UN STUDIA EN SCARLATA
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Capitol 13: Un continua de la recordas de Dr John Watson

13. A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson MD

La resiste furiosa de nosa prisonida no ia pare indica un ferosia en sua disposa a nos, car, pos trova ce el es descapasida, el ia surie en manera jentil, e ia espresa sua esperas ce el no ia feri cualcun entre nos en la scaramuxa. “Me suposa ce tu va prende me a la ofisia de polisia,” el ia comenta a Sherlock Holmes. “Mea taxi es a la porte. Si tu va laxi mea gamas, me va desende a lo. Me no es tan lejera per leva como en la pasada.”

Our prisoner’s furious resistance did not apparently indicate any ferocity in his disposition towards ourselves, for on finding himself powerless, he smiled in an affable manner, and expressed his hopes that he had not hurt any of us in the scuffle. “I guess you’re going to take me to the police station,” he remarked to Sherlock Holmes. “My cab’s at the door. If you’ll loose my legs I’ll walk down to it. I’m not so light to lift as I used to be.”

Gregson e Lestrade ia intercambia regardetas, como si opinante ce esta proposa es alga osante; ma Holmes ia aseta direta la promete de la prisonida, e ia laxi la tela cual nos ia lia sirca sua talos. El ia leva e ia estende sua gamas, como si per serti se ce los es denova libre. Me recorda ce me ia pensa a me, en cuando me ia regarda el, ce me ia vide rara un om de forma plu potiosa; e sua fas oscur e bronzida ia porta un espresa de determinadia e enerjia cual ia es tan intensa como sua fortia personal.

Gregson and Lestrade exchanged glances, as if they thought this proposition rather a bold one; but Holmes at once took the prisoner at his word, and loosened the towel which we had bound round his ankles. He rose and stretched his legs, as though to assure himself that they were free once more. I remember that I thought to myself, as I eyed him, that I had seldom seen a more powerfully built man; and his dark, sunburned face bore an expression of determination and energy which was as formidable as his personal strength.

“Si on ave un posto vacua per un xef de polisia, me opina ce tu es la om per pleni lo,” el ia dise, contemplante mea coabitor con amira nondesemblada. “Tua modo de segue mea trasa ia es stonante.”

“If there’s a vacant place for a chief of the police, I reckon you are the man for it,” he said, gazing with undisguised admiration at my fellow-lodger. “The way you kept on my trail was a caution.”

“Ta ce vos veni con me,” Holmes ia dise a la du detetores.

“You had better come with me,” said Holmes to the two detectives.

“Me pote gida vos,” Lestrade ia dise.

“I can drive you,” said Lestrade.

“Bon! E Gregson pote viaja interna con me. Ance tu, dotor. Tu ia mostra un interesa a la caso, e va ata bon par resta con nos.”

“Good! and Gregson can come inside with me. You, too, doctor. You have taken an interest in the case, and may as well stick to us.”

Me ia acorda felis, e tota de nos ia desende en junta. Nosa prisonida ia fa no atenta per evade, ma ia entra calma a la taxi cual ia parteni a el, e nos ia segue el. Lestrade ia monta la anterior, ia flajeli la cavalo, e ia trae nos en tempo multe corta a nosa destina. On ia gida nos a un sala peti, do un investigor de polisia ia nota la nom de nosa prisonida e la nomes de la omes sur cual on ia acusa ce el ia omiside los. La ofisior ia es un om nonemosiosa, con fas blanca, ci ia pasa tra sua debes en modo blanda e macinal. “La prisonida va es presentada a la judores en la curso de la semana,” el ia dise; “entretempo, Sr Jefferson Hope, esce tu ave cualce cosa cual tu desira dise? Me debe averti tu ce tua parolas va es notada e cisa usada contra tu.”

I assented gladly, and we all descended together. Our prisoner made no attempt at escape, but stepped calmly into the cab which had been his, and we followed him. Lestrade mounted the box, whipped up the horse, and brought us in a very short time to our destination. We were ushered into a small chamber, where a police inspector noted down our prisoner’s name and the names of the men with whose murder he had been charged. The official was a white-faced, unemotional man, who went through his duties in a dull, mechanical way. “The prisoner will be put before the magistrates in the course of the week,” he said; “in the meantime, Mr Jefferson Hope, have you anything that you wish to say? I must warn you that your words will be taken down, and may be used against you.”

“Me ave un bon monton per dise,” nosa prisonida ia dise lenta. “Me vole informa vos sur tota, seniores.”

“I’ve got a good deal to say,” our prisoner said slowly. “I want to tell you gentlemen all about it.”

“Esce tu no ta ata plu bon par reserva esta per tua litiga?” la investigor ia demanda.

“Hadn’t you better reserve that for your trial?” asked the inspector.

“Cisa me va es nunca litigada,” el ia responde. “No aspeta xocada. Me no pensa a suiside. Esce tu es un dotor?” El ia turna sua oios ferose e oscur a me en fa esta demanda final.

“I may never be tried,” he answered. “You needn’t look startled. It isn’t suicide I am thinking of. Are you a doctor?” He turned his fierce, dark eyes upon me as he asked this last question.

“Si, me es,” me ia responde.

“Yes, I am,” I answered.

“Donce pone tua mano asi,” el ia dise, con surie, jestinte con sua polsos securida en dirije a sua peto.

“Then put your hand here,” he said, with a smile, motioning with his manacled wrists towards his chest.

