登陆注册
5212500000088

第88章 The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter(4)

There was a telegraph-office at a short distance from the hotel.

We halted outside it.

"It's worth trying, Watson," said Holmes."Of course, with a warrant we could demand to see the counterfoils, but we have not reached that stage yet.I don't suppose they remember faces in so busy a place.Let us venture it.""I am sorry to trouble you," said he, in his blandest manner, to the young woman behind the grating; "there is some small mistake about a telegram I sent yesterday.I have had no answer, and I very much fear that I must have omitted to put my name at the end.Could you tell me if this was so?"The young woman turned over a sheaf of counterfoils.

"What o'clock was it?" she asked.

"A little after six."

"Whom was it to?"

Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at me.

"The last words in it were `for God's sake,'" he whispered, confidentially; "I am very anxious at getting no answer."The young woman separated one of the forms.

"This is it.There is no name," said she, smoothing it out upon the counter.

"Then that, of course, accounts for my getting no answer,"said Holmes."Dear me, how very stupid of me, to be sure!

Good morning, miss, and many thanks for having relieved my mind."He chuckled and rubbed his hands when we found ourselves in the street once more.

"Well?" I asked.

"We progress, my dear Watson, we progress.I had seven different schemes for getting a glimpse of that telegram, but I could hardly hope to succeed the very first time.""And what have you gained?"

"A starting-point for our investigation." He hailed a cab.

"King's Cross Station," said he.

"We have a journey, then?"

"Yes; I think we must run down to Cambridge together.

All the indications seem to me to point in that direction.""Tell me," I asked, as we rattled up Gray's Inn Road, "have you any suspicion yet as to the cause of the disappearance?

I don't think that among all our cases I have known one where the motives are more obscure.Surely you don't really imagine that he may be kidnapped in order to give information against his wealthy uncle?""I confess, my dear Watson, that that does not appeal to me as a very probable explanation.It struck me, however, as being the one which was most likely to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old person.""It certainly did that.But what are your alternatives?""I could mention several.You must admit that it is curious and suggestive that this incident should occur on the eve of this important match, and should involve the only man whose presence seems essential to the success of the side.It may, of course, be coincidence, but it is interesting.Amateur sport is free from betting, but a good deal of outside betting goes on among the public, and it is possible that it might be worth someone's while to get at a player as the ruffians of the turf get at a race-horse.There is one explanation.A second very obvious one is that this young man really is the heir of a great property, however modest his means may at present be, and it is not impossible that a plot to hold him for ransom might be concocted.""These theories take no account of the telegram.""Quite true, Watson.The telegram still remains the only solid thing with which we have to deal, and we must not permit our attention to wander away from it.It is to gain light upon the purpose of this telegram that we are now upon our way to Cambridge.The path of our investigation is at present obscure, but I shall be very much surprised if before evening we have not cleared it up or made a considerable advance along it."It was already dark when we reached the old University city.

Holmes took a cab at the station, and ordered the man to drive to the house of Dr.Leslie Armstrong.A few minutes later we had stopped at a large mansion in the busiest thoroughfare.We were shown in, and after a long wait were at last admitted into the consulting-room, where we found the doctor seated behind his table.

It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my profession that the name of Leslie Armstrong was unknown to me.

Now I am aware that he is not only one of the heads of the medical school of the University, but a thinker of European reputation in more than one branch of science.Yet even without knowing his brilliant record one could not fail to be impressed by a mere glance at the man, the square, massive face, the brooding eyes under the thatched brows, and the granite moulding of the inflexible jaw.A man of deep character, a man with an alert mind, grim, ascetic, self-contained, formidable -- so I read Dr.Leslie Armstrong.He held my friend's card in his hand, and he looked up with no very pleased expression upon his dour features.

"I have heard your name, Mr.Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of your profession, one of which I by no means approve.""In that, doctor, you will find yourself in agreement with every criminal in the country," said my friend, quietly.

"So far as your efforts are directed towards the suppression of crime, sir, they must have the support of every reasonable member of the community, though I cannot doubt that the official machinery is amply sufficient for the purpose.Where your calling is more open to criticism is when you pry into the secrets of private individuals, when you rake up family matters which are better hidden, and when you incidentally waste the time of men who are more busy than yourself.At the present moment, for example, I should be writing a treatise instead of conversing with you.""No doubt, doctor; and yet the conversation may prove more important than the treatise.Incidentally I may tell you that we are doing the reverse of what you very justly blame, and that we are endeavouring to prevent anything like public exposure of private matters which must necessarily follow when once the case is fairly in the hands of the official police.You may look upon me simply as an irregular pioneer who goes in front of the regular forces of the country.I have come to ask you about Mr.Godfrey Staunton.""What about him?"

"You know him, do you not?"

"He is an intimate friend of mine."

