Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 46 Return 22
"I don't want to go, I think we can get there more easily. I can't say for sure yet, it's related to a factor beyond our control at all. But there's a lot of hope, and if you'll come with us tonight, I can help You catch him."

"In the Italian Quarter?"

"No, he is most likely to be found in the Zizwick District. Mr. Remy Reid, if you accompany me to the Zizwick District tonight, I will definitely accompany you to the Italian District tomorrow night, dragging a Evening is all right. Watson, please call the emergency communicator at once, I have an urgent letter to send at once."

With that, Holmes went up to the garret, and came down after a long time, with a triumphant look in his eyes, but he said nothing to either of us.I was well aware that my friend was waiting for the grotesque criminal to get the two remaining busts.It is obvious that our purpose in going here is to capture him on the spot.So I applaud Holmes' tact in spreading a false message in the evening papers, which led the man to think he could go on with impunity.I was therefore not surprised at his request that I carry a pistol, and he himself took a loaded shotgun.

At eleven o'clock we came to Hammersmead Bridge, and in a short while we came to a quiet road, where we found a sign that said "Rabnom House".The master had evidently rested, for on the garden path it was dark save for a circle of dim light from the lintel window.It just so happens that we can hide there.

"I'm afraid we shall have to wait a long time," said Holmes in a low voice. "We must not smoke here, and it is an unsafe way of passing the time. But rest assured, I have a good chance of success in the matter. So it’s worth it even if it’s a little tiring.”

To our surprise, we didn't wait for a long time when we heard movement suddenly.There was no sound in advance to herald someone's arrival, the door was pushed open at once, and a nimble black figure rushed to the garden path as swiftly as a monkey.The figure sped through the lights of the doors and windows, and disappeared in the shadows of the house.After a while we heard the creak of a window being opened, followed by a long silence.We assume this person is trying to find a way to sneak inside.After a while, we saw the light of a dark lantern flicker in the room again.Apparently he didn't find what he was looking for there, for we saw a flash again at the second and third curtains.

Ray Mired said, "Let's go over to that window, and we can grab him as soon as he climbs out."

Before we could act, the man appeared again.He walked softly to the shimmering spot in the path when we saw something white tucked under his arm.He looked around in a panic, then turned his back to us again, put down the thing, followed by a loud "click" sound, and then a continuous "crack" sound.He was so absorbed in his work that he didn't hear our footsteps.Then Holmes sprang at his back like a tiger, and Remy Read and I immediately grabbed his wrists and handcuffed him.When we turned him around, I saw a face with sunken cheeks and a hideous face.That's when I realized that what we had captured was the man in the photo.

However, Holmes didn't care about the man he had caught, but squatted on the stone steps to carefully examine the things he had stolen from the house.Another bust of Napoleon exactly like the one we had seen that morning, also smashed into small pieces.He took the fragments and inspected them under bright light, but he didn't see anything unusual.He had just finished checking when the lights in the house came on and the door was opened.The owner of the house was a kind, fat man.

"Are you Mr. Jozia Brown?" said Holmes.

"Yes, sir, I think you must be Mr. Holmes. I received an urgent letter from my correspondent, and I did exactly what you told me to do. We locked every door and waited for something to happen. I am glad to see that you have successfully caught the rascal. Gentlemen, please come to the house and rest for a while."

But Ray Mired was anxious to get the prisoner where he was supposed to go, and in a few minutes the four of us set off for London.We searched him carefully at the police station, and found only a few shillings and a long knife with many fresh bloodstains on him.

When parting, Remy Read said: "The matter is about to end, and Hill will convict him. You see, I was right to explain his identity by using the Mafia, but, Mr. Holmes, I don't understand it yet." What's going on."

"It is now too late for an explanation," said Holmes. "There are one or two other trifles which remain unclear. If you will come to my house at six o'clock to-morrow evening, I will explain to you the significance of the case. In short, the There is something peculiar about the case. Watson, if you will continue to record my case with my consent, I wager that it will enhance your record."

The next evening, Raymond first told us the details of the prisoner.His name was Bebo, and he was a notorious villain in the Italian quarter.He had a craft of making statues, and had lived an honest life, but then he turned bad, and was arrested twice: the first time for stealing, and the other time for stabbing a fellow countryman of his.As for why he destroyed the statue, he refused to answer these questions.Police investigations suggest that he may have made the statues himself, as can be inferred from his time at Geldel's company.My friend listened politely to what we already knew, but I had the distinct feeling that he was thinking of something else, of which I knew him well.After the doorbell rang, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and a servant led an old man in.The old man had a ruddy complexion and gray-white sideburns.Carrying a travel bag in his hand, he put it on the table when he came in.

"Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes present?"

Holmes nodded and said with a smile: "I take it that you are Mr. Sandford of Reading?"

"Yes, maybe I'm a little late, and you wrote me a letter to buy a bust from me."

"Yes."

"This is the letter you wrote to me. You said: 'I want a Napoleon after Devin, and I'd pay ten pounds for yours.' Is that so?"

"Yes, that's it."

"I was surprised by your letter, because I don't know how you learned that I have such a likeness?"