Me ia fa tal; e ia deveni direta consensa de un palpita e disturba estracomun cual ia aveni interna. La mures de sua peto ia pare vibra e trema como la interna de un construida frajil a la opera de alga macina potiosa. En la silentia de la sala, me ia oia un ruido nonagu, zumbinte e vibrante, cual ia veni de la mesma fonte.

I did so; and became at once conscious of an extraordinary throbbing and commotion which was going on inside. The walls of his chest seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at work. In the silence of the room I could hear a dull humming and buzzing noise which proceeded from the same source.

“Ma,” me ia esclama, “tu ave un aneurisme aortal!”

“Why,” I cried, “you have an aortic aneurism!”

“Tal on nomi lo,” el ia dise, calma. “Me ia visita un dotor en la semana pasada a tema de lo, e el ia dise a me ce lo va creve serta ante la pasa de multe dias. Lo ia deveni plu mal tra anios. Me ia reseta lo par supraesposa e malnuri entre la Montanias de la Lago Salosa. Me ia fa aora mea labora, e me no cura sur la rapidia de mea parti, ma me ta vole lasa pos me alga raconta de la cosa. Me no desira ce on recorda me como un taliagarga comun.”

“That’s what they call it,” he said, placidly. “I went to a doctor last week about it, and he told me that it is bound to burst before many days have passed. It has been getting worse for years. I got it from over-exposure and under-feeding among the Salt Lake Mountains. I’ve done my work now, and I don’t care how soon I go, but I should like to leave some account of the business behind me. I don’t want to be remembered as a common cut-throat.”

La investigor e la du detetores ia fa un discute fretada sur la bonconseladia de permete ce el presenta sua raconta.

The inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story.

“Esce tu opina, dotor, ce on ave un peril direta?” la prima ia demanda.

“Do you consider, doctor, that there is immediate danger?” the former asked.

“On ave serta lo,” me ia responde.

“Most certainly there is,” I answered.

“En esta caso, lo es clar ce nos debe, per benefica la justia, oia sua declara,” la investigor ia dise. “Tu pote, senior, dona libre tua raconta, sur cual me averti denova tu ce lo va es notada.”

“In that case it is clearly our duty, in the interests of justice, to take his statement,” said the inspector. “You are at liberty, sir, to give your account, which I again warn you will be taken down.”

“Me va senta, si vos permete,” la prisonida ia dise, egalinte sua ata a sua parla. “Esta mea aneurisme fatiga fasil me, e la scaramuxa cual nos ia fa a un dui de ora a ante no ia boni la situa. Me es a la borda de la tomba, e lo no es probable ce me va menti a vos. Cada parola cual me dise es asoluta la vera, e vosa modo de usa lo va fa no efeto a me.”

“I’ll sit down, with your leave,” the prisoner said, suiting the action to the word. “This aneurism of mine makes me easily tired, and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters. I’m on the brink of the grave, and I am not likely to lie to you. Every word I say is the absolute truth, and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me.”

Con esta parolas, Jefferson Hope ia apoia se en sua seja e ia comensa la declara notable cual segue. El ia parla en manera calma e metodosa, como si la avenis cual el ia nara es intera comun. Me pote atesta la coretia de la presenta a su, car me ia asede plu tarda la libro de notas de Lestrade, en cual la parolas de la prisonida ia es scriveda esata como los ia es vosida.

With these words, Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair and began the following remarkable statement. He spoke in a calm and methodical manner, as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough. I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined account, for I have had access to Lestrade’s notebook, in which the prisoner’s words were taken down exactly as they were uttered.

“Lo no importa multe a vos perce me ia odia esta omes,” el ia dise; “lo sufisi ce los ia es culpable per la mori de du umanas — un padre e un fia — e ce donce los ia perde sua propre direto a vive. Pos la interval de tempo cual ia pasa pos sua crimin, lo ia es nonposible ce me ta securi un condena contra los en cualce corte. Me ia sabe sur sua culpablia, an tal, e me ia determina ce me va es judor, juria e esecutor, tota la truple en un. Vos ia ta fa la mesma si vos ave en vos cualce omia, si vos ia ta es en mea loca.

“It don’t much matter to you why I hated these men,” he said; “it’s enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beings — a father and a daughter — and that they had, therefore, forfeited their own lives. After the lapse of time that had passed since their crime, it was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court. I knew of their guilt, though, and I determined that I should be judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one. You’d have done the same if you have any manhood in you, if you had been in my place.

“ Acel xica sur ci me ia parla ia debe sposi me a dudes anios ante aora. On ia obliga el a sposi acel mesma Drebber, e el ia creve sua cor par esta causa. Me ia prende la anelo de sposia de sua dito mor, e me ia promete ce la oios morinte de Drebber va reposa sur acel anelo, e ce sua pensa final va es a la crimin per cual el deveni punida. Me ia porta lo con me de asi a ala, e ia segue el e sua aidor tra du continentes asta cuando me ia catura los. Los ia intende fatiga me, ma los no ia pote susede. Si me va mori doman, cual es intera probable, me va mori sabente ce mea labora en esta mundo es fada, e bon fada. Los ia mori, e par mea mano. Me ave no cosa restante per espera, o per desira.

“ That girl that I spoke of was to have married me twenty years ago. She was forced into marrying that same Drebber, and broke her heart over it. I took the marriage ring from her dead finger, and I vowed that his dying eyes should rest upon that very ring, and that his last thoughts should be of the crime for which he was punished. I have carried it about with me, and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until I caught them. They thought to tire me out, but they could not do it. If I die tomorrow, as is likely enough, I die knowing that my work in this world is done, and well done. They have perished, and by my hand. There is nothing left for me to hope for, or to desire.

