黑彼得（8）

“I must admit both your points,” said he. “I confess that this note-book, which did not appear at the inquest, modifies any views which I may have formed. I had come to a theory of the crime in which I can find no place for this. Have you endeavoured to trace any of the securities here mentioned?”

“Inquiries are now being made at the offices, but I fear that the complete register of the stockholders of these South American concerns is in South America, and that some weeks must elapse before we can trace the shares.”

Holmes had been examining the cover of the note-book with his magnifying lens.

“Surely there is some discolouration here,” said he.

“Yes, sir, it is a blood-stain. I told you that I picked the book off the floor.”

“Was the blood-stain above or below?”

“On the side next the boards.”

“Which proves, of course, that the book was dropped after the crime was committed.”

“Exactly, Mr. Holmes. I appreciated that point, and I conjectured that it was dropped by the murderer in his hurried flight. It lay near the door.”

“I suppose that none of these securities have been found among the property of the dead man?”

“No, sir.”

“Have you any reason to suspect robbery?”

“No, sir. Nothing seemed to have been touched.”

“Dear me, it is certainly a very interesting case. Then there was a knife, was there not?”

“A sheath-knife, still in its sheath. It lay at the feet of the dead man. Mrs. Carey has identified it as being her husband's property.”

Holmes was lost in thought for some time.

“Well,” said he, at last, “I suppose I shall have to come out and have a look at it.”

Stanley Hopkins gave a cry of joy.

“Thank you, sir. That will indeed be a weight off my mind.”

Holmes shook his finger at the inspector.

他说：“我完全同意你的两个论点。我承认这本在最初调查中没有提到的笔记改变了我原来的看法。我对于这一案件的推论没有考虑到这本笔记的内容。你有没有设法调查笔记本中提到的证券？”

“正在一交一易所调查，但是我想这些南美康采恩的股票持有者的全部名单多半在南美。必须过几周后我们才能查清这些股份。”

福尔摩斯用放大镜检查笔记本的外皮。

他说：“这儿有点弄脏了。”

“是的，先生，那是血迹。我告诉过您我是从地上捡起来的。”

“血点是在本子的上面呢？还是下面？”

“是在挨着地板的那一面。”

“这当然证明笔记本是在谋杀以后掉的。”

“福尔摩斯先生，正是这样，我理解这一点。我猜想是杀人犯在匆忙逃跑时掉的，就掉在门的旁边。”

“我想这些证券里没有一份是死者的财产，对吗？”

“没有，先生。”

“你有没有依据可以认为这是抢劫杀人案呢？”

“没有，先生。象是没有动过什么东西。”

“啊，这是件很有意思的案子，那儿有一把刀，是吗？”

“有一把带鞘的刀，刀还在刀鞘里，摆在死者的脚旁。加里太太证明那是她丈夫的东西。”

福尔摩斯沉思了一会儿。

他终于开口说：“我想我必须亲自去检查一下。”

斯坦莱·霍普金高兴地喊出声来。

“谢谢您，先生。这的确会减轻我心中的负担。”

福尔摩斯对着这位警长摆摆手。