Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 119 The Return (30)
The manager of the company met us as soon as he saw Holmes' business card, and Holmes quickly got what he needed. In June 1895, only one ship arrived in English port. This ship was called the "Rock of Gibraltar", and it was the largest ship.After checking the passenger list, Ms Fraser and her maid were found with Adelaide in their name.The ship is now bound for South Australia, somewhere south of the Suez Canal.Compared with 6, it has not changed much, the only change is the appointment of first mate Jack Clocker as the new captain of the "Bath Rock".The ship will sail from Southampton in about two days.The captain lives at Seatonham, and he may be in for instructions from the company in a moment, and we shall see him, if we will wait.

Holmes did not want to see him at all, but he was very eager to know some of this man's past performance and conduct.

The manager felt that his job performance was very good, and that any crew member on the ship could not match him.In terms of personality, he is an honest and reliable person.Once off the boat, however, he was a rough fellow, unstable and excitable, but very faithful, sincere, and warm-hearted.When my friend learned of these circumstances, we departed from the Southampton Shipping Company, and rode to Scotland Yard in a carriage.But he didn't go in at all, and still sat still in the car, frowning in thought.In a short while he sent the coachman to drive to the telegraph office in Charing Cross, sent a telegram, and we were back in Baker Street.

We went into the house, and he said to me: "No, Watson, I must not do it. He cannot be rescued once the summons is issued. Once or twice before, I also realized that the damage caused by the detection of the criminal The damage is greater than the crime itself, I now know how to play it safe, the best thing to do right now is to deceive the laws of the UK, not your own conscience. We need to know more about the situation before we act."

Towards evening, Hopkins arrived.His investigation didn't go very well.

"Mr. Holmes, I think you are like a magician. Sometimes you are like a fairy. How do you know that there is discarded silver at the bottom of the sink?"

"Have you found the silver?"

"found it."

"I'm really happy to be able to help you."

"But you didn't help me at all, but you made things more and more complicated. They stole the silver, but why did they throw it in the nearby pool? What kind of robbers are these?"

"It's a weird behavior. I'm thinking now, why steal them if you don't need them? Is it a rush to throw them away in order to create a stealing scam?"

"But why do you have such an idea?"

"I think it's like this. Suppose the robber jumped out of the window and saw a pool in front of him, and there was a hole in it, so he thought it was safe to hide here."

Stanley Hopkins exclaimed: "Yes, this is the best place to hide things, now I understand it! It was early in the day, and there were many people on the street. They probably had silver coins in their hands." They were easily found, and they were sunk in the pool, with the intention of retrieving them when there was no one else. That is a more apt explanation, Mr. Holmes, than your hoax."

"Yes, your explanation is good, and I am sure that my idea may be unrealistic. You have to admit that they can't get the silver back at all."

"Yes, sir. But it's all your fault, and I don't have any sense of accomplishment."

"why?"

"Mr. Holmes, the robbers were arrested in New York this morning."

"Oh, that's great, Hopkins! That's the opposite of what they did in Kent last night."

"That's right, it doesn't fit at all. But besides that gang there was a gang of robbers, also three, about whom the police probably haven't heard."

"Yes, there is a great possibility, how do you plan to do it?"

"Mr. Holmes, I shall never be at ease until I have cleared up the case. Can you help me?"

"I told you already."

"what?"

"I'm telling you that's definitely a hoax."

"Mr. Holmes, why do you say it's a hoax?"

"Of course it's a question. But I'm just offering you a suggestion, which you may think is quite reasonable. Won't you stay for dinner? Well, good-bye, and let me know your latest and fastest progress." us."

We had dinner and cleared the table and chairs.Holmes returned to the case.He lit his cigarette, put on his slippers, put his feet in front of the hot fireplace, and suddenly looked at his watch.

"Watson, I feel that there will be a new development soon."

"how long?"

"Just a few minutes. I get the feeling that you think I just treated Hopkins badly."

"I absolutely trust your judgment on the matter."

"Watson, your answer is so ingenious. You should think of it this way. What I have now is not official. What he has is official. I have the ability to make analysis and judgment on this matter. No. He must tell all he knows, or he would be dishonest. I don't want to put him at a disadvantage in an open case, so I'm ashamed of my present The known situation is reserved, and it can only be raised after it is confirmed."

"How long will it take to be sure?"

"It's almost time, and now you will see the last act of this queer drama."

Shortly after the noise was heard on the stairs, our door was opened by a young man.He was tall and tall, with a blond beard, dark blue eyes, a little dark complexion, and a quick, quick step, which showed that he was not only physically strong but also agile.He closed the door casually, and stood there with his fists clenched, his chest heaving, trying his best to calm the uncontrollable emotion.

