Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 109 The Return (20)
"He hasn't been asked since he left. I don't know where he came from and where he's going. He's doing a pretty good job here, and the bust wasn't given until two days after he left me. Broken."

As we emerged from the shop, Holmes said to me: "That's all we know from him. We have found out that there was a man named Beppo in both cases, and that's enough to walk ten miles." Well worth it. Watson, let's go now to Geldel's in Stepany, where these things are supposed to be made, and we may learn more there."

So we passed quickly through the bustling parts of London: the streets with hotels, the streets with theaters next to each other, the streets with shops, the concentration of London shipping companies, and then came to the towns along the Thames.The houses rented out in this small town are all homeless, basically from the European continent, and their taste and sentiment are everywhere.This sculpture factory is located on the wide avenue where wealthy businessmen in London used to live. The yard inside is very large, and there are stone tablets and other things piled up everywhere in the yard.There is a large room in the courtyard, and about fifty people are working.The manager is a German, tall and fair-skinned. He entertained us very politely and answered all the questions my friend raised one by one.In total, hundreds of plaster statues were reproduced from Dewan's marble head of Napoleon, according to an audit.Sold three to Moss Hudson and three to Harding Brothers in Kensington about a year ago, and these six are exactly the same as the other statues.He couldn't explain why the man wanted to destroy the statues, but he kind of scoffed at the "paranoid" explanation.The wholesale price of the statue is six shillings, and the retail price can probably be more than double that.The replica is to make molds on the front and back of the marble head, and then glue them together to form the so-called head.This kind of work is often done by the Italians, who all work in this room, and then take it to the table in the passage to dry and store them one by one.

There's only so much he can tell us.

But when I showed the photo to the manager, a strange look came over his face, flushed with anger, his brow furrowed over his Teutonic blue eyes.

He said loudly: "Ah? This bastard, I know him too well. Our company had a good reputation before, but once the police came here because of this villain. It was also a year ago. He took The knife was going to kill another Italian, he had just returned to the workshop, and then the police came and arrested him from here. I know his name is Bebo, but I never know his last name. Hired such a vicious and hard-working man Man, I'm asking for trouble, but he's doing a great job."

"What was his conviction?"

"The man who was stabbed was brought back to life, so he was only held for a year. I don't think he's in jail now, but he's not here. He has a cousin here, maybe he Will tell you something about him."

Holmes cried: "No, no! It is best that no one should tell, but you alone. The situation is serious, and I think it is getting worse. When you examine the accounts, I see that these statues are It was sold on June [-] last year. Please tell me when he was arrested?"

The manager said, "Let me look at the payroll first, so I can give an approximate date." He turned a few pages and continued, "Yes, the last time he was paid was May No. 20. "

Holmes said: "Thank you very much! I don't think it is necessary to delay your time any longer. I am sorry to cause you trouble." Before leaving, he repeatedly urged the manager not to tell the investigation, and then we set off to go back.

We were busy from morning to four or five in the afternoon before we had time to sit down and have a meal.At the door of the restaurant, a newspaper boy shouted: "Kensington Murder, Madman Kills." This news let us know that Mr. Harker's article appeared in the newspapers.The report is full of two columns, the article is amazing and the words are beautiful.Holmes read the newspaper while eating, and sometimes he chuckled.

He said: "Watson, it should be written like this. You listen to this passage: 'We are pleased to inform the reader that there is no difference of opinion in this case. The two came to the same conclusion, the absurd event that ended in murder was done by a person who lost control of his mind and did not intend to kill. To explain this matter, it can only be explained by a mental disorder.'”

"You must know how to use the power of the newspaper, Watson. It is an invaluable weapon. When you are full, we shall return to Kensington and see what the manager of Harding's will have to say to us."

It really didn't occur to us that the store was founded by a short, thin but very capable, quick-witted, and talkative guy.He said: "Yes, sir. I have read the news in the evening paper. Mr. Harker is a customer of my shop. He bought one of our statues a few months ago. The Del Company ordered three statues, and they are all sold out now. To whom? I'll check the bill and I'll let you know. By the way, there are several bills here. You see, the first one was sold to Mr. Harker; The second was sold to Mr. Jozia Brown, Rabnom Street, Chiswick; Man, I've never seen a man like him, and he's too ugly. You ask if there are any Italians among our shop assistants? Yes, there seem to be a few among the workers and cleaners. They I don't think it's going to be any use protecting the ledger, so I don't think it's going to be too difficult to look at the sales ledger. Ah, yes, it's a strange thing indeed, and if you learn anything new, please do let me know. "

While Mr. Harding was speaking, Holmes made some notes.I could tell he was quite pleased with how things were going, but he didn't say anything, just wanted to hurry back or he'd be late.Sure enough, when we got home, Lethred had been waiting for a long time, and was walking up and down the house with a somewhat impatient expression on his face.His serious expression shows that today's work is going well.

