His Last Bow* by Arthur Conan Doyle
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began to pack very neatly and systematically the precious contents of_his safe . he had hardly got started with_the work, however, when his quick ears caught the sound of a distant car . instantly he_gave an exclamation of satisfaction, strapped up the valise, shut the safe, locked it, and hurried out on to_the terrace . he_was just in_time to_see the lights of a small car come to a halt at_the gate .a passenger sprang out of it and advanced swiftly towards him, while the chauffeur, a heavily built, elderly man with a gray moustache, settled down like one who resigns himself to a long vigil .

" well ? " asked Von Bork eagerly, running forward to meet his visitor .

for answer the man waved a small brown- paper parcel triumphantly above his head .

" you_can_give me the glad hand to- night, mister," he cried ."I'm bringing home the bacon at last ."

" the signals ? "

" same as I_said in my cable . every last one_of_them, semaphore, lamp code, Marconi- a copy, mind you, not the original . that was too dangerous . but it's the real goods, and you_can lay to_that ." he slapped the German upon_the shoulder with a rough familiarity from_which the other winced .

" come in," he_said ."I'm all alone in_the house . i_was only waiting for_this . of_course a copy is better than_the original . if an original were missing they_would change the whole thing . you_think it's all safe about_the copy ? "

the Irish- American had entered the study and stretched his long limbs from_the armchair . he_was a tall, gaunt man of sixty, with clear- cut features and a small goatee beard which gave him a general resemblance to_the caricatures of uncle Sam .a half- smoked, sodden cigar hung from_the corner of_his mouth, and as he sat down he struck a match and relit it ."Making ready for a move ? " he remarked as he looked round him ." say, mister," he added, as his eyes fell upon_the safe from_which the curtain was now removed, " you don't tell me you keep your papers in_that ? "

" why_not ? "

"Gosh, in a wide- open contraption like that ! and_they reckon you to_be some spy . why, a Yankee crook would_be into that with a can- opener . if I'd known that any letter of_mine was goin' to lie loose in a thing like that I'd have_been a mug to write to_you at all ."

" it would puzzle any crook to force that safe," Von Bork answered ." you won't cut that metal with any tool ."

" but the lock ? "

" no, it's a double combination lock . you_know what that_is ? "

" search me," said the American .

" well, you_need a word as_well as a set of figures before_you_can get the lock to work ." he rose and showed a double-radiating disc round the keyhole ." this other one is for_the letters, the inner one for_the figures ."

" well, well, that's fine ."

" so it's not quite as simple as_you thought . it_was four years_ago that I had it made, and what do_you_think I chose for_the word and figures ? "

" it's beyond me ."

" well, I chose August for_the word, and 1914 for_the figures, and here we_are ."

the American's face showed his surprise and admiration .

" my, but that was smart ! you had it down to a fine thing ."

" yes, a few of us even then could_have guessed the date . here it_is, and I'm shutting down to- morrow morning ."

" well, I guess you'll have to fix me up also .I'm not staying in_this gol- darned country all on my lonesome . in a week or less, from what I_see, John bull will_be on_his hind legs and fair ramping .I'd rather watch him from over the water ."

" but you're an American citizen ? "

" well, so was jack James an American citizen, but he's doing time in Portland all the same . it cuts no ice with a British copper to_tell him you're an American citizen .' it's British law and order over here,' says he . by_the_way, mister, talking of jack James, it seems to_me you don't do much to_cover your men ."

" what do_you_mean ? " Von Bork asked sharply .

" well, you_are their employer, ain't you ? it's up to_you to_see that_they don't fall down . but they_do fall down, and when did you ever pick them up ? there's James-"

" it_was James's own fault . you_know that yourself . he_was too self- willed for_the job ."

"James was abonehead- I give_you that . then there_was Hollis ."

" the man was mad ."

" well, he went a bit woozy towards the end . it's enough to_make a man bughouse when he has_to play a part from morning to night with a hundred guys all ready to set the coppers wise to him . but now there_is Steiner-"

Von Bork started violently, and_his ruddy face turned a shade paler .

" what about Steiner ? "

" well, they've got him, that's all . they raided his store last night, and he and_his papers are all in Portsmouth jail . you'll go off and he, poor devil, will_have to stand the racket, and lucky if he gets off with_his life . that's why i_want to_get over the water as_soon_as you_do ."

Von Bork was a strong, self- contained man, but it_was easy to_see that_the news had shaken him .

" how could they_have got on to Steiner ? " he muttered ." that's the worst blow yet ."

" well, you nearly had a worse one, for I believe they_are_not far off me ."

" you don't mean that ! "

" sure thing . my landlady down Fratton way had some inquiries, and when I heard of it I guessed it_was time for_me to hustle . but what i_want to_know, mister, is how the coppers know these things ? Steiner is_the fifth man you've lost since I signed on with_you, and I_know the name of_the sixth if I don't get a move on . how do_you explain it, and ain't you ashamed to_see your men go down like this ? "

Von Bork flushed crimson .

" how dare you speak in_such_a_way ! "

" if I didn't dare things, mister, I wouldn't be in your service . but I'll tell you straight what_is in my mind .I've heard that with_you German politicians when an agent has_done his work you_are_not sorry to_see him put away ."

Von Bork sprang to_his feet .

" do_you dare to suggest_that I_have_given away my own agents ! "

"I don't stand for_that, mister, but there's a stool pigeon or a cross somewhere, and it's up to_you to_find out where it_is .Anyhow I_am taking no more chances . it's me for little Holland, and_the sooner the better ."

Von Bork had mastered his anger .

