UN STUDIA EN SCARLATA
Parte primaCapitol 1 · Capitol 2 · Capitol 3 · Capitol 4 · Capitol 5 · Capitol 6 · Capitol 7
Parte duCapitol 8 · Capitol 9 · Capitol 10 · Capitol 11 · Capitol 12 · Capitol 13 · Capitol 14

Mostra ance la testo orijinal

Capitol 7: Lus en la oscur

7. Light in the Darkness

La informa con cual Lestrade ia saluta nos ia es tan importante e tan nonespetada ce tota tre de nos ia es cuasi aturdida. Gregson ia salta de sua seja e ia malversa la resta de sua uisce e acua. Me ia fisa un regarda silente a Sherlock Holmes, de ci sua labios ia es compresada e sua suprasiles tirada a basa, covrente sua oios.

The intelligence with which Lestrade greeted us was so momentous and so unexpected that we were all three fairly dumbfounded. Gregson sprang out of his chair and upset the remainder of his whisky and water. I stared in silence at Sherlock Holmes, whose lips were compressed and his brows drawn down over his eyes.

“Stangerson ance!” el ia farfulia. “Un cualia complicante.”

“Stangerson too!” he muttered. “The plot thickens.”

“La cualias ia es ja sufisinte complicada,” Lestrade ia cexeta, sentante se. “Lo pare ce me ia cade a en un spesie de consilio de gera.”

“It was quite thick enough before,” grumbled Lestrade, taking a chair. “I seem to have dropped into a sort of council of war.”

“Esce — esce tu es serta sur esta informa?” Gregson ia balbuta.

“Are you — are you sure of this piece of intelligence?” stammered Gregson.

“Me veni aora de sua sala,” Lestrade ia dise. “Me ia es la prima ci ia descovre lo cual ia aveni.”

“I have just come from his room,” said Lestrade. “I was the first to discover what had occurred.”

“Nos ia oia la opina de Gregson sur la tema,” Holmes ia oserva. “Per favore, tu ta presenta a nos lo cual tu ia vide e fa?”

“We have been hearing Gregson’s view of the matter,” Holmes observed. “Would you mind letting us know what you have seen and done?”

“Me no oposa,” Lestrade ia responde, sentante se. “Me confesa libre ce me ia opina ce Stangerson ia ave un relata a la mori de Drebber. Esta developa fresca ia mostra a me ce me ia era completa. Oseseda par la sola idea, me ia determina ce me va descovre lo cual ia aveni a la secretor. On ia vide los en junta a la Stasion Euston a sirca un dui pos la ora dudes en la sera de la dia tre. A la ora du de matina, on ia trova Drebber en la Via Brixton. La demanda cual ia fronti me ia es la modo de descovre la atas de Stangerson entre dudes-e-dui e la ora de la crimin, e lo cual ia aveni a el a pos. Me ia telegrafi a Liverpool, furninte un descrive de la om, e avertinte ce los ta vijila la barcos american. Pos acel, me comensa la labora de visita tota la oteles e oteletas prosima a Euston. Vide, me ia razona ce si Drebber e sua acompanior ta deveni separada, la ata natural de esta ultima ta es trova un sala prosima per la note, e espeta denova en la stasion a la matina seguente.”

“I have no objection,” Lestrade answered, seating himself. “I freely confess that I was of the opinion that Stangerson was concerned in the death of Drebber. This fresh development has shown me that I was completely mistaken. Full of the one idea, I set myself to find out what had become of the secretary. They had been seen together at Euston Station about half-past eight on the evening of the third. At two in the morning Drebber had been found in the Brixton Road. The question which confronted me was to find out how Stangerson had been employed between eight-thirty and the time of the crime, and what had become of him afterwards. I telegraphed to Liverpool, giving a description of the man, and warning them to keep a watch upon the American boats. I then set to work calling upon all the hotels and lodging-houses in the vicinity of Euston. You see, I argued that if Drebber and his companion had become separated, the natural course for the latter would be to put up somewhere in the vicinity for the night, and then to hang about the station again next morning.”

“Probable los ta acorda sur alga loca de reuni a ante,” Holmes ia comenta.

“They would be likely to agree on some meeting-place beforehand,” remarked Holmes.