“ Los ia es rica e me ia es povre, donce segue los no ia es un taxe fasil per me. Cuando me ia ariva a London, mea pox ia es cuasi vacua, e me ia trova ce me debe prende alga ocupa per susta me. La gida e monta de cavalos es tan natural a me como pasea, donce me ia solisita a la ofisia de un posesor de taxi, e ia reseta pronto un emplea. Me ia debe trae en cada semana un soma definida a la posesor, e si cualce ta resta, me ta pote reteni acel per me. Lo ia es rara ce multe ia resta, ma me ia susede survive en alga modo. La parte la plu difisil ia es aprende la vias, car me opina ce, de tota la labirintos cual on ia inventa ja, esta site es la plu confusante. Me ia ave un mapa a lado de me, an tal, e cuando me ia trova la oteles e stasiones xef, me ia susede relativa bon.

“ They were rich and I was poor, so that it was no easy matter for me to follow them. When I got to London my pocket was about empty, and I found that I must turn my hand to something for my living. Driving and riding are as natural to me as walking, so I applied at a cab-owner’s office, and soon got employment. I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner, and whatever was over, that I might keep for myself. There was seldom much over, but I managed to scrape along somehow. The hardest job was to learn my way about, for I reckon that of all the mazes that ever were contrived, this city is the most confusing. I had a map beside me, though, and when once I had spotted the principal hotels and stations, I got on pretty well.

“ Alga tempo ia pasa ante cuando me ia trova do mea du seniores abita; ma me ia demanda sempre denova asta cuando me ia descovre acaso los. Los ia es a un oteleta en Camberwell, ala a la otra lado de la rio. Pos cuando me ia descovre los, me ia sabe ce me ave los su mea potia. Me ia crese mea barba, e lo ia es nonposible ce los ta reconose me. Me ia deside segue los e trasa los asta persepi mea bon momento. Me ia es determinada ce los no va evade me denova.

“ It was some time before I found out where my two gentlemen were living; but I enquired and enquired until at last I dropped across them. They were at a boarding-house at Camberwell, over on the other side of the river. When once I found them out, I knew that I had them at my mercy. I had grown my beard, and there was no chance of their recognising me. I would dog them and follow them until I saw my opportunity. I was determined that they should not escape me again.

“ Los ia fa cuasi esta, an con tota. Cuando los ia vade a cualce loca en London, me ia es sempre sua xasor. A veses me ia segue los sur mea taxi, e a veses par pede, ma la prima ia es la plu bon, car alora los no ia pote distanti de me. Sola en la temprana de matina o la tarda de note me ia pote gania alga mone, donce me ia comensa deveni retardada con mea empleor. Esta no ia importa, an tal, si sola me ta pote saisi la omes cual me ia desira.

“ They were very near doing it for all that. Go where they would about London, I was always at their heels. Sometimes I followed them on my cab, and sometimes on foot, but the former was the best, for then they could not get away from me. It was only early in the morning or late at night that I could earn anything, so that I began to get behindhand with my employer. I did not mind that, however, as long as I could lay my hand upon the men I wanted.

“Ma los ia es multe rusosa. Clar, los ia crede ce alga posible esiste ce los es segueda, car los ia sorti nunca sola, e nunca pos la noti. Tra du semanas, me ia viaja pos los a cada dia, e ia vide a an no un ves ce los deveni separada. Drebber mesma ia es enebriada tra partes de la tempo, ma Stangerson ia es nunca nonatendente. Me ia oserva los tarda e temprana, ma ia vide nunca an un posible fantasmin; ma me no ia es descorajida, car alga cosa ia serti me ce la ora conveninte ia ariva cuasi. Mea sola teme ia es ce esta cosa en mea peto va creve cisa pico tro pronto, lasante mea labora sin completi.

“ They were very cunning, though. They must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed, for they would never go out alone, and never after nightfall. During two weeks I drove behind them every day, and never once saw them separate. Drebber himself was drunk half the time, but Stangerson was not to be caught napping. I watched them late and early, but never saw the ghost of a chance; but I was not discouraged, for something told me that the hour had almost come. My only fear was that this thing in my chest might burst a little too soon and leave my work undone.

Ultima, a un sera, me ia es gidante de asi a ala longo la Teraza Torquay, como on nomi la strada en cual los ia abita, cuando me ia vide la ariva de un taxi a sua porte. Pronto on ia porta alga bagaje a estra, e pos un tempo Drebber e Stangerson ia segue lo, e ia parti. Me ia flajeli mea cavalo e ia resta en vista de los, sentinte multe noncomfortosa, car me ia teme ce los va cambia sua abiteria. A la Stasion Euston los ia sorti, e me ia lasa un xico per teni mea cavalo e ia segue los a sur la plataforma. Me ia oia sua demanda sur la tren a Liverpool, e la responde de la biletor ce un tal tren veni de parti e ce no otra va segue asta pos alga oras. Stangerson ia pare iritada par esta, ma Drebber ia es plu plaseda ca no. Me ia veni tan prosima a los en la fola ce me ia pote oia cada parola cual ia pasa entre los. Drebber ia dise ce el debe fa un taxe pico per se, e ce si la otra va espeta el, el va rejunta se a el pos no longa. Sua acompanior ia protesta a el, e ia remente el ce los ia deside resta en junta. Drebber ia responde ce la taxe es delicata, e ce el debe vade sola. Me no ia pote oia lo cual Stangerson ia dise a acel, ma la otra ia esplode con blasfemas, e ia remente el ce el es no plu ca sua servor paiada, e ce el debe no fa comandas egosa a el. A esta, la secretor ia aseta la mal proposa, e ia negosia simple con el ce si el ta perde la tren final, el ta retrova el a la Otel Privata de Halliday; e a esta, Drebber ia responde ce el va es denova sur la plataforma ante la ora dudes-tre, e ia vade sur sua via a estra la stasion.

