the adventure of the six napoleons-第4部分

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Holmes　expected　this　grotesque　criminal　to　make　an　attempt　upon　the

two　remaining　busts；　one　of　which；　I　remembered；　was　at　Chiswick。　No

doubt　the　object　of　our　journey　was　to　catch　him　in　the　very　act；

and　I　could　not　but　admire　the　cunning　with　which　my　friend　had

inserted　a　wrong　clue　in　the　evening　paper；　so　as　to　give　the　fellow

the　idea　that　he　could　continue　his　scheme　with　impunity。　I　was　not

surprised　when　Holmes　suggested　that　I　should　take　my　revolver　with

me。　He　had　himself　picked　up　the　loaded　hunting…crop；　which　was　his

favourite　weapon。

　　A　four…wheeler　was　at　the　door　at　eleven；　and　in　it　we　drove　to　a

spot　at　the　other　side　of　Hammersmith　Bridge。　Here　the　cabman　was

directed　to　wait。　A　short　walk　brought　us　to　a　secluded　road　fringed

with　pleasant　houses；　each　standing　in　its　own　grounds。　In　the　light

of　a　street　lamp　we　read　〃Laburnum　Villa〃　upon　the　gate…post　of　one　of

them。　The　occupants　had　evidently　retired　to　rest；　for　all　was　dark

save　for　a　fanlight　over　the　hall　door；　which　shed　a　single　blurred

circle　on　to　the　garden　path。　The　wooden　fence　which　separated　the

grounds　from　the　road　threw　a　dense　black　shadow　upon　the　inner

side；　and　here　it　was　that　we　crouched。

　　〃I　fear　that　you'll　have　a　long　wait；〃　Holmes　whispered。　〃We　may

thank　our　stars　that　it　is　not　raining。　I　don't　think　we　can　even

venture　to　smoke　to　pass　the　time。　However；　it's　a　two　to　one　chance

that　we　get　something　to　pay　us　for　our　trouble。〃

　　It　proved；　however；　that　our　vigil　was　not　to　be　so　long　as　Holmes

had　led　us　to　fear；　and　it　ended　in　a　very　sudden　and　singular

fashion。　In　an　instant；　without　the　least　sound　to　warn　us　of　his

coming；　the　garden　gate　swung　open；　and　a　lithe；　dark　figure；　as　swift

and　active　as　an　ape；　rushed　up　the　garden　path。　We　saw　it　whisk

past　the　light　thrown　from　over　the　door　and　disappear　against　the

black　shadow　of　the　house。　There　was　a　long　pause；　during　which　we

held　our　breath；　and　then　a　very　gentle　creaking　sound　came　to　our

ears。　The　window　was　being　opened。　The　noise　ceased；　and　again　there

was　a　long　silence。　The　fellow　was　making　his　way　into　the　house。　We

saw　the　sudden　flash　of　a　dark　lantern　inside　the　room。　What　he　sought

was　evidently　not　there；　for　again　we　saw　the　flash　through　another

blind；　and　then　through　another。

　　〃Let　us　get　to　the　open　window。　We　will　nab　him　as　he　climbs　out；〃

Lestrade　whispered。

　　But　before　we　could　move；　the　man　had　emerged　again。　As　he　came

out　into　the　glimmering　patch　of　light；　we　saw　that　he　carried

something　white　under　his　arm。　He　looked　stealthily　all　round　him。　The

silence　of　the　deserted　street　reassured　him。　Turning　his　back　upon　us

he　laid　down　his　burden；　and　the　next　instant　there　was　the　sound　of　a

sharp　tap；　followed　by　a　clatter　and　rattle。　The　man　was　so　intent

upon　what　he　was　doing　that　he　never　heard　our　steps　as　we　stole

across　the　grass　plot。　With　the　bound　of　a　tiger　Holmes　was　on　his

back；　and　an　instant　later　Lestrade　and　I　had　him　by　either　wrist；　and

the　handcuffs　had　been　fastened。　As　we　turned　him　over　I　saw　a

hideous；　sallow　face；　with　writhing；　furious　features；　glaring　up　at

us；　and　I　knew　that　it　was　indeed　the　man　of　the　photograph　whom　we

had　secured。

　　But　it　was　not　our　prisoner　to　whom　Holmes　was　giving　his　attention。

Squatted　on　the　doorstep；　he　was　engaged　in　most　carefully　examining

that　which　the　man　had　brought　from　the　house。　It　was　a　bust　of

Napoleon；　like　the　one　which　we　had　seen　that　morning；　and　it　had　been

broken　into　similar　fragments。　Carefully　Holmes　held　each　separate

shard　to　the　light；　but　in　no　way　did　it　differ　from　any　other

shattered　piece　of　plaster。　He　had　just　completed　his　examination　when

the　hall　lights　flew　up；　the　door　opened；　and　the　owner　of　the

house；　a　jovial；　rotund　figure　in　shirt　and　trousers；　presented

himself。

　　〃Mr。　Josiah　Brown；　I　suppose？〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Yes；　sir；　and　you；　no　doubt；　are　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes？　I　had　the

note　which　you　sent　by　the　express　messenger；　and　I　did　exactly　what

you　told　me。　We　locked　every　door　on　the　inside　and　awaited

developments。　Well；　I'm　very　glad　to　see　that　you　have　got　the　rascal。

I　hope；　gentlemen；　that　you　will　come　in　and　have　some　refreshment。〃

　　However；　Lestrade　was　anxious　to　get　his　man　into　safe　quarters；

so　within　a　few　minutes　our　cab　had　been　summoned　and　we　were　all　four

upon　our　way　to　London。　Not　a　word　would　our　captive　say；　but　he

glared　at　us　from　the　shadow　of　his　matted　hair；　and　once；　when　my

hand　seemed　within　his　reach；　he　snapped　at　it　like　a　hungry　wolf。

We　stayed　long　enough　at　the　police…station　to　learn　that　a　search

of　his　clothing　revealed　nothing　save　a　few　shillings　and　a　long

sheath　knife；　the　handle　of　which　bore　copious　traces　of　recent　blood。

　　〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Lestrade；　as　we　parted。　〃Hill　knows　all

