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！
the body which varies so much as the human ear。 Each ear is as a
rule quite distinctive and differs from all other ones。 In last
years Anthropological Journal you will find two short monographs
from my pen upon the subject。 I had； therefore； examined the ears in
the box with the eyes of an expert and had carefully noted their
anatomical peculiarities。 Imagine my surprise； then； when on looking
at Miss Cushing I perceived that her ear corresponded exactly with the
female ear which I had just inspected。 The matter was entirely
beyond coincidence。 There was the same shortening of the pinna； the
same broad curve of the upper lobe； the same convolution of the
inner cartilage。 In all essentials it was the same ear。
〃Of course I at once saw the enormous importance of the observation。
It was evident that the victim was a blood relation； and probably a
very close one。 I began to talk to her about her family； and you
remember that she at once gave us some exceedingly valuable details。
〃In the first place； her sisters name was Sarah； and her address had
until recently been the same； so that it was quite obvious how the
mistake had occurred and for whom the packet was meant。 Then we
heard of this steward； married to the third sister； and learned that
he had at one time been so intimate with Miss Sarah that she had
actually gone up to Liverpool to be near the Browners； but a quarrel
had afterwards divided them。 This quarrel had put a stop to all
communications for some months； so that if Browner had occasion to
address a packet to Miss Sarah； he would undoubtedly have done so to
her old address。
〃And now the matter had begun to straighten itself out
wonderfully。 We had learned of the existence of this steward； an
impulsive man； of strong passions… you remember that he threw up
what must have been a very superior berth in order to be nearer to his
wife… subject； too； to occasional fits of hard drinking。 We had reason
to believe that his wife had been murdered； and that a man… presumably
a seafaring man… had been murdered at the same time。 Jealousy； of
course； at once suggests itself as the motive for the crime。 And why
should these proofs of the deed be sent to Miss Sarah Cushing？
Probably because during her residence in Liverpool she had some hand
in bringing about the events which led to the tragedy。 You will
observe that this line of boats calls at Belfast Dublin； and
Waterford； so that； presuming that Browner had committed the deed
and had embarked at once upon his steamer； the May Day； Belfast
would be the first place at which he could post his terrible packet。
〃A second solution was at this stage obviously possible； and
although I thought it exceedingly unlikely； I was determined to
elucidate it before going further。 An unsuccessful lover might have
killed Mr。 and Mrs。 Browner； and the male ear might have belonged to
the husband。 There were many grave objections to this theory； but it
was conceivable。 I therefore sent off a telegram to my friend Algar；
of the Liverpool force； and asked him to find out if Mrs。 Browner were
at home； and if Browner had departed in the May Day。 Then we went on
to Wallington to visit Miss Sarah。
〃I was curious； in the first place； to see how far the family ear
had been reproduced in her。 Then； of course； she might give us very
important information； but I was not sanguine that she would。 She must
have heard of the business the day before； since all Croydon was
ringing with it； and she alone could have understood for whom the
packet was meant。 If she had been willing to help justice she would
probably have communicated with the police already。 However； it was
clearly our duty to see her； so we went。 We found that the news of the
arrival of the packet… for her illness dated from that time… had
such an effect upon her as to bring on brain fever。 It was clearer
than ever that she understood its full significance； but equally clear
that we should have to wait some time for any assistance from her。
〃However； we were really independent of her help。 Our answers were
waiting for us at the police…station； where I had directed Algar to
send them。 Nothing could be more conclusive。 Mrs。 Browner's house
had been closed for more than three days； and the neighbours were of
opinion that she had gone south to see her relatives。 It had been
ascertained at the shipping offices that Browner had left aboard of
the May Day； and I calculate that she is due in the Thames tomorrow
night。 When he arrives he will be met by the obtuse but resolute
Lestrade； and I have no doubt that we shall have all our details
filled in。〃
Sherlock Holmes was not disappointed in his expectations。 Two days
later he received a bulky envelope； which contained a short note
from the detective； and a typewritten document which covered several
pages of foolscap。
〃Lestrade has got him all right；〃 said Holmes； glancing up at me。
〃Perhaps it would interest you to hear what he says。
My Dear Holmes：
〃In accordance with the scheme which we had formed in order to
test our theories〃 ＇〃the 'we' is rather fine； Watson； is it not？〃＇
〃I went down to the Albert Dock yesterday at 6 P。M。； and boarded the
S。S。 May Day； belonging to the Liverpool； Dublin； and London Steam
Packet Company。 On inquiry； I found that there was a steward on
board of the name of James Browner and that he had acted during the
voyage in such an extraordinary manner that the captain had been
compelled to relieve him of his duties。 On descending to his berth；
I found him seated upon a chest with his head sunk upon his hands；
rocking himself to and fro。 He is a big； powerful chap；
clean…shaven； and very swarthy… something like Aldridge； who helped us
in the bogus laundry affair。 He jumped up when he heard my business；
and I had my whistle to my lips to call a couple of river police；
who were round the corner； but he seemed to have no heart in him；
and he held out his hands quietly enough for the darbies。 We brought
him along to the cells； and his box as well for we thought there might
be something incriminating； but； bar a big sharp knife such as most
sailors have； we got nothing for our trouble。 However； we find that we
shall want no more evidence； for on being brought before the inspector
at the station he asked leave to make a statement which was； of
course； taken down； just as he made it； by our shorthand man。 We had
three copies typewritten； one of which I enclose。 The affair proves；
as I always thought it would； to be an extremely simple one； but I
am obliged to you for assisting me in my investigation。 With kind
regards；
〃Yours very truly；
〃G。 LESTRADE。
〃Hum！ The investigation really was a very simple one；〃 remarked
Holmes； 〃but I don't think it struck him in that light when he first
called us in。 However； let us see what Jim Browner has to say for
himself。 This is his statement as made before Inspector Montgomery
at the Shadwell Police Station； and it has the advantage of being