the adventure of the mazarin stone-第3章

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

curtains　in　this　room。〃　As　he　looked　round　he　suddenly　saw　for　the

first　time　the　effigy　in　the　window；　and　stood　staring　and　pointing；

too　amazed　for　words。

　　〃Tut！　it's　only　a　dummy；〃　said　the　Count。

　　〃A　fake；　is　it？　Well；　strike　me！　Madame　Tussaud　ain't　in　it。　It's

the　living　spit　of　him；　gown　and　all。　But　them　curtains；　Count！〃

　　〃Oh；　confound　the　curtains！　We　are　wasting　our　time；　and　there　is

none　too　much。　He　can　lag　us　over　this　stone。〃

　　〃The　deuce　he　can！〃

　　〃But　he'll　let　us　slip　if　we　only　tell　him　where　the　swag　is。〃

　　〃What！　Give　it　up？　Give　up　a　hundred　thousand　quid？〃

　　〃It's　one　or　the　other。〃

　　Merton　scratched　his　short…cropped　pate。

　　〃He's　alone　in　there。　Let's　do　him　in。　If　his　light　were　out　we

should　have　nothing　to　fear。〃

　　The　Count　shook　his　head。

　　〃He　is　armed　and　ready。　If　we　shot　him　we　could　hardly　get　away　in　a

place　like　this。　Besides；　it's　likely　enough　that　the　police　know

whatever　evidence　he　has　got。　Hallo！　What　was　that？〃

　　There　was　a　vague　sound　which　seemed　to　come　from　the　window。　Both

men　sprang　round；　but　all　was　quiet。　Save　for　the　one　strange　figure

seated　in　the　chair；　the　room　was　certainly　empty。

　　〃Something　in　the　street；〃　said　Merton。　〃Now　look　here；　guv'nor；

you've　got　the　brains。　Surely　you　can　think　a　way　out　of　it。　If

slugging　is　no　use　then　it's　up　to　you。

　　〃I've　fooled　better　men　than　he；〃　the　Count　answered。　〃The　stone

is　here　in　my　secret　pocket。　I　take　no　chances　leaving　it　about。　It

can　be　out　of　England　to…night　and　cut　into　four　pieces　in　Amsterdam

before　Sunday。　He　knows　nothing　of　Van　Seddar。〃

　　〃I　thought　Van　Seddar　was　going　next　week。〃

　　〃He　was。　But　now　he　must　get　off　by　the　next　boat。　One　or　other　of

us　must　slip　round　with　the　stone　to　Lime　Street　and　tell　him。〃

　　〃But　the　false　bottom　ain't　ready。〃

　　〃Well；　he　must　take　it　as　it　is　and　chance　it。　There's　not　a

moment　to　lose。〃　Again；　with　the　sense　of　danger　which　becomes　an

instinct　with　the　sportsman；　he　paused　and　looked　hard　at　the

window。　Yes；　it　was　surely　from　the　street　that　the　faint　sound　had

come。

　　〃As　to　Holmes；〃　he　continued；　〃we　can　fool　him　easily　enough。　You

see；　the　damned　fool　won't　arrest　us　if　he　can　get　the　stone。　Well；

we'll　promise　him　the　stone。　We'll　put　him　on　the　wrong　track　about

it；　and　before　he　finds　that　it　is　the　wrong　track　it　will　be　in

Holland　and　we　out　of　the　country。〃

　　〃That　sounds　good　to　me！〃　cried　Sam　Merton　with　a　grin。

　　〃You　go　on　and　tell　the　Dutchman　to　get　a　move　on　him。　I'll　see　this

sucker　and　fill　him　up　with　a　bogus　confession。　I'll　tell　him　that　the

stone　is　in　Liverpool。　Confound　that　whining　music；　it　gets　on　my

nerves！　By　the　time　he　finds　it　isn't　in　Liverpool　it　will　be　in

quarters　and　we　on　the　blue　water。　Come　back　here；　out　of　a　line

with　that　keyhole。　Here　is　the　stone。〃

　　〃I　wonder　you　dare　carry　it。〃

　　〃Where　could　I　have　it　safer？　If　we　could　take　it　out　of　Whitehall

someone　else　could　surely　take　it　out　of　my　lodgings。〃

　　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　it。〃

　　Count　Sylvius　cast　a　somewhat　unflattering　glance　at　his　associate

and　disregarded　the　unwashed　hand　which　was　extended　towards　him。

　　〃What…　d'ye　think　I'm　going　to　snitch　it　off　you？　See　here；

mister；　I'm　getting　a　bit　tired　of　your　ways。〃

