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！
he heard my business； and I had my whistle to my lips to call a couple of
river police； who were round the corner； but he seemed to have no heart in
him； and he held out his hands quietly enough for the darbies。 We
brought him along to the cells； and his box as well； for we thought there
might be something incriminating； but； bar a big sharp knife such as most
sailors have； we got nothing for our trouble。 However； we find that we
shall want no more evidence； for on being brought before the inspector at
the station he asked leave to make a statement； which was； of course；
taken down； just as he made it； by our shorthand man。 We had three
copies typewritten； one of which I enclose。 The affair proves； as I always
thought it would； to be an extremely simple one； but I am obliged to you
for assisting me in my investigation。 With kind regards；
〃Yours very truly；
〃G。 Lestrade。
〃Hum！ The investigation really was a very simple one；〃 remarked
Holmes； 〃but I don't think it struck him in that light when he first called us
in。 However； let us see what Jim Browner has to say for himself。 This
is his statement as made before Inspector Montgomery at the Shadwell
Police Station； and it has the advantage of being verbatim。〃
〃'Have I anything to say？ Yes； I have a deal to say。 I have to make
a clean breast of it all。 You can hang me； or you can leave me alone。 I
don't care a plug which you do。 I tell you I've not shut an eye in sleep
since I did it； and I don't believe I ever will again until I get past all
waking。 Sometimes it's his face； but most generally it's hers。 I'm never
without one or the other before me。 He looks frowning and black…like；
but she has a kind o' surprise upon her face。 Ay； the white lamb； she
might well be surprised when she read death on a face that had seldom
looked anything but love upon her before。
〃'But it was Sarah's fault； and may the curse of a broken man put a
blight on her and set the blood rotting in her veins！ It's not that I want to
17
… Page 18…
The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
clear myself。 I know that I went back to drink； like the beast that I was。
But she would have forgiven me； she wold have stuck as close to me a
rope to a block if that woman had never darkened our door。 For Sarah
Cushing loved methat's the root of the businessshe loved me until all
her love turned to poisonous hate when she knew that I thought more of
my wife's footmark in the mud than I did of her whole body and soul。
〃'There were three sisters altogether。 The old one was just a good
woman； the second was a devil； and the third was an angel。 Sarah was
thirty…three； and Mary was twenty…nine when I married。 We were just as
happy as the day was long when we set up house together； and in all
Liverpool there was no better woman than my Mary。 And then we asked
Sarah up for a week； and the week grew into a month； and one thing led to
another； until she was just one of ourselves。
〃'In was blue ribbon at that time； and we were putting a little money by；
and all was as bright as a new dollar。 My God； whoever would have
thought that it cold have come to this？ Whoever would have dreamed it？
〃'I used to be home for the week…ends very often； and sometimes if the
ship were held back for cargo I would have a whole week at a time； and in
this way I saw a deal of my sister…in…law； Sarah。 She was a fine tall woman；
black and quick and fierce； with a proud way of carrying her head； and a
glint from her eye like a spark from a flint。 But when little Mary was there
I had never a thought of her； and that I swear as I hope for God's mercy。
〃'It had seemed to me sometimes that she liked to be alone with me； or
to coax me out for a walk with her； but I had never thought anything of
that。 But one evening my eyes were opened。 I had come up form the ship
and found my wife out； but Sarah at home。 〃Where's Mary？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； she has gone to pay some accounts。〃 I was impatient and paced up
and down the room。 〃Can't you be happy for five minutes without Mary；
Jim？〃 says she。 〃It's a bad compliment to me that you can't be contented
with my society for so short a time。〃 〃That's all right； my lass；〃 said I；
putting out my hand towards her in a kindly way； but she had it in both
hers in an instant； and they burned as if they were in a fever。 I looked
into her eyes and I read it all there。 There was no need for her to speak；
nor for me either。 I frowned and drew my hand away。 Then she stood
18
… Page 19…
The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
by may side in silence for a bit； and then put up her hand and patted me on
the shoulder。 〃Steady old Jim！〃 said she； and with a kind o' mocking
laugh； she ran out of the room。
〃'Well； from that time Sarah hated me with her whole heart and soul；
and she is a woman who can hate； too。 I was a fool to let her go on biding
with usa besotted foolbut I never said a word to Mary； for I knew it
would grieve her。 Things went on much as before； but after a time I
began to find that there was a bit of a change in Mary herself。 She had
always been so trusting and so innocent； but now she became queer and
suspicious； wanting to know where I had been and what I had been doing；
and whom my letters were from； and what I had in my pockets； and a
thousand such follies。 Day by day she grew queerer and more irritable；
and we had ceaseless rows about nothing。 I was fairly puzzled by it all。
Sarah avoided me now； but she and Mary were just inseparable。 I can see
now how she was plotting and scheming and poisoning my wife's mind
against me； but I was such a blind beetle that I could not understand it at
the time。 Then I broke my blue ribbon and began to drink again； but I
think I should not have done it if Mary had been the same as ever。 She had
some reason to be disgusted with me now； and the gap between us began
to be wider