福爾摩斯探案經典:《恐怖谷》第11章Part4

"Well, that's because he daren't trust you. But in his heart he is not a loyal brother. We know that well. So we watch him and we wait for the time to admonish him. I'm thinking that the time is drawing near. There's no room for scabby sheep in our pen. But if you keep company with a disloyal man, we might think that you were disloyal, too. See?"
"There's no chance of my keeping company with him; for I dislike the man," McMurdo answered. "As to being disloyal, if it was any man but you he would not use the word to me twice."
"Well, that's enough," said McGinty, draining off his glass. "I came down to give you a word in season, and you've had it."
"I'd like to know," said McMurdo, "how you ever came to learn that I had spoken with Morris at all?"
McGinty laughed. "It's my business to know what goes on in this township," said he. "I guess you'd best reckon on my hearing all that passes. Well, time's up, and I'll just say--"
But his leavetaking was cut short in a very unexpected fashion. With a sudden crash the door flew open, and three frowning, intent faces glared in at them from under the peaks of police caps. McMurdo sprang to his feet and half drew his revolver; but his arm stopped midway as he became conscious that two Winchester rifles were levelled at his head. A man in uniform advanced into the room, a six-shooter in his hand. It was Captain Marvin, once of Chicago, and now of the Mine Constabulary. He shook his head with a half-smile at McMurdo.
"I thought you'd be getting into trouble, Mr. Crooked McMurdo of Chicago," said he. "Can't keep out of it, can you? Take your hat and come along with us."
"I guess you'll pay for this, Captain Marvin," said McGinty. "Who are you, I'd like to know, to break into a house in this fashion and molest honest, law-abiding men?"
"You're standing out in this deal, Councillor McGinty," said the police captain. "We are not out after you, but after this man McMurdo. It is for you to help, not to hinder us in our duty,"
"He is a friend of mine, and I'll answer for his conduct," said the Boss.
"By all accounts, Mr. McGinty, you may have to answer for your own conduct some of these days," the captain answered. "This man McMurdo was a crook before ever he came here, and he's a crook still. Cover him, Patrolman, while I disarm him."
"There's my pistol," said McMurdo coolly. "Maybe, Captain Marvin, if you and I were alone and face to face you would not take me so easily."
"Where's your warrant?" asked McGinty. "By Gar! a man might as well live in Russia as in Vermissa while folk like you are running the police. It's a capitalist outrage, and you'll hear more of it, I reckon."
"You do what you think is your duty the best way you can, Councillor. We'll look after ours."
"What am I accused of?" asked McMurdo.

“啊，那是因爲他還不敢相信你。可是他心裏已經不是一個忠心的弟兄了。我們對這一點知道得很清楚，所以對他很注意，我們就等待時機去告誡他，我想這一時刻已經不遠了。因爲在我們的羊圈裏是沒有那些下賤綿羊的棲身之地的。可是如果你同一個不忠心的人結交，我們要認爲你也是一個不忠心的人。這你明白了嗎？”
“因爲我不喜歡這個人，我也沒有機會和他結交。"麥克默多回答道，“至於說我不忠心，也就是出自你的口中，假如要是別的人，他就不會有機會第二次再對我說這種話了。”
“好，不要再說了，"麥金蒂把酒一飲而盡，說道，“我是及時來勸告你，你應當明白。”
“我很想知道你究竟是怎麼知道我和莫里斯談過話的。”
麥金蒂笑了一笑。“在這個鎮子裏發生什麼事，我都知道，"麥金蒂說，“我想你總該知道不論什麼事都逃不過我的耳目的。好，時間不早了，我還要說……”
可是一個非常意外的情況打斷了他告別的話。隨着一下突然的撞擊聲，門打開了，三張堅決的面孔正從警帽的帽檐下怒目橫眉地瞪着他們。麥克默多跳起身來，剛把手槍抽出一半，他的手臂就在半路停了下來，因爲他發現兩支溫切斯特步槍已經對準了他的頭部。一個身着警服的人走進室內，手中握着一支六響的左輪手槍。這人正是以前在芝加哥待過，現在的煤鐵礦保安隊隊長馬文。他搖搖頭，皮笑肉不笑地望着麥克默多。
“芝加哥的麥克默多先生，我想你已經被捕了，"馬文說道，“你是不能脫身的，戴上帽子，跟我們走！”
“我認爲你要因此而付出代價的，馬文隊長，"麥金蒂說道。"我倒願意知道，你是什麼人，可以在這樣的情況下，擅自闖入人家家中，騷擾一個忠實守法的人！”
“這與你無關的，參議員先生，"警察隊長說道，“我們並不是來追捕你，而是來追捕這個麥克默多的。你應當幫助我們，而不應當妨礙我們履行職責。”
“他是我的朋友，我可以對他的行爲擔保，"麥金蒂說道。
“無論從哪方面看，麥金蒂先生，近幾天裏，你只能爲你自己的行爲擔保了，"警察隊長答道，“麥克默多來這裏以前早就是個無賴，現在仍然不安分守己。警士，把槍對準他，我來繳他的械。”
“這是我的手槍，"麥克默多冷冰冰地說道，“馬文隊長，假如你我二人單獨面對面地相遇，你不會這麼容易捉住我的。”
“你們的拘票呢！"麥金蒂說道，“天哪！一個人住在維爾米薩竟和住在俄國一樣，象你這樣的人也來領導警察局！這是資本家的非法手段，我估計以後這種事會聽得更多的。”
“你願意怎麼想就怎麼想，參議員先生。我們該怎麼辦就怎麼辦。”
“我犯了什麼罪？"麥克默多問道。