"Y Cylch Brith"

O fwrw golwg dros fy nodiadau o’r deg a thrigain o achosion y bu i mi eu hastudio dros yr wyth mlynedd ddiwethaf, sy’n cofnodi dulliau gweithredu fy nghyfaill Sherlock Holmes, canfyddaf fod sawl achos yn eu plith yn sefyllfaoedd trasig, rhai eraill yn ddoniol, a nifer sylweddol ohonynt yn eithriadol o ryfeddol. A’r hyn sy’n nodweddiadol o’r cyfan yw nad ydyw’r un ohonynt yn perthyn i fyd y cyffredin; oherwydd, o weithio fel ag y gwnâi ef, sef yn fwy allan o gariad tuag at ei grefft yn hytrach nag er mwyn ymgasglu a chronni cyfoeth, gwrthodai Sherlock Holmes ei gysylltu ei hun ag unrhyw archwiliad na thueddai at yr anghyffredin, a hyd yn oed yr anhygoel a’r ffantastig. O’r holl achosion amrywiol hynny, fodd bynnag, fedra i ddim meddwl am unrhyw un ag iddo fwy o nodweddion cwbl unigryw na hwnnw oedd yn gysylltiedig â theulu adnabyddus y Roylotts o Stoke Moran yn Swydd Surrey. Mae’r digwyddiadau dan sylw yn perthyn i ddyddiau cynnar fy ymwneud i â Holmes, pan oeddem ni’n rhannu ystafelloedd fel llanciau di-briod yn Heol y Pobydd, sef Baker Street wrth gwrs, yn Llundain. Mae’n bosib fy mod i eisoes wedi cofnodi manylion amdanynt; ond fe wnaed addewid o gyfrinachedd y pryd hwnnw, na’m rhyddhawyd i ohoni hyd at y mis diwethaf, o ganlyniad i farwolaeth gynamserol y fonesig y rhoddwyd iddi’r cyfryw addewid. O hir feddwl yn ofalus, ystyriaf mai llawn cystal erbyn hyn fyddai caniatáu i’r ffeithiau hynny weld golau dydd, gan fod gennyf resymau i gredu bod sibrydion ar led parthed marwolaeth y Dr. Grimesby Roylott, sy’n tueddu i wneud y mater hyd yn oed yn fwy dychrynllyd na’r gwirionedd ei hun.

On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.

Yn gynnar ym mis Ebrill oedd hi, yn y flwyddyn ’83, pan ddeffrois i un bore i ganfod Sherlock Holmes, wedi ei wisgo ei hun yn llawn yn ei ddillad bob dydd, yn sefyll ger erchwyn fy ngwely. Codwr hwyr oedd ef fel arfer, a chan y dangosai’r cloc ar y silff ben tân nad oedd hi eto ond yn chwarter wedi saith, amrantais arno â’m llygaid hanner effro mewn peth syndod a dryswch; yn gymysg efallai ag ychydig bach o wrthwynebiad, o ystyried fy mod i fy hun fel arfer yn greadur rheolaidd fy anianawd a phrydlon fy arferion.

It was early in April in the year ’83 that I woke one morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits.

“Mae’n ddrwg gen i’ch dihuno fel hyn, Watson,” meddai, “ond mae un o’r gorchwylion annisgwyl hynny ar ein gwarthaf ni’r bore ’ma. Mae Mrs Hudson wedi cael ei chodi o’i chwsg, ac mae hi wedi ymbilio arna i am gymorth, fel yr wyf innau’n awr yn erfyn arnoch chithau, pe byddech chi gystal.”

“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.”

“Beth sy’n bod, felly? Oes yna dân? ”

“What is it, then - a fire?”

“Na, na; cleient. Mae’n ymddangos fod bonesig ifanc wedi cyrraedd yma mewn cyflwr o gryn gyffro, ac mae hi’n mynnu fy ngweld i. Mae hi’n aros y funud yma yn y dderbynfa. Nawr, pan fydd merched ifainc yn crwydro o amgylch y metropolis ar awr mor gynnar â hyn yn y bore, gan guro pobl gysglyd allan o’u gwelyau, rwy’n rhagdybio fod rhyw gŵyn neu gyfrinach o bwys sylweddol y maen nhw’n awyddus i adrodd amdano. A phe byddai’r mater hwnnw’n troi allan i fod yn achos diddorol yna fe fyddech chi, rwy’n eithaf sicr, yn dymuno ei ddilyn o’i ddechreuad. Ro’wn i’n teimlo, felly, mai’r lleiaf y gallwn i ei wneud oedd eich galw chithau hefyd o fyd y breuddwydwyr, a rhoi’r cyfle i chi fod yn rhan o beth bynnag a allai ddeillio o’r arfaeth sydd ger ein bron ni heddiw.”

“No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should call you and give you the chance.”

“Fy annwyl gyfaill,” ymatebais innau, “fyddwn i ddim am golli allan ar gyfle felly, am unrhyw beth yn y byd.”

“My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything.”

Doedd dim yn rhoi mwy o bleser i mi na dilyn Holmes yn ei archwiliadau proffesiynol, ac edmygu ei ddiddwythiadau a’i gasgliadau synhwyrol. Mor chwimwth fyddai ei sythwelediadau greddfol bob amser, ac eto gallech warantu y byddent wastad wedi eu seilio ar resymeg gadarn, allan o’r hyn y byddai’n ymddatod a datrys y problemau a gyflwynid iddo. Prysurais felly i daflu amdanaf fy nillad, ac ymhen ychydig funudau yn unig roeddwn i’n barod i gerdded y grisiau gyda’m cyfaill i lawr i'r parlwr-dderbynfa. Fel yr agorem ni’r drws i fynd i mewn i’r ystafell, cododd merch fonheddig o’i heistedd yng nghilgant y ffenestr fae; roedd hi wedi ei gwisgo o’i chorun i’w sawdl mewn du, gyda’i hwyneb dan orchudd rhwyden o fêl drwchus.

I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the window, rose as we entered.

“Bore da, madam,” cyfarchodd Holmes yn siriol. “Sherlock Holmes yw fy enw i; a dyma fy nghyfaill mynwesol a’m cydweithiwr ffyddlon, Dr. Watson, y gallwch chi siarad yr un mor rhydd ger ei fron ef â gyda fi fy hun. Ha; rwy’n falch o weld fod Mrs Hudson wedi bod yn ddigon call i gynnau’r tân. Dewch, tynnwch at ei wres, ac fe archeba i gwpanaid o goffi poeth i chi, oherwydd rwy’n sylwi eich bod chi’n crynu o oerfel.”

“Good-morning, madam,” said Holmes cheerily. “My name is Sherlock Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee, for I observe that you are shivering.”

“Nid yr oerni sy’n gwneud i mi grynu,” atebodd y wraig yn lled swil a thawel

“Nid yr oerni sy’n gwneud i mi grynu,” atebodd y wraig yn lled swil a thawel, gan gyfnewid ei chadair am un a oedd yn agosach at y lle tân, yn unol â’r gwahoddiad a estynnwyd iddi hi.

“It is not cold which makes me shiver,” said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested.

“Mm; beth, felly?”

“What, then?”

“Ofn, Mr Holmes. Arswyd a braw.” Fel y siaradai, cododd rwyden ei fêl yn ôl dros ei phen, a gallem weld ei bod hi’n wir mewn stad alaethus o ofid ac aflonyddwch ingol; roedd ei hwyneb yn llaes a llwydaidd yr olwg, a’i llygaid yn llawn dychryn, anesmwythder a gofid; megis llygaid anifail druan yn cael ei ymlid. Yn ôl arweddion ei phryd a’i gwedd, a’i nodweddion corfforol, mae’n rhaid ei bod hi oddeutu deg ar hugain oed; ond roedd ei gwallt yn rhimynnau o lwyd cynamserol, ac edrychai’n flinderus a galarus. Rhedodd Sherlock Holmes ei lygaid craff drosti gydag un o’i drosolygon bras a brysiog, ond hollgynhwysol serch hynny.

“It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror.” She raised her veil as she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, all-comprehensive glances.

“Rhaid i chi beidio â phryderu,” meddai ef wrthi hi’n gysurus o esmwyth, gan blygu ymlaen a gosod cledr ei law yn ysgafn ar ei braich isaf. “Mewn byr o dro fe ro’wn ni bethau mewn trefn, fe gewch chi weld; am hynny does gen i ddim amheuaeth. Fe wnaethoch chi deithio i mewn y bore ’ma gyda’r trên, mi welaf.”

“You must not fear,” said he soothingly, bending forward and patting her forearm. “We shall soon set matters right, I have no doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see.”

“Rydych chi’n fy adnabod i, felly?”

“You know me, then?”

“Na na; ond rwy’n sylwi fod gennych chi ail hanner tocyn dwyffordd yng nghledr maneg eich llaw chwith. Mae’n rhaid eich bod chi wedi cychwyn yn gynnar iawn y bore yma; ac eto, ry’ch chi wedi cael eich cludo am gryn bellter mewn cert ci, mi debygaf, ar hyd ffyrdd trwm a chlegyrog, cyn i chi gyrraedd yr orsaf.”

“No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station.”

Ymsythodd y fonesig ar ei hunion, fel pe mewn sioc enbyd; a rhythodd mewn dryswch ar fy nghyfaill.

The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my companion.

“Does yna ddim dirgelwch, f’annwyl fadam,” brysiodd Holmes i’w chalonogi, gan wenu’n foesgar i’w chyfeiriad. “Mae braich chwith eich siaced wedi ei hysgeintio gyda smotiau o laid neu fwd, mewn saith man o leiaf; ac mae’r marciau hynny’n dal yn ffres. Does yna ddim un cerbyd ar wahân i gert ci a allai daflu mwd i fyny yn y fath fodd, a hynny ychwaith ddim ond pe byddech chi’n digwydd bod yn eistedd ar ochr chwith y gyrrwr.”

“There is no mystery, my dear madam,” said he, smiling. “The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.”

“Beth bynnag allai eich rhesymau chi fod, rydych chi’n berffaith gywir,” ymatebodd y fonesig o’i gwirfodd. “Mi ddechreuais i o’m cartref cyn chwech y bore yma, gan gyrraedd gorsaf Leatherhead am ugain munud wedi chwech, ac mi ddois i mewn efo’r trên cyntaf i Waterloo. Syr, alla’ i oddef y straen yma ddim rhagor; os parith ymlaen ymhellach mi a’ i’n wallgof. Does gen i neb i droi ato: nag oes, neb ... ar wahân i un dyn ... sydd ag unrhyw ofal amdanaf; ac allith o, fy narpar gymar a’m cyfaill agosaf ... druan ohono ... ddim bod o fawr gymorth i mi. Rydw i wedi clywed amdanoch chi, Mr Holmes; mi glywais i amdanoch gan Mrs Farintosh, y gwnaethoch chi ei helpu yn awr ei chyfyngder a’i hangen trist. Ganddi hi y cefais i eich cyfeiriad chi. O, syr, ydych chi’n tybio y gallech chi fy nghynorthwyo innau hefyd, ac o leiaf daflu ychydig o oleuni drwy’r tywyllwch dudew sy’n fy amgylchynu i? Ar hyn o bryd mae hi y tu allan i’m grym i i’ch gwobrwyo chi am eich gwasanaeth; ond ymhen mis neu ddau mi fydda’ i wedi priodi, a bydd gen i’r pryd hynny reolaeth dros fy incwm fy hun, ac yna o leiaf mi gewch brofi na fûm i’n esgeulus rhag llawn werthfawrogi eich caredigrwydd.”

“Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct,” said she. “I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to—none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful.”

