Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 44 Adventure History (22)
That's how Dr. Roylott died, how we told the terrified lady about the horror, how we took the early bus to her aunt's house, and entrusted her to take care of her, how the police investigated, and Getting to the final conclusion, etc., is too lengthy to be repeated here.However, on the way back to the city the next day, Holmes explained to me what I hadn't figured out.

He said: "Watson, I have deduced a wrong conclusion based on insufficient data. This is really dangerous. Because of the appearance of the gypsy, and the fact that the lady saw it by the light of the match at the end of her life. The word 'tape' almost led us in a completely wrong direction. Then I had to admit that the danger could not come from the window or the door, and then I changed my perspective and gradually approached the truth. Like As I told you once, I noticed the vent hole and the bell rope, and found that the rope was just a decoration, and the bed couldn't move, so I became suspicious. I guessed that the rope might be used as a bridge, so that Something came through the hole. Immediately I thought of snakes. Don't forget that the doctor kept some Indian animals. When I connected the two, I thought I was on the right track. Can think of a chemical test to use A poison that cannot even be detected, I am afraid that only a very cold and intelligent person who has been trained in oriental medicine can do it. If the coroner does not have a keen eye, he will not be able to detect the tiny black hole where the fangs have bitten. Then, I Remembered the whistle, and he had to call the snake back before daylight in order not to be found by the victim. Maybe he used the milk we saw to train the snake so that it would return to him when called. He must be in Send the snake through the vent at what I think is the best time. Believe it will crawl on the rope to the bed, and may or may not bite the person in the bed. Maybe she survived every night for a week, but in the end Still doomed.

"I came to this conclusion long before entering his room. It was further confirmed when I checked his chair. He usually stood on the chair in order to reach the air vent. All remaining doubts were dismissed." The safe and the saucer of milk, and the slipknot of the whip cord undone. That metallic clank that Miss Sterner had heard, it must have been from his stepfather hastily shutting the viper in the case. You see, I was there, As soon as I heard the thing hiss, I didn't hesitate to turn on the lamp and beat it hard."

"And you ended up knocking it back in place."

"Not only that, but it also made it turn around and bite its owner. Because the few times I whipped it, it aroused its poison, so it aimed at the first person it saw and bit down hard .Actually, I'm indirectly responsible for the doctor's death, but, to be honest, I don't feel guilty." Engineer's Accidental Business

Of all the cases solved during my close association with Holmes, only two came to his attention through my introductions: the case of Mr. Hatherley's Thumb, and the case of Colonel Wopperton's madness.For readers who are astute and have original insights, perhaps the latter is more meaningful.But the former is more descriptive because it is confusing and dramatic from the beginning, although it does not use much of the deductive method that my friend is best at and most admires.Although the newspapers at that time covered a lot of it, they basically just summarized it in half a column, which was difficult to attract attention. It is far less like peeling rice dumplings, showing the facts in front of you bit by bit, so that the suspicious points of the case follow. The revelation of all the truth gradually surfaced, which makes people more excited to read as if they were on the scene.Although two years have passed, I still remember the scene at that time, because the case left a deep impression on me.

The story happened in the summer of 1889, shortly after my marriage. At that time, I had resumed my old practice and continued to practice medicine, and I had my own nest, so I could only leave Holmes alone in the apartment on Baker Street.But I still went to see him often, and urged him to get rid of his bohemian and anti-worldly life, and often came to my house as a guest.My business is getting better soon, and my home is not far from the train station, so some railway workers often come to see a doctor at my place.Because I once cured a patient who had been suffering for a long time, after he went back, he did not hesitate to publicize my excellent medical skills and introduced many businesses to me.

One morning, just before seven o'clock, the maid knocked on the door and woke me up, saying that two men from Paddington were waiting for me in the consulting room.I dressed in a hurry and went downstairs. According to my experience, patients who come on the railway are generally in serious condition.Downstairs, my old friend, the railway policeman, was walking out of the consulting room, closing the door tightly behind him.

