Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 63 Adventure History 22
Over the past eight years, I have conducted research on Sherlock Holmes's detective methods and recorded more than 70 cases.I briefly looked through these records, and found that there are many tragic endings, but a small amount is comedic.And it's all outlandish, there's no such thing as a mundane case.Sherlock Holmes disdains ordinary cases and refuses to take part in any investigation, except for cases that appear to be unique or almost miraculous.But of all the complicated cases, Storland, Surrey?The case of the Roylott family is the most distinctive.The case in question took place in the early days of my association with Holmes.At that time, we were both single and living together in Baker Street.In fact, I could have recorded this incident long ago, but I had made a promise of confidentiality at that time.The shackles imposed by that assurance were only lifted last month.As the lady to whom I made the promise is dead, the promise is void.Now, the truth can be told.Because I know, for Grimsby?There are many rumors about Dr. Roylott's death.These rumors make the event sound scarier than it actually is.

It happened in early April, 45.I remember it quite well.Sherlock Holmes stood by my bed one morning, fully dressed.He usually doesn't get up early, at that time, it was just [-]:[-].I looked at him in surprise, not very happy, because my living habits are very regular.

"I'm sorry, Watson, to wake you up," he said, "but we were all doomed this morning not to sleep in. First Mrs. Hudson was woken by a knock at the door, then she woke me, and now I Come to wake you up."

"What's the matter? Is there a fire?"

"No, I was approached by a client who seemed to be a young lady. She was very excited and wanted to see me at any time, and she was waiting for us in the living room. You think, if the young lady gave me the dream in the morning If someone wakes you up, there must be something urgent, and there is nothing she can do without consulting someone. If this is an interesting case, I believe you want to know it from the beginning. As a good friend, I think I must wake you up and give you This is a great opportunity."

"Dude, no matter what, I won't miss this opportunity."

My greatest pleasure was watching Holmes conduct professional investigative work, admiring how quickly he came to conclusions.But he also deduced quickly, seemingly intuitively, but always based on logic.He relied on these to solve all kinds of strange and difficult problems before him.I quickly put on my clothes and went downstairs with him to the living room.A woman sits at the window, her face heavily veiled.She stood up when we entered the room.

"Good morning, madam," said Holmes. "I am Sherlock Holmes. This is my dear friend and companion, Dr. Watson, to whom you can speak as to me without any scruples. Well, Mrs. Hudson has It's touching to have the fireplace warmed up. Sit near the fire, you're shivering, and I'll have you brought a cup of hot coffee."

"I'm not shivering from the cold," said the woman.

"Then what is it for?"

"Fear, Mr. Holmes," she said, raising her veil.We can see that she is indeed very anxious and pitiful.She was pale and depressed, with frightened eyes like those of a hunted animal. She seemed to be about thirty years old, but there were a few gray hairs in her hair, and she looked prematurely decayed. Holmes looked at her. glanced at her.

"You need not be afraid," said Holmes reassuringly, patting her lightly on the arm. "I trust that we will soon settle the matter. There is no doubt that you came by train this morning."

"So you know me?"

"No, I saw the second half of a return ticket in the glove of your left hand. You left very early, and before you arrived at the station, you walked a long distance in a one-horse carriage on the muddy road."

The lady looked at Holmes in surprise.

"It's no mystery, miss." He smiled. "There are at least seven spots of mud on the left arm of your coat, all of which are fresh. Only a one-horse carriage can throw mud like this. The mud only gets on the driver's left."

"However you judge, you are right," said she. "I started before six o'clock, and came by the third train for Waterloo at six-twelve, sir. I can't stand it any longer." I am going mad. I have no one to turn to, no one who can help me, and although there is one who cares about me, it can't help me. I heard about you from Mrs. Farintocher, you I helped her once. Oh, sir, can you help me too? At least you can point me to a glimmer of light. Although, I can't pay you for your help now, but within a month or a month and a half, I will soon Marriage, then, will allow me to freely dispose of my own income. I swear to you that I am absolutely not an ungrateful person."

Holmes turned, went into his office, took out a small case-book from a drawer, and leafed through it.

"Farlintoshe," said he, "I am reminded of the case, the case of the cat's-eye jewel. That was before you came, Watson. Miss, I would like to represent you on the case." Service, and as for remuneration, my profession itself is its remuneration; but you are free to pay me as much as you may think fit in this case. Now, then, give us the details."

"Well," said the lady, "the terrible thing about my situation at present is that my fears and fears are very vague. My doubts are caused by very trivial things. Of all people, even the most The man who was supposed to help and advise me took all that I told him about the matter as the ramblings of a nervous woman. I sensed it, though he didn't say it. I hear, Mr. Holmes, you I can see through all kinds of evil hidden in people's hearts. Then, please tell me, what should I do now that I am in a crisis-ridden situation."

