登陆注册
5243600000023

第23章 CHAPTER 6(5)

"Well, Mr. Holmes," said MacDonald, "when we have got our man- and you may be sure that I had his description on the wires within five minutes of hearing it- we shall be better able to judge. But, even as it stands, we have surely gone a long way. We know that an American calling himself Hargrave came to Tunbridge Wells two days ago with bicycle and valise. In the latter was a sawed-off shotgun; so he came with the deliberate purpose of crime. Yesterday morning he set off for this place on his bicycle, with his gun concealed in his overcoat. No one saw him arrive, so far as we can learn; but he need not pass through the village to reach the park gates, and there are many cyclists upon the road. Presumably he at once concealed his cycle among the laurels where it was found, and possibly lurked there himself, with his eye on the house, waiting for Mr. Douglas to come out. The shotgun is a strange weapon to use inside a house; but he had intended to use it outside, and there it has very obvious advantages, as it would be impossible to miss with it, and the sound of shots is so common in an English sporting neighbourhood that no particular notice would be taken."

That is all very clear," said Holmes.

"Well, Mr. Douglas did not appear. What was he to do next? He left his bicycle and approached the house in the twilight. He found the bridge down and no one about. He took his chance, intending, no doubt, to make some excuse if he met anyone. He met no one. He slipped into the first room that he saw, and concealed himself behind the curtain. Thence he could see the drawbridge go up, and he knew that his only escape was through the moat. He waited until quarter-past eleven, when Mr. Douglas upon his usual nightly round came into the room. He shot him and escaped, as arranged. He was aware that the bicycle would be described by the hotel people and be a clue against him; so he left it there and made his way by some other means to London or to some safe hiding place which he had already arranged. How is that, Mr. Holmes?"

"Well, Mr. Mac, it is very good and very clear so far as it goes.

That is your end of the story. My end is that the crime was committed half an hour earlier than reported; that Mrs. Douglas and Barker are both in a conspiracy to conceal something; that they aided the murderer's escape- or at least that they reached the room before he escaped- and that they fabricated evidence of his escape through the window, whereas in all probability they had themselves let him go by lowering the bridge. That's my reading of the first half."

The two detectives shook their heads.

"Well, Mr. Holmes, if this is true, we only tumble out of one mystery into another," said the London inspector.

"And in some ways a worse one," added White Mason. "The lady has never been in America in all her life. What possible connection could she have with an American assassin which would cause her to shelter him?"

"I freely admit the difficulties," said Holmes. "I propose to make a little investigation of my own to-night, and it is just possible that it may contribute something to the common cause."

"Can we help you, Mr. Holmes?"

"No, no! Darkness and Dr. Watson's umbrella- my wants are simple.

And Ames, the faithful Ames, no doubt he will stretch a point for me. All my lines of thought lead me back invariably to the one basic question- why should an athletic man develop his frame upon so unnatural an instrument as a single dumb-bell?"

It was late that night when Holmes returned from his solitary excursion. We slept in a double-bedded room, which was the best that the little country inn could do for us. I was already asleep when I was partly awakened by his entrance.

"Well, Holmes," I murmured, "have you found anything out?"

He stood beside me in silence, his candle in his hand. Then the tall, lean figure inclined towards me. "I say, Watson," he whispered, "would you be afraid to sleep in the same room with a lunatic, a man with softening of the brain, an idiot whose mind has lost its grip?"

"Not in the least," I answered in astonishment.

"Ah, that's lucky," he said, and not another word would he utter that night.

同类推荐
  • 琴堂谕俗编

    琴堂谕俗编

    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。
  • 武王伐纣平话 吕望兴周

    武王伐纣平话 吕望兴周

    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。
  • 香天谈薮

    香天谈薮

    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。
  • Heart of the West

    Heart of the West

    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。
  • 大方广佛华严经修慈分

    大方广佛华严经修慈分

    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
  • 快穿游戏之女配要上位

    快穿游戏之女配要上位

    自从被自家表妹骗进了这个古怪的游戏,莫璃每天的生活就是——【玩家小仙女你别跑,回来做任务!】【玩家小仙女任务目标已经出现了!可以开始做任务了!】【小仙女你在干嘛!搞男女主和你的任务没关系!】莫璃:“……”“你再瞎说一句话,信不信我举报?”
  • 妖孽不悔

