Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 58 Return 34
"I've said everything I need to say."

"Madam, wouldn't it be better to confess on your own initiative?"

After a while, the madam showed a hesitant look on her face, then she became firm, and finally, she fell into a state of sluggishness again.she says:

"I told you all I knew."

We said nothing more and left the house.There was a pool in the courtyard, the water in the pool was completely frozen, but a hole was punched in the ice, in order to keep a swan.My friend looked at the pool and continued walking.In the concierge he wrote a note to Hopkins and gave it to the concierge.

He said: "We must do something for Hopkins. We can't tell him our actions yet. Now we go to the office of the shipping company on the Adelaide-Southampton line."

As soon as the company manager saw my friend's business card, he met us and we got the information we needed from him.In June [-], only one ship arrived at the British port, which was their company's "Rock of Gibraltar".The names of Ms Fraser of Adelaide and her maid are on the passenger list.The equipment and personnel on board remained largely unchanged, except that first mate Jack Crocker had been appointed captain of the "Bath Rock", and the ship would sail from Southampton in two days.

Mr. Holmes did not want to see him, but he wanted to know his behavior and character.

The manager considers his work to be above reproach.There was no officer like him at sea, and he was loyal, but on land he was a rough fellow, but at heart he was honest and warm-hearted.Having learned this, we left the shipping company, and rode to Scotland Yard in a carriage.He sent the coachman to drive to the telegraph office, and after a telegram was sent, we returned to Baker Street.

On entering the house, he said: "I shall not be able to save him, if the summons is issued. I have felt that the harm done by the crime itself is not great, but the harm done by me finding out the criminal is very great." .Now I realize the importance of being cautious, and I must know more before I can act.”

In the evening, Hopkins came to our residence.

"Mr. Holmes, how did you know that there was looted silver at the bottom of the sink?"

"Actually I don't know."

"But you asked me to check the sink."

"Did you find the silverware?"

"found it."

"I'm glad I could help you."

"But why did the robbers steal the silver and throw it in the sink?"

"It's a bizarre act. I thought: He's just trying to pull a trick, not steal silver."

"Why do you think so?"

"After the robbers came out of the window, they saw a pool and a hole in the ice. Why didn't they hide here?"

"Ah, this is the best place to hide things! It was not too late at that time, and they were afraid of being seen with the silver, so they sank these things in the sink, intending to come back later to get them."

"I may be way off the mark, but you have to admit they'll never find the silver again."

"I admit it, sir. It's all your fault, but today I've suffered a lot."

"What's up?"

"Randal's band of robbers were arrested in New York this morning."

"Then how did they kill in Kent last night? That doesn't agree with you."

"Quite the opposite, but the Randalls are not the only robbers in a gang of three."

"Yes, it's quite possible that it was another robber. What are you going to do next?"

"I will not be at ease until the case is cleared up. Do you have anything to say to me?"

"I told you just now."

"What did you say?"

"It's about that hoax."

"Why is this a hoax?"

"Of course, this still needs to be proved. I just put forward a hypothesis. Goodbye, please feel free to tell me your news."

After supper Holmes spoke to me again about the case.Suddenly he glanced at his watch.

"Watson, I think there will be a new development in the matter."

"when?"

"Right now, not for more than a few minutes. You must think that I have treated Hopkins a little badly."

"I trust your judgment."

"The cases I investigated were unofficial and he was official. I had the right to make personal judgments, but he didn't. If he was doing his job he had to tell everything he knew. In this In the case, I don't want to make his position disadvantageous, and I will tell him later when I have a definite opinion."

"When will it be?"

"Now is the time, please watch the end of this drama."

The door of our house was opened and a man entered.

"Sit down, Captain Crocker, have you received my telegram?"

"After receiving your telegram, I came at the time you appointed. I heard that you have been to the office. I think I am doomed. What are you going to do with me?"

Holmes said: "Give him a cigar, Watson. If I thought you a criminal, I wouldn't sit here and smoke with you. We will try to save you, if you tell me all the truth. If If you want to play tricks, I will kill you without a place to bury you."

"Then what would you like me to do?"

