登陆注册
15460500000013

第13章 CHAPTER 4(3)

"Well, let's hear the argument."

"There are considerable difficulties both ways, and yet one or the other it must be. We will suppose first that some person or persons inside the house did the crime. They got this man down here at a time when everything was still and yet no one was asleep. They then did the deed with the queerest and noisiest weapon in the world so as to tell everyone what had happened- a weapon that was never seen in the house before. That does not seem a very likely start, does it?"

"No, it does not."

"Well, then, everyone is agreed that after the alarm was given only a minute at the most had passed before the whole household- not Mr. Cecil Barker alone, though he claims to have been the first, but Ames and all of them were on the spot. Do you tell me that in that time the guilty person managed to make footmarks in the corner, open the window, mark the sill with blood, take the wedding ring off the dead man's finger, and all the rest of it? It's impossible!"

"You put it very clearly," said Holmes.

"I am inclined to agree with you."

"Well, then, we are driven back to the theory that it was done by someone from outside. We are still faced with some big difficulties; but anyhow they have ceased to be impossibilities. The man got into the house between four-thirty and six; that is to say, between dusk and the time when the bridge was raised. There had been some visitors, and the door was open; so there was nothing to prevent him. He may have been a common burglar, or he may have had some private grudge against Mr. Douglas. Since Mr. Douglas has spent most of his life in America, and this shotgun seems to be an American weapon, it would seem that the private grudge is the more likely theory. He slipped into this room because it was the first he came to, and he hid behind the curtain. There he remained until past eleven at night. At that time Mr. Douglas entered the room. It was a short interview, if there were any interview at all; for Mrs. Douglas declares that her husband had not left her more than a few minutes when she heard the shot."

"The candle shows that" said Holmes.

"Exactly. The candle, which was a new one, is not burned more than half an inch. He must have placed it on the table before he was attacked; otherwise, of course, it would have fallen when he fell.

This shows that he was not attacked the instant that he entered the room. When Mr. Barker arrived the candle was lit and the lamp was out."

"That's all clear enough."

"Well, now, we can reconstruct things on those lines. Mr. Douglas enters the room. He puts down the candle. A man appears from behind the curtain. He is armed with this gun. He demands the wedding ring-

Heaven only knows why, but so it must have been. Mr. Douglas gave it up. Then either in cold blood or in the course of a struggle-

Douglas may have gripped the hammer that was found upon the mat- he shot Douglas in this horrible way. He dropped his gun and also it would seem this queer card- V.V. 341, whatever that may mean- and he made his escape through the window and across the moat at the very moment when Cecil Barker was discovering the crime. How's that Mr.

Holmes?"

"Very interesting, but just a little unconvincing."

"Man, it would be absolute nonsense if it wasn't that anything else is even worse!" cried MacDonald. "Somebody killed the man, and whoever it was I could clearly prove to you that he should have done it some other way. What does he mean by allowing his retreat to be cut off like that? What does he mean by using a shotgun when silence was his one chance of escape? Come, Mr. Holmes, it's up to you to give us a lead, since you say Mr. White Mason's theory is unconvincing."

Holmes had sat intently observant during this long discussion, missing no word that was said, with his keen eyes darting to right and to left, and his forehead wrinkled with speculation.

"I should like a few more facts before I get so far as a theory, Mr.

Mac," said he, kneeling down beside the body. "Dear me! these injuries are really appalling. Can we have the butler in for a moment? ...

Ames, I understand that you have often seen this very unusual mark- a branded triangle inside a circle- upon Mr. Douglas's forearm?"

"Frequently, sir."

"You never heard any speculation as to what it meant?"

"No, sir."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 清枫淡雅

    清枫淡雅

    时间带走了我的风华,却沉淀了我的情感。你曾说,她是白开水,淡而无味。然而,你却忘记了,人无法离它而活。我说,我是你的可乐,只给了你瞬间的芳华。他说,但记忆深刻。。。“我们之间的纠缠,呵呵,是不是我不纠缠,你会生活的开心?”莘雅看着林峰的眼睛平静的说。“我会生活的好。”林枫一字一顿的说。心却在抽痛。他要给的不是这样幸苦的甜蜜,他需要时间去创造。创造他们的生活。“我会等,所以我的可乐永远没有保质期。他不是我的是瞬间的芳华。”余昕终于袒露了自己i的心,那一刻有开心,有忐忑,但没有后悔。
  • 不动使者陀罗尼秘密法

    不动使者陀罗尼秘密法

    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。
  • 我在韩国的那些年

    我在韩国的那些年

    大家好,我是主角,我的出现就是为了泡妞的,无聊的时候还会玩玩游戏,不爽的时候会出去找找嚣张的富二代打架。你问我是谁?在下林烨,是本地人,我有一百种方法让你投推荐票...
  • 点错天赋树的人生真的废了吗

    点错天赋树的人生真的废了吗

    假设:当你从这乏味无限循环的日常世界,进入到一个光怪陆离天马行空并波澜壮阔的世界后,你会想做些什么?坐拥佳丽万千?成就一代英雄?用现世的知识统治世界?亦或是独居一隅安然享受余生?
  • 战魂霸天下

    战魂霸天下

    刀光剑影笑苍穹,金戈铁马踏乾坤。崇尚力量的奇异大陆,纷争迭起的五彩世界,一位没落世家族的后人,离奇身世的背后,是怎样的传奇人生。为了家族那曾经的辉煌,为了兄弟那深深的情义,为了知己那苦苦的相守,面对一切的困难与挑战,他毅然踏上了无尽的征程......
  • 落跑新郎完败妻

    落跑新郎完败妻

    两个家族之间的联姻,究竟是缘还是孽。大婚当日,新郎逃婚,众人看着新娘——安若然像个没事人一样淡定。一个月后,安若然偶然捡到一个“失忆”少年,他却赖上她并要求她收留他。安若然无奈之下把他带回了自己的公寓,并由此发生了一串爆笑故事。两人在相处之下对彼此产生了不一样的感情……在若然决定面对自己的心时,却意外发现“失忆”少年竟是
  • 飞鹰之特战队

    飞鹰之特战队

    李天泽是飞鹰的特战队员,但也是一个小混混出生,打架斗殴却学习优秀,一个偶然的机会参军,从格格不入到军中精英,为国为民????
  • 全系召唤师:逆天废柴林嫡女

    全系召唤师:逆天废柴林嫡女

    她,第一冷血杀手,被称为地狱撒旦,杀人不眨眼。却穿越到一个一无是处的废柴身上。废柴?她林在心就算在异世也永远不会是废柴。就看她从麻雀变凤凰,靠自己的努力,走上辉煌!
  • 灵砂大丹秘诀

    灵砂大丹秘诀

    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。
  • 剑破星宇

    剑破星宇

    星宇之上强者无数,星宇摇曳虚空碎裂。强者威能无限,使得无数凡人仰望。开始踏上修习剑术之路,他不过是荒草之众,之一,而他的传奇这一刻开始。