Chapter 9

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Telegram & “I’ve Found Out Everything”

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II. The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

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We had
a pleasant
little meal
together,
during which
Holmes would talk
about nothing
but violins,
narrating with
great exultation ( 興高采烈)
how he had purchased
his own
Stradivarius ( 史特拉迪瓦里名琴),
which was worth
at least
five hundred
guineas ( 基尼),
at a Jew broker’s ( 經紀商)
in Tottenham Court Road
for fifty-five
shillings.

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This led him
to Paganini ( 帕格尼尼),
and we sat
for an hour
over a bottle
of claret ( 紅酒)
while he told me
anecdote ( 逸事)
after anecdote
of that
extraordinary ( 非凡的)
man.

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The afternoon
was far advanced,
and the hot glare
had softened
into a
mellow glow ( 柔和的光)
before we found ourselves
at the
police-station ( 警察局).

Lestrade was waiting
for us
at the door.

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“A telegram ( 電報)
for you,
Mr. Holmes,”
said he.

“Ha!
It is the answer!”

He tore it open,
glanced his eyes
over it,
and crumpled ( 揉皺)
it into
his pocket.

“That’s all right,”
said he.

---

“Have you found out
anything?”

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“I have found out
everything!”

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“What!”

Lestrade stared
at him
in amazement.

“You are joking.”

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“I was never
more serious
in my life.

A shocking crime
has been committed,
and I think
I have now
laid bare
every detail
of it.”

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“And the criminal?”

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Holmes scribbled
a few words
upon the back
of one
of his
visiting cards ( 名片)
and threw it
over to
Lestrade.

“That is
the name,”
he said.

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“You cannot
effect an arrest ( 執行逮捕)
until to-morrow night
at the earliest.”

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“I should prefer
that you do not
mention my name
at all
in connection with
the case,
as I choose
to be only
associated ( 牽涉)
with those crimes
which present
some difficulty ( 困難)
in their
solution ( 解決).”

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“Come on,
Watson.”

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We strode ( 大步走)
off together
to the station,
leaving Lestrade
still staring
with a delighted ( 欣喜的)
face
at the card
which Holmes
had thrown him.

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The  End