Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 175: Investigating Strange Cases (17)
People will feel disgusted when they see this face.With a full face, a big mouth, and small eyes, it looks like a stupid and fierce wild boar.Although he doesn't do bad things, everyone can imagine the huge destructive potential in his body.It is indeed frightening to live among such savages.

"These two men had a huge impact on my life. I grew up in a circus, a very poor kid. I performed difficult shows when I was ten years old for food and drink. I was young and didn't know love I was taken over by Rondel when I was a child. Later I was forced to marry him. My hard life began. Whenever he was a little unhappy, he would take out my anger and beat me all over. He was looking for women outside I'm not allowed to complain about fooling around. Everyone in the circus knows all this, but no one dares to speak. Because he is a devil, everyone is afraid of him. After drinking, he is even more lawless, like a murderer. The criminal vented all over the place. Because of drunkenness and trouble, he was summoned many times, but he had a lot of money, and no one could do anything about it. He probably offended all the people in the circus, and many people couldn't stand it and left. It has declined. In the end, only me, the clown Griggs, and Leonardo are left to maintain the whole situation. Griggs is the most pitiful, he has no support, and is always bullied by others. But he still has no regrets Do your best.

"Leonardo came into my life later. He sympathized with me, cared for me, helped me. I gradually started to like him, and finally we fell in love. Even though I know now that he was weak, he was strong back then. He was very gentle and considerate to me. At that time, he was tall and holy in my mind. My husband knew our relationship, but he didn’t dare to confront Leonardo. He didn’t have Leonardo. Powerful, even afraid of him. But he will not be reconciled. He is very cruel and tortures me in even crueler ways. One day in the middle of the night, my miserable scream woke up Leonardo, and he came. The two of them There was a fight, and my husband never beat Leonardo. Leonardo was very angry and almost killed my husband. Later we all knew that this could not happen again. Kill Rondel, and we will not have to suffer anymore. I just can't stand his abuse.

"So we conspired to kill him. Leonardo conceived a clever method that almost no one could think of. He drove five steel nails into one end of a rod, pointed outward, arranged like lion's claws. After beating Rondel to death with a stick, the lion was released, creating the illusion that he was killed by a lion. Therefore, we acted in one night.

"That night, it was very dark, and my husband and I went to feed the lions. Leonardo hid on the road we had to pass. He was lying in the corner of the tent, and when we passed, he followed up secretly. .I walked in front, and my husband was behind. After a dull sound, my husband fell down. I was happy and nervous, and quickly opened the door of the lion cage."

"Later, something unexpected happened. Beasts are particularly sensitive to the smell of human blood, which stimulated their animal nature. When the lion smelled human blood, it became very excited. When I opened the cage door, it pounced on me. Leo Nadodo is so strong and strong and has a weapon in his hand, I thought he could come to my rescue, but he was a coward and ran away screaming and screaming. I fought the lion as hard as I could, but it was no use. It stinks My big mouth was next to my face, and my teeth were biting my face. I was so scared that I didn't feel pain, I just screamed. My screams alarmed the magic troupe. They included Leonardo, Greg Riggs included, saved me from the lion. I didn't know it later, I didn't wake up until the case was over. Rondel's death fulfilled one of my wishes, but I grieve for the man who lived. When I looked in the mirror, I almost collapsed. This may be God punishing me. It might be better to die, but God did not let me die, let me continue to suffer more pain in the world. I exhausted all my emotions but I have nothing, and my heart is like a pool of stagnant water. I just want to find a place where no one can find me and live in seclusion, and don’t let anyone see this terrible face, and slowly end my meaningless remaining life.”

The misfortune of this woman shakes us deeply.Everyone was silent for a long time, and everyone's heart revolved around this misfortune.Holmes patted her hand with a degree of sympathy he had scarcely experienced.He may not know how to comfort her at this time.

He said: "Poor man! Fate has been so cruel to you, and made you suffer. But where has Leonardo gone? Has he no longer cared about you?"

