登陆注册
5212500000031

第31章 The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist(3)

"Oh, it may be a mere fancy of mine; but it has seemed to me sometimes that my employer, Mr.Carruthers, takes a great deal of interest in me.We are thrown rather together.I play his accompaniments in the evening.He has never said anything.

He is a perfect gentleman.But a girl always knows.""Ha!" Holmes looked grave."What does he do for a living?""He is a rich man."

"No carriages or horses?"

"Well, at least he is fairly well-to-do.But he goes into the City two or three times a week.He is deeply interested in South African gold shares.""You will let me know any fresh development, Miss Smith.I am very busy just now, but I will find time to make some inquiries into your case.In the meantime take no step without letting me know.Good-bye, and I trust that we shall have nothing but good news from you.""It is part of the settled order of Nature that such a girl should have followers," said Holmes, as he pulled at his meditative pipe, "but for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads.

Some secretive lover, beyond all doubt.But there are curious and suggestive details about the case, Watson.""That he should appear only at that point?""Exactly.Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants of Charlington Hall.Then, again, how about the connection between Carruthers and Woodley, since they appear to be men of such a different type? How came they BOTH to be so keen upon looking up Ralph Smith's relations? One more point.What sort of a MENAGE is it which pays double the market price for a governess, but does not keep a horse although six miles from the station? Odd, Watson -- very odd!""You will go down?"

"No, my dear fellow, YOU will go down.This may be some trifling intrigue, and I cannot break my other important research for the sake of it.On Monday you will arrive early at Farnham; you will conceal yourself near Charlington Heath;you will observe these facts for yourself, and act as your own judgment advises.Then, having inquired as to the occupants of the Hall, you will come back to me and report.And now, Watson, not another word of the matter until we have a few solid stepping-stones on which we may hope to get across to our solution."We had ascertained from the lady that she went down upon the Monday by the train which leaves Waterloo at 9.50, so I started early and caught the 9.13.At Farnham Station I had no difficulty in being directed to Charlington Heath.It was impossible to mistake the scene of the young lady's adventure, for the road runs between the open heath on one side and an old yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded with magnificent trees.There was a main gateway of lichen-studded stone, each side pillar surmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems; but besides this central carriage drive I observed several points where there were gaps in the hedge and paths leading through them.The house was invisible from the road, but the surroundings all spoke of gloom and decay.

The heath was covered with golden patches of flowering gorse, gleaming magnificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine.

Behind one of these clumps I took up my position, so as to command both the gateway of the Hall and a long stretch of the road upon either side.It had been deserted when I left it, but now I saw a cyclist riding down it from the opposite direction to that in which I had come.He was clad in a dark suit, and I saw that he had a black beard.On reaching the end of the Charlington grounds he sprang from his machine and led it through a gap in the hedge, disappearing from my view.

A quarter of an hour passed and then a second cyclist appeared.

This time it was the young lady coming from the station.

I saw her look about her as she came to the Charlington hedge.

An instant later the man emerged from his hiding-place, sprang upon his cycle, and followed her.In all the broad landscape those were the only moving figures, the graceful girl sitting very straight upon her machine, and the man behind her bending low over his handle-bar, with a curiously furtive suggestion in every movement.She looked back at him and slowed her pace.

He slowed also.She stopped.He at once stopped too, keeping two hundred yards behind her.Her next movement was as unexpected as it was spirited.She suddenly whisked her wheels round and dashed straight at him! He was as quick as she, however, and darted off in desperate flight.Presently she came back up the road again, her head haughtily in the air, not deigning to take any further notice of her silent attendant.He had turned also, and still kept his distance until the curve of the road hid them from my sight.

I remained in my hiding-place, and it was well that I did so, for presently the man reappeared cycling slowly back.

He turned in at the Hall gates and dismounted from his machine.

For some few minutes I could see him standing among the trees.

His hands were raised and he seemed to be settling his necktie.

Then he mounted his cycle and rode away from me down the drive towards the Hall.I ran across the heath and peered through the trees.Far away I could catch glimpses of the old grey building with its bristling Tudor chimneys, but the drive ran through a dense shrubbery, and I saw no more of my man.

However, it seemed to me that I had done a fairly good morning's work, and I walked back in high spirits to Farnham.The local house-agent could tell me nothing about Charlington Hall, and referred me to a well-known firm in Pall Mall.There I halted on my way home, and met with courtesy from the representative.

