Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 42 Adventure History (20)
"That's simple. I clearly remember everything that happened at that terrible moment. Let me talk about the general situation of the mansion first. It is very old, and now only one wing is occupied. The bedroom in the wing is on the first floor. The living room is in the middle, and the bedrooms for the three of us are next to each other. The first is my stepfather's, the second is my sister's, and the third is my own. These rooms are connected but not connected, and the rooms are all facing Those who open the door in the same aisle, I don’t know if you understand me when I say that?”

"understood."

"There is a lawn outside the room, and the windows of the three rooms all face the lawn. My stepfather went back to his bedroom early that night, but we know he was not asleep because he had been smoking Indian cigars and the smell It made my sister miserable. He had been smoking this cigar for a long time and was very addicted. Then my sister couldn't take it anymore, so she came to my bedroom for a while, and we talked about her wedding. When It was past eleven o'clock when she returned to her room. I remember she stopped again when she reached the door and asked me back.

"'Helen, have you ever heard someone whistle in the middle of the night?'

"I said: 'Didn't hear that.'

"'I suppose you can't whistle while you're asleep?'

"'Why, why do you ask?'

"'Because for several nights, around three o'clock in the morning, I could always hear a soft whistle. I was a light sleeper, so I was woken up. I don't know where the sound came from, maybe it came from the next door, Or from the lawn, I just wanted to ask you if you heard it.'

"'I've never heard of it. It must be the gypsies on the plantation.'

"'It's possible, but if the whistle really came from the lawn, it's strange why you didn't hear it.'

"'Oh, maybe I'm a deeper sleeper than you, so I can't be woken up easily.'

"'Well, forget it, it doesn't matter anyway.' She turned her head, smiled at me, and went out, closing my door behind me. After a while, I heard her opening her door, The sound of the key turning in the lock came clearly to my ears."

Holmes said: "What? You are in the habit of locking yourselves up in the middle of the night?"

"Yes."

"Why do this?"

"I just told you that Dr. Roylott has a cheetah and a baboon who are running around on the doctor's property, and we must not feel safe if we don't lock the door at night. "

"I see, please continue."

"I couldn't sleep after listening to what my sister said that night. An ominous feeling weighed heavily on my heart. As I said, my sister and I are twin sisters, and the tacit understanding between our hearts is what other sisters cannot. That night, the storm continued, and the wind and raindrops kept hitting the window, which scared me. Suddenly, a frightening scream pierced the night sky. It was my sister's voice. I jumped out of bed I jumped up, grabbed the shawl, put it on my body, and rushed to the aisle. Just when I opened the door, I heard a soft whistle. Although I was in a panic, I still felt that the sound was similar to that of my sister. It was as described. Then I heard a clang of metal falling to the floor. I ran down the hallway to my sister's room and found her door had been opened and was slowly opening. I was petrified and stunned. Staring at the door, I was afraid that something terrible would come out of it. At this time, through the light, I saw my sister appearing at the door. Her face was pale and full of fear, her hands were groping forward, trembling, and her body was shaking. Shaking. I hurried over to hug her, she seemed to have no strength at this moment, collapsed on the ground, rolling there in pain, her limbs twitched, it was unbearable to watch. At first I thought she didn't recognize me, But when I leaned over to pick her up, she gave a sudden, horrific cry that I will never forget. She cried, 'Oh, my God, Helen, that tape! That speckled one! Tape!' She didn't seem to express her meaning clearly, she wanted to say something more, and raised her hand, pointed to the doctor's room, opened her mouth, but the words didn't come out, and the terrible convulsions began again. Seeing her sister's pain I hurried out and called my stepfather. He was now in his pajamas and hurried out of his room. When he came to my sister, she was unconscious. He quickly poured her brandy, and The village doctor was called, but it was too late, any effort was in vain, my sister was dying. She was unconscious all the time, and finally stopped breathing, and my sister passed away tragically."

"Wait a moment," said Holmes. "Are you sure you heard the soft whistle and the clang of metal? Are you sure?"

"The local coroner asked me that during the inquest and I did hear it and it made an impression on me, my sister had told me about the whistle before she died and it gave me an ominous feeling. But it was windy and windy that night, the sound was very mixed, and there was also the creaking sound of the old house, and it is possible to hear it wrong."

"Was your sister still wearing her day clothes at the time?"

"No, she's changed into her pajamas already. She holds a burnt matchstick in her right hand and a matchbox in her left."

"You mean, she lit a match and looked around when it happened. That says something. What's the coroner's conclusion?"

"He investigated very carefully, because my stepfather's conduct was notorious in the local area. But in the end, no convincing cause of death was found. I can attest that the room is absolutely safe, because the door is always locked behind the door, and the window is locked. There were old-fashioned shutters with wide iron bars, which were closed every night when they were drawn. The walls and floors were checked and found nothing wrong. The chimney, though wide, was bolted with four large grommets, It’s also very safe. Judging from the structure of the house, my sister was indeed the only one in the room when the accident happened. And she didn’t have any traces of violence on her body, not a single scratch.”

"Did you get poisoned?"

