Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. TITELBLATT

2. IMPRESSUM

3. THE ADVENTURE OF WISTERIA LODGE

4. THE ADVENTURE OF THE CARDBOARD BOX

5. THE ADVENTURE OF THE RED CIRCLE

6. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BRUCE-PARTINGTON PLANS

7. THE ADVENTURE OF THE DYING DETECTIVE

8. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LADY FRANCES CARFAX

9. THE ADVENTURE OF THE DEVIL’S FOOT

10. HIS LAST BOW

11. HIS LAST BOW (ENGLISCH)

Arthur Conan Doyle
His Last Bow / Der letzte Streich von Sherlock Holmes
Zweisprachige Ausgabe
Übersetzt von Alice und Karl Heinz Berger

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THE ADVENTURE OF WISTERIA LODGE

»WISTERIA LODGE«

I. The Singular Experience of Mr. John Scott Eccles

I. Die ungewöhnlichen Erfahrungen des Mr. John Scott Eccles

I FIND it recorded in my notebook that it was a bleak and windy day towards the end of March in the year 1892.

In meinem Notizbuch steht verzeichnet, daß es ein düsterer, windiger Tag gegen Ende März des Jahres 1892 war.

Holmes had received a telegram while we sat at our lunch, and he had scribbled a reply.

Während wir beim Lunch saßen, hatte Holmes ein Telegramm in Empfang genommen und hastig eine Antwort geschrieben.

He made no remark, but the matter remained in his thoughts, for he stood in front of the fire afterwards

Er machte darüber keine Bemerkung, aber die Sache ging ihm nicht aus dem Kopf, denn später stand er vor dem Kamin,

with a thoughtful face, smoking his pipe, and casting an occasional glance at the message.

mit einem nachdenklichen Gesicht, rauchte seine Pfeife und warf hin und wieder einen Blick auf die Nachricht.

Suddenly he turned upon me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Plötzlich wandte er sich mit einem boshaften Augenzwinkern mir zu.

“I suppose, Watson, we must look upon you as a man of letters,” said he. “How do you define the word ‘grotesque’?”

»Ich schätze, Watson, wir müssen auf Sie als einen Literaten zurückkommen«, sagte er. »Wie würden Sie das Wort ›grotesk‹ umschreiben?«

“Strange — remarkable,” I suggested.

»Mit ›seltsam‹ oder ›bemerkenswert‹«, schlug ich vor.

He shook his head at my definition.

Bei meiner Definition schüttelte er den Kopf.

“There is surely something more than that,” said he; “some underlying suggestion of the tragic and the terrible.

»Es liegt mehr darin als das«, sagte er, »ein Unterton von Tragik und Schrecklichem.

If you cast your mind back to some of those narratives with which you have afflicted a long-suffering public,

Wenn Sie sich an einige der Erzählungen erinnern, mit denen Sie ein geduldiges Publikum heimsuchen,

you will recognize how often the grotesque has deepened into the criminal.

werden auch Sie finden, wie oft sich das Groteske zum Verbrecherischen ausweitet.

Think of that little affair of the red-headed men.

Denken Sie nur einmal an die unbedeutende Begebenheit mit dem rothaarigen Mann.

That was grotesque enough in the outset, and yet it ended in a desperate attempt at robbery.

Am Anfang war sie ziemlich grotesk, sie endete aber mit einem entschlossenen Bankraub.

Or, again, there was that most grotesque affair of the five orange pips,

Oder erinnern Sie sich an die groteske Affäre mit den fünf Orangenkernen,

which led straight to a murderous conspiracy. The word puts me on the alert.”

die geradewegs in eine mörderische Verschwörung mündete. Dieses Wort ›grotesk‹ versetzt mich in Alarmbereitschaft.«

“Have you it there?” I asked.

»Steht es dort?« fragte ich.

He read the telegram aloud.

Er las das Telegramm vor.

Have just had most incredible and grotesque experience. May I consult you? — Scott Eccles, Post Office, Charing Cross.

»Machte soeben eine unglaubliche, groteske Erfahrung. Darf ich um Ihren Rat bitten? – Scott Eccles, Postamt Charing Cross.«

“Man or woman?” I asked.

»Ein Mann oder eine Frau?« fragte ich.

“Oh, man, of course. No woman would ever send a reply-paid telegram. She would have come.”

»Natürlich ein Mann. Keine Frau würde ein Telegramm mit Rückantwort schicken. Sie wäre gekommen.«

“Will you see him?”

»Empfangen Sie ihn?«

“My dear Watson, you know how bored I have been since we locked up Colonel Carruthers.

