Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 21 Memoirs 21
"That's when I realized how dire my situation was. I had always thought that the document would be found quickly, so I hadn't imagined the consequences of not finding it. It was terrible. I thought of my uncle and his cabinet colleagues, Thinking of the humiliation I have brought to relatives and friends, what is my gain and loss? The most important thing is that diplomatic interests are at stake. What have I done? I think I must have made a scene in public. There is a A colleague accompanied me to Waterloo Station and put me on the train for Woking. I am sure that if no neighbor had traveled with me in this train, he would have accompanied me all the way home. The fellow-passenger took care of me So thoughtful, I almost turned into a gibbering lunatic by the time I got home.

"As you can imagine, poor Anne and my mother were heartbroken to see me in this state. It was obvious that I was not recovering from my illness, so Joseph hastily moved out of this bedroom, which became my sick ward. Sir, I have been lying here for more than nine weeks, delirious, and I am afraid I would have gone to God if it hadn't been for Miss Harrison and the doctor. Anne has taken care of me during the day, and another nurse at night, the last three days. God, my sanity is coming back to me. I sometimes even wish it was gone. The first thing I did when I came back to my senses was to send a telegram to Mr. Forbes. He told me that there was no clue. So the police I also suspected Gorot, who stayed in the office for a long time after get off work that night. He had two doubts: one was that he left late, and the other was his French name. But in fact, I was not there He had copied the agreement before him, and though his ancestors were French, he was now in every respect an Englishman. So the case was stopped. It is up to you, sir, if you also Otherwise, I will lose my honor and status forever."

The patient, tired from the long conversation, reclined on the cushion while the nurse poured a glass of sedative.Holmes was silent, thinking rapidly.

"You've made it very clear," he began at last, "that I have almost nothing left to ask. But one more important question remains to be clarified. Have you ever told anyone that you are going to do this particular thing? "

"No."

"For instance, Miss Harrison?"

"No, I haven't been back to Woking since I received the order."

"Didn't any relative or friend visit you during this period?"

"No."

"Do they know the route to your office?"

"Yeah, I told them all about that."

"Of course, you haven't told anyone about the agreement, and there's no need to ask about it."

"I haven't revealed anything at all."

"Do you know the gatekeeper?"

"All I know is that he was a soldier for many years."

"Which regiment did you serve in?"

"It's from the Colstream Guard."

"Thank you very much. I'll have details from Forbes. Ah, what a lovely rose!"

He walked around the sofa, went to the open window, and reached out to support a low-hanging rose branch, admiring the delicate and bright red flower cluster.With the rose in her hand, my friend was lost in thought.After a few minutes, the young woman broke the silence.

"Do you think there is hope, sir?" she asked loudly.

"Ah, this!" Holmes was taken aback for a moment before returning to reality, and replied, "I will do my best."

"Any clues?"

"You gave me seven clues just now. Of course, I have to try them to see if they are valuable."

"Which person is most suspected?"

"I doubt myself a little bit."

"what?!"

"I wonder now if I jumped to conclusions too soon."

"Then go back to London and check it out."

"Your proposal is very good, Miss Harrison," said Holmes, rising. "I do not think, Watson, that we have anything better to offer. Don't expect too much, Mr. Phelps."

"I would love to see you again," the diplomat said loudly.

"Well, anyway, I'll take this train to see you tomorrow."

"May the Lord be with you," cried our client. "By the way, Lord Holdhurst has written me a letter."

"Ah! What did he write?"

"Cold but not harsh. I think it was my serious illness that kept him from reprimanding me a little bit. My career is ruined, and dismissal is inevitable."

"Ah, that is reasonable and considerate," said Holmes. "Come, Watson, we have another day's work awaiting us in London."

We were brought to the station by Mr. Joseph Harrison's carriage, and got on the train for Portsmouth.My friend was silent until he had passed Clapham Junction, when he said:

"I suppose Phelps doesn't drink wine?"

"I think so."

"I think so, too, but we ought to think of all possibilities. The poor fellow is in a state of anxiety, and we'll see if we can get him ashore. What do you think of Miss Harrison?"

"A strong girl."

"Yes, she is a good person. She and her brother were, if I read correctly, the only two children of the ironworker. They were engaged when they were traveling last winter, and her brother accompanied her to meet Phelps. As this unfortunate incident happened, she stayed to take care of her fiancé, and her brother, who found it comfortable here, stayed too. You see I've done some separate research, but I'll have to keep going. "

"My medical..." I began.

"Ah, if you think your business is more important than this case..." said my friend, somewhat tartly.

"I'd say I can shut down for a day or two, it's off-season anyway."

"Excellent," Holmes cheered again. "Then let us study the case together."

"You already have a clue?"

"Yes, we have several. But the most difficult thing is not to see what the motive is. But there must be a motive in this case. Who can benefit from it? The French ambassador, the Russian ambassador, you can The man who sold the agreement to one of the ambassadors, and Lord Holdhurst."

"Lord Holdhurst!?"

"Yes, a politician would do that if need be."

"Hasn't he a glorious history?"

"But this is something we must not underestimate. Call on him today, and see if he can tell us something. At the station I sent a telegram to the London evening papers, and the advertisement will be in every one of them."

He handed me a piece of paper torn from his diary, on which he wrote in pencil:

At 23:221 p.m. on May [-], a passenger got out of a carriage at or near the gate of the Foreign Office on Charles Street. Anyone who knows the number of the carriage is asked to inform No. [-] B, Baker Street, and is willing to give ten pounds as a reward.