"Tell me exactly what happened at Grange Manor. I already know most of it. If you lie to me a little, I'll go to the window and whistle, and then I'll be out of my hands. is you."

The captain thought for a while, and said:

"I'm sure you're the one to trust, and I'll tell you the whole thing. But about myself, I regret nothing, I'll be proud. That damn guy, no matter how many lives he has, I'll Killed him! But about your ladyship, for whom I would have given everything and my life. I am troubled by the thought of getting her into trouble. Gentlemen, I will tell you my story, so please think about it Think, what else can I do.

"Start at the beginning. We met on the Rock of Gibraltar, she was a passenger and I was first mate. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her, but she was just like women I treated me the same. I was just unrequited love, but she always regarded me as a friend. When we parted, she had nothing to worry about, and my heart was taken away by her.

"After returning from the second voyage, I heard that she was married. It was a matter of course that she married the person she liked. I am not upset that she is married. I am not a selfish person. On the contrary, I am happy for her. She Lucky to have dodged a poor sailor. That's what I love about her.

"Didn't think I'd see her again. I was promoted to captain after my last voyage, and the new ship hadn't set sail yet, so we had to wait two months at Seatonham. One day I met her old maid, Tirese Rhett. Tirese told me everything about her and about her husband. I was furious. I saw Tirese once. Then I saw Mary twice, and then She didn't want to see me. But one day I was notified that I was going to sea in a week, so I decided to see her again before I set off. Tiressa told me about their living habits. In her cabin downstairs, Mary always read It was very late, last night I went there secretly. Knocked on her window, and she told me to turn to the big front window. I went over there and saw that the window was open, so I walked into the dining room. She again Said the things that filled me with anger, we didn't do anything out of line. That's when the man rushed in like a madman, called her the worst words, and hit her in the face with a stick. I jumped over Grabbed the cleaning rod and we fought together. He hit me in the arm. But I killed him in one shot. I don't regret it at all. It was either him or me. More importantly If he doesn't die, Mary won't live. That's how I killed him. Am I wrong?

"When he hit Mary, she screamed and led Tiresa down from upstairs. There was a bottle of wine on the sideboard, and I poured a little into Mary's mouth. She was frightened to death, and I I took a sip myself. Her maid was very calm, and the two of us created a robbery scene. I cut the bell rope, and then tied Mary to the chair, and frayed the end of the rope, so that it would not be too late. If you do this, people will be suspicious. Then I took some silverware to make it look like I was robbed. Then I left, and we talked about it for a quarter of an hour before reporting to the police. After losing the silverware in the pool, I Went to Setonham. That's all there is to it, sir, are you going to make me pay for my life?"

My friend didn't speak for a long time, then walked up to our guest and took his hand.

He said: "What you said is exactly what I thought. I know what you said is true. To get the bell rope, you must have the skill of an acrobat, and the knot on that chair can only be tied by a sailor." In contact with the sailor, that lady only had one chance during that sailing trip, and she tried her best to cover the sailor, which shows that they have a close relationship. So it is easy to find you."

"It turned out that I thought our scheme would never be seen through."

"That cop never will. It's a serious matter, and I can't decide if your self-defense is legal or not. It's up to the jury. But I feel for you, and I promise no one will stand in your way, if you can If you escape within 24 hours."

"Is it okay to do this?"

"Nothing will happen at all."

The sailor's face flushed with anger.

"That would put Mary in prison as an accomplice. You want her to suffer the consequences alone, and let me run away? No, sir, I'll do whatever they want, but please think of a way to keep her from trial. Method."

He held out his hand to the sailor again.

"It was just a test of yours just now, and you have passed the test again. I have enlightened the sheriff, but I can't control whether he uses his head or not. We will settle it in the proper form of the law. You are the prisoner, Mr. Captain. Watson, you are now a juror. And I am the judge. Jurymen, you have heard all the evidence, and what is your verdict on this suspect?"

I said, "We the jury find not guilty, Your Honor."

"The wishes of the people are undeniable. Captain Crocker, you were released in court. You will return to this woman in a year. I hope that the sentence we pass tonight is correct, and it will be up to her future Prove it with your future."

(End of this chapter)