Trodd Holmes tuag at ei ddesg, ac wedi datgloi ei chlawr, tynnodd allan ohoni lyfryn cofnodion bychan, a gynhwysai ei fanylion ysgrifenedig ef ei hun yng nghyswllt achosion blaenorol; a gwyliem ef yn pori drwy ei dudalennau.

Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book, which he consulted.

“Hm, Farintosh,” meddai’n fyfyriol, yn y man. “Ah, ie; mae gen i gof eithaf clir, nawr, o amgylchiadau’r wraig y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdani gynnau fach. Roedd a wnelo’r achos hwnnw â choron tiara opal. Rwy’n credu fod hynny cyn eich amser chi, Watson. Wel, alla’ i ond ymdynghedu, madam, y byddwn i’n hapus i ymroi gyda’r un gofal a manylder i’ch achos chi ag y bu i mi ei ymarfer yn achos eich cyfeilles. O safbwynt derbyn tâl am y gorchwyl, i mi fy ngalwedigaeth yw’r wobr; er y byddai rhyddid i chi ddigolledu pa bynnag dreuliau y gallaswn i fod yn debygol o’u hwynebu, ar ba bynnag adeg fyddai fwyaf derbyniol i chi eich hun. Nawr, maddeuwch i mi ofyn i chi gyflwyno ger ein bron ni, os gwelwch yn dda, bopeth oll a allai ein cynorthwyo ni i ffurfio ein barn ar y mater sy’n eich pryderu chi.”

“Farintosh,” said he. “Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter.”

“Och; gwae fi!” atebodd ein hymwelydd. “Mae holl erchyllter fy sefyllfa i’n gorffwyso ar y ffaith bod fy ofnau i mor aneglur, a bod fy amheuon i’n dibynnu gymaint ar bwyntiau pitw o ddisylwedd, a allai ymddangos i rywun arall mor ddibwys, fel ei fod o ... yr hwn allan o bawb arall y mae gen i hawl i edrych tuag ato am gymorth a chyngor ... yn ystyried y cyfan a ddyweda’ i wrtho megis rhith ddychymyg benyw or-nerfus. Fydd o ddim yn datgan hynny’n agored fel y cyfryw, ond gallaf ei ddarllen yn atebion ei dafod llithrig ac edrychiad ei lygaid gochelgar. Ond mi rydw i wedi clywed y gallwch chi, Mr Holmes, dreiddio’n ddwfn â’ch llygaid, i mewn i amryfal ddrygioni’r galon ddynol. Hwyrach y medrwch chi gynnig i mi gyngor ar sut i droedio’n ddiogel drwy’r peryglon sy’n fy amgylchynu i.”

“Alas!” replied our visitor, “the very horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me.”

“Y chi biau fy holl sylw i, madam; does gen i glust i ddim arall ar hyn o bryd.”

“I am all attention, madam.”

“Fy enw i ydy Helen Stoner, ac rydw i’n byw efo’m llystad, ac efo yw goroeswr olaf un o’r teuluoedd Sacsonaidd hynaf yn Lloegr, sef y Roylotts o Stoke Moran, ar ffin orllewinol Surrey.”

“My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey.”

Nodiodd Holmes ei ben mewn cydnabyddiaeth. “Y mae’r enw hwnnw yn un cyfarwydd i mi,” oedd ei ymateb.

Holmes nodded his head. “The name is familiar to me,” said he.

“Roedd y teulu ar un adeg ymhlith y cyfoethocaf yn Lloegr, oherwydd roedd yr ystâd yn ymestyn dros y ffiniau i Berkshire yn y gogledd, a Hampshire yn y gorllewin. Yn ystod y ganrif ddiwethaf, fodd bynnag, trodd allan bedwar etifedd yn olynol i ymddwyn efo anianawd afradlon a gwastraffus; a chwblhawyd dinistriad llwyr y teulu yn y pen draw ... yn gyrn, croen a charnau ... gan gamblwr ffôl o ddyn, yn nyddiau’r Rhaglywiaeth. Adawyd dim oll ar ôl, ar wahân i ychydig erwau o dir ynghyd â thŷ dau gan mlwydd oed, sydd ei hun yn parhau i fod dan bwysau morgais llethol o drwm. Yno y dihoenodd y sgweier olaf, yn crafu ei fywoliaeth hyd at ei ddyddiau diwethaf, yn crafangu ar fywyd digalon y tlotyn pendefigaidd. Ond mi lwyddodd ei unig fab, sef fy llystad i ... o ystyried y byddai’n rhaid iddo addasu ei amgylchiadau dan amodau cyllidol newydd ... i fenthyca arian oddi ar berthynas iddo, er mwyn ei alluogi i astudio ac ennill gradd mewn meddygaeth; ac yn dilyn hynny mi ymfudodd i Galcutta lle, yn rhinwedd ei ddoniau proffesiynol ynghyd â’i gymeriad grymus, mi sefydlodd wasanaeth meddygol enfawr. P’run bynnag, mewn ffit o ddicter mympwyol, a achoswyd gan ryw achosion o ladrad a oedd wedi digwydd yn ei gartref, mi ffustiodd ei fwtler brodorol i farwolaeth. O ganlyniad i hynny dihangodd o drwch blewyn rhag y gosb eithaf o gael ei ddienyddio; ond fel y digwyddodd hi, mi ddioddefodd gyfnod hir o garchar, ac wedi hynny dychwelodd i Loegr yn ddyn sarrug wedi ei lwyr ddadrithio.

“The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man.

“Pan oedd Dr. Roylott yn yr India mi briododd efo fy mam, Mrs Stoner; gwraig weddw ifanc Major-General Stoner, gynt o gatrawd Magnelwyr Bengal. Roeddwn i a’m chwaer Julia yn efeilliaid, a dim ond dwyflwydd oed oeddem ni pan ail-briododd ein mam. Roedd hi’n berchen ar faint sylweddol o eiddo, ei werth heb fod yn llai na mil o bunnau’r flwyddyn; ac mi gymynroddodd hi’r swm hwnnw yn ei gyfanrwydd i Dr. Roylott, gydag amod ei fod o i weinyddu’r cyfalaf etifeddol tra byddem ni’n parhau i gydfyw efo fo. Yn yr ewyllys honno hefyd roedd darpariaeth ar gyfer rhyddhau swm penodol o gyllid i’w roi i’r naill a’r llall ohonom ni’n dwy pe byddem ni’n priodi. Mewn byr o amser wedi i ni ddychwelyd i Loegr bu farw fy mam; mi gafodd hi ei lladd wyth mlynedd yn ôl mewn damwain reilffordd ger Crewe. Yn dilyn hynny mi roddodd Dr. Roylott y gorau i’w ymdrechion i’w sefydlu ei hun mewn busnes meddygol yn ninas Llundain, ac mi wnaeth o ein cymryd ni i fyw efo fo yng nghartref ei hynafiaid yn Stoke Moran. Roedd y pres a adawodd fy mam yn ddigon ar gyfer ein hanghenion ni i gyd, ac ymddangosai ar y pryd fel pe na allai dim yn y byd fygwth ein hapusrwydd cyflawn ni.

“When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old at the time of my mother’s re-marriage. She had a considerable sum of money—not less than £1000 a year—and this she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return to England my mother died—she was killed eight years ago in a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.

“Ond tua’r un cyfnod, daeth newid difrifol dros ein llystad. Yn hytrach na meithrin cyfeillgarwch a chyfnewid ymweliadau efo’n cymdogion, a oedd ar y dechrau wedi mynegi eu llawenydd anghyffredin o weld disgynnydd o dylwyth Roylott o Stoke Moran yn ôl yn yr hen sedd deuluol, arferai ei gau ei hun i mewn yn ei dŷ; a phrin byth y deuai allan yng ngolau’r dydd, ac eithrio i’w foddio ei hun mewn ymrysonau o ffraeo ffyrnig efo pwy bynnag a ddigwyddai fod wedi croesi ei lwybr. Mae tymer chwyrn, a honno’n ymylu ar orffwylledd, wedi bod yn nodwedd etifeddol o fewn llinach wrywaidd y teulu, ac yn achos fy llystad mi ddwysawyd y dwymyn honno, mi debygaf, o ganlyniad i’w breswyliad hir yn y trofannau. Digwyddodd cyfres o ysgarmesau cywilyddus, a bu i ddau o’r achlysuron hynny arwain at ymddangosiadau mewn llys barn yr heddlu; hyd nes iddo yn y diwedd gael ei adnabod gan y byd a’r betws fel brawychwr gwallgof y pentref, a byddai’r trigolion yn gwasgaru wrth ei weld yn agosáu, gan ei fod o’n ŵr o gryfder aruthrol, ac yn un cwbl afreolus pan yn ei hwyliau drwg.

“But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family, and in my stepfather’s case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger.

“Yr wythnos ddiwethaf, â’i freichiau cydnerth ei hun, mi luchiodd o’r gof lleol dros y clawdd i nant fyrlymog; a dim ond o dalu drosodd iddo’r holl arian y gallwn i ei gasglu at ei gilydd y llwyddais i atal dadleniad cyhoeddus arall a fyddai wedi difrïo enw’r teulu. Does ganddo fo ddim cyfeillion gwerth sôn amdanyn nhw ar wahân i’r sipsiwn crwydrol, ac mi fydd o’n rhoi i’r rapsgaliwns hynny rwydd hynt i wersylla ar yr ychydig erwau o dir garw, sydd yn drwch o fieri ond sy’n cynrychioli’r unig ychydig bychan sydd yn weddill o ystâd y teulu; ac yn gyfnewid am hynny mi fydd yntau’n derbyn ganddyn nhwythau eu croeso i letya o bryd i’w gilydd yn eu pebyll, ac i grwydro ymaith efo nhw ar adegau am wythnosau ar y tro. Mae ganddo fo hefyd hoffter a diddordeb anarferol o frwd mewn anifeiliaid o’r India, sy’n cael eu hanfon drosodd iddo gan ohebydd tramor; ac mae ganddo fo ar hyn o bryd lewpard a babŵn, sy’n crwydro’n rhydd dros ei dir, gan beri ofn a dychryn i’r pentrefwyr, yn gymaint bron â’u hofn nhw ohono fo ei hun, eu meistr nhw.

“Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I could gather together that I was able to avert another public exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the villagers almost as much as their master.

“Gallwch chi ddychmygu hwyrach, o’r hyn rydw i’n ei ddweud wrthych chi rwan, mor brin oedd unrhyw bleser yn ein bywydau ni, fy chwaer Julia druan a minnau. Arhosai’r un gwas na morwyn yn hir efo ni, a thros amser maith nyni ein hunain oedd yn gyfrifol am gyflawni holl waith domestig y tŷ. Dim ond deg ar hugain oed oedd hi pan fu hi farw, ond roedd ei gwallt hi eisoes wedi dechrau gwynnu, yn yr un modd ag y mae fy ngwallt i fy hun hefyd yn prysur golli ei liw.”

“You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already begun to whiten, even as mine has.”

“Mae eich chwaer, felly, wedi marw?”

“Your sister is dead, then?”

“Mi drengodd hi gwta ddwy flynedd yn ôl, ac am ei marwolaeth hi rydw i’n dymuno siarad efo chi. Mi allwch chi ddeall, o fyw'r bywyd a ddisgrifiais i chi gynnau, mai prin oeddem ni’n debygol o weld na chyfarfod efo neb o’n hoed ni nac o’n safle cymdeithasol ni ein hunain. Fodd bynnag, roedd gennym ni un fodryb, sef chwaer ddi-briod fy mam ... Miss Honoria Westphail, sy’n byw ger Harrow ... a phob hyn a hyn fe ganiateid i ni ymweld â hi am gyfnodau byr iawn yn ei chartref. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl mi aeth Julia yno i aros dros y Nadolig, ac yno y gwnaeth hi gyfarfod efo swyddog milwrol a oedd yn gwasanaethu ar hanner comisiwn cyflogedig fel Uwchgapten gyda’r Morlu Milwrol, y gwnaeth hi ddyweddïo efo fo maes o law. Mi ddaeth fy llystad i wybod am y dyweddïad pan ddychwelodd fy chwaer, a wnaeth o ddim sôn am unrhyw wrthwynebiad i’r uniad; ond o fewn pythefnos i’r diwrnod a benodwyd ar gyfer y briodas, y digwyddodd y trychineb dychrynllyd sydd wedi fy amddifadu i o’m hunig gydymaith annwyl ar wyneb y ddaear gron yma.”

