Chapter 14 Thirteen Re-recorded Memoirs of Watson

Our criminal's frenzied resistance was obviously not against any of us, for when he saw that he was helpless, he smiled meekly and expressed the hope that in his struggle he did not hurt any of us. One.He said to Holmes: "I think you are going to take me to the police station. My carriage is just outside the door. If you release my legs, I can go down and get into the carriage by myself. I am not like It's so easy to lift up like it used to be." Grayson and Lestrade exchanged glances, as if they thought this request was too bold.Holmes, however, at once accepted the criminal's request, and untied the towels which we had bound around his ankles.He stood up and stretched his legs, as if to prove that they were indeed free again.I can remember thinking, as I looked at him, that I have seldom seen a taller and stronger man.The resolute and active expression of the weather-beaten black face was as amazing and impossible to ignore as his physical strength.

Looking at my companion, he said with heartfelt admiration: "If the post of Police Commissioner were to become vacant, I should consider you the most suitable man. You have indeed been very scrupulous in your approach to my case. " "You had better come with me," said Holmes to the two detectives. "I'll drive you," said Lestrade. "Okay, then Gregson can ride with us. And you, doctor. You've taken an interest in this case, so you'd better come with us." I readily agreed, and we went downstairs together.Our criminal made no attempt to escape, and quietly got into the carriage which was his, and we followed.Lestrade climbed into the driver's seat, whipped the horse forward, and soon pulled us to our destination.We were ushered into a cabin where an officer took down the names of our convict and the two people he was accused of killing.The police officer was a pale, impassive man who performed his duties mechanically and mechanically.He said: "The prisoner will be brought before the court within this week. Mr. Jefferson Hope, do you have anything to say before the trial? But I must tell you beforehand that everything you say will be recorded, and may be used as a basis for conviction."

Our criminal said slowly: "Gentlemen, I have much to say, and I would like to tell you the whole thing." "Wouldn't it be better for you to wait until the interrogation?" the officer asked. He replied: "I may never be interrogated. Don't make a fuss. I'm not trying to kill myself. Are you a doctor?" Turn around and look at me. I said, "Yes, I'm a doctor." "Then, please press one here with your hand." He smiled as he said, pointing to his chest with his handcuffed hand. I pressed his chest with my hand, and immediately felt an unusual throbbing inside.His chest vibrated slightly, as when a powerful machine is turned on in a weak building.In the silence of the room, I could hear a slight rumble in his chest.

I shouted: "Why, you have aneurysm!" He said calmly: "That's what they say. Last week, I saw a doctor, and he told me that the blood tumor will burst in a few days. This disease has been going on for many years, and it is getting worse every year. I got sick in a year. This disease was caused by me being weather-beaten, overworked, and not getting enough to eat in the mountains of Salt Lake City. Now that I have finished my work, I don't care when I die However, I would like to explain this matter clearly before I die, so that there will be a record after death. I don’t want others to regard me as an ordinary murderer after my death.”

There was a hasty consultation between the inspector and the two detectives as to whether it would be appropriate to allow him to tell his story. "Do you think, Doctor, that there is any real danger of a sudden change in his condition?" asked the officer. I replied, "Indeed it is." The officer then said: "If that is the case, it is obviously our duty, for the sake of the law, to obtain his statement first. Sir, you are now free to confess. However, I tell you again, what you have confessed It's all going to be recorded." "Please allow me to sit down and talk." The prisoner said, sitting down unceremoniously. "This blood tumor of mine makes me feel tired easily, not to mention that we had a struggle half an hour ago. It will never improve my condition. I am already on the edge of the grave, so I will not lie to you. Everything I say is absolutely true. As for how you deal with it, It doesn't matter to me."

