the adventure of the missing three-quarter-第3部分

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indications　seem　to　me　to　point　in　that　direction。〃

　　〃Tell　me；〃　I　asked；　as　we　rattled　up　Gray's　Inn　Road；　〃have　you

any　suspicion　yet　as　to　the　cause　of　the　disappearance？　I　don't

think　that　among　all　our　cases　I　have　known　one　where　the　motives

are　more　obscure。　Surely　you　don't　really　imagine　that　he　may　be

kidnapped　in　order　to　give　information　against　his　wealthy　uncle？〃

　　〃I　confess；　my　dear　Watson；　that　that　does　not　appeal　to　me　as　a

very　probable　explanation。　It　struck　me；　however；　as　being　the　one

which　was　most　likely　to　interest　that　exceedingly　unpleasant　old

person。〃

　　〃It　certainly　did　that；　but　what　are　your　alternatives？〃

　　〃I　could　mention　several。　You　must　admit　that　it　is　curious　and

suggestive　that　this　incident　should　occur　on　the　eve　of　this

important　match；　and　should　involve　the　only　man　whose　presence

seems　essential　to　the　success　of　the　side。　It　may；　of　course；　be　a

coincidence；　but　it　is　interesting。　Amateur　sport　is　free　from

betting；　but　a　good　deal　of　outside　betting　goes　on　among　the

public；　and　it　is　possible　that　it　might　be　worth　someone's　while　to

get　at　a　player　as　the　ruffians　of　the　turf　get　at　a　race…horse。　There

is　one　explanation。　A　second　very　obvious　one　is　that　this　young　man

really　is　the　heir　of　a　great　property；　however　modest　his　means　may

at　present　be；　and　it　is　not　impossible　that　a　plot　to　hold　him　for

ransom　might　be　concocted。〃

　　〃These　theories　take　no　account　of　the　telegram。〃

　　〃Quite　true；　Watson。　The　telegram　still　remains　the　only　solid　thing

with　which　we　have　to　deal；　and　we　must　not　permit　our　attention　to

wander　away　from　it。　It　is　to　gain　light　upon　the　purpose　of　this

telegram　that　we　are　now　upon　our　way　to　Cambridge。　The　path　of　our

investigation　is　at　present　obscure；　but　I　shall　be　very　much

surprised　if　before　evening　we　have　not　cleared　it　up；　or　made　a

considerable　advance　along　it。〃

　　It　was　already　dark　when　we　reached　the　old　university　city。

Holmes　took　a　cab　at　the　station　and　ordered　the　man　to　drive　to　the

house　of　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong。　A　few　minutes　later；　we　had　stopped

at　a　large　mansion　on　the　busiest　thoroughfare。　We　were　shown　in；

and　after　a　long　wait　were　at　last　admitted　into　the

consulting…room；　where　we　found　the　doctor　seated　behind　his　table。

　　It　argues　the　degree　in　which　I　had　lost　touch　with　my　profession

that　the　name　of　Leslie　Armstrong　was　unknown　to　me。　Now　I　am　aware

that　he　is　not　only　one　of　the　heads　of　the　medical　school　of　the

university；　but　a　thinker　of　European　reputation　in　more　than　one

branch　of　science。　Yet　even　without　knowing　his　brilliant　record　one

could　not　fail　to　be　impressed　by　a　mere　glance　at　the　man；　the

square；　massive　face；　the　brooding　eyes　under　the　thatched　brows；

and　the　granite　moulding　of　the　inflexible　jaw。　A　man　of　deep

character；　a　man　with　an　alert　mind；　grim；　ascetic；　self…contained；

formidable…　so　I　read　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong。　He　held　my　friend's　card

in　his　hand；　and　he　looked　up　with　no　very　pleased　expression　upon　his

dour　features。

　　〃I　have　heard　your　name；　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes；　and　I　am　aware　of　your

