the adventure of the norwood builder-第5节

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　　〃It　is　final；〃　said　Holmes。

　　Something　in　his　tone　caught　my　ear；　and　I　turned　to　look　at　him。　An

extraordinary　change　had　come　over　his　face。　It　was　writhing　with

inward　merriment。　His　two　eyes　were　shining　like　stars。　It　seemed　to

me　that　he　was　making　desperate　efforts　to　restrain　a　convulsive

attack　of　laughter。

　　〃Dear　me！　Dear　me！〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Well；　now；　who　would　have

thought　it？　And　how　deceptive　appearances　may　be；　to　be　sure！　Such　a

nice　young　man　to　look　at！　It　is　a　lesson　to　us　not　to　trust　our　own

judgment；　is　it　not；　Lestrade？〃

　　〃Yes；　some　of　us　are　a　little　too　much　inclined　to　be　cock…sure；　Mr。

Holmes；〃　said　Lestrade。　The　man's　insolence　was　maddening；　but　we

could　not　resent　it。

　　〃What　a　providential　thing　that　this　young　man　should　press　his

right　thumb　against　the　wall　in　taking　his　hat　from　the　peg！　Such　a

very　natural　action；　too；　if　you　come　to　think　if　it。〃　Holmes　was

outwardly　calm；　but　his　whole　body　gave　a　wriggle　of　suppressed

excitement　as　he　spoke。

　　〃By　the　way；　Lestrade；　who　made　this　remarkable　discovery？〃

　　〃It　was　the　housekeeper；　Mrs。　Lexington；　who　drew　the　night

constable's　attention　to　it。〃

　　〃Where　was　the　night　constable？〃

　　〃He　remained　on　guard　in　the　bedroom　where　the　crime　was

committed；　so　as　to　see　that　nothing　was　touched。〃

　　〃But　why　didn't　the　police　see　this　mark　yesterday？〃

　　〃Well；　we　had　no　particular　reason　to　make　a　careful　examination

of　the　hall。　Besides；　it's　not　in　a　very　prominent　place；　as　you　see。〃

　　〃No；　no…　of　course　not。　I　suppose　there　is　no　doubt　that　the　mark

was　there　yesterday？〃

　　Lestrade　looked　at　Holmes　as　if　he　thought　he　was　going　out　of　his

mind。　I　confess　that　I　was　myself　surprised　both　at　his　hilarious

manner　and　at　his　rather　wild　observation。

　　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　think　that　McFarlane　came　out　of　jail　in

