the adventure of shoscombe old place-第3部分

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supposition。〃

　　〃I　think　that　there　is　a　small　experiment　which　we　may　try

to…morrow；　Watson；　in　order　to　throw　some　light　on　the　matter。

Meanwhile；　if　we　mean　to　keep　up　our　characters；　I　suggest　that　we

have　our　host　in　for　a　glass　of　his　own　wine　and　hold　some　high

converse　upon　eels　and　dace；　which　seems　to　be　the　straight　road　to

his　affections。　We　may　chance　to　come　upon　some　useful　local　gossip　in

the　process。〃

　　In　the　morning　Holmes　discovered　that　we　had　come　without　our

spoon…bait　for　jack；　which　absolved　us　from　fishing　for　the　day。　About

eleven　o'clock　we　started　for　a　walk；　and　he　obtained　leave　to　take

the　black　spaniel　with　us。

　　〃This　is　the　place；〃　said　he　as　we　came　to　two　high　park　gates

with　heraldic　griffins　towering　above　them。　〃About　midday；　Mr。

Barnes　informs　me；　the　old　lady　takes　a　drive；　and　the　carriage　must

slow　down　while　the　gates　are　opened。　When　it　comes　through；　and

before　it　gathers　speed；　I　want　you；　Watson；　to　stop　the　coachman　with

some　question。　Never　mind　me。　I　shall　stand　behind　this　holly…bush　and

see　what　I　can　see。〃

　　It　was　not　a　long　vigil。　Within　a　quarter　of　an　hour　we　saw　the

big　open　yellow　barouche　coming　down　the　long　avenue；　with　two

splendid；　high…stepping　gray　carriage　horses　in　the　shafts。　Holmes

crouched　behind　his　bush　with　the　dog。　I　stood　unconcernedly

swinging　a　cane　in　the　roadway。　A　keeper　ran　out　and　the　gates　swung

open。

　　The　carriage　had　slowed　to　a　walk；　and　I　was　able　to　get　a　good　look

at　the　occupants。　A　highly　coloured　young　woman　with　flaxen　hair　and

impudent　eyes　sat　on　the　left。　At　her　right　was　an　elderly　person　with

rounded　back　and　a　huddle　of　shawls　about　her　face　and　shoulders　which

proclaimed　the　invalid。　When　the　horses　reached　the　highroad　I　held　up

my　hand　with　an　authoritative　gesture；　and　as　the　coachman　pulled　up　I

inquired　if　Sir　Robert　was　at　Shoscombe　Old　Place。

　　At　the　same　moment　Holmes　stepped　out　and　released　the　spaniel。　With

a　joyous　cry　it　dashed　forward　to　the　carriage　and　sprang　upon　the

step。　Then　in　a　moment　its　eager　greeting　changed　to　furious　rage；　and

it　snapped　at　the　black　skirt　above　it。

　　〃Drive　on！　Drive　on！〃　shrieked　a　harsh　voice。　The　coachman　lashed

the　horses；　and　we　were　left　standing　in　the　roadway。

　　〃Well；　Watson；　that's　done　it；〃　said　Holmes　as　he　fastened　the

lead　to　the　neck　of　the　excited　spaniel。　〃He　thought　it　was　his

mistress；　and　he　found　it　was　a　stranger。　Dogs　don't　make　mistakes。〃

　　〃But　it　was　the　voice　of　a　man！〃　I　cried。

　　〃Exactly！　We　have　added　one　card　to　our　hand；　Watson；　But　it　needs

careful　playing；　all　the　same。〃

　　My　companion　seemed　to　have　no　further　plans　for　the　day；　and　we　did

actually　use　our　fishing　tackle　in　the　mill…stream；　with　the　result

that　we　had　a　dish　of　trout　for　our　supper。　It　was　only　after　that

meal　that　Holmes　showed　signs　of　renewed　activity。　Once　more　we

found　ourselves　upon　the　same　road　as　in　the　morning；　which　led　us

to　the　park　gates。　A　tall；　dark　figure　was　awaiting　us　there；　who

proved　to　be　our　London　acquaintance；　Mr。　John　Mason；　the　trainer。

　　〃Good…evening；　gentlemen；〃　said　he。　〃I　got　your　note；　Mr。　Holmes。

Sir　Robert　has　not　returned　yet；　but　I　hear　that　he　is　expected

to…night。〃

　　〃How　far　is　this　crypt　from　the　house？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃A　good　quarter　of　a　mile。〃