He raised his thumb and pointed to the back, and said softly: "I brought him here, there shouldn't be any major problems now."

"What's going on?" I asked, because seeing his mysterious appearance, I felt like he had locked a monster inside.

He whispered: "It's a new patient. I think it's best to bring him in person, so that he doesn't slip away. Now that he's all right, I have to go. Like you, I have to be on duty." So I left in a hurry, not even giving me a chance to thank him.

I entered the consulting room and saw a gentleman sitting at the table.He was modestly dressed, in a tweed overcoat, and a bonnet lay on top of my books.One of his hands was wounded and covered with a bloodstained handkerchief.He was young, not more than twenty-five years old, handsome, but pale, and seemed to be bearing with all his will the effects of the excruciating pain.

"Excuse me, doctor, to disturb you so early," he said, "I have had a very serious accident during the night. I arrived here by train this morning, and when I was inquiring for a doctor at the station, the kind man sent me Delivered here." He handed the maid a business card, and she placed it on the table next to me.

I picked it up and looked at it. It was printed: Mr. Victor Hatherley, Hydraulic Engineer, 16A Victoria Street (fourth floor).These are the patient profiles. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting," I said as I sat down on the armchair, "I can see that you have just been on the train all night, and taking the overnight train is really a boring thing."

"Oh, I don't feel monotonous and boring," he laughed loudly, and the laughter was high and shrill, and he fell back and forth in the chair with his whole body.As a doctor, I am disgusted with this kind of laughter and stopped him immediately.

"Stop laughing!" I yelled, pouring him a glass of water from the carafe, "Calm down!" But it didn't help, he was still laughing.I suddenly felt that this might be the complete venting of those strong-minded people after experiencing certain disasters.After a while, he finally recovered, his face was very pale, and he looked extremely tired.

"I'm such a shame," he gasped.

"It's nothing, drink this." I mixed some brandy in the water, and his pale cheeks began to flush a little after drinking it.

He said: "It's much better! Please help me to look at the thumb. In fact, it should be said that it is where the thumb used to be."

He untied his handkerchief and held out his hand.The situation was horrifying. There were only four fingers and a scarlet spongy flesh section left inside. The thumb had been chopped off from the root or pulled out by force.

"My God!" I exclaimed, "this wound is horrible, it must have bled a lot."

"Yes, I bleed a lot. After I was injured, I passed out and lost consciousness for a long time. When I woke up, the blood was still flowing, so I hurriedly wrapped it tightly with a handkerchief and wrapped it with a twig. Make it taut.

"Well bandaged! You should be a surgeon!"

"You know, this is also a problem of fluid mechanics, my old profession."

"It should have been cut with a very heavy and sharp instrument." I said while checking the wound.

"Looks like a butcher's cleaver," he said.

"Accident, eh?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why? Is there such a cruel person?"

"Yes."

"horrible."

I wiped the wound with a sponge, washed it clean, applied medicine and wrapped it up, and finally wrapped it with absorbent cotton and a sterile bandage.He lay on the bed, clenching his teeth all the time, not moving a bit because of the pain.

"How do you feel now?" I asked after wrapping.

"Much better, thank you for the brandy and the bandages. I've been weak, and now I'm a different person. I've got a lot to do."

I suggest that you better not think about these, otherwise your nerves will be overwhelmed. "

"Oh, no, not now. I have to go to the police. I'll tell you, they wouldn't have believed me if it hadn't been for the wound. They are telling the truth. Sigh, even if they trust me, I can only provide a few clues, and I wonder if I can uphold justice for me."

I said: "If you really want to solve the problem, you might as well go to my friend Mr. Holmes first."

"Well, I've heard of him," said the patient. "I'd be glad if he'd take it, but it'd be better to call the police at the same time. Would you like to introduce me?"

"Not only can I introduce you, but I can also accompany you to meet him in person."

"Thank you so much!"