" we_have_been allies too long to quarrel now at_the very hour of victory," he_said ." you've done splendid work and taken risks, and I_can't forget it . by all means go to Holland, and you_can_get a boat from Rotterdam to New_York . no other line will_be safe a week from now .I'll take that book and pack it with_the rest ."

the American held the small parcel in_his hand, but made no motion to_give it up .

" what about_the dough ? " he asked .

" the what ? "

" the boodle . the reward . the L500 . the gunner turned damned nasty at_the last, and I had to square him with an extra hundred dollars or it would_have_been nitsky for_you and me .'Nothin' doin' ! ' says he, and he meant it, too, but the last hundred did it . it's cost me two hundred pound from first to last, so it isn't likely I'd give it up without gettin' my wad ."

Von Bork smiled with some bitterness ." you don't seem to_have a very high opinion of_my honour," said he, " you_want the money before_you give up the book ."

" well, mister, it_is a business proposition ."

" all right . have your way ." he sat down at_the table and scribbled a check, which he tore from_the book, but he refrained from handing it to_his companion ." after all, since we_are to_be on_such terms, Mr Altamont," said he, "I don't see why i_should trust you any more than you trust me . do_you understand ? " he added, looking back over his shoulder at_the American ." there's the check upon_the table .I claim the right to examine that parcel before_you pick the money up ."

the American passed it over without a word .Von Bork undid awinding of string and two wrappers of paper . then he sat gazing for a moment in silent amazement at a small blue book which lay before him . across the cover was printed in golden letters practical handbook of bee culture . only for_one instant did the master spy glare at_this strangely irrelevant inscription . the next he_was gripped at_the back of_his neck by a grasp of iron, and achloroformed sponge was held in front of_his writhing face .

" another glass, Watson ! " said Mr Sherlock Holmes as he extended the bottle of imperial Tokay .

the thickset chauffeur, who had seated himself by_the table, pushed forward his glass with some eagerness .

" it_is a good wine Holmes ."

"A remarkable wine, Watson . our friend upon_the sofa has assured me that_it_is from Franz Josef's special cellar at_the Schoenbrunn palace . might I trouble you to open the window, for chloroform vapour does_not help the palate ."

the safe was ajar, and Holmes standing in front of it_was removing dossier after dossier, swiftly examining each, and then packing it neatly in Von Bork's valise . the German lay upon_the sofa sleeping stertorously with a strap round his upper arms and another round his legs .

" we_need not hurry ourselves, Watson . we_are safe from interruption . would you mind touching the bell ? there_is no one in_the house except old Martha, who has played her part to admiration .I got her the situation here when first i_took the matter up .Ah, Martha, you_will_be_glad to hear that all is well ."

the pleasant old lady had appeared in_the doorway . she curtseyed with a smile to Mr Holmes, but glanced with some apprehension at_the figure upon_the sofa .

" it_is all right, Martha . he has_not_been hurt at all ."

"I'm glad of_that, Mr Holmes .According to_his lights he has_been a kind master . he_wanted me to_go with_his wife to Germany yesterday, but that_would hardly have suited your plans, would it, sir ? "

" no, indeed, Martha . so_long as_you were here i_was easy in my mind . we waited some_time for your signal to- night ."

" it was_the secretary, sir ."

" I_know . his car passed ours ."

" i_thought he_would never go . I_knew that_it would_not suit your plans, sir, to_find him here ."

" no, indeed . well, it only meant that we waited half an hour or so until I_saw your lamp go out and knew that_the coast was clear . you_can report to_me to- morrow in London, Martha, at Claridge's hotel ."

" very_good, sir ."

"I suppose you_have everything ready to leave ."

" yes, sir . he posted seven letters to- day . I_have the addresses as usual ."

" very_good, Martha . i_will look into them to- morrow . good- night . these papers," he continued as_the old lady vanished, " are_not of very great importance, for, of_course, the information which they represent has_been sent off long_ago to_the German government . these are the originals which could_not safely be got out_of_the country ."

" then they_are of no use ."

"I should_not go so_far as to_say that, Watson . they_will at_least show our people what_is known and what_is not . I_may say that a good_many_of_these papers have come through me, and I_need not add are thoroughly untrustworthy . it would brighten my declining years to_see a German cruiser navigating the Solent according to_the mine- field plans which I_have furnished . but you, Watson"- he stopped his work and took his old friend by_the shoulders- "I've hardly seen you in_the light yet . how have the years used you ? you look the same blithe boy as ever ."

" I_feel twenty years younger, Holmes . I_have seldom felt so happy as when I got your wire asking me to meet you at Harwich with_the car . but you, Holmes- you_have changed very little- save for_that horrible goatee ."

" these are the sacrifices one makes for_one's country, Watson," said Holmes, pulling at his little tuft ." to- morrow it_will_be but a dreadful memory . with my hair cut and a few other superficial changes I_shall no_doubt reappear at Claridge's to- morrow as i_was before this American stunt- I beg your pardon, Watson, my well of English seems_to_be permanently defiled- before this American job came my way .

" but you_have retired, Holmes . we heard of you as living the life of a hermit among your bees and your books in a small farm upon_the south Downs ."

" exactly, Watson . here_is_the fruit of_my leisured ease, the magnum opus of_my latter years ! " he picked up the volume from_the table and read out the whole title, practical handbook of bee culture, with some Observations upon_the segregation of_the queen ." alone I_did it . behold the fruit of pensive nights and laborious days when I watched the little working gangs as once I watched the criminal world of London ."

" but how did you get to work again ? "

"Ah, I_have often marvelled at it myself . the foreign minister alone I_could_have withstood, but when_the premier also deigned to visit my humble roof- ! the fact is, Watson, that_this gentleman upon_the sofa was a bit too good for_our people . he_was

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