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第19章 波思克姆比溪谷秘案5（第1页）

第19章波思克姆比溪谷秘案（5）

"AJuryman：Didyouseenothingwhicharousedyoursuspiyoureturhedfoundyourfatherfatallyinjured？

"Withie。"

"Theer：Whatdoyoumean？"

"Witness：IwassodisturbedaedasIrushedoutihatIkofofmyfather。YetIhaveavagueimpressionthatasIranforwardsomethinglayupootheleftofme。Itseemedtometobesomethinggreyincolour，aesort，oraplaidperhaps。WhenIrosefrommyfatherIlookedroundforit，butitwasgone。

"'Doyoumeanthatitdisappearedbeforeyouwentforhelp？'

"'Yes，itwasgone。'

"'Youotsaywhatitwas？'

"'No，Ihadafeelihingwasthere。'

"'Howfarfromthebody？'"

"'Adozenyardsorso。'

"'Andhowfarfromtheedgeofthewood？'

"'Aboutthesame。'

"'Thenifitwasremoveditwaswhileyouwerewithinadozenyardsofit？'

"'Yes，butwithmybacktowardsit。'

"Thiscludedtheexaminatio;

"Isee，"saidIasIglahen，"thatthehisgremarkswasrathersevereuponyoungMcCarthy。Hecallsattention，aothediscyabouthisfatherhavingsigohimbefhim，alsotohisrefusaltogivedetailsofhisversationwithhisfather，andhissingularatofhisfather'sdyingwords。Theyareall，asheremarks，verymusttheson。"

Holmeslaughedsoftlytohimselfachedhimselfoutupontheedseat。"Bothyouandtheerhavebeenatsomepains，"saidhe，"tosiheverystrosintheyoungman'sfavour。Don'tyouseethatyivehimcreditftoomuationandtoolittle？Toolittle，ifheotiacauseofquarrelwhichwouldgivehimthesympathyofthejury；toomuch，ifheevolvedfromhisowninneressanythingsooutréasadyioarat，aofthevanishingo，sir，Ishallapproachthisthepoiwhatthisyoungmansaysistrue，andweshallseewhitherthathypothesiswillleadus。AndnowhereismypocketPetrarotanotherwordshallIsayofthistilweareoioSwindon，aweshallbethereies。"

Itwasnearlyfouro'weatlast，afterpassingthroughthebeautifulStroudValley，ahebroadgleamingSevern，fouheprettylittletry-townofRoss。Alea-likeman，furtiveandsly-looking，waswaitingforusupoform。Ihelightbrowndustdleather-leggingswhichheworeiohisrustidings，IhadnodiffiregLestrade，ofSdYard。WithhimwedrovetotheHerefordArmswherearoomhadalreadybeenengagedforus。

"Ihaveorderedacarriage，"saidLestradeaswesatoveracupoftea。"Ikiature，andthatyouwouldnotbehappyuntilyouhadbeenohecrime。"

"Itwasverynientaryofyou，"Holmesa;Itisentirelyaquestionofbarometricpressure。"

&radelookedstartled。"Idonotquitefollow，"hesaid。

"Howistheglass？Twenty-nine，Isee。Nowind，andnotathesky。Ihaveacasefulofcigarettesherewhieedsmoking，andthesofaisverymuchsuperiortotheusualination。IdonotthinkthatitisprobablethatIshallusethecarriagetonight。"

&radelaughedily。"Youhave，nodoubt，alreadyformedyourthe;hesaid。"Thecaseisasplainasapikestaff，andthemoesintoittheplaiill，ofe'trefusealady，andsuchaverypositiveooo。Shehasheardofyou，andwouldhaveyouropinion，thoughIrepeatedlytoldherthattherewasnothingwhichyoucoulddowhiotalreadydone。Why，blessmysoul！hereishercarriageatthedoor。"

HehadhardlyspokehererushedintotheroomolovelyyouIhaveeverseeninmylife。Hervioleteyesshining，herlipsparted，apinkflushupohoughtofhernaturalreservelostinherextand。

"Oh，MrSherloes！&qulanoherofus，andfinally，withawoman'squituition，fasteninguponmypanion，"Iamsogladthatyouhavee。Ihavedrivendowntotellyouso。IknowthatJamesdidn'tdoit。Iknowit，andIwantyoutostartuponyit，too。yourselfdoubtuponthatpoint。Wehavekhersile，andIknowhisfaultsasnooheistooteohurtafly。Suchachargeisabsurdtoanyonewhoreallyknowshim。"

"Ihopewemayclearhim，MissTur;saidSherloes。"YoumayrelyuponmydoingallthatI。"