　　〃Well；　well；　no　offence；　Sam。　We　can't　afford　to　quarrel。　Come

over　to　the　window　if　you　want　to　see　the　beauty　properly。　Now　hold　it

to　the　light！　Here！〃

　　〃Thank　you！〃

　　With　a　single　spring　Holmes　had　leaped　from　the　dummy's　chair　and

had　grasped　the　precious　jewel。　He　held　it　now　in　one　hand；　while

his　other　pointed　a　revolver　at　the　Count's　head。　The　two　villains

staggered　back　in　utter　amazement。　Before　they　had　recovered　Holmes

had　pressed　the　electric　bell。

　　〃No　violence；　gentlemen…　no　violence；　I　beg　of　you！　Consider　the

furniture！　It　must　be　very　clear　to　you　that　your　position　is　an

impossible　one。　The　police　are　waiting　below。〃

　　The　Count's　bewilderment　overmastered　his　rage　and　fear。

　　〃But　how　the　deuce…？〃　he　gasped。

　　〃Your　surprise　is　very　natural。　You　are　not　aware　that　a　second　door

from　my　bedroom　leads　behind　that　curtain。　I　fancied　that　you　must

have　heard　me　when　I　displaced　the　figure；　but　luck　was　on　my　side。　It

gave　me　a　chance　of　listening　to　your　racy　conversation　which　would

have　been　painfully　constrained　had　you　been　aware　of　my　presence。〃

　　The　Count　gave　a　gesture　of　resignation。

　　〃We　give　you　best；　Holmes。　I　believe　you　are　the　devil　himself。〃

　　〃Not　far　from　him；　at　any　rate；〃　Holmes　answered　with　a　polite

smile。

　　Sam　Merton's　slow　intellect　had　only　gradually　appreciated　the

situation。　Now；　as　the　sound　of　heavy　steps　came　from　the　stairs

outside；　he　broke　silence　at　last。

　　〃A　fair　cop！〃　said　he。　〃But；　I　say；　what　about　that　bloomin'　fiddle！

I　hear　it　yet。〃

　　〃Tut；　tut！〃　Holmes　answered。　〃You　are　perfectly　right。　Let　it

play！　These　modern　gramophones　are　a　remarkable　invention。〃

　　There　was　an　inrush　of　police；　the　handcuffs　clicked　and　the

criminals　were　led　to　the　waiting　cab。　Watson　lingered　with　Holmes；

congratulating　him　upon　this　fresh　leaf　added　to　his　laurels。　Once

more　their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　imperturbable　Billy

with　his　card…tray。

　　〃Lord　Cantlemere；　sir。〃

　　〃Show　him　up；　Billy。　This　is　the　eminent　peer　who　represents　the

very　highest　interests；〃　said　Holmes。　〃He　is　an　excellent　and　loyal

person；　but　rather　of　the　old　regime。　Shall　we　make　him　unbend？　Dare

we　venture　upon　a　slight　liberty？　He　knows；　we　may　conjecture；　nothing

of　what　has　occurred。〃

　　The　door　opened　to　admit　a　thin；　austere　figure　with　a　hatchet

face　and　drooping　mid…Victorian　whiskers　of　a　glossy　blackness　which

hardly　corresponded　with　the　rounded　shoulders　and　feeble　gait。　Holmes

advanced　affably；　and　shook　an　unresponsive　hand。

　　〃How　do　you　do；　Lord　Cantlemere？　It　is　chilly　for　the　time　of

year；　but　rather　warm　indoors。　May　I　take　your　overcoat？〃

　　〃No；　I　thank　you；　I　will　not　take　it　off。〃

　　Holmes　laid　his　hand　insistently　upon　the　sleeve。

　　〃Pray　allow　me！　My　friend　Dr。　Watson　would　assure　you　that　these

changes　of　temperature　are　most　insidious。〃

　　His　Lordship　shook　himself　free　with　some　impatience。

　　〃I　am　quite　comfortable；　sir。　I　have　no　need　to　stay。　I　have

simply　looked　in　to　know　how　your　self…appointed　task　was

progressing。〃

　　〃It　is　difficult…　very　difficult。〃

　　〃I　feared　that　you　would　find　it　so。〃

　　There　was　a　distinct　sneer　in　the　old　courtier's　words　and　manner。

　　〃Every　man　finds　his　limitations；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　at　least　it

cures　us　of　the　weakness　of　self…satisfaction。〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　have　been　much　perplexed。〃