»Mein lieber Watson, Sie wissen, wie sehr ich mich langweile, seit wir Colonel Carruthers hinter Schloß und Riegel gebracht haben.

My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built.

Mein Hirn ist wie eine Maschine unter Volldampf, die sich selber in Stücke reißt, weil sie nicht mit der Arbeit verbunden ist, für die sie gebaut wurde.

Life is commonplace, the papers are sterile; audacity and romance seem to have passed forever from the criminal world.

Das Leben ist abgedroschen, die Zeitungen sind öde, Kühnheit und Romantik scheinen für immer aus der Welt des Verbrechens verschwunden zu sein.

Can you ask me, then, whether I am ready to look into any new problem, however trivial it may prove?

Wie können Sie mich da fragen, ob ich einen Blick in ein Problem werfen will, auch wenn es sich als noch so unbedeutend herausstellen sollte?

But here, unless I am mistaken, is our client.”

Aber wenn ich mich nicht irre, kommt unser Klient gerade.«

A measured step was heard upon the stairs, and a moment later a stout,

Von der Treppe her hörten wir einen gleichmäßigen Schritt, und einen Augenblick später wurde ein kräftiger,

tall, grey-whiskered and solemnly respectable person was ushered into the room.

großer, respektabler Mann mit ergrautem Backenbart ins Zimmer geführt.

His life history was written in his heavy features and pompous manner.

Die Geschichte seines Lebens stand in den groben Zügen und dem wichtigtuerischen Gebaren geschrieben.

From his spats to his gold-rimmed spectacles he was a Conservative, a Churchman, a good citizen, orthodox and conventional to the last degree.

Er war von der Kleidung bis zur goldgefaßten Brille als Konservativer, als Mann der Kirche zu erkennen, als guter, rechtgläubiger Bürger, der bis aufs äußerste am Herkömmlichen haftet:

But some amazing experience had disturbed his native composure

Aber über irgendeiner ungewöhnlichen Erfahrung war er aus seiner natürlichen Gelassenheit aufgestört,

and left its traces in his bristling hair, his flushed, angry cheeks, and his flurried, excited manner. He plunged instantly into his business.

man sah es am gesträubten Haar, den zornroten Wangen, und fahrigen, aufgeregten Gesten. Er kam sofort zur Sache.

“I have had a most singular and unpleasant experience, Mr. Holmes,” said he. “Never in my life have I been placed in such a situation.

»Ich hatte ein sehr ungewöhnliches und unangenehmes Erlebnis, Mr. Holmes«, sagte er. »Noch nie in meinem Leben hatte ich mit solch einer Situation zu tun,

It is most improper — most outrageous. I must insist upon some explanation.” He swelled and puffed in his anger.

mit etwas so Unschicklichem, in höchstem Grad Abscheulichem. Und ich muß auf einer Erklärung bestehen.« In seinem Zorn blähte er sich und schnaufte.

“Pray sit down, Mr. Scott Eccles,” said Holmes, in a soothing voice. “May I ask, in the first place, why you came to me at all?”

»Bitte, setzen Sie sich, Mr. Scott Eccles«, sagte Holmes beruhigend. »Dürfte ich Sie erst einmal fragen, warum Sie mich überhaupt aufsuchen?«

“Well, sir, it did not appear to be a matter which concerned the police, and yet,

»Nun, Sir, es schien mir keine Angelegenheit für die Polizei, und doch:

when you have heard the facts, you must admit that I could not leave it where it was.

Wenn Sie erst einmal die Tatsachen, gehört haben, werden Sie mir zustimmen, daß ich reagieren mußte.

Private detectives are a class with whom I have absolutely no sympathy, but none the less, having heard your name —”

Privatdetektive sind zwar eine Klasse Menschen, für die ich absolut keine Sympathie hege, aber als ich Ihren Namen hörte, habe ich nichtsdestoweniger …«

“Quite so. But, in the second place, why did you not come at once?”

»Schon gut. Aber ich möchte Sie zweitens fragen, warum Sie nicht sofort zu mir gekommen sind.«

“What do you mean?”

»Was heißt das?«

Holmes glanced at his watch.

Holmes schaute auf seine Uhr.

“It is a quarter-past two,” he said. “Your telegram was dispatched about one.

»Es ist Viertel nach zwei«, sagte er. »Das Telegramm wurde ungefähr um eins aufgegeben.

But no one can glance at your toilet and attire without seeing that your disturbance dates from the moment of your waking.”