“Lo ia evidenti tal. Me ia pasa tota de la sera de ier en fa demandas intera futil. A esta matina me ia comensa multe temprana, e a la ora oto, me ia ateni la Otel Privata de Halliday en la Strada George Minor. A mea demanda esce un Sr Stangerson abita ala, on ia dona direta a me un responde afirmante.

“So it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday evening in making enquiries entirely without avail. This morning I began very early, and at eight o’clock I reached Halliday’s Private Hotel, in Little George Street. On my enquiry as to whether a Mr Stangerson was living there, they at once answered me in the affirmative.

” ‘Sin duta tu es la senior ci el ia espeta,’ los ia dise. ‘El espeta ja un senior tra du dias.’

” ‘No doubt you are the gentleman whom he was expecting,’ they said. ‘He has been waiting for a gentleman for two days.’

” ‘Do el es a presente?’ me ia demanda.

” ‘Where is he now?’ I asked.

” ‘El es a supra en leto. El ia desira ce on clama el a la ora nove.’

” ‘He is upstairs in bed. He wished to be called at nine.’

” ‘Me va asende per vide el aora,’ me dise.

” ‘I will go up and see him at once,’ I said.

” Lo ia pare a me ce mea apare subita va secute cisa sua nervos e fa ce el dise alga cosa sin garda. La limpibota ia ofre mostra a me la sala: lo ia es a la nivel du, e un coredor peti ia gida a lo. La limpibota ia indica la porte a me, e ia es a punto de desende denova cuando me ia vide alga cosa cual ia dona a me un senti maladin, an pos mea dudes anios de esperia. De su la porte, on ia ave un peti sinta roja de sangue curva cual ia serpe a traversa de la pasaje e ia formi un stangeta peti longo la moldur a la otra lado. Me ia emete un esclama, cual ia retrae la limpibota. El ia desmaia cuasi cuando el ia vide lo. La porte ia es clavida a la interna, ma nos ia pone nosa spalas a lo e ia abri lo par colpa. La fenetra de la sala ia es abrida, e a lado de la fenetra, multe enrolada, la corpo ia reposa de un om en sua camisa de note. El ia es intera mor, e ia es ja tal tra alga tempo, car sua membros ia es rijida e fria. Cuando nos ia turna el, la limpibota ia reconose direta el como la mesma senior ci ia prende la sala, usante la nom Joseph Stangerson. La causa de mori ia es un coteli profonda en la lado sinistra, cual ia penetra la cor, suposable. E aora on ave la parte la plu strana de la cosa. Cual, en vosa divina, ia es supra la omisideda?”

” It seemed to me that my sudden appearance might shake his nerves and lead him to say something unguarded. The boots volunteered to show me the room: it was on the second floor, and there was a small corridor leading up to it. The boots pointed out the door to me, and was about to go downstairs again when I saw something that made me feel sickish, in spite of my twenty years’ experience. From under the door there curled a little red ribbon of blood which had meandered across the passage and formed a little pool along the skirting at the other side. I gave a cry, which brought the boots back. He nearly fainted when he saw it. The door was locked on the inside, but we put our shoulders to it and knocked it in. The window of the room was open, and beside the window, all huddled up, lay the body of a man in his nightdress. He was quite dead, and had been for some time, for his limbs were rigid and cold. When we turned him over the boots recognised him at once as being the same gentleman who had engaged the room under the name of Joseph Stangerson. The cause of death was a deep stab in the left side, which must have penetrated the heart. And now comes the strangest part of the affair. What do you suppose was above the murdered man?”

Me ia senti un trema de pel, e un presensa de teror veninte, an ante la responde de Sherlock Holmes.

I felt a creeping of the flesh, and a presentiment of coming horror, even before Sherlock Holmes answered.

“La parola RACHE, scriveda en leteras de sangue,” el ia dise.

“The word RACHE, written in letters of blood,” he said.

“Lo ia es tal,” Lestrade ia dise, en vose stonada; e tota de nos ia es silente per un tempo.

“That was it,” said Lestrade, in an awestruck voice; and we were all silent awhile.

On ia ave alga cosa tan metodosa e tan noncomprendable en la atas de esta asasinor nonconoseda ce lo ia ajunta un macabria fresca a sua crimines. Mea nervos, cual ia es sufisinte stable sur la campo de batalia, ia pruri cuando me ia considera lo.

