Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 90 The Return (1)
The captain was harpooned to death on the wall. Is there any other reason for this cruel murderer and the deceased?
Another statue of Napoleon was smashed. Does this perpetrator have a grudge against Napoleon, or is there some hidden secret in the statue of Napoleon?

Empty house hunting "beast"

In the spring of 1894, the venerable Mr. Ronald Adair was murdered for unknown reasons.This case not only attracted the attention of all London, but also brought great panic to the upper class.The details of the case released by the police in the conclusion of the investigation are already known, but many details have been redacted.This is because the reasons for the prosecution are very strong, and it is not necessary to disclose all the evidence.Today, ten years later, let me fill in the missing links in the case-solving process.The crime itself was interesting enough, but it was nothing to me in comparison with the unthinkable events that followed, which were more extraordinary than anything I had ever experienced in my life. shocked me.Even now, thinking about these things still makes me shudder, and once again a surge of joy, wonder, and disbelief from the bottom of my heart completely overwhelms my reason.Let me say a word to those readers who care about Holmes: please don't blame me for not getting them to share everything I know.I would have made it my first duty had it not been for his own order that it be forbidden.And this ban was not lifted until the 3rd of last month.

It may be imagined that my close acquaintance with Mr. Holmes gave me a great deal of interest in strange criminal cases.After his disappearance, as long as there are mysterious cases published publicly, I will conduct careful research without omission.Perhaps it's a personal interest, but I've always tried, often unsuccessfully, to explain events in his way.No mystery has fascinated me so much as the tragic death of Ronald Adel.When I read the evidence presented at the trial and on the basis of which an unidentified person or persons were suspected of premeditated murder, I realized more clearly what a loss Holmes' death has caused this society.I'm sure some doubts about this strange event must have attracted him.

Moreover, the keen observation and wit of Europe's premier criminal detective may well make up for the lack of police force, and more likely lead them to act earlier.Although I made rounds all day, the case was always on my mind, but I couldn't find the answer.I had no choice but to recount briefly what had become public at the conclusion of the trial, at the risk of telling an old story.

Mr. Ronald Adair, an Australian, was the second son of the Earl of Meluse, a governor of a certain colony.His mother had returned to England for surgery and now lives with her son and daughter at 427 Park Street.This young man had come and gone in good society, and, as far as everyone knew, he had no enemies and no vices.He had been engaged to Miss Edie Woodley, of Castles, but the engagement had been broken off some months before, and there had been no apparent attachment to each other since.He usually spends his time in a small and closed circle, and because of his cold personality, he has long been accustomed to an unchanging way of life.But death struck the young man in a strange way, between ten and eleven twenty in the evening on March 1894, 3.

Ronald Adair liked to play cards, and the stakes were high, but that never detracted from his identity.He is also a member of the three card clubs of Baldwin, Cavendish, and Baggertell.On the day of his murder he had been at the Cavendish Club for a while after dinner, where he had also played cards that afternoon.Mr Murray, Sir John Hardy and Colonel Moran, who were with him, testified that they played cards together.Adel lost less than five pounds, and such a small loss would not have any effect on a rich man like him.He played poker in one club or another almost every day, but he played cautiously and always won before leaving.The testimony also stated that he had partnered with Colonel Moran and won more than £420 from Godefel Milner and Lord Balmoral a few weeks earlier.These are the recent facts about him mentioned in the investigative report.

It was ten o'clock sharp when he came home from the club on the night of the accident.His mother and sister were not at home.The maid said she heard him go into the second-floor vestibule (he used to use it as his bedroom) when the fire had already been lit.He opened the window because of the smoke.Mrs. and Miss Melos returned about twenty past eleven, when the house was very quiet.The lady wanted to go in to say good night to her son, but found the door locked from the inside.The mother and daughter yelled and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. They felt that something was wrong, so they asked someone to knock the door open.They saw their relatives lying on the table, having been shot in the head, looking horrific, but there was no murder weapon in the room.Strangely enough, there were two ten-pound notes on the table, and eleven pounds and ten shillings in gold and silver.The money was divided into ten small piles of varying amounts.There are also some small notes next to it, recording the amount of money and the names of the players, from which it can be guessed that he was calculating how much he won at that time.

A detailed examination of the scene can only make the case more confusing.First, it was impossible to explain why the young man locked himself in the house.Of course, it is more likely that the murderer locked the door and escaped through the window.However, the window is more than 30 feet above the ground, and more importantly, the flower bed under the window is full of crocuses, and there is no trace of being stepped on inside, and the grass between the house and the street has not been stepped on. trace.Therefore, it is obvious that the door was locked by the young man himself.Second, if anyone could shoot through a window from the outside and inflict such fatal injuries, he must be a sharpshooter.However, Park Road is a pedestrian avenue.There was a coach-stand within a hundred yards of the house, and it was impossible to shoot someone on such an occasion and not hear the shots.

