reprinted pieces-第29部分
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off he went … letter and all。 I got a cab; followed on the box;
and was so quick after him that I came into the stable…yard of the
Warwick Arms; by one gate; just as he came in by another。 I went
into the bar; where there was a young woman serving; and called for
a glass of brandy…and…water。 He came in directly; and handed her
the letter。 She casually looked at it; without saying anything;
and stuck it up behind the glass over the chimney…piece。 What was
to be done next?
'I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy…and…water
(looking pretty sharp at the letter the while); but I couldn't see
my way out of it at all。 I tried to get lodgings in the house; but
there had been a horse…fair; or something of that sort; and it was
full。 I was obliged to put up somewhere else; but I came backwards
and forwards to the bar for a couple of days; and there was the
letter always behind the glass。 At last I thought I'd write a
letter to Mr。 Pigeon myself; and see what that would do。 So I
wrote one; and posted it; but I purposely addressed it; Mr。 John
Pigeon; instead of Mr。 Thomas Pigeon; to see what THAT would do。
In the morning (a very wet morning it was) I watched the postman
down the street; and cut into the bar; just before he reached the
Warwick Arms。 In he came presently with my letter。 〃Is there a
Mr。 John Pigeon staying here?〃 〃No! … stop a bit though;〃 says the
barmaid; and she took down the letter behind the glass。 〃No;〃 says
she; 〃it's Thomas; and HE is not staying here。 Would you do me a
favour; and post this for me; as it is so wet?〃 The postman said
Yes; she folded it in another envelope; directed it; and gave it
him。 He put it in his hat; and away he went。
'I had no difficulty in finding out the direction of that letter。
It was addressed Mr。 Thomas Pigeon; Post Office; R…;
Northamptonshire; to be left till called for。 Off I started
directly for R…; I said the same at the Post Office there; as I had
said at B…; and again I waited three days before anybody came。 At
last another chap on horseback came。 〃Any letters for Mr。 Thomas
Pigeon?〃 〃Where do you come from?〃 〃New Inn; near R…。〃 He got
the letter; and away HE went at a canter。
'I made my inquiries about the New Inn; near R…; and hearing it was
a solitary sort of house; a little in the horse line; about a
couple of miles from the station; I thought I'd go and have a look
at it。 I found it what it had been described; and sauntered in; to
look about me。 The landlady was in the bar; and I was trying to
get into conversation with her; asked her how business was; and
spoke about the wet weather; and so on; when I saw; through an open
door; three men sitting by the fire in a sort of parlour; or
kitchen; and one of those men; according to the description I had
of him; was Tally…ho Thompson!
'I went and sat down among 'em; and tried to make things agreeable;
but they were very shy … wouldn't talk at all … looked at me; and
at one another; in a way quite the reverse of sociable。 I reckoned
'em up; and finding that they were all three bigger men than me;
and considering that their looks were ugly … that it was a lonely
place … railroad station two miles off … and night coming on …
thought I couldn't do better than have a drop of brandy…and…water
to keep my courage up。 So I called for my brandy…and…water; and as
I was sitting drinking it by the fire; Thompson got up and went
out。
'Now the difficulty of it was; that I wasn't sure it WAS Thompson;
because I had never set eyes on him before; and what I had wanted
was to be quite certain of him。 However; there was nothing for it
now; but to follow; and put a bold face upon it。 I found him
talking; outside in the yard; with the landlady。 It turned out
afterwards that he was wanted by a Northampton officer for
something else; and that; knowing that officer to be pock…marked
(as I am myself); he mistook me for him。 As I have observed; I
found him talking to the landlady; outside。 I put my hand upon his
shoulder … this way … and said; 〃Tally…ho Thompson; it's no use。 I
know you。 I'm an officer from London; and I take you into custody
for felony!〃 〃That be d…d!〃 says Tally…ho Thompson。
'We went back into the house; and the two friends began to cut up
rough; and their looks didn't please me at all; I assure you。 〃Let
the man go。 What are you going to do with him?〃 〃I'll tell you
what I'm going to do with him。 I'm going to take him to London to…
night; as sure as I'm alive。 I'm not alone here; whatever you may
think。 You mind your own business; and keep yourselves to
yourselves。 It'll be better for you; for I know you both very
well。〃 I'D never seen or heard of 'em in all my life; but my
bouncing cowed 'em a bit; and they kept off; while Thompson was
making ready to go。 I thought to myself; however; that they might
be coming after me on the dark road; to rescue Thompson; so I said
