奇书网>英文 > 第18章 波思克姆比溪谷秘案4（第2页）
第18章 波思克姆比溪谷秘案4（第2页）
"ThetwoMcCarthyswereseeimewhenWilliamCrame-keeper，lostsightofthem。TheBosbePoolisthicklywoodedround，withjustafringeofgrassandofreedsroundtheedge。Agirloffourteen，Patien，whoisthedaughterofthelodge-keeperoftheBosbeValleyestate，wasihewoodspigflowers。Shestatesthatwhileshewasthereshesaw，attheborderofthewoodahelake，MrMdhisson，andthattheyappearedtobehaviquarrel。SheheardMrMcCarthytheelderusironglaohissohelatterraiseuphishandasiftostrikehisfather。ShewasshteheirviolesheranawayaherwhenshereaethatshehadleftthetwoMcCarthysquarrellingnearBosbePool，andthatshewasafraidthattheyweregoingtofight。ShehadhardlysaidthewordswhenyoungMrMcCarthyinguptothelodgetosaythathehadfoundhisfatherdeadinthewood，andtoaskforthehelpofthelodge-keeper。Hewasmuchexcited，withunorhishat，andhisrighthandandsleevewereobservedtobestaihfreshblood。Onfollowihedeadbodystretchedoutuponthegrassbesidethepool。Theheadhadbeeeedblowsofsomeheavyandbluheinjuriesweresuchasmightverywellhavebeehebutt-endofhisson'sgun，whichwasfoundlyingonthegrassacesofthebody。Uaheyoungmanwasinstaed，aof'wilfulmurder'havitheiuesday，hewasonWednesdaybroughtbefistratesatRoss，whohavereferredthecasetotheAssizes。Thosearethemainfactsofthecaseastheycameoutbeforethedthepolice-court。"
"Icineamarked。"Ifevertialevideoaalitdoessohere。"
"tialevidenceisaverytrig，"answeredHolmesthoughtfully。"Itmayseemtophttoohing，butifyoushiftyourownpoile，youmayfinditpointinginanequallyunaosomethiirelydifferent。Itmustbefessed，however，thatthecaselooksexglygraveagainsttheyoungman，anditisverypossiblethatheisi。Thereareseveralpeopleintheneighbourhood，however，andamoureroftheneighblandowner，whobelieveinhisinnodwhohaveretairade，whomyoumayrewiththeStudyioworkoutthehisirade，beingratherpuzzled，hasreferredthee，ahattwomiddle-agedgentlemenareflyififtymilesanhourinsteadofquietlydigestingtheirbreakfastsathome。"
"Iamafraid，"saidI，"thatthefactsaresoobviousthatyouwillfiobegaiofthiscase。"
"Thereisnothihananobviousfact，"heanswered，laughing。"Besides，wemaycetohitupoherobviousfactswhichmayhavebeenbynomeansobvioustoMrLestrade。YoukoowelltothinkthatIamboastihatIshalleitherordestroyhistheorybymeanswhichheisquiteinploying，oreveandihefirstexampletohand，Iveryclearlyperceivethatihewindowisupht-haIquestioradewouldhavenotedevensoself-evidentathingasthat。"
"Howoh？"
"Mydearfelloell。Ikarynesswhichcharacterisesyou。Youshaveeverym，andinthisseasonyoushavebythesunlight；butsinceyislessandlesspleteaswegetfartherbatheleftside，untilitbeespositivelysloveroundtheahejaw，itissurelyveryclearthatthatsideislessillumiheother。Iagineamanofyourhabitslookingathimselfinanequallightaisfiedwithsucharesult。Iohisasatrivialexampleofobservatiohereiier，anditisjustpossiblethatitmaybeofsomeservitheiionwhichliesbeforeus。Thereareowominorpointswhichwerebroughtouti，andwhichareworthg。"
"Whatarethey？"
"ItappearsthathisarrestdidoerthereturntoHatherleyFarm。Oorofstabularyinfhimthatherisohathewasnotsurprisedtohearit，andthatitwashahisobservationofhishadtheanytracesofdoubtwhichmighthaveremaihemindsoftheer'sjury。"
"Itwasa，"Iejaculated。
"No，foritwasfollorotestationofi;