"Let's rent a carriage and go together, and we can have breakfast with him. Can your body do it?"

"It can be done. If I don't tell what happened to me, it will be really uncomfortable."

"Then I'll ask the servant to rent a carriage, and I'll be right there." I hurried upstairs, greeted my wife, and 5 minutes later, I and my new partner got into the carriage heading for Baker Street.

As expected, Holmes was walking in the bedroom in his pajamas, reading the Missing Notices, Divorce Notices and other columns in The Times, with the pipe before breakfast in his mouth, which contained the leftover tobacco from the previous day, Tobacco sticks—he always dried them carefully every night before going to bed, and piled them in the corner of the mantelpiece to be used the next day.He entertained us warmly, and had bacon and eggs brought out to feast us on.After dinner, he settled our new friend on the sofa and sat down with a pillow and a glass of brandy and water by his hand.

"It seems that you have been treated very unusually, Mr. Hatherley," he said. "You can lie down here freely, tell us all you know, rest if you are tired, and have a drink later. Refresh yourself."

"Thank you," said the patient, "the doctor's bandaging has relieved a great deal of pain, and this breakfast has enhanced the effect of the treatment. I will waste as little of your time as possible, and take the time to tell about my unfortunate experience."

Holmes sat in his arm-chair, looking very tired, but I knew it was because he was trying to hide his keen attention and urgency.I sat opposite and began to listen quietly to Hatherley's story of his strange case.

He said: "I am an orphan, living alone in London. I am a hydraulic engineer by profession. I have been apprenticed to the famous Wenner and Matheson company in Greenwich for seven years, and I have gained a lot of industry experience. .My father left me a good fortune when he passed away, so I decided to go it alone and make a career out of it, eventually renting offices on Victoria Street.

"I think everyone understands the difficulty of starting a business alone for the first time, and I do the same. In two years, I only accepted three consultations and one small job, and the total income was only £27 ten shillings. Every day from [-]:[-] am to [-]:[-] pm , I stayed there rain or shine, until I thought there would never be any more customers.

"However, as I was leaving yesterday, the clerk said a gentleman wanted to see me on business, and gave me a card bearing the name of Colonel Lysander Stark on it. The colonel and he Entering the room, he was of medium height, very thin, his face was so thin that only the nose and chin protruded, and the skin on his cheeks was tightly attached to the high protruding cheekbones. His haggard appearance was not caused by disease, but rather natural .Because he has sharp eyes, brisk steps, and flexible manner. He is dressed very plainly, and he is about 40 years old.

"'Are you Mr. Hatherley?' he asked, with a slight German accent. 'Mr. Hatherley, I hear that you are proficient in business, modest and discreet, and able to keep secrets.'

"I bowed to him, and, like all young men, I immediately beamed at the compliment. 'Did you ask who complimented me like that?'

"'Well, I can't tell you that just yet, but I hear you're an orphan, living alone in London.'

"'Yes,' said I, 'but if you will excuse my insolence, these seem to have nothing to do with my business, and I hear you have come to see me on business matters.'

"'Indeed. But I won't talk nonsense. We want to entrust you with a business, but it's a confidential matter, and I think it's easier for a single person than a married person.'

"'You may rest assured,' said I, 'that I have promised you that I will.'

"While I was talking, he kept staring at me, I've never seen such a suspicious look.

"He finally said: 'So you promised?'

"'Yes, I will do what I say!'

"'You must keep the whole thing in secrecy, absolute secrecy, and never speak or write about it again, can you do it?'

"'I've promised it.'

"'Great.' He jumped up suddenly, and ran to open the door at lightning speed, checking to see if it was empty.

"'That's good!' He turned back. 'I know, sometimes the clerk is very curious about the business of the employer. Now we can talk in peace.' He moved the chair next to me, and looked at me suspiciously again. I.

"Seeing his strange behavior, I couldn't help feeling a sense of disgust and fear, and even risked losing my client, showing an expression of impatience.