“ At last, one evening I was driving up and down Torquay Terrace, as the street was called in which they boarded, when I saw a cab drive up to their door. Presently some luggage was brought out and after a time Drebber and Stangerson followed it, and drove off. I whipped up my horse and kept within sight of them, feeling very ill at ease, for I feared that they were going to shift their quarters. At Euston Station they got out, and I left a boy to hold my horse and followed them on to the platform. I heard them ask for the Liverpool train, and the guard answer that one had just gone, and there would not be another for some hours. Stangerson seemed to be put out at that, but Drebber was rather pleased than otherwise. I got so close to them in the bustle that I could hear every word that passed between them. Drebber said that he had a little business of his own to do, and that if the other would wait for him he would soon rejoin him. His companion remonstrated with him, and reminded him that they had resolved to stick together. Drebber answered that the matter was a delicate one, and that he must go alone. I could not catch what Stangerson said to that, but the other burst out swearing, and reminded him that he was nothing more than his paid servant, and that he must not presume to dictate to him. On that the secretary gave it up as a bad job, and simply bargained with him that if he missed the last train he should rejoin him at Halliday’s Private Hotel; to which Drebber answered that he would be back on the platform before eleven, and made his way out of the station.

“ La momento per cual me ia espeta tan longa ia veni final. Me ia ave mea enemis su mea potia. En junta, los ia pote proteje lunlotra, ma individua, los ia es sin defende. Me no ia ata, an tal, con freta nonesesada. Mea scemas ia es ja formida. On ave no sasia en venja si la ofendor no ave un tempo sufisinte per comprende ci es sua colpor, e perce la venja ia ateni el. Me ia organiza ja mea scemas par cual me va ave la posible de dona un comprende a la om ci ia maltrata me ce sua peca vea ia retrova el. Acaso, a alga dias a ante, un senior ocupada en esamina alga casas en la Via Brixton ia cade la clave de un de los en mea taxi-caro. Lo ia es reclamada en acel mesma sera, e redonada; ma en la interval, me ia crea un moldida de lo, e ia fa ce on construi un duplida. Par usa esta, me ia pote asede a la min un loca en esta site grande do me ta pote fida ce me no va es interompeda. La modo de veni Drebber a acel casa ia es la problem difisil cual me ia debe aora solve.”

“ The moment for which I had waited so long had at last come. I had my enemies within my power. Together they could protect each other but singly they were at my mercy. I did not act, however, with undue precipitation. My plans were already formed. There is no satisfaction in vengeance unless the offender has time to realise who it is that strikes him, and why retribution has come upon him. I had my plans arranged by which I should have the opportunity of making the man who had wronged me understand that his old sin had found him out. It chanced that some days before a gentleman who had been engaged in looking over some houses in the Brixton Road had dropped the key of one of them in my carriage. It was claimed that same evening, and returned; but in the interval I had taken a moulding of it, and had a duplicate constructed. By means of this I had access to at least one spot in this great city where I could rely upon being free from interruption. How to get Drebber to that house was the difficult problem which I had now to solve.

“ El ia pasea longo la via e ia entra a un o du botecas de distilada, restante per cuasi un dui de ora en la ultima de los. Cuando el ia sorti, el ia bambola en sua pasos, e ia es evidente ja sufisinte alcolosa. Un taxi-caro ia es direta ante me, e el ia jesti per lo. Me ia segue tan prosima lo ce la nas de mea cavalo ia es a min ca un metre de sua gidor tra la viaja intera. Nos ia traversa clacosa la Ponte Waterloo e cilometres de stradas asta cuando, a mea stona, nos ia trova nos denova en la via do el ia abita. Me no ia pote imajina lo cual el intende en revade ala; ma me ia continua e ia para mea taxi a sirca sento metres de la casa. El ia entra a lo, e sua taxi-caro ia parti. Dona a me un vitro de acua, per favore. Mea boca deveni seca par causa de la parla.”

“ He walked down the road and went into one or two liquor shops, staying for nearly half an hour in the last of them. When he came out, he staggered in his walk, and was evidently pretty well on. There was a hansom just in front of me, and he hailed it. I followed it so close that the nose of my horse was within a yard of his driver the whole way. We rattled across Waterloo Bridge and through miles of streets, until, to my astonishment, we found ourselves back in the terrace in which he had boarded. I could not imagine what his intention was in returning there; but I went on and pulled up my cab a hundred yards or so from the house. He entered it, and his hansom drove away. Give me a glass of water, if you please. My mouth gets dry with the talking.”

Me ia dona la vitro a el, e el ia bevi lo.

I handed him the glass, and he drank it down.

“Acel es plu bon,” el ia dise. “Alora, me ia espeta tra un cuatri de ora, o plu, cuando subita on ia ave un ruido como du persones lutante en la casa. A la momento seguente, on ia abri la porte par aranca e du omes ia apare, de ci un ia es Drebber, e la otra ia es un joven ci me ia vide nunca a ante. Esta xico ia teni Drebber a la colar, e cuando los ia veni a la comensa de la scalera, el ia fa un puxa e un pedi cual ia lansa el a traversa partal de la via. ‘Can!’ el ia cria, secutente sua baston a el; ‘me va disposa tu a no insulta un xica onesta!’ El ia es tan coler ce me crede ce el ia ta bate Drebber con sua baston, ma la can ia parti bambolante longo la via, tan rapida como sua gamas ia pote move. El ia core asta la canto e alora, vidente mea taxi, el ia jesti a me e ia entra fretosa. ‘Trae me a la Otel Privata de Halliday,’ el ia dise.

