Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 44 Adventure History 2
"Please look up Elena Adler in my data-index, Doctor," said Holmes without opening his eyes.Over the years, out of his professional habits, he has labeled and filed materials on many people and things for easy search.Therefore, it is very difficult to find someone or something that he cannot provide materials for.I soon found the filing for the woman, sandwiched between the rabbi and the staff officer who had written a dissertation on deep-sea fish.

"Let me see," said Holmes. "Hmm! Born in New Jersey in [-]. Alto, Italian opera -- yes! Prima diva at the Imperial Opera in Warsaw -- out of opera -- yes! She Living in London—good! Your Majesty, as far as I understand, is connected with this woman. You have written her some embarrassing letters, and you are anxious to return."

"Exactly. But how can..."

"Were you secretly married to her?"

"No."

"Do you have any legal documents or proof?"

"No."

"I don't understand that, Your Majesty. If she wants to use those letters to blackmail you, or for other purposes, how can she prove that they are not forged?"

"It has my writing on it."

"Bah! Forged."

"That's my personal letter."

"Stolen."

"With my own seal."

"It's still fake."

"There's a picture of me."

"Bought it."

"We're both in that picture."

"Ah? This is not easy to handle. Your Majesty, your life is too disorderly."

"I was just insane — stupid as hell."

"You have seriously damaged yourself."

"I was just the crown prince and young. Now I'm only 30!"

"This photo must be retracted."

"We tried, and it didn't work."

"Your Majesty must pay to redeem the photo."

"But she won't sell it."

"Then steal."

"We've done it five times. Twice I paid thieves to search her house; once stole her luggage while she was traveling; and twice highway robbery, but to no avail."

"Not even a sign of where?"

"Not at all."

Holmes laughed. "It's a trivial matter."

The king said angrily, "But it is a very important question for me."

"Very important? So what does she want to do with this picture?"

"Destroy me."

"How to destroy it?"

"I'm getting married."

"I understand."

"I'm going to marry the second princess of the king of Scandinavia, Clotilde? Careful, sensitive person. If she suspects something is wrong with my behavior, then the marriage is over."

"Then, what about Elena Adler?"

"She threatened me to send them the picture, and I knew she would do it, and she always said what she said. You don't know her, she has a strong personality. She has the looks of a peerless woman, And she has a strong heart like a man. As long as I marry another woman, she can do anything."

"Are you sure she still has the photograph?"

"I'm sure."

"why?"

"Because she said that the picture would be sent on the day the engagement was announced, which would be the following Monday."

"Oh, there are still three days to go," said Holmes, yawning unhurriedly. "That's great. I just happen to have one or two important matters to investigate. Of course, you will be living in London during this time." gone."

"Yes, you can find me at the Langham Hotel. I use the name Count von Kelham."

"I'll write to tell you about our development."

"Of course it's very good. I think you will understand my urgency."

"So, what about the money?"

"Do as you wish."

"Aren't there any conditions?"

"I can tell you unequivocally that in order to get that photo back, I can give you a province in my territory."

"But now we need the cost of the investigation..."

After hearing this, the king took out a leather bag and put it on the table.

"There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred notes," said he.

Holmes wrote the receipt and handed it to the king.

"Your Majesty, where does that lady live?"

"Brionny House, Serpentine Street, St. John's Wood."

Holmes wrote down the address. "One last question," he said, "is the photograph six inches?"

"Yes."

"Good night then, Your Majesty. I am sure we will have good news for you before long. Good night, Watson," he went on, as the royal carriage drove down the street, "if you will do me the favor at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon." Come here, I want to talk to you about this little thing."

two

At three o'clock sharp the next afternoon I arrived at Baker Street as agreed, but Holmes had not returned.The landlady told me that he was out around eight o'clock in the morning.Knowing some of his habits, I sat down by the fire, intending to wait however long I wanted for his return.The business which he had undertaken had excited my interest, for though it was not so brutal and monstrous as the crimes which I had recorded, yet its nature and the dignified status of its client gave it another character.Indeed, besides the nature of the case my friend was investigating, it was his knack for timing and the exactness of his deduction that interested me to study his methods and to appreciate the quickness of his work. But there is no lack of ideas for solving the most difficult mysteries in detail.I was so used to his victories that I never thought he would lose.

