the adventure of the second stain-第4部分

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either　committed　when　insane；　or　that　its　immediate　effect　was　to

drive　the　unhappy　woman　out　of　her　mind。　At　present　she　is　unable　to

give　any　coherent　account　of　the　past；　and　the　doctors　hold　out　no

hopes　of　the　reestablishment　of　her　reason。　There　is　evidence　that　a

woman；　who　might　have　been　Mme。　Fournaye；　was　seen　for　some　hours　upon

Monday　night　watching　the　house　in　Godolphin　Street。



　　〃What　do　you　think　of　that；　Holmes？〃　I　had　read　the　account　aloud　to

him；　while　he　finished　his　breakfast。

　　〃My　dear　Watson；〃　said　he；　as　he　rose　from　the　table　and　paced　up

and　down　the　room；　〃You　are　most　long…suffering；　but　if　I　have　told

you　nothing　in　the　last　three　days；　it　is　because　there　is　nothing

to　tell。　Even　now　this　report　from　Paris　does　not　help　us　much。〃

　　〃Surely　it　is　final　as　regards　the　man's　death。〃

　　〃The　man's　death　is　a　mere　incident…　a　trivial　episode…　in

comparison　with　our　real　task；　which　is　to　trace　this　document　and

save　a　European　catastrophe。　Only　one　important　thing　has　happened

in　the　last　three　days；　and　that　is　that　nothing　has　happened。　I　get

reports　almost　hourly　from　the　government；　and　it　is　certain　that

nowhere　in　Europe　is　there　any　sign　of　trouble。　Now；　if　this　letter

were　loose…　no；　it　can't　be　loose…　but　if　it　isn't　loose；　where　can　it

be？　Who　has　it？　Why　is　it　held　back？　That's　the　question　that　beats　in

my　brain　like　a　hammer。　Was　it；　indeed；　a　coincidence　that　Lucas

should　meet　his　death　on　the　night　when　the　letter　disappeared？　Did

the　letter　ever　reach　him？　If　so；　why　is　it　not　among　his　papers？

Did　this　mad　wife　of　his　carry　it　off　with　her？　If　so；　is　it　in　her

house　in　Paris？　How　could　I　search　for　it　without　the　French　police

having　their　suspicions　aroused？　It　is　a　case；　my　dear　Watson；　where

the　law　is　as　dangerous　to　us　as　the　criminals　are。　Every　man's　hand

is　against　us；　and　yet　the　interests　at　stake　are　colossal。　Should　I

bring　it　to　a　successful　conclusion；　it　will　certainly　represent　the

crowning　glory　of　my　career。　Ah；　here　is　my　latest　from　the　front！〃　He

glanced　hurriedly　at　the　note　which　had　been　handed　in。　〃Halloa！

Lestrade　seems　to　have　observed　something　of　interest。　Put　on　your

hat；　Watson；　and　we　will　stroll　down　together　to　Westminster。〃

　　It　was　my　first　visit　to　the　scene　of　the　crime…　a　high；　dingy；

narrow…chested　house；　prim；　formal；　and　solid；　like　the　century

which　gave　it　birth。　Lestrade's　bulldog　features　gazed　out　at　us

from　the　front　window；　and　he　greeted　us　warmly　when　a　big　constable

had　opened　the　door　and　let　us　in。　The　room　into　which　we　were　shown

was　that　in　which　the　crime　had　been　committed；　but　no　trace　of　it　now

remained　save　an　ugly；　irregular　stain　upon　the　carpet。　This　carpet

was　a　small　square　drugget　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　surrounded　by