Since no breakthrough could be found, the case became even more bizarre.As I said before, Adel has no enemies, and now the money and valuables in the house have not been touched, which is even more strange.

I've been thinking about this all day long, trying to find a theory that fits all the facts, and a direction of least resistance, which my deceased friend called the starting point of all investigations.In the evening I strolled through the park, and came to the junction of Park Road and Oxford Street about six o'clock.A group of loafers lined the sidewalk, looking up at a window of the house I had come to see.A tall, lanky man in dark glasses--I very much doubted he was a plainclothes detective--was telling some theory of his, and the others crowded around him to listen.I leaned forward to hear what he had to say, but his reasoning sounded so absurd that I withdrew from the crowd in a bit of disgust.At this moment, I bumped into a disabled old man and knocked a few books he was holding onto the ground.As I was picking up those books, I saw one called "The Origin of Tree Worship."I guess the old man must be a bibliophile, collecting some uncommon books as a profession or as a hobby.I tried my best to apologize for this unexpected incident, but unfortunately, the few books I touched were obviously very precious things in the eyes of the owner. He was very angry, turned around and left with a loud roar, I just Can watch his back disappear into the crowd.

I've been to 427 Parkway many times and it doesn't help me at all to figure out my concerns.The house was separated from the street by a low wall, half a fence, no more than five feet high, and it was fairly easy for anyone to get in and out of the garden, but it was impossible to climb the window, because there was no water pipe or anything to use outside the wall. to help him climb up.This left me even more confused than before and had to go back to Kensington.

I hadn't been in the study for five minutes when the maid came in and said someone wanted to see me.What surprised me was that the visitor was none other than that weird bibliophile.His thin and chiseled face was exposed from the gray beard, and he carried a dozen of his beloved books under his left arm.

"You didn't expect it to be me, sir." His voice was strange and hoarse.

I admit, I didn't think it was him.

"I feel really sorry, sir. I was limping after you just now, and happened to see you coming into this house. I wanted to come and see your kind sir, and tell you that I just The attitude is not good, but there is no malice. I would like to thank you for helping me pick up these books." The visitor said.

"It's a trivial matter. I want to ask, how did you recognize me?" I said.

"Sir, if you don't mind my presumptuousness, we are neighbors. My little bookshop is just around the corner from Church Street. You must collect books too! Sir, there are Birds of England, Cetura These books, "The Holy City," are very cheap, and if you have five more, you can fill the second shelf, which is not very neat now. Is it, sir?" The old man spoke slowly.

I looked back at the bookcase.When I turned my head again, I saw Sherlock Holmes standing over the table smiling at me!I stood up suddenly, stared at him for a long time in amazement, and then I must have fainted, for the first and last time in my life.A gray mist swirls before my eyes, and then, when I wake up, I realize that my neckline is unbuttoned and I still taste the spicy brandy on my mouth.Holmes leaned back in my chair, holding in one hand the decanter which he always carried with him.

"My dear Watson," said a familiar and friendly voice, "I am very sorry. I really did not expect you to be so excited."

I hugged him tightly.

"Holmes!" I cried. "Is it really you? Are you alive? How have you ever managed to crawl out of that dreadful abyss?"

"Wait a minute," he said, "do you really have the energy to talk about this now? It's not a little exciting for you to have such a dramatic appearance!"

"I'm all right. But seriously, Holmes, I can't believe my eyes. My God! I don't think so! It's possible that all the people in the world are standing in my study, except you." And I said He pulled up one of his sleeves again, and touched that strong and lean arm. "Anyway, you're not a ghost, and I'm so glad to see you. Sit down, and tell me how you escaped that dreadful valley," I said.

We sat down facing each other, and he lit a cigarette as usual.He was wrapped in an old bookseller's coat, and the pile of white hair and a few other old books were on the table.Holmes looked thinner and sharper than ever, but there was a trace of pallor in his face which told me that his life must have been irregular of late.

"I am very glad to have straightened my waist, Watson," said he. "To tell the truth, it is really difficult for me to lose a foot in height for hours at a time. I will return to you when the explanation of all this is done. I will tell you the whole situation. I need your cooperation at this time, as we have a difficult job ahead of us."

"I want to know very much, and I want to hear it immediately." I said anxiously.

"Well, would you like to come with me tonight?" he said.

"No matter what time and place, I am willing to go." I said.

