登陆注册
5212500000085

第85章 The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter(1)

WE were fairly accustomed to receive weird telegrams at Baker Street, but I have a particular recollection of one which reached us on a gloomy February morning some seven or eight years ago and gave Mr.Sherlock Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour.It was addressed to him, and ran thus:--"Please await me.Terrible misfortune.Right wing three-quarter missing; indispensable to morrow.-- OVERTON.""Strand post-mark and dispatched ten-thirty-six," said Holmes, reading it over and over."Mr.Overton was evidently considerably excited when he sent it, and somewhat incoherent in consequence.

Well, well, he will be here, I dare say, by the time I have looked through the TIMES, and then we shall know all about it.Even the most insignificant problem would be welcome in these stagnant days."Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion's brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work.

For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable career.Now I knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus, but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead, but sleeping; and I have known that the sleep was a light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes's ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes.Therefore I blessed this Mr.Overton, whoever he might be, since he had come with his enigmatic message to break that dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than all the storms of his tempestuous life.

As we had expected, the telegram was soon followed by its sender, and the card of Mr.Cyril Overton, of Trinity College, Cambridge, announced the arrival of an enormous young man, sixteen stone of solid bone and muscle, who spanned the doorway with his broad shoulders and looked from one of us to the other with a comely face which was haggard with anxiety.

"Mr.Sherlock Holmes?"

My companion bowed.

"I've been down to Scotland Yard, Mr.Holmes.

I saw Inspector Stanley Hopkins.He advised me to come to you.

He said the case, so far as he could see, was more in your line than in that of the regular police.""Pray sit down and tell me what is the matter.""It's awful, Mr.Holmes, simply awful! I wonder my hair isn't grey.

Godfrey Staunton -- you've heard of him, of course? He's simply the hinge that the whole team turns on.I'd rather spare two from the pack and have Godfrey for my three-quarter line.Whether it's passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there's no one to touch him;and then, he's got the head and can hold us all together.

What am I to do? That's what I ask you, Mr.Holmes.

There's Moorhouse, first reserve, but he is trained as a half, and he always edges right in on to the scrum instead of keeping out on the touch-line.He's a fine place-kick, it's true, but, then, he has no judgment, and he can't sprint for nuts.

Why, Morton or Johnson, the Oxford fliers, could romp round him.

Stevenson is fast enough, but he couldn't drop from the twenty-five line, and a three-quarter who can't either punt or drop isn't worth a place for pace alone.No, Mr.Holmes, we are done unless you can help me to find Godfrey Staunton."My friend had listened with amused surprise to this long speech, which was poured forth with extraordinary vigour and earnestness, every point being driven home by the slapping of a brawny hand upon the speaker's knee.When our visitor was silent Holmes stretched out his hand and took down letter "S" of his commonplace book.For once he dug in vain into that mine of varied information.

"There is Arthur H.Staunton, the rising young forger,"said he, "and there was Henry Staunton, whom I helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunton is a new name to me."It was our visitor's turn to look surprised.

"Why, Mr.Holmes, I thought you knew things," said he.

"I suppose, then, if you have never heard of Godfrey Staunton you don't know Cyril Overton either?"Holmes shook his head good-humouredly.

"Great Scot!" cried the athlete."Why, I was first reserve for England against Wales, and I've skippered the 'Varsity all this year.But that's nothing! I didn't think there was a soul in England who didn't know Godfrey Staunton, the crack three-quarter, Cambridge, Blackheath, and five Internationals.

Good Lord! Mr.Holmes, where HAVE you lived?"Holmes laughed at the young giant's naive astonishment.

"You live in a different world to me, Mr.Overton, a sweeter and healthier one.My ramifications stretch out into many sections of society, but never, I am happy to say, into amateur sport, which is the best and soundest thing in England.However, your unexpected visit this morning shows me that even in that world of fresh air and fair play there may be work for me to do;so now, my good sir, I beg you to sit down and to tell me slowly and quietly exactly what it is that has occurred, and how you desire that I should help you."Young Overton's face assumed the bothered look of the man who is more accustomed to using his muscles than his wits; but by degrees, with many repetitions and obscurities which I may omit from his narrative, he laid his strange story before us.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 萌帝翻身史

    萌帝翻身史

    简介:宴清国的朝阳城一直盛传是先祖置放宝藏的地方。又传说开启宝藏的钥匙就藏在宴清皇宫内由历代皇帝保管。宴清此任的女帝陛下随辛从继位起一直想翻身农奴把歌唱,无奈上头压着位大山竹马秦楚。不痛快的随辛尽自己一切可能给秦楚找不痛快。简而言之就是一张藏宝图引发一代女帝陛下与竹马斗智斗勇的血泪上位史!比如“朕要革了秦威的职!”“陛下开心就好。”“那你同意了??”“嗯——”“那,那就批个字吧!”“今日批奏折批的多了,不想动。”——再比如:“朕要出宫!”“近日与南林起了战事,陛下还是安生呆在宫中吧。”“朕憋得慌!”“我让秦威去宫外给你买点小玩意回来。”“那朕要城南三百里外钱家村李寡妇家隔壁新开的王记豆腐脑一百份!”“秦威,通知御膳房,今日晚膳改为豆腐脑。”“朕要,宫外的。”在一记眼神后,女帝陛下默默住口用袖掩面含泪而去。
  • 供养护世八天法