"Sit down, Captain Crocker, have you received my telegram?"

Our guest sat in an armchair and examined each of us suspiciously.

"I received your telegram and came punctually as requested. I heard that you have been to my office. It seems that I can't escape. First tell me the worst and how you planned to deal with it." What about me? Catch me? Tell me, you can't sit there and play cat and mouse with me!"

Holmes said: "Watson, give him a cigar. Captain Crocker, come and smoke one! You must control your emotions. If I treat you as a criminal, I will never smoke with you here." .You have to trust me, tell me all that happened, and we might figure out something for you, better not play tricks, or I'll ruin you."

"What would you like me to do for you?"

"Tell me exactly what happened at Greenrange Manor last night. Tell me carefully. I have a lot of information. If you hide anything, I will blow it out the window. Police post, by then, I can no longer control you."

The guest thought for a while, then patted his thigh with his hand.

He shouted: "Try your luck! I think you are a person who keeps your word and keeps your promises. I will tell you the whole process. But let me make a statement first. If it involves me, I have no regrets or fears, and I'd be proud to do it all over again. Damn that guy, I'll kill him as many times as he has! But when it comes to Mary, the lady , for her, I would exchange my life for a beauty's smile. It hurts my heart just to think of her in trouble. But, I have no other choice. Gentlemen, I tell you this, please take good care of me Think for me, is there anything else I can do?
"I'll have to start at the beginning so you can get it all right. I'm guessing you understand that we met on the Rock of Gibraltar when she was the passenger and I was the first mate. On the day I met her Since then, she has been the person I miss the most in my heart. During the trip, I love her more and more. I have knelt on the deck and kissed the deck many times during the night watch, just because she just walked there. She and I No special relationship and I was treated like any other woman, but I didn't have any complaints. I was just unrequited, she was just a friend to me. She didn't care about anything when we parted, and I was different, always Worrying.

"When I came back from my second voyage, I knew she was married. Indeed, she was free to marry the one she loved, and she was entitled to everything, including titles and money. She was born with all the noble and beautiful things. Thing, I'm happy for her, I'm not selfish, but I think she's lucky enough to escape me, an unworthy sailor. That's how I love her.

"I never thought I'd see her again. I was promoted on my last voyage, and the new ship didn't go to sea, so I had to wait two months with the sailors at Seatonham. One day, I was in Walking down the country lane, I met her maid, Theresa Ritter. Theresa told me all about her, and what her husband had done, and I was blown out, gentlemen. That drunk had the guts to hit her, I don't think he deserves to lick her heels. Then I met Theresa once, then I met Mary herself, and then again, and then she wouldn't See me. But suddenly I got a notice to go to sea in a week, so I decided to meet her again before departure anyway. Theresa will definitely help me, because she loves her master and she is the same I hated the devil as much. She told me all about their habits, and Mary used to stay downstairs in her own cabin until very late. I went there last night, and knocked lightly on the window, at first, She didn't want to open the window, but I felt that she loved me, and she would never tell me to wait outside in the middle of the night to suffer from the cold. She told me carefully, and asked me to turn to the big front window. I turned I went in and saw the window was open, and I went in. Once again I heard her own words that made me angry, and again I cursed that bastard for mistreating my beloved, he was a beast. Gentlemen, the two of us have been standing behind the window, as God is my witness, we have done nothing and are innocent. That's when the man rushed in like a madman, called her the worst words in the world, and took a stick Swing her in the face and I grab the poker and wrestle him to the death. Look at my arm, he hits me with the first blow. Then it's me, I kill like mad He. Maybe you think I will regret it, then you are wrong, at that time either you die or I die, and more importantly, it is either he dies or Mary dies, I will never let her stay with that lunatic, That's all I did to kill him. Is it my fault? Gentlemen, what would you do if you were in my position?

"When he hit Marie, her screams made Theresa upstairs come down from the house. There was wine on the sideboard, and I opened it to let Marie have a drink. She was really freaked out, and then I I took a sip myself. Teresa was very calm at the time, and she suggested to us that we should look like robbers killing people. Teresa taught her mistress to make up stories about robbers. Later, I climbed up and cut the bell rope. Mary was tied to a chair and frayed at the end of the rope, otherwise you would have wondered why the robbers would have cut the rope? Then I took out some silver and used it to pretend the manor was robbed. Then I went , and agreed to call the police in fifteen minutes. I threw these things in the sink and went back to Seaton Ham. I think it is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life. It is all true, Mr. Holmes, you Do you want me to pay for my life?"

Holmes smoked in silence, and remained silent for some time.Afterwards he walked up to our guest and just shook his hand.