There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the deeds of this unknown assassin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness to his crimes. My nerves, which were steady enough on the field of battle, tingled as I thought of it.

“La om ia es videda,” Lestrade ia continua. “Un xico de lete, pasante en sua via a la leteria, ia pasea acaso longo la stradeta cual gida de la stalas a la retro de la otel. El ia persepi ce un scala, cual reclina usual ala, ia es levada contra un de la fenetras de la nivel du, cual ia es intera abrida. Pos pasa, el ia turna sua regarda e ia vide un om ci desende la scala. El ia veni tan cuieta e nonfurtiva a su ce la xico ia imajina ce el es alga carpentor o artisan ci labora en la otel. El no ia fa un nota spesial de el, ultra pensa en sua propre mente ce el labora a un ora temprana. El ave un impresa ce la om ia es alta, ia ave un fas roja, e ia es vestida en un jacon longa e brunin. Clar, el ia resta en la sala tra un pico de tempo pos la omiside, car nos ia trova acua con manxas de sangue en la bol do el ia lava sua manos, e marcas sur la telones de leto do el ia frota volente sua cotel.”

“The man was seen,” continued Lestrade. “A milk boy, passing on his way to the dairy, happened to walk down the lane which leads from the mews at the back of the hotel. He noticed that a ladder, which usually lay there, was raised against one of the windows of the second floor, which was wide open. After passing, he looked back and saw a man descend the ladder. He came down so quietly and openly that the boy imagined him to be some carpenter or joiner at work in the hotel. He took no particular notice of him, beyond thinking in his own mind that it was early for him to be at work. He has an impression that the man was tall, had a reddish face, and was dressed in a long, brownish coat. He must have stayed in the room some little time after the murder, for we found blood-stained water in the basin, where he had washed his hands, and marks on the sheets where he had deliberately wiped his knife.”

Me ia regardeta Holmes cuando me ia oia la descrive de la omisidor, cual ia acorda tan esata con sua propre. El ia ave, an tal, no indica de joia o sasia en sua fas.

I glanced at Holmes on hearing the description of the murderer, which tallied so exactly with his own. There was, however, no trace of exultation or satisfaction upon his face.

“Esce tu ia trova no cosa en la sala cual ta furni un trasa de la omisidor?” el ia demanda.

“Did you find nothing in the room which could furnish a clue to the murderer?” he asked.

“No cosa. Stangerson ia ave la portamone de Drebber en sua pox, ma lo pare ce esta ia es usual, car el ia fa sempre la paias. Lo ia conteni sirca otodes paundes, ma no cosa ia es furada. On no sabe la motivas de esta crimines estracomun, ma ruba es serta no entre los. No paperes o notas ia es en la pox de la omisideda estra un sola telegram, con data en Cleveland a sirca un mense ante aora e conteninte la parolas ‘J. H. es en Europa’. No nom ia es ajuntada pos esta mesaje.”

“Nothing. Stangerson had Drebber’s purse in his pocket, but it seems that this was usual, as he did all the paying. There was eighty odd pounds in it, but nothing had been taken. Whatever the motives of these extraordinary crimes, robbery is certainly not one of them. There were no papers or memoranda in the murdered man’s pocket except a single telegram, dated from Cleveland about a month ago and containing the words, ‘J. H. is in Europe’. There was no name appended to this message.”

“E no otra cosa ia es ala?” Holmes ia demanda.

“And there was nothing else?” Holmes asked.

“No cosa importante. La novela de la om, con cual el ia adormi se par leje, ia reposa sur la leto, e sua pipa ia es sur un seja a sua lado. On ia ave un vitro de acua sur la table, e sur la cornisa de fenetra un caxa de unjente, peti e lejera, conteninte un duple de piles.”

“Nothing of any importance. The man’s novel, with which he had read himself to sleep, was lying upon the bed, and his pipe was on a chair beside him. There was a glass of water on the table, and on the windowsill a small chip ointment box containing a couple of pills.”

Sherlock Holmes ia salta de sua seja con un cria de deleta.

Sherlock Holmes sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight.

“La lia final,” el ia esclama, joiosa. “Mea caso es completa.”

“The last link,” he cried, exultantly. “My case is complete.”

La du detetores ia fisa el con regardas stonada.

