登陆注册
5411700000023

第23章 The Adventure of the Dancing Men(5)

"We are going to Ridling Thorpe Manor," said he, "but we have heard nothing of what has passed there.""It's a terrible business," said the station-master."They are shot, both Mr.Hilton Cubitt and his wife.She shot him and then herself -- so the servants say.He's dead and her life is despaired of.Dear, dear, one of the oldest families in the County of Norfolk, and one of the most honoured."Without a word Holmes hurried to a carriage, and during the long seven miles' drive he never opened his mouth.Seldom have Iseen him so utterly despondent.He had been uneasy during all our journey from town, and I had observed that he had turned over the morning papers with anxious attention; but now this sudden realization of his worst fears left him in a blank melancholy.He leaned back in his seat, lost in gloomy speculation.Yet there was much around to interest us, for we were passing through as singular a country-side as any in England, where a few scattered cottages represented the population of to-day, while on every hand enormous square-towered churches bristled up from the flat, green landscape and told of the glory and prosperity of old East Anglia.At last the violet rim of the German Ocean appeared over the green edge of the Norfolk coast, and the driver pointed with his whip to two old brick and timber gables which projected from a grove of trees."That's Ridling Thorpe Manor," said he.

As we drove up to the porticoed front door I observed in front of it, beside the tennis lawn, the black tool-house and the pedestalled sun-dial with which we had such strange associations.

A dapper little man, with a quick, alert manner and a waxed moustache, had just descended from a high dog-cart.

He introduced himself as Inspector Martin, of the Norfolk Constabulary, and he was considerably astonished when he heard the name of my companion.

"Why, Mr.Holmes, the crime was only committed at three this morning.How could you hear of it in London and get to the spot as soon as I?""I anticipated it.I came in the hope of preventing it.""Then you must have important evidence of which we are ignorant, for they were said to be a most united couple.""I have only the evidence of the dancing men," said Holmes.

"I will explain the matter to you later.Meanwhile, since it is too late to prevent this tragedy, I am very anxious that Ishould use the knowledge which I possess in order to ensure that justice be done.Will you associate me in your investigation, or will you prefer that I should act independently?""I should be proud to feel that we were acting together, Mr.Holmes," said the inspector, earnestly.

"In that case I should be glad to hear the evidence and to examine the premises without an instant of unnecessary delay."Inspector Martin had the good sense to allow my friend to do things in his own fashion, and contented himself with carefully noting the results.The local surgeon, an old, white-haired man, had just come down from Mrs.Hilton Cubitt's room, and he reported that her injuries were serious, but not necessarily fatal.The bullet had passed through the front of her brain, and it would probably be some time before she could regain consciousness.On the question of whether she had been shot or had shot herself he would not venture to express any decided opinion.Certainly the bullet had been discharged at very close quarters.There was only the one pistol found in the room, two barrels of which had been emptied.Mr.Hilton Cubitt had been shot through the heart.It was equally conceivable that he had shot her and then himself, or that she had been the criminal, for the revolver lay upon the floor midway between them.

"Has he been moved?" asked Holmes.

"We have moved nothing except the lady.We could not leave her lying wounded upon the floor.""How long have you been here, doctor?"

"Since four o'clock."

"Anyone else?"

"Yes, the constable here."

"And you have touched nothing?"

"Nothing."

"You have acted with great discretion.Who sent for you?""The housemaid, Saunders."

"Was it she who gave the alarm?"

"She and Mrs.King, the cook."

"Where are they now?"

"In the kitchen, I believe."

"Then I think we had better hear their story at once."The old hall, oak-panelled and high-windowed, had been turned into a court of investigation.Holmes sat in a great, old-fashioned chair, his inexorable eyes gleaming out of his haggard face.I could read in them a set purpose to devote his life to this quest until the client whom he had failed to save should at last be avenged.The trim Inspector Martin, the old, grey-headed country doctor, myself, and a stolid village policeman made up the rest of that strange company.

The two women told their story clearly enough.They had been aroused from their sleep by the sound of an explosion, which had been followed a minute later by a second one.They slept in adjoining rooms, and Mrs.King had rushed in to Saunders.

