按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
wife； to give exhibitions inside its cage。 Here； you see； is a
photograph of the performance by which you will perceive that Ronder
was a huge porcine person and that his wife was a very magnificent
woman。 It was deposed at the inquest that there had been some signs
that the lion was dangerous； but； as usual； familiarity begat
contempt； and no notice was taken of the fact。
〃It was usual for either Ronder or his wife to feed the lion at
night。 Sometimes one went； sometimes both； but they never allowed
anyone else to do it； for they believed that so long as they were
the food…carriers he would regard them as benefactors and would
never molest them。 On this particular night； seven years ago； they
both went； and a very terrible happening followed； the details of
which have never been made clear。
〃It seems that the whole camp was roused near midnight by the
roars of the animal and the screams of the woman。 The different grooms
and employees rushed from their tents； carrying lanterns； and by their
light an awful sight was revealed。 Ronder lay； with the back of his
head crushed in and deep claw…marks across his scalp； some ten yards
from the cage； which was open。 Close to the door of the cage lay
Mrs。 Ronder upon her back； with the creature squatting and snarling
above her。 It had torn her face in such a fashion that it was never
thought that she could live。 Several of the circus men； headed by
Leonardo； the strong man； and Griggs； the clown； drove the creature
off with poles； upon which it sprang back into the cage and was at
once locked in。 How it had got loose was a mystery。 It was conjectured
that the pair intended to enter the cage； but that when the door was
loosed the creature bounded out upon them。 There was no other point of
interest in the evidence save that the woman in a delirium of agony
kept screaming； 'Coward！ Coward！' as she was carried back to the van
in which they lived。 It was six months before she was fit to give
evidence； but the inquest was duly held； with the obvious verdict of
death from misadventure。
〃What alternative could be conceived？〃 said I。
〃You may well say so。 And yet there were one or two points which
worried young Edmunds； of the Berkshire Constabulary。 A smart lad
that！ He was sent later to Allanabad。 That was how I came into the
matter； for he dropped in and smoked a pipe or two over it。〃
〃A thin； yellow…haired man？〃
〃Exactly。 I was sure you would pick up the trail presently。〃
〃But what worried him？〃
〃Well； we were both worried。 It was so deucedly difficult to
reconstruct the affair。 Look at it from the lion's point of view。 He
is liberated。 What does he do？ He takes half a dozen bounds forward；
which brings him to Ronder。 Ronder turns to fly… the claw…marks were
on the back of his head… but the lion strikes him down。 Then；
instead of bounding on and escaping； he returns to the woman； who
was close to the cage； and he knocks her over and chews her face up。
Then； again； those cries of hers would seem to imply that her
husband had in some way failed her。 What could the poor devil have
done to help her？ You see the difficulty？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃And then there was another thing。 It comes back to me now as I
think it over。 There was some evidence that just at the time the
lion roared and the woman screamed； a man began shouting in terror。〃
〃This man Ronder； no doubt。〃
〃Well； if his skull was smashed in you would hardly expect to hear
from him again。 There were at least two witnesses who spoke of the
cries of a man being mingled with those of a woman。〃
〃I should think the whole camp was crying out by then。 As to the
other points； I think I could suggest a solution。〃
〃I should be glad to consider it。〃
〃The two were together； ten yards from the cage； when the lion got
loose。 The man turned and was struck down。 The woman conceived the
idea of getting into the cage and shutting the door。 It was her only
refuge。 She made for it； and just as she reached it the beast
bounded after her and knocked her over。 She was angry with her husband
for having encouraged the beast's rage by turning。 If they had faced
it they might have cowed it。 Hence her cries of 'Coward！'〃
〃Brilliant； Watson！ Only one flaw in your diamond。〃
〃What is the flaw； Holmes？〃
〃If they were both ten paces from the cage； how came the beast to
get loose？〃
〃Is it possible that they had some enemy who loosed it？〃
〃And why should it attack them savagely when it was in the habit
of playing with them； and doing tricks with them inside the cage？〃
〃Possibly the same enemy had done something to enrage it。〃
Holmes looked thoughtful and remained in silence for some moments。
〃Well； Watson； there is this to be said for your theory。 Ronder
was a man of many enemies。 Edmunds told me that in his cups he was
horrible。 A huge bully of a man； he cursed and slashed at everyone who
came in his way。 I expect those cries about a monster； of which our
visitor has spoken； were nocturnal reminiscences of the dear departed。
However； our speculations are futile until we have all the facts。
There is a cold partridge on the sideboard； Watson； and a bottle of
Montrachet。 Let us renew our energies before we make a fresh call upon
them。〃
When our hansom deposited us at the house of Mrs。 Merrilow； we found
that plump lady blocking up the open door of her humble but retired
abode。 It was very clear that her chief preoccupation was lest she
should lose a valuable lodger； and she implored us； before showing
us up； to say and do nothing which could lead to so undesirable an
end。 Then； having reassured her； we followed her up the straight；
badly carpeted staircase and were shown into the room of the
mysterious lodger。
It was a close； musty； ill…ventilated place； as might be expected；
since its inmate seldom left it。 From keeping beasts in a cage； the
woman seemed； by some retribution of fate； to have become herself a
beast in a cage。 She sat now in a broken armchair in the shadowy
corner of the room。 Long years of inaction had coarsened the lines
of her figure； but at some period it must have been beautiful； and was
still full and voluptuous。 A thick dark veil covered her face； but
it was cut off close at her upper lip and disclosed a perfectly shaped
mouth and a delicately rounded chin。 I could well conceive that she
had indeed been a very remarkable woman。 Her voice； too； was well
modulated and pleasing。
〃My name is not unfamiliar to you； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said she。 〃I thought
that it would bring you。〃
〃That is so； madam； though I do not know how you are aware that I
was interested in your case。〃
〃I learned it when I had recovered my health and was examined by Mr。
Edmunds； the county detective。 I fear I lied to him。 Perhaps it
would have been wiser had I told the truth。〃
〃It is usually wiser to tell the truth。 But why did you lie to him？〃
〃Because the fate of someone else depended upon it。 I know that he
was a very worthless being； and yet I would not have his destruction
upon my conscience。 We had been so close… so close！〃
〃But has this impediment been removed？〃
〃Yes； sir。 the person that I allude to is dead。〃
〃Then why should you not now tell the police anything you know？〃
〃Because there is another person to be considered。 That other person
is myself。 I could not stand the scandal and publicity which would
come from a police examination。 I have not long to live； but I wish to
die undisturbed。 And yet I wanted to find one man of judgment to
whom I could tell my terrible story； so that when I am gone all
might be understood。〃
〃You compliment me； madam。 At the same time； I am a responsible
person。 I do not promise you that when you have spoken I may not
myself think it my duty to refer the case to the police。〃
〃I think not； Mr。 Holmes。 I know your character and methods too
well； for I have followed your work for some years。 Reading is the
only pleasure which fate has left me； and I miss little which passes
in the world。 But in any case； I will take my chance of the use
which