a　broad　expanse　of　beautiful；　old…fashioned　wood…flooring　in　square

blocks；　highly　polished。　Over　the　fireplace　was　a　magnificent　trophy

of　weapons；　one　of　which　had　been　used　on　that　tragic　night。　In　the

window　was　a　sumptuous　writing…desk；　and　every　detail　of　the

apartment；　the　pictures；　the　rugs；　and　the　hangings；　all　pointed　to

a　taste　which　was　luxurious　to　the　verge　of　effeminacy。

　　〃Seen　the　Paris　news？'　asked　Lestrade。

　　Holmes　nodded。

　　〃Our　French　friends　seem　to　have　touched　the　spot　this　time。　No

doubt　it's　just　as　they　say。　She　knocked　at　the　door…　surprise

visit；　I　guess；　for　he　kept　his　life　in　water…tight　compartments…　he

let　her　in；　couldn't　keep　her　in　the　street。　She　told　him　how　she

had　traced　him；　reproached　him。　One　thing　led　to　another；　and　then

with　that　dagger　so　handy　the　end　soon　came。　It　wasn't　all　done　in

an　instant；　though；　for　these　chairs　were　all　swept　over　yonder；　and

he　had　one　in　his　hand　as　if　he　had　tried　to　hold　her　off　with　it。

We've　got　it　all　clear　as　if　we　had　seen　it。〃

　　Holmes　raised　his　eyebrows。

　　〃And　yet　you　have　sent　for　me？〃

　　〃Ah；　yes；　that's　another　matter…　a　mere　trifle；　but　the　sort　of

thing　you　take　an　interest　in…　queer；　you　know；　and　what　you　might

call　freakish。　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　main　fact…　can't　have；　on

the　face　of　it。〃

　　〃What　is　it；　then？〃

　　〃Well；　you　know；　after　a　crime　of　this　sort　we　are　very　careful　to

keep　things　in　their　position。　Nothing　has　been　moved。　Officer　in

charge　here　day　and　night。　This　morning；　as　the　man　was　buried　and　the

investigation　over…　so　far　as　this　room　is　concerned…　we　thought　we

could　tidy　up　a　bit。　This　carpet。　You　see；　it　is　not　fastened　down；

only　just　laid　there。　We　had　occasion　to　raise　it。　We　found…〃

　　〃Yes？　You　found…〃

　　Holmes's　face　grew　tense　with　anxiety。

　　〃Well；　I'm　sure　you　would　never　guess　in　a　hundred　years　what　we　did

find。　You　see　that　stain　on　the　carpet？　Well；　a　great　deal　must　have

soaked　through；　must　it　not？〃

　　〃Undoubtedly　it　must。〃

　　〃Well；　you　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　there　is　no　stain　on　the

white　woodwork　to　correspond。〃

　　〃No　stain！　But　there　must…〃

　　〃Yes；　so　you　would　say。　But　the　fact　remains　that　there　isn't。〃

　　He　took　the　corner　of　the　carpet　in　his　hand　and；　turning　it　over；

he　showed　that　it　was　indeed　as　he　said。

　　〃But　the　under　side　is　as　stained　as　the　upper。　It　must　have　left

a　mark。〃

　　Lestrade　chuckled　with　delight　at　having　puzzled　the　famous　expert。

　　〃Now；　I'll　show　you　the　explanation。　There　is　a　second　stain；　but　it

does　not　correspond　with　the　other。　See　for　yourself。〃　As　he　spoke

he　turned　over　another　portion　of　the　carpet；　and　there；　sure

enough；　was　a　great　crimson　spill　upon　the　square　white　facing　of

the　old…fashioned　floor。　〃What　do　you　make　of　that；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃Why；　it　is　simple　enough。　The　two　stains　did　correspond；　but　the

carpet　has　been　turned　round。　As　it　was　square　and　unfastened　it　was

easily　done。〃

　　The　official　police　don't　need　you；　Mr。　Holmes；　to　tell　them　that

the　carpet　must　have　been　turned　round。　That's　clear　enough；　for　the

stains　lie　above　each　other…　if　you　lay　it　over　this　way。　But　what　I

want　to　know　is；　who　shifted　the　carpet；　and　why？〃

　　I　could　see　from　Holmes's　rigid　face　that　he　was　vibrating　with

inward　excitement。

　　〃Look　here；　Lestrade；〃　said　he；　〃has　that　constable　in　the　passage

been　in　charge　of　the　place　all　the　time？〃

　　〃Yes；　he　has。〃

　　〃Well；　take　my　advice。　Examine　him　carefully。　Don't　do　it　before　us。

Well　wait　here。　You　take　him　into　the　back　room。　You'll　be　more　likely

to　get　a　confession　out　of　him　alone。　Ask　him　how　he　dared　to　admit

people　and　leave　them　alone　in　this　room。　Don't　ask　him　if　he　has　done

it。　Take　it　for　granted。　Tell　him　you　know　someone　has　been　here。

Press　him。　Tell　him　that　a　full　confession　is　his　only　chance　of

forgiveness。　Do　exactly　what　I　tell　you！〃

　　〃By　George；　if　he　knows　I'll　have　it　out　of　him！〃　cried　Lestrade。　He

darted　into　the　hall；　and　a　few　moments　later　his　bullying　voice

sounded　from　the　back　room。

　　〃Now；　Watson；　now！〃　cried　Holmes　with　frenzied　eagerness。　All　the

demoniacal　force　of　the　man　masked　behind　that　listless　manner　burst

out　in　a　paroxysm　of　energy。　He　tore　the　drugget　from　the　floor；　and

in　an　instant　was　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　clawing　at　each　of　the