The two detectives stared at him in amazement.

“Me ave aora en mea manos,” mea acompanior ia dise, con sertia, “tota la filos cual ia formi un tal marania. Natural, detalias resta per es clarida, ma me es tan serta sur tota la fatos xef, de la tempo cuando Drebber ia parti de Stangerson en la stasion, asta la descovre de la corpo de esta ultima, como si me ia ta vide los par mea propre oios. Me va dona a vos un demostra de mea sabe. Esce tu ta pote produi acel piles?”

“I have now in my hands,” my companion said, confidently, “all the threads which have formed such a tangle. There are, of course, details to be filled in, but I am as certain of all the main facts, from the time that Drebber parted from Stangerson at the station, up to the discovery of the body of the latter, as if I had seen them with my own eyes. I will give you a proof of my knowledge. Could you lay your hand upon those pills?”

“Me ave los,” Lestrade ia dise, estraente un peti caxa blanca; “me ia prende los e la portamone e la telegram, intendente ce on ta pone los en un loca de securia a la polisieria. Lo ia es sola par un acaso la plu mera ce me ia prende esta piles, car me debe dise ce me asosia no importa a los.”

“I have them,” said Lestrade, producing a small white box; “I took them and the purse and the telegram, intending to have them put in a place of safety at the police station. It was the merest chance my taking these pills, for I am bound to say that I do not attach any importance to them.”

“Dona los a me,” Holmes ia dise. “Aora, dotor,” turnante a me, “esce estas es piles comun?”

“Give them here,” said Holmes. “Now, doctor,” turning to me, “are those ordinary pills?”

Los ia es serta no tal. Los ia es de un color perlin gris, peti, ronda, e cuasi transparente contra la lus. “De sua lejeria e transparentia, me imajina ce los es disolvable en acua,” me ia comenta.

They certainly were not. They were of a pearly grey colour, small, round, and almost transparent against the light. “From their lightness and transparency, I should imagine that they are soluble in water,” I remarked.

“Esata tal,” Holmes ia responde. “Bon, esce tu ta vole desende e retrae acel diablo peti, la terier compatiable cual es ja tan longa malada, e sur cual la proprioresa ia desira ier ce tu ta relasa lo de sua dole?”

“Precisely so,” answered Holmes. “Now would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long, and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday.”

Me ia vade a su e ia porta la can a supra en mea brasos. Sua respira laborosa e oios mate ia mostra ce lo no es distante de sua fini. Vera, sua beco nevin blanca ia proclama ce lo ia esede ja la periodo usual de esiste de un can. Me ia pone lo sur un cuxin sur la tapeteta.

I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arms. Its laboured breathing and glazing eye showed that it was not far from its end. Indeed, its snow-white muzzle proclaimed that it had already exceeded the usual term of canine existence. I placed it upon a cushion on the rug.

“Me va talia aora un de esta piles a du pesos,” Holmes ia dise, e, estraente sua cotel de pox, el ia conforma sua condui a sua parolas. “Nos repone un dui a la caxa per usas futur. Me va pone la otra dui en esta vitro de vitro, cual conteni un culiereta de acua. Vos persepi ce nosa ami, la dotor, ia judi coreta e ce lo disolve fasil.”

“I will now cut one of these pills in two,” said Holmes, and drawing his penknife he suited the action to the word. “One half we return into the box for future purposes. The other half I will place in this wineglass, in which is a teaspoonful of water. You perceive that our friend, the doctor, is right, and that it readily dissolves.”

“Cisa esta es multe interesante,” Lestrade ia dise, en la tono insultada de un person ci suspeta ce on burla el; “me no pote vide, an tal, como lo pertine a la mori de Sr Joseph Stangerson.”

“This may be very interesting,” said Lestrade, in the injured tone of one who suspects that he is being laughed at; “I cannot see, however, what it has to do with the death of Mr Joseph Stangerson.”

“Pasientia, mea ami, pasientia! Tu va trova pos un tempo ce lo pertine intera a lo. Me va ajunta aora un pico de lete per fa un misca saborosa, e pos presenta lo a la can nos trova ce el leca lo a via con poca esita.”

“Patience, my friend, patience! You will find in time that it has everything to do with it. I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable, and on presenting it to the dog we find that he laps it up readily enough.”