“That’s better,” he said. “Well, I waited for a quarter of an hour, or more, when suddenly there came a noise like people struggling inside the house. Next moment the door was flung open and two men appeared, one of whom was Drebber, and the other was a young chap whom I had never seen before. This fellow had Drebber by the collar, and when they came to the head of the steps he gave him a shove and a kick which sent him half across the road. ‘You hound!’ he cried, shaking his stick at him; ‘I’ll teach you to insult an honest girl!’ He was so hot that I think he would have thrashed Drebber with his cudgel, only that the cur staggered away down the road as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran as far as the corner and then, seeing my cab, he hailed me and jumped in. ‘Drive me to Halliday’s Private Hotel,’ said he.

“ Cuando me ia ave el vera en mea taxi, mea cor ia salta tan multe con joia ce me ia teme ce, a esta momento ultima, mea aneurisme va fali. Me ia gida lenta a longo, considerante en mea propre mente lo cual va es mea ata la plu bon. Cisa me ta prende el estra la urbe a la campania, e fa ala en alga rua vacua mea intervisa final con el. Me ia fa cuasi esta deside, cuando el ia solve la problem per me. La mania per alcol ia saisi denova el, e el ia comanda ce me para estra un taverna. El ia entra, lasante un comanda ce me ta espeta el. Ala el ia resta asta la ora de clui, e cuando el ia sorti, el ia es tan enebriada ce me ia sabe ce me teni la vinse en mea manos.

“ When I had him fairly inside my cab, my heart jumped so with joy that I feared lest at this last moment my aneurism might go wrong. I drove along slowly, weighing in my own mind what it was best to do. I might take him right out into the country, and there in some deserted lane have my last interview with him. I had almost decided upon this, when he solved the problem for me. The craze for drink had seized him again, and he ordered me to pull up outside a gin palace. He went in, leaving word that I should wait for him. There he remained until closing time, and when he came out he was so far gone that I knew the game was in my own hands.

“ No imajina ce me ia intende mata el en modo cruel. Lo ia ta es vera un justia rijida si me ia ta fa tal, ma me no ia pote forsa me a la ata. Mea deside ia es ja longa fada ce el debe ave un posible de survive si el ta eleje aseta lo. Entre la multe postos cual me ia fa en America en mea vive vagante, me ia es a un ves la mantenor e scopor de la laboreria en la Universia de York. A un dia, la profesor ia dona un leson sur venenas, e el ia mostra a sua studiantes alga alcaloide, como el ia nomi lo, cual el ia estrae de alga venena de flexa de America Sude, e cual ia es tan potiosa ce la cuantia la plu peti ta causa un mori direta. Me ia persepi la botela en cual esta preparada ia es conservada, e cuando cadun ia parti, me ia fura un pico de lo. Me ia es relativa capas con medisines, donce me ia formi esta alcaloide a piles peti e disolvable, e me ia pone cada pil en un caxa con un pil simil ma preparada sin la venena. Me ia determina a acel tempo ce, cuando mea bon momento va ariva, cada de mea seniores va pote eleje de un de esta caxas, con ce me va come la pil cual resta. Lo va es egal tan matante e multe min ruidosa ca spara un fusil en un teleta. De acel dia, me ia porta sempre mea caxas de piles con me, e aora la tempo ia ariva cuando me va usa los.

“ Don’t imagine that I intended to kill him in cold blood. It would only have been rigid justice if I had done so, but I could not bring myself to do it. I had long determined that he should have a show for his life if he chose to take advantage of it. Among the many billets which I have filled in America during my wandering life, I was once janitor and sweeper-out of the laboratory at York College. One day the professor was lecturing on poisons, and he showed his students some alkaloid, as he called it, which he had extracted from some South American arrow poison, and which was so powerful that the least grain meant instant death. I spotted the bottle in which this preparation was kept, and when they were all gone, I helped myself to a little of it. I was a fairly good dispenser, so I worked this alkaloid into small, soluble pills, and each pill I put in a box with a similar pill made without the poison. I determined at the time that when I had my chance my gentlemen should each have a draw out of one of these boxes, while I ate the pill that remained. It would be quite as deadly and a good deal less noisy than firing across a handkerchief. From that day I had always my pill boxes about with me, and the time had now come when I was to use them.

“ Lo ia es plu prosima a la ora un ca medianote, e la note ia es savaje e misera, con venta forte e deluvias de pluve. An si la mundo ia es sombre a estra, me ia es felis a interna — tan felis ce me ia ta pote cria en estasia pur. Si cualcun de vos, seniores, ta anela ja un cosa, e ta anela lo tra dudes anios longa, e ta trova alora ce lo es subita atenable, vos ta comprende mea sentis. Me ia ensende un sigar, e ia sofleta a lo per calmi mea nervosia, ma mea manos ia es tremante e mea tempes ia es palpitante con stimula. En cuando me ia gida la taxi, me ia pote vide la vea John Ferrier e la dulse Lucy, regardante me de la oscuria e suriente a me, egal tan clar como me vide tota de vos en esta sala. Tra la via intera los ia es ante me, un a cada lado de la cavalo, asta cuando me ia para a la casa en la Via Brixton.