Having said these words, Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair, and began the following astonishing confession.He narrated with a deliberate and methodical manner, as if the things he said were very commonplace.I can assure you that this supplementary statement is absolutely correct, as it was transcribed from Lestrade's notebook by me on the air.In his notebook, he recorded the criminal's confession word for word according to his original statement. He said: "It doesn't matter to you why I hate these two men. They committed crimes, they committed crimes, they killed two people-a father and a daughter, so they paid their I deserved my own life. It has been such a long time since they committed the crime, and I can't bring any evidence against them in any court. But I know they are guilty, and I make up my mind. I alone will take over the duties of judge, jury, and executioner. If you were men, if you stood in my place, you would do the same.

"The girl I was talking about was going to marry me twenty years ago, but she was forced to marry this Drebber, so that she died of hatred. I took this from the fingers of her body. When the wedding ring was taken off, I swore at that time that I would let Drebber die looking at it; I was punished. I traveled thousands of miles across two continents, tracking Drebber and his accomplices, and I carried this ring with me until I overtook them. They intended to run here and there to drag me but they were in vain. Even if I were to die tomorrow--which is quite possible--but at the end of my day I would know that my work in this world was done, and it was a good one. They are both dead, and both of them were killed by my own hands. Besides, I have no other hopes and demands.

"They were rich men, and I was a poor man. So it was not easy for me to chase them around. When I came to the City, I was almost broke. At that time, I realized that I had to find a job to support my life. Driving a cart and riding a horse were as normal to me as walking. So I went to a carriage factory to find some work, and I succeeded immediately. Every week I have to pay a certain amount of rent to the owner of the car, and the rest is my own. However, the remaining money is not much, but I always manage to make ends meet. The most difficult thing is not knowing the road. I think in all Of all cities with complicated roads, there is no more complicated and unrecognizable street than the streets of the City of London. I keep a map with me; and my work is not done until I am acquainted with some of the big hotels and a few major stations. smooth up.

"It was a long time before I found out where these two gentlemen lived. I asked around until at last I stumbled upon them. They lived in a flat in Camberwell, just across the Thames. As soon as I find them, I know they're in my grasp. I've grown a beard, and they can't recognize me. I follow them closely, waiting to strike. I'm determined, this time They must not be allowed to escape again. "Nevertheless, they almost slipped away again. I followed them wherever they went in London. Sometimes I followed them in a carriage, sometimes on foot. But the carriage was the best. Way, because then they can't get rid of me. Only in the early morning or late at night I do some business and make some money, but then I can't pay the rent to the owner in time. But as long as I can kill the enemy with my own hands , I don't care about anything else.

"However, they are very cunning. They must also be aware that they may be pursued, so they never go out alone, and never go out at night. For two weeks I drove after them every day, but I once I never saw them parting. Drebber was often drunk, but Stangerson was never negligent. I watched them from morning to night, but never got the chance. But I didn't let it go. Disappointed, because I always feel that the time for revenge is coming. My only fear is that this sickness in my chest will burst prematurely, and my revenge will be defeated. "Finally, one evening, when I was driving a carriage at the place called Tarqueri where they lived, I suddenly saw a carriage drive up to the door of their residence. Immediately, some luggage was brought out. Soon, Drebber and Stangerson came out, and they got into the car together. I hastened to follow them, and followed them at a distance. I was very disturbed at that time, lest they should change their residence again. They got out of the carriage at Euston Station. I got a boy to hold my horse for me, and I followed them into the platform. I heard them ask for the train to Liverpool; and the man on the station answered Stangerson seemed to be annoyed at hearing that a train had just left, and that there would be no second for a few hours, but Drebber was more than pleased. I joined the crowd and left They were so near that I could hear every word of their conversation. Drebber said he had some private business to attend to, and if Stangerson would wait for him he would be back in a moment. His companion held back he, and reminded him that they had once decided to be together and not to go alone. Drebber replied that it was a delicate matter, and that he must go alone. I could not hear what Stangerson said again. , and then I heard Drebber yell at him, and said that he was just a servant hired by him, so don't pretend to accuse him instead. In this way, the secretary made a fool of himself, so he had no choice but to say no more. Just to discuss with him that in case he missed the last train, he could be found at the Halliday Hotel. Drebber replied that he could be back on the platform before eleven o'clock; the station.

