修道院公学（24）

“The fact is, your Grace,” said he, “that my colleague, Dr. Watson, and myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable that a reward had been offered in this case. I should like to have this confirmed from your own lips.”

“Certainly, Mr. Holmes.”

“It amounted, if I am correctly informed, to five thousand pounds to anyone who will tell you where your son is?”

“Exactly.”

“And another thousand to the man who will name the person or persons who keep him in custody?”

“Exactly.”

“Under the latter heading is included, no doubt, not only those who may have taken him away, but also those who conspire to keep him in his present position?”

“Yes, yes,” cried the Duke, impatiently. “If you do your work well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you will have no reason to complain of niggardly treatment.”

My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an appearance of avidity which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes.

“I fancy that I see your Grace's cheque-book upon the table,” said he. “I should be glad if you would make me out a cheque for six thousand pounds. It would be as well, perhaps, for you to cross it. The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, are my agents.”

His Grace sat very stern and upright in his chair, and looked stonily at my friend.

“Is this a joke, Mr. Holmes? It is hardly a subject for pleasantry.”

“Not at all, your Grace. I was never more earnest in my life.”

“What do you mean, then?”

“I mean that I have earned the reward. I know where your son is, and I know some, at least, of those who are holding him.”

The Duke's beard had turned more aggressively red than ever against his ghastly white face.

“Where is he?” he gasped.

“He is, or was last night, at the Fighting Cock Inn, about two miles from your park gate.”

The Duke fell back in his chair.

“And whom do you accuse?”

Sherlock Holmes's answer was an astounding one. He stepped swiftly forward and touched the Duke upon the shoulder.

“公爵，事情是这样的，我的同事华生大夫和我得到贺克斯塔布尔博士的许诺，他说解决这个案件是有报酬的。我希望您亲口说定此事。”

“当然了，福尔摩斯先生。”

“如果他说得无误的话，谁要告诉您您的儿子在哪里，将会得到五千镑。”

“对的。”

“要是说出扣压您儿子的人的名字，可以再得一千镑。”

“对的。”

“这一项不仅包括带走您儿子的人的名字，而且也包括那些共谋扣压他的人们的名字，是吗？”

公爵不耐烦地说：“是的，是的，歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生，要是你的侦查工作做好了，你便没有理由抱怨待遇低。”

我的朋友带着贪婪的样子，一搓一着他的两只手，这使我感到吃惊，因为我知道他一向索费很低。

他说：“公爵，我想您的支票本就在桌子上吧，您给我开一张六千镑的支票，我将非常高兴。最好您再背签一下。我的代理银行是'城乡银行牛津街支行'。”

公爵严峻而又僵直地坐在椅子上，冷淡地看着我的朋友。

“福尔摩斯先生，你是说笑话吗？这可不是逗笑的事。”

“公爵，一点也没有。我现在最认真不过了。”

“那么，你的意思是什么呢？”

“我的意思是我已经挣得了这笔报酬。我知道你的儿子在哪里，并且我至少知道几个扣压他的人。”

公爵的红一胡一须在苍白得可怕的面孔上愈加红得吓人。

他气喘吁吁地说：“他在哪儿？”

“他在，或者说昨天晚上在'斗鸡'旅店，离您的花园大门两英里。”

公爵靠在了椅子上。

“你要控告谁？”

歇洛克·福尔摩斯的回答使人一大吃一惊。他迅速走向前去按着公爵的肩膀。