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！
〃Yes； sir； Don Murillo； the Tiger of San Pedro；〃 said Baynes。 〃If you
look it up you will find that the San Pedro colours are green and white；
same as in the note； Mr。 Holmes。 Henderson he called himself； but I traced
him back； Paris and Rome and Madrid to Barcelona； where his ship came
in in '86。 They've been looking for him all the time for their revenge； but it
is only now that they have begun to find him out。〃
〃They discovered him a year ago；〃 said Miss Burnet； who had sat up
and was now intently following the conversation。 〃Once already his life
has been attempted； but some evil spirit shielded him。 Now； again； it is the
noble； chivalrous Garcia who has fallen； while the monster goes safe。 But
another will come； and yet another； until some day justice will be done；
that is as certain as the rise of to…morrow's sun。〃 Her thin hands clenched；
and her worn face blanched with the passion of her hatred。
〃But how come you into this matter； Miss Burnet？〃 asked Holmes。
〃How can an English lady join in such a murderous affair？〃
〃I join in it because there is no other way in the world by which justice
can be gained。 What does the law of England care for the rivers of blood
shed years ago in San Pedro； or for the shipload of treasure which this man
has stolen？ To you they are like crimes committed in some other planet。
But WE know。 We have learned the truth in sorrow and in suffering。 To us
there is no fiend in hell like Juan Murillo； and no peace in life while his
victims still cry for vengeance。〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Holmes； 〃he was as you say。 I have heard that he was
atrocious。 But how are you affected？〃
〃I will tell you it all。 This villain's policy was to murder； on one pretext
or another； every man who showed such promise that he might in time
come to be a dangerous rival。 My husbandyes； my real name is Signora
Victor Durandowas the San Pedro minister in London。 He met me and
married me there。 A nobler man never lived upon earth。 Unhappily；
Murillo heard of his excellence； recalled him on some pretext； and had
him shot。 With a premonition of his fate he had refused to take me with
him。 His estates were confiscated； and I was left with a pittance and a
27
… Page 28…
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
broken heart。
〃Then came the downfall of the tyrant。 He escaped as you have just
described。 But the many whose lives he had ruined； whose nearest and
dearest had suffered torture and death at his hands； would not let the
matter rest。 They banded themselves into a society which should never be
dissolved until the work was done。 It was my part after we had discovered
in the transformed Henderson the fallen despot； to attach myself to his
household and keep the others in touch with his movements。 This I was
able to do by securing the position of governess in his family。 He little
knew that the woman who faced him at every meal was the woman whose
husband he had hurried at an hour's notice into eternity。 I smiled on him；
did my duty to his children； and bided my time。 An attempt was made in
Paris and failed。 We zig… zagged swiftly here and there over Europe to
throw off the pursuers and finally returned to this house； which he had
taken upon his first arrival in England。
〃But here also the ministers of justice were waiting。 Knowing that he
would return there； Garcia； who is the son of the former highest dignitary
in San Pedro； was waiting with two trusty companions of humble station；
all three fired with the same reasons for revenge。 He could do little during
the day； for Murillo took every precaution and never went out save with
his satellite Lucas； or Lopez as he was known in the days of his greatness。
At night； however； he slept alone； and the avenger might find him。 On a
certain evening； which had been prearranged； I sent my friend final
instructions； for the man was forever on the alert and continually changed
his room。 I was to see that the doors were open and the signal of a green or
white light in a window which faced the drive was to give notice if all was
safe or if the attempt had better be postponed。
〃But everything went wrong with us。 In some way I had excited the
suspicion of Lopez； the secretary。 He crept up behind me and sprang upon
me just as I had finished the note。 He and his master dragged me to my
room and held judgment upon me as a convicted traitress。 Then and there
they would have plunged their knives into me could they have seen how to
escape the consequences of the deed。 Finally； after much debate； they
concluded that my murder was too dangerous。 But they determined to get
28
… Page 29…
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
rid forever of Garcia。 They had gagged me； and Murillo twisted my arm
round until I gave him the address。 I swear that he might have twisted it
off had I understood what it would mean to Garcia。 Lopez addressed the
note which I had written； sealed it with his sleeve…link； and sent it by the
hand of the servant； Jose。 How they murdered him I do not know； save that
it was Murillo's hand who struck him down； for Lopez had remained to
guard me。 I believe he must have waited among the gorse bushes through
which the path winds and struck him down as he passed。 At first they were
of a mind to let him enter the house and to kill him as a detected burglar；
but they argued that if they were mixed up in an inquiry their own identity
would at once be publicly disclosed and they would be open to further
attacks。 With the death of Garcia； the pursuit might cease； since such a
death might frighten others from the task。
〃All would now have been well for them had it not been for my
knowledge of what they had done。 I have no doubt that there were times
when my life hung in the balance。 I was confined to my room； terrorized
by the most horrible threats； cruelly ill…used to break my spiritsee this
stab on my shoulder and the bruises from end to end of my armsand a
gag was thrust into my mouth on the one occasion when I tried to call
from the window。 For five days this cruel imprisonment continued； with
hardly enough food to hold body and soul together。 This afternoon a good
lunch was brought me； but the moment after I took it I knew that I had
been drugged。 In a sort of dream I remember being half…led； half… carried
to the carriage； in the same state I was conveyed to the train。 Only then；
when the wheels were almost moving； did I suddenly realize that my
liberty lay in my own hands。 I sprang out； they tried to drag me back； and
had it not been for the help of this good man； who led me to the cab； I
should never had broken away。 Now； thank God； I am beyond their power
forever。〃
We had all listened intently to this remarkable statement。 It was
Holmes who broke the silence。
〃Our difficulties are not over；〃 he remarked； shaking his head。 〃Our
police work ends； but our legal work begins。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said I。 〃A plausible lawyer could make it out as an act of
29
… Page 30…
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
self…defence。 There may be a hundred crimes in the background； but it is
only on this one that they can be tried。〃
〃Come； come；〃 said Baynes cheerily； 〃I think better of the law than
that。 Self…defence is one thing。 To entice a man in cold blood with the
object of murdering him is another； whatever danger you may fear from
him。 No； no； we shall all be justified when we see the tenants of High
Gable at the next Guildford Assizes。〃
It is a matter of history； however； that a little time was still to elapse
before the Tiger of San Pedro should meet with his deserts。 Wily and bold；
he and his companion threw their pursuer off their track by entering a
lodging…house in Edmonton Street and leaving by the back…gate into
Curzon Square。 From that day they were seen no more in England。 Some
six months afterwards the Marquess of Montalva and Signor Rulli； his
secretary；