Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 92 The Return (3)
"That's out of the question, Lethred, I don't want to be involved in this matter. You're to blame for this fine arrest. Congratulations, Lethred! You subdued him with your usual sagacity." .”

"Who do you mean, Mr. Holmes?"

"It's Colonel Moron, whom all the police have never found. On No. 30 last month, he used this gun to shoot at the window on the second floor of No. 427 Park Road, killing Ronald Adair That's it. Take that charge, Lesred. My dear Watson, if you can stand the cool breeze blowing from outside at this moment, you might as well come to my room for a while and smoke a cigar. , it’s also a form of relaxation.”

Our old house, thanks to the supervision of Mycroft and the immediate care of Mrs. Hudson, has not changed at all.When I came in, the room was very clean, and the furnishings in the room were the same as before.In the place where the chemical experiments were done, there was a pine table with an acid-stained top; on the shelves were large scrapbooks and reference books, all things that Londoners don't like very much.I looked around, and there were wall-charts, fiddle-cases, pipe-racks, and Persian slippers for tobacco.There were already two people in the room at that time, one was Mrs. Hudson, who was smiling very brightly; the other was the dummy of Mr. Holmes who had helped us a lot.Although it is a wax figure, after it is painted and decorated, it is no different from a real person when viewed from the street.

"Mrs. Hudson, did you do exactly as I told you?"

"I did it exactly as you instructed me, and I did it on my knees, sir."

"Excellent! Well done! Do you see where the bullet hit?"

"I see, sir. I'm afraid the bullet has shattered that handsome bust of yours. It went right through the head, and it hit the wall and flattened it. Here, I picked it up off the rug. .”

Holmes took the bullet and handed it to me. "It's a lead-nosed revolver. It's so extraordinary that no one would have guessed that it was fired from an air gun. Very well done, Mrs. Hudson, and your kindness is much appreciated. Watson, now." Please sit back in your old place, there are a few points I want to discuss with you."

He had taken off the old suit for his taupe pajamas, and he was the same again.

"This old guy can't blink his eyes or shake his hands, that's amazing!" he said to me with a smile as he inspected the broken forehead of the wax figure. , but he is the best hunter, and there are too few people here who are better than him. Have you heard his name before?"

"No."

"Look, that might count as famous! If I remember correctly, you haven't heard of James Moriarty, have you? Pass me this biographical index."

He was still sitting in the old chair, leaning back, puffing on his cigarette, and idly checking his notes.

"The stuff I've got in 'M' is good. A guy like Moriarty stands out wherever he's placed. This one's the drug-dealing Morgan, that's the notorious Merido, and that's Matthews who knocked out my left tooth in the waiting room at Chasson Cross. That last one is the guy we caught tonight."

He handed me the notebook, which reads:
Colonel Sebastian Moren, unemployed, formerly in the 1840st Engineer Regiment, Bangalore.Born in 1881, his father was Sir Augustus Moran, former British Minister to Persia.He has studied at Eton College and Oxford University.Served in Chawaki, Afghanistan, Charasiab (Task Force), Shepur, Kabul.Authors include "Great Game in the Western Himalayas" (1884) and "March in the Jungle" ([-]).He lived on Conduit Street and was a member of the Anglo-Indian Club, the Tankville Club, and the Baggetell Card Club.

In the margin, Holmes wrote: Number Two Dangerous Man in London.

"It's amazing," I returned the book to him, "I didn't expect this guy to be a soldier!"

"Indeed," said Holmes, "he did well in a way, and was a man of courage. In India, I heard that he dived into a little ditch to catch the stricken animal. Wounded man-eating tiger. Watson, when some trees grow to a certain height, they will suddenly change and grow into ugly and weird shapes. This can often be seen in the world. I have a theory: the individual is developing The whole process of his ancestors' development is reproduced in it, and the sudden change for better or worse like this shows some kind of influence in his family, and he has become the epitome of family history."

"Your thinking is so strange."

"Perhaps, something happened, and Colonel Moran suddenly became passive and depraved. While in India, although he didn't do too much, he still can't stay there. The reputation is terrible. At this time, Professor Moriarty selected him and asked him to be a staff member. Moriarty paid him to support him, but only wanted him to do one or two high-level cases. You may be right I have some impression of the Stuart murder in Zidd in 1887. I think Moran is the main criminal, but no good evidence has been found so far. He hid it too well. He took him to court. Do you remember one day when I went to see you at your house and I closed the shutters because I was afraid someone would let off an air gun? Maybe you thought I was thinking wild things, but I knew what I was doing, I knew very well then The existence of this powerful gun makes it clearer that behind the gun stands a top shooter in the world. When I was in Switzerland, I found him and Moriarty following us. Needless to say, I was in Lessing That dangerous 5 minutes on the Bach cliff was also given to me by him.