He asked: "How is it? Mr. Holmes, how is the effect?"

My friend said: "We were so busy today, and I think it was a pretty fulfilling day. We went to retail stores and wholesalers to find out where the statues come from."

Les Reed roared: "Bust! Well, well, Mr. Holmes, I have no objection to you using your method to investigate the case, but I think I have gained more than you on this day. I have found out the identity of the deceased .”

"Oh, is it?"

"Find out the cause of the crime."

"awesome."

"We have a detective named Saffron Hill who specializes in investigating cases in the Italian area. There is a statue of God hanging around the neck of the deceased, and considering his skin color, I feel that he is probably from southern Europe. When Hill saw the dead man, he knew it right away. His name was Pietro Vannucci, and he was from Naples. He was a well-known robber in London, with a lot of ties to the Mafia. You know The mafia is an underground political organization that always wants to use assassination to achieve ulterior motives. Now it is too obvious that the man who killed him must be Italian and must be the mafia. He may have violated the commandments of some aspect of the mafia Pietro has been following him. The photo of the man in his pocket may be the one who killed him. He is holding the photo so as not to make a mistake and hurt innocent people. He followed this man and saw him enter a building. The house, just outside, was probably mortally wounded in the fight. Is that an explanation, Mr. Holmes?"

Holmes applauded with great admiration.

He exclaimed: "Excellent, Lethred, excellent! But I don't understand your explanation of the smashing of Napoleon's head at all."

"Bust! Why can't you forget it? What's that? Half a year's maximum for petty theft. We're thinking about how to catch the real culprit, and I've actually found all the clues."

"What's next?"

"Of course it's easy. Hill and I went to the Italian district, searched for the man according to the photos, and arrested him for murder. Will you go with us to see?"

"I don't want to go. I think we'll get there more quickly. I can't say, but maybe it's all due to an uncertain factor. There's a two-thirds chance, if you'd go with us to-night , I promise you can catch him."

"Is it in the Italian Quarter?"

"No, I think it's possible to find him in the Zizwick area. Lesred, if you go to this area with me tonight, I will definitely go to the Italian area with you tomorrow night, and nothing will happen if you delay for one night." That's right. I think we should rest for a few hours now. We don't go out until after eleven o'clock in the evening, and we may not be back until dawn. Lesred, you have dinner with us, and then go to the rest meeting Son. Watson, you call for an emergency messenger, I have a letter of great importance to send at once."

After finishing speaking, Holmes went straight to the attic to read the bound volumes of the old newspapers.After a long time, he came down from upstairs, the joy of victory appeared in his eyes, but he didn't say a word to us.The case was complicated and tortuous, and I paid close attention to all the methods he used in solving the case.Although I don't know exactly what we're trying to achieve, I do know that my friend is waiting for the stupid criminal to smash the other two busts, one of which is in the Zizwick Quarter.I'm sure the purpose of the operation was to catch him on the spot, so I appreciate my friend's ingenuity in deliberately putting a false thread in the evening paper to let the man know he could still commit crimes with impunity.So I wasn't surprised at all when he asked me to take the gun.He also took a loaded shotgun for himself, which was his favorite weapon.

At eleven o'clock we drove to Hammersmith Bridge, and when we alighted we told the coachman to wait there.We continued to walk forward, and after a while we came to a very quiet avenue. There were neat rows of houses beside the road, and each house had its own garden in front of it.Relying on the weak light of the street lamps, we found the house sign that said "Villa Rabnom".The master had obviously gone to rest, for the garden path was dark except for a little light from the doors and windows.The wooden fence just separated the road from the garden, and cast many deep dark shadows in the garden, where we could hide.

Holmes whispered: "We are likely to have to wait a long time. Thank God, there will be no rain tonight. We must not smoke here. This way of passing time will be very dangerous. But you can rest assured that I have three months." With a [-]/[-] certainty, it’s well worth the time to wait.”

Unexpectedly, we didn't have to wait long before we heard something.There was no sound in advance to indicate someone's arrival, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a black figure rushed into the garden path nimbly and swiftly like a monkey.We found the man passing swiftly through the light reflected by the doors and windows on the ground, and disappeared in the shadows of the house.At this time, the surrounding area was extremely quiet, and we waited with bated breath.After a while, I heard a soft "creak" sound, the window was opened, and then there was no sound, followed by a long silence. I guess this person is trying to get into the house.Soon, we saw a flash of light inside the house again, which seemed to be a dark lantern.Apparently what he was looking for wasn't there at all, for we saw another light through another curtain, followed by a third.