“ It was nearer one than twelve, and a wild, bleak night, blowing hard and raining in torrents. Dismal as it was outside, I was glad within — so glad that I could have shouted out from pure exultation. If any of you gentlemen have ever pined for a thing, and longed for it during twenty long years, and then suddenly found it within your reach, you would understand my feelings. I lit a cigar, and puffed at it to steady my nerves, but my hands were trembling and my temples throbbing with excitement. As I drove, I could see old John Ferrier and sweet Lucy looking at me out of the darkness and smiling at me, just as plain as I see you all in this room. All the way they were ahead of me, one on each side of the horse, until I pulled up at the house in the Brixton Road.

“ No person ia es vidable, e no sona oiable, ultra la gotas de la pluve. Cuando me ia regarda a en tra la fenetra, me ia trova ce Drebber es pacida en junta en un dormi enebriada. Me ia secute sua braso. ‘Lo es la tempo de sorti,’ me ia dise.

“ There was not a soul to be seen, nor a sound to be heard, except the dripping of the rain. When I looked in at the window, I found Drebber all huddled together in a drunken sleep. I shook him by the arm. ‘It’s time to get out,’ I said.

“ ‘En ordina, taxiste,’ el ia dise.

“ ‘All right, cabby,’ said he.

“ Me suposa ce el ia crede ce nos ia veni a la otel cual el ia nomi, car el ia sorti sin un plu parola, e ia segue me longo la jardin. Me ia debe pasea a sua lado per manteni sua stablia, car el ia es ancora alga bambolosa. Cuando nos ia veni a la porte, me ia abri lo, e ia gida el a la sala fronte. Me jura a vos ce, tra la via intera, la padre e la fia ia pasea ante nos.

“ I suppose he thought we had come to the hotel that he had mentioned, for he got out without another word, and followed me down the garden. I had to walk beside him to keep him steady, for he was still a little top-heavy. When we came to the door, I opened it, and led him into the front room. I give you my word that all the way the father and the daughter were walking in front of us.

“ ‘Lo es enfernin oscur,’ el ia dise, piafante de asi a ala.

“ ‘It’s infernally dark,’ said he, stamping about.

“ ‘Nos va ave pronto un lampa,’ me ia dise, ensendente un fosfor e ponente lo a un candela de sira cual me ia porta con me. ‘Aora, Enoch Drebber,’ me ia continua, turnante a el, e teninte la lampa a mea propre fas, ‘ci me es?’

“ ‘We’ll soon have a light,’ I said, striking a match and putting it to a wax candle which I had brought with me. ‘Now, Enoch Drebber,’ I continued, turning to him, and holding the light to my own face, ‘who am I?’

“ El ia contempla me con oios enebriada neblosa per un momento, e alora me ia vide un teror cual ia salta en los e ia convulsa tota sua cualias, e esta ia mostra a me ce el reconose me. El ia bambola a retro con fas pal, e me ia vide la suo aparente sur sua fronte, con ce sua dentes ia clica en sua testa. A la vide, me ia apoia mea dorso contra la porte e ia rie forte e longa. Me ia sabe ja sempre ce la venja va es dulse, ma me ia espera nunca la contentia de spirito cual ia saisi aora me.

“ He gazed at me with bleared, drunken eyes for a moment, and then I saw horror spring up in them and convulse his whole features, which showed me that he knew me. He staggered back with a livid face, and I saw the perspiration break out upon his brow, while his teeth chattered in his head. At the sight I leaned my back against the door and laughed loud and long. I had always known that vengeance would be sweet, but I had never hoped for the contentment of soul which now possessed me.

“ ‘Can!’ me ia dise; ‘me ia xasa tu de la Site de la Lago Salosa a San Peterburg, e tu ia evade sempre me. Aora, ultima, tua vagas ia ateni sua fini, car o tu o me va vide nunca la leva de sol de doman.’ El ia acrupi an plu distante a mea parlas, e me ia vide en sua fas ce el opina ce me es demente. E me ia es tal per la presente. La pulsas en mea tempes ia bate como martelones, e me crede ce me ia ta sufri un ataca de alga spesie si la sangue no ia ta flue de mea nas, lejerinte me.

“ ‘You dog!’ I said; ‘I have hunted you from Salt Lake City to St Petersburg, and you have always escaped me. Now, at last, your wanderings have come to an end, for either you or I shall never see tomorrow’s sun rise.’ He shrank still farther away as I spoke, and I could see on his face that he thought I was mad. So I was for the time. The pulses in my temples beat like sledgehammers, and I believe I would have had a fit of some sort if the blood had not gushed from my nose and relieved me.

“ ‘Cua es tua opina de Lucy Ferrier aora?’ me ia esclama, securinte la porte, e secutente la clave ante sua fas. ‘La puni ia veni lenta, ma final lo ia ateni tu.’ Me ia vide la trema de sua labios coarde en cuando me ia parla. El ia ta mendica sua vive, ma el ia sabe bon ce lo ta es futil.

“ ‘What do you think of Lucy Ferrier now?’ I cried, locking the door, and shaking the key in his face. ‘Punishment has been slow in coming, but it has overtaken you at last.’ I saw his coward lips tremble as I spoke. He would have begged for his life, but he knew well that it was useless.

“ ‘Esce tu intende omiside me?’ el ia balbuta.

“ ‘Would you murder me?’ he stammered.

“ ‘On ave no omiside,’ me ia responde. ‘Ci parla sur omiside un can demente? Cual compatia tu ia mostra a mea ameta povre, cuando tu ia tira el de sua padre matada, e ia porta el a via a tua arem nonvergoniante e maldiseda?’