Together they had descended the stairs.The door of the study was open and a candle was burning upon the table.Their master lay upon his face in the centre of the room.He was quite dead.

Near the window his wife was crouching, her head leaning against the wall.She was horribly wounded, and the side of her face was red with blood.She breathed heavily, but was incapable of saying anything.The passage, as well as the room, was full of smoke and the smell of powder.The window was certainly shut and fastened upon the inside.Both women were positive upon the point.They had at once sent for the doctor and for the constable.Then, with the aid of the groom and the stable-boy, they had conveyed their injured mistress to her room.Both she and her husband had occupied the bed.She was clad in her dress -- he in his dressing-gown, over his night clothes.Nothing had been moved in the study.So far as they knew there had never been any quarrel between husband and wife.They had always looked upon them as a very united couple.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 斗罗大陆之巅峰对决

    斗罗大陆之巅峰对决

    这里没有斗气,没有魔法,却有武魂。命运的轮盘缓缓转动,群英并起,旷世之战,巅峰之争,脱颖而出何谁?
  • 云上仙宫

    云上仙宫

    能在天上漂浮和移动的宫殿,每天都能看到不一样的风景!
  • 风华无双之绝世仙尊

    风华无双之绝世仙尊

    一个是冷艳睿智,算无遗漏的天才杀手。一个是弱质纤纤,受尽欺辱的世家小姐。当睿智的灵魂附身与羸弱的身躯,看异世之魂如何翻云覆雨,执掌乾坤。前世被心爱之人背叛,死于非命,却因为一件宝鼎,重生异世。宝鼎在手,仙道可求。她从来不知道,这么个小玩意儿,能炼出这么多灵丹妙药。可以改换资质的洗髓丹。可以回复法力的法灵丹。可以青春不老的驻颜丹。可以助人突破的独门丹…于是,她修炼日进千里,大发横财。对了,这玩意儿还能种田,灵药的成长速度是外界的千倍…叔伯看不起她,表姐加害她,纨绔表哥也来欺负她。人欺我一尺,我还她一丈,世家大会,她锋芒毕露,大放异彩。那些隐藏的肮脏阴谋,她将一个个粉碎!随便捡个蛋蛋,孵出来的居然是妖兽王!还有一直在她身体里的器灵,从来低调温顺,居然也是个如此了不得的人物…仙山求道,南疆寻宝,魔域斩邪,勇闯冥界,打遍东海无敌手!新奇法宝,仙道门派,人,妖,仙,魔的爱恨情仇,恩怨纠葛,仙道斗法,尽在《风华无双之绝世仙尊》
  • 立斋闲录

    立斋闲录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南曦绘梦录

    南曦绘梦录

    世人皆道,南曦有奇女,喜着白衣,喜执白伞,恶灵相随,步行天下,不惧战乱,无畏生死。可世人不知,她亦喜绘生死,绘是非,绘爱恨,绘善恶。
  • 北玄神功

    北玄神功

    神功在手,天下我有。神功大成,天下我行!
  • Further Adventures of Lad

    Further Adventures of Lad

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 快穿虐男主:我的宿主有毛病

    快穿虐男主:我的宿主有毛病

    。伊白,美丽及“正义”的化身。(情景一)噬忆跪在搓衣板上,苦不堪言地碎碎念,“别人家的宿主都是温柔迷人美丽大方,偏偏他家的宿主是大恶魔!”伊白看着手上的书,合上,嘴角勾起一抹危险,“小忆忆,你最近有点飘啊!”(情景二)一群丧尸涌上来。噬忆挡在伊白面前,一副大义凛然的样子,“宿主,你快跑,本系统垫后。”“好,多多保重。”伊白点点头,一溜烟就不见了。噬忆咽了口气,望着眼前凶残的一群丧尸,内心是崩溃的。宿主,本系统就是说着玩的,等等我啊!#家有奇葩系统肿么破?#
  • 楼房子邓氏家谱

    楼房子邓氏家谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 银河小世界

    银河小世界

    本作品由多个小故事构成。银河之上,无数世界由锁链联系在一起。而我们呢?或许只是银河系之中的一颗不起眼的石头罢了。别怕,我会保护你的。别怕,我会找到你的。别怕,我们总会相遇。