Lethred said in a low voice, "Let's go to that open window, and catch him as soon as he comes out."

But we didn't have time to do this at all, and this person appeared again.As he walks down the shimmering path, we clearly see a white object tucked under his arm.He took a few furtive glances around and, emboldened by the silence of the avenue, turned his back on us and put his things down.Then there was a "click" and a continuous "chuck" and he was so intent on doing it that he didn't notice us as we moved lightly across the grass.My friend then threw himself on his back, and Lethred and I grabbed his wrists and handcuffed him.When we turned him around, I saw a hideous face with sunken cheeks, eyes fixed on us with hatred, and the face kept twitching, and I saw fully what we had caught. It's the guy in the photo.

However, my friend did not look at the man we had just captured, but squatted on the steps to carefully examine the things the man had stolen from the house.It was indeed a bust of Napoleon, exactly as it had been seen that morning, and it had been broken into tiny pieces.Holmes examined the small fragments carefully in the light, but there was nothing special about the flakes of plaster.No sooner had he finished his inspection than the lights came on and the door opened, and the occupant of the house, a kindly fat man in shirt and trousers, stood before us.

"I take it that you are Mr. Jozia Brown?" said Holmes.

"Yes, sir. Surely you are Mr. Holmes? I did exactly what you said when I received your letter. I locked all the doors and windows and waited. I am glad you caught it." The villain. Gentlemen, come in and rest."

But Lethred was busy getting the prisoner to safety, and it was not long before a cab was called, and the four of us got into it and drove back to London.The prisoner didn't say a word, his eyes stared at us viciously through his matted hair, and once my hand was very close to him, he grabbed it like a madman.We searched him carefully at the police station, and found nothing, but a few shillings, and a long knife with a lot of fresh blood on the handle.

When we parted, Lethred said to us: "It's come to the point that Hill knows these villains so well he's going to convict him. You see, there's nothing wrong with my Mafia explanation, but And thank you for capturing him in such a good way. But I really don't understand what the hell is going on?"

"It's getting late," said Holmes, "and we can say no more. There are, however, one or two small matters which must be cleared up before the case can be settled. If you come to my house tomorrow night at six o'clock, I will tell you everything I know. To you. In short, there is something special about this case. If you continue to record some of the cases I have solved, Watson, I am sure your record will be rich and colorful."

The next night, we met again.Lesred gave us some details about the prisoner.Of course we already know that his name is Bebo, but we still don't know his surname.He's a well-known badass in the Italian Quarter.He was good at making statues, and he lived an honest life for a while, but then he went astray and was caught twice in prison, once for stealing and the other for stabbing his fellow countrymen.His English is very good.It's not quite clear why he destroyed the statue, he didn't say anything about it.But the police found that he probably made the statues himself, because that's what he did when he worked for the company.We already knew all this, and my friend nodded politely, but it was clear to me that he was thinking elsewhere at the moment.

I can see that under his usual expression, there is anxiety and expectation.Finally he stood up, his eyes glowing.Suddenly the doorbell rang.Then footsteps were heard on the stairs, and a servant ushered in an old man with a ruddy complexion and a gray beard.He took a travel bag in his hand and put it on the table after entering the door.

"Does Mr. Sherlock Holmes live here?"

My friend nodded with a smile and said, "I suppose you are Mr. Sandford from Reading?"

"Yes, sorry, I'm late and the train is inconvenient. You wrote me about the bust I bought."

"Yes."

"Here's your letter. You said: 'I'd like a copy of Devin's head of Napoleon, and I'd pay you ten pounds for it.' Is that so?"

"Yes, exactly."

"I was very surprised by your letter, because I really can't figure out how you know I have this statue?"

"You will find this surprising, but the reason is quite simple. The owner of Harding's shop said he sold you the last statue, and of course I know your address."

"Oh, so! Did he tell you how much I paid for it?"

"He didn't say that."

"I am honest, even if I am not rich, and I only spent fifteen shillings, and I thought it necessary for you to know that before I took your ten pounds."

"Mr. Sandford, you are very honest in thinking so. But I have set a price, and I will stick to it."

"You are very generous, Mr. Holmes. I have brought you this statue, at your request, and there it is!" He untied the bag.So we ended up seeing a very complete Napoleon, whereas the previous few times we had seen only fragments.

Holmes took a note and ten pound note from his pocket, and laid them on the table.

"Mr. Sandford, in the presence of these witnesses, you sign it. You transfer ownership of this statue to me. I am a man of discipline, and we cannot foresee the future at all. What will happen. Thank you very much, Mr. Sandford, here is your money, and good night!"

(End of this chapter)