"It's really the same as before, and we can have a little dinner before we go. Well, let me tell you about the canyon first. It is not very difficult for me to escape from it, and the reason is very simple. : I didn't fall at all."

"Really?" I was surprised.

"Really, Watson. That message I sent you earlier was true. I felt my doom was approaching when that dreadful Professor Moriarty stood on the narrow passage leading to the escape exit. From his dark What I saw in Hui Hui's eyes was heartlessness. So I talked to him a few words, and after getting his permission, I wrote the text message you received later. I left the text message, cigarette case and walking stick in the narrow passage , and continued to walk forward, with Moriarty following me closely. When he reached the end, he didn't draw out his weapon, but rushed up and hugged me. Of course he knew that everything was over for him, All I can think about is getting revenge on me. We're wrestling on the edge of a waterfall. You know I know some judo, I've used it a few times in the past. I'm out of his arms and he's crazy He also screamed horribly, kicked several times, and scratched aimlessly with his hands. Despite his great efforts, he couldn't keep his balance and fell. I poked my head and saw him fall to the ground. It bounced off a rock and ended up in the water."

I was amazed to listen to him tell his story while smoking a cigarette.

"But there are still footprints there!" I exclaimed. "I saw with my own eyes two sets of footprints going forward at the same time, but none of them was going back."

"The thing is like this. At the moment he fell into the abyss, I suddenly realized that fate had prepared such a rare opportunity for me. You must know that there is not only one person who wants to kill me! There are at least three people, Their desire to avenge me is only intensified by the death of their leader. They are the most dangerous of men. Among them, there must be someone who will find me. Besides, if the whole world thinks that I dead, then these three people will reveal themselves soon, so I can finish them. At that time, I can announce to the world that I am still alive. Before Moriarty sank under the waterfall Before the bottom of the abyss, I made this decision.

"I got up and looked at the cliff behind me. In your vivid description, which I have since read with relish, you were sure it must be a cliff. But it wasn't. There were several narrow footholds on the cliff, There is also a place that looks like a ledge. Of course, it is impossible to climb such a high cliff, and it is also impossible to walk out along the wet narrow path without leaving footprints. At that time, I also thought of You can do what you did before, and wear your shoes backwards, but three rows of footprints in the same direction are obviously too fake. I have to risk my life to climb up. This is not a fun thing, Watson. The waterfall is in There was a rumble under my feet. I am not good at fantasizing, but it is true, I seemed to hear Moriarty's voice calling to me from the abyss. Several times I missed the grass next to me or my feet from the wet rocks. As I slid down the gap, I thought I was doomed. But I climbed desperately and finally climbed onto a ledge a few feet wide, covered with soft moss, where I could lay down comfortably And without being seen. My dear Watson, I was lying on a ledge watching my death while you and your entourage were sympathetically but ineffectively examining the scene of my death.

"After you made a completely wrong conclusion, you left the scene and went back to the hotel, and I was left alone in the end. I thought everything was over here, but unexpectedly there was a sudden accident, which made me feel Something even more terrifying was about to happen. A big rock suddenly fell from above, passed me with a bang, hit the narrow path below, and then jumped up and fell into the water. I thought it was A rock fell by accident. After a while, I looked up and saw a human head peeking out of the gray sky. Then suddenly another rock fell, this time hitting the ledge where I was lying, not far from my head. A foot away. It was obvious that Moriarty was not acting alone. While he was acting on me, one of his henchmen was watching, and I saw at a glance what a dangerous guy this was. He saw all the situation clearly in the dark, and after you left, he detoured to the top of the cliff in an attempt to realize the plan that his accomplice failed to succeed.

"I didn't linger long in thinking about this. Watson, when I saw that fierce face looking down the cliff again, I knew it was a sign that another stone was about to fall. There were so many, I quickly climbed down. It was really dangerous, but it was much safer than climbing up. Just as I was climbing down the ledge, another stone fell from me. I was startled, and my foot was empty. Fortunately, God blessed me, and I happened to fall on that small narrow road. Although I couldn't avoid falling to my head and blood, I was finally saved from death. I got up and fled desperately. After groping about ten miles in the dark hills, I arrived in Florence a week later, thinking that this would ensure that no one in the world would know my whereabouts.

"There was only one person I could trust at that time, and that was my brother Mycroft. I must apologize again, my dear Watson. At that time, the most important thing was to let people know that I was dead. If you If you don't believe that I am dead, how can I write a convincing story. In the past three years, I have wanted to write to you more than once, hoping to tell you all this. But I am very worried, afraid that you will die because you care too much about me. I accidentally leaked the secret. Because of this, when you knocked my book away today, the only thing I could do was to avoid you as soon as possible. At that time, my situation was too dangerous.

(End of this chapter)