按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the impunity with which crime may be committed there。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 I cried。 〃Who would associate crime with these
dear old homesteads？〃
〃They always fill me with a certain horror。 It is my belief； Watson；
founded upon my experience； that the lowest and vilest alleys in
London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the
smiling and beautiful countryside。〃
〃You horrify me！〃
〃But the reason is very obvious。 The pressure of public opinion
can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish。 There is no lane so
vile that the scream of a tortured child； or the thud of a
drunkard's blow； does not beget sympathy and indignation among the
neighbours； and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close
that a word of complaint can set it going； and there is but a step
between the crime and the dock。 But look at these lonely houses；
each in its own fields； filled for the most part with poor ignorant
folk who know little of the law。 Think of the deeds of hellish
cruelty； the hidden wickedness which may go on； year in； year out；
in such places； and none the wiser。 Had this lady who appeals to us
for help gone to live in Winchester； I should never have had a fear
for her。 It is the five miles of country which makes the danger。
Still； it is clear that she is not personally threatened。〃
〃No。 If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away。〃
〃Quite so。 She has her freedom。〃
〃What can be the matter； then？ Can you suggest no explanation？〃
〃I have devised seven separate explanations； each of which would
cover the facts as far as we know them。 But which of these is
correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we shall
no doubt find waiting for us。 Well； there is the tower of the
cathedral； and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has to tell。〃
The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street； at no
distance from the station； and there we found the young lady waiting
for us。 She had engaged a sitting…room； and our lunch awaited us
upon the table。
〃I am so delighted that you have come；〃 she said earnestly。 〃It is
so very kind of you both； but indeed I do not know what I should do。
Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me。〃
〃Pray tell us what has happened to you。〃
〃I will do so； and I must be quick； for I have promised Mr。 Rucastle
to be back before three。 I got his leave to come into town this
morning； though he little knew for what purpose。〃
〃Let us have everything in its due order。〃 Holmes thrust his long
thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen。
〃In the first place； I may say that I have met； on the whole； with
no actual ill…treatment from Mr。 and Mrs。 Rucastle。 It is only fair to
them to say that。 But I cannot understand them； and I am not easy in
my mind about them。〃
〃What can you not understand？〃
〃Their reasons for their conduct。 But you shall have it all just
as it occurred。 When I came down； Mr。 Rucastle met me here and drove
me in his dog…cart to the Copper Beeches。 It is； as he said；
beautifully situated； but it is not beautiful in itself； for it is a
large square block of a house； whitewashed； but all stained and
streaked with damp and bad weather。 There are grounds round it；
woods on three sides； and on the fourth a field which slopes down to
the Southampton highroad； which curves past about a hundred yards from
the front door。 This ground in front belongs to the house； but the
woods all round are part of Lord Southerton's preserves。 A clump of
copper beeches immediately in front of the hall door has given its
name to the place。
〃I was driven over by my employer； who was as amiable as ever； and
was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child。 There
was no truth； Mr。 Holmes； in the conjecture which seemed to us to be
probable in your rooms at Baker Street。 Mrs。 Rucastle is not mad。 I
found her to be a silent； pale…faced woman； much younger than her
husband； not more than thirty； I should think； while he can hardly
be less than forty…five。 From their conversation I have gathered
that they have been married about seven years； that he was a
widower； and that his only child by the first wife was the daughter
who has gone to Philadelphia。 Mr。 Rucastle told me in private that the
reason why she had left them was that she had an unreasoning
aversion to her stepmother。 As the daughter could not have been less
than twenty； I can quite imagine that her position must have been
uncomfortable with her father's young wife。
〃Mrs。 Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as in
feature。 She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse。 She
was a nonentity。 It was easy to see that she was passionately
devoted both to her husband and to her little son。 Her light gray eyes
wandered continually from one to the other； noting every little want
and forestalling it if possible。 He was kind to her also in his bluff；
boisterous fashion； and on the whole they seemed to be a happy couple。
And yet she had some secret sorrow； this woman。 She would often be
lost in deep thought； with the saddest look upon her face。 More than
once I have surprised her in tears。 I have thought sometimes that it
was the disposition of her child which weighed upon her mind； for I
have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill…natured a little
creature。 He is small for his age； with a head which is quite
disproportionately large。 His whole life appears to be spent in an
alternation between savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of
sulking。 Giving pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be
his one idea of amusement； and he shows quite remarkable talent in
planning the capture of mice； little birds； and insects。 But I would
rather not talk about the creature； Mr。 Holmes； and； indeed； he has
little to do with my story。〃
〃I am glad of all details；〃 remarked my friend； 〃whether they seem
to you to be relevant or not。〃
〃I shall try not to miss anything of importance。 The one
unpleasant thing about the house； which struck me at once； was the
appearance and conduct of the servants。 There are only two； a man
and his wife。 Toller； for that is his name； is a rough； uncouth man；
with grizzled hair and whiskers； and a perpetual smell of drink。 Twice
since I have been with them he has been quite drunk； and yet Mr。
Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it。 His wife is a very tall and
strong woman with a sour face； as silent as Mrs。 Rucastle and much
less amiable。 They are a most unpleasant couple； but fortunately I
spend most of my time in the nursery and my own room； which are next
to each other in one corner of the building。
〃For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was
very quiet； on the third； Mrs。 Rucastle came down just after breakfast
and whispered something to her husband。
〃'Oh； yes；' said he； turning to me； 'we are very much obliged to
you； Miss Hunter； for falling in with our whims so far as to cut
your hair。 I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest
iota from your appearance。