Parlante, el ia versa la contenidas de la vitro de vino en un plateta e ia pone lo ante la terier, ci ia seci rapida lo par leca. La condui intensa de Sherlock Holmes ia convinse nos tan multe ce tota de nos ia senta en silentia, atendosa oservante la animal e espetante alga efeto xocante. No tal cosa ia apare, an tal. La can ia continua reclina estendeda sur la cuxin, respirante en modo laborosa, ma parente no bonida e no malida par sua bevi.

As he spoke he turned the contents of the wine glass into a saucer and placed it in front of the terrier, who speedily licked it dry. Sherlock Holmes’ earnest demeanour had so far convinced us that we all sat in silence, watching the animal intently, and expecting some startling effect. None such appeared, however. The dog continued to lie stretched upon the cushion, breathing in a laboured way, but apparently neither the better nor the worse for its draught.

Holmes ia estrae sua orolojeta, e con ce la minutos ia segue lunlotra sin resulta, un espresa de embarasa e delude estrema ia apare en sua fas. El ia rode sua labio, ia tamburi con sua ditos sur la table, e ia mostra cada otra sintom de nonpasientia acuta. Sua emosia ia es tan grande ce me ia senti un compatia sinsera per el, e la du detetores ia surie burlosa, desplaseda a no grado par esta impedi cual el ia encontra.

Holmes had taken out his watch, and as minute followed minute without result, an expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He gnawed his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely sorry for him, while the two detectives smiled derisively, by no means displeased at this check which he had met.

“Lo no pote es un coaveni,” el ia esclama, final saltante de sua seja e paseante sin freni tra la sala; “lo es nonposible ce lo es mera un coaveni. La piles mesma cual me ia suspeta en la caso de Drebber es vera trovada pos la mori de Stangerson. E, an tal, los es inerte. Cual es la sinifia? Serta, mea cadena intera de razona no pote es falsa. Lo es nonposible! E, an tal, esta can misera no es malida. A! Me comprende! Me comprende!” Con un xilia de deleta perfeta el ia freta a la caxa per talia la otra pil a du, disolve lo, ajunta lete, e presenta lo a la terier. La lingua de la animal nonfortunosa ia pare es apena umidida en lo ante cuando lo ia fa un trema convulsante en cada membro, e ia reclina tan rijida e nonvivente como si lo ta es colpada par lampo.

“It can’t be a coincidence,” he cried, at last springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room; “it is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the case of Drebber are actually found after the death of Stangerson. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible! And yet this wretched dog is none the worse. Ah. I have it! I have it!” With a perfect shriek of delight he rushed to the box, cut the other pill in two, dissolved it, added milk, and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creature’s tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened in it before it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb, and lay as rigid and lifeless as if it had been struck by lightning.

Sherlock Holmes ia fa un suspira longa, e ia frota la suo de sua fronte. “Me debe ave plu fida,” el ia dise; “me debe sabe ja aora ce cuando un fato pare oposa un cadena longa de deduis, lo es sempre mostrada como capas de porta alga otra interprete. De la du piles en acel caxa, la un ia ave un venena la plu matante, e la otra ia es intera nonosiva. Me ia ta debe sabe acel an ante mea vide prima de la caxa.”

Sherlock Holmes drew a long breath, and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “I should have more faith,” he said; “I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation. Of the two pills in that box, one was of the most deadly poison, and the other was entirely harmless. I ought to have known that before ever I saw the box at all.”

Esta declara ultima ia pare a me tan surprendente ce me ia pote apena crede la sobria de sua sensas. On ia ave ala la can mor, an tal, per demostra ce sua divina ia es coreta. Lo ia pare a me ce la nebletas en mea propre mente ia es gradal clarinte a via, e me ia comensa ave un persepi oscur e nonesata de la vera.

This last statement appeared to me to be so startling that I could hardly believe that he was in his sober senses. There was the dead dog, however, to prove that his conjecture had been correct. It seemed to me that the mists in my own mind were gradually clearing away, and I began to have a dim, vague perception of the truth.

