登陆注册
5212500000062

第62章 The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton(7)

The front door was open, and figures were rushing down the drive.The whole garden was alive with people, and one fellow raised a view-halloa as we emerged from the veranda and followed hard at our heels.Holmes seemed to know the ground perfectly, and he threaded his way swiftly among a plantation of small trees, I close at his heels, and our foremost pursuer panting behind us.It was a six-foot wall which barred our path, but he sprang to the top and over.As I did the same I felt the hand of the man behind me grab at my ankle; but I kicked myself free and scrambled over a glass-strewn coping.I fell upon my face among some bushes; but Holmes had me on my feet in an instant, and together we dashed away across the huge expanse of Hampstead Heath.We had run two miles, I suppose, before Holmes at last halted and listened intently.All was absolute silence behind us.

We had shaken off our pursuers and were safe.

We had breakfasted and were smoking our morning pipe on the day after the remarkable experience which I have recorded when Mr.Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, very solemn and impressive, was ushered into our modest sitting-room.

"Good morning, Mr.Holmes," said he; "good morning.

May I ask if you are very busy just now?""Not too busy to listen to you."

"I thought that, perhaps, if you had nothing particular on hand, you might care to assist us in a most remarkable case which occurred only last night at Hampstead.""Dear me!" said Holmes."What was that?""A murder -- a most dramatic and remarkable murder.I know how keen you are upon these things, and I would take it as a great favour if you would step down to Appledore Towers and give us the benefit of your advice.It is no ordinary crime.We have had our eyes upon this Mr.Milverton for some time, and, between ourselves, he was a bit of a villain.He is known to have held papers which he used for blackmailing purposes.These papers have all been burned by the murderers.No article of value was taken, as it is probable that the criminals were men of good position, whose sole object was to prevent social exposure.""Criminals!" said Holmes."Plural!"

"Yes, there were two of them.They were, as nearly as possible, captured red-handed.We have their foot-marks, we have their description; it's ten to one that we trace them.The first fellow was a bit too active, but the second was caught by the under-gardener and only got away after a struggle.He was a middle-sized, strongly-built man -- square jaw, thick neck, moustache, a mask over his eyes.""That's rather vague," said Sherlock Holmes.

"Why, it might be a description of Watson!""It's true," said the inspector, with much amusement.

"It might be a description of Watson."

"Well, I am afraid I can't help you, Lestrade," said Holmes.

"The fact is that I knew this fellow Milverton, that Iconsidered him one of the most dangerous men in London, and that I think there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge.

No, it's no use arguing.I have made up my mind.My sympathies are with the criminals rather than with the victim, and I will not handle this case."Holmes had not said one word to me about the tragedy which we had witnessed, but I observed all the morning that he was in his most thoughtful mood, and he gave me the impression, from his vacant eyes and his abstracted manner, of a man who is striving to recall something to his memory.We were in the middle of our lunch when he suddenly sprang to his feet."By Jove, Watson;I've got it!" he cried."Take your hat! Come with me!"He hurried at his top speed down Baker Street and along Oxford Street, until we had almost reached Regent Circus.Here on the left hand there stands a shop window filled with photographs of the celebrities and beauties of the day.Holmes's eyes fixed themselves upon one of them, and following his gaze I saw the picture of a regal and stately lady in Court dress, with a high diamond tiara upon her noble head.I looked at that delicately-curved nose, at the marked eyebrows, at the straight mouth, and the strong little chin beneath it.Then I caught my breath as I read the time-honoured title of the great nobleman and statesman whose wife she had been.My eyes met those of Holmes, and he put his finger to his lips as we turned away from the window.

同类推荐
  • 明伦汇编皇极典君父部

    明伦汇编皇极典君父部

    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。
  • 夏官司马

    夏官司马

    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。
  • 神异经

    神异经

    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。
  • 处囊诀

    处囊诀

    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。
  • HARD TIMES

    HARD TIMES

    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
  • 网游之等君归

    网游之等君归

    原本只是独行玩家的陆小秋,只求安安稳稳地在游戏中度日。接二连三的好运降临在她的头上。傍大神?别逗了,那只是网游小说中才会出现的桥段!陆小秋始终不相信这种事情。更何况陆小秋也算得上是全服PK第九的高手。可是可是!眼前一身白衣胜雪,执剑而立的不是全服第一风清寒会是谁?!
  • 铸剑江湖(下)

    铸剑江湖(下)