"You think he came in a carriage?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"That seems plausible."

"It's a clue from which we can draw a conclusion. The most peculiar thing about this case is the ringing. Why did he ring the bell? Was it a bluff? Or someone came in with him and the ringing was to prevent theft. Or was it unintentional? Or..." He returned to his thoughts.

We reached the terminus at three-twenty, and after a hasty lunch we headed straight for Scotland Yard.Forbes is waiting for us.He is short in stature, with a head like a mouse, and his attitude is not friendly, especially when he knows what he is here, he is even more indifferent to us.

"I've heard of your method, sir," he said bitterly. "The police give you clues, you solve the case, and disgrace the police."

"On the contrary," said my friend, "of the fifty-three cases I have solved, only four have been signed, and the rest have gone to the police. I can't blame you, you are young and inexperienced. If you If you want to advance in your new career, you'd better work with me than against me."

"I would gladly accept your instruction," said the detective, immediately changing his attitude. "I have not yet had any credit for my work."

"What measures have been taken?"

"I've been watching the janitor all the time. He got a bad reputation when he left the guard, but we can't find much evidence. His wife is a bad guy though, and I think she actually knows a lot about the case."

"Did you follow her?"

"We sent a female detective to follow her. She likes to drink, and the female detective took advantage of her pleasure to drink with her, but she couldn't get anything out of it."

"It is said that some second-hand dealers have visited her home."

"Yes, but she has paid off her debt."

"Where did the money come from?"

"The janitors just got their annuities, and they're still struggling."

"How did she explain that she came upstairs in her husband's place to promise that night?"

"She said he was tired and she was happy to do it for him."

"Yes, he fell asleep after a while. So the woman has nothing to do but misbehavior. Why did she leave in such a hurry that night?"

"She said it was later than usual that night, so it was a bit rushed."

"Then why did you and Mr. Phelps arrive at her house twenty or ten minutes later than she did?"

"She said the stagecoach was slower and the hansom was faster."

"Why did she go to the kitchen first when she got home?"

"She said that since the money was left in the kitchen, she was going to pay the second-hand dealer."

"Did you ask her if she saw any unidentified people prowling Charles Street as she was leaving?"

"She said she only saw the police."

"Very well, you have asked all you should ask, what else have you done?"

"We have been monitoring Clerk Gorot for nine weeks, and we have found nothing, nor can we find any evidence against him."

"what else?"

"Ah, we've got nothing to do."

"Have you ever wondered why the bell rings?"

"Well, I admit I'm stumped. Anyway, this man was brave enough not only to come, but to sound the alarm."

"Yeah, that's weird. Thank you. If I want you to go get this guy, I'll let you know."

"Where are you going now?" I asked him as we left the police station.

"To the house of Lord Holdhurst, the Cabinet Secretary and future Prime Minister of Great Britain."

Fortunately, he was still there when we got there.Holmes handed over his card, and he summoned us.He received us with old-fashioned courtesy.

"I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Holmes," he said with a smile on his face. "Of course I know what you're here for. There's only one matter in our department that can attract your attention. Can you tell me who you are entrusted with? "

"Mr. Phelps," replied my friend.

"Oh, it's my poor nephew! You know I can't do anything wrong. I'm afraid it's bad for his future."

"What if that document is found?"

"That changes completely."

"My lord, I wish to ask you a few questions."

"I am very happy."

"It is in this office that you copy the papers?"

"Yes."

"That means almost no one can overhear your conversation?"

"Absolutely not."

"Have you told anyone that you plan to have this agreement transcribed?"

"there has never been."

"Are you sure?"

"Totally sure."

"Well, neither of you said it, and no one else knew about it, so it was purely accidental that the thief came to the office. He took the opportunity and took the papers."

The cabinet minister laughed.

"I wouldn't have thought of that," he said.

Holmes thought for a moment. "There are other more important things, I want to discuss with you." He said, "As far as I know, you are worried that once this agreement is disclosed, it will lead to extremely serious consequences."

A shadow passed over the cabinet minister's face, and he said, "Of course."

"Did it show up?"

"not yet."

"If this agreement has fallen into the hands of, say, the French or Russian Foreign Office, will you have any news?"

"I will definitely receive the news." The minister said with an unhappy expression.

"So, since nearly ten weeks have passed and there has been no news, it is based on the assumption that for some reason, the French and Russian foreign ministries have not received the agreement."

"Mr. Holmes, I don't know why he stole the agreement and just put it on the shelf."

"Maybe he's up for sale."

"But wait a little longer and the document will be worthless. Because after a few months, the agreement will not be a secret."

"That's important," said my friend, "and it can be assumed that the man suddenly fell ill..."

"Crazy, for instance, isn't it?" said Lord Holdhurst, casting a quick glance at him.

"I didn't say that," he said calmly. "I have wasted so much of your time. Goodbye."

"No matter who the criminal is, I hope you can find it out smoothly." He nodded to us.

When we reached Whitehall Street Holmes said: "He is a fine man, but he has yet another struggle to keep in his place. He is not very rich, but has great expenses. Of course you I have seen that his boots have been resoled. I would very much like you to take the same train with me for Woking tomorrow."

We went to Woking together the next morning.He said there was no hearing back from the ad and no clue to the case.He was expressionless as he spoke.I remember, he talked about the Bertillon measurement method, and he admired and praised the French scholar very much.

(End of this chapter)