the pursuit of the house-boat-第4章

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he　Duchess　of　Brokedale　has　lost　a　valuable　tiara　of　diamonds；　and　you　have　not　lost　your　watch。　　Somebody　has　stolen　the　diamonds；　and　it　may　be　that　somewhere　there　is　a　Bunker　who　has　lost　such　a　watch　as　I　have　described。　　The　queer　part　of　it　all　is；'　I　continued；　handing　him　the　decanter；　and　taking　a　couple　of　loaded　six…shooters　out　of　my　escritoire'the　queer　part　of　it　all　is　that　I　have　the　watch　and　you　have　the　tiara。　　We'll　swap　the　swag。　　Hand　over　the　bauble；　please。'

〃'But'　he　began。

〃'We　won't　have　any　butting；　your　Grace；'　said　I。　　'I'll　give　you　the　watch；　and　you　needn't　mind　the　200　pounds；　and　you　must　give　me　the　tiara；　or　I'll　accompany　you　forthwith　to　the　police；　and　have　a　search　made　of　your　hat。　　It　won't　pay　you　to　defy　me。　　Give　it　up。'

〃He　gave　up　the　hat　at　once；　and；　as　I　suspected；　there　lay　the　tiara；　snugly　stowed　away　behind　the　head…band。

〃'You　are　a　great　fellow；'　said　I；　as　I　held　the　tiara　up　to　the　light　and　watched　with　pleasure　the　flashing　brilliance　of　its　gems。

〃'I　beg　you'll　not　expose　me；'　he　moaned。　　'I　was　driven　to　it　by　necessity。'

〃'Not　I；'　I　replied。　　'As　long　as　you　play　fair　it　will　be　all　right。　I'm　not　going　to　keep　this　thing。　　I'm　not　married；　and　so　have　no　use　for　such　a　trifle；　but　what　I　do　intend　is　simply　to　wait　until　your　wife　retains　me　to　find　it；　and　then　I'll　find　it　and　get　the　reward。　　If　you　keep　perfectly　still；　I'll　have　it　found　in　such　a　fashion　that　you'll　never　be　suspected。　　If；　on　the　other　hand；　you　say　a　word　about　to…night's　events；　I'll　hand　you　over　to　the　police。'

〃'Humph！'　he　said。　　'You　couldn't　prove　a　case　against　me。'

〃'I　can　prove　any　case　against　anybody；'　I　retorted。　　'If　you　don't　believe　it；　read　my　book；'　I　added；　and　I　handed　him　a　copy　of　my　memoirs。

〃'I've　read　it；'　he　answered；　'and　I　ought　to　have　known　better　than　to　come　here。　　I　thought　you　were　only　a　literary　success。'　　And　with　a　deep…drawn　sigh　he　took　the　watch　and　went　out。　　Ten　days　later　I　was　retained　by　the　Duchess；　and　after　a　pretended　search　of　ten　days　more　I　found　the　tiara；　restored　it　to　the　noble　lady；　and　received　the　5000　pounds　reward。　　The　Duke　kept　perfectly　quiet　about　our　little　encounter；　and　afterwards　we　became　stanch　friends；　for　he　was　a　good　fellow；　and　was　driven　to　his　desperate　deed　only　by　the　demands　of　his　creditors；　and　the　following　Christmas　he　sent　me　the　watch　I　had　given　him；　with　the　best　wishes　of　the　season。

〃So；　you　see；　gentlemen；　in　a　moment；　by　quick　wit　and　a　mental　concentration　of　no　mean　order；　combined　with　strict　observance　of　the　pettiest　details；　I　ferreted　out　what　bade　fair　to　become　a　great　diamond　mystery；　and　when　I　say　that　this　cigar　end　proves　certain　things　to　my　mind；　it　does　not　become　you　to　doubt　the　value　of　my　conclusions。〃

〃Hear！　hear！〃　cried　Raleigh；　growing　tumultuous　with　enthusiasm。

〃Your　name？　your　name？〃　came　from　all　parts　of　the　wharf。

The　stranger；　putting　his　hand　into　the　folds　of　his　coat；　drew　forth　a　bundle　of　business　cards；　which　he　tossed；　as　the　prestidigitator　tosses　playing…cards；　out　among　the　audience；　and　on　each　of　them　was　found　printed　the　words：


SHERLOCK　HOLMES；　DETECTIVE。　FERRETING　DONE　HERE。　Plots　for　Sale。


〃I　think　he　made　a　mistake　in　not　taking　the　200　pounds　for　the　watch。　　Such　carelessness　destroys　my　confidence　in　him；〃　said　Shylock；　who　was　the　first　to　recover　from　the　surprise　of　the　revelation。



