按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
two from Victoria if you could come。〃
〃Of course we could come。 There is a lull at present。 I can give you
my undivided energies。 Watson； of course； comes with us。 But there are
one or two points upon which I wish to be very sure before I start。
This unhappy lady； as I understand it； has appeared to assault both
the children； her own baby and your little son？〃
〃That is so。〃
〃But the assaults take different forms； do they not？ She has
beaten your son。〃
〃Once with a stick and once very savagely with her hands。〃
〃Did she give no explanation why she struck him？〃
〃None save that she hated him。 Again and again she said so。〃
〃Well； that is not unknown among stepmothers。 A posthumous jealousy；
we will say。 Is the lady jealous by nature？〃
〃Yes； she is very jealous… jealous with all the strength of her
fiery tropical love。〃
〃But the boy… he is fifteen； I understand； and probably very
developed in mind； since his body has been circumscribed in action。
Did he give you no explanation of these assaults？〃
〃No； he declared there was no reason。〃
〃Were they good friends at other times？〃
〃No； there！ was never any love between them。〃
〃Yet you say he is affectionate？〃
〃Never in the world could there be so devoted a son。 My life is
his life。 He is absorbed in what I say or do。〃
Once again Holmes made a note。 For some time he sat lost in thought。
〃No doubt you and the boy were great comrades before this second
marriage。 You were thrown very close together； were you not？〃
〃Very much so。〃
〃And the boy； having so affectionate a nature； was devoted； no
doubt； to the memory of his mother？〃
〃Most devoted。〃
〃He would certainly seem to be a most interesting lad。 There is
one other point about these assaults。 Were the strange attacks upon
the baby and the assaults upon your son at the same period？〃
〃In the first case it was so。 It was is if some frenzy had seized
her； and she had vented her rage upon both。 In the second case it
was only Jack who suffered。 Mrs。 Mason had no complaint to make
about the baby。〃
〃That certainly complicates matters。〃
〃I don't quite follow you； Mr。 Holmes。〃
〃Possibly not。 One forms provisional theories and waits for time
or fuller knowledge to explode them。 A bad habit； Mr。 Ferguson； but
human nature is weak。 I fear that your old friend here has given an
exaggerated view of my scientific methods。 However； I will only say at
the present stage that your problem does not appear to me to be
insoluble； and that you may expect to find us at Victoria at two
o'clock。〃
It was evening of a dull； foggy November day when； having left our
bags at the Chequers； Lamberley； we drove through the Sussex clay of a
long winding lane and finally reached the isolated and ancient
farmhouse in which Ferguson dwelt。 It was a large； straggling
building； very old in the centre； very new at the wings with
towering Tudor chimneys and a lichen…spotted； high…pitched roof of
Horsham slabs。 The doorsteps were worn into curves； and the ancient
tiles which lined the porch were marked with the rebus of a cheese and
a man after the original builder。 Within； the ceilings were corrugated
with heavy oaken beams； and the uneven floors sagged into sharp
curves。 An odour of age and decay pervaded the whole crumbling
building。
There was one very large central room into which Ferguson led us。
Here； in a huge old…fashioned fireplace with an iron screen behind
it dated 1670； there blazed and spluttered a splendid log fire。
The room； as I gazed round； was a most singular mixture of dates and
of places。 The half…panelled walls may well have belonged to the
original yeoman farmer of the seventeenth century。 They were
ornamented； however； on the lower part by a line of well…chosen modern
water…colours； while above； where yellow plaster took the place of
oak； there was hung a fine collection of South American utensils and
weapons； which had been brought； no doubt； by the Peruvian lady
upstairs。 Holmes rose； with that quick curiosity which sprang from his
eager mind； and examined them with some care。 He returned with his
eyes full of thought。
〃Hullo！〃 he cried。 〃Hullo！〃
A spaniel had lain in a basket in the corner。 It came slowly forward
towards its master； walking with difficulty。 Its hind legs moved
irregularly and its tail was on the ground。 It licked Ferguson's hand。
〃What is it； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃The dog。 What's the matter with it？〃
〃That's what puzzled the vet。 A sort of paralysis。 Spinal
meningitis； he thought。 But it is passing。 He'll be all right soon…
won't you； Carlo？〃
A shiver of assent passed through the drooping tail。 The dog's
mournful eyes passed from one of us to the other。 He knew that we were
discussing his case。
〃Did it come on suddenly？〃
〃In a single night。〃
〃How long ago？〃
〃It may have been four months ago。〃
〃Very remarkable。 Very suggestive。〃
〃What do you see in it； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃A confirmation of what I had already thought。〃
〃For God's sake； what do you think； Mr。 Holmes？ It may be a mere
intellectual puzzle to you； but it is life and death to me！ My wife
a would…be murderer… my child in constant danger！ Don't play with
me； Mr。 Holmes。 It is too terribly serious。〃
The big Rugby three…quarter was trembling all over。 Holmes put his
hand soothingly upon his arm。
〃I fear that there is pain for you； Mr。 Ferguson； whatever the
solution may be；〃 said he。 〃I would spare you all I can。 I cannot
say more for the instant； but before I leave this house I hope I may
have something definite。〃
〃Please God you may！ If you will excuse me； gentlemen； I will go
up to my wife's room and see if there has been any change。〃
He was away some minutes； during which Holmes resumed his
examination of the curiosities upon the wall。 When our host returned
it was clear from his downcast face that he had made no progress。 He
brought with him a tall； slim； brownfaced girl。
〃The tea is ready； Dolores；〃 said Ferguson。 〃See that your
mistress has everything she can wish。〃
〃She verra ill；〃 cried the girl； looking with indignant eyes at
her master。 〃She no ask for food。 She verra ill。 She need doctor。 I
frightened stay alone with her without doctor。〃
Ferguson looked at me with a question in his eyes。
〃I should be so glad if I could be of use。〃
〃Would your mistress see Dr。 Watson？〃
〃I take him。 I no ask leave。 She needs doctor。〃
〃Then I'll come with you at once。〃
I followed the girl； who was quivering with strong emotion； up the
staircase and down an ancient corridor。 At the end was an iron…clamped
and massive door。 It struck me as I looked at it that if Ferguson
tried to force his way to his wife he would find it no easy matter。
The girl drew a key from her pocket； and the heavy oaken planks
creaked upon their old hinges。 I passed in and she swiftly followed；
fastening the door behind her。
On the bed a woman was lying who was clearly in a high fever。 She
was only half conscious； But as I entered she raised a pair of
frightened but beautiful eyes and