these　gentry；　and　he　will　give　a　name　to　him。　You'll　find　that　my

theory　of　the　Mafia　will　work　out　all　right。　But　I'm　sure　I　am

exceedingly　obliged　to　you；　Mr。　Holmes；　for　the　workmanlike　way　in

which　you　laid　hands　upon　him。　I　don't　quite　understand　it　all　yet。〃

　　〃I　fear　it　is　rather　too　late　an　hour　for　explanations；〃　said

Holmes。　〃Besides；　there　are　one　or　two　details　which　are　not

finished　off；　and　it　is　one　of　those　cases　which　are　worth　working　out

to　the　very　end。　If　you　will　come　round　once　more　to　my　rooms　at　six

o'clock　to…morrow；　I　think　I　shall　be　able　to　show　you　that　even　now

you　have　not　grasped　the　entire　meaning　of　this　business；　which

presents　some　features　which　make　it　absolutely　original　in　the

history　of　crime。　If　ever　I　permit　you　to　chronicle　any　more　of　my

little　problems；　Watson；　I　foresee　that　you　will　enliven　your　pages　by

an　account　of　the　singular　adventure　of　the　Napoleonic　busts。〃

　　When　we　met　again　next　evening；　Lestrade　was　furnished　with　much

information　concerning　our　prisoner。　His　name；　it　appeared；　was　Beppo；

second　name　unknown。　He　was　a　well…known　ne'er…do…well　among　the

Italian　colony。　He　had　once　been　a　skilful　sculptor　and　had　earned

an　honest　living；　but　he　had　taken　to　evil　courses　and　had　twice

already　been　in　jail…　once　for　a　petty　theft；　and　once；　as　we　had

already　heard；　for　stabbing　a　fellow…countryman。　He　could　talk　English

perfectly　well。　His　reasons　for　destroying　the　busts　were　still

unknown；　and　he　refused　to　answer　any　questions　upon　the　subject；

but　the　police　had　discovered　that　these　same　busts　might　very　well

have　been　made　by　his　own　hands；　since　he　was　engaged　in　this　class　of

work　at　the　establishment　of　Gelder　&　Co。　To　all　this　information；

much　of　which　we　already　knew；　Holmes　listened　with　polite

attention；　but　I；　who　knew　him　so　well；　could　clearly　see　that　his

thoughts　were　elsewhere；　and　I　detected　a　mixture　of　mingled

uneasiness　and　expectation　beneath　that　mask　which　he　was　wont　to

assume。　At　last　he　started　in　his　chair；　and　his　eyes　brightened。

There　had　been　a　ring　at　the　bell。　A　minute　later　we　heard　steps

upon　the　stairs；　and　an　elderly　red…faced　man　with　grizzled

side…whiskers　was　ushered　in。　In　his　right　hand　he　carried　an

old…fashioned　carpet…bag；　which　he　placed　upon　the　table。

　　〃Is　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes　here？〃

　　My　friend　bowed　and　smiled。　〃Mr。　Sandeford；　of　Reading；　I

suppose？〃　said　he。

　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　fear　that　I　am　a　little　late；　but　the　trains　were

awkward。　You　wrote　to　me　about　a　bust　that　is　in　my　possession。〃

　　〃Exactly。〃

　　〃I　have　your　letter　here。　You　said；　'I　desire　to　possess　a　copy　of