    百年前,一代邪魔“九面暴魔”突现武林,因其易容绝技及魔道奇技天下无敌,以致乾坤笼罩在一片魔气之中,巧幸正道武林出现了一位力敌群魔之人——“孔孟神刀”,他终以浩然之气将“九面暴魔”驱出武林。数十年后,因“穷恶剑”为祸武林,而被“四情剑客”围剿于荒山枯野之中。
  • 明朝软皇帝大梦想

    明朝软皇帝大梦想

    15世纪初、来自24世纪莫然化身为大明第二代皇帝、经历九死一生打败朱棣获得皇位、经过十余年的战争和阴谋,分解鞑靼和瓦刺、吞并努尔干都司的女真诸部,又打起了东察合台汗国的主意,却和帖木儿帝国发生强硬碰撞、日本南北朝之争刚落下帷幕,无意娶得天皇的孙女做媳妇、盛世天下太平,二女儿朱文坲要去西洋,要自己建立国土,把英吉利和法兰西打的头破血流、郑和七下西洋、探索全世界新篇章、镇江新军远征欧亚、横渡太平洋,带动了航海大时代的来临、为了生存和发展,大明誓不做懦夫,一系列的尝试、让世界出现了新格局……却不知历史只不过是绕了一个小圈,在未来的几百年后又恢复原本模样……
  • 柳宗元集

    柳宗元集

    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。
  • 重生之盛世狂妃

    重生之盛世狂妃

    她被剜心而死,一朝重生14岁!怀揣医学宝典,携带灵植空间,契约神秘灵兽,她不再是人人可以欺辱的草包嫡女!大权在握,皇帝也要让三分;富可敌国,天下富豪闪一边;地下女皇,杀手组织定人命!男人?敢在她面前狂,她比他更狂!她发誓,人不犯我我不犯人,人若犯我斩草除根!重生一世,她必将站在这世界的巅峰——睥睨众生!
  • 强势喜欢你

    强势喜欢你

    盛夜忽然附在廖晨曦耳边偷偷说了一句“我恨你。”廖晨曦点点头“我也恨你!”“那你亲我一口,我想看看你有多恨我!”盛夜勾起嘴角“你恨我,才代表你更爱我!”“额……盛夜你……能不能要点脸……”盛夜勾起廖晨曦的下巴“在你面前,我就是不要脸的爱你!爱你十年……万年……万万年……”廖晨曦,仰天长叹,“老天爷求派下一道雷电,收了这妖孽吧!”
  • 千金变村花:菜公主的跷跷板

    千金变村花:菜公主的跷跷板

    【原创作者社团『未央』出品】一朵小村花,从乡下重返城里,让你捧腹,让你挥泪,村花真的是一个平凡的少女吗?刻意的逃避掩饰不了华丽的身世,花不是好鸟,蜗牛也能变小强,请看菜公主的高低人生!
  • 金锚

    金锚

    渤海湾大亮岛上有个渔村叫做将军帽,不是这个渔村出了什么将军,而是这个村附近的海域盛产鲍鱼,鲍鱼的土名就叫“将军帽”。鲍鱼因其壳面隆起,状似清代官员戴的帽子,渔民称其为“将军帽”。这个小渔村由此而得名。将军帽村有几百年历史,这里的人们祖祖辈辈以打渔为生。尤其是他们村的鲍鱼远近闻名。清朝时期,这里的鲍鱼是贡品,专门贡给皇上食用的美味。将军帽村历经朝代变迁,贡品时代早已成往事,正向改革开放时代迈进。当1977年国家恢复高考时,小渔村出了一位“秀才”,名叫张鲍鱼,父母给他起这个名字是希望他有当官的命,其实张鲍鱼只是考上了一所京城非名牌学校——燃料工业大学。
  • 医路顺风

    医路顺风

    现代女将穿越到不知名的古代社会,……书友们,请看她是如何带着一双幼儿从一无所长、一无所有到医武双绝,逆袭人生的?
  • 金枝玉叶

    金枝玉叶

    千古江山阅尽,吴钩了却前尘,回魂黯看漏雨,花错月影无痕。延绵不绝的亭台楼台之后,是寒玉生烟、胭脂生凉的寂寞宫愁,九重宫阙的水晶珠帘之后,是金枝玉叶、权柄玉座的血腥杀戮,金戈铁马的乱世末期,波澜诡谲的宫闱闺阁,一个叫苏谧的女子一生的挣扎反抗、起伏沉落。