Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 47 Adventure History (25)
"'That way, you can escape and even have a chance to hide the stolen things, don't you?' But thinking of my terrible situation, I can only soften and ask Arthur to think about it for me, otherwise not only It is my reputation, and the reputation of a much more noble gentleman will be damaged, and even a scandal that will shake the country. I promise that if he tells me where the three missing emeralds are, I guarantee that nothing will be pursued.

"'You should understand that you have been stolen by others. If you refuse to admit it, your crime will only be aggravated. Telling the whereabouts of those green jade is your only way to save yourself. As long as you say it, you will not be held accountable.'

"'Save your pardon for those who beg it,' he said contemptuously, and turned to go.

"Seeing that he was so obstinate and disobedient, I had to have the police take him into custody, and search him all over at once. But he searched all over his body and every place in his room that might hide gems, and found nothing. We almost used I tried all kinds of persuasion and intimidation, but I still couldn't get this nasty boy to speak. This morning, he was sent to prison. I rushed to you for help after completing all the formalities. The police have publicly admitted that they have found nothing so far , I can only hope for you. You can ask how much you need, I have already offered a reward of [-] pounds. But what is the use of this? Lost reputation overnight, and lost treasure and son at the same time, God, What should I do?"

He held his head in both hands, swayed around and muttered to himself, like a helpless child.

Holmes sat for some minutes in silence, frowning and staring at the fire.

"Do you usually receive many guests?" He asked.

"It's just the partners and their families. Arthur's friends come occasionally, and Sir George Penwell has been here a few times these days, and nothing else."

"Do you often go to social events?"

"Mary and I don't go often, we are basically at home, and Arthur often goes."

"That's not normal for a young girl!"

"She is naturally quiet. Besides, she is 24 years old now, not very young."

"According to you, it seems to have greatly shocked her?"

"Yes, maybe she was more shocked than I was."

"You both think your son is guilty?"

"There is no doubt about it. I saw him with the crown with my own eyes."

"I don't think the evidence against him is strong, is there damage to other parts of the crown?"

"Yes, it's twisted."

"You might as well think of it, maybe he's trying to straighten it."

"God bless you, you're speaking for him, and of course you are, but that's unlikely. Well, what the hell has he done there? If he's innocent, why doesn't he say anything?"

"That's right. He wouldn't tell a lie if he was guilty. I think he's silent because he's in a dilemma. There are a few oddities about this case. What do the police think about the sounds that wake you from sleep?"

"They said it might have been Arthur closing his bedroom door."

"What absurdity! It seems as though a perpetrator would have to slam the door loudly and wake everyone up on purpose. Oh, and what do they think of the disappearance of these gems?"

"Right now they're still banging on the floor and searching the furniture, hoping to find them."

"Didn't they look outside the house?"

"Got it. They took a lot of trouble and checked the whole garden."

"Isn't it obvious, then?" said Holmes, "that, my dear sir, the matter is much more complicated than you or the police have imagined. It may seem to you that the case is simple, but in fact I think it is quite the opposite. We will follow your instructions. Let's analyze it logically: Your son got out of bed, came to your living room at great risk, opened the cabinet, took out the treasure, knocked off the top corner with a lot of force, and then found another Pry off the three pieces of green jade and hide them in a place where no one will find them, and then take the rest back to your room at the risk of being discovered by others. Do you think this analysis is feasible?"

"But how else to explain it?" cried the banker, with a gesture of disappointment. "If he has no bad motives, why does he not dare to explain it?"

"It is our business to set the matter straight," said Holmes. "If you agree, I should like to go to your house and spend an hour making a more thorough investigation."

My friends insisted that I go with them.It happened that I wanted to go too, because those statements deeply aroused my curiosity and sympathy.I admit that I share the opinion of the unfortunate father as to whether his son has committed a crime, and we find it obvious.Nevertheless I have great confidence in Holmes' judgment, and believe that, since he does not accept the accepted interpretation, there must be some reason in his favor.On the way to the southern suburbs, he kept silent, with his head down, his hat drooping over his eyes, lost in thought.At this time, our client seemed to be much more emotional because he saw some kind of hope.He even talked to me about some of his business affairs.We took the train for a while, walked a little, and finally came to the grand banker's extremely luxurious Fairbank apartment.

Fairbank was a very large house of white stone, set back from the road.A two-way driveway ran along the lawn to the big iron gate.On the right side of the iron gate is a small clump of shrubs and a narrow path with small hedges on both sides, leading from the road intersection to the kitchen door, which is usually used by retailers to enter and exit.On the left there was a path leading to the stables, but it was not in the courtyard, and it seemed evidently less traveled.Holmes made me stand at the door, and walked slowly round the house by himself, from the front of the house along the peddler's road, and then around the back of the garden to the path leading to the stables, which took a long time.Afterwards, Mr. Holder and I simply went inside and sat by the fireplace in the dining room to wait for him.Just when the two were silent, a young lady opened the door and came in.She was slender, of medium height, with eyes and hair that looked particularly dark against the pale skin.In my memory, I have never seen such a pale woman.There was no blood on her lips, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.It can be seen that she should be a person with a strong personality and a lot of self-control, but at this time she seems to be in more pain than the banker, and she is obviously very frustrated.She dragged her dress and walked in quietly, ignoring my presence, and went directly to her uncle, stroking his hair gently with a feminine tenderness.