"Of course you will be surprised, but according to Mr. Harding of Harding Company, the last one was sold to you, and he also told me your address."

"Oh, so! Did he tell you how much I spent?"

"No, he didn't say."

"I am not rich, but I am an honest man. I paid only fifteen shillings for the statue, and I should have let you know that."

"Mr. Sandford, it shows you are an honest man. But I will insist on doing so, because I have fixed the price beforehand."

"You are very generous, Mr. Holmes. I have brought this statue at your request!" He unfastened the bag.A whole statue of Napoleon loomed from it, although we had seen it several times before, it was all fragments.

My friend took a note and a ten pound note from his pocket and laid them on the table.

"Mr. Sandford, in the presence of these witnesses, please sign this note. This transfers to me your possession of this statue and all rights in connection with it. I am a man of good manners and will What will happen, no one can foresee. Thank you, sir, here is your money, and good night!"

After the guests had gone, Holmes took out a white cloth and spread it on the table, and placed the bust in the center of the cloth.He took the shotgun and shot the statue of Napoleon over the head, which shattered it to pieces.He bent down, eagerly examining the scattered fragments.After a while, he let out that triumphant cry.In his hand he held aloft a shard with something dark like a raisin in a pudding embedded in it.

He shouted: "Gentlemen, now I will introduce you to the famous Borgs black pearl!"

The two of us were immediately blindsided.It was only at such moments that Holmes interrupted his rational thinking for a moment, and betrayed the naturalness of liking to be praised.

He said: "Gentlemen, this is the most famous jewel in existence in the world. It has been my great fortune to begin in a series of inductions from the lost place of this pearl, Prince Colonna's bedroom at the Dakur Hotel, One of six statues of Napoleon traced back to the Gelder company in the Stepane area. The loss of this priceless treasure caused a great shock in the society. At that time, the London police found nothing. They had suspected the princess The Italian maid, the authorities found that she had a brother in London, but whether there is any connection between the two has not been investigated clearly, this maid is called Lucreshia Vannucci. It's her brother. I checked the date in the newspaper, and the pearl was lost two days before Bebo was arrested. Bebo was arrested because he wounded a man, and they caught it at the Geldel He, he was making those statues that day. Now you know the whole story! Of course, when I think about it, the train of thought is just the reverse of the order of events. Bebo actually got the pearl, whether it was stolen Since Pedro is still an accomplice, or is he an intermediary between the brother and sister. But we don't need to make it so clear.

"The important thing is that he took possession of the pearl, and while he was wearing it, the police came after him. He ran back to the factory, and since there was not much time left, he had to hide this priceless treasure quickly. Otherwise, they will be searched by the police during the body search. At that time, there were six plaster statues of Napoleon waiting to be dried in the aisle, and one was still soft. He immediately dug a small hole in the wet plaster and put the pearl Put it inside, and he smoothed out the small holes in a few strokes. No one would have thought that there could be pearls hidden in the plaster statue. After he was arrested, he was sentenced to a year in prison. At the same time, the six Plaster statues were being sent all over London. He couldn't figure out which statue the pearl was in. Because the pearl was stuck in it, the only way to find it was to break the statues, so he kept looking. He found out which retail company the plaster figures were sold to. So he went to work odd jobs at the Moses Hudson Company, where he found out what had happened to three of the statues. The pearls were not in the statues. Then, with the help of other Italian hirelings, he traced the whereabouts of three other statues. One was at Mr. responsible for the loss, but in the fight between the two of them he was no match for Bebo and was killed."

I asked: "Since the two were accomplices, why did the deceased carry his photo?"

"That's for the convenience of finding Bebo. When he asks a third party about Bebo, he can take it out for them to see. This will make it easier to find Bebo. I conclude that after killing someone, Bebo will Speed ​​up his action. Must speed up before the police chase him. Of course I have no way of knowing if there are pearls in that bust that Huck bought, I don't even know what is hidden in it, but it is certain that he must Looking for something. Because after taking the bust, he walked past several houses and smashed him in the garden with lights. Of course, the bust that Huck bought was one of the three, so it means There is a one-third chance that the pearl is inside. There are two busts left, of course he will find the one in London first. I wrote to the owner of the house to warn the owner of the house, so that there is no further tragedy. Then we put him Caught. It was only then that I finally knew with certainty that it was the pearl of great price that we were after. The name of the victim made me connect the two events. The last one was in Reading There must have been a pearl in the bust of the man. So I bought it from the owner in front of you. Here, here is the pearl."

We sat here in silence for a while.

"Mr. Holmes," said Ray Mirett, "I have seen many of your cases, but this is the most ingenious of them all. We at Scotland Yard will never envy you, sir, but deeply. Proud of you."

My friend said, "Thank you very much! Thank you very much!" at which point he turned his face away.He was thrilled by the warmth of human affection, which I had never seen before.After a while he fell into calm new thoughts.He said: "Watson, put the pearl in the safe, and bring out the papers of the Lank-Singleton forgery. Good-bye, Mr. Sheriff, and if you have any difficulties, please come to me, and I will do my best." All out."

(End of this chapter)