It was almost four o'clock when the door opened.A drunken, disheveled groom entered the room.His bearded face was flushed, his clothes were in tatters, and though I was used to my friend's astonishing skill in disguise, I had to look him over and over again to be sure it was him.He nodded to me and disappeared into the bedroom. He came out in only 5 minutes, elegant and decent in his tweed uniform, as usual, put his hands in his pockets, and stretched his legs in front of the fireplace. , laughed heartily for a while.

"Aha, really!" he said aloud, choking suddenly, and laughing again, until he gave up laughing and lay down on the chair.

"What exactly is going on?"

"It's been really interesting. I'm sure you don't know what I did this morning, or what happened to me."

"I cannot guess. Perhaps you have observed the habits of Mademoiselle Ellene Adler, or perhaps you have observed her house carefully."

"Exactly true, but it turned out to be extraordinary. I'll tell you what happened. I left here a little after eight o'clock this morning, disguised as an unemployed coachman. There was a wonderful mutuality among the coachmen." The virtues of sympathy and mutual understanding. If you were a coachman you would know all you wanted to know. I soon found the Brioni House. It was a charming little villa with a garden at the back. This It was a two-story building, facing the road, with a Chapel lock on the door. On the right was a spacious and bright living room, very richly decorated, with long windows that came almost to the ground, and the latches could be opened even by a child. From the roof of the coach-house to the windows of the next door, there was nothing to be noticed. I looked around the villa carefully, but found nothing of interest.

"Then I walked down the street again, and after a short walk, I found a row of stables in an alley against the garden wall. I helped the coachmen groom their horses, and in return they gave me Two pennies, a glass of mixed wine, two pipes of tobacco, and a great deal about Miss Adler. Besides her, they said a great deal about six or seven persons in the neighbourhood, as I was not interested, so Didn't listen carefully, but had to listen."

"How is Elena Adler doing?" I asked.

"Ah, all the men in that part of the world are charmed by her beauty. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. In the Serpentine Street, everyone said so. She lived a very quiet life, and was often at the concert Every day she goes out at five o'clock in the morning and goes home for dinner at seven o'clock in the evening. Except for singing, she rarely goes out. She only has a relationship with one man, and they have a close relationship. Handsome and lively. He sees her at least once a day, usually twice. He is Mr. Godfrey Nutton, who lives in Temple. Do you know the advantage of being a confidant coachman? These coachmen often drive for him , sent him home from the Serpentine Street, and knew a great deal about him. After I had heard what they had to say, I began to wander about the Brioni Court, considering my course of action.

"This Mr. Godfrey? Nutton is clearly an important person in the matter. He's a lawyer, which doesn't sound very pleasant. What's the relationship between them? What's the purpose of his frequent visits? She Is it his client, friend, or lover? If it's the former, then she's likely given him the photo for safekeeping; Investigate the Brioni compound, or turn your attention to the residence of the Inner Temple Law Society of the gentleman. This is a sensitive matter, requiring careful investigation, and thus expanding the scope of my investigation. I am afraid these details will bore you Right? But if you want to know the situation, I must tell you about my little difficulty."

"I'm listening carefully."

"While I was thinking about what to do, a beautiful two-seater carriage arrived at the Brioni Courtyard, and a young and handsome gentleman jumped out of the car: dark skin, hook nose, and blond hair. Mustache—apparently that was who they were talking about—Godfrey Naughton. He looked anxious, calling for the coachman to wait, and passing the maid who opened the door for him, with a look Unrestrained air.

"He lingered about half an hour in the house. Through the drawing-room window I caught a glimpse of him waving his arms, talking excitedly, and walking up and down; but I didn't see the lady at all. In a moment he came out, more hastily than before. Getting into the car, he took out a gold watch from his pocket, looked at it eagerly, and cried: 'Fly! Come on, Regent Street Cross first. and Hankey's Hotel, and then to Santa Monica's Church in Egyptville Road. I'll give you half a guinea if you get there within twenty minutes!'