"The moment of eternity that I have been waiting for day and night has come at last. My enemies are within my grasp. When they are together, they can help each other; but when they are apart, they are within my grasp. However, I did not act recklessly. I had already made a plan: the moment of vengeance, if the enemy was not given the opportunity to know who killed him; if he was not allowed to understand why he was punished; Well, this kind of revenge is not satisfactory. My revenge plan has been arranged long ago. According to this plan, I want to give my victim a chance to understand that now is the time for him to do his best. Coincidentally, A few days ago a man who was in my car looking at a few houses in the Brixton Road area left the key for one of them in my car. He took the key back that night though , but, before I took it away, I molded it long ago, and made it up, so that in this big city, I found at least one reliable place where I could fuck myself freely. without being hindered, the difficult problem now to be solved was how to get Drebber into that house. "He walked along the road, and went into one or two taverns. He stayed in the last one for almost half an hour. When he came out, he was shambling, and he was obviously drunk enough. There happened to be a hansom in front of me, and he beckoned and got into it. I followed closely all the way. My horse's nose was no more than a yard from the body of the driver in front of the hansom. We passed Waterloo Bridge , ran several miles in the street. But, to my amazement, we returned to the place where he used to live. I can't imagine what he wanted to do when he went back there. But, I I followed, and I stopped about a hundred yards from the house. He entered the house, and his carriage drove away. Give me a glass of water, my My mouth is dry." I handed him a glass of water and he drank it down. He said: "That's better. Well, I waited for a quarter of an hour, or maybe a little longer, when suddenly there was a noise like a fight in the house. Then the door opened wide, and two people appeared, one of whom was Drebber, the other was a young lad I never saw before. The lad grabbed Drebber by the collar, and when they came to the edge of the steps he gave him a push, followed by another He kicked Drebber all the way to the middle of the street. He shook the wooden stick in his hand and shouted at Drebber: "You dog! I will teach you a lesson, how dare you insult a good woman!" He was so angry that he wanted to It's not that the rascal is dragging his legs and running away into the street, I think the lad will beat him up with a stick. Drebber ran up to the turning, just in time to see my carriage, and called out I, jumped into the car. He said: 'Take me to the Halliday Hotel.' "When I saw him in my carriage, I was overjoyed, and my heart was beating wildly. I was afraid that at this critical moment, my blood tumor would burst. I drove the carriage slowly to I walked on, thinking what was the best thing to do. I could have dragged him out into the country, and settled the account with him on that deserted lane. When I had almost decided to do so, he The problem was suddenly solved for me. At this moment, his alcoholism was coming up again, and he told me to stop outside a big hotel. He told me to wait for him, and went in. He stayed there until the hotel When the market closed, when he came out, he was already drunk, and I knew that I was sure of winning. "Don't think that I will take a sudden stab and let him end. If I do this, I will just execute a solemn trial rigidly. But I will not do that. I have already decided to give him a chance. If If he can seize the opportunity, he may still have a chance. When I was a wanderer in America, I worked various jobs. I was at one time the janitor and Sweeping workers. One day, when the professor was explaining the problem of poisons, he showed the students something called alkaloids. This was extracted from a kind of poison used by the natives of South America to make poisonous arrows. This poison The poison is very violent, and if you touch a little, it will kill you immediately. I remembered where the poison bottle was, and after they left, I poured out a little. I am a pretty good dispensing expert, I made these poisons, therefore, into little easily dissolving pellets. I put one in each box, along with a nonpoisonous one of the same shape. I then decided that, as soon as I could get my hands on it, These two gentlemen will each have a box, let each of them swallow one pill first, and I will swallow the remaining one. This, like shooting with a handkerchief on the muzzle of a gun, can kill