登陆注册
5212500000092

第92章 The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter(8)

"Yes, yes; I am -- but you are too late.She is dead."The man was so dazed that he could not be made to understand that we were anything but doctors who had been sent to his assistance.Holmes was endeavouring to utter a few words of consolation, and to explain the alarm which had been caused to his friends by his sudden disappearance, when there was a step upon the stairs, and there was the heavy, stern, questioning face of Dr.Armstrong at the door.

"So, gentlemen," said he, "you have attained your end, and have certainly chosen a particularly delicate moment for your intrusion.I would not brawl in the presence of death, but I can assure you that if I were a younger man your monstrous conduct would not pass with impunity.""Excuse me, Dr.Armstrong, I think we are a little at cross-purposes," said my friend, with dignity."If you could step downstairs with us we may each be able to give some light to the other upon this miserable affair."A minute later the grim doctor and ourselves were in the sitting-room below.

"Well, sir?" said he.

"I wish you to understand, in the first place, that I am not employed by Lord Mount-James, and that my sympathies in this matter are entirely against that nobleman.When a man is lost it is my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter ends so far as I am concerned; and so long as there is nothing criminal, I am much more anxious to hush up private scandals than to give them publicity.If, as I imagine, there is no breach of the law in this matter, you can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my co-operation in keeping the facts out of the papers."Dr.Armstrong took a quick step forward and wrung Holmes by the hand.

"You are a good fellow," said he."I had misjudged you.

I thank Heaven that my compunction at leaving poor Staunton all alone in this plight caused me to turn my carriage back, and so to make your acquaintance.Knowing as much as you do, the situation is very easily explained.A year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for a time, and became passionately attached to his landlady's daughter, whom he married.She was as good as she was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good.No man need be ashamed of such a wife.But Godfrey was the heir to this crabbed old nobleman, and it was quite certain that the news of his marriage would have been the end of his inheritance.I knew the lad well, and I loved him for his many excellent qualities.

I did all I could to help him to keep things straight.We did our very best to keep the thing from everyone, for when once such a whisper gets about it is not long before everyone has heard it.

Thanks to this lonely cottage and his own discretion, Godfrey has up to now succeeded.Their secret was known to no one save to me and to one excellent servant who has at present gone for assistance to Trumpington.But at last there came a terrible blow in the shape of dangerous illness to his wife.It was consumption of the most virulent kind.The poor boy was half crazed with grief, and yet he had to go to London to play this match, for he could not get out of it without explanations which would expose his secret.I tried to cheer him up by a wire, and he sent me one in reply imploring me to do all I could.This was the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way to have seen.I did not tell him how urgent the danger was, for I knew that he could do no good here, but I sent the truth to the girl's father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey.

The result was that he came straight away in a state bordering on frenzy, and has remained in the same state, kneeling at the end of her bed, until this morning death put an end to her sufferings.

That is all, Mr.Holmes, and I am sure that I can rely upon your discretion and that of your friend."Holmes grasped the doctor's hand.

"Come, Watson," said he, and we passed from that house of grief into the pale sunlight of the winter day.

同类推荐
  • A DREAM OF JOHN BALL

    A DREAM OF JOHN BALL

    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。
  • 黄帝阴符经集注

    黄帝阴符经集注

    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。
  • 佛说浴像功德经

    佛说浴像功德经

    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。
  • 东山破峰重禅师语录

    东山破峰重禅师语录

    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。
  • 佛说八部佛名经

    佛说八部佛名经

    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
  • Louis Lambert

    Louis Lambert

    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。
  • 南风未起,念你成疾

    南风未起,念你成疾

    她是龙家大小姐,消失五年后带着神秘的身份再度回顾,杀手、军火女王、军事奇才。黑白两道通吃。设计师Smile,梦雨集团的幕后老板,医术高超的鬼医,被誉为‘死神’的顶级电脑黑客,令人闻风丧胆的黑道至尊,这些都是她的身份。他是帝家唯一的继承人,黑夜下确实心狠手辣,嗜血成性的X组织的老大。黑白两道的佼佼者,也是叱咤风云的黑道至尊‘king’。黑白两道的佼佼者。
  • 桂海虞衡志

    桂海虞衡志

    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。
  • 大师系统

    大师系统

    大学生秦雨勇闯天涯,打败一切对手,成为人上之人
  • 登鹳雀楼

    登鹳雀楼

    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。
  • 九星变

    九星变

    繁衍千年的僰族,为何突然消失?神秘的僰人悬棺,究竟有何秘密?凶残的星魔星兽,还有谁能抵挡?传说的未知大地,谁才是真霸主?看我混世魔王如何玩转九星,法术?我不需修炼;天赋?我不用遗传;神通?我不必传承。有我移花接木神诀,一切皆可抢夺!
  • 夜路是我一个人走

    夜路是我一个人走

    对裴兮来说,“白以南”这三个字就是一场噩梦。三年前,在肆意飞扬的青春里,她也曾幻想了一个有关他们的未来。可是,他却突然消失,从此她陷入了黑暗的深渊……谁带她逃离这场噩梦,谁带她穿越漆黑夜路的重重荆棘……三年来,她接受每一个追求她的男生,却唯独拒绝他——陆泽安......
  • 祭妹文

    祭妹文

    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。
  • Before He Covets (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3

    Before He Covets (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3

    From Blake Pierce, bestselling author of ONCE GONE (a #1 bestseller with over 600 five star reviews), comes book #3 in the heart-pounding Mackenzie White mystery series.In BEFORE HE COVETS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 3), newly minted FBI agent Mackenzie White graduates the FBI Academy in Quantico only to find herself thrown into an urgent serial killer case. Women are turning up dead while camping in a remote national park in West Virginia. Yet the park is vast, and no connection can be found between them.At the same time, Mackenzie receives a call from Nebraska urging her to come home. After many years, a new clue has surfaced about her father's murder. The case no longer cold, Mackenzie desperately needs to help solve it.
  • 天台传佛心印记

    天台传佛心印记

    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。