"Miss, I am listening to you very attentively."

"My name is Helen Stoner and I lived with my stepfather as a child. He is the last surviving of the Roylotts of Storland - one of the oldest English Saxon families."

"I am familiar with the name," said Holmes, nodding.

"This family was once one of the wealthiest families in England. Its property covers a very large area, from Berkshire in the north to Hampshire in the west, beyond the borders of the county. However, in the last century, due to four consecutive The descendants of the descendants are all licentious and profligate, and finally in the Regency period

[Note: It refers to the period of 1811-1820 during the regency period of Crown Prince George IV of England. ] was ruined by a gambler, leaving only a 200-year-old mansion and a few acres of land.However, the old mansion has almost been mortgaged.The last of the landowners lived a desolate and miserable life there.Yet his only son, my stepfather, realizing that he had to adjust to this new situation, borrowed money from a relative.The money enabled him to obtain a medical degree and to practice medicine in Calcutta.Relying on his superb medical skills and strong personality there, the business is booming.However, because his home was stolen many times, he thought it was the housekeeper's dereliction of duty. In a rage, he beat the housekeeper to death. For this reason, he himself was almost sentenced to death.In this way, he was sentenced to long-term imprisonment.Later, when he returned to England, he became a grumpy, frustrated man.

"Dr Roylott married my mother while she was practicing medicine in India. She had a large fortune, with incomes of at least a thousand pounds a year. While we were living with Dr. Roylott, my mother was Made a will and bequeathed all the property to him, but there was an additional condition that after my sister and I got married, a certain amount of money would be allocated to us every year. Not long after we returned to England, that is, eight years ago, we My mother died in a train accident near Cope. After that, Dr. Roylott did not intend to practice in London any more. He took me to the old mansion left by Storland's ancestors. Due to the property left by my mother Enough to cover all our expenses, our life should be very happy.

"However, during this time a terrible change took place in the stepfather. At first the neighbors were delighted to see the descendants of Roylott of Storland returning to the old family mansion. But he put himself Locked in the house, he seldom goes out, and no matter who he meets, he always quarrels with them. This is completely different from his previous behavior. This violent temper has a terrible inheritance in this family. A series of Disgraceful quarrels continued, two of which lasted until the Police Court, and he became the man everyone in the village feared.

"Accidents keep happening, just last week he threw the village blacksmith over the railing into the creek and only avoided another public outing after spending the money he had collected so hard. He made a fool of himself. He had no friends except the wandering gypsies. He allowed the wanderers to camp on his few acres. He would go to their tents and receive hospitality in return for them, and sometimes go out with them. Wandering. He also has a special interest in animals in India, which were sent by a reporter. Currently, he has a cheetah and a baboon. These two animals run freely on his land, making people in the village terrified.

"So, you can imagine how miserable my sister Julia and I lived. For a long time, no outsider wanted to get along with us for a long time. We took care of all the housework and had no joy in life. My sister was in her 30s. He died when he was young."

"Then your sister is dead?"

"She died about two years ago, and all I want to say to you is about her passing. We hardly see a single person of our age and status in our lives. We do have an aunt, however. , who lives near Harrow, is my mother's sister. We have occasionally been granted short-term visits to her house by special dispensation. Julia went to her house at Christmas two years ago, and there met a Marine major. , and made a marriage contract with him. When my sister came home, my stepfather was furious about the marriage contract, but he did not object. However, a terrible thing happened two weeks before the scheduled wedding, which took away My only companion—my dear sister."

Holmes had been listening quietly with closed eyes, but now he slowly opened them and looked at his guest.

"Be more precise about the details," he said.

"That was easy, because everything that happened at that terrible time has been etched into my mind. The manor house is very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms are on the ground floor and the living room is in the middle of the house. Of these bedrooms, the first is my stepfather's, the second is my sister's, and the third is mine. These rooms are separated from each other, but The doors all open into the same passage. Am I clear?"

"very clear."

"The windows of all three bedrooms looked onto the lawn. It happened that night. My stepfather went back to his room early, but we both knew he wasn't asleep because my sister smelled the strong Indian scent. The cigars smelled and were bitterly smoked. He had smoked them for a long time and was addicted. So she came to my room and chatted. We talked about her upcoming wedding. By night At eleven o'clock she got up to go to her room, but stopped at the door and turned her head.

"'Tell me, Helen,' she asked, 'do you hear anyone whistle in the dead of night?'

"'Never heard,' I said.

(End of this chapter)