to the landlady; 〃What men have you got in the house; Missis?〃 〃We
haven't got no men here;〃 she says; sulkily。 〃You have got an
ostler; I suppose?〃 〃Yes; we've got an ostler。〃 〃Let me see him。〃
Presently he came; and a shaggy…headed young fellow he was。 〃Now
attend to me; young man;〃 says I; 〃I'm a Detective Officer from
London。 This man's name is Thompson。 I have taken him into
custody for felony。 I am going to take him to the railroad
station。 I call upon you in the Queen's name to assist me; and
mind you; my friend; you'll get yourself into more trouble than you
know of; if you don't!' You never saw a person open his eyes so
wide。 〃Now; Thompson; come along!〃 says I。 But when I took out
the handcuffs; Thompson cries; 〃No! None of that! I won't stand
THEM! I'll go along with you quiet; but I won't bear none of
that!〃 〃Tally…ho Thompson;〃 I said; 〃I'm willing to behave as a
man to you; if you are willing to behave as a man to me。 Give me
your word that you'll come peaceably along; and I don't want to
handcuff you。〃 〃I will;〃 says Thompson; 〃but I'll have a glass of
brandy first。〃 〃I don't care if I've another;〃 said I。 〃We'll
have two more; Missis;〃 said the friends; 〃and confound you;
Constable; you'll give your man a drop; won't you?〃 I was
agreeable to that; so we had it all round; and then my man and I
took Tally…ho Thompson safe to the railroad; and I carried him to
London that night。 He was afterwards acquitted; on account of a
defect in the evidence; and I understand he always praises me up to
the skies; and says I'm one of the best of men。'
This story coming to a termination amidst general applause;
Inspector Wield; after a little grave smoking; fixes his eye on his
host; and thus delivers himself:
'It wasn't a bad plant that of mine; on Fikey; the man accused of
forging the Sou'…Western Railway debentures … it was only t'other
day … because the reason why? I'll tell you。
'I had information that Fikey and his brother kept a factory over
yonder there;' … indicating any region on the Surrey side of the
river … 'where he bought second…hand carriages; so after I'd tried
in vain to get hold of him by other means; I wrote him a letter in
an assumed name; saying that I'd got a horse and shay to dispose
of; and would drive down next day that he might view the lot; and
make an offer … very reasonable it was; I said … a reg'lar bargain。
Straw and me then went off to a friend of mine that's in the livery
and job business; and hired a turn…out for the day; a precious
smart turn…out it was … quite a slap…up thing! Down we drove;
accordingly; with a friend (who's not in the Force himself); and
leaving my friend in the shay near a public…house; to take care of
the horse; we went to the factory; which was some little way off。
In the factory; there was a number of strong fellows at work; and
after reckoning 'em up; it was clear to me that it wouldn't do to
try it on there。 They were too many for us。 We must get our man
out of doors。 〃Mr。 Fikey at home?〃 〃No; he ain't。〃 〃Expected
home soon?〃 〃Why; no; not soon。〃 〃Ah! Is his brother here?〃
〃I'M his brother。〃 〃Oh! well; this is an ill…conwenience; this is。
I wrote him a letter yesterday; saying I'd got a little turn…out to
dispose of; and I've took the trouble to bring the turn…out down a'
purpose; and now he ain't in the way。〃 〃No; he ain't in the way。
You couldn't make it convenient to call again; could you?〃 〃Why;
no; I couldn't。 I want to sell; that's the fact; and I can't put
it off。 Could you find him anywheres?〃 At first he said No; he
couldn't; and then he wasn't sure about it; and then he'd go and
try。 So at last he went up…stairs; where there was a sort of loft;
and presently down comes my man himself in his shirt…sleeves。
'〃Well;〃 he says; 〃this seems to be rayther a pressing matter of
yours。〃 〃Yes;〃 I says; 〃it IS rayther a pressing matter; and
you'll find it a bargain … dirt cheap。〃 〃I ain't in partickler
want of a bargain just now;〃 he says; 〃but where is it?〃 〃Why;〃 I
says; 〃the turn…out's just outside。 Come and look at it。〃 He
hasn't any suspicions; and away we go。 And the first thing that
happens is; that the horse runs away with my friend (who knows no
more of driving than a child) when he takes a little trot along the
road to show his paces。 You never saw such a game in your life!
'When the bolt is over; and the turn…out has come to a standstill
again; Fikey walks round and round it as grave as a judge … me too。
〃There; sir!〃 I says。 〃There's a neat thing!〃 〃It ain't a bad
style of thing;〃 he says。 〃I believe you;〃 says I。 〃And there's a
horse!〃 … for I saw him looking at it。 〃Rising eight!〃 I says;
rubbing his fore…legs。 (Bless you; there ain't a man in the world
knows less of horses than I do; but I'd heard my friend at the
Livery Stables say he was eight year old; so I says; as knowing as
possible; 〃Rising eight。〃) 〃Rising e