squares　of　wood　beneath　it。　One　turned　sideways　as　he　dug　his　nails

into　the　edge　of　it。　It　hinged　back　like　the　lid　of　a　box。　A　small

black　cavity　opened　beneath　it。　Holmes　plunged　his　eager　hand　into

it　and　drew　it　out　with　a　bitter　snarl　of　anger　and　disappointment。　It

was　empty。

　　〃Quick；　Watson；　quick！　Get　it　back　again！〃　The　wooden　lid　was

replaced；　and　the　drugget　had　only　just　been　drawn　straight　when

Lestrade's　voice　was　heard　in　the　passage。　He　found　Holmes　leaning

languidly　against　the　mantelpiece；　resigned　and　patient；

endeavouring　to　conceal　his　irrepressible　yawns。

　　〃Sorry　to　keep　you　waiting；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　can　see　that　you　are　bored

to　death　with　the　whole　affair。　Well；　he　has　confessed；　all　right。

Come　in　here；　MacPherson。　Let　these　gentlemen　hear　of　your　most

inexcusable　conduct。〃

　　The　big　constable；　very　hot　and　penitent；　sidled　into　the　room。

　　〃I　meant　no　harm；　sir；　I'm　sure。　The　young　woman　came　to　the　door

last　evening…　mistook　the　house；　she　did。　And　then　we　got　talking。

It's　lonesome；　when　you're　on　duty　here　all　day。〃

　　〃Well；　what　happened　then？〃

　　〃She　wanted　to　see　where　the　crime　was　done…　had　read　about　it　in

the　papers；　she　said。　She　was　a　very　respectable；　well…spoken　young

woman；　sir；　and　I　saw　no　harm　in　letting　her　have　a　peep。　When　she　saw

that　mark　on　the　carpet；　down　she　dropped　on　the　floor；　and　lay　as

if　she　were　dead。　I　ran　to　the　back　and　got　some　water；　but　I　could

not　bring　her　to。　Then　I　went　round　the　corner　to　the　Ivy　Plant　for

some　brandy；　and　by　the　time　I　had　brought　it　back　the　young　woman　had

recovered　and　was　off…　ashamed　of　herself；　I　daresay；　and　dared　not

face　me。〃

　　〃How　about　moving　that　drugget？〃

　　〃Well；　sir；　it　was　a　bit　rumpled；　certainly；　when　I　came　back。　You

see；　she　fell　on　it　and　it　lies　on　a　polished　floor　with　nothing　to

keep　it　in　place。　I　straightened　it　out　afterwards。〃

　　〃It's　a　lesson　to　you　that　you　can't　deceive　me；　Constable

MacPherson；〃　said　Lestrade；　with　dignity。　〃No　doubt　you　thought　that

your　breach　of　duty　could　never　be　discovered；　and　yet　a　mere　glance

at　that　drugget　was　enough　to　convince　me　that　someone　had　been

admitted　to　the　room。　It's　lucky　for　you；　my　man；　that　nothing　is

missing；　or　you　would　find　yourself　in　Queer　Street。　I'm　sorry　to　have

called　you　down　over　such　a　petty　business；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　I

thought　the　point　of　the　second　stain　not　corresponding　with　the　first

would　interest　you。〃

　　〃Certainly；　it　was　most　interesting。　Has　this　woman　only　been　here

once；　constable？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　only　once。〃

　　〃Who　was　she？〃

　　〃Don't　know　the　name；　sir。　Was　answering　an　advertisement　about

typewriting　and　came　to　the　wrong　number…　very　pleasant；　genteel　young

woman；　sir。〃

　　〃Tall？　Handsome？〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　she　was　a　well…grown　young　woman。　I　suppose　you　might　say

she　was　handsome。　Perhaps　some　would　say　she　was　very　handsome。　'Oh；

officer；　do　let　me　have　a　peep！'　says　she。　She　had　pretty