Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 177: Investigating Strange Cases (19)
"Yes. The police department couldn't handle it, and threw the ball at me as usual. Now the old man is in a very bad situation, and many people are suffering as much as him."

"Can you explain more clearly?"

"The man who came was one of the shareholders of Amberley and Brickfall, a former paint dealer named Josiah Amberley, who had saved all his life to buy a house in Lewisham for his retirement. Live peacefully—it could have been done. But it's all over."

"Has he been in a lot of trouble recently? Otherwise, he won't come to you either."

Holmes said: "You are right, he is very unfortunate. He retired in 1896, probably because of his lonely life. He married a beautiful woman 20 years younger than him in the second year. He also has a house and a wife. There is enough money to spend, and he should be very happy in his old age. But because he married this woman, he made others lose money, which was his big mistake."

"I'm a little clearer, but I want to know the specifics."

"It's actually very common, a very old story just reenacted at the Amberleys, so I'll keep it simple. His young, pretty wife, who's well off, doesn't want to live with just an old man." For the rest of her life, she wanted to find another lover to satisfy herself, so a man broke in."

I said, "So they hit it off?"

"That's right. The man was a young doctor, and Amberley was neighbors. They both liked to play chess, and they became friends. So this doctor, Ray Ernest, went to Amberley to play chess when he was free." Chess, and by frequent visits to the Amberleys, Ray Ernest and Amberley's wife gradually went from acquaintance to an illicit affair, but our poor customer knew nothing of it. Just last week they both After eloping, the old man found out. This is how he ended up. What is even more infuriating is that this woman took away the money that the old man had saved all his life, and Amberley planned to use the money for the rest of his life. Their elopement was not counted Very serious problem. The question is how will Amberley live if we don't get the money back?"

"Let's help poor Amberley."

"Indeed. But, Watson, you must help me. I have a more important case at hand, and I have no time to go to Lewisham. Amberley insisted on my going, and I explained my difficulty to him." , he agreed with me to send someone there."

I said: "I am willing to help you. Although you may not be satisfied with my work, I will definitely do my best." I went to Lewisham that afternoon to see how Amberley's home was murdered. What is it like.

I came back very late that day, and Holmes was still waiting for me.

I said: "There are only brick roads and old houses. It's too dull. But Amberley's house is very beautiful. It seems that he is the only farmer in a village. His house is called Hwin. It is surrounded by a circle of overgrown trees. surrounded by high walls of moss."

Holmes said: "Don't say such useless words, I want to hear useful things."

"Yes. His house is not easy to find, and the street is winding around corners. Later I asked a tall man to find out. This idler also left a deep impression on me. He has dark skin and a big beard. When I asked for directions , he looked at me with a strange look that I couldn't understand.

"I met him at the door of Amberley's house and he seemed to have been waiting for a long time. I took a good look at him today and he is really peculiar."

"Tell me how you feel," said Holmes.

"His stooped waist recorded what a miserable life he was. But he does not seem to be so small and incompetent as we think. He has broad shoulders and chest, and he walks without slowness, though not very quick."

"Have you not noticed that he has a prosthetic leg?" said Holmes.

"I did not notice."

"I found a crease on his left shoe but not on his right, so I thought he had a prosthetic leg."

"I saw deep wrinkles on his face, gray hair, and a grim expression left on his face by too many hardships. These left a deep impression on me."

"You have read carefully, Watson," said Holmes. "What did you talk about?"

"He started by telling me about his misfortune. He led me into the yard. The house looked okay from the outside, but inside it was full of weeds, as if it had never been trimmed. As soon as I went in, I thought no one lived there. The house hasn't been repaired in years and Amberley is doing it. In the living room I see a bucket of green paint, and he's oiled the wood mostly.

"Later, we talked for a long time in the study. I'll just pick the main ones to talk to you. At first, because you didn't go, he felt a little frustrated, thinking that he didn't get the attention of a big man like you, and he seemed to care a lot.

"He does seem to be in pain. The old man really can't bear this kind of blow. His family's situation is very simple. There are only husband and wife. There is a maid who does housework during the day and leaves at six in the evening. Only Ray Ernest occasionally They went to drop by, and no one came into contact with them. On the night they eloped, Amberley invited his wife to a certain theater. He reserved two seats on the second floor. But his wife was unwell I didn’t go to see it, he went to see it alone. What he said was true, and he even showed me the ticket he bought for his wife.”

