诺伍德的建筑师（21）（在线收听）

“Don't you think it may be a little premature? I can't help thinking that your evidence is not complete.”

Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words. He laid down his pen and looked curiously at him.

“What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?”

“Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen.”

“Can you produce him?”

“I think I can.”

“Then do so.”

“I will do my best. How many constables have you?”

“There are three within call.”

“Excellent!” said Holmes. “May I ask if they are all large, able-bodied men with powerful voices?”

“I have no doubt they are, though I fail to see what their voices have to do with it.”

“Perhaps I can help you to see that and one or two other things as well,” said Holmes. “Kindly summon your men, and I will try.”

Five minutes later three policemen had assembled in the hall.

“In the outhouse you will find a considerable quantity of straw,” said Holmes. “I will ask you to carry in two bundles of it. I think it will be of the greatest assistance in producing the witness whom I require. Thank you very much. I believe you have some matches in your pocket, Watson. Now, Mr. Lestrade, I will ask you all to accompany me to the top landing.”

As I have said, there was a broad corridor there, which ran outside three empty bedrooms. At one end of the corridor we were all marshalled by Sherlock Holmes, the constables grinning and Lestrade staring at my friend with amazement, expectation, and derision chasing each other across his features. Holmes stood before us with the air of a conjurer who is performing a trick.

“Would you kindly send one of your constables for two buckets of water? Put the straw on the floor here, free from the wall on either side. Now I think that we are all ready.”

“你不认为有点为时过早吗？我总觉得你的证据不足。”

雷斯垂德很了解我的朋友，决不会不注意他的话。他把笔放下来，好奇地看着福尔摩斯。

“你那是什么意思，福尔摩斯先生？”

“我只是要说有一个重要的证人你还没有见到。”

“你能提出来吗？”

“我想我能做到。”

“那就提出来吧。”

“我尽力而为。你有几个警士？”

“能马上召集来的有三个。”

“好极了！”福尔摩斯说，“他们都是身一体壮、嗓门大的吧？”

“当然是，但是我不明白他们的嗓门跟这有什么关系。”

“也许我能帮助你弄明白这点和一两个别的问题，”福尔摩斯说，“请把你的警士叫来，我要试一试。”

过了五分钟，三名警士已经集合在大厅里了。

“外面的小屋里有一大堆麦秸，”福尔摩斯说，“请你们搬两捆进来。我看这点麦秸可以帮个大忙把我需要的证人找来。谢谢你们。华生，我相信你口袋里有火柴。现在，雷斯垂德先生，请你们都陪我到顶层楼梯的平台上去。”

我已经说过，那三间空着的卧室外面有一条很宽的走廊。福尔摩斯把我们都集合在走廊的一头。三名警士在咧着嘴笑；雷斯垂德望着我的朋友，脸上一交一替地流露出惊奇、期待和讥笑。福尔摩斯站在我们前面，神气活象个在变戏法的魔术家。

“请你派一位警士去提两桶水来好吗？把那两捆麦秸放在这里，不要挨着墙。现在我看一切都准备好了。”