a case of identity-第1节
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THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
A Case of Identity
〃My dear fellow；〃 said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side of
the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street； 〃life is infinitely
stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent。 We
would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere
commonplaces of existence。 If we could fly out of that window
hand in hand； hover over this great city； gently remove the roofs；
and peep in at the queer things which are going on； the strange
coincidences； the plannings； the cross…purposes； the wonderful
chains of events； working through generations； and leading to the
most outre results； it would make all fiction with its
conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and
unprofitable。〃
〃And yet I am not convinced of it；〃 I answered。 〃The cases
which come to light in the papers are； as a rule； bald enough； and
vulgar enough。 We have in our police reports realism pushed to
its extreme limits； and yet the result is； it must be confessed；
neither fascinating nor artistic。〃
〃A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing
a realistic effect；〃 remarked Holmes。 〃This is wanting in the
police report； where more stress is laid； perhaps； upon the
platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details； which to an
observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter。 Depend
upon it； there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace。〃
I smiled and shook my head。 〃I can quite understand your
thinking so；〃 I said。 〃Of course； in your position of unofficial
adviser and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled；
throughout three continents； you are brought in contact with all
that is strange and bizarre。 But here〃I picked up the morning
paper from the ground〃let us put it to a practical test。 Here
is the first heading upon which I come。 ‘A husband's cruelty to
his wife。' There is half a column of print； but I know without
reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me。 There is； of
course； the other woman； the drink； the push； the blow； the
bruise； the sympathetic sister or landlady。 The crudest of
writers could invent nothing more crude。〃
〃Indeed； your example is an unfortunate one for your
argument；〃 said Holmes； taking the paper and glancing his eye down
it。 〃This is the Dundas separation case； and； as it happens； I
was engaged in clearing up some small points in connection with
it。 The husband was a teetotaler； there was no other woman； and
the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit
of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling
them at his wife； which； you will allow； is not an action likely
to occur to the imagination of the average story…teller。 Take a
pinch of snuff； Doctor； and acknowledge that I have scored over
you in your example。〃
He held out his snuffbox of old gold； with a great amethyst in
the centre of the lid。 Its splendour was in such contrast to his
homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon
it。
〃Ah；〃 said he； 〃I forgot that I had not seen you for some
weeks。 It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return
for my assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers。〃
〃And the ring？〃 I asked； glancing at a remarkable brilliant
which sparkled upon his finger。
〃It was from the reigning family of Holland； though the matter
in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide
it even to you； who have been good enough to chronicle one or two
of my little problems。〃
〃And have you any on hand just now？〃 I asked with interest。
〃Some ten or twelve； but none which present any feature of
interest。 They are important； you understand； without being
interesting。 Indeed； I have found that it is usually in
unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation； and
for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the charm
to an investigation。 The larger crimes are apt to be the simpler；
for the bigger the crime the more obvious； as a rule； is the
motive。 In these cases； save for one rather intricate matter
which has been referred to me from Marseilles； there is nothing
which presents any features of interest。 It is possible； however；
that I may have something better before very many minutes are
over； for this is one of my clients； or I am much mistaken。〃
He had risen from his chair and was standing between the
parted blinds； gazing down into the dull neutral…tinted London
street。 Looking over his shoulder； I saw that on the pavement
opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her
neck； and a large curling red feather in a broad…brimmed hat which
was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her
ear。 From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous；
hesitating fashion at our windows； while her body oscillated
backward and forward； and her fingers fidgeted with her glove
buttons。 Suddenly； with a plunge； as of the swimmer who leaves
the bank； she hurried across the road； and we heard the sharp
clang of the bell。
〃I have seen those symptoms before；〃 said Holmes； throwing his
cigarette into the fire。 〃Oscillation upon the pavement always
means an affaire de coeur。 She would like advice； but is not sure
that the matter is not too delicate for communication。 And yet
even here we may discriminate。 When a woman has been seriously
wronged by a man she no longer oscillates； and the usual symptom
is a broken bell wire。 Here we may take it that there is a love
matter； but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed； or
grieved。 But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts。〃
As he spoke there was a tap at the door； and the boy in
buttons entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland； while the lady
herself loomed behind his small black figure like a full…sailed
merchant…man behind a tiny pilot boat。 Sherlock Holmes welcomed
her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable； and；
having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair； he looked
her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was
peculiar to him。
〃Do you not find；〃 he said； 〃that with your short sight it is
a little trying to do so much typewriting？〃
〃I did at first；〃 she answered； 〃but now I know where the
letters are without looking。〃 Then； suddenly realizing the full
purport of his words； she gave a violent start and looked up； with
fear and astonishment upon her broad； good…humoured face。 〃You've
heard about me； Mr。 Holmes；〃 she cried； 〃else how could you know
all that？〃
〃Never mind；〃 said Holmes； laughing； 〃it is my business to
know things。 Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others
overlook。 If not； why should you come to consult me？〃
〃I came to you； sir； because I heard of you from Mrs。
Etherege； whose husband you found so easy when the police and
everyone had given him up for dead。 Oh； Mr。 Holmes； I wish you
would do as much for me。 I'm not rich； but still I have a hundred
a year in my own right； besides the little that I make by the
machine； and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr。
Hosmer Angel。〃
〃Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry？〃 asked
Sherlock Holmes； with his finger…tips together and his eyes to the
ceiling。
Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of
Miss Mary Sutherland。 〃Yes； I did bang out of the house；〃 she
said； 〃for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr。
Windibankthat is； my fathertook it all。 He would not go to
the police； and he would not go to you； and so at last； as he
would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done；
it made me mad； and I just on with my things and came right away
to you。〃
〃Your father；〃 said Holmes； 〃your stepfather； surely； since
the name is different。〃
〃Yes； my stepfather。 I call him father； though it sounds
funny； too； for he is only five years and two months older than
myself。〃
