the adventure of the retired colourman-µÚ3½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
in¡¡London£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡say¡¡which¡¡of¡¡us¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡worse¡¡humour¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡had¡¡best¡¡take¡¡Baker¡¡Street¡¡as¡¡we¡¡pass£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Holmes¡¡may
have¡¡some¡¡fresh¡¡instructions¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡last¡¡ones¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡of
much¡¡use£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Amberley¡¡with¡¡a¡¡malevolent¡¡scowl¡£¡¡None¡¡the¡¡less£»¡¡he
kept¡¡me¡¡company¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡already¡¡warned¡¡Holmes¡¡by¡¡telegram¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hour
of¡¡our¡¡arrival£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡found¡¡a¡¡message¡¡waiting¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡Lewisham
and¡¡would¡¡expect¡¡us¡¡there¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡a¡¡surprise£»¡¡but¡¡an¡¡even¡¡greater
one¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sittingroom¡¡of¡¡our
client¡£¡¡A¡¡stern¡looking£»¡¡impassive¡¡man¡¡sat¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡man¡¡with
gray¡tinted¡¡glasses¡¡and¡¡a¡¡large¡¡Masonic¡¡plan¡¡projecting¡¡from¡¡his¡¡tie¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Barker£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Holmes¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡has¡¡been
interesting¡¡himself¡¡also¡¡in¡¡your¡¡business£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Josiah¡¡Amberley£»¡¡though
we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡working¡¡independently¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡both¡¡have¡¡the¡¡same¡¡question
to¡¡ask¡¡you£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Amberley¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡heavily¡£¡¡He¡¡sensed¡¡impending¡¡danger¡£¡¡I¡¡read¡¡it
in¡¡his¡¡straining¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡his¡¡twitching¡¡features¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Holmes£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Only¡¡this£º¡¡What¡¡did¡¡you¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bodies£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡sprang¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hoarse¡¡scream¡£¡¡He¡¡clawed¡¡into
the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡his¡¡bony¡¡hands¡£¡¡His¡¡mouth¡¡was¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡instant
he¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡some¡¡horrible¡¡bird¡¡of¡¡prey¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡we¡¡got¡¡a¡¡glimpse
of¡¡the¡¡real¡¡Josiah¡¡Amberley£»¡¡a¡¡misshapen¡¡demon¡¡with¡¡a¡¡soul¡¡as
distorted¡¡as¡¡his¡¡body¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡he¡¡clapped¡¡his
hand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡stifle¡¡a¡¡cough¡£¡¡Holmes¡¡sprang¡¡at¡¡his
throat¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tiger¡¡and¡¡twisted¡¡his¡¡face¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡A¡¡white
pellet¡¡fell¡¡from¡¡between¡¡his¡¡gasping¡¡lips¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡short¡¡cuts£»¡¡Josiah¡¡Amberley£»¡¡Things¡¡must¡¡be¡¡done¡¡decently¡¡and¡¡in
order¡£¡¡What¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡Barker£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡cab¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡our¡¡taciturn¡¡companion¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡go¡¡together¡£
You¡¡can¡¡stay¡¡there£»¡¡Watson¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡back¡¡within¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡colourman¡¡had¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lion¡¡in¡¡that¡¡great¡¡trunk
of¡¡his£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡helpless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡experienced
man¡handlers¡£¡¡Wriggling¡¡and¡¡twisting¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dragged¡¡to¡¡the¡¡waiting
cab£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡left¡¡to¡¡my¡¡solitary¡¡vigil¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ill¡omened¡¡house¡£¡¡In
less¡¡time¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡named£»¡¡however£»¡¡Holmes¡¡was¡¡back£»¡¡in¡¡company¡¡with
a¡¡smart¡¡young¡¡police¡¡inspector¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡left¡¡Barker¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡the¡¡formalities£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Holmes¡£
¡¨You¡¡had¡¡not¡¡met¡¡Barker£»¡¡Watson¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡my¡¡hated¡¡rival¡¡upon¡¡the
Surrey¡¡shore¡£¡¡When¡¡you¡¡said¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡dark¡¡man¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡difficult¡¡for
me¡¡to¡¡complete¡¡the¡¡picture¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡several¡¡good¡¡cases¡¡to¡¡his¡¡credit£»
has¡¡he¡¡not£»¡¡Inspector£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡has¡¡certainly¡¡interfered¡¡several¡¡times£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡inspector
answered¡¡with¡¡reserve¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨His¡¡methods¡¡are¡¡irregular£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡like¡¡my¡¡own¡£¡¡The¡¡irregulars
are¡¡useful¡¡sometimes£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡You£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡compulsory
warning¡¡about¡¡whatever¡¡he¡¡said¡¡being¡¡used¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡could¡¡never
have¡¡bluffed¡¡this¡¡rascal¡¡into¡¡what¡¡is¡¡virtually¡¡a¡¡confession¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡not¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡get¡¡there¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Holmes¡£¡¡Don't
