Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 34 Return 10
The years between 1894 and 1901 were indeed busy for Mr. Sherlock Holmes.In addition to many amazing achievements during this period, there were of course some inevitable failures.Since I have a record of all these cases, and I have participated in many of them, it is difficult for me to know which ones should be made public.As a rule, however, I can give preference to cases not known for the ferocity of their crimes, but for the cleverness and drama of their closure.So I chose Miss Violet Smith, Charrington's lone cyclist, and the unexpected end of my investigation, which ended in tragedy.While introducing it would not do credit to my friend's talents, there were a few unusual things about the case.

After reading the notes for 1895, I realized that it was Saturday, April 4, when we first heard Violet Smith speak about herself.Sherlock Holmes expressed his extreme disapproval of her visit.But he was not the kind of stubborn person who completely refused to describe his personal experience by the beautiful girl with a slender figure, a well-mannered figure, and a dignified expression.Although Holmes declared that the time was full, the girl still insisted on speaking.Holmes could only smile helplessly and listen to the girl's story.

"But at least it has not affected your physical health in any way," said Holmes, looking her over for a while. "You must have extraordinary energy for being so fond of cycling."

She looked at her feet very strangely, and I also saw that the soles of her shoes had been worn down by the pedals.

"Yes, I ride a bike a lot, and what I say has a lot to do with cycling."

Taking the girl's ungloved hand, my friend examined it very carefully.

"It is my routine," said Holmes, putting down her hand. "I almost thought you were a typist. In fact you are a musician. There is something about your face, however," said the woman slowly. Turn your face to the light, "That's what typists don't have."

"Yes, sir, I teach music."

"You teach in the country."

"Yes, sir, near Farnham, on the Surrey border."

"What happened to you?"

The girl calmly related the following very strange incident:

"Sir, my dead father's name was James Smith, an old Imperial Orchestra conductor. My mother and I were alone, and my only uncle, named Ralph Smith, went to Africa twenty-five years ago and has not been heard from. After my father died, my family was very poor. But one day we were told that there was an advertisement in The Times asking for our whereabouts. We immediately went to the lawyer by the name in the newspaper. There we met two Mr. Carruthers and Woodley, they came back from South Africa to visit relatives. They said they were friends of my uncle, who died a few months ago. On his deathbed in Johannesburg, uncle asked them to find relatives and promised to make His relatives are not impoverished. I feel very strange: Uncle never cared about us before he was alive, why should he do this after death? But Mr. Carruthers explained that it was because the uncle felt that he took care of his sister-in-law and niece after hearing the news of his brother's death It's his responsibility."

"Excuse me," said Holmes, "but when was it?"

"Last July."

"Please continue."

"Mr. Woodley is a disgusting fellow. I don't think Cyril is very happy that I have made the acquaintance of such a man."

"Oh, his name is Cyril!" laughed the companion.

"Yes, sir, Cyril Morton, Electrical Engineer, we intend to marry at the end of the summer. But the older Mr. Carruthers is not bad. Though he is sallow-faced and taciturn, he is gentle. He understands." Our situation, so let me go to him to teach his only daughter who is ten years old. Since I don't want to leave my mother, he let me go home every weekend. He also gave me a handsome salary of one hundred pounds a year, so that So I came to Chiltern Farm, about six miles from Farnham. Lovely, Mr. Carruthers is also very kind, likes music, we have a good time together in the evenings, and I go home to see my mother in the city at weekends.

"The first unpleasant thing was the arrival of Mr. Woodley with the red beard. He stayed for a full week. He made many ugly gestures of love to me. Finally, when I kept ignoring him, one dinner Then he took me in his arms, just as Mr. Carruthers came in and pulled him away. For this, Woodley fell out with the host, and knocked Mr. Carruthers to the ground. The next day, Carruthers Mr. Smith apologized to me and said it would never happen again, and I never saw Mr. Woodley again.

"Then, Mr. Holmes, I shall turn to the specific matter on which I wish to consult you. You know that I ride to Farnham Station every Saturday morning to catch the twelve-twenty-two train into town. The trail out of Altern Farm is very lonely, especially the road more than a mile long: you don't usually meet a wagon or a farmer before approaching the Crooksbury Hill Road. Two weeks ago, I When I passed this section of the road again, I happened to look back and saw a man riding a bicycle about 22 yards behind him. He seemed to be a middle-aged man with a short black beard. When I got to the station, I looked back again. The man was gone, so I didn't remember him. But, sir, I saw the same man in the same place when I returned on the Monday. And the following Saturday and Monday, the story repeated itself again The man always kept me at a distance, and when I told Mr. Carruthers of this, he ordered a horse and a buggy.

"The horse and carriage were supposed to be delivered this week, but for some reason the seller didn't deliver, so I rode to the railway station as usual. Here's this morning, and the same strange thing happened again. He was very far away from me. I can only see the black beard on his face. Today I was determined to find out who he is. I slowed down and he slowed down. I stopped and he stopped. So I had an idea Figured out a way to deal with him. There was a sharp turn in the road and I pedaled around the corner and stopped. But he didn't show up at all. I turned back and I could see a mile but he wasn't there .and there is no fork in the road here."

Holmes rubbed his hands habitually, and said with a smile, "This incident is a bit strange. How long was the time between when you turned the corner and when you realized that there was no one on the road?" "Only two or three minutes."

"Then there's no way he could have turned back the way he came. You mean there must be no fork there?"

"No."

"Then he escaped by the footpath beside the road."

"It's impossible to go to the heather, or I would have seen him."

