孤身骑车人（14）

“Yes,” said our ally, “I am Bob Carruthers, and I'll  see this woman righted if I have to swing for it. I  told you what I'd do if you molested her, and, by the  Lord, I'll be as good as my word!”

“You're too late. She's my wife!”

“No, she's your widow.”

His revolver cracked, and I saw the blood spurt from  the front of Woodley's waistcoat. He spun round with a  scream and fell upon his back, his hideous red face  turning suddenly to a dreadful mottled pallor. The old  man, still clad in his surplice, burst into such a  string of foul oaths as I have never heard, and pulled  out a revolver of his own, but before he could raise it  he was looking down the barrel of Holmes's weapon.

“Enough of this,” said my friend, coldly. “Drop that  pistol! Watson, pick it up! Hold it to his head! Thank  you. You, Carruthers, give me that revolver. We'll have  no more violence. Come, hand it over!”

“Who are you, then?”

“My name is Sherlock Holmes.”

“Good Lord!”

“You have heard of me, I see. I will represent the  official police until their arrival. Here, you!” he  shouted to a frightened groom who had appeared at the  edge of the glade. “Come here. Take this note as hard  as you can ride to Farnham.” He scribbled a few words  upon a leaf from his note-book. “Give it to the  superintendent at the police-station. Until he comes I  must detain you all under my personal custody.”

The strong, masterful personality of Holmes dominated  the tragic scene, and all were equally puppets in his  hands. Williamson and Carruthers found themselves  carrying the wounded Woodley into the house, and I gave  my arm to the frightened girl. The injured man was laid  on his bed, and at Holmes's request I examined him. I  carried my report to where he sat in the old tapestry- hung dining-room with his two prisoners before him.

“He will live,” said I.

“What!” cried Carruthers, springing out of his chair.  “I'll go upstairs and finish him first. Do you tell me  that that girl, that angel, is to be tied to Roaring  Jack Woodley for life?”

“You need not concern yourself about that,” said  Holmes. “There are two very good reasons why she  should under no circumstances be his wife. In the first  place, we are very safe in questioning Mr. Williamson's  right to solemnize a marriage.”

“I have been ordained,” cried the old rascal.

“And also unfrocked.”

“Once a clergyman, always a clergyman.”

“I think not. How about the license?”

“We had a license for the marriage. I have it here in  my pocket.”

“是的，"我们的伙伴说道，"我就是鲍勃·卡拉瑟斯，我要看到这姑一娘一安然无恙，否则我只好上吊了。我告诉过你，假如你一騷一扰了她，我准备怎么办。皇天在上，我说到做到。”

“你太晚了，她已经是我妻子了。”

“不对，她是你的寡妻。”

槍声响了，我看到血从伍德利前心喷一出来。他尖一叫一声转了一下一身一子就仰面倒下了，那丑陋的红脸霎时变成斑驳而又苍白，十分吓人。那老头子依然披着白色的法衣，此时破口大骂，那骂不绝口的肮脏话语，我真是闻所未闻的。他掏出他自己的手槍来，但还没来得及举槍，就看见福尔摩斯的槍口已经对准他了。

“够了，"我的朋友冷冷地说道，"把槍扔下！华生，你把槍拣起来！把槍对准他的头！谢谢你。还有你，卡拉瑟斯，把你的槍也给我。我们用不着再动武了。来，把槍缴了！”

“那么，你是谁？”

“我叫歇洛克·福尔摩斯。”

“啊呀！”

“我看得出，你们早知道我的名字了。在官方警探来到以前，我只好代劳了。喂，你！埃尔摩斯向林中空地那边一个吓坏了的马夫喊道，纳姆去。"福尔摩斯从笔记本上撕下一页纸，草草写了几句话，"把这送到警察署一交一给警长。在他来到之前，我只好代劳来监护你们了。”

福尔摩斯那坚强的主宰一切的一性一格在支配着这幕惨剧的场面，所有的人都同样乖乖地听他的摆一布。威廉森和卡拉瑟斯把受伤的伍德利抬进屋去，我也扶着那受惊的姑一娘一。伤者放在一床一上，我应福尔摩斯的要求对伤者进行了检查。当我向他报告检查结果时，他正坐在挂有壁毯的老式饭厅里，面前坐着受他监护的威廉森和卡拉瑟斯。

“他可以活下来，"我报告说。

“什么！"卡拉瑟斯高声喊道，从椅子上跳下来，"我首先上楼把他结果了再说。你们不是对我说，那个小天使般的姑一娘一要一辈子受狂徒伍德利的约束吗？”

“这用不着你过问，"福尔摩斯说道，"她根本不成其为他的妻室，这有两条非常充分的理由。第一，我们完全有把握怀疑威廉森主持婚礼的权利。”

“我受任过圣职，"那老无赖喊道。

“早就免去圣职了。”

“一旦做牧师，终身是牧师。”

“我看不行。那么结婚证书呢？”

“我们有结婚证书，就在我衣袋里。”