Aber man braucht sich nur Ihren Aufzug anzusehen, um zu erkennen, daß Sie schon seit dem Aufwachen verstört sind.«

Our client smoothed down his unbrushed hair and felt his unshaven chin.

Unser Klient glättete sein ungekämmtes Haar und fuhr sich über das unrasierte Kinn.

“You are right, Mr. Holmes. I never gave a thought to my toilet.

»Sie haben recht, Mr. Holmes. Ich habe nicht einen einzigen Gedanken an meine Toilette verschwendet.

I was only too glad to get out of such a house. But I have been running round making inquiries before I came to you.

Ich war heilfroh, aus einem solchen Haus herauszukommen. Aber ich bin umhergelaufen und habe Befragungen angestellt, ehe ich zu Ihnen kam.

I went to the house agents, you know, and they said

Ich ging zum Hausverwalter, und dort sagte man mir,

that Mr. Garcia’s rent was paid up all right and that everything was in order at Wisteria Lodge.”

daß Mr. Garcias Miete immer bezahlt worden und mit ›Wisteria Lodge‹ alles in Ordnung sei.

“Come, come, sir,” said Holmes, laughing. “You are like my friend, Dr. Watson,

»Ach, Sir«, sagte Holmes lachend, »Sie sind wie mein Freund Dr. Watson,

who has a bad habit of telling his stories wrong end foremost.

der die schlechte Angewohnheit besitzt, seine Geschichten vom falschen Ende her anzufangen.

Please arrange your thoughts and let me know, in their due sequence, exactly what those events are which have sent you out unbrushed and unkempt,

Bitte, ordnen Sie Ihre Gedanken und erzählen Sie mir in der richtigen Reihenfolge, was Sie dazu gebracht hat, ungewaschen und ungekämmt,

with dress boots and waistcoat buttoned awry, in search of advice and assistance.”

in Frackstiefeln und falsch geknöpftem Rock, um Hilfe und Rat durch die Gegend zu laufen.«

Our client looked down with a rueful face at his own unconventional appearance.

Unser Klient schaute beschämt an seiner unordentlichen Kleidung herunter.

“I’m sure it must look very bad, Mr. Holmes, and I am not aware that in my whole life such a thing has ever happened before.

»Ich muß sehr schlimm aussehen, Mr. Holmes, und ich wüßte nicht, wann ich je in meinem Leben so etwas zugelassen hätte.

But will tell you the whole queer business, and when I have done so you will admit,

Aber ich werde Ihnen die ganze verquere Geschichte erzählen, und wenn Sie sie gehört haben,

I am sure, that there has been enough to excuse me.”

bin ich sicher, Sie werden mir zustimmen, daß genügend vorgefallen ist, mich zu entschuldigen.«

But his narrative was nipped in the bud. There was a bustle outside,

Aber seine Erzählung wurde schon in der Blüte geknickt. Wir hörten vor der Haustür einen Tumult;

and Mrs. Hudson opened the door to usher in two robust and official-looking individuals,

Mrs. Hudson öffnete und ließ zwei robuste, amtlich wirkende Individuen ein,

one of whom was well known to us as Inspector Gregson of Scotland Yard, an energetic, gallant, and, within his limitations, a capable officer.

davon eines uns als Inspektor Gregson von Scotland Yard gut bekannt war, ein energischer, höflicher und – in bestimmten Grenzen – fähiger Beamter.

He shook hands with Holmes and introduced his comrade as Inspector Baynes, of the Surrey Constabulary.

Er gab Holmes die Hand und stellte seinen Begleiter als Inspektor Baynes vom Polizeirevier Surrey vor.

“We are hunting together, Mr. Holmes, and our trail lay in this direction.”

»Wir jagten gemeinsam, Mr. Holmes, und unsere Spur führte uns in diese Richtung.«

He turned his bulldog eyes upon our visitor. “Are you Mr. John Scott Eccles, of Popham House, Lee?”

Er richtete seine Bulldoggenaugen auf unseren Besucher. »Sind Sie Mr. John Scott Eccles, wohnhaft Haus Popham, Lee?«

“I am.”

»Der bin ich.«

“We have been following you about all the morning.”

»Wir haben Sie den ganzen Morgen über verfolgt.«

“You traced him through the telegram, no doubt,” said Holmes.

»Und zweifellos haben Sie ihn durch sein Telegramm aufgespürt«, sagte Holmes.

“Exactly, Mr. Holmes. We picked up the scent at Charing Cross Post Office and came on here.”

»So ist es, Mr. Holmes. Wir haben die Spur am Postamt von Charing Cross aufgenommen und sind so hierhergekommen.«

“But why do you follow me? What do you want?”

