the adventure of the mazarin stone-第2章

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and　blow　when　a　cool；　sardonic　voice　greeted　him　from　the　open　bedroom

door：

　　〃Don't　break　it；　Count！　Don't　break　it！〃

　　The　assassin　staggered　back；　amazement　in　his　convulsed　face。　For　an

instant　he　half　raised　his　loaded　cane　once　more；　as　if　he　would

turn　his　violence　from　the　effigy　to　the　original；　but　there　was

something　in　that　steady　gray　eye　and　mocking　smile　which　caused　his

hand　to　sink　to　his　side。

　　〃It's　a　pretty　little　thing；〃　said　Holmes；　advancing　towards　the

image。　〃Tavernier；　the　French　modeller；　made　it。　He　is　as　good　at

waxworks　as　your　friend　Straubenzee　is　at　air…guns。〃

　　〃Air…guns；　sir！　What　do　you　mean？〃

　　〃Put　your　hat　and　stick　on　the　side…table。　Thank　you！　Pray　take　a

seat。　Would　you　care　to　put　your　revolver　out　also？　Oh；　very　good；

if　you　prefer　to　sit　upon　it。　Your　visit　is　really　most　opportune；　for

I　wanted　badly　to　have　a　few　minutes'　chat　with　you。〃

　　The　Count　scowled；　with　heavy；　threatening　eyebrows。

　　〃I；　too；　wished　to　have　some　words　with　you；　Holmes。　That　is　why　I

am　here。　I　won't　deny　that　I　intended　to　assault　you　just　now。〃

　　Holmes　swung　his　leg　on　the　edge　of　the　table。

　　〃I　rather　gathered　that　you　had　some　idea　of　the　sort　in　your　head；〃

said　he。　〃But　why　these　personal　attentions？〃

　　〃Because　you　have　gone　out　of　your　way　to　annoy　me。　Because　you　have

put　your　creatures　upon　my　track。〃

　　〃My　creatures！　I　assure　you　no！〃

　　〃Nonsense！　I　have　had　them　followed。　Two　can　play　at　that　game；

Holmes。〃

　　〃It　is　a　small　point；　Count　Sylvius；　but　perhaps　you　would　kindly

give　me　my　prefix　when　you　address　me。　You　can　understand　that；　with

my；　routine　of　work；　I　should　find　myself　on　familiar　terms　with

half　the　rogues'　gallery；　and　you　will　agree　that　exceptions　are

invidious。〃

　　〃Well；　Mr。　Holmes；　then。〃

　　〃Excellent！　But　I　assure　you　you　are　mistaken　about　my　alleged

agents。〃

　　Count　Sylvius　laughed　contemptuously。

　　〃Other　people　can　observe　as　well　as　you。　Yesterday　there　was　an　old

sporting　man。　To…day　it　was　an　elderly　woman。　They　held　me　in　view　all

day。〃

　　〃Really；　sir；　you　compliment　me。　Old　Baron　Dowson　said　the　night

before　he　was　hanged　that　in　my　case　what　the　law　had　gained　the　stage

had　lost。　And　now　you　give　my　little　impersonations　your　kindly

praise？〃

　　〃It　was　you…　you　yourself？〃

　　Holmes　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃You　can　see　in　the　corner　the

parasol　which　you　so　politely　handed　to　me　in　the　Minories　before

you　began　to　suspect。〃

　　〃If　I　had　known；　you　might　never…〃

　　〃Have　seen　this　horrible　home　again。　I　was　well　aware　of　it。　We

all　have　neglected　opportunities　to　deplore。　As　it　happens；　you　did

not　know；　so　here　we　are！〃

　　The　Count's　knotted　brows　gathered　more　heavily　over　his　menacing

eyes。　〃What　you　say　only　makes　the　matter　worse。　It　was　not　your

agents　but　your　play…acting；　busybody　self！　You　admit　that　you　have

dogged　me。　Why？〃

　　〃Come　now；　Count。　You　used　to　shoot　lions　in　Algeria。〃

　　〃Well？〃

　　〃But　why？〃

　　〃Why？　The　sport…　the　excitement…　the　danger！〃

　　〃And；　no　doubt；　to　free　the　country　from　a　pest？〃

　　〃Exactly！〃

　　〃My　reasons　in　a　nutshell！〃

　　The　Count　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　his　hand　involuntarily　moved