She said: "It's unnecessary. I don't want to see him anymore. I only have contempt and hatred for him. He doesn't deserve to love me, but I can't make up my mind to let the police arrest him. I may still miss him in the depths of my heart. He left me when it was most dangerous, but after all, he once loved me and gave me a little warmth. So I left him alive. If he is guilty, he will be punished by God. I have been waiting for him to be punished. I don't care anymore, my soul has withered long ago, leaving only a shell to breathe."

"Has he been punished?"

"It was reported in the paper that he drowned while swimming last month."

"How did he dispose of the murder weapon in the end? This is the most fundamental reason for the success of your plan."

"I don't know, Mr. Holmes. I haven't said a word to him since. There's a deep pool of water under the mine near the village. Perhaps he threw it there, as he seems to have mentioned it to me."

"But there's no need to look for that thing again. The case is closed, so why are we pursuing it?"

The woman said, "Yes, the case has already been closed."

The words are over, and we don't have to stay here for long.As we were leaving, Holmes sensed something in the woman's voice.So he said to her again: "God has given us precious life. Whether it is pain or happiness, we should cherish it and have no right to end life."

"My life doesn't even mean anything to me anymore."

"You should not be pessimistic, you are very strong, and you are still alive after going through a lot of ups and downs. Many people who live happily and feel bored should learn from you."

The woman didn't speak.She tore off her veil, revealing a horrified face.

She said, "Do you think this is okay?"

It didn't look like a face anymore, only the two rolling eyes showed that it was a face, and her sad and desperate eyes were even more unbearable.Deeply moved, Holmes raised his hand in a sign of regret.Then, we left.

I went to see Holmes one day.He was very happy and showed me the vial on the table.Known to be poison from the label.Due to occupational sensitivity, I opened the cover and sniffed it and said, "hydrocyanic acid?"

"Exactly. It came by post, with a note saying: 'I am sending you what I have been wanting to use. I am following your advice.' We can guess, Watson, the name of the indomitable lady who sent it. Name." Broken Church Basement

Sherlock Holmes did not speak to me for a long time, and I sat on the sofa thinking of my own affairs.He was bent over, looking at things with a low power microscope.As soon as he works, he forgets the existence of himself and others.After a while, he said to me very satisfied: "Watson, I am sure that this thing must be glue. It took me a long time to be sure. Come and have a look."

I go to the microscope.

"This is something taken from the suspect's tweed jacket. According to my observation and speculation, the gray part is dust, the left side is dander, and the brown powder in the center is glue, which is particularly critical to solving the case."

I said, "Probably glue, but what is the key function?"

He said: "Don't underestimate this evidence. It can sometimes determine the outcome of a case. I still remember a case where we found a hat at the scene. It must have been left by the murderer, but the suspect refused to admit it. We finally found a hat at the scene. Significant evidence of glue was seen on the hat, he was a picture frame dealer and used glue a lot. He had to plead guilty in the end."

"You handle the case yourself?"

"It was Police Officer Merrillville who asked me to help solve this case. During the detection process, I also used a microscope and saw copper filings and zinc in the seams of the accused's clothes, so I was sure that he made counterfeit coins. The microscope has become an important tool for me to solve the case .” Speaking of this, he looked at his watch, and he must be waiting for someone. "I am waiting for a new client, but why am I so late? Watson, you like horse racing?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty good at it. It took all my injury benefits and it was an exciting time."

"That being the case, this case needs your support. I don't know anything about horse racing, but this case touches on it. Do you know Robert Norburton?"

"Of course, he's very good. He lives at Shoscombe House, and I lived there for a while, so I have come to know him. The police are very worried about him."

"What's the reason for that?"

"He was a moneylender, and he got into a fight with Sam Brewer over a very small matter. It happened in Colzen Street, and he nearly killed Brewer, so the police thought he needed a special Notice."

"Is he so irritable? For such trivial matters, he hurt others and himself?"

"Yes, he's just so unscrupulous, he never thinks about the outcome of things, so he's dangerous. Also, he's a famous rider, runner-up in the Liverpool steeplechase. He doesn't really fit in with his surroundings. He eats, drinks, and has fun. Everything is ready, if it was before, he must be a playboy."