She asked, "Dad, you've decided to let Arthur go, haven't you?"

"No, I didn't, son, this must be investigated."

"But I'm sure he's innocent. You should trust your female instincts. I know he's done nothing wrong. You've done him too much, and you'll regret it."

"But if he was really wronged, why didn't he explain it?"

"He was wronged, and we shouldn't doubt him."

"Can I not suspect him? I saw him holding that crown quite plainly."

"He just picked it up and looked at it. Well, believe me, he's been wronged, let it be over! Don't mention it again, it's dreadful that our dear Arthur is in the cell."

"If I can't find the emerald, I will never give up. Mary, I know you love Arthur very much, but you don't know how serious the emerald crown will bring me, and you must not let it go. I have been from London A gentleman has been called in to investigate the matter fully."

She turned to look at me and said, "This is it?"

"No, he's his friend, and he's investigating the stable lane right now."

"The stable lane?" she raised her eyebrows upward. "What did he expect to find there? Well, I think it's this one. I'm sure you'll prove what I'm saying, sir, my cousin." Sir is innocent."

"I have no doubt at all of your opinion, and I am sure you can prove it, because of you," said Holmes, going to the door-mat to wipe the snow from the soles of his shoes. "Mary Hall Miss De, it's an honor to talk to you, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course, sir, if the dreadful matter can be cleared up."

"What did you hear last night?"

"I didn't hear anything until my uncle spoke loudly. I came down after hearing him speak."

"You closed the doors and windows last night, but did you bolt them?"

"It's all bolted."

"Were the windows still bolted as of this morning?"

"Yes."

"Your maid, does she have a lover? You also told your uncle last night that she went out to see him?"

"That's right, the maid waiting in the drawing room. She may have overheard my uncle talking about the crown."

"I understand that you mean that she went out and told her lover that they might conspire to steal the treasure."

"What's the use of these empty reasonings?" cried the banker impatiently. "As I told you, the crown was in Arthur's hand."

"Mr. Holder, take it easy. I must pursue the matter. Miss Holder, you saw that maid coming back from near the side door, didn't you?"

"Yes, I was checking that the door was locked when I saw her sneak back. I also saw the man standing in the dark."

"Do you know who he is?"

"Yes, it's the peddler who brought us vegetables, his name is Francis Bausberg."

"He's standing on the left side of the door—that is, on the road far from the door?"

"Yes."

"He wears a wooden leg."

The young lady's black eyes were frightened. "How do you look like a magician? How do you know that?" She asked with a slight smile, but Holmes did not meet her smile.

"I think I should go upstairs now, and then go around the house again. But I'd better check the downstairs windows before I go upstairs."

He walked quickly from window to window as he spoke, pausing at last in front of the large window in the hall that looked out on the stable lane.He opened the window, examined the window sill carefully with the magnifying glass he brought with him, and finally said: "Now you can go upstairs."

The banker's bedroom was simply furnished, with a gray carpet, a large chest of drawers, and a full-length mirror.Holmes went to the cupboard and stared at the lock.

He asked, "What key did you use to open the lock?"

"It's the one my son said, the key to the pantry in the kitchen."

"Where?"

"It's on the dressing table."

Holmes took the key and opened the chest of drawers.

"It's a silent lock," said he, "that's why it didn't wake you. This box must be the one with the crown in it? We must see." He opened the box, took out the crown, and laid it on the table. It was indeed a work of exquisite jewellery, the most magnificent of which I had never seen in my life.There was a gap in the side of the crown, and three green jades were missing from one corner.

"Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "is the symmetry between this corner and the one that lost the green jade. Now I want you to see if you can break it off."

The banker stepped back nervously and said, "I wouldn't even dream of breaking it."

"Then let me try it," said Holmes suddenly trying to break off the crown, but the crown did not budge. "I feel a little loose, but with my hands, I can't break it with all my strength. An ordinary man can't break it with his hands. Oh, Mr. Holder, if I do break it, What's going to happen? There's going to be a sound like a gunshot. Can you tell it happened a few yards from your bed and you didn't hear anything?"

"I don't dare to think about it, and I don't see any problems."

"It will become clearer. What do you think, Miss Holder?"

"I'm as confused as my uncle."

"When you saw your son, he had no shoes on, not even slippers, did he?"

"Yes, nothing but trousers and a shirt."

"Thank you. I have been fortunate enough to benefit from your answers. If you don't understand this matter, we can only blame ourselves. Mr. Holder, please allow me to go outside to check again."

He insisted on going alone, because he said that there would be many footprints left by too many people, which might cause great difficulties to his work.About an hour later, he came back, his feet were covered with snow, and he still had a mysterious expression on his face.

"I think I've done all the research. Mr. Holder, I think it's best to go back to my lodgings and explain everything to you."

