登陆注册
5162400000008

第8章

"A few days later came the meeting.Gennaro returned from it with aface which told me that something dreadful had occurred.It was worse than we could have imagined possible.The funds of the society were raised by blackmailing rich Italians and threatening them with violence should they refuse the money.It seems that Castalotte, our dear friend and benefactor, had been approached.He had refused to yield to threats, and he had handed the notices to the police.It was resolved now that such an example should be made of them as would prevent any other victim from rebelling.At the meeting it was arranged that he and his house should be blown up with dynamite.There was a drawing of lots as to who should carry out the deed.Gennaro saw our enemy's cruel face smiling at him as he dipped his hand in the bag.No doubt it had been prearranged in some fashion, for it was the fatal disc with the Red Circle upon it, the mandate for murder, which lay upon his palm.He was to kill his best friend, or he was to expose himself and me to the vengeance of his comrades.It was part of their fiendish system to punish those whom they feared or hated by injuring not only their own persons but those whom they loved, and it was the knowledge of this which hung as a terror over my poor Gennaro's head and drove him nearly crazy with apprehension.

"All that night we sat together, our arms round each other, each strengthening each for the troubles that lay before us.The very next evening had been fixed for the attempt.By midday my husband and I were on our way to London, but not before he had given our benefactor full warning of this danger, and had also left such information for the police as would safeguard his life for the future.

"The rest, gentlemen, you know for yourselves.We were sure that our enemies would be behind us like our own shadows.Gorgiano had his private reasons for vengeance, but in any case we knew how ruthless, cunning, and untiring he could be.Both Italy and America are full of stories of his dreadful powers.If ever they were exerted it would be now.My darling made use of the few clear days which our start had given us in arranging for a refuge for me in such a fashion that no possible danger could reach me.For his own part, he wished to be free that he might communicate both with the American and with the Italian police.I do not myself know where he lived, or how.All that I learned was throughthe columns of a newspaper.But once as I looked through my window, I saw two Italians watching the house, and I understood that in some way Gorgiano had found our retreat.Finally Gennaro told me, through the paper, that he would signal to me from a certain window, but when the signals came they were nothing but warnings, which were suddenly interrupted.It is very clear to me now that he knew Gorgiano to be close upon him, and that, thank God! he was ready for him when he came.And now, gentleman, I would ask you whether we have anything to fear from the law, or whether any judge upon earth would condemn my Gennaro for what he has done?""Well, Mr.Gregson," said the American, looking across at the official, "I don't know what your British point of view may be, but I guess that in New York this lady's husband will receive a pretty general vote of thanks." "She will have to come with me and see the chief," Gregson answered.

"If what she says is corroborated, I do not think she or her husband has much to fear.But what I can't make head or tail of, Mr.Holmes, is how on earth YOU got yourself mixed up in the matter.""Education, Gregson, education.Still seeking knowledge at the old university.Well, Watson, you have one more specimen of the tragic and grotesque to add to your collection.By the way, it is not eight o'clock, and a Wagner night at Covent Garden! If we hurry, we might be in time for the second act."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 一宠成瘾:早安,小甜妻

    一宠成瘾:早安,小甜妻

    新婚三月,她终于看到在婚礼上不见踪影的丈夫。她忍,谁让她欠他一条人命,是她活该。她收起所有的性子,却被他一步步逼着原形毕露,沉沦在他编织的爱网里。直到父亲被绑架,公司被收购。“要如何你才会答应”“求我!”“求你……”颤抖着身体,她咬紧牙,一步步走近他。……“我们结婚吧。”舞池中央,深情告白。她逃不开,每个角落都清晰的印着他们共舞的画面。单膝下跪,他做出最真挚的姿态,“欢迎来到,墨郗决的世界。”让我许你一场因为爱情的婚姻。如果不曾遇见你,那我这一生又有何所依——墨郗决
  • 上仙请留步

    上仙请留步

    美美的仙侠恋?萌萌的师徒恋?这里刚好全都有!唐家小主重磅推荐之作!苏苏是棵肉灵芝,也就是传说中的太岁,长得肉乎乎的,是众妖魔争抢的对象。为了能够活着,并且修成正果,苏苏忍辱负重地跟着上仙龙非羽,开始了自己被逼为奴的悲惨日子,时不时地还要充当捉妖诱饵。而就在这样的相处过程中,苏苏发现自己居然喜欢上了这个高傲而说话刻薄的上仙大人。随后,百草仙子和温子然出现,一段有关苏苏和龙非羽前世的渊源也随之揭开。原来苏苏前世是一只凤凰,一直爱慕着小道士龙非羽,只是因为遭人陷害才下凡历劫,没想到龙非羽居然也跟着她来到了凡间,一起陪伴她度劫……
  • 青玉有缘,皇叔太难缠

    青玉有缘,皇叔太难缠

    灵力衰退,诛神应劫,就连一块刚刚化形的青玉也将要凐灭。青玉表示,好不容易化形的她要奋起,于是盛清颜重生了,盛清清穿越了,青玉转世成为盛清毓。终于成人了,可以吃美食啦,盛清毓扳着指头数数:变成人之后好像还得找个人搭伙过日子。”惊喜地发现自己的灵力还剩了点能用,于是盛清毓开始每日的翻墙遛狗,勾搭美男的人生。好不容易要将自己嫁出去了,盛清毓欢欢喜喜地去绣嫁衣。等等――坐在墙头的那个皇叔你是什么意思,居然敢坏姑奶奶的姻缘。皇叔邪魅一笑:“本王掐指一算,盛六小姐的姻缘似乎在本王这里。”
  • 天女殿下万安