»Aber warum verfolgen Sie mich? Was wollen Sie von mir?«

“We wish a statement, Mr. Scott Eccles, as to the events which led up to the death last night of Mr. Aloysius Garcia, of Wisteria Lodge, near Esher.”

»Wir möchten von Ihnen eine Erklärung zu dem gestern abend eingetretenen Tod von Mr. Aloysius Garcia, wohnhaft ›Wisteria Lodge‹ bei Esher.«

Our client had sat up with staring eyes and every tinge of colour struck from his astonished face.

Unser Besucher setzte sich aufrecht, sein Blick wurde starr, und jedes bißchen Farbe wich aus seinem Gesicht.

“Dead? Did you say he was dead?”

»Tot? Sagten Sie, er ist tot?«

“Yes, sir, he is dead.”

»Ja, Sir, er ist tot.«

“But how? An accident?”

»Aber wie ist er gestorben? Ein Unglücksfall?«

“Murder, if ever there was one upon earth.”

»Mord, so sicher wie kaum ein anderer auf der Erde.«

“Good God! This is awful! You don’t mean — you don’t mean that I am suspected?”

»Lieber Gott! Das ist ja schrecklich! Aber das heißt doch nicht … das heißt doch nicht, man verdächtigt mich?«

“A letter of yours was found in the dead man’s pocket, and we know by it

»In der Tasche des Toten steckte ein Brief von Ihnen, und dadurch sind wir informiert,

that you had planned to pass last night at his house.”

daß Sie vorhatten, gestern abend dem Haus einen Besuch abzustatten.«

“So I did.”

»Das habe ich auch getan.«

“Oh, you did, did you?”

»Ach, wirklich?«

Out came the official notebook.

Und schon war ein polizeiliches Notizbuch gezogen.

“Wait a bit, Gregson,” said Sherlock Holmes. “All you desire is a plain statement, is it not?”

»Warten Sie, Gregson«, sagte Sherlock Holmes. »Was Sie wollen, ist doch nur eine bündige Erklärung – oder nicht?«

“And it is my duty to warn Mr. Scott Eccles that it may be used against him.”

»Es ist meine Pflicht, Mr. Scott Eccles darauf aufmerksam zu machen, daß das gegen ihn verwendet werden kann.«

“Mr. Eccles was going to tell us about it when you entered the room. I think, Watson, a brandy and soda would do him no harm.

»Mr. Eccles wollte uns gerade alles berichten, als Sie ins Zimmer traten. Ich denke, Watson, ein Kognak mit Soda wird ihm nicht schaden.

Now, sir, I suggest that you take no notice of this addition to your audience, and that you proceed with your narrative exactly as you would have done had you never been interrupted.”

Und nun, Sir, würde ich vorschlagen, Sie nehmen von der Erweiterung Ihres Zuhörerkreises keine Notiz und setzen Ihre Erzählung genauso fort, als wenn man Sie nie unterbrochen hätte.«

Our visitor had gulped off the brandy and the colour had returned to his face.

Unser Besucher goß den Kognak mit einemmal hinunter, und sein Gesicht gewann wieder Farbe.

With a dubious glance at the inspector’s notebook, he plunged at once into his extraordinary statement.

Mit einem zweifelnden Blick auf das Notizbuch des Inspektors sprang er mittenhinein in seine außergewöhnliche Erklärung.

“I am a bachelor,” said he, “and, being of a sociable turn, I cultivate a large number of friends.

»Ich bin unverheiratet«, sagte er, »und da ich gesellig bin, pflege ich Beziehungen zu vielen Freunden.

Among these are the family of a retired brewer called Melville, living at Abermarle Mansion, Kensington.

Unter ihnen befindet sich die Familie eines Bierbrauers mit Namen Melville, der sich vom Geschäft zurückgezogen hat.

It was at his table that I met some weeks ago a young fellow named Garcia.

An seinem Tisch lernte ich vor einigen Wochen einen jungen Burschen namens Garcia kennen.

He was, I understood, of Spanish descent and connected in some way with the embassy.

Soviel ich weiß, stammt er aus Spanien und stand irgendwie mit der Gesandtschaft in Verbindung.

He spoke perfect English, was pleasing in his manners, and as good-looking a man as ever I saw in my life.

Er sprach perfekt englisch, hatte angenehme Manieren und sah so gut aus wie kein anderer, den ich jemals kennengelernt hatte.

“In some way we struck up quite a friendship, this young fellow and I.