“Tota de esta pare strana a vos,” Holmes ia continua, “car a la comensa de la investiga vos ia fali comprende la importa de la sola indica vera cual ia es presentada a vos. Me ia ave la bon fortuna de saisi acel, e tota cual ia aveni a pos ia servi per confirma mea suposa orijinal, e, vera, ia es la ordina lojical de lo. Tal, cosas cual ia confonde vos, e ia oscuri plu la caso, ia servi per lumina me e per forti mea concluis. Lo es un era cuando on confusa strania con misterio. La crimin la plu comun es frecuente la plu misteriosa, car lo presenta no cualias nova o spesial de cual on pote fa deduis. Esta omiside ia ta es infinita plu difisil per desmarania si on ia ta trova la corpo de la vitim simple reclinante sur la via sin cualce de acel acompaniantes bizara e dramosa par cual lo ia deveni notable. Esta detalias strana, ajuntante en no modo a la difisilia de la caso, ia ave vera la efeto de sutrae de lo.”

“All this seems strange to you,” continued Holmes, “because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry to grasp the importance of the single real clue which was presented to you. I had the good fortune to seize upon that, and everything which has occurred since then has served to confirm my original supposition, and, indeed, was the logical sequence of it. Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case more obscure have served to enlighten me and to strengthen my conclusions. It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery. The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious, because it presents no new or special features from which deductions may be drawn. This murder would have been infinitely more difficult to unravel had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the roadway without any of those outré and sensational accompaniments which have rendered it remarkable. These strange details, far from making the case more difficult, have really had the effect of making it less so.”

Sr Gregson, ci ia escuta esta adirije con nonpasientia considerable, no ia pote plu restrinje se. “Ma vide, Sr Sherlock Holmes,” el ia dise, “tota de nos es preparada per atesta ce tu es un om astuta, e ce tu ave tua propre metodos de labora. An tal, nos desira aora alga cosa plu ca teorias e predicas mera. La tema es catura la om. Me ia detalia mea comprende, e lo pare ce me ia era. La joven Charpentier no ia ta pote es envolveda en esta caso du. Lestrade ia xerca sua om, Stangerson, e lo pare ce el ia era ance. Tu ia lansa indicetas asi, e indicetas ala, e pare sabe plu ca nos, ma la tempo ia veni cuando nos senti ce nos ave un direto de demanda franca de tu cuanto tu sabe sur la cosa. Esce tu pote nomi la om ci ia fa lo?”

Mr Gregson, who had listened to this address with considerable impatience, could contain himself no longer. “Look here, Mr Sherlock Holmes,” he said, “we are all ready to acknowledge that you are a smart man, and that you have your own methods of working. We want something more than mere theory and preaching now, though. It is a case of taking the man. I have made my case out, and it seems I was wrong. Young Charpentier could not have been engaged in this second affair. Lestrade went after his man, Stangerson, and it appears that he was wrong too. You have thrown out hints here, and hints there, and seem to know more than we do, but the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask you straight how much you do know of the business. Can you name the man who did it?”

“Me no pote evita senti ce Gregson parla coreta, senior,” Lestrade ia comenta. “Ambos de nos ia atenta, e ambos de nos ia fali. Tu ia comenta a plu ca un ves pos mea entra a la sala ce tu ave tota la atestas cual tu nesesa. Sin duta, tu no va reteni los per plu tempo.”

“I cannot help feeling that Gregson is right, sir,” remarked Lestrade. “We have both tried, and we have both failed. You have remarked more than once since I have been in the room that you had all the evidence which you require. Surely you will not withhold it any longer.”

“Cualce retarda ante aresta la asasinor,” me ia oserva, “ta furni a el cisa un tempo per esecuta denova alga ata cruel.”

“Any delay in arresting the assassin,” I observed, “might give him time to perpetrate some fresh atrocity.”

Tal presada par tota de nos, Holmes ia mostra sinias de vasila. El ia continua pasea de asi a ala tra la sala con sua testa basida sur sua peto e sua suprasiles tirada a su, en sua modo abitual cuando perdeda en pensa.

Thus pressed by us all, Holmes showed signs of irresolution. He continued to walk up and down the room with his head sunk on his chest and his brows drawn down, as was his habit when lost in thought.