back　to　his　hip…pocket。

　　〃Sit　down；　sir；　sit　down！　There　was　another；　more　practical；　reason。

I　want　that　yellow　diamond！〃

　　Count　Sylvius　lay　back　in　his　chair　with　an　evil　smile。

　　〃Upon　my　word！〃　said　he。

　　〃You　knew　that　I　was　after　you　for　that。　The　real　reason　why　you　are

here　tonight　is　to　find　out　how　much　I　know　about　the　matter　and　how

far　my　removal　is　absolutely　essential。　Well；　I　should　say　that；

from　your　point　of　view；　it　is　absolutely　essential；　for　I　know　all

about　it；　save　only　one　thing；　which　you　are　about　to　tell　me。〃

　　〃Oh；　indeed！　And　pray；　what　is　this　missing　fact？〃

　　〃Where　the　Crown　diamond　now　is。〃

　　The　Count　looked　sharply　at　his　companion。　〃Oh；　you　want　to　know

that；　do　you？　How　the　devil　should　I　be　able　to　tell　you　where　it　is？〃

　　〃You　can；　and　you　will。〃

　　〃Indeed！〃

　　〃You　can't　bluff　me；　Count　Sylvius。〃　Holmes's　eyes；　as　he　gazed　at

him；　contracted　and　lightened　until　they　were　like　two　menacing　points

of　steel。　〃You　are　absolute　plate…glass。　I　see　to　the　very　back　of

your　mind。〃

　　〃Then；　of　course；　you　see　where　the　diamond　is！〃

　　Holmes　clapped　his　hands　with　amusement；　and　then　pointed　a　derisive

finger。　〃Then　you　do　know。　You　have　admitted　it！〃

　　〃I　admit　nothing。〃

　　〃Now；　Count；　if　you　will　be　reasonable　we　can　do　business。　If　not；

you　will　get　hurt。〃

　　Count　Sylvius　threw　up　his　eyes　to　the　ceiling。　〃And　you　talk

about　bluff！〃　said　he。

　　Holmes　looked　at　him　thoughtfully　like　a　master　chess…player　who

meditates　his　crowning　move。　Then　he　threw　open　the　table　drawer　and

drew　out　a　squat　notebook。

　　〃Do　you　know　what　I　keep　in　this　book？〃

　　〃No；　sir；　I　do　not！〃

　　〃You！〃

　　〃Me！〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　you！　You　are　all　here…　every　action　of　your　vile　and