“She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother’s maiden sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady’s house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event occurred which has deprived me of my only companion.”

Gydol y cyfryw ymadroddi roedd Sherlock Holmes wedi bod yn eistedd gan bwyso ei gefn yn ôl yn ei gadair â’i lygaid ynghau a’i ben wedi ei suddo mewn clustog; ond yn awr dechreuodd hanner agor ei amrannau, i giledrych yn fwriadus ar ei ymwelydd.

Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.

“Byddwch cystal â bod yn wirioneddol gywir gyda’ch manylion, os gwelwch chi’n dda,” apeliodd ef.

“Byddwch cystal â bod yn wirioneddol gywir gyda’ch manylion, os gwelwch chi’n dda,” apeliodd ef.

“Pray be precise as to details,” said he.

“Mae’n hawdd iawn i mi fod yn groyw glir efo’r holl fanylion, Mr Holmes, gan fod pob digwyddiad lleiaf o’r amser ofnadwy hwnnw wedi ei serio ar fy nghof. Mae’r maenordy, fel y crybwyllais i wrthych chi eisoes, yn hynafol iawn, a dim ond un adain ohono sydd erbyn hyn mewn cyflwr cyfanheddol. Yn yr adain honno y mae’r ystafelloedd gwely ar y llawr gwaelod; ac mae’r ystafelloedd byw a’r ystafelloedd hamddena wedi eu lleoli ym mloc canolog y prif adeilad. O’r ystafelloedd cysgu, yr un gyntaf ydy un Dr. Roylott, yr ail un ydy un fy chwaer, a’r drydedd un ydy fy ystafell i fy hun. Does yna ddim cyfrwng mynediad rhyngddyn nhw a’i gilydd, ond y maen nhw i gyd yn rhannu tramwyfa’r un coridor cyffredin. A ydw i yn fy ngwneud fy hun yn eglur i chi, d’wedwch?”

“It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylott’s, the second my sister’s, and the third my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?”

“Yn berffaith felly. Ewch ymlaen, Miss Stoner.”

“Perfectly so.”

“Mae ffenestri’r tair ystafell wely yn agor allan ar y lawnt. Ar y noson angheuol honno roedd Dr. Roylott wedi troi i’w ystafell yn gynnar, er y gwyddem ni nad oedd o wedi ymneilltuo yno i noswylio fel y cyfryw, ddim hyd yn oed i hepian orffwyso heb sôn am gysgu; oherwydd roedd fy chwaer yn cael ei phoeni gan arogl cryf y sigârs o India yr oedd o’n arfer eu hysmygu. Felly, gadawodd hi ei hystafell ei hun, a dod draw i’m hystafell i, lle yr eisteddodd hi am beth amser tra buom ni’n dwy yn sgwrsio am ei phriodas oedd yn dynesu. Am un ar ddeg y nos fe gododd hi o’i chadair i ddychwelyd i’w hystafell ei hun, ond safodd ennyd wrth y drws gan edrych yn ei hôl.

“The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At eleven o’clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back.

“ ‘D’wed wrtha i, Helen,’ meddai hi, ‘wyt ti erioed wedi clywed rhywun yn chwibanu ym mherfedd y nos?’

“ ‘Tell me, Helen,’ said she, ‘have you ever heard anyone whistle in the dead of the night?’

“ ‘Bobl annwyl, naddo, erioed,’ atebais i hi.

“ ‘Never,’ said I.

“ ‘Go brin, mae’n debyg, y gallet ti dy hun ... jest o bosib ... fod yn chwibanu yn dy gwsg?’

“ ‘I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in your sleep?’

“ ‘Yn sicr ddim. Ond pam rwyt ti’n holi?’

“ ‘Certainly not. But why?’

“ ‘Oherwydd yn ystod yr ychydig nosweithiau diwethaf rydw i’n gyson, tua thri o’r gloch yn y bore, wedi bod yn clywed chwibanu isel a chlir. Gan mai cysgwr ysgafn ydw i, mae’r sŵn wedi fy neffro i. Alla’ i ddim dweud o ble y mae’r chwibanu’n dod; hwyrach mai o’r ystafell y drws nesaf, neu hwyrach o gyfeiriad y lawnt y tu allan. Mi feddyliais y byddwn i jest yn gofyn i ti, tybed a oeddet tithau hefyd wedi ei glywed.’

“ ‘Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from—perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would just ask you whether you had heard it.’

“ ‘Naddo, ar fy llw; chlywais i ddim o’r fath beth. Mae’n rhaid mai’r crwydrwyr melltigedig yna yn y blanhigfa sy’n gyfrifol.’

“ ‘No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the plantation.’

“ ‘Mwy na thebyg; ac eto, pe bai’r sŵn wedi dod o gyfeiriad y lawnt, mae’n syndod gen i na fyddet tithau hefyd wedi ei glywed o.’

“ ‘Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you did not hear it also.’

“ ‘Ie, ond mi rydw i’n cysgu’n drymach beth na thi, onid ydw i?’

“ ‘Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.’

“ ‘Wel, dydy o ddim yn fater o bwys mawr, ta beth.' Gwenodd hi'n ôl arna’ i, cyn cau’r drws yn dawel; ac ymhen ychydig eiliadau wedyn mi glywais i hi’n troi ei hallwedd yng nghlo drws ei hystafell hi ei hun.”

“ ‘Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.’ She smiled back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her key turn in the lock.”

“Felly’n wir,” ychwanegodd Holmes, fel pe’n awyddus i roi ar ddeall iddi hi ei fod yn parhau i gadw ei big i mewn yn ei stori. “A oedd hi wastad yn arferiad gennych chi eich dwy, felly, i’ch cloi eich hunain i mewn gyda’r nos?”

“Indeed,” said Holmes. “Was it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night?”

“Wastad.”

“Always.”

“O, yn wir. Pam, felly? ”

“And why?”

“Rydw i’n meddwl i mi nodi wrthych chi gynnau, Mr Holmes, fod y meddyg yn cadw llewpard a babŵn. Doeddem ni ddim yn teimlo’n ddiogel nac yn gartrefol yn y lle, heb fod ein drysau ni bob amser ar glo, yn enwedig gydol y nos.”

“I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were locked.”

“Siŵr iawn, Miss Stoner, ond ... byddwch gystal â pharhau ymlaen â’ch datganiad, os gwelwch yn dda.”

“Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement.”

“Allwn i ddim cysgu’r noson honno. Roedd rhyw deimlad annelwig o anffodusrwydd affwysol yn gwasgu amdana’ i. Roedd fy chwaer a minnau, mi gofiwch, yn efeilliaid, ac mi wyddoch chi pa mor anniffiniol ydy’r dolennau sy’n clymu dau enaid cytûn sydd mor ymrwymedig â hynny i’w gilydd. Roedd hi’n noson egr o stormus. Roedd y gwynt y tu allan yn rhuo, a’r glaw yn curo a thasgu’n ddidostur yn erbyn gwydrau’r ffenestri. Yn ddisymwth, ynghanol dwndwr y corwynt, torrodd allan ysgrech amrwd ac erchyll, yn amlwg o enau merch mewn braw dychrynllyd. Mi wyddwn i ar fy union mai llais fy chwaer oedd o. Mi lamais i mewn chwinciad o’m gwely, gan daflu siôl dros fy ysgwyddau, a rhuthro i’r coridor. Wrth i mi agor y drws, mi synhwyrwn gyda sicrwydd di-au i mi glywed chwibaniad isel, yn debyg iawn i’r un roedd fy chwaer wedi ei ddisgrifio i mi; ac ymhen ychydig eiliadau’n unig yn dilyn hynny, mi glywn i eto ryw sŵn atseiniol arall, fel pe bai lwmp o fetel wedi cwympo ar y llawr. Wrth i mi frysio’r ychydig gamau ar hyd tramwyfa’r coridor, sylwais fod drws ystafell fy chwaer ... y drws nesaf, os cofiwch ... heb fod ar glo; ond yn hytrach ei fod yn gilagored ac yn siglo’n ysgafn ar ei golfachau. Mi sefais i yno’n stond fel talp o farmor, yn rhythu ar y drws mewn syfrdandod arswydus, heb grebwyll yn y byd o ba fath o ddrychiolaeth a fyddai’n ymddangos yr eiliad nesaf drwy ei fwlch agored. Ymhen chwinciad, yng ngoleuni’r lamp wic-olew yn y coridor, mi welwn fy chwaer yn ymddangos yn yr agoriad, ei hwyneb yn wyn fel y galchen mewn braw, ei dwylo’n ymbalfalu am gynhaliaeth, a holl ffrâm ei chorff yn siglo o un ochr i’r llall fel meddwyn. Mi redais i ati hi gan daflu fy mreichiau amdani, ond y foment honno ildiodd ei phennau gliniau fel pe baen nhw wedi colli eu nerth i’w chynnal, a syrthiodd yn swp i’r llawr. Roedd hi’n gwingo fel enaid mewn poen difrifol, efo’i breichiau a’i choesau yn dirdynnu’n ofnadwy. Ar y dechrau mi feddyliais i nad oedd hi wedi fy adnabod i; ond wrth i mi blygu drosti, mi ysgrechiodd allan yn ddirybudd mewn llais nad anghofia’ i byth mohono, ‘O, Dduw mawr! Helen! Y cylch oedd o! Y cylch brith!’ Roedd hi’n amlwg yn ymdrechu’n daer i ychwanegu rhyw wybodaeth ategol arall, o bwys tyngedfennol efallai, wrth drywanu’r aer efo’i bys i gyfeiriad ystafell y meddyg; ond fe’i meddiannwyd hi gan gonfylsiwn arall drachefn, a dagodd y geiriau yn ei gwddf. Mi ruthrais i allan ar fy union, gan lefain yn uchel am fy llystad, ac mi ddeuthum i wyneb yn wyneb ag o yn prysuro allan o’i ystafell ei hun yn ei ŵn nos. Erbyn iddo benlinio wrth ochr fy chwaer roedd hi’n anymwybodol, ac er iddo fo arllwys brandi i lawr ei gwddf hi, ac anfon am gymorth meddygol o’r pentref, di-fudd fu pob ymdrech i’w hadfer; oherwydd yn araf mi suddodd ei hysbryd a bu hi farw heb ddod ati ei hun. A dyna’r modd truenus y treuliodd fy chwaer annwyl ei heiliadau olaf.”

“I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew that it was my sister’s voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister’s door was unlocked, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, ‘Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!’ There was something else which she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the doctor’s room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his dressing-gown. When he reached my sister’s side she was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister.”

“Un foment,” prysurodd Holmes i ymateb, er yn bwyllog a chyda diddordeb didwyll: “A ydych chi’n berffaith sicr ynglŷn â’r chwibaniad a’r sŵn metelaidd yna? Allech dyngu llw i chi glywed y synau hynny yn glir?”

“One moment,” said Holmes, “are you sure about this whistle and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?”