"The doctors also suspected it, but they denied it after the examination."

"How do you think the lady died?" he asked me.

"Perhaps it was the fear and excessive mental shock that harmed her. I don't know what terrible thing she saw."

"Were there any gypsies on the plantation that night?"

"Yes, there are always some gypsies there."

"From the tape she mentioned—a speckled tape, what can you guess?"

"Sometimes I think that's probably nonsense, she's out of her mind. But sometimes I think she's referring to someone. Maybe the gypsies on the plantation. Many of them wear A speckled turban, I don't know if that explains that puzzling adjective."

Holmes shook his head, as if dissatisfied with her speculation.

He said: "The problem is not that simple, you continue to talk."

"In the two years since the tragedy, I have lived a more lonely and lonely life because I lost my only sister. But things have changed. A month ago, a close friend came to me and proposed to me. We have known each other for many years. His name was Armitage—Percy Armitage, the second son of Mr. Armitage. They lived near Cranwater. As my stepfather had no objection to the marriage, We decided to get married in the spring. But two days ago, the wing room on the west side of the house was renovated, and some holes were punched in the walls of my room, so I had to move to my sister's previous house, where she died, and sleep On the same bed she slept in. Unexpectedly, something terrible happened again. Last night, I lay in bed and couldn’t fall asleep, thinking quietly about my sister’s tragic experience. The terrible scene made me scared to death. Just then, I suddenly heard a soft whistle—the whistle that once foreshadowed my sister's death. Imagine how frightened I would be! I jumped up immediately, lit the lamp, and searched the house But I was scared out of my wits. I hurriedly dressed and didn’t dare to go to bed again. Just after dawn, I quietly escaped and hired a guest at the Kelang Hotel opposite I took a one-horse carriage all the way to Leatherhead, and from there I came to you, and I hope you can help me and show me a way."

"You're right," said my friend, "but have you given all the details?"

"Yes, I've said all I can think of."

"Miss Roylott, you are lying, you haven't finished all the circumstances, at least you are covering up something for your stepfather."

"Ah, what did you say?"

In answer, Holmes pulled up the hem of her cuffs which concealed her hands, where on her white wrist five bruises, four fingers and one thumb, were clearly visible. "

"You have been abused," said Holmes.

The guest blushed and covered his injured wrist again and said: "He is strong and strong, so strong that he can't even control the severity." Her voice was very low.

There was a silence in the room, and everyone was thinking about their own problems.Holmes was still staring at the fire with his chin resting on his hands in the trademark manner.The fire was crackling and burning vigorously.

He concluded by saying: "This is a very serious and complex case. More details, the better, have to be known before we can act. But time is running out and I want to see those rooms without your stepfather knowing. is today Okay?"

"That's right. It just so happens that my stepfather is going to the city today to run some errands. He may not come home for a day. You can move freely. Although there is a housekeeper at home, she is not only old but also unresponsive. I can dismiss her at will."

"Very well, Watson, will you come with me?"

"of course."

"All right, let's go together. Is there anything else you can do yourself?"

"I'll take the twelve o'clock train home to wait for your visit. But now that I'm in town, I'd like to do a thing or two before I go back."

"I'll be there shortly after noon. Please arrange everything for us, I have some small business to attend to before then. Would you like to sit a little longer and have some breakfast?"

"No, thank you. I'm leaving. After telling you, I feel much happier. I'll be waiting for you. Please come this afternoon." She pulled down the thick veil to cover her face, and walked out quietly .

"What do you think, Watson?" Holmes asked me, leaning back in his chair again. "I think this is a very insidious and vicious conspiracy that has been planned for a long time."

"It's indeed sinister and vicious, killing people, but it's unknowingly."

"But the lady said that the floors and walls were not damaged, and the doors, windows, and chimney were impenetrable, and if these are true, it would be certain that her sister was indeed alone in the room when she died without cause."

"Where did the whistle come from in the night? What was the meaning of the incomprehensible words that the woman said before she died?"

"I can't explain that either."

"Strange whistles in the night; a gang of gypsies who were close to Dr. Roylott; we have every reason to believe that the old doctor wanted to prevent his step-daughter from marrying; what the woman said about the belt before she died; and Helen Mention that she heard a clatter of metal (possibly from a metal bar fastening the shutter)... As long as these circumstances are put together, I think there will be a clue, and along the way With these clues, the mystery can be completely solved."

"What, then, was the part played by the gypsies on the plantation?"

"At the moment I don't know."

"I think there are a lot of holes in that reasoning right now."

"Yes. That's why we had to go and see for ourselves today. I want to know if the bugs are fixable, or if they're just inexplicable. Hey! Who's there?"

With a cry from my friend, someone burst open our door.A burly man stood in the doorway, he was dressed like a specialist and a peasant, and he looked strange and neither fish nor fowl.He wore a black top hat and a long frock coat, but he wore high boots with gaiters.He was tall, wielding a hunting whip in his hand, and standing there almost burst the door.A broad face was wrinkled and sallow from the sun's long exposure.At this time, he was looking back and forth between Holmes and me with an evil expression. His deep-set eyes gleamed fiercely, and with his slender and tall hooked nose, he looked like an old, ferocious bird of prey. .