　　〃Then　I　think　we　can　disregard　him　altogether。〃

　　〃I　can't　afford　to　do　that；　Mr。　Holmes。　The　moment　he　arrives　he

will　want　to　see　me　to　get　the　last　news　of　Shoscombe　Prince。〃

　　〃I　see！　In　that　case　we　must　work　without　you；　Mr。　Mason。　You　can

show　us　the　crypt　and　then　leave　us。〃

　　It　was　pitch…dark　and　without　a　moon；　but　Mason　led　us　over　the

grasslands　until　a　dark　mass　loomed　tip　in　front　of　us　which　proved　to

be　the　ancient　chapel。　We　entered　the　broken　gap　which　was　once　the

porch；　and　our　guide；　stumbling　among　heaps　of　loose　masonry；　picked

his　way　to　the　corner　of　the　building；　where　a　steep　stair　led　down

into　the　crypt。　Striking　a　match；　he　illuminated　the　Melancholy　place…

dismal　and　evil…smelling；　with　ancient　crumbling　walls　of　rough…hewn

stone；　and　piles　of　coffins；　some　of　lead　and　some　of　stone；　extending

upon　one　side　right　up　to　the　arched　and　groined　roof　which　lost

itself　in　the　shadows　above　our　heads。　Holmes　had　lit　his　lantern；

which　shot　a　tiny　tunnel　of　vivid　yellow　light　upon　the　mournful

scene。　Its　rays　were　reflected　back　from　the　coffin…plates；　many　of

them　adorned　with　the　griffin　and　coronet　of　this　old　family　which

carried　its　honours　even　to　the　gate　of　Death。

　　〃You　spoke　of　some　bones；　Mr。　Mason。　Could　you　show　them　before

you　go？〃

　　〃They　are　here　in　this　corner。〃　The　trainer　strode　across　and　then

stood　in　silent　surprise　as　our　light　was　turned　upon　the　place。　〃They

are　gone；〃　said　he。

　　〃So　I　expected；〃　said　Holmes；　chuckling。　〃I　fancy　the　ashes　of

them　might　even　now　be　found　in　that　oven　which　had　already　consumed　a

part。〃

　　〃But　why　in　the　world　would　anyone　want　to　burn　the　bones　of　a　man

who　has　been　dead　a　thousand　years？〃　asked　John　Mason。

　　〃That　is　what　we　are　here　to　find　out；〃　said　Holmes。　〃It　may　mean

a　long　search；　and　we　need　not　detain　you。　I　fancy　that　we　shall　get

our　solution　before　morning。〃

　　When　John　Mason　had　left　us；　Holmes　set　to　work　making　a　very

careful　examination　of　the　graves；　ranging　from　a　very　ancient　one；

which　appeared　to　be　Saxon；　in　the　centre；　through　a　long　line　of

Norman　Hugos　and　Odos；　until　we　reached　the　Sir　William　and　Sir

Denis　Falder　of　the　eighteenth　century。　It　was　an　hour　or　more

before　Holmes　came　to　a　leaden　coffin　standing　on　end　before　the

entrance　to　the　vault。　I　heard　his　little　cry　of　satisfaction　and

was　aware　from　his　hurried　but　purposeful　movements　that　he　had

reached　a　goal。　With　his　lens　he　was　eagerly　examining　the　edges　of

the　heavy　lid。　Then　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a　short　jemmy；　a

box…opener；　which　he　thrust　into　a　chink；　levering　back　the　whole

front；　which　seemed　to　be　secured　by　only　a　couple　of　clamps。　There

was　a　rending；　tearing　sound　as　it　gave　way；　but　it　had　hardly

hinged　back　and　partly　revealed　the　contents　before　we　had　an

unforeseen　interruption。

　　Someone　was　walking　in　the　chapel　above。　It　was　the　firm；　rapid　step

of　one　who　came　with　a　definite　purpose　and　knew；　well　the　ground　upon

which　he　walked。　A　light　streamed　down　the　stairs；　and　an　instant

later　the　man　who　bore　it　was　framed　in　the　Gothic　archway。　He　was　a

terrible　figure；　huge　in　stature　and　fierce　in　manner。　A　large

stable…lantern　which　he　field　in　front　of　him　shone　upward　upon　a

strong；　heavily　moustached　face　and　angry　eyes；　which　glared　round　him

into　every　recess　of　the　vault；　finally　fixing　themselves　with　a

deadly　stare　upon　my　companion　and　myself。

　　〃Who　the；　devil　are　you？〃　he　thundered。　〃And　what　are　you　doing　upon

my　property？〃　Then；　as　Holmes　returned　no　answer；　he　took　a　couple

of　steps　forward　and　raised　a　heavy　stick　which　he　carried。　〃Do　you

hear　me？〃　he　cried。　〃Who　are　you？　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　His　cudgel

