the adventure of the empty house-第6节

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could　do　nothing。　But　I　watched　the　criminal　news；　knowing　that　sooner

or　later　I　should　get　him。　Then　came　the　death　of　this　Ronald　Adair。

My　chance　had　come　at　last。　Knowing　what　I　did；　was　it　not　certain

that　Colonel　Moran　had　done　it？　He　had　played　cards　with　the　lad；　he

had　followed　him　home　from　the　club；　he　had　shot　him　through　the

open　window。　There　was　not　a　doubt　of　it。　The　bullets　alone　are　enough

to　put　his　head　in　a　noose。　I　came　over　at　once。　I　was　seen　by　the

sentinel；　who　would；　I　knew；　direct　the　colonel's　attention　to　my

presence。　He　could　not　fail　to　connect　my　sudden　return　with　his

crime；　and　to　be　terribly　alarmed。　I　was　sure　that　he　would　make　an

attempt　to　get　me　out　of　the　way　at　once；　and　would　bring　round　his

murderous　weapon　for　that　purpose。　I　left　him　an　excellent　mark　in　the

window；　and；　having　warned　the　police　that　they　might　be　needed…　by

the　way；　Watson；　you　spotted　their　presence　in　that　doorway　with

unerring　accuracy…　I　took　up　what　seemed　to　me　to　be　a　judicious

post　for　observation；　never　dreaming　that　he　would　choose　the　same

spot　for　his　attack。　Now；　my　dear　Watson；　does　anything　remain　for

me　to　explain？〃

　　〃Yes；〃　said　I。　〃You　have　not　made　it　clear　what　was　Colonel

Moran's　motive　in　murdering　the　Honourable　Ronald　Adair？〃

　　〃Ah！　my　dear　Watson；　there　we　come　into　those　realms　of

conjecture；　where　the　most　logical　mind　may　be　at　fault。　Each　may　form

his　own　hypothesis　upon　the　present　evidence；　and　yours　is　as　likely

to　be　correct　as　mine。〃

　　〃You　have　formed　one；　then？〃

　　〃I　think　that　it　is　not　difficult　to　explain　the　facts。　It　came

out　in　evidence　that　Colonel　Moran　and　young　Adair　had；　between

them；　won　a　considerable　amount　of　money。　Now；　undoubtedly　played

foul…　of　that　I　have　long　been　aware。　I　believe　that　on　the　day　of　the

murder　Adair　had　discovered　that　Moran　was　cheating。　Very　likely　he

had　spoken　to　him　privately；　and　had　threatened　to　expose　him　unless

he　voluntarily　resigned　his　membership　of　the　club；　and　promised　not

to　play　cards　again。　It　is　unlikely　that　a　youngster　like　Adair

would　at　once　make　a　hideous　scandal　by　exposing　a　well　known　man　so

much　older　than　himself。　Probably　he　acted　as　I　suggest。　The　exclusion

from　his　clubs　would　mean　ruin　to　Moran；　who　lived　by　his　ill…gotten

card…gains。　He　therefore　murdered　Adair；　who　at　the　time　was

endeavouring　to　work　out　how　much　money　he　should　himself　return；

since　he　could　not　profit　by　his　partner's　foul　play。　He　locked　the

door　lest　the　ladies　should　surprise　him　and　insist　upon　knowing

what　he　was　doing　with　these　names　and　coins。　Will　it　pass？〃

　　〃I　have　no　doubt　that　you　have　hit　upon　the　truth。〃

　　〃It　will　be　verified　or　disproved　at　the　trial。　Meanwhile；　come　what

may；　Colonel　Moran　will　trouble　us　no　more。　The　famous　air…gun　of

Von　Herder　will　embellish　the　Scotland　Yard　Museum；　and　once　again　Mr。

Sherlock　Holmes　is　free　to　devote　his　life　to　examining　those

interesting　little　problems　which　the　complex　life　of　London　so

plentifully　presents。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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