"If you think about the time I lived in France, I read the newspaper every day, just looking for a good chance to catch him. As long as he is not caught for a day, I will be in greater danger. Sooner or later he Will take action on me. What can I do? I can't shoot him as soon as I see him. If that happens, I will go to jail too. But I pay special attention to the crime news in the newspaper and think that I will be arrested soon Chances are I saw the news that Ronald Adair was killed. From what I know, it must have been done by Moran. He must have played cards with the young man first, then followed him home, Shot him through the open window. That bullet alone would have sent him to the guillotine. I hurried back to London, only to be found by his men. He was in a great panic lest I put him on the case. Tell me. I think he must try to get rid of me. He will bring out that weapon again in order to achieve his goal. I left the wax figure as a target at the window and waited for him to come. In the meantime, the police deserve Just now, you saw them hiding in the doorway. Then I found a very good place in my opinion, but I never thought he chose this place. Watson, there is still something you don't understand place?"

"Certainly," I asked, "you haven't said why Colonel Moran wanted to kill Ronald Adair?"

"Oh, my dear Watson, this comes to the part of guesswork. In this respect even the most reasonable mind can be mistaken. Everyone may make his own assumptions from the evidence, and your guesses and mine may be is correct."

"So you've come to a conclusion?"

"I suppose the truth of the case is easy to ascertain, from the testimony that Colonel Moran won a great deal of money with Adair. There is no doubt that Moran cheated. I am sure that on the day Adair was killed, it must have been discovered that Moran was lying. Perhaps he had spoken to Moran about it in private, and threatened to expose Moran unless he quit the club and would never play cards again. As a rule, it was unlikely that the young man would immediately denounce. A man more famous than himself, and much older than himself. I guess he did as I surmised. For Moran, who only makes his living by playing poker for money, quitting is tantamount to death, so he killed Adel. Maybe at that time, Adel was calculating how much money should be given back to those people, and he didn't want the money to be dirty. The purpose of locking the door was to prevent his mother and sister from suddenly coming in and asking What did he do with those lists, it should be more or less the case.”

"I'm sure what you say is the truth of the matter."

"This may or may not be proven at trial. But in any case, Colonel Moran will never bother us again. Von Herder's fine air guns have graced the Scottish Museum, and it is time for Holmes to begin his work again." A new investigation." The will of trouble
"From the point of view of the criminal investigator," said Mr. Holmes, "London has become dull after Professor Moriarty's death."

"I don't think there are too many decent citizens to support your view," I replied.

"Yes, I shouldn't be so selfish," he told me, smiling, as he moved his chair away from the table, "but it's good for society, and no one else has anything to do except the poor expert who has nothing to do." Loss. You could read some very interesting things in the papers every day while that fellow was alive. Usually, Watson, there is only a little clue or a vague trace to know the gang Where is the leader of the bandit. It's as if a small vibration at the edge of a spider's web reminds you of the hideous spider hiding in the center of the web. A little bit of petty theft for those who have clues, Or indiscriminate killing, they can all be considered as a whole. For a scholar who studies the upper-class underworld, London has all the advantages. But now..." He shrugged and expressed his disapproval humorously. He himself spent a lot of effort to create dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Many months had now passed since Holmes returned to London, and I had sold my practice in accordance with his ideas, and returned to the old flats we had shared in Baker Street.A doctor named Verner bought my little practice in Kensington.I really wondered that he paid the highest price I had ventured to offer without hesitation.It wasn't until later that I learned that he was a distant relative of Holmes, and that the money was actually raised by Holmes, and that's when I realized it.

The few months we worked together were not as uneventful and quiet as he described them to be.I glanced at what I had noted down and picked out the interim case of the ex-President Murillo papers and the case of the Dutch steamer Friesland, which nearly cost us our lives.

His cold and proud nature, however, made him so disgusted with public applause of any kind, that he bound me under the strictest rules to say a single word about himself, his methods, and his achievements.As I have already explained, this ban has only been lifted so far.

After posting the bunch of outlandish comments, Mr. Holmes leaned back in his chair and read the newspaper leisurely.Suddenly, a frightening doorbell rang, and then there was a heavy knock on the door, as if the door was being pounded hard with a fist.After opening the door, the man who had knocked hurried down the hall and up the stairs again.After a while, the man ran into the house like a madman.His face was pale, his hair was disheveled, his eyes were angry, and his body was shaking.He stared at both of us, perhaps sensing that it was time to apologize for his recklessness.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Holmes," he cried, "but I am really going mad. I am John Hector MacFarlane."

He introduced himself like this, as if just saying his name, everything he did just now would be logical.There was no change, however, in my companion's face, and I could see that his behavior was of little use to either of us.

