海军协定（26）（在线收听）

“She said that he husband was very tired and she wished to relieve him.”

“Well, certainly that would agree with his being found a little later asleep in his chair. There is nothing against them then but the woman's character. Did you ask her why she hurried away that night? Her haste attracted the attention of the police constable.”

“She was later than usual and wanted to get home.”

“Did you point out to her that you and Mr. Phelps, who started at least twenty minutes after he, got home before her?”

“She explains that by the difference between a 'bus and a hansom.”

“Did she make it clear why, on reaching her house, she ran into the back kitchen?”

“Because she had the money there with which to pay off the brokers.”

“She has at least an answer for everything. Did you ask her whether in leaving she met any one or saw any one loitering about Charles Street?”

“She saw no one but the constable.”

“Well, you seem to have cross-examined her pretty thoroughly. What else have you done?”

“The clerk Gorot has been shadowed all these nine weeks, but without result. We can show nothing against him.”

“Anything else?”

“Well, we have nothing else to go upon—no evidence of any kind.”

“Have you formed a theory about how that bell rang?”

“Well, I must confess that it beats me. It was a cool hand, whoever it was, to go and give the alarm like that.”

“Yes, it was a queer thing to do. Many thanks to you for what you have told me. If I can put the man into your hands you shall hear from me. Come along, Watson.”

“她说，她丈夫非常疲惫，她愿替他代劳。”

“对，过了一会就发现他睡在椅子上，这当然符合情况了。

那么说，除了这女人的品行不好以外，再没有任何别的罪证了。你没有问她，那天晚上她为什么那么匆忙离去吗？连警察都注意到她那慌张的神情了。”

“她那天已经比平常晚了，所以急于赶回家去。”

“你有没有给她指出来，你和费尔普斯先生至少比她晚动身二十分钟，却比她早到？”

“她解释说，这是因为双轮双座马车比公共马车快。”

“她有没有说清楚，为什么到家以后，她跑进后厨房去？”

“她说，因为她的钱放在后厨房里，要取出来付给旧货商。”

“她对每件事都作了答复。你有没有问她，在她离开现场时，可曾遇到或是看见什么人在查尔斯街上徘徊？”

“除了警察她谁也没有看见。”

“好，看来你对她盘问得很彻底。你还采取了一些什么措施呢？”

“这九个星期一直在监视职员戈罗特，但毫无结果。我们也找不出他有什么嫌疑。”

“还有什么？”

“啊，我们已无事可做，因为一点证据也没有。”

“你考虑没有电铃为什么会响呢？”

“啊，我必须承认，这可把我难住了。不管他是谁，也算是够大胆的了，不仅来了，而且还敢发出警报。”

“是的，这确实是件怪事。谢谢你告诉我们这些情况。如果我要你去抓这个人，我会通知你的。华生，走吧。”