福尔摩斯第三部 福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第4章Part9

福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第4章Part9  

"I have seen a good deal of HIM since
" he answered. "If I have seen her
it is because you cannot visit a man without knowing his wife. If you imagine there is any connection--"
"I imagine nothing
Mr. Barker. I am bound to make every inquiry which can bear upon the case. But I mean no offense."
"Some inquiries are offensive
" Barker answered angrily.
"It's only the facts that we want. It is in your interest and everyone's interest that they should be cleared up. Did Mr. Douglas entirely approve your friendship with his wife?"
Barker grew paler
and his great
strong hands were clasped convulsively together. "You have no right to ask such questions!" he cried. "What has this to do with the matter you are investigating?"
"I must repeat the question."
"Well
I refuse to answer."
"You can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is in itself an answer
for you would not refuse if you had not something to conceal."
Barker stood for a moment with his face set grimly and his strong black eYebrows drawn low in intense thought. Then he looked up with a smile. "Well
I guess you gentlemen are only doing your clear duty after all
and I have no right to stand in the way of it. I'd only ask you not to worry Mrs. Douglas over this matter; for she has enough upon her just now. I may tell you that poor Douglas had just one fault in the world
and that was his jealousy. He was fond of me--no man could be fonder of a friend. And he was devoted to his wife. He loved me to e here
and was forever sending for me. And yet if his wife and I talked together or there seemed any sympathy beeen us
a kind of wave of jealousy would pass over him
and he would be off the handle and saying the wildest things in a moment. More than once I've sworn off ing for that reason
and then he would write me such penitent
imploring letters that I just had to. But you can take it from me
gentlemen
if it was my last word
that no man ever had a more loving
faithful wife--and I can say also no friend could be more loyal than I!"
It was spoken with fervour and feeling
and yet Inspector MacDonald could not dismiss the subject.
"You are aware
" said he
"that the dead man's wedding ring has been taken from his finger?"
"So it appears
" said Barker.
"What do you mean by 'appears'? You know it as a fact."
The man seemed confused and undecided. "When I said 'appears' I meant that it was conceivable that he had himself taken off the ring."
"The mere fact that the ring should be absent
whoever may have removed it
would suggest to anyone's mind
would it not
that the marriage and the tragedy were connected?"
Barker shrugged his broad shoulders. "I can't profess to say what it means
" he answered. "But if you mean to hint that it could reflect in any way upon this lady's honour"--his eyes blazed for an instant
and then with an evident effort he got a grip upon his own emotions--"well
you are on the wrong track
that's all."
"I don't know that I've anything else to ask you at present
" said MacDonald
coldly.
"There was one small point
" remarked Sherlock Holmes. "When you entered the room there was only a candle lighted on the table
was there not?"
"Yes
that was so."