“Dyna’n union yr hyn a ofynnodd crwner y sir i mi, yn yr ymchwiliad. A’m hargraff bendant i, syr, yw i mi eu clywed nhw ... does dim dau am hynny; ac eto, yng nghanol twrw’r corwynt ynghyd â’r gwahanol wichiadau o fewn adeilad mor hynafol, hwyrach fod peth posibilrwydd y gallwn i fod wedi fy nhwyllo yn hynny o beth.”

“That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have been deceived.”

“A oedd eich chwaer wedi ei gwisgo yn ei dillad arferol?”

“Was your sister dressed?”

“Nac oedd, roedd hi’n ei choban gysgu. Yn ei llaw dde mi ddarganfuwyd stwmp golosglyd o fatsien, ac yn ei llaw chwith flwch o fatsis.”

“No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box.”

“Yn dangos ei bod hi wedi cynnau fflam o oleuni, siŵr iawn, i edrych o’i hamgylch yn y tywyllwch, pan ddigwyddodd y tarfu ar ddistawrwydd y nos. Mae hynny’n bwysig i’w nodi. Ac i ba gasgliadau ddaeth y crwner?”

“Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the coroner come to?”

“Mi ymchwiliodd o’r achos efo cryn ofal, oherwydd roedd ymddygiad drwg-enwog Dr. Roylott yn rhemp, ac wedi bod yn destun siarad ledled y sir am gyfnod sylweddol o amser; ond allai’r crwner ddim dod o hyd i unrhyw achos boddhaol am ei marwolaeth. Mi ddangosodd fy nhystiolaeth i fod drws ei hystafell hi wedi ei gloi ar yr ochr fewnol, a bod y ffenestri wedi cael eu blocio gan gaeadau hen ffasiwn efo bariau haearn llydan ar eu traws, yr arferid eu cau’n dynn a diogel bob nos. Pan brofwyd sefydlogrwydd y waliau trwchus yn ofalus, dangoswyd eu bod nhw’n solet o gadarn yr holl ffordd o amgylch yr ystafell; ac mi archwiliwyd y llawr yn drwyadl hefyd, efo’r un canlyniadau. Mae’r simdde’n llydan, ond mae honno wedyn wedi ei gwneud yn ddiogel efo pedair o staplau mawrion ar draws ei hagendor. Does dim dwywaith felly fod fy chwaer ar ei phen ei hun pan gyfarfu hi â’i diwedd. Heblaw am hynny, doedd ychwaith ddim olion ffyrnigrwydd na marc nac arwydd o unrhyw drais yn unman ar ei chorff.”

“He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott’s conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her.”

“Beth am gael ei gwenwyno?”

“How about poison?”

“Fe wnaeth y meddygon ei harchwilio hi’n fwriadol am hynny, ond heb brofi dim yn gadarnhaol.”

“The doctors examined her for it, but without success.”

“O ba ganlyniad ydych chi eich hun yn tybio, felly, y bu i’r fonesig anffodus yma farw?”

“What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?”

“Fy nghred i ydy y bu iddi hi farw o ofn pur a sioc nerfus anhygoel o drawmatig; ond beth ar y ddaear wnaeth ei dychryn hi i’r fath raddau, alla’ i’n fy myw ddim dychmygu.”

“It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine.”

“A oedd yna sipsiwn yn y blanhigfa ar y pryd?”

“Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?”

“O, oedd; mae yna bron wastad rai ohonyn nhw yno.”

“Yes, there are nearly always some there.”

“O, felly’n wir; a beth ydych chi’n ei gasglu o’r cyfeiriad aneglur hwnnw at gylch - rhyw gylch brith?”

“O, felly’n wir; a beth ydych chi’n ei gasglu o’r cyfeiriad aneglur hwnnw at gylch - rhyw gylch brith?”

“Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band - a speckled band?”

“Weithiau, mi rydw i wedi bod yn meddwl nad oedd o efallai ond rhyw fath o siarad ffwndrus dan effaith gwewyr dirdynnol neu ddeliriwm dwys. Dro arall mi fydda’ i’n tybied fod cyfeiriad yn y gair i ryw grŵp neu gylch o bobl; hwyrach fod bwriad ganddi hi i grybwyll yr union dylwyth o sipsiwn sy’n gwersylla’n rheolaidd yn y blanhigfa. Wn i ddim ai’r hancesi brith y bydd cynifer ohonyn nhw’n eu gwisgo weithiau o amgylch eu pennau, a barodd iddi hi awgrymu’r ansoddair rhyfedd hwnnw y gwnaeth hi ei ynganu. Wn i ddim, ar fy ngwir.”

“Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used.”

Ysgydwodd Holmes ei ben megis dyn yn arddangos ei fod ymhell o fod yn dawel ei feddwl.

Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.

“Dyma ddyfroedd dyfnion iawn,” meddai ef ymhen y rhawg; “ond byddwch gystal â pharhau yn eich blaen gyda’ch adroddiad, Miss Stoner.”

“These are very deep waters,” said he; “pray go on with your narrative.”

“Mae dwy flynedd wedi mynd heibio oddi ar hynny, ac mae fy mywyd i wedi bod hyd yn ddiweddar yn fwy unig nag erioed. Fis yn ôl, fodd bynnag, mae cyfaill annwyl i mi, un rydw i wedi ei adnabod ers nifer o flynyddoedd, wedi fy anrhydeddu drwy ofyn am fy llaw mewn priodas. Ei enw ydy Armitage ... Percy Armitage ... ail fab Mr Armitage o Crane Water ger Reading. Dydy fy llystad ddim wedi mynegi unrhyw wrthwynebiad i’r pariad, ac y mae trefniadau ar y gweill i ni briodi yng nghwrs y gwanwyn nesaf. Ond rwan, i ddod at fy mhryder presennol i. Ddeuddydd yn ôl mi ddechreuwyd ar waith atgyweirio yn adain orllewinol ein maenordy ni, ac mae twll bychan wedi ei wneud drwy un o furiau fy ystafell wely i, fel bod yn rhaid i mi symud i’r siambr lle bu farw fy chwaer, a chysgu yn yr union wely’r oedd hi’n cysgu ynddo, hyd nes y bydd y gwaith atgyweirio wedi ei orffen ar fy siambr i fy hun. Dychmygwch felly fy ias o arswyd neithiwr, wrth i mi orwedd yn effro yng nghanol y nos yn troi a throsi yn fy meddwl ddigwyddiadau posibl ei thynged ofnadwy, pan glywais i’n sydyn allan o’r distawrwydd llethol yr un chwibaniad isel â’r un oedd wedi rhagflaenu ei marwolaeth ddisyfyd hi. Mi neidiais o’m gwely ar fy union, a goleuo’r lamp, ond doedd dim i’w weld yn yr ystafell. Roeddwn i wedi fy nghynhyrfu ormod i fynd yn ôl i’m gwely, p’run bynnag, felly mi wisgais i fy nillad amdanaf; a chyn gynted ag y goleuodd y dydd, mi lithrais i lawr o’r tŷ, ac mi gefais i gert ci ger y Crown Inn sydd gyferbyn â ni, a gyrru i Leatherhead, ac oddi yno wedyn y deuthum i ymlaen yma i Lundain y bore ’ma, efo’r un bwriad i’ch gweld chi, syr, ac i ofyn i chi am eich cyngor.”

“Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage — Percy Armitage — the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your advice.”

“Fe wnaethoch chi’n ddoeth,” oedd sylw fy nghyfaill; “ond a ydych chi wedi dweud y cyfan wrthyf fi?”

“You have done wisely,” said my friend. “But have you told me all?”

“Do, am a wn i; y cyfan.”

“Yes, all.”

“Miss Stoner, d’ych chi ddim. R’ych chi’n cysgod-amddiffyn eich llystad.”

“Miss Stoner, you have not. You are screening your stepfather.”

“Pam ... wn i ddim beth ydych chi’n ei olygu ... mae’n ddrwg gen i?”

“Why, what do you mean?”

Yn hytrach na’i hateb yn ddiatreg â’i leferydd, camodd Holmes ymlaen yn fonheddig, a gwthiodd yn ei ôl yn ysgafn y ffrilen o les ddu oedd yn rhimyn o amgylch godre llawes ei gwisg, gan ddadorchuddio arddwrn y llaw a orffwysai ein hymwelydd yn ddiymwybod ar ei glin. Wedi eu hargraffu ar yr arddwrn gwelw-wyn hwnnw a ddaeth i’r golwg roedd cleisiau dulas ar ffurf glir pedwar bys ac un bawd.

For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor’s knee. Five little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist.

“Rydych chi wedi cael eich defnyddio’n greulon,” mentrodd Holmes ei awgrymu’n dyner.

“You have been cruelly used,” said Holmes.

Newidiodd lliw wyneb y fonesig yn goch dwfn, a phrysurodd i orchuddio ei harddwrn briwedig. “Dyn caled ydy o,” esboniodd hi’n gwta, ac yn amlwg dan deimlad, “ac efallai nad ydy o’n llawn sylweddoli ei nerth ei hun.”

The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. “He is a hard man,” she said, “and perhaps he hardly knows his own strength.”

Dilynwyd ei chyfaddefiad swil gan ddistawrwydd hir, pryd y gorffwysai Holmes ei ên ar ei ddwylo gan syllu’n ddwys i fflamau’r tân a gracliai yn y grât.

There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire.

“Ie, dyma fusnes dwfn iawn,” meddai o’r diwedd.

“Ie, dyma fusnes dwfn iawn,” meddai o’r diwedd. “Mae yna gant a mil o fanylion y dymunwn i ymgyfarwyddo â nhw cyn i mi gynnig penderfyniad i chi ynglŷn â’r hyn y dylech chi ei wneud yn eich sefyllfa. Ond does gennym ni’r un eiliad i’w gwastraffu. Pe byddem ni’n dod draw i Stoke Moran brynhawn heddiw, a fyddai hi’n bosib, ’dych chi’n tybio, i ni gael golwg drwy’r ystafelloedd hyn r’ych chi wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw, heb i hynny fod yn hysbys i’ch llystad?”

“This is a very deep business,” he said at last. “There are a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather?”

“Fel mae’n digwydd, roedd o’n siarad ddoe am ddod draw i’r ddinas yma heddiw ar ryw fusnes a swniai’n eithriadol o bwysig. Mae’n debygol iawn y bydd o oddi cartref drwy’r dydd, ac na fyddai yn Stoke Moran ddim byd i darfu rhag i chi wneud hynny. Erbyn hyn mae gennym ni feistres tŷ, ond mae hi mewn gwth o oedran a braidd yn ffwndrus ei meddwl, ac mi allwn i drefnu’n hawdd i’w chael hi o’r ffordd am ryw awr neu ddwy, yn ôl eich cyfarwyddyd chi.”

“As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some most important business. It is probable that he will be away all day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily get her out of the way.”

“Ardderchog. Does gennych chi ddim byd yn erbyn ymweliad o’r fath, Watson?”

“Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?”

“Ddim o gwbl.”

“By no means.”

“Os felly, fe ddeuwn ni’n dau. Beth ydych chi eich hun am ei wneud, rhwng nawr a hynny?”

“Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?”

“Mae gen i un neu ddau o bethau yr hoffwn i eu gwneud, tra fy mod innau rwan yma yn Llundain. Ond mi fydda i’n dychwelyd efo’r trên deuddeg o’r gloch, fel y bydda i yno mewn pryd i ddisgwyl i chi gyrraedd.”

“I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in town. But I shall return by the twelve o’clock train, so as to be there in time for your coming.”

“Ac fe allwch chi ein disgwyl ni’n gynnar yn y prynhawn. Mae gen i fy hun ryw faterion busnes bychain i ddelio gyda nhw, yn y cyfamser. Wnewch chi ddim aros gyda ni am damaid o frecwast?”

“And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and breakfast?”