No, I could not have Charlington Hall for the summer.

I was just too late.It had been let about a month ago.

Mr.Williamson was the name of the tenant.He was a respectable elderly gentleman.The polite agent was afraid he could say no more, as the affairs of his clients were not matters which he could discuss.

同类推荐
  • Rosamund,Queen of the Lombards

    Rosamund,Queen of the Lombards

    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。
  • 群仙要语纂集

    群仙要语纂集

    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。
  • 新西游记

    新西游记

    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。
  • 言行龟鉴

    言行龟鉴

    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。
  • 八识规矩通说

    八识规矩通说

    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。
热门推荐
  • 青春逆道而行:无良学长

    青春逆道而行:无良学长

    她傲慢,她清高,赛车时,同为对手,她一脚将他连车踹飞,说他丢人现眼。他狂妄,他自大,一掷千金,他将她的名字锁在结婚证上的另一边,只婚不爱。一场强对强的较量,谁先深陷,谁先输……
  • 发明魔术师:爱迪生(创造历史的风云人物)

    发明魔术师:爱迪生(创造历史的风云人物)

    名人创造了历史,名人改写了历史,那些走在时代最前列、深深影响和推动了历史进程的名人永远会被广大人民所拥戴、所尊重、所铭记。古往今来,有多少中外名人不断地涌现在人们的目光里,这些出类拔萃、彪炳千古、流芳百世的名人中,有家国天下的政治家,有叱咤风云的军事家,有超乎凡人的思想家,有妙笔生花的文学家,有造福人类的科学家,有想象非凡的艺术家……他们永远不会被人们忘记!
  • 狙击天才

    狙击天才

    王海面对佣兵、王牌特工、杀手集团、国际犯罪组织的围追堵截如入无人之地,任何困难险境中只凭一颗子弹就能击毙目标,将金钱、美女收入怀中,他被称之为----狙击天才。读者群:295775184
  • 明伦汇编人事典称号部

    明伦汇编人事典称号部

    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。
  • 萌化九尾日常

    萌化九尾日常

    九尾醒来,打了个哈欠,印象中好像有一个灵魂融进了自己的身体。啊,管呢,继续睡。……然后九尾的意识就被取代。再次醒来,继承了九尾和宅男灵魂的小玖出世
  • 美国商业电视的竞争

    美国商业电视的竞争

    在我动笔写作本书时,对开头部分要写哪些内容,已经心中有数了,而先前的几本书却不是这样。矗立在大地之上的电视塔,其象征意义显而易见:以经济和技术力量征服现实,展现城市风对乡村宁静平和生活的影响,以及里普利笔下那奇异的图景。在一次为期两周的旅行中,一个周末我因故来到北达科他州,博比·肯尼迪(Bobby Kennedy)的葬礼正好在那个周末举行。在若干个农业州,一些当地电视台在转播葬礼车队漫长的行进过程中,正在插播当地商业广告。
  • 快穿之配角逆袭之战

    快穿之配角逆袭之战

    告白校草男神,发现校草男神的真面目只是个骗财骗色的骗子,本着明哲保身,不想掺和这些事情,谁知校草男神怕事情败露,联合她的好朋友,将她害死……倒霉地进到自己书中,开始了被迫的穿越之旅,可为什么每一次都是配角!遇到一群被称为极品的渣男女,与他们斗智斗勇又斗心,还要保住自己的节操,简直比皇帝还忙。从一开始的迷迷糊糊,到摸得门清,把一切掌握手中。某女嘴角闪过一丝算计“只有我坑别人,还没有人能坑我,就算被坑,也会千倍万倍地讨回来”
  • 寂上人院联句

    寂上人院联句

    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。
  • 少女焦尸谜案:缉拿死神

    少女焦尸谜案:缉拿死神

    一具被烧焦的少女尸体背后隐藏着怎样的案情;一对夫妇惨死在他们的卧室里,身体被严重烧伤,面目全非……她躺在卧室的地板上,身旁放着一把刀,地板上到处都是血……如此恐怖的一幕幕,让人不寒而粟,死神真的来了?他在哪儿?
  • 最强王牌

    最强王牌

    杨帆,空军学院的天之骄子,毗邻毕业时被开除学籍,在魔鬼教官的帮助下,从而踏上一条全新的征程。为国战,为民战,誓死不悔。兵锋所指,战魂无敌,群雄避让,从此成就最强王者之名。