, sir, if my testimony will be of any use to you at your trial, Please feel free to use it."

In our succession of activities, the reader may have seen that I was simply incapable of embellishing my essays, and finally bringing out the grotesque details which the readers expected.One case is often the prologue of another, and once the climax is over, the characters on the stage quietly withdraw from the stage of our busy life.I have, however, found my manuscript account of the case, and at the end of the manuscript there is a brief entry in which I write in my report that Miss Violet Smith did inherit a large estate, and is now a Morton And Kennedy's major shareholder, the wife of the famous Westminster electrical expert Cyril Morton.Williamson and Woodley were both on trial for abduction and assault and were sentenced to seven and [-] years in prison, respectively.I have had no report of the outcome of Carruthers' trial, but I am sure that since Woodley was a notoriously dangerous villain, the court would not have taken Carruthers' assault very seriously, and I think the judge at best A few months in prison would suffice.

Abbey School

On the small stage on Baker Street, although we have seen many people enter and exit in unusual ways, but in retrospect, only Sarnnift Huxtable, who has a master's degree, a doctorate, etc. The most sudden and startling appearance.The small business card, which could barely hold all his academic titles, had just been delivered for a few seconds before he himself followed in.He was tall, imposing, with a very solemn expression, and looked calm and steady.But when he walked into the room and closed the door, he immediately swayed and held on to the table, and then fell limply on the floor. His burly body lay prostrate on the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, and passed out.

We were all on our feet, and for a moment we watched in amazement and silence at this gigantic ship sunk in a deadly storm on the ocean of life.Holmes hastily took a cushion and placed it under his head, while I poured him some brandy to my lips.His gloomy and pale face is covered with sad wrinkles, his eyes are closed tightly, the eye circles are black, the muscles at the corners of his mouth are loose and drooping, and his beard is unshaven and untrimmed, making him look uneven.He was dusty, his collar and shirt were dusty, and his hair was a mess.What lies before us is undoubtedly a man overwhelmed by sorrow.

"What's the matter, Watson?" asked Holmes.

"Physical exhaustion should be caused by hunger and fatigue." As I said this, I touched his slightly beating pulse, feeling that his vitality was getting weaker and weaker.

Holmes found a railway ticket in his watch pocket. "This is a return ticket from Macleton, in the North of England, to London. It is now before twelve o'clock, and he must have started early."

After a while, his closed eyelids began to tremble slightly, and he raised his head to look at us with gray glassy eyes.Then he got up, flushed with shame.

"Mr. Holmes, I beg your pardon for my infirmity. I am indeed overworked. Give me a glass of milk and a biscuit, and I shall feel better. Thank you. Mr. Holmes, I have come here myself to Be sure to come with me. I am afraid the telegram will fail to convince you of the urgency of the case."

"When you recover first..."

"I am so well that I did not expect to be so weak. Mr. Holmes, I wish you and I will take the next train to Macleton."

My friend shook his head.

"My colleague, Dr. Watson, will tell you how busy we are. The Firth papers case is urgent, and the Abagavenny murder trial is about to begin. Unless it is a case of great importance, the I'm not leaving London now."

Our guest spread his hands and said loudly: "Important? Haven't you heard about the kidnapping of Duke Holderez's only son?"

"What? Is that the former cabinet minister?"

"That's him. We tried our best to keep it from the press, but the rumors were out at the Globe last night. I thought it must have reached your ears."

Holmes hastily reached for volume "H" from among the many references.

"'Holderrath, 25th Duke, Lord Garter, Counselor to the Privy Council...'There are so many titles!' Baron Bowery, Earl of Caston...'My God, how many more titles!' Since Sheriff of Harlem since [-]. Married daughter of Sir Edith Charles Epoudor in [-]. Heir and only son of Lord Salter. Owns $[-] Acres of land. Mines in Lancashire and Wales. Address: Carlton House; Holdereth House, Harlem; Caston Castle, Bangor, Wales. Lord of the Admiralty, [-], A former First Secretary of State...'He was undoubtedly one of the King's greatest subjects!"

"Not only the greatest, but probably the richest. I know, Mr. Holmes, that you know your trade very well and are willing to die for it. But I may as well tell you that my lord duke himself told me, Whoever can tell him where his son has been hijacked will get a huge reward of five thousand pounds, and if he can tell who has hijacked his son, he will get another thousand pounds."

Holmes said: "Ah, such a reward is really generous! Watson, I think it is worthwhile for us to go to the north of England with Dr. Huxtable. Dr. Huxtable, please drink the milk first, and then we will go to the north of England." Tell me what happened, when and how it happened. Finally, please explain what you have to do with the case as a doctor of the Abbey School, and why on the third day after the accident--you did not prune The beard of the man said it was three days later—you just came here and asked us to do a little bit of work?"

As our visitor had eaten his milk and biscuits, his eyes were shining again, and his cheeks were growing rosier, he began to describe the events clearly and emphatically.

"Gentlemen, I must first tell you that the Abbey School is a preparatory school, of which I am both the founder and the principal. The book Huxtable's Tales of Horace may remind you of my name." Generally speaking, the Abbey School is good, and this is the best and most excellent preparatory school in England. The Earl of Levastoke at Blackwater, and Sir Khakicarter Somers, etc. Their son was entrusted to me. Three weeks ago, the Duke of Holderras sent Mr. Wilde, his secretary, to tell me I disciplined. I felt then that the honor of my school had reached its peak. Little did I know that this was the prelude to the worst misfortune of my life.

"The boy arrived at the school on May [-]st, the day the summer term started. He was a pleasant boy, and he adjusted himself quickly to school life. I can tell you--I Believe I am always cautious in my words, but after this unfortunate incident, I have nothing to hold back--he is not very happy at home. The Duke's married life is not harmonious, it is a public Secret. The separation was agreed upon, and the Duchess settled in the South of France. This happened not so long ago. And the child felt a greater affection for his mother. After her mother left the Holderez house, he He's always been morose, so the duke offered to send him to my school. He's only been there a fortnight, but he's got to know us pretty well, and he seems very happy.

"The last time I saw him was on the night of May [-]th, which was this Monday night. His room was on the second floor, an inner room, and he had to go through another larger room where the two children lived. The two children did not notice any movement that night, so it is certain that little Salter did not go out here. His window was open, and a thick ivy grew from the window to the ground. On the ground No footprints were found, but this window was the only way out.

(End of this chapter)