“Na’n wir; mae’n rhaid i mi fynd, diolch yn fawr i chi. Mae fy nghalon i wedi ysgafnhau’n barod ers i mi ymddiried fy nhrafferthion i chi. Mi fydda i’n edrych ymlaen at eich gweld chi eto’r prynhawn yma.” Gostyngodd rwyden ei fêl ddu drwchus dros ei hwyneb, a llithrodd allan o’r ystafell yn gynnil o gwrtais.

“No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you again this afternoon.” She dropped her thick black veil over her face and glided from the room.

“A beth ydych chi’n ei feddwl o’r cyfan, Watson?” holodd Sherlock Holmes, gan bwyso’i gefn yn ôl yn ei gadair.

“And what do you think of it all, Watson?” asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning back in his chair.

“Mae’n ymddangos i mi fel fod hwn yn hen fusnes tra thywyll a sinistr.”

“Mae’n ymddangos i mi fel fod hwn yn hen fusnes tra thywyll a sinistr.”

“It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business.”

“Digon tywyll yn wir, a digon sinistr.”

“Dark enough and sinister enough.”

“Ac eto, os yw’r fonesig yn gywir wrth ddweud bod y lloriau a’r muriau yn solet, ac nad oes modd cael mynediad drwy’r drws na’r ffenestr na’r simnai, yna mae’n rhaid bod ei chwaer heb amheuaeth wedi bod ar ei phen ei hun, pan gyfarfu hi â’i diwedd dirgel.”

“Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her mysterious end.”

“Beth felly yw eich esboniad chi o’r chwibanu liw nos yma? A beth am eiriau rhyfeddol eithriadol y wraig ifanc wrth iddi hi farw?”

“What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the very peculiar words of the dying woman?”

“Alla’ i’n fy myw ddim dychmygu.”

“I cannot think.”

“Pan gyfunwch chi’r syniadau am chwibanu ym mherfedd nos, am bresenoldeb cylch o sipsiwn crwydrol sydd ar delerau cyfeillgar agos iawn gyda’r hen feddyg yma, y ffaith bod gennym ni bob rheswm i gredu bod y meddyg yn awyddus y tu hwnt i rwystro ei lysferch rhag priodi, y crybwylliad astrus o wefusau merch ar drengi at ryw gylch o ryw fath, ac yn olaf un y ffaith fod Miss Helen Stoner wedi clywed clang metelaidd, a allai fod wedi cael ei achosi gan un o’r bariau hynny sydd at sicrhau bod shwteri’r ffenestri ar gau, wedi syrthio’n glap i’w gynnal-fachau, yna fe greda’ i ein bod ni ar dir go ddiogel i feddwl mai ar y llinellau hynny y llwyddwn ni i glirio’r dirgelwch hwn.”

“When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an interest in preventing his stepdaughter’s marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place, I think that there is good ground to think that the mystery may be cleared along those lines.”

“Ond pa ran, felly, a chwaraewyd gan y sipsiwn yn hyn oll?”

“But what, then, did the gipsies do?”

“Duw a ŵyr; alla’ i fy hun, ar fy ngair, ddim meddwl.”

“I cannot imagine.”

“Hm; mi alla’ i weld nifer o wrthwynebiadau i’r fath ddamcaniaeth.”

“I see many objections to any such theory.”

“Felly minnau hefyd; ac am yr union reswm hwnnw rydym ni’n mynd draw i Stoke Moran heddiw. Rwyf i am weld p’run ai yw’r gwrthwynebiadau o bwys angheuol, neu a ellir cynnig esboniad rhesymol iddyn nhw. Ond beth, yn enw’r Diawl!”

“And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the devil!”

Yr hyn a enynnodd y fath ebychiad o enau fy nghyfaill oedd y ffaith i’n drws ni gael ei hyrddio’n agored, yn hollol ddirybudd, gan dynnu ein sylw ni’n ddiatal at anferth o ddyn yn sefyll fel pe wedi ei fframio ym mwlch yr agorfa. Roedd wedi ei ddilladu mewn cymysgedd od o wryw-wisg proffesiynol a gweith-wisg amaethyddol, gyda’i het silc-uchel ddu ar ei ben, ffrog-gôt laes, a phâr o goesarnau uchel; ac yn ei law swingiai chwip-wialen hela. Roedd y creadur mor dal fel bod ei het silc mewn gwirionedd yn ysgubo yn erbyn trawst uchaf porth y drws, ac roedd ei gorff mor llydan fel ei fod yn ymestyn o un polyn plwm y porth i’r llall. Nodweddid ef hefyd gan ben anarferol o fawr, a hwnnw fel pe bai wedi ei ysgythru gyda miloedd o grychau; roedd croen ei wyneb wedi ei losgi’n felyn gan yr haul, a’i wedd yn bradychu pob nwyd anfadus, wrth iddo droi ei wep o un i’r llall ohonom ni; tra roedd ei lygaid dirgel-ddwfn, gwaetgoch a llawn bustl, a’i drwyn main gyda’i bont uchel, esgyrnog, yn peri iddo edrych yn debyg iawn i hen fwltur ysglyfaethus a ffyrnig.

The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey.

“Pa un ohonoch chi ydy Holmes?” rhuodd y ddrychiolaeth yma.

“Which of you is Holmes?” asked this apparition.

“Fy enw i yw hwnnw, syr; ond ... maddeuwch i mi ... mae gennych chi’r fantais arna’ i,” oedd ymateb tawel a bonheddig fy nghydymaith.

“My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me,” said my companion quietly.

“Fi ydy Dr. Grimesby Roylott, o Stoke Moran.”

“I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.”

“Felly’n wir, Doctor,” atebodd Holmes yn arwynebol groesawgar a chartrefol, mewn ymgais i ddiffiwsio a thyneru’r awyrgylch. “Da chi, syr, cymerwch sedd.”

“Indeed, Doctor,” said Holmes blandly. “Pray take a seat.”

“Wna i ddim o’r fath beth. Mae fy llysferch i wedi bod yma. Rydw i wedi olrhain ei thrywydd hi bob cam i’r lle hwn. Beth mae hi wedi bod yn ei glepian amdano wrthych chi, efo’i thafod ffiaidd a gwenwynllyd?”

“I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been saying to you?”

“Mi dybiaf fod y tywydd ychydig yn oer am yr adeg yma o’r flwyddyn,” cynigiodd Holmes fel mater o sylwebaeth ddigyswllt, eto mewn agwedd radlon a chyfeillgar, i’r perwyl o geisio heddychu’r sefyllfa.

“It is a little cold for the time of the year,” said Holmes.

“Beth mae hi wedi ei ddweud wrthych chi?” taranodd yr hen ŵr yn flin gynddeiriog.

“What has she been saying to you?” screamed the old man furiously.

“Ond mi rydw i wedi clywed fod y saffrwn yn argoeli’n dda,” atebodd fy nghyfaill, gan barhau i ymddangos yn gwbl ddigyffro dan ymosodiad mor annymunol.

“But I have heard that the crocuses promise well,” continued my companion imperturbably.

“Hy! Ydych chi’n ceisio fy mwrw i oddi ar fy echel, ydych chi?” meddai ein hymwelydd newydd, gan gymryd cam ymlaen, ac ysgwyd ei fflangell hela’n fygythiol yn wyneb Holmes. “Mi wn i amdanoch chi, y cnaf! Rydw i wedi clywed amdanoch chi o’r blaen. Chi ydy Holmes yr ymyrrwr diegwyddor!”

“Ha! You put me off, do you?” said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting-crop. “I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler.”

Gwenodd fy nghyfaill.

My friend smiled.

“Holmes y busnesgi bondigrybwyll!”

"Holmes, the busybody!"

“Holmes, ‘Siôn Swyddfa’ Scotland Yard.”

“Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!”

Chwarddodd Holmes yn foddhaus. “Mae eich sgwrs yn eithriadol o ddiddanus,” meddai’n hamddenol. “Pan fyddwch chi’n mynd allan, byddwch mor garedig â chau’r drws ar eich ôl, gan fod yna ddrafft diamheuol yn yr ystafell yma.”

Holmes chuckled heartily. “Your conversation is most entertaining,” said he. “When you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught.”

“Mi adawa’ i wedi i mi orffen dweud fy nweud. Peidiwch chi â meiddio medlan efo fy materion i, Mr Holmes. Mi wn i’n iawn fod Miss Stoner wedi bod yma; mi wnes i ddilyn ei chamre hi yr holl ffordd i’r lle hwn! Mi rydw i’n ddyn peryglus i chi hyd yn oed ystyried sathru ar fy nghyrn i! Edrychwch yma ..." Camodd ymlaen yn frysiog, gafaelodd fel gefel yn y pocer tân oddi ar yr aelwyd, a chyda’i balfalau melyngoch enfawr fe’i plygodd yn y fan a’r lle yn hanner-crwn fel cryman.

“I will go when I have said my say. Don’t you dare to meddle with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here.” He stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands.

“Jest byddwch chi’n ofalus i’ch cadw eich hun allan o afael fy nghrafangau i,” cyfarthodd; a chan hyrddio’r pocer ystumiedig yn ei ôl i’r lle tân, trodd ar ei sawdl a brasgamodd allan o’r ystafell yn gandryll ei dymer.

“See that you keep yourself out of my grip,” he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the room.

“Onid ydy e’n greadur dymunol,” dychanodd Holmes, gan chwerthin yn isel yn ei wddf. “Fe wn i nad wyf i cweit mor gorffog ag e', ond pe buasai’r dyn wedi aros fymryn yn hirach efallai y byddwn innau wedi dangos iddo fe nad yw fy nerth i ryw lawer iawn yn fwy musgrell na’i gryfder yntau.” Wrth iddo siarad felly, plygodd yn bwyllog i godi’r pocer, a chyda hergwd sydyn â’i ddwy law fe’i sythodd allan yn ei ôl, mor unionsyth ag y disgwylid i bocer tân fod.

“He seems a very amiable person,” said Holmes, laughing. “I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own.” As he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, straightened it out again.

“Wel! Dychmygwch y fath haerllugrwydd; i feiddio fy nghamgymryd i am un o dditectifs swyddogol yr heddlu, a’m gosod i’n gyfartal ag un ohonyn nhw! Mae’r digwyddiad hwn, serch hynny, yn symbyliad heriol sydd wedi rhoi inni arddeliad penderfynol i ymroi i’r archwiliad hwn o ddifrif; a ’dwyf i ond yn gobeithio na fydd ein cyfaill annwyl ni’n dioddef mewn unrhyw ffordd o ganlyniad i’w hannoethineb, yn caniatáu i’r cythraul gwallgof hwn ddilyn ôl ei throed hi yma. Felly nawr, Watson, fe archebwn ni frecwast, ac wedyn fe gerddwn ni heb oedi i lawr i Lys y Meddygon, lle rwy’n gobeithio cael gafael ar ddata a all ein cynorthwyo ni’n y mater hwn sydd ger ein bron ni.”

“Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors’ Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter.”

Roedd hi bron yn un o’r gloch pan ddychwelodd Sherlock Holmes o’i ecsgwrsiwn. Daliai yn ei law daflen o bapur glas yn llawn o nodiadau a ffigurau wedi eu sgriblo drosto.