the　dead　of　the　night　in　order　to　strengthen　the　evidence　against

himself；〃　said　Lestrade。　〃I　leave　it　to　any　expert　in　the　world

whether　that　is　not　the　mark　of　his　thumb。〃

　　〃It　is　unquestionably　the　mark　of　his　thumb。〃

　　〃There；　that's　enough；〃　said　Lestrade。　〃I　am　a　practical　man；　Mr。

Holmes；　and　when　I　have　got　my　evidence　I　come　to　my　conclusions。　If

you　have　anything　to　say；　you　will　find　me　writing　my　report　in　the

sitting…room。〃

　　Holmes　had　recovered　his　equanimity；　though　I　still　seemed　to　detect

gleams　of　amusement　in　his　expression。

　　〃Dear　me；　this　is　a　very　sad　development；　Watson；　is　it　not？〃　said

he。　〃And　yet　there　are　singular　points　about　it　which　hold　out　some

hopes　for　our　client。〃

　　〃I　am　delighted　to　hear　it；〃　said　I；　heartily。　〃I　was　afraid　it

was　all　up　with　him。〃

　　〃I　would　hardly　go　so　far　as　to　say　that；　my　dear　Watson。　The　fact

is　that　there　is　one　really　serious　flaw　in　this　evidence　to　which　our

friend　attaches　so　much　importance。〃

　　〃Indeed；　Holmes！　What　is　it？〃

　　〃Only　this：　that　I　know　that　that　was　not　there　when　I　examined

the　hall　yesterday。　And　now；　Watson；　let　us　have　a　little　stroll　round

in　the　sunshine。〃

　　With　a　confused　brain；　but　with　a　heart　into　which　some　warmth　of

hope　was　returning；　I　accompanied　my　friend　in　a　walk　round　the

garden。　Holmes　took　each　face　of　the　house　in　turn；　and　examined　it

with　great　interest。　He　then　led　the　way　inside；　and　went　over　the

whole　building　from　basement　to　attic。　Most　of　the　rooms　were

unfurnished；　but　none　the　less　Holmes　inspected　them　all　minutely。

Finally；　on　the　top　corridor；　which　ran　outside　three　untenanted

bedrooms；　he　again　was　seized　with　a　spasm　of　merriment。

　　〃There　are　really　some　very　unique　features　about　this　case；

Watson；〃　said　he。　〃I　think　it　is　time　now　that　we　took　our　friend

Lestrade　into　our　confidence。　He　has　had　his　little　smile　at　our

expense；　and　perhaps　we　may　do　as　much　by　him；　if　my　reading　of　this

problem　proves　to　be　correct。　Yes；　yes；　I　think　I　see　how　we　should

approach　it。〃

　　The　Scotland　Yard　inspector　was　still　writing　in　the　parlour　when

Holmes　interrupted　him。

　　〃I　understood　that　you　were　writing　a　report　of　this　case；〃　said　he。

　　〃So　I　am。〃

　　〃Don't　you　think　it　may　be　a　little　premature？　I　can't　help　thinking

that　your　evidence　is　not　complete。〃

　　Lestrade　knew　my　friend　too　well　to　disregard　his　words。　He　laid

down　his　pen　and　looked　curiously　at　him。

　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃Only　that　there　is　an　important　witness　whom　you　have　not　seen。〃

　　〃Can　you　produce　him？〃

　　〃I　think　I　can。〃

　　〃Then　do　so。〃

　　〃I　will　do　my　best。　How　many　constables　have　you？〃

　　〃There　are　three　within　call。〃

　　〃Excellent！〃　said　Holmes。　〃May　I　ask　if　they　are　all　large；

able…bodied　men　with　powerful　voices？〃

　　〃I　have　no　doubt　they　are；　though　I　fail　to　see　what　their　voices

have　to　do　with　it。〃

　　〃Perhaps　I　can　help　you　to　see　that　and　one　or　two　other　things　as

well；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Kindly　summon　your　men；　and　I　will　try。〃

　　Five　minutes　later；　three　policemen　had　assembled　in　the　hall。

　　〃In　the　outhouse　you　will　find　a　considerable　quantity　of　straw；〃

said　Holmes。　〃I　will　ask　you　to　carry　in　two　bundles　of　it。　I　think　it

will　be　of　the　greatest　assistance　in　producing　the　witness　whom　I

require。　Thank　you　very　much。　I　believe　you　have　some　matches　in

your　pocket　Watson。　Now；　Mr。　Lestrade；　I　will　ask　you　all　to　accompany

me　to　the　top　landing。〃

　　As　I　have　said；　there　was　a　broad　corridor　there；　which　ran

outside　three　empty　bedrooms。　At　one　end　of　the　corridor　we　were　all

marshalled　by　Sherlock　Holmes；　the　constables　grinning　and　Lestrade

staring　at　my　friend　with　amazement；　expectation；　and　derision　chasing

each　other　across　his　features。　Holmes　stood　before　us　with　the　air　of

a　conjurer　who　is　performing　a　trick。

　　〃Would　you　kindly　send　one　of　your　constables　for　two　buckets　of

water？　Put　the　straw　on　the　floor　here；　free　from　the　wall　on　either

side。　Now　I　think　that　we　are　all　ready。〃

　　Lestrade's　face　had　begun　to　grow　red　and　angry。

　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　are　playing　a　game　with　us；　Mr。　Sherlock

