good company； I won't deny it； and he had wonderful polite ways with
him for a sailor man； so that I think there must have been a time when
he knew more of the poop than the forecastle。 For a month he was in
and out of my house； and never once did it cross my mind that harm
might come of his soft tricky ways。 And then at last something made me
suspect and from that day my peace was gone forever。
〃'It was only a little thing； too。 I had come into the parlour
unexpected； and as I walked in at the door I saw a light of welcome on
my wife's face。 But as she saw who it was it faded again； and she
turned away with a look of disappointment。 That was enough for me。
There was no one but Alec Fairbairn whose step she could have mistaken
for mine。 If I could have seen him then I should have killed him；
for I have always been like a madman when my temper gets loose。 Mary
saw the devil's light in my eyes； and she ran forward with her hands
on my sleeve。 〃Don't Jim； don't！〃 says she。 〃Where's Sarah？〃 I
asked。 〃In the kitchen；〃 says she。 〃Sarah；〃 says I as I went in； 〃this
man Fairbairn is never to darken my door again。〃 〃Why not？〃 says
she。 〃Because I order it。〃 〃Oh！〃 says she； 〃if my friends are not good
enough for this house； then I am not good enough for it either。〃
〃You can do what you like；〃 says I； 〃but if Fairbairn shows his face
here again I'll send you one of his ears for a keepsake。〃 She was
frightened by my face； I think； for she never answered a word； and the
same evening she left my house。
〃'Well； I don't know now whether it was pure devilry on the part
of this woman； or whether she thought that she could turn me against
my wife by encouraging her to misbehave。 Anyway； she took a house just
two streets off and let lodgings to sailors。 Fairbairn used to stay
there； and Mary would go round to have tea with her sister and him。
How often she went I don't know； but I followed her one day； and as
I broke in at the door Fairbairn got away over the back garden wall；
like the cowardly skunk that he was。 I swore to my wife that I would
kill her if I found her in his company again； and I led her back
with me； sobbing and trembling； and as white as a piece of paper。
There was no trace of love between us any longer。 I could see that she
hated me and feared me； and when the thought of it drove me to
drink； then she despised me as well。
〃'Well； Sarah found that she could not make a living in Liverpool；
so she went back； as I understand； to live with her sister in Croydon；
and things jogged on much the same as ever at home。 And then came this
last week and all the misery and ruin。
〃'It was in this way。 We had gone on the May Day for a round
voyage of seven days； but a hogshead got loose and started one of
our plates； so that we had to put back into port for twelve hours。 I
left the ship and came home； thinking what a surprise it would be
for my wife； and hoping that maybe she would be glad to see me so
soon。 The thought was in my head as I turned into my own street and at
that moment a cab passed me； and there she was； sitting by the side of
Fairbairn； the two chatting and laughing； with never a thought for
me as I stood watching them from the footpath。
〃'I tell you； and I give you my word for it； that from that moment I
was not my own master； and it is all like a dim dream when I look back
on it。 I had been drinking hard of late； and the two things together
fairly turned my brain。 There's something throbbing in my head now；
like a docker's hammer； but that morning I seemed to have all
Niagara whizzing and buzzing in my ears。
〃'Well； I took to my heels； and I ran after the cab。 I had a heavy
oak stick in my hand； and I tell you I saw red from the first； but
as I ran I got cunning； too； and hung back a little to see them
without being seen。 They pulled up soon at the railway station。
There was a good crowd round the booking…office； so I got quite
close to them without being seen。 They took tickets for New
Brighton。 So did I； but I got in three carriages behind them。 When
we reached it they walked along the Parade； and I was never more
than a hundred yards from them。 At last I saw them hire a boat and
start for a row； for it was a very hot day； and they thought； no
doubt； that it would be cooler on the water。
〃It was just as if they had been given into my hands。 There was a
bit of a haze； and you could not see more than a few hundred yards。
I hired a boat for myself； and I pulled after them。 I could see the
blur of their craft； but they were going nearly as fast as I； and they
must have been a long mile from the shore before I caught them up。 The
haze was like a curtain all round us； and there were we three in the
middle of it。 My God； shall I ever forget their faces when they saw
who was in the boat that was closing in upon them？ She screamed out。
He swore like a madman and jabbed at me with an oar； for he must
have seen death in my eyes。 I got past it and got one in with my stick
that crushed his head like an egg。 I would have spared her； perhaps；
for all my madness； but she threw her arms round him； crying out to
him； and calling him 〃Alec。〃 I struck again； and she lay stretched
beside him。 I was like a wild beast then that had tasted blood。 If
Sarah had been there； by the Lord； she should have joined them。 I
pulled out my knife； and… well； there！ I've said enough。 It gave me
a kind of savage joy when I thought how Sarah would feel when she
had such sign of what her meddling had brought about。 Then I tied
the bodies into the boat； stove a plank； and stood by until they had
sunk。 I knew very well that the owner would think that they had lost
their bearings and had drifted off out to sea。 I cleaned myself up；
got back to land； and joined my ship without a soul having a suspicion
of what had passed。 That night I made up the packet for Sarah Cushing；
and next day I sent it from Belfast。
〃'There you have the whole truth of it。 You can hang me； or do
what you like with me； but you cannot punish me as I have been
punished already。 I cannot shut my eyes but I see those two faces
staring at me… staring at me as they stared when my boat broke through
the haze。 I killed them quick； but they are killing me slow； and if
I have another night of it I shall be either； mad or dead before
morning。 You won't put me alone into a cell； sir？ For pity's sake
don't； and may you be treated in your day of agony as you treat me
now。〃
〃What is the meaning of it Watson？； said Holmes solemnly as he
laid down the paper。 〃What object is served by this circle of misery
and violence and fear？ It must tend to some end； or else our
universe is ruled by chance； which is unthinkable。 But what end？ There
is the great standing perennial problem to which human reason is as
far from an answer as ever。〃
…THE END…
。