the boscombe valley mystery-第6部分

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man。　Though　clear　of　mind　and　fairly　strong　of　limb；　I　knew　that　my

own　fate　was　sealed。　But　my　memory　and　my　girl！　Both　could　be　saved　if

I　could　but　silence　that　foul　tongue。　I　did　it；　Mr。　Holmes。

　　〃I　would　do　it　again。　Deeply　as　I　have　sinned；　I　have　led　a　life

of　martyrdom　to　atone　for　it。　But　that　my　girl　should　be　entangled

in　the　same　meshes　which　held　me　was　more　than　I　could　suffer。　I

struck　him　down　with　no　more　compunction　than　if　he　had　been　some　foul

and　venomous　beast。　His　cry　brought　back　his　son；　but　I　had　gained　the

cover　of　the　wood；　though　I　was　forced　to　go　back　to　fetch　the　cloak

which　I　had　dropped　in　my　flight。　That　is　the　true　story；　gentlemen；

of　all　that　occurred。〃

　　Well；　it　is　not　for　me　to　judge　you；〃　said　Holmes　as　the　old　man

signed　the　statement　which　had　been　drawn　out。　〃I　pray　that　we　may

never　be　exposed　to　such　a　temptation。〃

　　〃I　pray　not；　sir。　And　what　do　you　intend　to　do？〃

　　〃In　view　of　your　health；　nothing。　You　are　yourself　aware　that　you

will　soon　have　to　answer　for　your　deed　at　a　higher　court　than　the

Assizes。　I　will　keep　your　confession；　and　if　McCarthy　is　condemned　I

shall　be　forced　to　use　it。　If　not；　it　shall　never　be　seen　by　mortal

eye；　and　your　secret；　whether　you　be　alive　or　dead；　shall　be　safe　with

us。〃

　　〃Farewell；　then；〃　said　the　old　man　solemnly。　〃Your　own　deathbeds；

when　they　come；　will　be　the　easier　for　the　thought　of　the　peace

which　you　have　given　to　mine。〃　Tottering　and　shaking　in　all　his

giant　frame；　he　stumbled　slowly　from　the　room。

　　〃God　help　us！〃　said　Holmes　after　a　long　silence。　〃Why　does　fate　play

such　tricks　with　poor；　helpless　worms？　I　never　hear　of　such　a　case

as　this　that　I　do　not　think　of　Baxter's　words；　and　say；　'There；　but

for　the　grace　of　God；　goes　Sherlock　Holmes。'〃

　　James　McCarthy　was　acquitted　at　the　Assizes　on　the　strength　of　a

number　of　objections　which　had　been　drawn　out　by　Holmes　and

submitted　to　the　defending　counsel。　Old　Turner　lived　for　seven

months　after　our　interview；　but　he　is　now　dead；　and　there　is　every

prospect　that　the　son　and　daughter　may　come　to　live　happily　together

in　ignorance　of　the　black　cloud　which　rests　upon　their　past。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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