imagine¡¡that¡¡we¡¡had¡¡not¡¡formed¡¡our¡¡own¡¡views¡¡of¡¡this¡¡case£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡we
would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡laid¡¡our¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡our¡¡man¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡excuse¡¡us¡¡for
feeling¡¡sore¡¡when¡¡you¡¡jump¡¡in¡¡with¡¡methods¡¡which¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡use£»¡¡and¡¡so
rob¡¡us¡¡of¡¡the¡¡credit¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡no¡¡such¡¡robbery£»¡¡MacKinnon¡£¡¡I¡¡assure¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I
efface¡¡myself¡¡from¡¡now¡¡onward£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡Barker£»¡¡he¡¡has¡¡done¡¡nothing
save¡¡what¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡inspector¡¡seemed¡¡considerably¡¡relieved¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡very¡¡handsome¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Holmes¡£¡¡Praise¡¡or¡¡blame¡¡can
matter¡¡little¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡different¡¡to¡¡us¡¡when¡¡the
newspapers¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡questions¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Quite¡¡so¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡are¡¡pretty¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡questions¡¡anyhow£»¡¡so¡¡it
would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡well¡¡to¡¡have¡¡answers¡£¡¡What¡¡will¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡when
the¡¡intelligent¡¡and¡¡enterprising¡¡reporter¡¡asks¡¡you¡¡what¡¡the¡¡exact
points¡¡were¡¡which¡¡aroused¡¡your¡¡suspicion£»¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡gave¡¡you¡¡a
certain¡¡conviction¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡real¡¡facts£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡inspector¡¡looked¡¡puzzled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡don't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡got¡¡any¡¡real¡¡facts¡¡yet£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Holmes¡£¡¡You¡¡say
that¡¡the¡¡prisoner£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡three¡¡witnesses£»¡¡practically
confessed¡¡by¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡commit¡¡suicide£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡murdered¡¡his¡¡wife
and¡¡her¡¡lover¡£¡¡What¡¡other¡¡facts¡¡have¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡arranged¡¡for¡¡a¡¡search£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡are¡¡three¡¡constables¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡you¡¡will¡¡soon¡¡get¡¡the¡¡clearest¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡bodies
cannot¡¡be¡¡far¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¡Try¡¡the¡¡cellars¡¡and¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡not¡¡take¡¡long¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡up
the¡¡likely¡¡places¡£¡¡This¡¡house¡¡is¡¡older¡¡than¡¡the¡¡water¡pipes¡£¡¡There
must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡disused¡¡well¡¡somewhere¡£¡¡Try¡¡your¡¡luck¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡how¡¡did¡¡you¡¡know¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡was¡¡it¡¡done£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡show¡¡you¡¡first¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡give¡¡the
explanation¡¡which¡¡is¡¡due¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡more¡¡to¡¡my¡¡long¡suffering
friend¡¡here£»¡¡who¡¡has¡¡been¡¡invaluable¡¡throughout¡£¡¡But£»¡¡first£»¡¡I¡¡would
give¡¡you¡¡an¡¡insight¡¡into¡¡this¡¡man's¡¡mentality¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unusual
one¡¡¡so¡¡much¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡think¡¡his¡¡destination¡¡is¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be
Broadmoor¡¡than¡¡the¡¡scaffold¡£¡¡He¡¡has£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡high¡¡degree£»¡¡the¡¡sort¡¡of
mind¡¡which¡¡one¡¡associates¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mediaeval¡¡Italian¡¡nature¡¡rather
than¡¡with¡¡the¡¡modern¡¡Briton¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡miserable¡¡miser¡¡who¡¡made¡¡his
wife¡¡so¡¡wretched¡¡by¡¡his¡¡niggardly¡¡ways¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡ready¡¡prey¡¡for
any¡¡adventurer¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡one¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡in¡¡the¡¡person¡¡of¡¡this
chess¡playing¡¡doctor¡£¡¡Amberley¡¡excelled¡¡at¡¡chess¡¡¡one¡¡mark£»¡¡Watson£»¡¡of
a¡¡scheming¡¡mind¡£¡¡Like¡¡all¡¡misers£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡jealous¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡his
jealousy¡¡became¡¡a¡¡frantic¡¡mania¡£¡¡Rightly¡¡or¡¡wrongly£»¡¡he¡¡suspected¡¡an
intrigue¡£¡¡He¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡revenge£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡planned¡¡it¡¡with
diabolical¡¡cleverness¡£¡¡Come¡¡here£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡Holmes¡¡led¡¡us¡¡along¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡with¡¡as¡¡much¡¡certainty¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he
had¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡halted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡open¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strong¡room¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Pooh£¡¡¡What¡¡an¡¡awful¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡paint£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡inspector¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡was¡¡our¡¡first¡¡clue£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Holmes¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡thank¡¡Dr¡£
Watson's¡¡observation¡¡for¡¡that£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡the¡¡inference¡£
It¡¡set¡¡my¡¡foot¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡trail¡£¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡this¡¡man¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡time¡¡be