同类推荐
  • 续古今译经图纪

    续古今译经图纪

    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。
  • 佛说灌洗佛经

    佛说灌洗佛经

    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。
  • 清代文学史简明年表

    清代文学史简明年表

    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。
  • 窥词管见

    窥词管见

    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。
  • 佛说木槵经

    佛说木槵经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 鲤若安好(二)

    鲤若安好(二)

    惨遭失恋的许安好,在草丛蹲守前男友,不仅忘记去机场接交换生向鲤,还惹来一身的虱子。花重金寻求偏方,使用奇怪偏方,被误认为跳河自尽,向鲤出手相救……见了那张四位数的药费单之后,现在的我不仅仅是复仇,还是个负债的人了。为了还清欠医院的住院费,我不得不听从向鲤的安排,上午去实验室兼职,下午到中药店打工。不过没关系,成大事者,不都是先卧薪尝胆吗?可是我想错了。按照兵法,在情况不确定的时候,先按兵不动总不会错。但是,在和向某人结成同盟后,我几乎没拥有过任何一天安静的个人时光。
  • 恶质冷少:坏男请自重

    恶质冷少:坏男请自重

    (正文已完结,番外连载中)他,商界王国的继承人。她,一枚受尽欺辱的私生女。他说;“嫁给我,你就拥有了一切,包括所有遗失的骄傲与自尊,条件是,你不能爱上我。”她说;“放心,我的心早已给了另一个人,绝对不会爱上你!”然而婚后……
  • 地产圈之逆生

    地产圈之逆生

    地产圈深不见底,她数年如一日在浅表层耕耘,某日,蒙尘地块就在眼前,无钱,无势,怎么拿下?她辟了条蹊径……他天赋异禀,不喜权谋,却被卷入重重纷争。她和他一眼千年,又能否携手天涯……
  • 圣鉴帝师

    圣鉴帝师

    ——【传统玄幻】——————————————
  • 庶女毒妃:轻狂三小姐

    庶女毒妃:轻狂三小姐

    前世,她为爱倾尽所有,却不料一朝背叛,全家灭门。今生,凤凰涅槃,她誓要将渣男贱女齐收拾!她本以为早已绝情绝爱,却不料痴心再付。王者对王者,她毫不逊色,统领魔教;他强势霸道,一统天下!只是杀母之仇,正邪两立,他与她该如何抉择?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 战道天图

    战道天图

    说起来你可能不信,我是被棺材撞死的!~~~~~~木雨如是说。一座不可思议的天棺,一门来历不明的功法,铸就一张旷古绝今的战图,尘封久远的秘辛,也如画卷般,慢慢展开......他一直以为自己是个废材,要上演一出逆袭的精彩,所以精谋细划、拼死拼活地抢资源、提资质、强实力;他一直以为自己是个矮穷矬,一心追求高质量的生活,奈何修炼是个无底洞,养自己太难!直到走出这个世界,他才发现原来自己错了,错得离谱,因为他不仅是个奇才,还是个高富帅......
  • 宇宙源码

    宇宙源码

    “你修炼的可是九转轮回功法?”盘古略为吃惊的问道。“是的!不过我只有前三层功法。”叶百川有些遗憾的说道。......“哈哈哈,你可知道九转轮回是谁创的功法?”盘古突然笑着问道。“莫非是盘古大哥!”叶百川灵光一现。“不错,正是我的本体所创!”盘古竟显得有些得意。
  • 开元释教录略出

    开元释教录略出

    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。
  • 微男时代

    微男时代

    不论在繁华的大都市,还是在偏远的小城镇,我们身不论在繁华的大都市,还是在偏远的小城镇,我们身边都有一群正在为着生活和梦想默默奋斗的小男人、小女人、小市民。他们揣着小梦想,撒点小矫情,有点小可爱,虽然普通,却更生动。《微男时代》讲述的正是这群小人物的小故事。书中以当下正红的一群被贴上“身份微低”、“涉世微浅”、“梦想微弱”、“爱情微远”、“收入微薄”、“房事微软”等一系列LOSER标签的“微男”们为主要人物,演绎出一幕幕“小男人们”的苦乐悲欢。
  • 黄金敢死队

    黄金敢死队

    五月二十号上午十点,草草处理完几件公务的镜湖市市长吴光远,忧心忡忡地挥退了秘书,独自一人在办公室里来回踱步,办公室很安静,他的皮鞋踏在打蜡红漆地板上发出笃笃轻响,很单调,也很枯燥。走到办公桌前,他略略迟疑一下,然后拿起电话,要通了市警察局,约局长钱德山中午到自己家来小酌一番。做为日本人统治下的镜湖市市长和警察局长,吴光远与钱德山都是毫无疑问的实权人物,他俩在各自的职位上共同为日本人效力,将满八个年头了他们一直配合默契。