Holmes asked with great interest: "Amberley sent his wife to the theater that evening? Have you read the ticket? What is the number? This is a new case, Watson, and you have done well."

"I remember the number 31, and my student number is 31, so I remember it very clearly. Thank you for your compliment. At first, I was afraid that you would not be satisfied with my assignment."

"Then he should be No. 32 or No. 30?" Holmes kept asking about the number.

"Sure. It's the second row."

Holmes said excitedly: "This clue is very important."

"He showed me his so-called safe again. It was really strong. He said that the woman must have secretly assigned a key, and they took all his property, including bonds."

"Why bonds? They're running for their lives."

"I don't know. He said he reported the lost property to the police, hoping not to sell the bond. They took it, which is equivalent to waste paper. When he came home after watching the show, his wife was gone, and the vault was stolen. That's when he knew it was stolen, so he had to report it."

"When you went, he was oiling the room?"

"The doors and windows of the room are all oiled. When I went, he was oiling the pillars in the corridor."

Holmes asked: "I haven't repaired the house for a long time, why do I think of repairing the house now?"

"His own explanation is: people always need some sustenance. He is already so down and out, and he is also very strange, so it is understandable to do some strange things. He also tore up his wife's photo in front of me, obviously He hated her very much, and he scolded these two bitches."

"Any other moves?"

"He didn't do anything, but I was followed when I came back."

"Who is following you?"

"The tall man I just mentioned. When I asked him the way, his eyes were strange. I saw him following me near the train station, and he still followed me after I got off the train. I don't know what he wants to do? "

"Dark, bearded, tall," said Holmes to himself. Suddenly he asked: "Wear a pair of gray sunglasses?"

I was surprised and said, "How do you know he wears gray sunglasses? I never told you."

He added: "He has a Masonic tie pin on his tie."

"Holmes, you seem to know him very well."

"Let's not talk about it. It's actually very simple, and I'll tell you later. Let's talk about this case. According to what you said, I think this case is not simple. At first I thought this kind of elopement was very simple, but now things It's complicated. What you said has to be carefully analyzed. Besides, Watson, you haven't investigated some important subjects. If you think everything through, the case will be handled more easily."

I said: "There is still a loophole in my work, you can tell me."

"Don't mind, I'm not criticizing you for not doing a good job, I just want to make you better. The police provided me with a general situation, which just made up for your mistakes. According to the neighbors, Amberley is very stingy, He has a bad temper and is very demanding of others. It is true that Ray Ernest often went to him to chat and play chess, and he must have the opportunity to talk to his wife. It's natural, but—"

I asked, "But you don't think so, do you?"

"I'm not sure yet, let's talk tomorrow. We've done a lot of work today. We've all worked hard, it's time to relax. Have something to eat before we go to the concert."

When I woke up the next day, I saw only a note from Holmes.

Dear Watson:
I'm going to talk to Amberley today, wait for me at three o'clock, and I'll be back when I'm done.Get ready, I need you out the door.

SH

I waited for him to come back all day, I don't know what he did, and he didn't explain clearly to me in a mysterious way.He came back at three o'clock, and he didn't seem very happy, as if he was thinking about a complicated problem.

"I'll wait for Amberley."

"But he didn't come."

"He'll come. Let's just wait."

That's right.At four o'clock the old man came with a questioning expression.

"Holmes, there is a clue. I have a telegram."

Holmes took it and read:

Don't miss it when you call.Can provide you with news about recent losses.

Elman

vicarage
"Excellent, this clue is indeed important," said Holmes. "Your case is almost clear, Mr. Amberley. The telegram from Little Parrington, which should be very close to Frington. Amberley, you should Go to the priest at once. Since it is a priest, his word can be trusted."

Holmes went to his Who's Who, and said: "Erman, local clergyman, M.A. Well, that's it. Check the time-table quickly and see what time is the nearest train going there?"

I said, "Five twenty."

"Watson, you go with Amberley. He needs your help. If something happens, Watson, you must protect Amberley."

For some reason, Amberley didn't seem to want to travel much.

(End of this chapter)