He said: "You say what I think, and I understand that what you say is all the truth. Only an acrobat or a sailor can reach the bell rope from a tray on the wall. I don't think anyone but a sailor will." Tie that kind of knot on the chair. This man must be a sailor that the lady met on a trip. She tried her best to protect the sailor, which also shows that he is equal to her social status, and also shows that she loves him very much. .So you know that once I have the right leads, it will be very easy to find you."

"I thought that no one would see through our plot."

"I am sure that the policeman will never be able to find out. Captain Crocker, although I admit that you acted after the most serious provocation, but the matter is serious. I am not sure whether your self-defense can be counted as lawful. It's up to the jury of the British Empire. But I really feel for you, so you can get away with it in 24 hours and there will be no one here to stop you."

"Is this all right?"

"Absolutely nothing."

The sailor's face was flushed with anger.

"An upright man would never accept such a suggestion. I understand the law, and I understand that Mary will be sentenced to imprisonment. Do you think I will allow her to suffer such serious consequences as a woman, and run away quietly? No, Mr. Holmes , I can be dealt with by them no matter what, but for God's sake, please find a way to keep her from trial."

Once more Holmes extended his friendly hand to the sailor.

"I just wanted to test you, and this time you passed the test again, but I had to take a big risk. I told Hopkins once, if he's not good at thinking, I don't care anymore. Captain Crocker, we will take the proper legal form to settle. Captain Crocker, you are the prisoner; Watson, you are the British jury; Guilty or not guilty?"

I said, "Acquitted, Your Honor."

"The cry of the people is the cry of God, Captain Crocker, you can go. As long as the law finds no other victims, I assure you, you are perfectly safe. In a year, you will return to this lady , I hope you have a bright future and prove that my judgment tonight is correct." The lost secret letter
It was my original intention to stop describing some of Holmes's glorious exploits after the publication of Grange Park.This is not because there is a lack of material, there are too many untold cases, nor is it because readers do not want to know the good qualities and unique interests of this hero.More importantly, Holmes did not want to continue to publish his experience.In fact, recording these performances is of great benefit to his detection work, but he insisted on leaving here-London, wanting to go to the hills of Sussex, where he studied knowledge and beekeeping, so he was interested in continuing to publish his work. Experience is no longer interested, and repeatedly told me to respect his wishes.I told him that I had promised my readers to publish "Letters Lost and Found," after which I would also end the stories.It was most fitting that it ended with an important international case.At last I obtained his permission to tell the reader carefully about the case.In telling this story, some details may appear unclear, so I ask the public to forgive my unavoidable difficulties.

In the fall of a certain year, on a Tuesday morning, two well-known European guests came to our humble residence.One is Lord Bellinger, who served two consecutive terms as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He has a high nose bridge, piercing eyes that radiate infinite light, and a very serious appearance.The other has a dark complexion, a handsome face, dignified and elegant manners, and although he is not middle-aged, he seems to have extensive experience. He is Trelawney Hope, the minister in charge of European affairs, and the most developed in the UK. Politician of the future.They sat side by side on the divan, and it was clear from their anxious expressions that they must have come here to ask for something.The Prime Minister held the ivory handle of the umbrella tightly with both hands, and the veins in his hands were bulging. He looked at us, showing infinite sorrow on his haggard and indifferent face. Touch the watch chain pendant.

"Mr. Holmes, at eight o'clock this morning, I found that important documents were missing, so I hurriedly reported them to the Prime Minister. According to his advice, we will come to you immediately."

"Did you call the police?"

The Prime Minister spoke quickly and decisively, saying: "No, we must not do this. To call the police would mean making this public, which is absolutely not what we want."

"Sir, why is this?"

"Because this document is too important. Once released to the public, it may complicate the situation in Europe, and even involve issues of war and peace. The recovery of the document must be strictly kept secret, otherwise it is meaningless, because The purpose of stealing the documents was also to publish the contents of the documents."

"I see. Mr. Trelawney Hope, please give me the exact circumstances under which the papers were lost."

"Well, Mr. Holmes, a few words will suffice to make it clear. We received a letter from a foreign sovereign six days ago. It is a letter of such importance that I dare not put it down." into the safe, but took it to the house in Whitehall Row every day and locked it in a file box in the bedroom. It was true that the letter was still there last night, when it was time to change for dinner , I opened the box and the files were still there. But this morning the files were gone. The file box sat overnight next to the mirror on the dressing table in the bedroom. We are very light sleepers as a husband and wife, and we were sure no one had come in during the night, but The files just disappeared."

"What time do you have dinner?"

"About 07:30."

"What did you do before your break?"

"My wife was out at the theater. I sat in the outhouse and waited until 11:30 before we went inside to rest."

(End of this chapter)