    妖孽不悔

    之前“阿莫,我难受~”之后“阿莫,我近日看了本新书,不去待会儿我们……”
  • 总裁你不要脸

    总裁你不要脸

    她因恋人的背叛,抱着他哭得稀里哗啦,弄花了他那件名贵的衬衫…… 她塞给他二百块钱,教训他:做人要知足,不可太贪婪,我不是富婆可以任人宰割的。 他额上青筋跳了跳,这个女人把他堂堂鼎天集团总裁当成什么了? 当他情不自禁吻上她时,她毫不犹豫‘啪’给了他一耳光,鄙视的大骂:你个大色狼,你不要脸。 他额上青筋再次跳了跳,在她的眼里他真是如此不堪吗? 罢了罢了,由她去吧! 只是爱已种,情已陷,能就此罢手吗? ………… 媚儿新文《异能田园生活》已上传,求亲们各种支持!!群号:196324329,验证信息:媚儿任一本文中人物的名字。欢迎亲们的加入!
  • 波湖谣

    波湖谣

    湖畔人家故事多,满子过后是恩怨,而满子未满,恩怨未解,阴错阳差,是是非非,却也不过是一锅红糖煮荷包蛋。波湖畔到底发生了什么?装完最后一车棉花秆子,日头已经下去很久了。给友义做对手的满子把牛车赶到大路上,忽然说:“你一个子赶回去吧。我去把先头丢下的那半垅麦种完。”前年暑假从高中毕业回来的满子,眨眼间已经像同他上下年纪的人一样,成了一个大黑皮佬。因为皮黑,眼亮得像两盏灯。茸毛胡子底下,一口牙齿白得像玉,声音也变老了,像鸭公叫。
  • 重生花痴丑女

    重生花痴丑女

    周家有女,天生愚蠢花痴,丑女一枚,受尽了嘲笑。安家有姝,亦名阳阳,天生丽质,狂傲不羁,是万众瞩目的焦点。一次意外,魅力不羁的安阳阳变成了花痴丑女周阳阳,一切全然改变。男人靠近她身边是善意真心还是不怀好意?是利用还是想再利用?看她如何瘦身,如何周旋男人之间,如何为了自己报仇,如何与抛弃她的未婚夫PK......这是非常另类的学生故事!希望亲亲们喜欢!★(纯属虚构,请勿模仿)☆☆领养名额☆☆yoguat空★周阳阳上官依诺★安阳城妖娆月魔★敦玺恩★推荐爱如天使的V文《总裁的纯纯老师妻》她是堂堂亚洲首富的女儿,从小备受呵护,疼宠中长大。为了实现老师梦,阴差阳错成了高中老师,从此,她单纯的生活彻底改变!☆☆推荐师傅热文逐云之巅《盛世军婚》师姐的文《霸宠盗种妻》☆☆好友连接推荐景行《首领小夫人》妖娆小桃《重生一豪门傻千金》沐清妃《重生之豪门前妻》葬花翼《全能皇妃》雨淼《懒情女主》陌潇湘《女皇不好惹》十柒月《我的明星小女人》若绯儿《限制性宠爱》能让你流泪的终不是我《我的妈咪不好卖》在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《花痴丑女,名动天下》
  • 校园生死恋:爱情不稀奇

    校园生死恋:爱情不稀奇

    爱,是怎样?爱,是疼痛,爱是感觉有人把图钉重重的压进左心房,然后拔出来,再压进去。自己听着自己的心碎裂,却又无可奈何。她10岁便对他芳心暗许,而他,却无动于衷。身边却总是红妆缭绕、美女如云,甚至女友换了一任又一任。她不是没人追,只是她心里有了一个就再也容不下第二个。他当着女友和她的面说“我只当她是我妹妹。”他又当着对她死缠烂打的每一个男子都说“她是我的,不管你爱不爱她,都请你离开她……”欢迎加群:425753695【我的小助手24小时在线,有什么问题都可以咨询】
  • 过分爱

    过分爱

    在最美好的年华,苏落、叶璇、子夜三人本是特别要好的朋友,直到上了大学遇到顾北辰等人后,三人关系发生巨变
  • 谁的青春不迷茫

    谁的青春不迷茫

    懵懵懂懂,跌跌撞撞,为了那渺不可及的梦想,遍体鳞伤。欧季同,你是我唯一的光!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 小花仙之库安蜜恋

    小花仙之库安蜜恋

    本文没有千韩,伊瞳,淑馨,表打我哦!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 最强医圣

    最强医圣

    带着一身通天本领强势回归。会治病、会算命、会炼药、会摆阵、会炼符……“这个世界上没有我办不到的事情!”——沈风。——————————————————读者群:539912693