Irgendwie kam es dazu, daß wir Freundschaft schlossen, der junge Mann und ich.

He seemed to take a fancy to me from the first, and within two days of our meeting he came to see me at Lee.

Er hat sich wohl von Anfang an zu mir hingezogen gefühlt, und zwei Tage nach unserem ersten Zusammentreffen besuchte er mich in Lee.

One thing led to another, and it ended in his inviting me out to spend a few days at his house,

Eins führte zum anderen, und es endete damit, daß er mich einlud, ein paar Tage in seinem Haus

Wisteria Lodge, between Esher and Oxshott. Yesterday evening I went to Esher to fulfil this engagement.

›Wisteria Lodge‹, das zwischen Esher und Oxshott liegt, zu verbringen. Gestern abend fuhr ich nach Esher, um der Einladung Folge zu leisten.

“He had described his household to me before I went there.

Er hatte mir zuvor seine häuslichen Verhältnisse beschrieben.

He lived with a faithful servant, a countryman of his own, who looked after all his needs.

Er besaß einen treuergebenen Diener, einen Landsmann, der sich um seine Bedürfnisse kümmerte.

This fellow could speak English and did his housekeeping for him.

Der Mann spreche englisch, und er führe ihm den Haushalt.

Then there was a wonderful cook, he said, a half-breed whom he had picked up in his travels, who could serve an excellent dinner.

Dann gebe es dort einen wundervollen Koch, sagte er, ein Halbblut, den er auf einer seiner Reisen aufgelesen habe und der ein ausgezeichnetes Essen auftischen könne.

I remember that he remarked what a queer household it was to find in the heart of Surrey,

Ich erinnere mich, daß er sagte, das sei ein seltsamer Haushalt, auf den man da im Herzen von Surrey treffe,

and that I agreed with him, though it has proved a good deal queerer than I thought.

und ich habe ihm zustimmen müssen, obwohl ich nicht wußte, wie seltsam er in Wirklichkeit war.

“I drove to the place — about two miles on the south side of Esher.

Ich fuhr also dorthin – ungefähr zwei Meilen südlich von Esher.

The house was a fair-sized one, standing back from the road, with a curving drive which was banked with high evergreen shrubs.

Ich fand ein mäßig großes Haus, das ein Stück entfernt von der Straße liegt und eine geschwungene, von hohen Immergrünsträuchern gesäumte Auffahrt hat.

It was an old, tumble-down building in a crazy state of disrepair.

Es ist ein altes, verfallenes Gebäude in einem heillosen Zustand.

When the trap pulled up on the grass-grown drive in front of the blotched and weather-stained door, I had doubts as to my wisdom in visiting a man whom I knew so slightly.

Als der Trap vor der blätternden, verwitterten Tür hielt, überkamen mich Zweifel, ob ich klug gehandelt hatte, einen Mann zu besuchen, den ich nur so flüchtig kannte.

He opened the door himself, however, and greeted me with a great show of cordiality.

Er öffnete selbst und begrüßte mich mit einem großen Aufwand an Herzlichkeit.

I was handed over to the manservant, a melancholy, swarthy individual, who led the way, my bag in his hand, to my bedroom.

Ich wurde dem Diener überantwortet, einem düsteren, melancholischen Individuum, das mir, den Koffer in der Hand, auf dem Weg zu meinem Schlafzimmer voranging.

The whole place was depressing. Our dinner was tête-à-tête, and though my host did his best to be entertaining,

Das ganze Haus wirkte deprimierend. Wir nahmen das Dinner tête à tête ein, und obgleich mein Gastgeber sein Bestes tat, mich zu unterhalten,

his thoughts seemed to continually wander, and he talked so vaguely and wildly that I could hardly understand him.

schien mir, daß seine Gedanken andauernd abschweiften; er sprach so unbestimmt und so leidenschaftlich, daß ich ihn kaum verstand.

He continually drummed his fingers on the table, gnawed his nails, and gave other signs of nervous impatience.

Ununterbrochen trommelte er mit den Fingern auf den Tisch, kaute an den Nägeln und gab andere Äußerungen nervöser Ungeduld von sich.

The dinner itself was neither well served nor well cooked, and the gloomy presence of the taciturn servant did not help to enliven us.

Das Dinner war weder gut serviert noch gut gekocht, und die düstere Gegenwart des schweigsamen Dieners war nicht angetan, uns zu ermuntern.

I can assure you that many times in the course of the evening I wished that I could invent some excuse which would take me back to Lee.

Ich versichere Ihnen, daß ich wünschte, mir fiele irgendeine Entschuldigung ein, die es mir erlaubte, nach Lee zurückzufahren.

