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！
six months afterwards the Marquess of Montalva and Signor Rulli； his
secretary； were both murdered in their rooms at the Hotel Escurial at
Madrid。 The crime was ascribed to Nihilism； and the murderers were
never arrested。 Inspector Baynes visited us at Baker Street with a printed
description of the dark face of the secretary； and of the masterful features；
the magnetic black eyes； and the tufted brows of his master。 We could not
doubt that justice； if belated； had come at last。
〃A chaotic case； my dear Watson；〃 said Holmes over an evening pipe。
〃It will not be possible for you to present in that compact form which is
dear to your heart。 It covers two continents； concerns two groups of
mysterious persons； and is further complicated by the highly respectable
presence of our friend； Scott Eccles； whose inclusion shows me that the
deceased Garcia had a scheming mind and a well…developed instinct of
self… preservation。 It is remarkable only for the fact that amid a perfect
jungle of possibilities we； with our worthy collaborator； the inspector； have
kept our close hold on the essentials and so been guided along the crooked
and winding path。 Is there any point which is not quite clear to you？〃
〃The object of the mulatto cook's return？〃
〃I think that the strange creature in the kitchen may account for it。 The
man was a primitive savage from the backwoods of San Pedro； and this
was his fetish。 When his companion and he had fled to some prearranged
retreatalready occupied； no doubt by a confederatethe companion had
30
… Page 31…
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
persuaded him to leave so compromising an article of furniture。 But the
mulatto's heart was with it； and he was driven back to it next day； when； on
reconnoitering through the window； he found policeman Walters in
possession。 He waited three days longer； and then his piety or his
superstition drove him to try once more。 Inspector Baynes； who； with his
usual astuteness； had minimized the incident before me； had really
recognized its importance and had left a trap into which the creature
walked。 Any other point； Watson？〃
〃The torn bird； the pail of blood； the charred bones； all the mystery of
that weird kitchen？〃
Holmes smiled as he turned up an entry in his note…book。
〃I spent a morning in the British Museum reading up on that and other
points。 Here is a quotation from Eckermann's Voodooism and the Negroid
Religions：
〃'The true voodoo…worshipper attempts nothing of importance without
certain sacrifices which are intended to propitiate his unclean gods。 In
extreme cases these rites take the form of human sacrifices followed by
cannibalism。 The more usual victims are a white cock； which is plucked in
pieces alive； or a black goat； whose throat is cut and body burned。'
〃So you see our savage friend was very orthodox in his ritual。 It is
grotesque； Watson；〃 Holmes added； as he slowly fastened his notebook；
〃but； as I have had occasion to remark； there is but one step from the
grotesque to the horrible。〃
31