Holmes；〃　said　he。　〃If　you　know　anything；　you　can　surely　say　it　without

all　this　tomfoolery。〃

　　〃I　assure　you；　my　good　Lestrade；　that　I　have　an　excellent　reason　for

everything　that　I　do。　You　may　possibly　remember　that　you　chaffed　me

a　little；　some　hours　ago；　when　the　sun　seemed　on　your　side　of　the

hedge；　so　you　must　not　grudge　me　a　little　pomp　and　ceremony　now。　Might

I　ask　you；　Watson；　to　open　that　window；　and　then　to　put　a　match　to　the

edge　of　the　straw？〃

　　I　did　so；　and　driven　by　the　draught　a　coil　of　gray　smoke　swirled

down　the　corridor；　while　the　dry　straw　crackled　and　flamed。

　　〃Now　we　must　see　if　we　can　find　this　witness　for　you；　Lestrade。

Might　I　ask　you　all　to　join　in　the　cry　of　‘Fire！'？　Now　then；　one；　two；

three…〃

　　〃Fire！〃　we　all　yelled。

　　〃Thank　you。　I　will　trouble　you　once　again。〃

　　〃Fire！〃

　　〃Just　once　more；　gentlemen；　and　all　together。〃

　　〃Fire！〃　The　shout　must　have　rung　over　Norwood。

　　It　had　hardly　died　away　when　an　amazing　thing　happened。　A　door

suddenly　flew　open　out　of　what　appeared　to　be　solid　wall　at　the　end　of

the　corridor；　and　a　little；　wizened　man　darted　out　of　it；　like　a

rabbit　out　of　its　burrow。

　　〃Capital！〃　said　Holmes；　calmly。　〃Watson；　a　bucket　of　water　over

the　straw。　That　will　do！　Lestrade；　allow　me　to　present　you　with　your

principal　missing　witness；　Mr。　Jonas　Oldacre。〃

　　The　detective　stared　at　the　newcomer　with　blank　amazement。　The

latter　was　blinking　in　the　bright　light　of　the　corridor；　and　peering

at　us　and　at　the　smouldering　fire。　It　was　an　odious　face…　crafty；

vicious；　malignant；　with　shifty；　light…gray　eyes　and　white　lashes。

　　〃What's　this；　then？〃　said　Lestrade；　at　last。　〃What　have　you　been

doing　all　this　time；　eh？〃

　　Oldacre　gave　an　uneasy　laugh；　shrinking　back　from　the　furious　red

face　of　the　angry　detective。

　　〃I　have　done　no　harm。〃

　　〃No　harm？　You　have　done　your　best　to　get　an　innocent　man　hanged。

If　it　wasn't　this　gentleman　here；　I　am　not　sure　that　you　would　not

have　succeeded。〃

　　The　wretched　creature　began　to　whimper。

　　〃I　am　sure；　sir；　it　was　only　my　practical　joke。〃

　〃Oh！　a　joke；　was　it？　You　won't　find　the　laugh　on　your　side；　I　promise

you。　Take　him　down；　and　keep　him　in　the　sitting…room　until　I　come。　Mr。

Holmes；〃　he　continued；　when　they　had　gone；　〃I　could　not　speak　before

the　constables；　but　I　don't　mind　saying；　in　the　presence　of　Dr。

Watson；　that　this　is　the　brightest　thing　that　you　have　done　yet；

though　it　is　a　mystery　to　me　how　you　did　it。　You　have　saved　an

innocent　man's　life；　and　you　have　prevented　a　very　grave　scandal；

which　would　have　ruined　my　reputation　in　the　Force。〃

　　Holmes　smiled；　and　clapped　Lestrade　upon　the　shoulder。

　　〃Instead　of　being　ruined；　my　good　sir；　you　will　find　that　your

reputation　has　been　enormously　enhanced。　Just　make　a　few　alterations

in　that　report　which　you　were　writing；　and　they　will　understand　how

hard　it　is　to　throw　dust　in　the　eyes　of　Inspector　Lestrade。〃

　　〃And　you　don't　want　your　name　to　appear？〃

　　〃Not　at　all。　The　work　is　its　own　reward。　Perhaps　I　shall　get　the

credit　also　at　some　distant　day；　when　I　permit　my　zealous　histori