filling¡¡his¡¡house¡¡with¡¡strong¡¡odours£¿¡¡Obviously£»¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡some¡¡other
smell¡¡which¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡¡some¡¡guilty¡¡smell¡¡which¡¡would
suggest¡¡suspicions¡£¡¡then¡¡came¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡a¡¡room¡¡such¡¡as¡¡you¡¡see
here¡¡with¡¡iron¡¡door¡¡and¡¡shutter¡¡¡a¡¡hermetically¡¡sealed¡¡room¡£¡¡Put¡¡those
two¡¡facts¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡whither¡¡do¡¡they¡¡lead£¿¡¡I¡¡could¡¡only¡¡determine
that¡¡by¡¡examining¡¡the¡¡house¡¡myself¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡already¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡the
case¡¡was¡¡serious£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡had¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡box¡office¡¡chart¡¡at¡¡the
Haymarket¡¡Theatre¡¡¡another¡¡of¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Watson's¡¡bull's¡eyes¡¡¡and
ascertained¡¡that¡¡neither¡¡B¡¡thirty¡¡nor¡¡thirty¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡circle
had¡¡been¡¡occupied¡¡that¡¡night¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡Amberley¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡to
the¡¡theatre£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡alibi¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡He¡¡made¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡slip¡¡when
he¡¡allowed¡¡my¡¡astute¡¡friend¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡taken¡¡for
his¡¡wife¡£¡¡The¡¡question¡¡now¡¡arose¡¡how¡¡I¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡the
house¡£¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡an¡¡agent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡impossible¡¡village¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think
of£»¡¡and¡¡summoned¡¡my¡¡man¡¡to¡¡it¡¡at¡¡such¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not
possibly¡¡get¡¡back¡£¡¡To¡¡prevent¡¡any¡¡miscarriage£»¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Watson
accompanied¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡good¡¡vicar's¡¡name¡¡I¡¡took£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my
Crockford¡£¡¡Do¡¡I¡¡make¡¡it¡¡all¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡masterly£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡inspector¡¡in¡¡an¡¡awed¡¡voice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡being¡¡no¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡interruption¡¡I¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡burgle¡¡the
house¡£¡¡Burglary¡¡has¡¡always¡¡been¡¡an¡¡alternative¡¡profession¡¡had¡¡I
cared¡¡to¡¡adopt¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡little¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡come
to¡¡the¡¡front¡£¡¡Observe¡¡what¡¡I¡¡found¡£¡¡You¡¡see¡¡the¡¡gas¡pipe¡¡along¡¡the
skirting¡¡here¡£¡¡Very¡¡good¡£¡¡It¡¡rises¡¡in¡¡the¡¡angle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡there
is¡¡a¡¡tap¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner¡£¡¡The¡¡pipe¡¡runs¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡strong¡room£»
as¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see£»¡¡and¡¡ends¡¡in¡¡that¡¡plaster¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the
ceiling£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡is¡¡concealed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ornamentation¡£¡¡That¡¡end¡¡is
wide¡¡open¡£¡¡At¡¡any¡¡moment¡¡by¡¡turning¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡tap¡¡the¡¡room¡¡could
be¡¡flooded¡¡with¡¡gas¡£¡¡With¡¡door¡¡and¡¡shutter¡¡closed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tap¡¡full
on¡¡I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡give¡¡two¡¡minutes¡¡of¡¡conscious¡¡sensation¡¡to¡¡anyone
shut¡¡up¡¡in¡¡that¡¡little¡¡chamber¡£¡¡By¡¡what¡¡devilish¡¡device¡¡he¡¡decoyed
them¡¡there¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡once¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡door¡¡they¡¡were¡¡at¡¡his
mercy¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡inspector¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡pipe¡¡with¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¨One¡¡of¡¡our
officers¡¡mentioned¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡gas£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡of¡¡course¡¡the
window¡¡and¡¡door¡¡were¡¡open¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡paint¡¡¡or¡¡some¡¡of¡¡it¡¡¡was
already¡¡about¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡painting¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before£»
according¡¡to¡¡his¡¡story¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡next£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Holmes£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡then¡¡came¡¡an¡¡incident¡¡which¡¡was¡¡rather¡¡unexpected¡¡to
myself¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡slipping¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pantry¡¡window£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡dawn
when¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡inside¡¡my¡¡collar£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡said£º¡¡'Now£»¡¡you
rascal£»¡¡what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing¡¡in¡¡there£¿'¡¡When¡¡I¡¡could¡¡twist¡¡my¡¡head¡¡round
I¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡tinted¡¡spectacles¡¡of¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡rival£»¡¡Mr¡£
Barker¡£¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡foregathering¡¡and¡¡set¡¡us¡¡both¡¡smiling¡£¡¡It
seems¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡engaged¡¡by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Ray¡¡Ernest's¡¡family¡¡to¡¡make¡¡some
investigations¡¡and¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡conclusion¡¡as¡¡to¡¡foul¡¡play¡£¡¡He
had¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡house¡¡for¡¡some¡¡days¡¡and¡¡had¡¡spotted¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Watso