"But, Mr. Holmes, where are the emeralds?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Am I never going to find them?" cried the banker, rubbing his hands. "And my poor son. Is that the hope you give me?"

"My opinion hasn't changed at all."

"God, what happened to my room last night?"

"Tomorrow morning from nine to ten o'clock, if you can come to my apartment, I will try my best to explain everything more clearly. Besides, may I think so, as long as you can get those green jades back, you don't have to Mind the amount of money I spend."

"As long as I find gems, I am willing to give up all my belongings."

"Very well. I shall find out about it before tomorrow morning. Good-bye, and I may come to you again before evening."

I know that my friend has already made up his mind about the case at this time, but what the conclusion is, I don't know.On the way home, I tried to find out a few times, but he kept changing the subject, and finally I had to give up the idea.It was not yet three o'clock in the afternoon when he got home, he hurried into his room, and a few minutes later he went downstairs in a different dress.I saw the man in front of me: collar turned out, wearing a red tie, wearing a pair of broken leather boots, and a worn-out coat that was shiny, looking like a tramp.

"Does it look like this?" he said, looking into the mirror. "I wish you would be with me, Watson, but I'm afraid I can't, because I might be able to find a clue, I might be a fool, but where is it?" I’ll be back in a few hours.” He cut a small piece from the large beef on the sideboard and sandwiched it between two slices of bread—seemingly to fill his mouth. After dinner, I put it in my pocket and turned away.

It turned out that I had just finished my tea when he came back very excited, holding an old boot with an elastic buckle in his hand.He threw his boots into a corner and hurried to get his tea.

He said, "I'm passing by here, and I'll come in on the way, and I have to go right away."

"where to?"

"Over there in the West District. It may take a long time to come back. If it's too late, don't wait for me."

"How things are going"

"Oh, it's okay, no accidents. I went to Mr. Holder's house again after I left, but I didn't enter the house. I can't let go of that interesting doubt, and I can't just sit here and chat. Now I need to take off this clothes immediately. Clothes, change back to your true colors."

From the conversation, I realized that he should have gained a lot.Look, there's a gleam in his eye, and a blush on his haggard face.He hurried upstairs, and a few minutes later the door slammed shut again.I knew that he was very happy to start a new hunt.

I waited until midnight, but he never came back, so I had to go back to sleep.I've seen him disappear for days on end following a lead.Anyway, I didn't know what time he came back afterwards, but when I went down to breakfast in the morning, he was already sitting there, coffee in one hand and newspaper in the other, neatly dressed and full of energy.

"Excuse me, Watson, I ate before you," he said, "but don't forget our appointment with our client this morning."

"It's after nine o'clock," I said, "and the doorbell rang. It must be him."

Yes, it was the banker who came.I was shocked by the change that had taken place in him.Overnight, his broad and strong face became thin and sunken, and his hair seemed to be whiter than before, and he looked sluggish.Compared with yesterday's berserk, it seems to be more painful now.He plopped down on the armchair I pushed him.

"I don't know what crime I have committed to deserve such a cruel punishment," he said. "Just two days ago, I was a rich and happy man, living freely in this world. And now I have come to the world." The situation of being alone in old age is really a double whammy, and Mary has abandoned me."

"Abandoned you?"

"Yes, I found her room empty this morning, with a note for me on the table in the hall. Last night, I said sadly to her that if she married my son, maybe things would be all right. So, but I didn't mean to accuse her, maybe I shouldn't have said so. Here's what she said in the note:
dear uncle:
I feel deeply that I have caused you trouble.This dreadful event might never have happened if I had taken another course.But now, I can no longer live happily under your roof.I think I should leave you forever, don't worry about my future, I will have my own shelter.Above all, please don't look for me, because you won't find it, and that would be a disservice.In life or in death, I will always be

your faithful
Mary
"What does she mean, Mr. Holmes? Do you think she will kill herself?"

"No, absolutely impossible. This may be the best solution to this matter. Mr. Holder, I believe your distress will disappear immediately."

"Oh! Are you sure? Mr. Holmes, have you found anything? Where are the jewels?"

"You don't think a thousand pounds for a piece of emerald is too expensive, do you?"

"I'd like to offer ten thousand pounds."

"No need. Three thousand pounds will be enough. A small honorarium is required. Have you brought your check-book? Here is a pen for four thousand pounds."

The banker wrote the check blankly.Holmes came to the desk and took out a small triangular gold paper bag, in which were wrapped the three green jades.He casually threw the paper bag on the table.

Our client let out an exclamation, and seized it in his hand.

"You've found it!" he cried hastily. "I'm saved! I'm saved!"

He was very excited, and happily pressed those precious jades tightly to his chest.

"Besides, you are in debt, Mr. Holder," said Holmes gravely.

"Debt? How much? I'll pay it right away." He picked up his pen.

"I don't owe it to you, and you want to apologize sincerely to that noble young man, your son, who took it upon himself. If I had a son like that, I'd be so proud to see him do it of."

"It really wasn't Arthur's doing?"

(End of this chapter)