CHAPTER　III：　　THE　SEARCH…PARTY　IS　ORGANIZED



〃Well；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　Sir　Walter　Raleigh；　after　three　rousing　cheers；　led　by　Hamlet；　had　been　given　with　a　will　by　the　assembled　spirits；　〃after　this　demonstration　in　your　honor　I　think　it　is　hardly　necessary　for　me　to　assure　you　of　our　hearty　co…operation　in　anything　you　may　venture　to　suggest。　　There　is　still　manifest；　however；　some　desire　on　the　part　of　the　ever…wise　King　Solomon　and　my　friend　Confucius　to　know　how　you　deduce　that　Kidd　has　sailed　for　London；　from　the　cigar　end　which　you　hold　in　your　hand。〃

〃I　can　easily　satisfy　their　curiosity；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes；　genially。　　〃I　believe　I　have　already　proven　that　it　is　the　end　of　Kidd's　cigar。　　The　marks　of　the　teeth　have　shown　that。　　Now　observe　how　closely　it　is　smokedthere　is　barely　enough　of　it　left　for　one　to　insert　between　his　teeth。　　Now　Captain　Kidd　would　hardly　have　risked　the　edges　of　his　mustache　and　the　comfort　of　his　lips　by　smoking　a　cigar　down　to　the　very　light　if　he　had　had　another；　nor　would　he　under　any　circumstances　have　smoked　it　that　far　unless　he　were　passionately　addicted　to　this　particular　brand　of　the　weed。　Therefore　I　say　to　you；　first；　this　was　his　cigar；　second；　it　was　the　last　one　he　had；　third；　he　is　a　confirmed　smoker。　　The　result；　he　has　gone　to　the　one　place　in　the　world　where　these　Connecticut　hand…　rolled　Havana　cigarsfor　I　recognize　this　as　one　of　themhave　a　real　popularity；　and　are　therefore　more　certainly　obtainable；　and　that　is　at　London。　　You　cannot　get　so　vile　a　cigar　as　that　outside　of　a　London　hotel。　　If　I　could　have　seen　a　quarter…inch　more　of　it；　I　should　have　been　able　definitely　to　locate　the　hotel　itself。　　The　wrappers　unroll　to　a　degree　that　varies　perceptibly　as　between　the　different　hotels。　　The　Fortuna　cigar　can　be　smoked　a　quarter　through　before　its　wrapper　gives　way；　the　Felix　wrapper　goes　as　soon　as　you　light　the　cigar；　whereas　the　River；　fronting　on　the　Thames；　is　surrounded　by　a　moister　atmosphere　than　the　others；　and；　as　a　consequence；　the　wrapper　will　hold　really　until　most　people　are　willing　to　throw　the　whole　thing　away。〃

〃It　is　really　a　wonderful　art！〃　said　Solomon。

〃The　making　of　a　Connecticut　Havana　cigar？〃　laughed　Holmes。　　〃Not　at　all。　　Give　me　a　head　of　lettuce　and　a　straw；　and　I'll　make　you　a　box。〃

〃I　referred　to　your　artthat　of　detection；〃　said　Solomon。　　〃Your　logic　is　perfect；　step　by　step　we　have　been　led　to　the　irresistible　conclusion　that　Kidd　has　made　for　London；　and　can　be　found　at　one　of　these　hotels。〃

〃And　only　until　next　Tuesday；　when　he　will　take　a　house　in　the　neighborhood　of　Scotland　Yard；〃　put　in　Holmes；　quickly；　observing　a　sneer　on　Hawkshaw's　lips；　and　hastening　to　overwhelm　him　by　further　evidence　of　his　ingenuity。　　〃When　he　gets　his　bill　he　will　open　his　piratical　eyes　so　wide　that　he　will　be　seized　with　jealousy　to　think　of　how　much　more　refined　his　profession　has　become　since　he　left　it；　and　out　of　mere　pique　he　will　leave　the　hotel；　and；　to　show　himself　still　cleverer　than　his　modern　prototypes；　he　will　leave　his　account　unpaid；　with　the　result　that　the　affair　will　be　put　in　the　hands　of　the　police；　under　which　circumstances　a　house　in　the　immediate　vicinity　of　the　famous　police　headquarters　will　be　the　safest　hiding…　place　he　can　find；　as　was　instanced　by　the　remarkable　case　of　the　famous　Penstock　bond　robbery。　　A　certain　churchwarden　named　Hinkley；　having　been　appointed　cashier　thereof；　robbed　the　Penstock　Imperial　Bank　of　1；000；000　pounds　in　bonds；　and；　fleeing　to　London；　actually　joined　the　detective　force　at　Scotland　Yard；　and　was　detailed　to　find　himself；　which　of　course　he　never　did；　nor　would　he　ever　have　been　found　had　he　not　crossed　my　path。〃

Hawkshaw　gazed　mournfully　off　into　space；　and　Le　Coq　muttered　profane　words　under　his　breath。

〃We're　not　in　the　same　class　with　this　fellow；　Hawkshaw；〃　said　Le　Coq。　　〃You　could　tap　your　forehead　knowingly　eight　hours　a　day　through　all　eternity　with　a　sledge…hammer　without　loosening　an　idea　like　that。〃

