修道院公学（25）

“I accuse you,” said he. “And now, your Grace, I'll trouble you for that cheque.”

Never shall I forget the Duke's appearance as he sprang up and clawed with his hands like one who is sinking into an abyss. Then, with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic self-command, he sat down and sank his face in his hands. It was some minutes before he spoke.

“How much do you know?” he asked at last, without raising his head.

“I saw you together last night.”

“Does anyone else besides your friend know?”

“I have spoken to no one.”

The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened his cheque-book.

“I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write your cheque, however unwelcome the information which you have gained may be to me. When the offer was first made I little thought the turn which events might take. But you and your friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes?”

“I hardly understand your Grace.”

“I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of this incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. I think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not?”

But Holmes smiled and shook his head.

“I fear, your Grace, that matters can hardly be arranged so easily. There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for.”

“But James knew nothing of that. You cannot hold him responsible for that. It was the work of this brutal ruffian whom he had the misfortune to employ.”

“I must take the view, your Grace, that when a man embarks upon a crime he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it.”

“Morally, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right. But surely not in the eyes of the law. A man cannot be condemned for a murder at which he was not present, and which he loathes and abhors as much as you do. The instant that he heard of it he made a complete confession to me, so filled was he with horror and remorse. He lost not an hour in breaking entirely with the murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must save him—you must save him! I tell you that you must save him!” The Duke had dropped the last attempt at self-command, and was pacing the room with a convulsed face and with his clenched hands raving in the air. At last he mastered himself and sat down once more at his desk.

他说：“我控告的就是您。公爵，现在麻烦你开支票吧！”

我永远不会忘记公爵当时的表现，他从椅子上跳起来，两手紧一握着拳，象是一个掉进深渊里的人。然后他又施用贵族的极大自我控制力才坐了下来，把脸埋在两手中。好几分钟他没讲话。

他终于开口了，但是没有抬头：“你都知道了吗？”

“昨天晚上我看见您和他们在一起。”

“除去你的朋友，还有别人知道吗？”

“我对谁也没有讲过。”

公爵颤一抖地拿起钢笔，并且打开了他的支票本。

“福尔摩斯先生，我说话是算数的，虽然你得到的情况对我不利，我还是要给你开支票。最初规定报酬的时候，我没有想到事情会有变化。福尔摩斯先生，你和你的朋友都是谨慎的人，是吗？”

“我很难理解公爵的意思。”

“福尔摩斯先生，我明白地说吧。要是只有你们两人知道这个事件，那么便没有理由让此事传出去。我想付给你们的总数应该是一万二千镑，对吗？”

福尔摩斯微笑了并且摇摇头。

“公爵，我怕事情并不那样容易处理。学校教师的死亡要考虑在内。”

“可是詹姆士对此一无所知。你不能让他负这个责任。这是那个凶残的恶棍干的，他不幸雇佣了这个人。”

“公爵，我是这样看的。当一个人犯下一桩罪行的时候，对于由此而引起另一罪行，他也有道义上的责任。”

“福尔摩斯先生，从道义上来说，无疑你是对的，但是绝对不是从法律的角度来说。在一件谋杀案中，一个不在现场的人不应受到刑罚，何况他非常痛恨和憎恶杀害人。王尔得一听到这件事，便向我完全坦白了，并且他是那样地悔恨。不过一小时，他便和杀人犯断绝了往来。喔，福尔摩斯先生，你一定救救他，一定救救他！我跟你说，你一定救救他！"公爵再也控制不住自己了，他面孔痉一挛起来，在屋内踱来踱去，并且两手握拳在空中挥动。最后他好不容易才安静下来，在书桌旁坐下。