the adventure of the second stain-第4章
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〃She was certainly much moved。〃
〃Remember also the curious earnestness with which she assured us
that it was best for her husband that she should know all。 What did
she mean by that？ And you must have observed； Watson； how she
manoeuvred to have the light at her back。 She did not wish us to
read her expression。〃
〃Yes； she chose the one chair in the room。〃
〃And yet the motives of women are so inscrutable。 You remember the
woman at Margate whom I suspected for the same reason。 No powder on
her nose… that proved to be the correct solution。 How can you build on
such a quicksand？ Their most trivial action may mean volumes； or their
most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or a curling
tongs。 Good…morning； Watson。〃
〃You are off？〃
〃Yes； I will while away the morning at Godolphin Street with our
friends of the regular establishment。 With Eduardo Lucas lies the
solution of our problem； though I must admit that I have not an
inkling as to what form it may take。 It is a capital mistake to
theorize in advance of the facts。 Do you stay on guard； my good
Watson； and receive any fresh visitors。 I'll join you at lunch if I am
able。〃
All that day and the next and the next Holmes was in a mood which
his friends would can taciturn； and others morose。 He ran out and
ran in； smoked incessantly； played snatches on his violin； sank into
reveries； devoured sandwiches at irregular hours； and hardly
answered the casual questions which I put to him。 It was evident to me
that things were not going well with him or his quest。 He would say
nothing of the case； and it was from the papers that I learned the
particulars of the inquest； and the arrest with the subsequent release
of John Mitton； the valet of the deceased。 The coroner's jury
brought in the obvious Wilful Murder； but the；parties remained as
unknown as ever。 No motive was suggested。 The room was full of
articles of value； but none had been taken。 The dead man's papers
had not been tampered with。 They were carefully examined； and showed
that he was a keen student of international politics； an indefatigable
gossip； a remarkable linguist； and an untiring letter writer。 He had
been on intimate terms with the leading politicians of several
countries。 But nothing sensational was discovered among the
documents which filled his drawers。 As to his relations with women；
they appeared to have been promiscuous but superficial。 He had many
acquaintances among them； but few friends； and no one whom he loved。
His habits were regular； his conduct inoffensive。 His death was an
absolute mystery and likely to remain so。
As to the arrest of John Mitton； the valet； it was a council of
despair as an alternative to absolute inaction。 But no case could be
sustained against him。 He had visited friends in Hammersmith that
night。 The alibi was complete。 It is true that he started home at an
hour which should have brought him to Westminster before the time when
the crime was discovered； but his own explanation that he had walked
part of the way seemed probable enough in view of the fineness of
the night。 He had actually arrived at twelve o'clock； and appeared
to be overwhelmed by the unexpected tragedy。 He had always been on
good terms with his master。 Several of the dead man's possessions…
notably a small case of razors… had been found in the valet's boxes；
but he explained that they had been presents from the deceased； and
the housekeeper was able to corroborate the story。 Mitton had been
in Lucas's employment for three years。 It was noticeable that Lucas
did not take Mitton on the Continent with him。 Sometimes he visited
Paris for three months on end； but Mitton was left in charge of the
Godolphin Street house。 As to the housekeeper； she had heard nothing
on the night of the crime。 If her master had a visitor he had
himself admitted him。
So for three mornings the mystery remained； so far as I could follow
it in the papers。 If Holmes knew more； he kept his own counsel； but；
as he told me that Inspector Lestrade had taken him into him into
his confidence in the case； I knew that he was in close touch with
every development。 Upon the fourth day there appeared a long
telegram from Paris which seemed to solve the whole question。
A discovery has just been made by the Parisian police ＇said the
Daily Telegraph＇ which raises the veil which hung round the tragic
fate of Mr。 Eduardo Lucas； who met his death by violence last Monday
night at Godolphin Street； Westminster。 Our readers will remember that
the deceased gentleman was found stabbed in his room； and that some
suspicion attached to his valet； but that the case broke down on an
alibi。 Yesterday a lady； who has been known as Mme。 Henri Fournaye；
occupying a small villa in the Rue Austerlitz； was reported to the
authorities by her servants as being insane。 An examination showed she
had indeed developed mania of a dangerous and permanent form。 On
inquiry； the police have discovered that Mme。 Henri Fournaye only
returned from a journey to London on Tuesday last； and there is
evidence to connect her with the crime at Westminster。 A comparison of
photographs has proved conclusively that M。 Henri Fournaye and Eduardo
Lucas were really one and the same person； and that the deceased had
for some reason lived a double life in London and Paris。 Mme。
Fournaye； who is of Creole origin； is of an extremely excitable
nature； and has suffered in the past from attacks of jealousy which
have amounted to frenzy。 It is conjectured that it was in one of these
that she committed the terrible crime which has caused such a
sensation in London。 Her movements upon the Monday night have not
yet been traced； but it is undoubted that a woman answering to her
description attracted much attention at Charing Cross Station on
Tuesday morning by the wildness of her appearance and the violence
of her gestures。 It is probable； therefore； that the crime was
either committed when insane； or that its immediate effect was to
drive the unhappy woman out of her mind。 At present she is unable to
give any coherent account of the past； and the doctors hold out no
hopes of the reestablishment of her reason。 There is evidence that a
woman； who might have been Mme。 Fournaye； was seen for some hours upon
Monday night watching the house in Godolphin Street。
〃What do you think of that； Holmes？〃 I had read the account aloud to
him； while he finished his breakfast。
〃My dear Watson；〃 said he； as he rose from the table and paced up
and down the room； 〃You are most long…suffering； but if I have told
you nothing in the last three days； it is because there is nothing
to tell。 Even now this report from Paris does not help us much。〃
〃Surely it is final as regards the man's death。〃
〃The man's death is a mere incident… a trivial episode… in
comparison with our real task； which is to trace this document and
save a European catastrophe。 Only one important thing has happened
in the last three days； and that is that nothing has happened。 I get
reports almost hourly from the government； and it is certain that
nowhere in Europe is there any sign of trouble。 Now； if this letter
were loose… no； it can't be loose… but if it isn't loose； where can it
be？ Who has it？ Why is it held back？ That's the question that beats in
my brain like a hammer。 Was it； indeed； a coincidence that Lucas
should meet his death on the night when the letter disappeared？ Did
the letter ever reach him？ If so； why is it not among his papers？
Did this mad wife of his carry it off with her？ If so； is it in her
house in Paris？ How could I search for it without the French police
having their suspicions aroused？ It is a case； my dear Watson； where
the law is as dangerous to us as the criminals are。 Every man's hand
is against us； and yet the interests at stake are colossal。 Should I
bring it to a successful conclusion； it will certainly represent the
crowning glory of my career。 Ah； here is my latest from the front！〃 He
glanced hurriedly at the note which had been handed in。 〃Halloa！
Lestrade seem