people. Dead, and still no sound. I've carried these boxes of pills with me since that day; now it's time for me to use them. "It was already after midnight, almost one o'clock. It was a miserable and rainy night. The wind was blowing very hard, and the rain was pouring down. Although it was a bleak scene outside, I was very happy in my heart. I I was so happy that I almost cried out for joy. Gentlemen, if any of you have ever dreamed about something for more than 20 years, once it is within your reach, then you will understand I was in a bad mood at the time. I lit a cigar and puffed on it to calm my nerves. But my hands were shaking and my temples were throbbing because of the excitement. When I was driving the carriage As I went on, I saw old John Ferrier and sweet Lucy looking at me and smiling in the dark. I saw as clearly as I see you all in this room now. Along the way, they Always in front of me, walking on either side of the horse, till I came with me to the empty house in Brixton Road. "I couldn't see anyone anywhere, and I couldn't hear a sound except the patter of rain. I looked into the car through the window and saw Dreb curled up in a ball, drunk and asleep. I shook him Arm said: 'It's time to get off.' "He said: 'Yes, coachman.' "I think he thought he had arrived at the hotel he had just mentioned, because he got out of the car without saying anything else, and followed me into the garden in front of the empty house. , standing unsteadily. I had to help him to keep from falling. When we got to the door, I opened it and led him into the front room. I assure you that all the way Father Ferrier The woman has been walking in front of us. "'It's damn dark,' he said, stamping his feet. "'We'll have light soon,' I said, and struck a match, and lighted a candle I had brought. Turning my face to him, I held the candle close to my face. I Going on: 'Well, Enoch Dreb, now look who I am!' "He stared at me sleepily for a long time. Then, I saw a look of terror suddenly appeared on his face, and his whole face convulsed, which meant that he had recognized me. He suddenly turned pale with fright, shaking Backing away wobbly. I also saw big beads of sweat rolling from his forehead to his eyebrows, and his teeth were hitting each other up and down, rattling. Seeing this, I couldn't help but lean against the door I couldn't stop laughing. I knew a long time ago that revenge is the happiest thing, but I never thought that it would be such a taste. "I said, 'You bastard! I've chased you from Salt Lake City to St. Petersburg and always let you escape. Now your wandering days are at an end. Because, either you or I, never see you again Tomorrow's sun.' As I spoke, he stepped back a few more steps. I could see from his face that he thought I was crazy. At that time, I was like a madman, and the veins on my temples I was throbbing like a blacksmith wielding a hammer, and I am convinced that if the blood gushing from my nostrils had not relieved me, I might have had a seizure. "'What do you think of Lucy Ferrier now?' cried I, locking the door, and shaking the key before his eyes. You're caught." I saw his cowardly lips quivering as I spoke, and he wanted to ask for his life. But he saw clearly that it was useless. "He stammered: 'Are you going to murder me?' "I replied: 'There is no such thing as murder or murder. Is it murder to kill a mad dog? When you dragged my poor love away from her murdered father, when you Did you ever show her the slightest pity when you snatched her away in that accursed, shameless new house of yours?" "He cried: 'It was not I who killed her father.' "'But it was you who broke her pure heart!' I snapped, as I presented him with the box of poisons. 'Let God judge us. Take one and eat it. One kills, one kills. A grain can bring life. You pick the remaining one and I eat it. Let's see if there is justice in the world, or we are all just trying our luck.' "He ducked away in fright, yelled and begged for his life. But I drew the knife and pressed it straight to his throat, and obediently swallowed one grain, and I swallowed the rest. One. We stood there facing each other in silence for a minute or two, waiting to see who would die and who would live. He knew he had swallowed the poison when there was a look of pain on his face. How could I forget the way he looked then? I laughed out loud at the sight of him, and held up Lucy's wedding ring to his eyes. But it was only for a moment, because the creature The effect of the alkali was rapid. A painful convulsion distorted his face, and he shook with his arms outstretched; then he fell with a scream and fell on the floor. I turned him over with my