quivered　in　the　air。

　　But　instead　of　shrinking　Holmes　advanced　to　meet　him。

　　〃I　also　have　a　question　to　ask　you；　Sir　Robert；〃　he　said　in　his

sternest　tone。　〃Who　is　this？　And　what　is　it　doing　here？〃

　　He　turned　and　tore　open　the　coffin…lid　behind　him。　In　the　glare　of

the　lantern　I　saw　a　body　swathed　in　a　sheet　from　head　to　foot；　with

dreadful；　witchlike　features；　all　nose　and　chin；　projecting　at　one

end；　the　dim；　glazed　eyes　staring　from　a　discoloured　and　crumbling

face。

　　The　baronet　had　staggered　back　with　a　cry　and　supported　himself

against　a　stone　sarcophagus。

　　〃How　came　you　to　know　of　this？〃　he　cried。　And　then；　with　some　return

of　his　truculent　mariner：　〃What　business　is　it　of　yours？〃

　　〃My　name　is　Sherlock　Holmes；〃　said　my　companion。　〃Possibly　it　is

familiar　to　you。　In　any　case；　my　business　is　that　of　every　other

good　citizen…　to　uphold　the　law。　It　seems　to　me　that　you　have　much

to　answer　for。〃

　　Sir　Robert　glared　for　a　moment；　but　Holmes's　quiet　voice　and　cool；

assured　manner　had　their　effect。

　　〃'Fore　God；　Mr。　Holmes；　it's　all　right；〃　said　he。　〃Appearances　are

against　me；　I'll　admit；　but　I　could　act　no　otherwise。〃

　　〃I　should　be　happy　to　think　so；　but　I　fear　your　explanations　must　be

before　the　police。〃

　　Sir　Robert　shrugged　his　broad　shoulders。

　　〃Well；　if　it　must　be；　it　must。　Come　up　to　the　house　and　you　can

judge　for　yourself　how　the　matter　stands。〃

　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　we　found　ourselves　in　what　I　judge；

from　the　lines　of　polished　barrels　behind　glass　covers；　to　be　the

gun…room　of　the　old　house。　It　was　comfortably　furnished；　and　here

Sir　Robert　left　us　for　a　few　moments。　When　he　returned　he　had　two

companions　with　him；　the　one；　the　florid　young　woman　whom　we　had

seen　in　the　carriage；　the　other；　a　small　rat…faced　man　with　a

disagreeably　furtive　manner。　These　two　wore　an　appearance　of　utter

bewilderment；　which　showed　that　the　baronet　had　not　yet　had　time　to

explain　to　them　the　turn　events　had　taken。

　　〃There；〃　said　Sir　Robert　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　〃are　Mr。　and

Mrs。　Norlett。　Mrs。　Norlett；　under　her　maiden　name　of　Evans；　has　for

some　years　been　my　sister's　confidential　maid。　I　have　brought　them

here　because　I　feel　that　my　best　course　is　to　explain　the　true

position　to　you；　and　they　are　the　two　people　upon　earth　who　can

substantiate　what　I　say。〃

　　〃Is　this　necessary；　Sir　Robert？　Have　you　thought　what　you　are

doing？〃　cried　the　woman。

　　〃As　to　me；　I　entirely　disclaim　all　responsibility；〃　said　her

husband。

　　Sir　Robert　gave　him　a　glance　of　contempt。　〃I　will　take　all

responsibility；〃　said　he。　〃Now；　Mr。　Holmes；　listen　to　a　plain

statement　of　the　facts。

　　〃You　have　clearly　gone　pretty　deeply　into　my　affairs　or　I　should　not

have　found　you　where　I　did。　Therefore；　you　know　already；　in　all

probability；　that　I　am　running　a　dark　horse　for　the　Derby　and　that

everything　depends　upon　my　success。　If　I　win；　all　is　easy。　If　I

lose…　well；　I　dare　not　think　of　that！〃

　　〃I　understand　the　position；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃I　am　dependent　upon　my　sister；　Lady　Beatrice；　for　every