    供养护世八天法

    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。
  • 网游之这游戏有毒

    网游之这游戏有毒

    一个有毒的游戏,玩着玩着就有病了。女神被荼毒成了女神经后,使出洪荒之力只为完成一个心愿,将神坛上的装逼犯,拉下来踩在脚下!!!
  • 奇卢飞羽

    奇卢飞羽

    江湖传承,天地逆袭。身在乱世,一统百通。豪杰逐鹿,岌岌可危。愿与君共携天下大计,创江湖豪情血脉相承!灵眸,情缘。本书献给大家,欢迎加入作者郭城粉丝群,群聊号码:637095009
  • 重生红莲

    重生红莲

    穿越到混沌时代,大洪荒纪元正式开启,和夸父追日,同盘古开天,更少不了和女娲一起造人!前世悲催的他决心在这崭新的天地中成为一尊亘古留名的圣人。于是,上一世神话中的诸神成了他今生的对手,惊涛骇浪中,他能否斩神灭圣,踏上洪荒之巅?
  • 赖上契约妻

    赖上契约妻

    她为钱而选择代孕,却拒绝他的屡次示好,只因不想和他扯上除协议之外的任何关系。他为疼爱女友而选择代孕,却不成想深陷其中,遗失了心。原本是一场各为所需的交易,却演变成剪不断、理还乱、纠缠交错的感情交战。只是,感情这场没有硝烟的战斗,没有谁会是赢家。有的只是输,输心!【片段一】“代孕?我不太明白?”她只是轻轻地一笑,一双眼眸如秋水般清澈,焕发着明亮的光辉。“就是把子楚的精子和和我的卵子,做成试管胚胎,植入你的体内完成怀孕的全过程,也就是社会上所说的代孕妈妈,只要你答应有什么条件尽管提,我们都会答应的。”肖菲儿解释着,桑怡端着杯子的手轻轻一颤,心里一阵泛滥,眉峰忍不住挤到一起,肖菲儿儿所说的任何条件都会答应当然包括金钱,她知道自己缺钱,这样说无疑保留着尊严。“你不用马上回复,仔细想一想然后告诉我。”桑怡勉强挤出一丝生涩的笑容,心口徒然疼了一下,强压住胸中的不平静。“我的情况菲儿姐你都清楚,不用考虑,我答应。”霍子楚冰冷而幽深的黑眸静静地凝着她,唇角却隐隐透着近乎残酷的冷意,“桑怡,代孕这个事情不是小事,你有没有想过代孕之后的生活,毕竟你现在是未婚女孩,代孕之后你便是一个生过孩子的女人,你没有过渡,从少女直接变成孕妇,而你所生的孩子跟你也没有任何关系,这种感受现在你体会不到,也许到时你会很痛苦,这件事足以改变你的人生。”【片段二】霍子楚悠远的目光落在她身上,又像穿过她落在远处,“桑怡,从今天起,我们没有契约关系,你什么都不用遵守,包括孩子,你可以以你的方式解决,只要你能回到以前就好。”霍子楚手中的协议被他奋力撕成一片一片,如果这是他们之间的阻隔,他绝不会留着它。“你以为撕毁了它,我们之间就不存在这种契约关系,”桑怡冷笑,“霍子楚,书面协议只是形式,它在我的脑子里,在我心里,明白吗?那上面每一个字,甚至每一个标点符号,我都记得清清楚楚,我已经铭记于心了,况且我肚子里多一样东西,他就像毒瘤一样融入在我的血液里,忘掉,回到以前,根本就是自欺欺人。”她的身形有些颤抖,清澈的眼眸有悲凉的神色。她的神色深深刺痛了霍子楚,他的心就像被人狠狠揪住,疼极了。她突然被他抱在怀里,她的脸颊紧贴在他的肩头上,“孩子让你不舒服,心结其实并没有解开,你一直在纠结,在伪装,装的平静灿烂,仿佛不放在心上一样,全都是假的,”·······
  • The Hungry Stones And Other Stories

    The Hungry Stones And Other Stories

    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。
  • 怎样当经理(领导者修养文库)

    怎样当经理(领导者修养文库)

    这是一部立论新颖、资料翔实的领导人才学专著。书中以马列主义、毛泽东思想和邓小平理论为指导,提出了以“价值论”为导向的人才学理论体系,着重研究和探讨了领导人才的价值结构,制约人才价值积累、输出和实现的内外在因素,领导人才的发展变化规律,人才价值的输出方式,领导群体的结构优化和领导人才的科学管理,并就改革我国人才管理制度的目标要求和具体设想,提出了可贵的探索性见解。
  • 凤逆凰歌倾天下

    凤逆凰歌倾天下

    她是驭兽一流的特工Win王,特工界无坚不摧的神话。穿越异世,她是父母双亡相国夫人的侄女,更是举国皆知,受尽白眼欺凌的废物傻子。当她双眸再次睁开,强大的灵魂注定不会再平凡,肚子里还有可爱强悍的宝宝做后盾。乖巧可爱是她的伪装,腹黑冷酷才是她的本性,坑蒙拐骗偷是她的小手段,驭兽幻术是她的拿手活。在这个弱肉强食的世界,她要强大的活下去,成为这个世界的规则,为了成功她可以不择手段,阴谋阳谋并用着。
  • 很老很老的老偏方,腰酸背痛一扫光

    很老很老的老偏方,腰酸背痛一扫光

    书中内容介绍了作者多年精心收集的最齐全的腰酸背痛老偏方,经过医学证明是最安全、最有效、最实用的。