dangerous　life。〃

　　〃Damn　you；　Holmes！〃　cried　the　Count　with　blazing　eyes。　〃There　are

limits　to　my　patience！〃

　　〃It's　all　here；　Count。　The　real　facts　as　to　the　death　of　old　Mrs。

Harold；　who　left　you　the　Blymer　estate；　which　you　so　rapidly　gambled

away。〃

　　〃You　are　dreaming！〃

　　〃And　the　complete　life　history　of　Miss　Minnie　Warrender。〃

　　〃Tut！　You　will　make　nothing　of　that！〃

　　〃Plenty　more　here；　Count。　Here　is　the　robbery　in　the　train　de…luxe

to　the　Riviera　on　February　13；　1892。　Here　is　the　forged　check　in　the

same　year　on　the　Credit　Lyonnais。〃

　　〃No；　you're　wrong　there。〃

　　〃Then　I　am　right　on　the　others！　Now；　Count；　you　are　a　card…player。

When　the　other　fellow　has　all　the　trumps；　it　saves　time　to　throw

down　your　hand。〃

　　〃What　has　all　this　talk　to　do　with　the　jewel　of　which　you　spoke？〃

　　〃Gently；　Count。　Restrain　that　eager　mind！　Let　me　get　to　the　points

in　my　own　humdrum　fashion。　I　have　all　this　against　you；　but；　above

all；　I　have　a　clear　case　against　both　you　and　your　fighting　bully　in

the　case　of　the　Crown　diamond。〃

　　〃Indeed！〃

　　〃I　have　the　cabman　who　took　you　to　Whitehall　and　the　cabman　who

brought　you　away。　I　have　the　commissionaire　who　saw　you　near　the　case。

I　have　Ikey　Sanders；　who　refused　to　cut　it　up　for　you。　Ikey　has

peached；　and　the　game　is　up。〃

　　The　veins　stood　out　on　the　Count's　forehead。　His　dark；　hairy　hands

were　clenched　in　a　convulsion　of　restrained　emotion。　He　tried　to

speak；　but　the　words　would　not　shape　themselves。

　　〃That's　the　hand　I　play　from；〃　said　Holmes。　〃I　put　it　all　on　the

table。　But　one　card　is　missing。　It's　the　king　of　diamonds。　I　don't

know　where　the　stone　is。〃

　　〃You　never　shall　know。〃

　　〃No？　Now；　be　reasonable；　Count。　Consider　the　situation。　You　are

going　to　be　locked　up　for　twenty　years。　So　is　Sam　Merton。　What　good

are　you　going　to　get　out　of　your　diamond？　None　in　the　world。　But　if

you　hand　it　over…　well；　I'll　compound　a　felony。　We　don't　want　you　or

Sam。　We　want　the　stone。　Give　that　up；　and　so　far　as　I　am　concerned　you

can　go　free　so　long　as　you　behave　yourself　in　the　future。　If　you

make　another　slip…　well；　it　will　be　the　last。　But　this　time　my

commission　is　to　get　the　stone；　not　you。〃

　　〃But　if　I　refuse？〃

　　〃Why；　then…　alas！…　it　must　be　you　and　not　the　stone。〃

　　Billy　had　appeared　in　answer　to　a　ring。

　　〃I　think；　Count；　that　it　would　be　as　well　to　have　your　friend　Sam　at

this　conference。　After　all；　his　interests　should　be　represented。

Billy；　you　will　see　a　large　and　ugly　gentleman　outside　the　front　door。

Ask　him　to　come　up。〃

　　〃If　he　won't　come；　sir？〃

　　〃No　violence；　Billy。　Don't　be　rough　with　him。　If　you　tell　him　that

Count　Sylvius　wants　him　he　will　certainly　come。〃

　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃　asked　the　Count　as　Billy

disappeared。

　　〃My　friend　Watson　was　with　me　just　now。　I　told　him　that　I　had　a

shark　and　gudgeon　in　my　net；　now　I　am　drawing　the　net　and　up　they　come

together。〃

　　The　Count　had　risen　from　his　chair；　and　his　hand　was　behind　his

back。　Holmes　held　something　half　protruding　from　the　pocket　of　his

dressing…gown。

　　〃You　won't　die　in　your　bed；　Holmes。〃

　　〃I　have　often　had　the　same　idea。　Does　it　matter　very　much？　After

all；　Count；　your　own　exit　is　more　likely　to　be　perpendicular　than

horizontal。　But　these　anticipations　of　the　future　are　morbid。　Why

not　give　ourselves　up　to　the　unrestrained　enjoyment　of　the　present？〃

　　A　sudden　wild…beast　light　sprang　up　in　the　dark；　menacing　eyes　of

the　master　criminal。　Holmes's　figure　seemed　to　grow　taller　as　he

grew　tense　and　ready。

　　〃It　is　no　use　your　fingering　your　revolver；　my　friend；〃　he　said　in　a

quiet　voice。　You　know　perfectly　well　that　you　dare　not　use　it；　even　if

I　gave　you　time　to　draw　it。　Nasty；　noisy　things；　revolvers；　Count。

Better　stick　to　air…guns。　Ah！　I　think　I　hear　the　fairy　footstep　of

your　estimable　partner。　Good　day；　Mr。　Merton。　Rather　dull　in　the

street；　is　it　not？〃

　　The　prize…fighter；　a　heavily　built　young　man　with　a　stupid；

obstinate；　slab…sided　face；　stood　awkwardly　at　the　door；　looking　about

him　with　a　puzzled　expression。　Holmes's　debonair　manner　was　a　new

experience；　and　though　he　vaguely　felt　that　it　was　hostile；　he　did　not

know　how　to　counter　it。　He　turned　to　his　more　astute　comrade　for　help。

　　〃What's　the　game　now；　Count？　What's　this　fellow　want？　What's　up？〃

His　voice　was　deep　and　raucous。

　　The　Count　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　it　was　Holmes　who　answered。

　　〃If　I　may　put　it　in　a　nutshell；　Mr。　Merton；　I　should　say　it　was

all　up。〃

　　The　boxer　still　addressed　his　remarks　to　his　associate。

　　〃Is　this　cove　trying　to　be　funny；　or　what？　I'm　not　in　the　funny　mood

myself。〃

　　〃No；　I　expect　not；〃　said　Holmes。　〃I　think　I　can　promise　you　that　you

will　feel　even　less　humorous　as　the　evening　advances。　Now；　look

here；　Count　Sylvius。　I'm　a　busy　man　and　I　can't　waste　time。　I'm

going　into　that　bedroom。　Pray　make　yourselves　quite　at　home　in　my

absence。　You　can　explain　to　your　friend　how　the　matter　lies　without

the　restraint　of　my　presence。　I　shall　try　over　the　Hoffman　'Barcarole'

upon　my　violin。　In　five　minutes　I　shall　return　for　your　final

answer。　You　quite　grasp　the　alternative；　do　you　not？　Shall　we　take

you；　or　shall　we　have　the　stone？〃

　　Holmes　withdrew；　picking　up　his　violin　from　the　corner　as　he　passed。

A　few　moments　later　the　long…drawn；　wailing　notes　of　that　most

haunting　of　tunes　came　faintly　through　the　closed　door　of　the　bedroom。

　　〃What　is　it；　then？〃　asked　Merton　anxiously　as　his　companion　turned

to　him。　〃Does　he　know　about　the　stone？〃

　　〃He　knows　a　damned　sight　too　much　about　it。　I'm　not　sure　that　he

doesn't　know　all　about　it。〃

　　〃Good　Lord！〃　The　boxer's　sallow　face　turned　a　shade　whiter。

　　〃Ikey　Sanders　has　split　on　us。〃

　　〃He　has；　has　he？　I'll　do　him　down　a　thick　'un　for　that　if　I　swing

for　it。〃

　　〃That　won't　help　us　much。　We've　got　to　make　up　our　minds　what　to

do。〃

　　〃Half　a　mo'；〃　said　the　boxer；　looking　suspiciously　at　the　bedroom

door。　〃He's　a　leary　cove　that　wants　watching。　I　suppose　he's　not

listening？〃

　　〃How　can　he　be　listening　with　that　music　going？〃

　　〃That's　right。　Maybe　somebody's　behind　a　curtain。　Too　many

curtains　in　this　room。〃　As　he　looked　round　he　suddenly