“One thing comes back to my memory which may have a bearing upon the business that you two gentlemen are investigating.

An eine Kleinigkeit erinnere ich mich, die vielleicht von Bedeutung für die Angelegenheit ist, die die beiden Herren untersuchen.

I thought nothing of it at the time. Near the end of dinner a note was handed in by the servant.

Als sie sich ereignete, maß ich ihr keine Bedeutung bei. Gegen Ende des Dinners brachte der Diener einen Brief herein.

I noticed that after my host had read it he seemed even more distrait and strange than before.

Ich bemerkte, daß mein Gastgeber sich sogar noch zerstreuter und seltsamer benahm, nachdem er ihn gelesen hatte.

He gave up all pretence at conversation and sat, smoking endless cigarettes,

Er gab allen Schein auf, sich unterhalten zu wollen, und saß da, rauchte eine Zigarette nach der anderen

lost in his own thoughts, but he made no remark as to the contents.

und war ganz in Gedanken versunken, sagte aber kein Wort darüber, was in dem Brief stand.

About eleven I was glad to go to bed. Some time later Garcia looked in at my door — the room was dark at the time — and asked me if I had rung.

Gegen elf war ich froh, zu Bett gehen zu können. Einige Zeit später schaute Garcia herein – der Raum lag im Dunkeln – und fragte, ob ich geklingelt hätte.

I said that I had not. He apologized for having disturbed me so late, saying that it was nearly one o’clock.

Ich sagte, ich habe nicht geklingelt. Er entschuldigte sich für seine so späte Störung und bemerkte, es sei fast ein Uhr.

I dropped off after this and slept soundly all night.

Danach fielen mir die Augen zu, und ich schlief die ganze Nacht über fest.

“And now I come to the amazing part of my tale. When I woke it was broad daylight. I glanced at my watch, and the time was nearly nine.

Jetzt komme ich zu dem erstaunlichen Teil meiner Geschichte. Als ich aufwachte, war es heller Tag. Ich schaute auf meine Uhr, es war fast neun.

I had particularly asked to be called at eight, so I was very much astonished at this forgetfulness.

Ich hatte extra gebeten, mich um acht zu wecken, und ich war deshalb sehr verwundert über die Vergeßlichkeit.

I sprang up and rang for the servant. There was no response.

Ich sprang aus dem Bett und klingelte nach dem Diener. Nichts rührte sich.

I rang again and again, with the same result. Then I came to the conclusion that the bell was out of order.

Ich klingelte wieder und wieder, immer ohne Erfolg. So kam ich zu dem Schluß, die Klingel sei außer Betrieb.

I huddled on my clothes and hurried downstairs in an exceedingly bad temper to order some hot water.

Ich warf mir schnell die Kleider über und eilte nach unten, äußerst schlecht gelaunt, um heißes Wasser zu bestellen.

You can imagine my surprise when I found that there was no one there.

Sie können sich vorstellen, wie sehr es mich überraschte, als ich niemanden vorfand.

I shouted in the hall. There was no answer. Then I ran from room to room. All were deserted.

Ich rief in der Halle. Keiner antwortete. Dann lief ich von Zimmer zu Zimmer. Alles war verlassen.

My host had shown me which was his bedroom the night before, so I knocked at the door. No reply.

Mein Gastgeber hatte mir am Abend gezeigt, wo er schlief, und so klopfte ich an die Tür. Keine Antwort.

I turned the handle and walked in. The room was empty, and the bed had never been slept in. He had gone with the rest.

Ich drehte den Türknauf und betrat das Zimmer. Es war leer, und in dem Bett hatte niemand geschlafen. Auch er war fort.

The foreign host, the foreign footman, the foreign cook, all had vanished in the night! That was the end of my visit to Wisteria Lodge.”

Der ausländische Gastgeber, der ausländische Diener, der ausländische Koch – alle waren über Nacht verschwunden! Das war das Ende meines Besuches in ›Wisteria Lodge‹.«

THE ADVENTURE OF WISTERIA LODGE

I. The Singular Experience of Mr. John Scott Eccles

I FIND it recorded in my notebook that it was a bleak and windy day towards the end of March in the year 1892. Holmes had received a telegram while we sat at our lunch, and he had scribbled a reply. He made no remark, but the matter remained in his thoughts, for he stood in front of the fire afterwards with a thoughtful face, smoking his pipe, and casting an occasional glance at the message. Suddenly he turned upon me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“I suppose, Watson, we must look upon you as a man of letters,” said he. “How do you define the word ‘grotesque’?”