"iopofsuingseriesofevents，itwasatleastamostsuspiark。"
"Orary，"saidHolmes，"itisthebrightestriftreseheclouds。Howeveribe，heotbesubeottoseethattheceswereveryblasthim。Hadheappearedsurprisedathisow，nedindignationatit，Ishouldhavelookeduponitashighlysuspicious，becausesuchsurpriseerwoulduraluandyetmightappeartobethebestpoliingman。Hisfraaionmarkshimaseitheraman，orelseasamanofsiderableself-restraintaohisremarkabouthisdeserts，itwasalsonotunnaturalifyousiderthathestoodbesidethedeadbodyofhisfather，andthatthereisnodoubtthathehadthatverydaysottenhisfilialdutyastobandywordswithhim，andeven，agtothelittlegirlwhoseevidenportant，toraisehishandasiftostrikehim。Theself-reproatritionlayedinhisremarkappeartometobethesighymihanofaguiltyo;
Ishookmyhead。"Manymenhavebeenhangedhterevide;Iremarked。
"Sotheyhave。Andmanymenhavebeenwrongfullyha;
"Whatistheyoungman'sownaatter？"
"Itis，Iamafraid，notveryengtohissupphthereareowopointsinitwhicharesuggestive。Youwillfindithere，aforyourself。"
HepihisbundleacopyofthelocalHerefordshirepaper，andhavihesheethepoiheparagraphinwhifortunateyoungmanhadgivenhisowofwhathadoccurred。Isettledmyselfdownintheereaverycarefully。Itraninthis>
"MrJamesMcCarthy，theonlysonofthedeceased，wasthendgaveevidenceasfollows：'IhadbeenawayfromhomeforthreedaysatBristol，andhadonlyjustreturhemoflastMonday，the3rd。Myfatherwasabsentfromhomeatthetimeofmyarrival，andIwasihemaidthathehaddriveoRosswithJohnCobb，thegroom。Shortlyaftermyreturhewheelsofhistrapintheyard，and，lookingoutofmyhimgetoutandidlyouthIhichdirehewasgoiookmygunaiionoftheBosbePool，withtheiionofvisitiwarrenwhitheotherside。OnmyilliamCrame-keeper，ashehadstatedinhisevideakeninthinkingthatIwasfollowingmyfather。Ihadhewasinfrontofme。WhenaboutahundredyardsfromthepoolIheardacryof"Cooee！"whichwasausualsigherahenhurriedforward，andfoundhimstandingbythepool。HeappearedtobemuchsurprisedatseeingmeaherroughlywhatIwasdoingthere。Aversationensuedwhichledtohighwordsandalmosttoblows，formyfatherwasamanofaveryviolenttemper。SeeingthathispassionwasbeingungoverhimaowardsHatherleyFarm。Ihadhan150yards，however，whenIheardahideousoutdme，whichcausedmetorunba。Ifoundmyfatherexpiringupontheground，withhisheadterriblyinjured。Idroppedmygunandheldhiminmyarms，buthealmostinstantlyexpired。IkbesidehimforsomemiheoMrTurner'slodge-keeper，hishousebeioaskforassistanooherwheurned，andIhavenoideahowhecamebyhisiapopularman，beidfinhismahehad，asfarasIknow，noaemies。Iknownothihematter。
"Theer：Didyourfathermakeaoyoubeforehedied？"
"Witness：Hemumbledafewwords，butIlyeallusiontoarat。"
"Theer：Whatdidyouuandbythat？"
"Witomeahoughtthathewasdelirious。"
"Theer：ointuponwhidyourfatherhadthisfinalquarrel？
"Witness：Ishouldprefernottoa;
"TheafraidthatImustpressit。"
"Witisreallyimpossibleformetotellyou。Iassureyouthatithasnothingtodowiththesadtragedywhichfollowed。
"Theer：Thatisforthecourttodeeednotpointouttoyouthatyourrefusaltoanswerwillprejudiceyoursiderablyinanyfutureprogswhichmayarise。
"Witstillrefuse。"
"Theer：Iuhatthecryof'Cooee'wasaonsigweenyouandyourfather？"
"Witwas。"
"Theer：Howwasit，theereditbeforehesawyou，andbeforeheeveyouhadreturnedfromBristol？
"Withsiderable）：Idonotknow。"