profession…　one　of　which　I　by　no　means　approve。〃

　　〃In　that；　Doctor；　you　will　find　yourself　in　agreement　with　every

criminal　in　the　country；〃　said　my　friend；　quietly。

　　〃So　far　as　your　efforts　are　directed　towards　the　suppression　of

crime；　sir；　they　must　have　the　support　of　every　reasonable　member　of

the　community；　though　I　cannot　doubt　that　the　official　machinery　is

amply　sufficient　for　the　purpose。　Where　your　calling　is　more　open　to

criticism　is　when　you　pry　into　the　secrets　of　private　individuals；

when　you　rake　up　family　matters　which　are　better　hidden；　and　when

you　incidentally　waste　the　time　of　men　who　are　more　busy　than

yourself。　At　the　present　moment；　for　example；　I　should　be　writing　a

treatise　instead　of　conversing　with　you。〃

　　〃No　doubt；　Doctor；　and　yet　the　conversation　may　prove　more　important

than　the　treatise。　Incidentally；　I　may　tell　you　that　we　are　doing

the　reverse　of　what　you　very　justly　blame；　and　that　we　are

endeavouring　to　prevent　anything　like　public　exposure　of　private

matters　which　must　necessarily　follow　when　once　the　case　is　fairly

in　the　hands　of　the　official　police。　You　may　look　upon　me　simply　as　an

irregular　pioneer；　who　goes　in　front　of　the　regular　forces　of　the

country。　I　have　come　to　ask　you　about　Mr。　Godfrey　Staunton。〃

　　〃What　about　him？〃

　　〃You　know　him；　do　you　not？〃　　〃'He　is　an　intimate　friend　of　mine。〃

　　〃You　are　aware　that　he　has　disappeared？〃

　　〃Ah；　indeed！〃　There　was　no　change　of　expression　in　the　rugged

features　of　the　doctor。

　　〃He　left　his　hotel　last　night…　he　has　not　been　heard　of。〃

　　〃No　doubt　he　will　return。〃

　　〃To…morrow　is　the　'Varsity　football　match。〃

　　〃I　have　no　sympathy　with　these　childish　games。　The　young　man's

fate　interests　me　deeply；　since　I　know　him　and　like　him。　The

football　match　does　not　come　within　my　horizon　at　all。〃

　　〃I　claim　your　sympathy；　then；　in　my　investigation　of　Mr。

Staunton's　fate。　Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃

　　〃Certainly　not。〃

　　〃You　have　not　seen　him　since　yesterday？〃

　　〃No；　I　have　not。〃

　　〃Was　Mr。　Staunton　a　healthy　man？〃

　　〃Absolutely。〃

　　〃Did　you　ever　know　him　ill？〃

　　〃Never。〃

　　Holmes　popped　a　sheet　of　paper　before　the　doctor's　eyes。　〃Then

perhaps　you　will　explain　this　receipted　bill　for　thirteen　guineas；

paid　by　Mr。　Godfrey　Staunton　last　month　to　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong；　of

Cambridge。　I　picked　it　out　from　among　the　papers　upon　his　desk。〃

　　The　doctor　flushed　with　anger。

　　〃I　do　not　feel　that　there　is　any　reason　why　I　should　render　an

explanation　to　you；　Mr。　Holmes。〃

　　Holmes　replaced　the　bill　in　his　notebook。　〃If　you　prefer　a　public

explanation；　it　must　come　sooner　or　later；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　already

told　you　that　I　can　hush　up　that　which　others　will　be　bound　to

publish；　and　you　would　really　be　wiser　to　take　me　into　your　complete

confidence。〃

　　〃I　know　nothing　about　it。〃

　　〃Did　you　hear　from　Mr。　Staunton　in　London？〃

　　〃Certainly　not。〃

　　〃Dear　me；　dear　me…　the　postoffice　again！〃　Holmes　sighed；　wearily。　〃A

most　urgent　telegram　was　dispatched　to　you　from　London　by　Godfrey

Staunton　at　six　fifteen　yesterday　evening…　a　telegram　which　is

undoubtedly　associated　with　his　disappearance…　and　yet　you　have　not

had　it。　It　is　most　culpable。　I　shall　certainly　go　down　to　the　office

here　and　register　a　complaint。〃

　　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong　sprang　up　from　behind　his　desk；　and　his　dark

face　was　crimson　with　fury。

　　〃I'll　trouble　you　to　walk　out　of　my　house；　sir；〃　said　he。　〃You　can

tell　your　employer；　Lord　Mount…James；　that　I　do　not　wish　to　have

anything　to　do　either　with　him　or　with　his　agents。　No；　sir…　not

another　word！〃　He　rang　the　bell　furiously。　〃John；　show　these　gentlemen

out！〃　A　pompous　butler　ushered　us　severely　to　the　door；　and　we　found

ourselves　in　the　street。　Holmes　burst　out　laughing。

　　〃Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong　is　certainly　a　man　of　energy　and　character；〃

