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！
course you will start at once。 This is evidently from a responsible
person； the vicar of the place。 Where is my Crockford？ Yes； here we
have him： J。C。 Elman； M。A。； Living of Moosmoor cum Little Purlington。'
Look up the trains； Watson。〃
〃There is one at 5：20 from Liverpool Street。〃
〃Excellent。 You had best go with him； Watson。 He may need help or
advice。 Clearly we have come to a crisis in this affair。〃
But our client seemed by no means eager to start。
〃It's perfectly absurd； Mr。 Holmes；〃 he said。 〃What can this man
possibly know of what has occurred？ It is waste of time and money。〃
〃He would not have telegraphed to you if he did not know
something。 Wire at once that you are coming。〃
〃I don't think I shall go。〃
Holmes assumed his sternest aspect。
〃It would make the worst possible impression both on the police
and upon myself； Mr。 Amberley； if when so obvious a clue arose you
should refuse to follow it up。 We should feel that you were not really
in earnest in this investigation。〃
Our client seemed horrified at the suggestion。
〃Why； of course I shall go if you look at it in that way；〃 said
he。 〃On the face of it； it seems absurd to suppose that this parson
knows anything； but if you think…〃
〃I do think；〃 said Holmes with emphasis； and so we were launched
upon our journey。 Holmes took me aside before we left the room and
gave me one word of counsel； which showed that he considered the
matter to be of importance。 〃Whatever you do； see that he really
does go；〃 said he。 〃Should he break away or return； get to the nearest
telephone exchange and send the single word 'Bolted。' I will arrange
here that it shall reach me wherever I am。〃
Little Purlington is not an easy place to reach； for it is on a
branch line。 My remembrance of the journey is not a pleasant one；
for the weather was hot； the train slow； and my companion sullen and
silent； hardly talking at all save to make an occasional sardonic
remark as to the futility of our proceedings。 When we at last
reached the little station it was a two…mile drive before we came to
the Vicarage； where a big； solemn； rather pompous clergyman received
us in his study。 Our telegram lay before him。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 he asked； 〃what can I do for you？〃
〃We came；〃 I explained； 〃in answer to your wire。〃
〃My wire！ I sent no wire。〃
〃I mean the wire which you sent to Mr。 Josiah Amberley about his
wife and his money。〃
〃If this is a joke； sir； it is a very questionable one；〃 said the
vicar angrily。 〃I have never heard of the gentleman you name； and I
have not sent a wire to anyone。〃
Our client and I looked at each other in amazement。
〃Perhaps there is some mistake；〃 said I； 〃are there perhaps two
vicarages？ Here is the wire itself； signed Elman and dated from the
Vicarage。〃
〃There is only one vicarage； sir； and only one vicar； and this
wire is a scandalous forgery； the origin of which shall certainly be
investigated by the police。 Meanwhile； I can see no possible object in
prolonging this interview。〃
So Mr。 Amberley and I found ourselves on the roadside in what seemed
to me to be the most primitive village in England。 We made for the
telegraph office； but it was already closed。 There was a telephone；
however； at the little Railway Arms； and by it I got into touch with
Holmes； who shared in our amazement at the result of our journey。
〃Most singular！〃 said the distant voice。 〃Most remarkable！ I much
fear； my dear Watson； that there is no return train to…night。 I have
unwittingly condemned you to the horrors of a country inn。 However；
there is always Nature； Watson… Nature and Josiah Amberley… you can be
in close commune with both。〃 I heard his dry chuckle as he turned
away。
It was soon apparent to me that my companion's reputation as a miser
was not undeserved。 he had grumbled at the expense of the journey； had
insisted upon travelling third…class； and was now clamorous in his
objections to the hotel bill。 Next morning； when we did at last arrive
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： 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