"'Sir, tell your business,' said I; 'my time is precious.' May God forgive me for that last remark.

"'Is fifty guineas enough for a night's work to pay you?' he asked.

"'It's quite a lot.'

"'Talk about one night, but an hour might be enough. What I want to ask you is about the gears on the hydraulic press. You just tell me what the problem is, and we can fix it ourselves. Do you think How about this commission?'

"'The job looks easy and the pay is good.'

"'Yes, we would like you to take the bus tonight.'

"'Where to?'

"'To Edinburgh, Berkshire. A little place near Oxfordshire, not seven miles from Reading, and there's a bus from Paddington that will take you there at fifteen past eleven.'

"'great.'

"'I will fetch you in a carriage.'

"'And some distance in a carriage?"

"'Yes, the place is in the country, seven miles from Eyzin station.'

"'So we can't make it before midnight, and there's no return train, and we're obliged to spend the night there?'

"'Yes, we will arrange a place for you to spend the night.'

"'That's troublesome, can I go at a more convenient time?'

"'I think you'd better come to-night. We've paid you so much money to make up for your inconvenience. That money would have paid for the best minds in the business. If you don't want to do it, there's still time to regret it.'

"The money was very important to me. So I said: 'I'd love to help, but I want to know what exactly my job is?'

"'Yes, perhaps you are troubled by the strict secrecy required of you, and we have no intention of concealing you. I said, are you sure there is no eavesdropping here?'

"'Certainly not.'

"'The thing is, fuller's earth, as you may know, is a very valuable mineral, which is found in only one or two places in England.'

"'I've heard of that.'

"'Not long ago, I bought a piece of land near Reading--a small piece, and luckily I found a deposit of fuller's earth in it. On exploration, I found that this small deposit was connected to two more Big deposits, but both are on my neighbor's land. They don't know anything about it at the moment. It would be a good deal if I bought the land before they found the deposit. But I don't have that much money. So, I told A few friends discussed that we should mine our small deposit secretly first, and then buy the neighbor's land after earning money. We have been working for a long time now, and have installed a hydraulic machine for operation. This machine, I have already Having said that, it's malfunctioning and needs your advice. I'm cautious because if anyone finds out that I've had a water engineer come over to our little place, they'll be surprised and the truth will be revealed and our plans will be ruined .That's how it is, and that's why you keep it a secret.'

"I said: 'I understand, just one thing, does the hydraulic machine work for you to dig fuller earth? As far as I know, fuller earth is just dug out like gravel from a mine pit.'

"'Well,' said he, 'we used our own method. In order not to give away the secret during the transportation, we rolled the earth into adobes to hide, which is the key to the matter. I will tell you everything, explain I already trust you very much. Then we will meet at Ayjin at eleven fifteen." He stood up after speaking.

"'I will go.'

"'Don't tell anyone.' At last he looked at me again with hesitant eyes, shook my clammy hand, and hurried off.

"Afterwards, I calmly thought about it for a long time. I was surprised by this sudden business, but also very happy. Because they paid me ten times what I asked for, and this business may bring other business However, I was not impressed by the appearance and manner of the visitor, and I did not think his explanation of Fuller's earth sufficiently justified the need for me to go in the dead of night. However, I resolved to put all scruples to rest. Forget it, and take the car to Paddington after dinner, and prepare to keep that secret as promised.

"I changed trains at Reading, and just caught the last train for Eyzing. After eleven o'clock, I finally reached the little dimly lit station. I was the only passenger who got off at that station. Platform There was only one porter with a lantern on the road. When I walked out of the ticket gate, I saw the customer I knew this morning waiting in the dark. He quietly grabbed me and urged me into a carriage with the doors open, and immediately closed the windows. Pull it up, knock on the carriage board, and the horse immediately gallops forward."

"Is there only one horse?" asked Holmes.

"Yes."

"Do you remember what color it was?"

"I remember taking a look at it by the light as I stepped into the car, and it was maroon."

(End of this chapter)