It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

“Rwyf i wedi gweld ewyllys y wraig a fu farw,” meddai ef; “ac i geisio dod o hyd i’w hunion ystyr fe’m gorfodwyd i weithio allan brisiau cyfredol y buddsoddiadau sydd ynghlwm wrthi. Erbyn hyn ’dyw cyfanswm yr incwm a oedd ar yr adeg y bu farw’r wraig ryw ychydig yn fyr o £1,100, oherwydd y gostyngiad mewn prisiau amaethyddol yn y cyfamser, yn ddim mwy na £750. Gall y ddwy chwaer hawlio incwm o £250 yr un ar achlysur eu priodas, ill dwy ohonyn nhw. Mae’n amlwg felly, petai’r ddwy ferch landeg yma wedi priodi, na fyddai’r dihiryn hwn yn medru denu i’w goffrau ef ei hun ond swm pitw bychan iawn o’r golud. Mewn gwirionedd, pe byddai ond un o’r chwiorydd yn digwydd priodi, byddai hynny’n ddigon i andwyo ei obeithion trachwantus ef ei hun i raddau difrifol iawn. Ond ’dyw fy llafur i’r bore hwn ddim wedi bod yn ofer o bell ffordd, gan fod y Bonheddwr Byrbwyll ei hun wedi profi yn ein gŵydd ni bod ganddo fe’r cymhelliad cryfaf dros sefyll yn y ffordd i rwystro rhag i unrhyw beth fel priodas ddigwydd, tra byddo anadl ynddo fe. A nawr, Watson, mae’r mater hwn yn rhy ddifrifol i ni lusgo ein traed na llaesu ein dwylo yn ei gylch, yn arbennig felly gan fod yr hen ŵr gorffwyll yma’n ymwybodol ein bod ni’n ymddiddori yn ei faterion a’i fusnes; felly os y’ch chi’n barod, fe alwn ni am gerbyd er mwyn gyrru tuag at Waterloo. Fe fyddwn i’n gwerthfawrogi’n fawr iawn pe byddech chi’n llithro llawddryll i’ch llogell. Does dim i guro cetrisen Eley Rhif 2 at setlo dadl gyda bonheddwr sy’n giamstar ar gyfrodeddu poceri dur yn glymau. Hwnnw, a brws dannedd yr un, am a wn i, yw’r cyfan fyddwn ni’n dau eu hangen.”

“I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he. “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750. Each daughter can claim an income of £250, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My morning’s work has not been wasted, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley’s No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need.”

Pan gyraeddasom ni Waterloo, fe fuom ni’n ffodus iawn i ddal y trên yn syth i Leatherhead, lle y gwnaethom ni logi trap o dafarn yr orsaf, a gyrru am bedair neu bum milltir ar hyd lonydd hyfryd swydd Surrey. Roedd hi’n ddiwrnod bendigedig o braf, gyda haul disglair ac ychydig o gymylau gwyn-wlanog yn y ffurfafen. Ymwthiai’r coed a’r gwrychoedd ar hyd ymylon y ffordd eu blagur gwyrdd cynharaf, ac roedd yr awyr ei hun yn llawn o sawr pleserus y ddaear laith. Allwn i fy hun o leiaf ddim peidio â synhwyro’r gwrthgyferbyniad anghyfforddus rhwng yr addewid felys a’n hamgylchynai ni am ddyfodiad y gwanwyn pêr, a’r cyrch adwythig a sinistr hwn yr oeddem ni’n dau wedi ymrwymo iddo. Eisteddai fy nghydymaith ym mhen blaen y trap, ei ddwylo ymhleth, ei het fowler ddu wedi ei thynnu ymlaen dros ei lygaid, ei ên wedi ei suddo’n ôl i mewn i’w frest, a’i fyfyrdod ym mherfeddion ei feddyliau dwysaf. Yn sydyn ddigon, fodd bynnag, bywiogodd gydag afiaith, trawodd fi’n ysgafn ar fy ysgwydd, a phwyntiodd â’i fys dros y dolydd.

At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows.

“Edrychwch fan draw acw!” meddai, wedi ei sionci drwyddo.

“Look there!” said he.

O’n blaenau ni ymestynnai parc yn drwm dan goed ar lethr llyfn a oleddfai’n raddol ar i fyny oddi wrthym, gyda’r goedwig yn trwcháu o dipyn i beth i ffurfio celli drwchus, dywyll ar gopa uchaf y bryn. O blith y canghennau gwyrdd ymwthiai talcen tŷ llwydaidd yr olwg a chronglwydydd a berthynai i faenordy hynafol iawn.

A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion.

“Stoke Moran?” holodd fy nghydymaith.

“Stoke Moran?” said he.

“O, ie, syr,” atebodd y gyrrwr ifanc; “hwn ’co fan ’co yw cartre’ Dr. Grimesby Roylott.”

“Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott,” remarked the driver.

“Mae yna waith adeiladu’n mynd ymlaen yno,” sylwodd Holmes, gan ychwanegu: “Dyna’n cyrchfan ni; dyna’r lle rydym ni’n mynd iddo.”

“There is some building going on there,” said Holmes; “that is where we are going.”

“A ’co’r pentre’ fan ’co,” esboniodd y gyrrwr, gan bwyntio at glwstwr o doeau tai beth pellter i ffwrdd ar ein hochr chwith. “Ond os y’ch chi’n mo’yn mynd at y tŷ mawr ’co, fe ffindiwch taw cynted i chi fydd croesi’r sticil fan ’co, a dilyn y droedffordd ’co wedyn drwy’r caeau. ’Co fe’r llwybr, lle mae’r lodes ’co’n rhodio.”

“There’s the village,” said the driver, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left; “but if you want to get to the house, you’ll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is walking.”

“A’r lodes, mi debygaf, yw Miss Stoner,” sylwodd Holmes, gan gysgodi’r heulwen o’i lygaid â’i law. “Ie’n wir; ... efallai mai’r doethaf i ni fyddai dilyn eich awgrym chi, hefyd.”

“And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner,” observed Holmes, shading his eyes. “Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest.”

Arhosodd y march, talasom yr arian oedd yn ddyledus am ein cludiant, ac unwaith yr oedd ein traed ni’n gadarn ar y ddaear, trodd y gyrrwr ei gerbyd i wynebu’r cyfeiriad y teithiasem ohono, a ratlodd y trap ar ei hynt yn ôl tuag at Leatherhead.

We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead.

“Meddyliais mai cystal peth,” esboniodd Holmes wrth i ni ddringo dros y gamfa, “oedd pe byddai’r llanc yna’n tybied ein bod ni wedi dod yma fel penseiri, neu ar ryw fusnes cyffelyb. O bosib y bydd hynny’n rhoi taw ar ei glebran. Prynhawn da, Miss Stoner. Fe welwch ein bod ni’n dau wedi bod gystal â’n gair.”

“I thought it as well,” said Holmes as we climbed the stile, “that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as our word.”

Roedd y cleient y bu i ni ei chwrdd yn gynharach y bore hwnnw wedi prysuro ymlaen i’n cyfarfod ni gydag wyneb a fynegai ei llawenydd. “Rydw i wedi bod yn disgwyl mor eiddgar amdanoch chi,” llefodd yn siriol a hapus, gan ysgwyd ein dwylo ni’n gynnes o groesawgar. “Mae popeth wedi gweithio allan yn ardderchog hyd yma. Mae Dr. Roylott wedi mynd tua thref i Lundain, ac mae hi’n annhebygol y bydd o’n dychwelyd cyn y min nos.”

Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face which spoke her joy. “I have been waiting so eagerly for you,” she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. “All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening.”

“Rydym ni eisoes wedi cael y pleser o ddod i adnabod y Meddyg yn lled dda,” meddai Holmes; ac mewn ychydig eiriau amlinellodd yn fyr yr hyn a ddigwyddasai yn ein cartref-swyddfa, yn dilyn ei hymadawiad hi oddi yno yn gynharach y bore hwnnw. Fel yr oedd hi’n gwrando, trodd gwefusau Miss Stoner yn welw wyn.

“We have had the pleasure of making the doctor’s acquaintance,” said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened.

“Y nefoedd wen!” ebychodd, “mae o wedi fy nilyn i, felly.”

“Y nefoedd wen!” ebychodd, “mae o wedi fy nilyn i, felly.”

“Good heavens!” she cried, “he has followed me, then.”

“Felly y mae hi’n ymddangos.”

“So it appears.”

“Mae o mor llwynogaidd o gyfrwys fel nad ydw i byth yn gwybod pryd rydw i’n ddiogel oddi wrtho. Beth ar y ddaear fawr a ddywedith o pan ddychwelith o’n ei ôl yma?”

“He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What will he say when he returns?”

“Fe fydd yn rhaid iddo fod ar ei wyliadwriaeth, gan y gallai e’ ddarganfod bod rhywun arall hyd yn oed fwy cynllwyngar nag ef ei hun ar ei drywydd. Mi fydd yn rhaid i chi eich cloi eich hun oddi wrtho fe heno. Os bydd e’n dreisgar, yna fe wnawn ni eich cipio chi i ffwrdd at eich modryb yn Harrow. Nawr ’te, mae’n rhaid i ni wneud y gorau o’n hamser prin, felly byddwch gystal â’n tywys ni ar unwaith i’r ystafelloedd roeddem ni am eu harchwilio, os gwelwch chi’n dda.”

“He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your aunt’s at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to examine.”

Roedd adeilad y maenordy o wenithfaen llwyd, wedi ei orchuddio’n drwm â sypiau gwyrdd o gen y cerrig; ac roedd y rhan ganolog ohono’n gymharol uwch na’r gweddill. Roedd iddo ddwy adain grymog yn ymestyn allan o’r ddeutu ac yn troi’n gilgantaidd i gyfeiriad ei gilydd megis crafangau cranc enfawr. O edrych yn frysiog dros yr adain chwith, gwelid fod paneli gwydr y ffenestri wedi eu torri, yn deilchion yma ac acw, a bod rhai o’r bylchau wedi eu cau i mewn â byrddau pren; tra bod y to hefyd yn rhannol wedi cwympo i mewn arno’i hun. Ciplun o ddadfeiliad, os bu un erioed. Tua chanol yr adeilad edrychai’r adeiladwaith fel pe’i fod mewn ychydig gwell cyflwr. Ond roedd arwyddion amlwg fod y bloc ar yr ochr dde yn gymharol fodern; yno roedd y llenni ar y ffenestri, a’r mwg glas a droellai fry allan o’r simneiau, yn arwyddion cadarnhaol mai dyma’r unig ran o’r tŷ y preswyliai’r teulu ynddo bellach. Roedd ychydig o sgaffaldiau wedi eu codi yn erbyn wal talcen yr adeilad, ac roedd bwlch wedi ei dorri yn y gwaith maen, ond doedd dim arwyddion bod gweithwyr o amgylch y safle ar foment neilltuol ein hymweliad ni â’r lle. Cerddodd Holmes yn araf i fyny ac i lawr y lawnt a oedd mewn cyflwr tra anghymen, ar laswellt a edrychai’n debycach o fod wedi ei rwygo na’i dorri, gan roi ei holl sylw dwys i archwilio saernïaeth allanol y ffenestri.

The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the outsides of the windows.

“Dyma, ’dw i’n ei gymryd, y rhan o’r tŷ sy’n cynnwys yr ystafelloedd lle roeddech chi’n arfer cysgu; gyda’ch chwaer yn defnyddio’r ystafell ganol yma, siŵr o fod, sydd bared wrth bared â siambr Dr. Roylott yn y prif adeilad?”

“This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the centre one to your sister’s, and the one next to the main building to Dr. Roylott’s chamber?”

“Yn gymwys felly; ond ar hyn o bryd rydw i fy hun yn cysgu yn yr ystafell ganol honna.”

“Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one.”

“Tra bo’r newidiadau a’r ailadeiladu ar y gweill, os deallaf yn gywir. Gyda llaw, ’dyw hi ddim yn ymddangos i mi fod unrhyw alw mawr am atgyweirio fel y cyfryw i’r wal dalcen yna.”

“Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end wall.”

“Ar ei ben; does dim un rheswm nac un angen yn y byd am unrhyw drwsio yn y fan ’na. Fy marn i ydy mai esgus oedd y cyfan, i’m symud i allan o’m hystafell.”