"Have a cigarette, Mr. Macfarlane," said Holmes, handing him the case. "I trust that my friend Dr. Watson will prescribe some sedatives for your condition. The temperature has been very cold these days." Gao, if you feel more at ease now, please sit on the chair over there and tell us little by little about yourself. Just saying your name won't do anything. It's like my Maybe know who you are, but I don't know anything about you other than the obvious fact that you're a bachelor, a lawyer, a Kiwi, an asthmatic."

I know my friend's way of doing things very well, and I can understand his reasoning.The young man's papers, his shabby attire, his talisman on his wrist, and his panting voice, which led Holmes to inferences, left the young man stunned.

"Yes, you are quite right. On the other hand, I am now the unluckiest man in London, and for God's sake leave me alone. If they catch me, Mr. Holmes, I will I haven't finished speaking yet, please make sure they give me some time to tell you all the facts. Only when I know that you are running for me outside, can I go to prison with peace of mind."

"Why should you be arrested?" said Holmes. "It is absolutely inconceivable. Tell me what it is? On what charge are they going to arrest you?"

"Murder of Mr. Jonas Oldecke of Lower Norwood."

There was a sympathy in my companion's expressive face, which seemed to bring some satisfaction.

"Huh?" said he. "At breakfast just now I told my friend Dr. Watson that some of the most important social cases have disappeared from the papers."

With trembling hands the young man took the Daily Telegraph from my friend.

"If you have read today's newspaper, sir, you must be able to see the purpose of my coming here today. I feel that everyone is talking about my name and my disaster." He turned the newspaper to the important news Version. "Here it is, and I'll read it to you if you will. It's titled 'Mystery in Lower Norwood—Disappearance of Famous Building Engineer—Suspected Murder by Arson—Crime Lead' and that's what they're doing. Leads to the investigation. Sir, they will surely find me. When I got off at London Bridge station, I was followed. They may be waiting for a warrant for my arrest. It will definitely make my mother Sad." He was very frightened, bent his hands hard, and kept shaking on the chair.

I carefully observed this man who was accused of murder: his hair was light yellow, his eyebrows were delicate, but he was very tired, his blue eyes were full of fear and fear, he had no beard at all on his face, and the tense corners of his mouth revealed his indecision.He was about 20 years old, and his manner showed that he was well-bred.From the pocket of his light-coloured garment peeped a roll of signed certificates stating his occupation.

"We must make the most of the time," said Holmes. "Will you, Watson, read that passage?"

Under the heading the young man said, there was a hinted passage, which I read accordingly:

"There was an accident in Lower Norwood late last night, or early this morning, which must have been a very serious crime. Mr. Jonas Oldecke, a well-known resident of that suburb, became rich in the building trade for many years. Approx. Nath Oldeke is single, 52 years old, and lives in Glen Manor at the end of Siddenham Road. He is famous for his eccentric personality, rarely speaks, and never socializes with others. In recent years, he has retired from the construction industry. But the lumber yard behind the house was still there. Last night at about twelve o’clock, the lumber yard sounded a fire alarm, and the fire trucks arrived quickly, but due to the fierce fire caused by the dry wood, it was impossible to take rescue actions until all The wood was exhausted, and the fire was exhausted. So far, the cause of the fire seems to be accidental, but there are other indications that it is man-made. It is strange that the owner was not at the scene of the fire. After investigation, it is known that the head of the household The bed in the bedroom has never been slept in, but the door of the safe is open, and a lot of important documents are scattered on the ground. In addition, there are signs of a fight in the room, a small amount of blood and an oak cane , which was also stained with blood. It has been established that Mr. Oldecke had been in the bedroom late at night, and the cane must have belonged to a visitor. John Hector MacFarlane, a young lawyer, is a member of Gresham, Middle East. Partner of Graeme-McFarlane, Building 426. He has called late at night, and the police have found strong evidence. In short, the case has made an astonishing progress.

"At the time of going to press, Mr McFarlane is said to have been arrested on suspicion of Oldeker's murder and a warrant has been issued. The investigation is ongoing in Lower Norwood and new discoveries have been made. Architect's downstairs bedroom In addition to the traces of fighting, it is now found that the floor-to-ceiling window is open, and there are traces of dragging heavy objects from the room to the wood pile. Finally, a charred corpse was found in the burnt fire. The police speculated that this was a shocking homicide. The victim was beaten to death indoors, and then the murderer stole important documents and burned the body. The case has been handed over to Scotland Yard experienced police officer Les Reid for investigation and evidence collection. At this time, he The case is being investigated fully.”

After hearing this astonishing report, Holmes closed his eyes and pressed his fingertips together.

"There are certain points of doubt in this case," he said slowly. "Mr. MacFarlane, I want to ask you a little, since it sounds like they have evidence for your arrest, why are you free now? "

(End of this chapter)