    天女殿下万安

    所谓的车祸不是意外,而是她该回到原本属于她的地方了,收集遗失的魂魄待魂魄回归之时,便是她最后的时间,心甘情愿的成为世界的祭品她,又是否能够回来
  • 太上导引三光宝真妙经

    太上导引三光宝真妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我家男人形象又崩了

    我家男人形象又崩了

    新文宠爽文《我家夫人是全系废材》已发。【绝宠文,身心干净】他A市的隐形帝王,厌恶所有人的近身,却独独喜欢她的靠近。某日打架了。“亲亲四爷,我错了。”某女可怜巴巴。“错什么?”某四爷扫了她一眼。“不应该打架。”某女弱弱的回答。“赢了没有?”某四爷。“赢了。”某女笑得一脸灿烂。“嗯,不错。”某四爷奖励似的拍了拍她的头。某日教训了渣男渣女。“痛不痛?”某四爷轻吻了下她打人的手。“有点。”某女可怜巴巴。“下次用脚,记得穿鞋,打不过叫我。”某四爷摸了摸她的头,宠溺的安慰。【欢脱文,无虐无误会】
  • 餐馆新员工实用培训一本通

    餐馆新员工实用培训一本通

    本书对餐饮新员工应知应会的各项技能进行了全方位、立体化的介绍,主要涵盖餐馆新员工岗位认知培训,餐厅服务礼仪专题培训,餐饮员工端托、摆台、酒水服务技能培训,餐饮推销专题培训,餐厅安全专题培训,餐厅卫生专题培训以及高素质的餐饮服务员还必须要了解的相关行业知识和具备一些特殊问题的处理能力等多方面内容的培训。
  • 女王我爱你

    女王我爱你

    人前她是雷厉风行,光彩照人的刑辩律师,人后她是颠三倒四的邋遢女。人前他是风流倜傥,如沐春风的集团总裁,人后他是指手摭天的大人物。他被诬告QJ杀人,她是他的辩护律师,故事由此展开。————你所看到的一切文案都是幻觉,这种非主流一样的存在请让我们忘掉它。他面若桃花,却不是混混之流的小正太,24K纯金太子。她年纪一把,也不是下嫁无门的大龄剩女,被人疼上心尖的律政女王。薄南风以为,江南可以唾弃他,践踏他,欺负他,那是她的权利。但她管不着他甘愿被她唾弃,被她践踏,被她欺负,娶她,爱她,心疼她,那是他的权力。她可以不允许他下贱,但她管不着他犯贱。在薄南风看来,爱惨了一个人那就是犯贱。
  • 豪门隐婚之爱你入骨

    豪门隐婚之爱你入骨

    锦城,一个名副其实的火炉城市。正午时分,透蓝的天空悬着一轮火球般的烈日。大街上,只有三三两两的行人脚步匆忙的走着,好似稍慢些,就会被这火球给灼伤。乔晚开着车,车里的空调冷气开得很低,坐在副驾驶的钟灵白净的脸蛋被晒得通红,无精打采的说着,“晚姐,我们会不会去太早了?”乔晚抬臂看了下手表,笑说,“不早,约定的时间是两点,我们一点到摄影棚,一个小时时间准备。”“约好了……
  • 梦回红楼!

    梦回红楼!

    素手执红楼,悠然入梦来。碧玉绾青丝,暗香盈衣袖。眉心常微蹙,身若弱柳扶。天生国色姿,佳人颜如玉。琴艺倾天下,才华动京华。回眸一笑时,倾国亦倾城。红尘滚滚飞,情缘自难测。蓦然回首处,与君两相悦。是非风雨起,得失唯心知。问江山美人,孰重复孰轻?她是世家闺秀,诗才斐然,人雅如兰,颜倾天下。淡看富贵荣华,心不在红尘,人偏履世俗。只因为,红尘中有他。他是当朝皇子,足智多谋,才华横溢,前程无量。览尽世间佳丽,心静如止水,不曾起波澜。直到遇见才貌绝世的她,终于动心动情。两情相悦,携手成约。只盼能,执子之手,与子偕老,一生相守。却不料,宫闱纷争起,瞬间风起云涌,变幻莫测。宫闱深深,波澜迭起,枝节横生。于繁华纷争处看爱情,方才能看透情深清浅。风雨起时,为了爱情,她是隐忍成全,还是唯有逃离?当爱情与权利相冲撞之时,于他而言,江山美人,孰轻孰重?平生极爱红楼,独爱红楼,痴爱红楼,奈何红楼未完,为之常叹。红楼女子,最爱黛玉,容颜倾城,气质如兰,文采斐然,不染凡尘。个人借红楼小写黛玉,想给她一个与众不同的人生。架空历史,穿越时空,无关名著,圆己之梦。若是喜欢,还请多多捧场支持,收藏推荐,给雨竹一份信心。若是不喜,请不要鄙视与苛求,多多包涵。推荐区:借此机会,推荐雨竹自己的第一篇文:《雁翔红楼》请亲们关照一下啦