　　〃No　doubt。〃

　　〃Especially　upon　one　point。　Possibly　you　could　help　me　upon　it？〃

　　〃You　apply　for　my　advice　rather　late　in　the　day。　I　thought　that

you　had　your　own　all…sufficient　methods。　Still；　I　am　ready　to　help

you。〃

　　〃You　see；　Lord　Cantlemere；　we　can　no　doubt　frame　a　case　against

the　actual　thieves。〃

　　〃When　you　have　caught　them。〃

　　〃Exactly。　But　the　question　is…　how　shall　we　proceed　against　the

receiver？〃

　　〃Is　this　not　rather　premature？〃

　　〃It　is　as　well　to　have　our　plans　ready。　Now；　what　would　you　regard

as　final　evidence　against　the　receiver？〃

　　〃The　actual　possession　of　the　stone。〃

　　〃You　would　arrest　him　upon　that？〃

　　〃Most　undoubtedly。〃

　　Holmes　seldom　laughed；　but　he　got　as　near　it　as　his　old　friend

Watson　could　remember。

　　〃In　that　case；　my　dear　sir；　I　shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity

of　advising　your　arrest。〃

　　Lord　Cantlemere　was　very　angry。　Some　of　the　ancient　fires

flickered　up　into　his　sallow　checks。

　　〃You　take　a　great　liberty；　Mr。　Holmes。　In　fifty　years　of　official

life　I　cannot　recall　such　a　case。　I　am　a　busy　man；　sir；　engaged　upon

important　affairs；　and　I　have　no　time　or　taste　for　foolish　jokes。　I

may　tell　you　frankly；　sir；　that　I　have　never　been　a　believer　in　your

powers；　and　that　I　have　always　been　of　the　opinion　that　the　matter　was

far　safer　in　the　hands　of　the　regular　police　force。　Your　conduct

confirms　all　my　conclusions。　I　have　the　honour；　sir；　to　wish　you

good…evening。〃

　　Holmes　had　swiftly　changed　his　position　and　was　between　the　peer　and

the　door。

　　〃One　moment；　sir；〃　said　he。　〃To　actually　go　off　with　the　Mazarin

stone　would　be　a　more　serious　offence　than　to　be　found　in　temporary

possession　of　it。〃

　　〃Sir；　this　is　intolerable！　Let　me　pass。〃

　　〃Put　your　hand　in　the　right…hand　pocket　of　your　overcoat。〃

　　〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃

　　〃Come…　come；　do　what　I　ask。〃

　　An　instant　later　the　amazed　peer　was　standing；　blinking　and

stammering；　with　the　great　yellow　stone　on　his　shaking　palm。

　　〃What！　What！　How　is　this；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃Too　bad；　Lord　Cantlemere；　too　bad！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃My　old　friend

here　will　tell　you　that　I　have　an　impish　habit　of　practical　joking。

Also　that　I　can　never　resist　a　dramatic　situation。　I　took　the　liberty…

the　very　great　liberty；　I　admit…　of　putting　the　stone　into　your　pocket

at　the　beginning　of　our　interview。〃

　　The　old　peer　stared　from　the　stone　to　the　smiling　face　before　him。

　　〃Sir；　I　am　bewildered。　But…　yes…　it　is　indeed　the　Mazarin　stone。

We　are　greatly　your　debtors；　Mr。　Holmes。　Your　sense　of　humour　may；

as　you　admit；　be　somewhat　perverted；　and　its　exhibition　remarkably

untimely；　but　at　least　I　withdraw　any　reflection　I　have　made　upon　your

amazing　professional　powers。　But　how…〃

　　〃The　case　is　but　half　finished；　the　details　can　wait。　No　doubt；　Lord

Cantlemere；　your　pleasure　in　telling　of　this　successful　result　in

the　exalted　role　to　which　you　return　will　be　some　small　atonement

for　my　practical　joke。　Billy；　you　will　show　his　Lordship　out；　and　tell

Mrs。　Hudson　that　I　should　be　glad　if　she　would　send　up　dinner　for

two　as　soon　as　possible。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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