said　he。　〃I　have　not　seen　a　man　who；　if　he　turns　his　talents　that　way；

was　more　calculated　to　fill　the　gap　left　by　the　illustrious

Moriarty。　And　now；　my　poor　Watson；　here　we　are；　stranded　and

friendless　in　this　inhospitable　town；　which　we　cannot　leave　without

abandoning　our　case。　This　little　inn　just　opposite　Armstrong's　house

is　singularly　adapted　to　our　needs。　If　you　would　engage　a　front　room

and　purchase　the　necessaries　for　the　night；　I　may　have　time　to　make

a　few　inquiries。〃

　　These　few　inquiries　proved；　however；　to　be　a　more　lengthy　proceeding

than　Holmes　had　imagined；　for　he　did　not　return　to　the　inn　until

nearly　nine　o'clock。　He　was　pale　and　dejected；　stained　with　dust；

and　exhausted　with　hunger　and　fatigue。　A　cold　supper　was　ready　upon

the　table；　and　when　his　needs　were　satisfied　and　his　pipe　alight　he

was　ready　to　take　that　half　comic　and　wholly　philosophic　view　which

was　natural　to　him　when　his　affairs　were　going　awry。　The　sound　of

carriage　wheels　caused　him　to　rise　and　glance　out　of　the　window。　A

brougham　and　pair　of　grays；　under　the　glare　of　a　gas…lamp；　stood

before　the　doctor's　door。

　　〃It's　been　out　three　hours；〃　said　Holmes；　〃started　at　half…past　six；

and　here　it　is　back　again。　That　gives　a　radius　of　ten　or　twelve　miles；

and　he　does　it　once；　or　sometimes　twice；　a　day。〃

　　〃No　unusual　thing　for　a　doctor　in　practice。〃

　　〃But　Armstrong　is　not　really　a　doctor　in　practice。　He　is　a

lecturer　and　a　consultant；　but　he　does　not　care　for　general

practice；　which　distracts　him　from　his　literary　work。　Why；　then；

does　he　make　these　long　journeys；　which　must　be　exceedingly　irksome　to

him；　and　who　is　it　that　he　visits？〃

　　〃His　coachman…〃

　　〃My　dear　Watson；　can　you　doubt　that　it　was　to　him　that　I　first

applied？　I　do　not　know　whether　it　came　from　his　own　innate　depravity

or　from　the　promptings　of　his　master；　but　he　was　rude　enough　to　set

a　dog　at　me。　Neither　dog　nor　man　liked　the　look　of　my　stick；

however；　and　the　matter　fell　through。　Relations　were　strained　after

that；　and　further　inquiries　out　of　the　question。　All　that　I　have

learned　I　got　from　a　friendly　native　in　the　yard　of　our　own　inn。　It

was　he　who　told　me　of　the　doctor's　habits　and　of　his　daily　journey。　At

that　instant；　to　give　point　to　his　words；　the　carriage　came　round　to

the　door。〃

　　〃Could　you　not　follow　it？〃

　　〃Excellent；　Watson！　You　are　scintillating　this　evening。　The　idea　did

cross　my　mind。　There　is；　as　you　may　have　observed；　a　bicycle　shop　next

to　our　inn。　Into　this　I　rushed；　engaged　a　bicycle；　and　was　able　to　get

started　before　the　carriage　was　quite　out　of　sight。　I　rapidly　overtook

it；　and　then；　keeping　at　a　discreet　distance　of　a　hundred　yards　or　so；

I　followed　its　lights　until　we　were　clear　of　the　town。　We　had　got　well

out　on　the　country　road；　when　a　somewhat　mortifying　incident　occurred。

The　carriage　stopped；　the　doctor　alighted；　walked　swiftly　back　to

where　I　had　also　halted；　and　told　me　in　an　excellent　sardonic

fashion　that　he　feared　the　road　was　narrow；　and　that　he　hoped　his

carriage　did　not　impede　the　passage　of　my　bicycle。　Nothing　could

have　been　more　admirable　than　his　way　of　putting　it。　I　at