“There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room.”

“Ah! Mi synhwyra’ i ryw awgrym o ddatgeliad bychan yn eich geiriau? Nawr ’te, ar yr ochr arall i’r adain gul yma mae’n rhaid bod y coridor y mae drysau’r ystafelloedd hyn yn agor allan iddo. Mae yna ffenestri ar waliau’r coridor, wrth gwrs?”

“Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There are windows in it, of course?”

“Oes, mae yna, ond rhai bychain iawn ydyn nhw; yn rhy gul i unrhyw berson fedru dringo i mewn ac allan drwyddyn nhw.”

“Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through.”

“Ond gan i chi eich dwy gloi eich drysau gyda’r nos, doedd dim ffordd y gellid cael mynediad i’r un o’ch ystafelloedd chi o’r ochr honno. Nawr ’te, fyddech chi mor garedig â mynd i mewn i’ch ystafell ac agor eich ffenestr, Miss Stoner; yna caewch y caeadau o’r tu mewn, a gosodwch y bar ar eu traws i’w cloi nhw’n eu lle.”

“As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to go into your room and bar your shutters?”

Wedi i Miss Stoner fynd i mewn i’r tŷ a gwneud yn union yn ôl cyfarwyddiadau fy nghyfaill, archwiliodd Holmes y shwteri drwy’r ffenestr agored, o’r tu allan, gan ymdrechu ymhob modd i wthio’r caeadau ar agor, ond heb unrhyw lwyddiant. Doedd dim un rhigol y gellid gwthio llafn fain cyllell drwyddi er mwyn ceisio codi’r bar oddi ar ei gynnal-fachau. Yna gyda’i chwyddhadur gwydr, profodd y colfachau’n fanwl; ond roeddent hwythau o haearn caled, wedi eu hadeiladu’n gadarn i mewn i saernїaeth y gwaith maen swmpus.

Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built firmly into the massive masonry.

“Hm!” anadlodd allan yn y man, gan grafu ei ên mewn peth penbleth; “mae fy namcaniaeth i yn amlwg yn datgelu mwy o feini tramgwydd na’r disgwyl, ac yn codi mwy o anawsterau nag y mae hyd yma yn eu datrys. Allai’r un copa gwalltog wthio drwy’r shwteri hyn, a hwythau wedi eu bolltio oddi mewn i’r tŷ. Wel, mi gawn ni weld os gall y tu fewn i’r ystafell gynnig unrhyw oleuni pellach ar y mater.”

“Hum!” said he, scratching his chin in some perplexity, “my theory certainly presents some difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the matter.”

Arweiniai drws ochr bychan i mewn i dramwyfa’r coridor gwyngalchog, o’r hwn yr agorai drysau i dair ystafell wely ochr yn ochr â’i gilydd. Gwrthododd Holmes archwilio’r drydedd siambr, felly dyma ni’n ei hanelu hi’n syth at yr ail, sef yr un y symudwyd Miss Stoner iddi hi, i’w defnyddio ar hynny o bryd fel ei hystafell wely bersonol, a’r union ystafell lle yr wynebodd ei chwaer ei thynged angheuol. Ystafell fechan ddigon clyd a chartrefol, ag iddi nenfwd isel a lle tân llydan agored yn adlewyrchu steil a ffasiwn hen dai’r pendefigion gwledig ers talwm. Mewn un gongl safai cist ddroriau brown, gyferbyn â gwely cul ac arno garthen wen drwsiadus, mewn congl yr ochr arall; ac ar ochr chwith y ffenestr roedd bwrdd ymbincio destlus. Dyna’r cyfan o eitemau, ynghyd â dwy gadair fechan o blethwaith gwiail, a gyfansoddai’r casgliad o ddodrefn yn yr ystafell, ar wahân i ddarn sgwâr o garped Wilton ar ganol y llawr. Roedd y byrddau a’r paneli ar y muriau amgylchynol o dderw brown, ac yn rhydyllog o dyllau’r pry pren drwyddynt; mor hen a llychwin fel ag i awgrymu eu bod nhw mwy na thebyg yn dyddio’n ôl i gyfnod adeiladu’r tŷ yn wreiddiol. Tynnodd Holmes un o’r cadeiriau plethwaith gwiail i’r gornel wag ac eisteddodd yn araf a thawel ynddi hi, tra teithiai ei lygaid yn bwyllog i fyny ac i waered a sawl gwaith o amgylch y lle, gan gymryd i mewn bob manylyn gweledol o fewn yr ystafell.

A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, taking in every detail of the apartment.

“Gyda ble y mae’r gloch yna’n cysylltu?” gofynnodd o’r diwedd, gan bwyntio at raff cloch drwchus a hongiai i lawr gydag ochr y gwely, ei phen-gwlwm taslog yn gorffwyso mewn gwirionedd ar y gobennydd.

“Where does that bell communicate with?” he asked at last pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the pillow.

“Mae hi’n cysylltu ag ystafell meistres y tŷ.”

“It goes to the housekeeper’s room.”

“Ydy hi ddim yn edrych yn newyddach, d’wedwch, nag eitemau eraill yr ystafell yma?”

“It looks newer than the other things?”

“Digon posib; gan na ffitiwyd mohoni at ei diben presennol tan ryw flwyddyn neu ddwy yn ôl.”

“Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago.”

“Eich chwaer chi ofynnodd amdani hi, siŵr o fod?”

“Your sister asked for it, I suppose?”

“Na, go brin; chlywais i mohoni erioed yn sôn am ei defnyddio. Roeddem ni wastad yn arfer ymorol am yr hyn roeddem ni ei angen drosom ni ein hunain.”

“No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we wanted for ourselves.”

“Felly’n wir; os hynny, onid braidd yn ddiangen oedd gosod cloch-raff mor hardd yma o gwbl? Ond ... esgusodwch fi am funud neu ddau, tra bydda i’n fy modloni fy hun ynghylch cyfansoddiad y llawr hwn.” Taflodd ei hun i lawr ar ei ben-gliniau, ei chwyddwydr yn ei law; a chan gropian ar ei bedwar yn frysiog yn ôl a blaen, archwiliodd bob modfedd o bob agen a chrac rhwng y llawr-fyrddau pren. Yna aeth ati yn yr un modd yn union i wirio cyflwr gwaith coed y paneli a orchuddiai’r muriau o amgylch y siambr. Ymhen y rhawg cyfeiriodd ei gamre at y gwely, a threuliodd sbel o amser yn syllu’n fyfyriol arno, gan redeg ei lygaid unwaith eto i fyny ac i lawr y muriau, bob un ohonynt yn eu tro. Yna, fel un weithred derfynol i’w archwiliad, estynnodd allan ei fraich, ymaflodd â’i law yn y gloch-raff, a thynnodd arni hi â phlwc sydyn.

“Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to this floor.” He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug.

“Wel, ar fy enaid i; rhaff ffug ydy hi,” ebychodd rhwng ei ddannedd.

“Why, it’s a dummy,” said he.

“Beth? Wnaiff hi ddim canu cloch yn unman?”

“Won’t it ring?”

“Na wnaiff ... ddim byth bythoedd; dydy hi ddim hyd yn oed wedi ei chysylltu ag unrhyw wifren. Dyma ddiddorol iawn. Fe welwch chi’n awr fod y rhaff wedi ei chlymu wrth fachyn yn union uwchben y man lle y mae agoriad bychan yr awyrydd yna wedi ei dyllu drwy’r pared.”

“No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the little opening for the ventilator is.”

“Wel, pa mor hurt yw hynny! Wnes i erioed sylwi ar y peth o’r blaen.”

“How very absurd! I never noticed that before.”

“Rhyfedd iawn, yn wir!” mwmiodd Holmes mewn ymateb iddo’i hun yn fwy na neb arall, efallai; gan ymestyn ei law a thynnu’n ysgafn unwaith eto ar raff y cloch-ganwr ffug. “Mae yna un neu ddwy o nodweddion unigryw ynglŷn â’r ystafell hon. Er enghraifft, pa mor wirion yw adeiladydd sy’n ffitio sianel awyriadur neu wyntyllydd trwy wneud twll mewn gwahanfur mewnol, i’w gysylltu ag ystafell arall gyfagos; tra gallai ef gyda’r un faint o drafferth fod wedi tyllu drwy’r wal allanol acw ac agor cyswllt â’r awyr iach y tu allan i’r adeilad!”

“Very strange!” muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. “There are one or two very singular points about this room. For example, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the outside air!”

“Ac onid dyna hefyd y ffasiwn gyfoes o awyriadu ystafelloedd ym mhlastai’r boneddigion enwocaf?” cytunai’r fonesig.

“That is also quite modern,” said the lady.

“Mi w’ranta’ i y tyllwyd sianel yr awyrydd yna oddeutu’r un amser ag y ffitiwyd y gloch-raff dda-i-ddim yna yn ei lle,” awgrymodd Holmes.

“Done about the same time as the bell-rope?” remarked Holmes.

“Yn gywir felly; do, fe wnaed amryw o fân newidiadau i strwythur y tŷ, i gyd o gwmpas yr un adeg.”

“Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that time.”

“Ac fe ymddengys eu bod nhw at ei gilydd, ai trwy gyd-ddigwyddiad neu ddim, o ryw natur dra anarferol o ddiddorol; cloch-raffau ffug, ac awyryddion nad ydyn nhw’n darparu awyr iach. Gyda’ch caniatâd chi, Miss Stoner, fe awn ni’n awr i ymestyn ein harchwiliadau i gyffiniau’r rhandy mewnol.”

“They seem to have been of a most interesting character—dummy bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the inner apartment.”

Er bod siambr Dr. Grimesby Roylott yn fwy o faint nag un ei lysferch, yr oedd wedi ei dodrefnu’r un mor blaen. Gwely cynfas ysgafn, silff fechan yn llawn o lyfrau (y rhan fwyaf ohonynt o natur dechnegol), cadair freichiau wrth erchwyn y gwely, cadair bren blaen yn erbyn y pared, bord gron, a choffr haearn lled fawr; dyna’r prif bethau a dynnai sylw’r llygad ar yr edrychiad cyntaf. Cerddodd Holmes yn araf o amgylch yr ystafell gan archwilio pob un o’r cyfryw eitemau gyda’r diddordeb mwyaf.

Dr. Grimesby Roylott’s chamber was larger than that of his step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and all of them with the keenest interest.

“Beth sydd yn hwn?” holodd, gan guro pen haearnaidd y coffr â blaen ei fysedd.

“What’s in here?” he asked, tapping the safe.

“Papurau busnes fy llystad.”

“My stepfather’s business papers.”

“O! Ry’ch chi wedi gweld y tu fewn iddo fe, felly, do?”

“Oh! you have seen inside, then?”

“Dim ond unwaith, rai blynyddoedd yn ôl. Rydw i’n cofio ei fod o’r pryd hynny yn llawn o bapurau.”

“Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of papers.”

“Does yna’r un gath ynddo fe, er enghraifft, oes e’?”

“There isn’t a cat in it, for example?”

“Nac oes. Am syniad od!”

“No. What a strange idea!”

“Wel, edrychwch ar hwn!” Cydiodd Holmes â’i law, a chododd soser fechan a safai ar ben y coffr; o’i mewn roedd llaeth ffres.

“Well, look at this!” He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on the top of it.

“Na’n wir; dydyn ni ddim yn cadw cath. Ond ... y mae yma lewpard a babŵn.”

“No; we don’t keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon.”