“On va ave no plu omisides,” el ia dise final, subita parante e fasante nos. “Vos pote pone acel elemento ultra considera. Vos ia demanda esce me sabe la nom de la asasinor. Me sabe lo. La sabe mera de sua nom es un cosa peti, an tal, en compara con la potia de saisi el. Me espeta fa esta pos tempo multe corta. Me ave bon esperas de susede lo par mea propre scemas; ma lo es un cosa cual nesesa un maneja delicata, car nos va fronti un om intelijente e desperante, ci es suportada, como me ia demostra par esperia, par un otra ci es tan astuta como el. Tra cuando esta om ave no idea ce cualcun pote ave un idea, on ave alga posiblia de securi el; ma si el ta suspeta an la plu pico, el ta cambia sua nom, e ta desapare pronto entre la cuatro milion abitores de esta site grande. Sin vole ofende la sentis de cualcun de vos, me debe dise ce me regarda esta omes como plu ca egal a la polisia ofisial, e per esta razona me no ia solisita vosa aida. Si me fali, me va incore, natural, tota la culpa causada par esta omete; ma me es preparada per acel. A presente, me es disposada a promete ce direta cuando me va pote comunica con vos sin perili mea propre combinas, me fa va tal.”

“There will be no more murders,” he said at last, stopping abruptly and facing us. “You can put that consideration out of the question. You have asked me if I know the name of the assassin. I do. The mere knowing of his name is a small thing, however, compared with the power of laying our hands upon him. This I expect very shortly to do. I have good hopes of managing it through my own arrangements; but it is a thing which needs delicate handling, for we have a shrewd and desperate man to deal with, who is supported, as I have had occasion to prove, by another who is as clever as himself. As long as this man has no idea that anyone can have a clue there is some chance of securing him; but if he had the slightest suspicion, he would change his name, and vanish in an instant among the four million inhabitants of this great city. Without meaning to hurt either of your feelings, I am bound to say that I consider these men to be more than a match for the official force, and that is why I have not asked your assistance. If I fail, I shall, of course, incur all the blame due to this omission; but that I am prepared for. At present I am ready to promise that the instant that I can communicate with you without endangering my own combinations, I shall do so.”

Gregson e Lestrade ia pare es multe nonsasiada par esta afirma, o par la refere desvaluante a la polisia detetante. La prima ia roji asta la radises de sua capeles pal jala, e la oios peti e ronda de la otra ia sintili con curiosia e ofende. No la un e no la otra ia ave tempo per parla, an tal, ante cuando on ia bateta la porte, e la portavose de la enfantes vagante, la joven Wiggins, ia introdui sua corpo minor e susia.

Gregson and Lestrade seemed to be far from satisfied by this assurance, or by the depreciating allusion to the detective police. The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair, while the other’s beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resentment. Neither of them had time to speak, however, before there was a tap at the door, and the spokesman of the street arabs, young Wiggins, introduced his insignificant and unsavoury person.

“Per favore, senior,” el ia dise, tocante sua franje, “me ave la taxi a su.”

“Please, sir,” he said, touching his forelock, “I have the cab downstairs.”

“Bon xico,” Holmes ia dise, blanda. “Perce vos no introdui esta model a la polisia urban?” el ia continua, prendente un duple de securipolsos de aser de un caxeta. “Vide como bela la mola funsiona. On fisa los en un momento.”

“Good boy,” said Holmes, blandly. “Why don’t you introduce this pattern at Scotland Yard?” he continued, taking a pair of steel handcuffs from a drawer. “See how beautifully the spring works. They fasten in an instant.”

“La model vea es sufisinte bon,” Lestrade ia comenta, “si nos pote mera trova la om a ci nos va pone los.”

“The old pattern is good enough,” remarked Lestrade, “if we can only find the man to put them on.”

“Multe bon, multe bon,” Holmes ia dise, suriente. “Ta ce la taxiste aida me con mea caxas. Donce solisita ce el asende, Wiggins.”

“Very good, very good,” said Holmes, smiling. “The cabman may as well help me with my boxes. Just ask him to step up, Wiggins.”

Me ia es surprendeda de trova mea acompanior parlante como si el ta es a punto de parti per viaja, car el ia dise no cosa a me sur lo. On ia ave un valis en la sala, e el ia tira esta a se e ia comensa lia la bandas. El ia es ativa ocupada par lo cuando la taxiste ia entra a la sala.

I was surprised to find my companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a journey, since he had not said anything to me about it. There was a small portmanteau in the room, and this he pulled out and began to strap. He was busily engaged at it when the cabman entered the room.

