the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第21节
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returning or an answer to his advertisement。 I tried to read； but my
thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill…assorted and
villainous pair whom we were pursuing。 Could there be； I wondered；
some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning。 Might he be suffering
from some huge self…deception？ Was it not possible that his nimble and
speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises？ I
had never known him to be wrong； and yet the keenest reasoner may
occasionally be deceived。 He was likely； I thought； to fall into error
through the over…refinement of his logic；his preference for a subtle and
bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready
to his hand。 Yet； on the other hand； I had myself seen the evidence； and I
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had heard the reasons for his deductions。 When I looked back on the
long chain of curious circumstances； many of them trivial in themselves；
but all tending in the same direction； I could not disguise from myself that
even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be
equally outre and startling。
At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell； an
authoritative voice in the hall； and； to my surprise； no less a person than
Mr。 Athelney Jones was shown up to me。 Very different was he； however；
from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken
over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood。 His expression was
downcast； and his bearing meek and even apologetic。
〃Good…day； sir； good…day；〃 said he。 〃Mr。 Sherlock Holmes is out； I
understand。〃
〃Yes； and I cannot be sure when he will be back。 But perhaps you
would care to wait。 Take that chair and try one of these cigars。〃
〃Thank you； I don't mind if I do；〃 said he； mopping his face with a red
bandanna handkerchief。
〃And a whiskey…and…soda？〃
〃Well； half a glass。 It is very hot for the time of year； and I have had
a good deal to worry and try me。 You know my theory about this
Norwood case？〃
〃I remember that you expressed one。〃
〃Well； I have been obliged to reconsider it。 I had my net drawn
tightly round Mr。 Sholto； sir； when pop he went through a hole in the
middle of it。 He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken。
From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of
some one or other。 So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and
through trap…doors。 It's a very dark case； and my professional credit is at
stake。 I should be very glad of a little assistance。〃
〃We all need help sometimes；〃 said I。
〃Your friend Mr。 Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man； sir；〃 said he； in
a husky and confidential voice。 〃He's a man who is not to be beat。 I
have known that young man go into a good many cases； but I never saw
the case yet that he could not throw a light upon。 He is irregular in his
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methods； and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories； but； on the
whole； I think he would have made a most promising officer； and I don't
care who knows it。 I have had a wire from him this morning； by which I
understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business。 Here is the
message。〃
He took the telegram out of his pocket； and handed it to me。 It was
dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock。 〃Go to Baker Street at once；〃 it said。
〃If I have not returned； wait for me。 I am close on the track of the Sholto
gang。 You can come with us to… night if you want to be in at the finish。〃
〃This sounds well。 He has evidently picked up the scent again；〃 said
I。
〃Ah； then he has been at fault too；〃 exclaimed Jones； with evident
satisfaction。 〃Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes。 Of course
this may prove to be a false alarm； but it is my duty as an officer of the
law to allow no chance to slip。 But there is some one at the door。
Perhaps this is he。〃
A heavy step was heard ascending the stair； with a great wheezing and
rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath。 Once or twice
he stopped； as though the climb were too much for him； but at last he
made his way to our door and entered。 His appearance corresponded to
the sounds which we had heard。 He was an aged man； clad in seafaring
garb； with an old pea…jacket buttoned up to his throat。 His back was
bowed； his knees were shaky； and his breathing was painfully asthmatic。
As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort
to draw the air into his lungs。 He had a colored scarf round his chin； and
I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes； overhung by
bushy white brows； and long gray side…whiskers。 Altogether he gave me
the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years
and poverty。
〃What is it； my man？〃 I asked。
He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age。
〃Is Mr。 Sherlock Holmes here？〃 said he。
〃No； but I am acting for him。 You can tell me any message you have
for him。〃
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〃It was to him himself I was to tell it；〃 said he。
〃But I tell you that I am acting for him。 Was it about Mordecai
Smith's boat？〃
〃Yes。 I knows well where it is。 An' I knows where the men he is
after are。 An' I knows where the treasure is。 I knows all about it。〃
〃Then tell me； and I shall let him know。〃
〃It was to him I was to tell it；〃 he repeated； with the petulant obstinacy
of a very old man。
〃Well； you must wait for him。〃
〃No； no； I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one。 If Mr。
Holmes ain't here； then Mr。 Holmes must find it all out for himself。 I
don't care about the look of either of you； and I won't tell a word。〃
He shuffled towards the door； but Athelney Jones got in front of him。
〃Wait a bit； my friend；〃 said he。 〃You have important information；
and you must not walk off。 We shall keep you； whether you like or not；
until our friend returns。〃
The old man made a little run towards the door； but； as Athelney Jones
put his broad back up against it； he recognized the uselessness of
resistance。
〃Pretty sort o' treatment this！〃 he cried； stamping his stick。 〃I come
here to see a gentleman； and you two； who I never saw in my life； seize
me and treat me in this fashion！〃
〃You will be none the worse；〃 I said。 〃We shall recompense you for
the loss of your time。 Sit over here on the sofa； and you will not have
long to wait。〃
He came across sullenly enough； and seated himself with his face
resting on his hands。 Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk。
Suddenly； however； Holmes's voice broke in upon us。
〃I think that you might offer me a cigar too；〃 he said。
We both started in our chairs。 There was Holmes sitting close to us
with an air of quiet amusement。
〃Holmes！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You here！ But where is the old man？〃
〃Here is the old man；〃 said he； holding out a heap of white hair。
〃Here he is；wig； whiskers； eyebrows； and all。 I thought my disguise
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was pretty good； but I hardly expected that it would stand that test。〃
〃Ah； You rogue！〃 cried Jones； highly delighted。 〃You would have
made an actor； and a rare one。 You had the proper workhouse cough； and
those weak legs of yours