〃Nevertheless　I'll　confound　him　yet；〃　growled　the　jealous　detective。　〃I　shall　myself　go　to　London；　and；　disguised　as　Captain　Kidd；　will　lead　this　visionary　on　until　he　comes　there　to　arrest　me；　and　when　these　club　members　discover　that　it　is　Hawkshaw　and　not　Kidd　he　has　run　to　earth；　we'll　have　a　great　laugh　on　Sherlock　Holmes。〃

〃I　am　anxious　to　hear　how　you　solved　the　bond…robbery　mystery；〃　said　Socrates；　wrapping　his　toga　closely　about　him　and　settling　back　against　one　of　the　spiles　of　the　wharf。

〃So　are　we　all；〃　said　Sir　Walter。　　〃But　meantime　the　House…boat　is　getting　farther　away。〃

〃Not　unless　she's　sailing　backwards；〃　sneered　Noah；　who　was　still　nursing　his　resentment　against　Sir　Christopher　Wren　for　his　reflections　upon　the　speed　of　the　Ark

〃What's　the　hurry？〃　asked　Socrates。　　〃I　believe　in　making　haste　slowly；　and　on　the　admission　of　our　two　eminent　naval　architects；　Sir　Christopher　and　Noah；　neither　of　their　vessels　can　travel　more　than　a　mile　a　week；　and　if　we　charter　the　Flying　Dutchman　to　go　in　pursuit　of　her　we　can　catch　her　before　she　gets　out　of　the　Styx　into　the　Atlantic。〃

〃Jonah　might　lend　us　his　whale；　if　the　beast　is　in　commission；〃　suggested　Munchausen；　dryly。　　〃I　for　one　would　rather　take　a　state…　room　in　Jonah's　whale　than　go　aboard　the　Flying　Dutchman　again。　　I　made　one　trip　on　the　Dutchman；　and　she's　worse　than　a　dory　for　comfort；　furtherI　don't　see　what　good　it　would　do　us　to　charter　a　boat　that　can't　land　oftener　than　once　in　seven　years；　and　spends　most　of　her　time　trying　to　double　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope。〃

〃My　whale　is　in　commission；〃　said　Jonah；　with　dignity。　　〃But　Baron　Munchausen　need　not　consider　the　question　of　taking　a　state…room　aboard　of　her。　　She　doesn't　carry　second…class　passengers。　　And　if　I　took　any　stock　in　the　idea　of　a　trip　on　the　Flying　Dutchman　amounting　to　a　seven　years'　exile；　I　would　cheerfully　pay　the　Baron's　expenses　for　a　round　trip。〃

〃We　are　losing　time；　gentlemen；〃　suggested　Sherlock　Holmes。　　〃This　is　a　moment；　I　think；　when　you　should　lay　aside　personal　differences　and　personal　preferences　for　immediate　action。　　I　have　examined　the　wake　of　the　House…boat；　and　I　judge　from　the　condition　of　what；　for　want　of　a　better　term；　I　may　call　the　suds；　when　she　left　us　the　House…　boat　was　making　ten　knots　a　day。　　Almost　any　craft　we　can　find　suitably　manned　ought　to　be　able　to　do　better　than　that；　and　if　you　could　summon　Charon　and　ascertain　what　boats　he　has　at　hand；　it　would　be　for　the　good　of　all　concerned。〃

〃That's　a　good　plan；〃　said　Johnson。　　〃Boswell；　see　if　you　can　find　Charon。〃

〃I　am　here　already；　sir；〃　returned　the　ferryman；　rising。　　〃Most　of　my　boats　have　gone　into　winter　quarters；　your　Honor。　　The　Mayflower　went　into　dry　dock　last　week　to　be　calked　up；　the　Pinta　and　the　Santa　Maria　are　slow　and　cranky；　the　Monitor　and　the　Merrimac　I　haven't　really　had　time　to　patch　up；　and　the　Valkyrie　is　two　months　overdue。　I　cannot　make　up　my　mind　whether　she　is　lost　or　kept　back　by　excursion　steamers。　　Hence　I　really　don't　know　what　I　can　lend　you。　Any　of　these　boat　I　have　named　you　could　have　had　for　nothing；　but　my　others　are　actively　employed；　and　I　couldn't　let　them　go　without　a　serious　interference　with　my　business。〃

The　old　man　blinked　sorrowfully　across　the　waters　at　the　opposite　shore。　　It　was　quite　evident　that　he　realized　what　a　dreadful　expense　the　club　was　about　to　be　put　to；　and　while　of　course　there　would　be　profit　in　it　for　him；　he　was　sincerely　sorry　for　them。

〃I　repeat；〃　he　added；　〃those　boats　you　could　have　had　for　nothing；　but　the　others　I'd　have　to　charge　you　for；　though　of　course　I'll　give　you　a　discount。〃

And　he　blinked　again；　as　he　meditated　upon　whether　that　discount　should　be　an　eighth　or　one…quarter　of　one　per　cent。

〃The　Flying　Dutchman；〃　he　pursued；　〃ain't　no　good　f