Devine's　Napoleon；　and　am　prepared　to　pay　you　ten　pounds　for　the　one

which　is　in　your　possession。'　Is　that　right？〃

　　〃Certainly。〃

　　〃I　was　very　much　surprised　at　your　letter；　for　I　could　not　imagine

how　you　knew　that　I　owned　such　a　thing。〃

　　〃Of　course　you　must　have　been　surprised；　but　the　explanation　is　very

simple。　Mr。　Harding；　of　Harding　Brothers；　said　that　they　had　sold

you　their　last　copy；　and　he　gave　me　your　address。〃

　　〃Oh；　that　was　it；　was　it？　Did　he　tell　you　what　I　paid　for　it？〃

　　〃No；　he　did　not。〃

　　〃Well；　I　am　an　honest　man；　though　not　a　very　rich　one。　I　only　gave

fifteen　shillings　for　the　bust；　and　I　think　you　ought　to　know　that

before　I　take　ten　pounds　from　you。

　　〃I　am　sure　the　scruple　does　you　honour；　Mr。　Sandeford。　But　I　have

named　that　price；　so　I　intend　to　stick　to　it。〃

　　〃Well；　it　is　very　handsome　of　you；　Mr。　Holmes。　I　brought　the　bust　up

with　me；　as　you　asked　me　to　do。　Here　it　is！〃　He　opened　his　bag；　and　at

last　we　saw　placed　upon　our　table　a　complete　specimen　of　that　bust

which　we　had　already　seen　more　than　once　in　fragments。

　　Holmes　took　a　paper　from　his　pocket　and　laid　a　ten…pound　note　upon

the　table。

　　〃You　will　kindly　sign　that　paper；　Mr。　Sandeford；　in　the　presence

of　these　witnesses。　It　is　simply　to　say　that　you　transfer　every

possible　right　that　you　ever　had　in　the　bust　to　me。　I　am　a

methodical　man；　you　see；　and　you　never　know　what　turn　events　might

take　afterwards。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Sandeford；　here　is　your　money；　and　I

wish　you　a　very　good　evening。〃

　　When　our　visitor　had　disappeared；　Sherlock　Holmes's　movements　were

such　as　to　rivet　our　attention。　He　began　by　taking　a　clean　white　cloth

from　a　drawer　and　laying　it　over　the　table。　Then　he　placed　his　newly

acquired　bust　in　the　centre　of　the　cloth。　Finally；　he　picked　up　his

hunting…crop　and　struck　Napoleon　a　shard　blow　on　the　top　of　the

head。　The　figure　broke　into　fragments；　and　Holmes　bent　eagerly　over

the　shattered　remains。　Next　instant；　with　a　loud　shout　of　triumph　he

held　up　one　splinter；　in　which　a　round；　dark　object　was　fixed　like　a

plum　in　a　pudding。

　　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　cried；　〃let　me　introduce　you　to　the　famous　black

pearl　of　the　Borgias。〃

　　Lestrade　and　I　sat　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then；　with　a　spontaneous

impulse；　we　both　broke　at　the　well…wrought　crisis　of　a　play。　A　flush

of　colour　sprang　to　Holmes's　pale　cheeks；　and　he　bowed　to　us　like

the　master　dramatist　who　receives　the　homage　of　his　audience。　It　was

at　such　moments　that　for　an　instant　he　ceased　to　be　a　reasoning

machine；　and　betrayed　his　human　love　for　admiration　and　applause。

The　same　si