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！
until recently been the same； so that it was quite obvious how the mistake
had occurred and for whom the packet was meant。 Then we heard of this
steward； married to the third sister； and learned that he had at one time
been so intimate with Miss Sarah that she had actually gone up to
Liverpool to be near the Browners； but a quarrel had afterwards divided
them。 This quarrel had put a stop to all communications for some
months； so that if Browner had occasion to address a packet to Miss Sarah；
he would undoubtedly have done so to her old address。
〃And now the matter had begun to straighten itself out wonderfully。
We had learned of the existence of this steward； an impulsive man； of
strong passionsyou remember that he threw up what must have been a
very superior berth in order to be nearer to his wifesubject； too； to
occasional fits of hard drinking。 We had reason to believe that his wife had
been murdered； and that a manpresumably a seafaring manhad been
murdered at the same time。 Jealousy； of course； at once suggests itself as
the motive for the crime。 And why should these proofs of the deed be
sent to Miss Sarah Cushing？ Probably because during her residence in
Liverpool she had some hand in bringing about the events which led to the
tragedy。 You will observe that this line of boats call at Belfast； Dublin；
and Waterford； so that； presuming that Browner had committed the deed
and had embarked at once upon his steamer； the May Day； Belfast would
be the first place at which he cold post his terrible packet。
〃A second solution was at this stage obviously possible； and although I
thought it exceedingly unlikely； I was determined to elucidate it before
going further。 An unsuccessful lover might have killed Mr。 and Mrs。
Browner； and the male ear might have belonged to the husband。 There
were many grave objections to this theory； but it was conceivable。 I
therefore sent off a telegram to my friend Algar； of the Liverpool force；
and asked him to find our if Mrs。 Browner were at home； and if Browner
had departed in the May Day。 Then we went on to Wallington to visit
Miss Sarah。
〃I was curious； in the first place； to see how far the family ear had been
15
… Page 16…
The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
reproduced in her。 Then； of course； she might give us very important
information； but I was not sanguine that she would。 She must have heard
of the business the day before； since all Croydon was ringing with it； and
she alone could have understood for whom the packet was meant。 If she
had been willing to help justice she would probably have communicated
with the police already。 However； it was clearly our duty to see her； so
we went。 We found that the news of the arrival of the packet… …for her
illness dated from that timehad such an effect upon her as to bring on
brain fever。 It was clearer than ever that she understood its full
significance； but equally clear that we should have to wait some time for
any assistance from her。
〃However； we were really independent of her help。 Our answers
were waiting for us at the police…station； where I had directed Algar to
send them。 Nothing could be more conclusive。 Mrs。 Browner's house
had been closed for more than three days； and the neighbours were of
opinion that she had gone south to see her relatives。 It had been
ascertained at the shipping offices that Browner had left aboard of the May
Day； and I calculate that she is due in the Thames tomorrow night。 When
he arrives he will be met by the obtuse but resolute Lestrade； and I have no
doubt that we shall have all our details filled in。〃
Sherlock Holmes was not disappointed in his expectations。 Two days
later he received a bulky envelope； which contained a short note form the
detective； and a typewritten document； which covered several pages of
foolscap。
〃Lestrade has got him all right；〃 said Holmes； glancing up at me。
〃Perhaps it would interest you to hear what he says。
〃My dear Mr。 Holmes：
In accordance with the scheme which we had formed in order to test
our theories〃 ＇〃the 'we' is rather fine； Watson； is it not？〃＇ 〃I went down to
the Albert Dock yesterday at 6 p。m。； and boarded the S。S。 May Day；
belonging to the Liverpool； Dublin； and London Steam Packet Company。
On inquiry； I found that there was a steward on board of the name of
James Browner and that he had acted during the voyage in such an
extraordinary manner that the captain had been compelled to relieve him
16
… Page 17…
The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
of his duties。 On descending to his berth； I found him seated upon a
chest with his head sunk upon his hands； rocking himself to and fro。 He
is a big； powerful chap； clean…shaven； and very swarthysomething like
Aldrige； who helped us in the bogus laundry affair。 He jumped up when
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 t