“Ah; ie, wrth gwrs! Wel, d’yw llewpard yn ddim amgenach na chath fawr, sbo; ac eto fyddai soser o laeth ddim yn mynd ymhell i dorri syched creadur felly, mi w’ranta’. Ond mae yna un pwynt arall o bwys yr hoffwn i ei ddatrys.” Sgwatiodd i lawr ar ei gwrcwd o flaen y gadair bren, ac archwiliodd ei sedd gyda diddordeb eithriadol.

“Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine.” He squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat of it with the greatest attention.

“Diolch i chi. Dyna’r mater hwnna wedi ei setlo’n ddiamheuol,” mynegodd yn llawn bodlonrwydd, gan godi ar ei draed a dychwelyd ei chwyddhadur i boced ei wasgod.

“Thank you. That is quite settled,” said he, rising and putting his lens in his pocket.

“Helo! Dyma rywbeth diddorol!” Y gwrthrych a dynasai ei sylw oedd tennyn neu gynllyfan ci bychan, oedd wedi ei hongian dros gornel troed y gwely. Roedd blaen y tennyn fflangellaidd hwn, fodd bynnag, wedi ei droelli arno ei hun a’i glymu i ffurfio dolen lasŵaidd.

“Hullo! Here is something interesting!” The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord.

“Beth wnewch chi o hwnna, Watson?”

“What do you make of that, Watson?”

“Chwipgord ddigon cyffredin, feddyliwn i; ond wn i ddim pam fod neb wedi clymu ei phen yn ddolen yn y modd yna, ychwaith.”

“It’s a common enough lash. But I don’t know why it should be tied.”

“D’yw’r cwlwm rhedeg yna sydd arni hi ddim cweit mor gyffredin â’r tennyn ei hun, ydy e’? Ah; ar fy enaid i! Onid ydy’r byd yma’n lle drygionus; a phan fo dyn galluog yn cyfeirio ei feddyliau at gyflawni troseddau, yna dyna’r math gwaethaf o ddrygioni ohonyn nhw i gyd. Wel, ’dw i’n credu fy mod i wedi gweld digon erbyn hyn, Miss Stoner; ac felly, gyda’ch caniatâd chi, fe gerddwn ni’n ein holau allan ar y lawnt.”

“That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it’s a wicked world, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn.”

Ni welais i erioed wyneb fy nghyfaill mor sarrug a llym, na’i dalcen mor grychedig a thywyll

Ni welais i erioed wyneb fy nghyfaill mor sarrug a llym, na’i dalcen mor grychedig a thywyll, â’r hyn a ganfyddai fy llygaid wrth i ni ei throi hi ac ymadael â mangre anghysurus ei archwiliad. Buom ni’n cerdded sawl gwaith i fyny ac i lawr y lawnt, heb fod yr un ohonom ni’n dau, Miss Stoner na minnau, yn meiddio torri ar draws ei feddyliau difrifddwys, nes iddo o’r diwedd adfywio o’i synfyfyrdod.

I had never seen my friend’s face so grim or his brow so dark as it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he roused himself from his reverie.

“Mae’n hanfodol, Miss Stoner,” meddai yn y man, "eich bod chi’n dilyn i’r llythyren fy nghyngor i ymhob agwedd.”

“It is very essential, Miss Stoner,” said he, “that you should absolutely follow my advice in every respect.”

“Mi ro’ i fy addewid i chi y gwna’ i hynny, yn ddi-os.”

“I shall most certainly do so.”

“Mae’r mater hwn yn rhy ddifrifol o lawer i ni betruso’r mymryn lleiaf yn ei gylch. Fe allai eich bywyd chi ddibynnu’n llwyr ar eich cydsyniad chi, yn hyn o beth.”

“The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may depend upon your compliance.”

“Mi alla’ i eich sicrhau chi fy mod i’n eich dwylo chi yn gyfan a chyflawn, Mr Holmes.”

“I assure you that I am in your hands.”

“Yn y lle cyntaf, bydd yn rhaid i mi a’m cyfaill dreulio’r noson heno yn eich ystafell chi.”

“In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in your room.”

Syllodd Miss Stoner a minnau arno â’n llygaid fel lleuadau llawn.

Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment.

“Bydd, felly y bydd yn rhaid iddi hi fod. Gadewch i mi esbonio. Os nad wyf i wedi camgymryd, mi ddywedwn i mai’r adeilad draw’r fan acw yw tafarn y pentref?”

“Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the village inn over there?”

“Rydych chi’n iawn; ie, dyna’r Crown.”

“Yes, that is the Crown.”

“Da iawn. Fe ellir gweld ffenestri eich ystafell chi oddi yno?”

“Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?”

“Yn bendant.”

“Certainly.”

“Rhaid i chi eich cyfyngu eich hun i’ch ystafell ar unwaith, gan gymryd arnoch fod gennych chi ben tost, neu gur yn eich pen fel y dywedech chi, siwr o fod; fel eich bod chi eisoes yno erbyn pan ddaw eich llystad yn ei ôl o Lundain. Yna, pan glywch chi ef, eich llystad, yn noswylio i’w ystafell heno, bydd yn rhaid i chi agor caeadau eich ffenestr, dadwneud cloigyn y ffenestr ei hun a gosod eich lamp yno o flaen paneli’r gwydr, fel arwydd i ni yn y fan draw. Wedyn, rhaid i chi gilio’n dawel iawn allan o’ch ystafell bresennol i’r ystafell roeddech chi’n arfer cysgu ynddi hi gynt, gan fynd â phopeth y byddwch chi’n debygol o fod ei angen dros nos, gyda chi yno. Dydw i’n amau dim y gallech chi, er gwaethaf holl lanastr yr atgyweirio, lwyddo i ddod drwyddi hi rywsut yno am un noson, yn eich hen ystafell wely chi eich hun.”

“You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night.”

“O, gallaf; yn hawdd.”

“Oh, yes, easily.”

“Ynghylch y gweddill, fe fyddwch chi’n gadael y cyfan i gyd yn ein dwylo ni ein dau.”

“The rest you will leave in our hands.”

“Ond beth fyddwch chi eich hunain yn ei wneud?”

“But what will you do?”

“Fe fyddwn ni’n treulio’r noson yn eich ystafell chi, fel y dywedais; a thra yno fe fyddwn ni’n ymchwilio i achos y sŵn yma sydd wedi bod yn tarfu arnoch chi ynghanol y nos.”

“We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the cause of this noise which has disturbed you.”

“Rydw i’n rhyw feddwl, Mr Holmes, eich bod chi eisoes wedi gwneud eich meddwl ar y mater,” meddai Miss Stoner yn ffyddiog, gan osod ei llaw ar lawes fy nghydymaith.

“I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind,” said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion’s sleeve.

“Efallai fy mod i; fe gawn ni weld.”

“Perhaps I have.”

“Yna, da chi, er mwyn Duw,” erfyniodd yn emosiynol; “d’wedwch wrtha i beth achosodd farwolaeth fy chwaer annwyl.”

“Then, for pity’s sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister’s death.”

“Fe hoffwn i gael tystiolaeth eglurach ynghylch hynny, mae arna’ i ofn, cyn mentro gair ymhellach ar y mater, i chi na neb arall.”

“I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak.”

“Mi fedrech chi o leiaf ddweud wrtha i p’un ai ydw i’n amgyffred yn gywir neu ddim; ac a fu hi farw o ryw fraw annisgwyl neu anhygoel o sydyn.”

“You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if she died from some sudden fright.”

“Na’n wir; ’dwy’ i ddim yn credu y galla’ i, ar hyn o bryd. Rwy’n tybied bod o bosib ryw achos mwy diriaethol; rhywbeth mwy pendant o real na hynny. A nawr, Miss Stoner, rydym ni’n cael ein goddiweddyd gan yr amser, ac y mae’n hen bryd i ni orfod eich gadael chi; oherwydd pe byddai Dr. Roylott yn dychwelyd a’n gweld ni, byddai ein siwrnai ni yma yn ofer. Da b’och chi, a byddwch wrol; oherwydd os gwnewch chi fel yr erfyniais i arnoch, yna fe allwch chi orffwys yn hyderus y byddwn ni o fewn dim o amser yn anfon ymaith y peryglon sydd wedi bod yn eich bygwth chi cyhyd.”

“No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you.”

Chafodd Sherlock Holmes a minnau ddim trafferth i sicrhau ystafell wely a lolfa gyfun i ni ein dau, ar lawr uchaf tafarn y Crown; ac oddi yno, drwy ein ffenestr, roedd gennym ni olygfa arbennig o glir o lidiart rhodfa’r lôn goed, ac o adain gyfannedd maenordy Stoke Moran. Yn llwyd dywyllwch y cyfnos fe welem ni Dr. Grimesby Roylott yn gyrru heibio ar garlam, ei gorff enfawr yn ymddangos yn enbyd o gydnerth ochr-yn-ochr â ffigur main y llefnyn ifanc a yrrai’r ferlen a thrap. Pan gyrhaeddwyd y llidiart, gwelem fod y llanc yn cael peth trafferth i ddadwneud y bollt ac agor y gatiau haearn trwm. Yna clywem ru crygleisiol y meddyg yn mynegi ei anniddigrwydd, a gwelem ni ei gynddaredd wrth iddo ysgwyd ei ddwrn yn ddwrdiol arno. Yn y man fe yrrodd y trap yn ei flaen, ac ymhen ychydig funudau wedyn gwelem oleuni pŵl yn pelydru’n sydyn ymhlith y coed, wrth i lamp olew gael ei goleuo yn un o lolfeydd y maenordy.

Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of the doctor’s voice and saw the fury with which he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms.

“Wyddoch chi beth, Watson,” meddai Holmes yn bwyllog, tra roeddem ni’n eistedd gyda’n gilydd yn y tywyllwch a ddwysâi’n araf o’n hamgylch, “rydw i’n wirioneddol betruso ynglŷn â mynd â chi gyda mi heno; oherwydd mae yna elfen ddigamsyniol o berygl ynghlwm â’n menter ni.”

“Do you know, Watson,” said Holmes as we sat together in the gathering darkness, “I have really some scruples as to taking you to-night. There is a distinct element of danger.”

“Wel, a alla’ i fod o unrhyw gymorth?”

“Can I be of assistance?”

“Gallai eich presenoldeb chi fod yn anhepgorol, ac amhrisiadwy hefyd.”

“Your presence might be invaluable.”

“Os felly, does dim dwywaith amdani hi; fe fydda i’n dod gyda chi.”

“Then I shall certainly come.”

“Mae eich cynnig chi’n un ystyrgar a charedig y tu hwnt; yn enwedig yng ngoleuni, neu ddiffyg goleuni, yr amgylchiadau.”

“It is very kind of you.”

“Ond rydych chi’n sôn am berygl. Rydych chi’n amlwg wedi canfod mwy yn yr ystafelloedd hyn na’r hyn oedd yn weledig i’m llygaid i fy hun.”

“You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me.”

“Na; ond rwy’n tybio efallai fy mod i wedi diddwytho jest ryw ychydig bach yn rhagor. Rwy’n dychmygu eich bod chithau hefyd wedi gweld y cyfan y bu mi fy hun ei ganfod.”

“Na; ond rwy’n tybio efallai fy mod i wedi diddwytho jest ryw ychydig bach yn rhagor. Rwy’n dychmygu eich bod chithau hefyd wedi gweld y cyfan y bu mi fy hun ei ganfod.”

“No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you saw all that I did.”

“Sylwais i ar ddim byd nodedig o anghyffredin, ar wahân i’r cloch-reffyn hwnnw; ond i ba ddiben yr hongiwyd peth diwerth felly yn y fan a’r lle, mae’n rhaid i mi gyfaddef nad oes gen i mo’r dychymyg lleiaf.”

“I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine.”

“Fe welsoch chi’r agoriad awyru hefyd?”

“You saw the ventilator, too?”

“Do, on