"They galloped off. I was hesitating whether I should follow when a small trapeze came out of a side alley. The driver's coat was only half buttoned and his tie was on his ear; The metal hoops on the car were exposed outside the buckle belt. Before the car came to a stop, she rushed out of the hall and rushed into the carriage. For a moment, I only caught a glimpse of her, but I could already see her She is a stunning beauty, enough to make a passionate man devote himself to it. Just hear her eagerly say to the coachman: "John, hurry up to Santa Monica Church, if you can arrive within 10 minutes, I will give you half Pounds of gold.'

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Watson. I was debating whether I should catch up with them or climb behind them when a cab passed by. The driver thought and thought about the poor fare." But I jumped in the car before he said no. 'Santa Monica Church,' I said, 'if you can get there in twenty minutes, I'll give you half a guinea.' It was eleven thirty-five, and I knew exactly what was going to happen next.

"The coachman drove as fast as I've ever been in a carriage, and yet the two cabs got to the church before us. When we got there, the cab and the hansom had stopped long ago." There, the horses pulling the carriage were whirring and panting. I paid the fare and hurried into the church. There were only three people in the church, two were the people I was chasing just now, and the other was The priest in the white vestment, who seemed to be advising them. The three of them were standing around the altar, and I was like a tramp who occasionally wanders into the church. I was walking along the two aisles in the church, Suddenly the three standing people turned their heads to look at me. I was taken aback by their actions. Godfrey Nathan ran towards me in a hurry.

"'Thank God!' he cried. 'I wish I had you. Come! Come!'

"'What the hell is going on here?' I asked puzzled.

"'Come on, man, it's only three minutes before you're here, or we're not legal.'

"I was dragged up to the altar by him. Answering his whispers in my ear before I knew where I stood, testifying to things I didn't understand. In short, to help unmarried women love Jenna Adler and single man Godfrey Nutton combined. All of these things happened in a split second. Then the man thanked me, then the woman thanked me, and the priest stood There was a smile on my face. I was overwhelmed and bewildered by the scene. I had never encountered such absurdity. I couldn't help laughing just thinking about it. The two of them wanted to get married. It's not legally required. The priest didn't marry them when they didn't have any witnesses. Fortunately, I showed up and saved them from going to the street to find witnesses. The bride was so happy that I rewarded me with a gold coin, I think Tie it on a watch chain as a memento."

"It was really unexpected," I said. "So, what happened?"

"Well, I feel that the plan has been severely thwarted. The couple looks likely to leave the place soon, so I have to act quickly and effectively. They parted at the church door: the man went to the quarters of the Law Society of the Inner Temple, The woman returned to her own residence. "I will go to the park at five o'clock as usual." She said to him before leaving. I heard nothing else. Then they separated in two directions, and I Get out of there and make other arrangements."

"What are the arrangements?"

"Cold pieces of beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the bell. "I'm too busy to think about dinner or anything, and it's going to be even busier tonight. By the way, Doctor, I'll probably need your cooperation."

"Then I'd be very happy."

"Aren't you afraid of breaking the law?"

"I'm not afraid at all."

"Aren't you worried about being arrested?"

"As long as the goal is noble, don't be afraid."

"Oh, noble enough goals!"

"Then it's up to you to order."

"I knew I could rely on you."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll tell you when Mrs. Turner brings the plate. Now," he said with a wolfish look, turning to the simple food brought by the landlady, "time is running out, and I'll have to eat I'm talking. It's almost five o'clock, and we must be at the place of operation in two hours. Mademoiselle Erina, or Madam, to be more precise, will come back from a walk at seven o'clock. We must hurry to the Brioni compound to meet her meet."

"and then?"

"After that, I'll have to deal with it. I've made arrangements for what's going to happen, and I just insist on one thing: no matter what happens, you don't interfere. Understand?"

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)