"Then, then, we may conclude that he went towards Charrington House, which, as far as I know, is on the side of the road. Is there anything else?"

"No, sir, it's just that I have a doubt in my heart, so I came to see you and want to hear what you said."

Holmes paused for a moment without speaking.

"Where does Mr. Cyril work?" he said at last.

"He's at Midland Electric in Coventry."

"Will he come to see you unexpectedly?"

"Don't I recognize him?"

"Has any other man ever admired you?"

"There were a few before I met Cyril."

"What about after that?"

"If Woodley counts among my admirers, there's only that loathsome fellow."

"Is there really no one else?"

This beautiful lady seemed a little embarrassed.

"Who is he?" Holmes pressed.

"Oh, sir, it may be mere conjecture, but it seems to me sometimes that Mr. Carruthers seems interested in me. We meet a lot, and I accompany him in the evenings, and he doesn't say anything. He's a good man." , but a girl knows it very well in her heart."

"Ha!" My companion looked serious. "What does he do for a living?"

"He's rich."

"Then why doesn't he have a carriage or horses?"

"But at least he's really well off. He's in town two or three times a week, and he cares a lot about South African gold stocks."

"Miss Smith, let me know when you encounter any new situation. I will still try my best to find time to investigate your case. In the meantime, please do not act without informing me. Goodbye, waiting for your good news."

"It is not uncommon for such a girl to be pursued," said Holmes, smoking his pipe thoughtfully. "But it would be unwise to go after her on a bicycle. It is evident that this is a man secretly in love with her. But this case There are some details that are weird and fascinating."

"Does that person only appear in that place?"

"Yes. We must first find out who rented Charrington Manor, and then go further to find out the relationship between Carruthers and Woodley, because they are not of the same type. They are eager to find out the whereabouts of Ralph Smith's relatives." And is it not strange that the Carruthers, six miles from the station, should not buy even a horse, and insist on paying twice as much for a governess?"

"Do you want to investigate?"

"No, you go and investigate. It may be a small conspiracy, and I cannot interrupt other more serious work for it. You go to Farnham early next Monday and hide in Charrington Heath. Nearby, see for yourself what is going on. You can play it by ear, and then find out who is renting Charrington Hall. That's all for now."

The girl said she was leaving Waterloo Station by the nine-fifty train on Monday, so I caught the nine-thirteen train ahead of time.Once at Farnham Station I had no difficulty in reaching Charrington Place.The place was easy to find, for there was open heathland on one side and an old yew hedge on the other.There is a gravel road covered with lichen in the manor.Except for the gravel road with driving in the middle, there are gaps in several hedges, and there are small paths piercing through.There is no house to be seen on the road, and the surrounding area is dark and decadent.

I was hidden behind the bushes, where I could see both the manor gate and the long road on both sides.There was no one on the road when I left the main road, but now there is a man riding a bicycle galloping towards me from the opposite side.He was dressed in black and had a black beard.When he came to the end of Charrington House, he jumped out of his car, pushed it into a gap in the hedge, and disappeared.

About 15 minutes later, the girl came.When she was near Charrington Hedges, the man got out, got on his bike and followed her.The girl sat upright on the bike, while the man leaned over the bike.She looked back at him, slowed down the car, and he slowed down too.He got out of the car when the girl got out.The distance between the two was about two hundred yards.The girl suddenly turned the front of the car and rushed towards him, and he also turned the front of the car and ran desperately.Reluctantly, she had no choice but to return to the main road, not paying any attention to the follower.He turned around too, still keeping a distance of two hundred yards from the girl.

I was still hiding there, and soon the man came back.He turned into the manor gate.After getting out of the car, he stood for a while among the trees and straightened his tie.Then got back in and rode past me, toward the driveway facing the manor.

The local estate agents didn't know anything about Charrington Hall either, so I went to a well-known company in Palmar.When I came back, I stayed there for a while, and the agent was very enthusiastic.He told me that Charrington Park had been let to a Mr. Williamson, also a respectable old gentleman.But the agent rebuffed my eagerness to learn more about Mr. Williamson's situation.

After hearing my report that night, Holmes said with a very serious countenance:

"Watson, you were supposed to be hiding behind a hedge so that you could see the man clearly. You were hiding only a few hundred yards away. I think she knew the man. You said he was crouching over the handlebars of the bicycle Come on, isn't this just to hide your face? You are so bad. You went to a real estate agent to inquire about him!"

"Then what should I do?"

"Go to the hotel closest to there. People will tell you everyone's name and everything about them. As for Williamson, this man is by no means the strange biker. How about a calm escape under pursuit? You have only one gain from this journey that I have never doubted before: the girl's story is indeed true. I am also sure that the cyclist has something to do with the manor. I can still do it before Saturday Do a survey or two."

The next morning we had a note from Miss Smith recounting what I had seen, with one new addition:

I must admit that my situation here has become very difficult.Because my employer proposed to me.I did not doubt his very deep and noble affection for me, when I told him of my engagement.I cared a lot about my answer and thought rejection was serious business, but he was just as nice as ever.You can also imagine how embarrassing my situation is.

"Our girl is in trouble," said Holmes, after reading the letter. "The case is sure to be very interesting, and has a good chance of developing. It is necessary for me to go to the country. This afternoon, I have formed A thought or two will be tested."

Holmes ended his time in the country with an unexpected ending.He came back to Baker Street late, with a cut lip and a swollen forehead.Although he looked embarrassed, he looked very happy.

"Exercise is always good, but unfortunately I haven't practiced enough," said Holmes. "You know that some good old English boxing that I know has saved my life."

I wish he could tell me what happened.

(End of this chapter)