“Strange — remarkable,” I suggested.

He shook his head at my definition.

“There is surely something more than that,” said he; “some underlying suggestion of the tragic and the terrible. If you cast your mind back to some of those narratives with which you have afflicted a long-suffering public, you will recognize how often the grotesque has deepened into the criminal. Think of that little affair of the red-headed men. That was grotesque enough in the outset, and yet it ended in a desperate attempt at robbery. Or, again, there was that most grotesque affair of the five orange pips, which led straight to a murderous conspiracy. The word puts me on the alert.”

“Have you it there?” I asked.

He read the telegram aloud.

Have just had most incredible and grotesque experience. May I consult you? — Scott Eccles, Post Office, Charing Cross.

“Man or woman?” I asked.

“Oh, man, of course. No woman would ever send a reply-paid telegram. She would have come.”

“Will you see him?”

“My dear Watson, you know how bored I have been since we locked up Colonel Carruthers. My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built. Life is commonplace, the papers are sterile; audacity and romance seem to have passed forever from the criminal world. Can you ask me, then, whether I am ready to look into any new problem, however trivial it may prove? But here, unless I am mistaken, is our client.”

A measured step was heard upon the stairs, and a moment later a stout, tall, grey-whiskered and solemnly respectable person was ushered into the room. His life history was written in his heavy features and pompous manner. From his spats to his gold-rimmed spectacles he was a Conservative, a Churchman, a good citizen, orthodox and conventional to the last degree. But some amazing experience had disturbed his native composure and left its traces in his bristling hair, his flushed, angry cheeks, and his flurried, excited manner. He plunged instantly into his business.

“I have had a most singular and unpleasant experience, Mr. Holmes,” said he. “Never in my life have I been placed in such a situation. It is most improper — most outrageous. I must insist upon some explanation.” He swelled and puffed in his anger.

“Pray sit down, Mr. Scott Eccles,” said Holmes, in a soothing voice. “May I ask, in the first place, why you came to me at all?”

“Well, sir, it did not appear to be a matter which concerned the police, and yet, when you have heard the facts, you must admit that I could not leave it where it was. Private detectives are a class with whom I have absolutely no sympathy, but none the less, having heard your name —”

“Quite so. But, in the second place, why did you not come at once?”

“What do you mean?”

Holmes glanced at his watch.

“It is a quarter-past two,” he said. “Your telegram was dispatched about one. But no one can glance at your toilet and attire without seeing that your disturbance dates from the moment of your waking.”

Our client smoothed down his unbrushed hair and felt his unshaven chin.

“You are right, Mr. Holmes. I never gave a thought to my toilet. I was only too glad to get out of such a house. But I have been running round making inquiries before I came to you. I went to the house agents, you know, and they said that Mr. Garcia’s rent was paid up all right and that everything was in order at Wisteria Lodge.”

“Come, come, sir,” said Holmes, laughing. “You are like my friend, Dr. Watson, who has a bad habit of telling his stories wrong end foremost. Please arrange your thoughts and let me know, in their due sequence, exactly what those events are which have sent you out unbrushed and unkempt, with dress boots and waistcoat buttoned awry, in search of advice and assistance.”

Our client looked down with a rueful face at his own unconventional appearance.

“I’m sure it must look very bad, Mr. Holmes, and I am not aware that in my whole life such a thing has ever happened before. But will tell you the whole queer business, and when I have done so you will admit, I am sure, that there has been enough to excuse me.”

But his narrative was nipped in the bud. There was a bustle outside, and Mrs. Hudson opened the door to usher in two robust and official-looking individuals, one of whom was well known to us as Inspector Gregson of Scotland Yard, an energetic, gallant, and, within his limitations, a capable officer. He shook hands with Holmes and introduced his comrade as Inspector Baynes, of the Surrey Constabulary.

“We are hunting together, Mr. Holmes, and our trail lay in this direction.” He turned his bulldog eyes upon our visitor. “Are you Mr. John Scott Eccles, of Popham House, Lee?”

“I am.”

“We have been following you about all the morning.”

“You traced him through the telegram, no doubt,” said Holmes.

“Exactly, Mr. Holmes. We picked up the scent at Charing Cross Post Office and came on here.”

“But why do you follow me? What do you want?”

“We wish a statement, Mr. Scott Eccles, as to the events which led up to the death last night of Mr. Aloysius Garcia, of Wisteria Lodge, near Esher.”

Our client had sat up with staring eyes and every tinge of colour struck from his astonished face.

“Dead? Did you say he was dead?”