"So you know him so well. Very well, Watson. I know him a little too, which is of value to the case. You say you lived for a while at Shoscombe Cottage, Then tell me about the villa."

"I'm not sure, but I know it's in the center of Shoscombe Park, adjacent to the famous Shoscombe Stallion Farm and Training Ground. The air there is very good and the environment is elegant."

"John Mason, the coach at the training ground, gave us a briefing. Here's his letter. It's really hard to understand. Let's go on to Shoscomb. I'm interested in this."

"It's home to America's finest Shorescomb Spaniel and is the most sought-after breed on the market, and the hostesses at Shoscomb are proud of it."

"Is the mistress Mrs. Robert Norburton?"

"He's not married. Who can bear his way of life when a man like him has to live alone? His sister, Mrs. Therese Fulder, lives with him."

"You mean his sister lives in his house?"

"No, this is the villa left by his sister's ex-husband, and Norburton is just staying there. Now when Mrs. Fuld is alive, she owns all the income from the property. After her death, her husband's brother will own the property. Fuer It is on these estates that Mrs. De maintains her life."

"This income is considerable, enough for Robert."

"It's okay. He doesn't think about others when he does anything, and it's even more the same when he spends money. Although his sister doesn't like his various behaviors, she still treats him very well. You ask so many questions, is there something wrong with the villa?"

"Yes, the problem is quite big. We will know the specific situation when Mr. Mason comes."

Just as he was talking, Mr. Mason came. He was expressionless, tall and thin, and he looked scary. From this, you can know what kind of occupation he is engaged in.He greeted us politely and sat down.

"I am sorry to be late, Mr. Holmes. Have you read my letter?"

"Yes, not only read but also seriously considered, but you only stated the facts in your letter."

"Yes, because of the complexity of the matter and the surrounding circumstances, it is more convenient to discuss many issues in person."

"Well, now you can speak."

"With all due respect, Mr. Holmes. I think our master, Mr. Norburton, is out of his mind."

Holmes said: "This is very serious, please be careful when you speak, you must be responsible for any words you say, please present evidence."

"I never talk nonsense, especially about my master. But these days I do find that Norberton's behavior is abnormal and his temper is weird. Maybe it's Prince Shoscomb and the race meeting that made him nervous. What is the reason? Not sure, but he's crazy."

"Is your pony Prince Shoscombe?"

"Yes, a special horse like no other in the world. I'm sure of that, Mr. Holmes. To be honest, this race meeting is very important to Sir Robert. It should be about success and not failure. He's done everything he can. All the money he got was bet on this horse, and the bet ratio was very different, one to one hundred. If he lost, he might not even be able to risk his life. I am telling you these words because you are worthy of trust. .”

"I will certainly keep it a secret," said Holmes. "Don't worry."

"Sir Robert also tried to keep it a secret. He kept it from almost everyone. He always rode the prince's half brother to show off. The two horses were superficially the same, but as soon as they ran away, you knew the prince was really fast." It's unimaginable. Sir Robert is very fond of this horse, and he has devoted almost all his energy to the matter of horse racing. If the prince is not successful, he will have to die."

"This bet is too crazy, but it is quite similar to his character. But does this mean that he is crazy?"

"When you see him, you will know his mental state and you will believe me. In order to be with the prince, he is in the stable all day long, and he doesn't even sleep at night. Can the brain take it? He's on the verge of breaking down. And his relationship with Mrs. Triss has clearly changed."

"I am very interested in this matter."

"They used to get along very well, and they both liked horses. Mrs. Triss loved the prince even more than Sir Robert. She took the car to see her beloved prince every day. At this time, the prince was also very happy. Circle came out to greet Madam, and accepted a piece of candy from Madam. In the end, Madam Triss reluctantly left. But now these are gone.”

"The reason?"

"She lost interest in horses all of a sudden, even with the prince. Many days she passed the stables without saying hello to the prince or to Sir Robert."