“ ‘There is no murder,’ I answered. ‘Who talks of murdering a mad dog? What mercy had you upon my poor darling, when you dragged her from her slaughtered father, and bore her away to your accursed and shameless harem?’

“ ‘Me no ia es el ci ia mata sua padre,’ el ia esclama.

“ ‘It was not I who killed her father,’ he cried.

“ ‘Ma tu ia es el ci ia creve sua cor inosente,’ me ia xilia, puxante la caxa a ante el. ‘Ta ce la Dio alta judi entre nos. Eleje e come. La un conteni la mori e la otra la vive. Me va prende lo cual tu lasa. Ta ce nos vide esce on ave justia sur la tera, o esce nos es renada par acasia.’

“ ‘But it was you who broke her innocent heart,’ I shrieked, thrusting the box before him. ‘Let the high God judge between us. Choose and eat. There is death in one and life in the other. I shall take what you leave. Let us see if there is justice upon the earth, or if we are ruled by chance.’

“ El ia acrupi se con esclamas savaje e preas per compatia, ma me ia estrae mea cotel e ia teni lo a sua garga asta cuando el ia obedi me. Alora me ia engoli la otra, e nos ia sta fasante lunlotra en silentia tra un minuto o plu, espetante vide ci va vive e ci va mori. Esce me va pote an oblida la espresa cual ia apare en sua fas cuando la doles prima avertinte ia informa el ce la venena es en sua sistem? Me ia rie cuando me ia vide lo, e ia teni la anelo de sposia de Lucy ante sua oios. Lo ia es per mera un momento, car la ata de la alcaloide es rapida. Un spasma de dole ia contorse sua fas; el ia lansa sua manos a ante se, bambolante, e alora, con cria roncin, ia cade pesosa sur la solo. Me ia rola el con mea pede, e ia pone mea mano sur sua cor. Lo no ia move. El ia es mor!

“ He cowered away with wild cries and prayers for mercy, but I drew my knife and held it to his throat until he had obeyed me. Then I swallowed the other, and we stood facing one another in silence for a minute or more, waiting to see which was to live and which was to die. Shall I ever forget the look which came over his face when the first warning pangs told him that the poison was in his system? I laughed as I saw it, and held Lucy’s marriage ring in front of his eyes. It was but for a moment, for the action of the alkaloid is rapid. A spasm of pain contorted his features; he threw his hands out in front of him, staggered, and then, with a hoarse cry, fell heavily upon the floor. I turned him over with my foot, and placed my hand upon his heart. There was no movement. He was dead!

“ La sangue ia es ja fluente de mea nas, ma me ia iniora lo. Me no sabe cua ia fa ce me deside scrive sur la mur con lo. Cisa lo ia es alga idea turbosa de envia la polisia a un trasa erante, car me ia senti bonumorosa e felis. Me ia recorda ce on ia trova un om deutx en York Nova con RACHE scriveda supra el, e on ia razona a acel tempo en la jornales ce lo debe es un ata de la sosias secreta. Me ia suposa ce lo cual ia confonde en York Nova va confonde ance en London, donce me ia sumerje mea dito en mea propre sangue e la scrive lo en un loca oportun sur la mur. A pos, me ia repasea a mea taxi e ia trova ce no persones es prosima e ce la note es ancora multe savaje. Me ia viaja ja tra alga distantia cuando me ia pone mea mano en la pox en cual me ia conserva usual la anelo de Lucy, e ia trova ce lo no es ala. Me ia es tota xocada par esta, car lo ia es la sola recordante de el cual me ia ave. Pensante ce cisa me ia cade lo cuando me ia curvi supra la corpo de Drebber, me ia revade e, lasante mea taxi en un stradeta, me ia prosimi corajosa a la casa — car me ia es preparada per osa cualce cosa en loca de perde la anelo. Cuando me ia ariva ala, me ia colide direta con la brasos de un polisior ci ia es sortinte, e ia susede desarma sua suspetas sola par finje ce me es enebriada ultra espera.

“ The blood had been streaming from my nose, but I had taken no notice of it. I don’t know what it was that put it into my head to write upon the wall with it. Perhaps it was some mischievous idea of setting the police upon a wrong track, for I felt light-hearted and cheerful. I remembered a German being found in New York with RACHE written up above him, and it was argued at the time in the newspapers that the secret societies must have done it. I guessed that what puzzled the New Yorkers would puzzle the Londoners, so I dipped my finger in my own blood and printed it on a convenient place on the wall. Then I walked down to my cab and found that there was nobody about, and that the night was still very wild. I had driven some distance when I put my hand into the pocket in which I usually kept Lucy’s ring, and found that it was not there. I was thunderstruck at this, for it was the only memento that I had of her. Thinking that I might have dropped it when I stooped over Drebber’s body, I drove back, and leaving my cab in a side street, I went boldly up to the house — for I was ready to dare anything rather than lose the ring. When I arrived there, I walked right into the arms of a police officer who was coming out, and only managed to disarm his suspicions by pretending to be hopelessly drunk.