“Yes, sir, he is dead.”

“But how? An accident?”

“Murder, if ever there was one upon earth.”

“Good God! This is awful! You don’t mean — you don’t mean that I am suspected?”

“A letter of yours was found in the dead man’s pocket, and we know by it that you had planned to pass last night at his house.”

“So I did.”

“Oh, you did, did you?”

Out came the official notebook.

“Wait a bit, Gregson,” said Sherlock Holmes. “All you desire is a plain statement, is it not?”

“And it is my duty to warn Mr. Scott Eccles that it may be used against him.”

“Mr. Eccles was going to tell us about it when you entered the room. I think, Watson, a brandy and soda would do him no harm. Now, sir, I suggest that you take no notice of this addition to your audience, and that you proceed with your narrative exactly as you would have done had you never been interrupted.”

Our visitor had gulped off the brandy and the colour had returned to his face. With a dubious glance at the inspector’s notebook, he plunged at once into his extraordinary statement.

“I am a bachelor,” said he, “and, being of a sociable turn, I cultivate a large number of friends. Among these are the family of a retired brewer called Melville, living at Abermarle Mansion, Kensington. It was at his table that I met some weeks ago a young fellow named Garcia. He was, I understood, of Spanish descent and connected in some way with the embassy. He spoke perfect English, was pleasing in his manners, and as good-looking a man as ever I saw in my life.

“In some way we struck up quite a friendship, this young fellow and I. He seemed to take a fancy to me from the first, and within two days of our meeting he came to see me at Lee. One thing led to another, and it ended in his inviting me out to spend a few days at his house, Wisteria Lodge, between Esher and Oxshott. Yesterday evening I went to Esher to fulfil this engagement.

“He had described his household to me before I went there. He lived with a faithful servant, a countryman of his own, who looked after all his needs. This fellow could speak English and did his housekeeping for him. Then there was a wonderful cook, he said, a half-breed whom he had picked up in his travels, who could serve an excellent dinner. I remember that he remarked what a queer household it was to find in the heart of Surrey, and that I agreed with him, though it has proved a good deal queerer than I thought.

“I drove to the place — about two miles on the south side of Esher. The house was a fair-sized one, standing back from the road, with a curving drive which was banked with high evergreen shrubs. It was an old, tumble-down building in a crazy state of disrepair. When the trap pulled up on the grass-grown drive in front of the blotched and weather-stained door, I had doubts as to my wisdom in visiting a man whom I knew so slightly. He opened the door himself, however, and greeted me with a great show of cordiality. I was handed over to the manservant, a melancholy, swarthy individual, who led the way, my bag in his hand, to my bedroom. The whole place was depressing. Our dinner was tête-à-tête, and though my host did his best to be entertaining, his thoughts seemed to continually wander, and he talked so vaguely and wildly that I could hardly understand him. He continually drummed his fingers on the table, gnawed his nails, and gave other signs of nervous impatience. The dinner itself was neither well served nor well cooked, and the gloomy presence of the taciturn servant did not help to enliven us. I can assure you that many times in the course of the evening I wished that I could invent some excuse which would take me back to Lee.

“One thing comes back to my memory which may have a bearing upon the business that you two gentlemen are investigating. I thought nothing of it at the time. Near the end of dinner a note was handed in by the servant. I noticed that after my host had read it he seemed even more distrait and strange than before. He gave up all pretence at conversation and sat, smoking endless cigarettes, lost in his own thoughts, but he made no remark as to the contents. About eleven I was glad to go to bed. Some time later Garcia looked in at my door — the room was dark at the time — and asked me if I had rung. I said that I had not. He apologized for having disturbed me so late, saying that it was nearly one o’clock. I dropped off after this and slept soundly all night.

“And now I come to the amazing part of my tale. When I woke it was broad daylight. I glanced at my watch, and the time was nearly nine. I had particularly asked to be called at eight, so I was very much astonished at this forgetfulness. I sprang up and rang for the servant. There was no response. I rang again and again, with the same result. Then I came to the conclusion that the bell was out of order. I huddled on my clothes and hurried downstairs in an exceedingly bad temper to order some hot water. You can imagine my surprise when I found that there was no one there. I shouted in the hall. There was no answer. Then I ran from room to room. All were deserted. My host had shown me which was his bedroom the night before, so I knocked at the door. No reply. I turned the handle and walked in. The room was empty, and the bed had never been slept in. He had gone with the rest. The foreign host, the foreign footman, the foreign cook, all had vanished in the night! That was the end of my visit to Wisteria Lodge.”