“Bon, dona a me un aida con esta fibia, taxiste,” el ia dise, ajenante supra sua taxe, e nunca turnante sua testa.

“Just give me a help with this buckle, cabman,” he said, kneeling over his task, and never turning his head.

La om ia veni a ante con un manera alga malumorosa e defiante, e ia basi sua manos per aida. A acel secondo, on ia oia un clica cracin, la tintina de metal, e Sherlock Holmes ia salta a sur sua pedes denova.

The fellow came forward with a somewhat sullen, defiant air, and put down his hands to assist. At that instant there was a sharp click, the jangling of metal, and Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet again.

“Seniores,” el ia esclama, con oios briliante, “ta ce me presenta a vos Sr Jefferson Hope, la omisidor de Enoch Drebber e de Joseph Stangerson.”

“Gentlemen,” he cried, with flashing eyes, “let me introduce you to Mr Jefferson Hope, the murderer of Enoch Drebber and of Joseph Stangerson.”

La cosa intera ia aveni en un momento — tan rapida ce me ia ave no tempo per comprende lo. Me ave un recorda vivin de acel momento, de la espresa vinsosa de Holmes e la tinje de sua vose, de la fas aturdida e savaje de la taxiste grimante a la securadores sintilinte cual ia apare como si par majia sur sua polsos. Tra un o du secondos, nos ia ta es cisa un grupo de scultas. Seguente, con un ruji de furia noncoerente, la prisonida ia aranca se a libria de la teni de Holmes, e ia lansa se tra la fenetra. Lenio e vitro ia colasa ante el; ma ante la completi de sua penetra, Gregson, Lestrade e Holmes ia salta a el como la mesma cuantia de canes de xasa. El ia es retirada a la sala, e alora un combate enorme ia comensa. Tan potiosa el ia es, e tan ferose, ce la cuatro de nos ia es sempre denova secuteda a via. El ia pare ave la fortia convulsante de un om en un ataca epilesica. Sua fas e manos ia es xocante mutilada par sua pasaje tra la vitro, ma la perde de sangue ia ave no efeto en diminui sua resiste. Lo no ia es asta cuando Lestrade ia susede pone sua mano en sua tela de colo e strangula partal el ce nos ia fa ce el comprende la futilia de sua lutas; e an alora, nos ia senti no securia asta cuando nos ia lia sua pedes como ance sua manos. Pos fa esta, nos ia leva nos per sta sin aira e rapida respirante.

The whole thing occurred in a moment — so quickly that I had no time to realise it. I have a vivid recollection of that instant, of Holmes’ triumphant expression and the ring of his voice, of the cabman’s dazed, savage face as he glared at the glittering handcuffs which had appeared as if by magic upon his wrists. For a second or two we might have been a group of statues. Then, with an inarticulate roar of fury, the prisoner wrenched himself free from Holmes’s grasp, and hurled himself through the window. Woodwork and glass gave way before him; but before he got quite through, Gregson, Lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him like so many staghounds. He was dragged back into the room, and then commenced a terrific conflict. So powerful and so fierce was he that the four of us were shaken off again and again. He appeared to have the convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit. His face and hands were terribly mangled by his passage through the glass, but the loss of blood had no effect in diminishing his resistance. It was not until Lestrade succeeded in getting his hand inside his neckcloth and half-strangling him that we made him realise that his struggles were of no avail; and even then we felt no security until we had pinioned his feet as well as his hands. That done, we rose to our feet breathless and panting.

“Nos ave sua taxi,” Sherlock Holmes ia dise. “Lo va servi per prende el a la polisia urban. E aora, seniores,” el ia continua, con un surie amin, “nos ia ateni la fini de nosa misterio peti. Vos va es aora multe bonvenida en fa cualce demandas desirada a me, e on ave no risca ce me va refusa responde a los.”

“We have his cab,” said Sherlock Holmes. “It will serve to take him to Scotland Yard. And now, gentlemen,” he continued, with a pleasant smile, “we have reached the end of our little mystery. You are very welcome to put any questions that you like to me now, and there is no danger that I will refuse to answer them.”

Esta paje es presentada con la lisensa CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International.
Lo ia es automatada jenerada de la paje corespondente en la Vici de Elefen a 23 marto 2024 (17:15 UTC).