福尔摩斯第三部 福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第4章Part19

福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第4章Part19  

"And once again
if the thought of leaving a bicycle concealed outside had occurred to you
would it really have seemed worth doing when the dullest detective would naturally say this is an obvious blind
as the bicycle is the first thing which the fugitive needed in order to make his escape."
"I can conceive of no explanation."
"And yet there should be no bination of events for which the wit of man cannot conceive an explanation. Simply as a mental exercise
without any assertion that it is true
let me indicate a possible line of thought. It is
I admit
mere imagination; but how often is imagination the mother of truth?
"We will suppose that there was a guilty secret
a really shameful secret in the life of this man Douglas. This leads to his murder by someone who is
we will suppose
an avenger
someone from outside. This avenger
for some reason which I confess I am still at a loss to explain
took the dead man's wedding ring. The vendetta might conceivably date back to the man's first marriage
and the ring be taken for some such reason.
"Before this avenger got away
Barker and the wife had reached the room. The assassin convinced them that any attempt to arrest him would lead to the publication of some hideous scandal. They were converted to this idea
and preferred to let him go. For this purpose they probably lowered the bridge
which can be done quite noiselessly
and then raised it again. He made his escape
and for some reason thought that he could do so more safely on foot than on the bicycle. He therefore left his machine where it would not be discovered until he had got safely away. So far we are within the bounds of possibility
are we not?"
"Well
it is possible
no doubt
" said I
with some reserve.
"We have to remember
Watson
that whatever occurred is certainly something very extraordinary. Well
now
to continue our supposititious case
the couple--not necessarily a guilty couple--realize after the murderer is gone that they have placed themselves in a position in which it may be difficult for them to prove that they did not themselves either do the deed or connive at it. They rapidly and rather clumsily met the situation. The mark was put by Barker's bloodstained slipper upon the windowsill to suggest how the fugitive got away. They obviously were the o who must have heard the sound of the gun; so they gave the alarm exactly as they would have done
but a good half hour after the event."
"And how do you propose to prove all this?"
"Well
if there were an outsider
he may be traced and taken. That would be the most effective of all proofs. But if not--well
the resources of science are far from being exhausted. I think that an evening alone in that study would help me much."
"An evening alone!"
"I propose to go up there presently. I have arranged it with the estimable Ames
who is by no means wholehearted about Barker. I shall sit in that room and see if its atmosphere brings me inspiration. I'm a believer in the genius loci. You smile
Friend Watson. Well
we shall see. By the way
you have that big umbrella of yours
have you not?"
"It is here."