feet. Come here, touch his heart with your hand, the heart stops beating, he is dead! "At this time, the blood kept coming out of my nostrils, but I didn't pay attention to it. Somehow, I had an idea and wrote a word on the wall with blood. It may be due to a kind of mischief I was thinking of trying to lead the police astray; for I was in a very lighthearted mood at the time. I remembered that a German was found murdered in New York, and the word Rachel was written on the body of the dead man. There was a debate in the Internet that it was the work of the Secret Party. I thought that the word that confounds New Yorkers might also confuse Londoners. So I dipped my finger in my own blood and I found a suitable place to write this word on the wall. Later, I went back to my carriage. I found that there was no one around, and the night was still stormy. After I drove the carriage for a while , put my hand into the pocket where Lucy's ring was always kept, and suddenly found that the ring was gone. I was shocked, because this thing was the only souvenir she left. I thought, maybe it was because I bent over to look at the awl. I dropped it when I saw Uncle's body. So I drove the carriage back again. I parked the carriage in a side street nearby, and ventured towards the house; for I would rather risk anything. I don't want to lose the ring. As soon as I got to the house, I ran into a policeman who had just come out of the house. I had to pretend to be drunk so as not to arouse his suspicion. "That's how Enoch Drebber died. What I'm going to do afterward is to do the same to Stangerson, so I can avenge John Ferrier, I know Stan Stangerson was at the Halliday's Hotel. I wandered about the hotel all day, but he never appeared. I think it must be that Drebber's absence made him feel that something was wrong. Stangerson This guy is indeed very cunning, he is always on the alert. But if he thinks he can escape from me by staying in the room, then he is very wrong. Soon, I figured out that he The next morning, I used a ladder in the alley outside the hotel to climb into his room in the twilight. I woke him up and told him Said he had murdered a long time ago, and now it was time for him to pay. I told him about the circumstances of Dreb's death, and told him to take a pill as well. He would not accept the chance of life I gave him, He jumped out of the bed and threw himself at my throat. In self-defense, I stabbed him in the heart. Whatever method was used, the result was the same, because God will not let him Hand, pick up the non-toxic one. "I have a few more things to say, and it's fine when I'm done, because I'm almost done too. Afterwards, I drove the carriage for a day or two, because I wanted to work harder and save up enough money to go back to America. When I was parked in the square that day, a ragged boy asked if there was a coachman named Jefferson Hope, and he said that there was a gentleman at 221B Baker Street who wanted to hire his car. I followed without any doubt. All I know from now on is that this young man handcuffed both my hands lightly. The handcuffs are so clean and neat, which I have rarely seen in my life. That, gentlemen, is all I have ever experienced. You may consider me a murderer, but I myself consider myself a judge of law, just like you." His story was so thrilling, and his manner so impressive, that we all listened quietly.Even these two experienced professional detectives listened with gusto.When he had finished we all sat there in silence for a while, broken only by the rustle of a pencil falling to paper as Lestrade wrote down the last lines of his shorthand confession. Holmes said at last: "There is one more thing I wish to know more about. After I advertised, who is that accomplice of yours who came to collect the ring?" The criminal winked mischievously at my friend and said, "I can only tell my own secret. But I don't want to implicate anyone else. After I saw your ad, I also thought it might be a trap, but it's also It may be just the ring I want. My friend volunteered to come and have a look. I think you will admit that he has done a pretty good job of it." "Not at all," said Holmes honestly. At this time, the police officer said with a serious face: "Then, gentlemen, the legal procedures must be followed. This Thursday, the criminal will be submitted to the court for trial, and gentlemen will be present at that time. Before the trial, I will take charge of him." A bell was rung, and Jefferson Hope was led away by two guards.My friend and I also left the police station, and drove back to Baker Street in a carriage.

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