Chapter 11

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Reasoning Backwards (Part II)

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II. The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

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“Of course
I at once saw
the enormous importance ( 重大意義)
of the observation.

It was evident
that the victim
was a blood relation ( 血親)
and probably
a very close one.

I began to talk to her
about her family,
and you remember
that she at once
gave us
some exceedingly ( 極其)
valuable details.”

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“In the first place,
her sister’s name
was Sarah,
and her address
had until recently
been the same,
so that it was
quite obvious
how the mistake
had occurred
and for whom
the packet
was meant.

Then we heard
of this steward,
married
to the third sister,
and learned
that he had
at one time
been so intimate ( 親密的)
with Miss Sarah
that she had actually
gone up to Liverpool
to be near
the Browners,
but a quarrel
had afterwards
divided them.

This quarrel
had put a stop
to all communications
for some months,
so that if Browner
had occasion
to address a packet
to Miss Sarah,
he would undoubtedly
have done so
to her old
address.”

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“And now
the matter
had begun to straighten
itself out
wonderfully.

We had learned
of the existence
of this steward,
an impulsive man,
of strong passions—
you remember
that he threw up ( 辭去)
what must have been
a very superior berth ( 職位),
in order to be nearer
to his wife—
subject, too,
to occasional fits
of hard drinking.

We had reason
to believe
that his wife
had been murdered,
and that a man—
presumably
a seafaring ( 航海的) man—
had been murdered
at the same time.”

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“Jealousy ( 嫉妒),
of course,
at once suggests itself
as the motive
for the crime.

And why
should these proofs
of the deed ( 罪行)
be sent
to Miss Sarah Cushing?

Probably
because during her residence ( 居住期間)
in Liverpool
she had some hand
in bringing about
the events
which led
to the tragedy ( 悲劇).

You will observe
that this line
of boats
calls at Belfast,
Dublin,
and Waterford;
so that,
presuming that Browner
had committed
the deed
and had embarked
at once
upon his steamer,
the _May Day_,
Belfast would be
the first place
at which he could post
his terrible
packet.”

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“A second solution
was at this stage
obviously possible,
and although
I thought it
exceedingly unlikely,
I was determined
to elucidate ( 釐清) it
before going further.

An unsuccessful lover
might have killed
Mr. and Mrs. Browner,
and the male ear
might have belonged
to the husband.

There were many
grave objections ( 重大反對理由)
to this theory,
but it was
conceivable ( 可想像的).”

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“I therefore
sent off a telegram
to my friend Algar,
of the Liverpool force,
and asked him
to find out
if Mrs. Browner
were at home,
and if Browner
had departed
in the _May Day_.

Then we went on
to Wallington
to visit
Miss Sarah.”

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“I was curious,
in the first place,
to see how far
the family ear
had been reproduced
in her.

Then,
of course,
she might give us
very important
information,
but I was not
sanguine ( 樂觀的)
that she would.”

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“She must have heard
of the business
the day before,
since all Croydon
was ringing with it,
and she alone
could have understood
for whom
the packet
was meant.

If she had been willing
to help justice
she would probably
have communicated
with the police
already.

However,
it was clearly
our duty
to see her,
so we went.

We found
that the news
of the arrival
of the packet—
for her illness
dated from that time—
had such an effect
upon her
as to bring on
brain fever ( 腦熱／舊稱).

It was clearer
than ever
that she understood
its full significance ( 重要性),
but equally clear
that we should have
to wait some time
for any assistance
from her.”

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“However,
we were really
independent
of her help.

Our answers
were waiting for us
at the police-station,
where I had directed
Algar
to send them.

Nothing could be
more conclusive ( 確鑿的).”

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“Mrs. Browner’s house
had been closed
for more than
three days,
and the neighbours ( 鄰居)
were of opinion
that she had gone south
to see
her relatives.

It had been ascertained
at the shipping offices ( 航運公司辦公室)
that Browner
had left aboard
of the _May Day_,
and I calculate ( 估算)
that she is due ( 預計到達)
in the Thames
to-morrow night.

When he arrives
he will be met
by the obtuse ( 遲鈍的)
but resolute ( 果斷的)
Lestrade,
and I have no doubt
that we shall have
all our details
filled in.”

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The  End