“ Acel ia es como Enoch Drebber ia veni a sua fini. Mea sola taxe alora ia es fa la mesma per Stangerson, e repaia tal la deta de John Ferrier. Me ia sabe ce el abita a la Otel Privata de Halliday, e me ia espeta tra la dia intera, ma el ia sorti nunca. Me imajina ce el ia suspeta alga cosa cuando Drebber ia fali apare. El ia es astuta, acel Stangerson, e sempre vijilante. Si el ia crede ce el pote teni me a via par resta en casa, el ia era vera multe. Me ia descovre pronto cual es la fenetra de sua sala de dormi, e en la temprana de la matina seguente, me ia esplota alga scalas cual ia reposa en la stradeta pos la otel, e ia trova tal mea entra a sua sala en la gris de la lus prima. Me ia velia el e ia informa el ce la ora ia ariva cuando el va es punida per la vive cual el ia estingui tan longa a ante. Me ia descrive la mori de Drebber a el, e me ia dona a el la mesma eleje de la piles venenida. En loca de saisi la posible de securia cual esta ia ofre a el, el ia salta de sua leto e ia lansa se a mea garga. En autodefende, me ia coteli el a sua cor. La resulta ia ta es la mesma en cualce caso, car la Favore ia ta permete nunca ce sua mano culpable eleje cualce otra cosa ca la venena.

“ That was how Enoch Drebber came to his end. All I had to do then was to do as much for Stangerson, and so pay off John Ferrier’s debt. I knew that he was staying at Halliday’s Private Hotel, and I hung about all day, but he never came out. I fancy that he suspected something when Drebber failed to put in an appearance. He was cunning, was Stangerson, and always on his guard. If he thought he could keep me off by staying indoors he was very much mistaken. I soon found out which was the window of his bedroom, and early next morning I took advantage of some ladders which were lying in the lane behind the hotel, and so made my way into his room in the grey of the dawn. I woke him up and told him that the hour had come when he was to answer for the life he had taken so long before. I described Drebber’s death to him, and I gave him the same choice of the poisoned pills. Instead of grasping at the chance of safety which that offered him, he sprang from his bed and flew at my throat. In self-defence I stabbed him to the heart. It would have been the same in any case, for Providence would never have allowed his guilty hand to pick out anything but the poison.

“ Me ave poca plu per dise, e esta es bon, car me es cuasi consumada. Me ia continua como taxiste tra sirca un dia, intendente persiste asta deveni capas de reserva mone sufisinte per retrae me a America. Me ia sta en la patio de taxis cuando un joven traposa ia demanda esce on ave ala un taxiste nomida Jefferson Hope, e ia dise ce sua taxi es desirada par un senior a 221B Strada Baker. Me ia vade ala, suspetante no dana, e a la momento seguente, esta om joven ia ave ja la braseletas sirca mea polsos e plu bela securida ca me ia vide a cualce ves en mea vive. Acel es la intera de mea raconta, seniores. Cisa vos opina ce me es un omisidor; ma me crede ce me es un ofisior de justia a grado egal como vos.

“ I have little more to say, and it’s as well, for I am about done up. I went on cabbing it for a day or so intending to keep at it until I could save enough to take me back to America. I was standing in the yard when a ragged youngster asked if there was a cabby there called Jefferson Hope, and said that his cab was wanted by a gentleman at 221B Baker Street. I went round suspecting no harm, and the next thing I knew, this young man here had the bracelets on my wrists, and as neatly shackled as ever I saw in my life. That’s the whole of my story, gentlemen. You may consider me to be a murderer; but I hold that I am just as much an officer of justice as you are.”

La nara par la om ia es tan stimulante e sua manera tan impresante ce nos ia senta silente e fasinada. An la detetores profesal, ci ta es tan casual ante cada detalia de crimin, ia pare es intensa interesada par la raconta de la om. Cuando el ia fini, nos ia senta per alga minutos en un calmia cual ia es disturbada sola par la rascas de la lapis de Lestrade en cuando el ia ajunta la tocas final a sua stenografi.

So thrilling had the man’s narrative been and his manner was so impressive that we had sat silent and absorbed. Even the professional detectives, blasé as they were in every detail of crime, appeared to be keenly interested in the man’s story. When he had finished, we sat for some minutes in a stillness which was only broken by the scratching of Lestrade’s pencil as he gave the finishing touches to his shorthand account.

“Sur sola un punto me ta desira un pico de plu informa,” Sherlock Holmes ia dise final. “Ci ia es tua acompanior ci ia veni per la anelo cual me ia anunsia?”

“There is only one point on which I should like a little more information,” Sherlock Holmes said at last. “Who was your accomplice who came for the ring which I advertised?”

La prisonida ia ginia juosa a mea ami. “Me pote revela mea propre secretas,” el ia dise, “ma me no tira otra persones a difisilia. Me ia vide tua anunsia, e me ia opina ce lo es cisa un trapa, o lo es cisa la anelo cual me ia desira. Mea ami ia ofre vade per vide. Me crede ce tu va atesta ce el ia fa esta en modo astuta.”

The prisoner winked at my friend jocosely. “I can tell my own secrets,” he said, “but I don’t get other people into trouble. I saw your advertisement, and I thought it might be a plant, or it might be the ring which I wanted. My friend volunteered to go and see. I think you’ll own he did it smartly.”

“Lo es ultra duta,” Holmes ia dise, zelosa.

“Not a doubt of that,” said Holmes, heartily.

“Aora, seniores,” la investigor ia comenta, grave, “on debe obedi la formas de la lege. A jovedi, la prisonida va es traeda ante la judores, e vos va debe es presente. Asta alora, me va aseta la encarga de el.” El ia sona la campana en parla, e Jefferson Hope ia es gidada a via par un duple de gardores, en cuando mea ami e me ia vade sur nosa via, sortinte de la polisieria e revadente par taxi a la Strada Baker.

“Now, gentlemen,” the inspector remarked, gravely, “the forms of the law must be complied with. On Thursday the prisoner will be brought before the magistrates, and your attendance will be required. Until then I will be responsible for him.” He rang the bell as he spoke, and Jefferson Hope was led off by a couple of warders, while my friend and I made our way out of the station and took a cab back to Baker Street.