The strange old man asked: "Which of you is Sherlock Holmes?"

Holmes replied calmly: "I am, sir. Who are you?"

"I am Dr Gramsby Roylott of Stormokland."

"Oh, doctor," said Holmes kindly.

"Don't get close to me. I've been following my stepdaughter. I know she just came here. What did she tell you?"

"The weather here has not been very good this year," said Holmes.

"What did she tell you?" cried the old man, furiously.

"But I heard that the tomato blossoms are about to bloom, and they will be great." My companion continued to chat and laugh.

"You're perfunctory, aren't you?" The old man waved the hunting whip in his hand and took a step forward. "I'm no stranger to you. I've heard of you before, you scoundrel. Your name is Holmes, a meddling guy."

My friend smiled slightly.

"Holmes, you meddlesome fellow!"

My friend is even more smiling.

"Holmes, you self-righteous, dusty little official of Scotland Yard!"

This time Holmes laughed out loud and said, "You are too humorous. Please close the door when you go out. The wind outside the door is blowing in."

"I'll go now. I warn you, mind my own business. I know Miss Sterner has sought you out, and I've been following her. I'm a dangerous man, I tell you! What?" He took a few quick steps, seized the poker, and bent it in his thick hands.

"Be careful I don't catch you," he cried, throwing the twisted poker into the fireplace, and strode out of the room.

"He is a very pleasant fellow," laughed Holmes. "Though I am not as big as he is, if he stays a little longer he will see that I am as good with my hands." While talking, he picked up the twisted pair of steel tongs, and with a strong force, he restored it to its original shape. "It's really unreasonable. It's ridiculous to confuse me with the police! However, this little episode has added fun to our detective work. I only hope that the lady will not suffer any more. I can't imagine that this beast It is too worrying to be followed. Come, Watson, let us have breakfast, and after dinner I will go to the College of Physicians, and hope to find some information that will benefit the case."

Sherlock Holmes walked to the College of Physicians after breakfast, and returned a little faster.He held a piece of paper with notes and figures scribbled on it in his hand.

"I looked up Mrs. Sterner's will, and in order to see what it really meant, I had to work out how much they would have profited from those investments. Its total income was a little under eleven hundred pounds before the lady died. But now, with the shock of falling farm prices, only £750 is left. According to the will, each daughter is entitled to an income of £250 a year when they marry. Obviously, if both of his stepdaughters marry, Then his property will not be much left. Even if only one lady is married, it will make him very embarrassed. I have worked very meaningfully this morning, and these materials can prove that he has motives to prevent two girls from getting married. Watson, now Time is short, and the old man has noticed our meddling, and it will be dangerous if we don't hurry. We'll take a cab to Waterloo Station, and you'd better take your revolver with you. Don't forget, our Opponents can bend the poker, but an Ellie No. [-] should be the best tool against him, and besides this, I think a toothbrush is enough."

At Waterloo we just caught a train for Leatherhead.When we got to the station, we hired a cab at the station hotel, and drove another five or six miles on the single carriageway.It was a beautiful day, full of spring, the trees showing their first shoots, and the earthy smell in the air was refreshing.The contrast between what we saw and what we were doing was simply wonderful.The scenery is spring-like and pleasing to the eye, but what we are doing is a murder investigation.My friend sat in the front of the carriage, arms folded, hat pulled down over his eyes, and his head on his chest, evidently in thought.Suddenly, he raised his head, patted my shoulder, and pointed to the green grass opposite.

He said, "Look, over there."

There is a garden full of trees, and if you walk up a gentle slope, you will see a forest.There is a very old mansion in the woods, its gray walls and high roof can be seen vaguely.

"Stormoklan," said Holmes.

"Yes, sir, this is where Dr. Gramsby Roylott lives," said the coachman.

"It is being renovated over there, and that is our destination," said Holmes.

The coachman pointed to the left and said: "The village is over there, but it will be closer for you to visit Dr. Roylott along this road: there are steps on both sides of the fence, walk through those steps, and then follow the path in the field. Over there, the path that the lady is walking."

"The woman walking on that path should be Miss Sterner," Holmes carefully discerned, covering the light with his hand, "it seems that we should do what you said."

After getting off, we paid the fare, and the carriage returned the same way.

Holmes said to me as he walked up the steps: "I want the driver to think that we are architects, or other people who handle affairs, otherwise he will gossip. Good afternoon, Miss Sterner, you see, we have not broken our promise and are punctual." coming."

The client who had just met in the morning heard this and rushed over to greet him, looking very happy.

"I am anxiously awaiting you," she said, shaking our hands warmly. "I have arranged everything according to my plan, and it is going well. Mr. Roylott has gone to town and will not return before dark." .”

"We have already met him," said Holmes.

Miss Sterna turned pale when he told the story of the doctor's riot at the flat that morning.

She exclaimed, "My God, so he's been following me?"

"It seems so."

"He is very cunning, and I can often feel that he is watching me. I really don't know what he will do to me when he comes back."

(End of this chapter)