"Are they conflicting?"

"I think it's quite a contradiction. If not, why would Sir Robert hate her so much? And he gave her sister's most beloved puppy to Old Barnes, the owner of the Qingyu Hotel, three miles away."

"It's doubtful."

"Mrs. Triss stays at home all day. She has been suffering from heart disease, her body is swollen, and she hardly goes out. When they got on good terms, Robert went to chat with her every night, but he didn't go for a long time. The two don't seem to know each other. Mrs. Triss is also very sad because of the deterioration of the relationship between the two, and drinking has become a binge drinking."

"Has she ever drank before?"

"Sometimes I drink a little, but now I drink a bottle a night. It's too scary. It's all messed up, Mr. Holmes. In the middle of the night, the master has to go to the crypt of the old church. Whom will he meet there? Go to such a mysterious and hidden place." Can you do something fair and honest?"

Hearing this, Holmes became more interested.

"Go on, Mr. Masson. You have a point, and I am more interested in what you have to say."

"The housekeeper saw him go out in the rain at twelve o'clock on the first night. To prove it, he planned to follow him the next night. As a result, he really went there the next night, and the housekeeper followed him, not daring to get too close .If we let him know, he will be killed. We are all afraid of him, but we still keep an eye on him. What on earth is he going there for? It is often haunted by ghosts, how can anyone wait for him there?"

"Where is this crypt?"

"There's a shabby church in the garden that hasn't been repaired for years and is long out of use. There's a haunted and haunted place beneath it that people don't dare go to during the day, let alone at night. But Sir Robert is afraid of nothing." , what would he do in such a special place?"

Holmes interrupted him and said: "Pause, please. You say there is someone waiting for him? Do you know this man? Can you see his face? Hearing the voice is all right."

"We don't know this person and we haven't seen him."

"Why are you so sure?"

"I saw his face, Mr. Holmes. The steward and I followed him to the crypt the next night. We were crouching in the bushes, trembling with fear, and Robert passed us. If he spotted us, The consequences were disastrous. The moon was shining brightly that day, so it felt more dangerous. Fortunately, he didn't see us. Then another person came, and he was related to the Robert family. We came out of the bushes, followed him very calmly, and said: 'Friend , hello! Where are you going?' He ran away when he heard this. Because the place is often haunted, he thought he really saw a ghost this time. So he screamed and disappeared. In this way, his identity and this The purpose of the next whereabouts, we will not know."

"You did see his face clearly?"

"Yes, the moonlight was very bright that night. His skin was so yellow and his face was thin, he looked like an inferior person. What can such a person do when he meets Sir Robert? They are people from two worlds."

Holmes remained silent for a long time on the sofa.

"Who does Mrs. Triss usually serve?" Suddenly he asked a question that had nothing to do with this matter.

"Madam's personal maid, Carrie Evans, has served Madam for five years."

"It's been a long time, you must be a very loyal lady, right?"

Mason hesitated for a moment, then said:

"How should I put it? It's hard to say who she's working for."

"Is that so?" said Holmes.

"Forgive me for not being able to explain."

"I understand, Mr. Mason. From what you and Watson have said about Robert, he has the right to pursue any woman. It is obvious. You don't tell me, I know it. Perhaps because of this, their sister The two brothers are at odds."

"I'm not sure either. But you're right about what you said about Robert just now. People know something about him."

"Usually the person who should know the most is the last to know. When Mrs. Triss found out about their relationship, she was very angry and insisted on getting rid of the maid. But Sir Robert didn't agree anyway, so the two had a relationship Contradictions, ignoring each other, one gave away the other's beloved dog; the other drank in the house all day. This is a reasonable explanation."

"Yes, quite reasonable."

"If that's all there is to it, it's easy. But what is Sir Robert's reason for going to the crypt of horror?"

"Beyond this, Mr. Holmes, there are other questions which I do not understand. Why does Sir Robert insist on digging up a dead body?"

Holmes was shocked to hear this.

(End of this chapter)