His Last Bow* by Arthur Conan Doyle
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he_was in a class by himself . things were going wrong, and no one could understand why they were going wrong .Agents were suspected or even caught, but there_was evidence of some strong and secret central force . it_was absolutely necessary to expose it . strong pressure was brought upon me to look into_the matter . it has cost me two years, Watson, but they have_not_been devoid of excitement . when I_say that I started my pilgrimage at Chicago, graduated in an Irish secret society at buffalo, gave serious trouble to_the constabulary at Skibbareen, and so eventually caught the eye of a subordinate agent of Von Bork, who recommended me as a likely man, you_will realize_that the matter was complex . since then I_have_been honoured by his confidence, which_has not prevented most of_his plans going subtly wrong and five of_his best agents being in prison ."I watched them, Watson, and I picked them as_they ripened . well, sir, I_hope_that you_are none the worse ! "

the last remark was addressed to Von Bork himself, who after much gasping and blinking had lain quietly listening to Holmes's statement . he broke out now into a furious stream of German invective, his face convulsed with passion .Holmes continued his swift investigation of documents while his prisoner cursed and swore .

" though unmusical, German is_the most expressive of all languages," he observed when Von Bork had stopped from pure exhaustion ."Hullo ! Hullo ! " he added as he looked hard at_the corner of atracing before putting it in_the box ." this should put another bird in_the cage .I had no idea that_the paymaster was such a rascal, though I_have long had an eye upon him .Mister Von Bork, you_have a great deal to answer for ."

the prisoner had raised himself with some difficulty upon_the sofa and was staring with a strange mixture of amazement and hatred at his captor .

" I_shall get level with_you, Altamont," he_said, speaking with slow deliberation ." if_it takes me all my life I_shall get level with_you ! "

" the old sweet song," said Holmes ." how often have I heard it in days gone by . it_was afavourite ditty of_the late lamented professor Moriarty . colonel Sebastian Moran has also been known to warble it . and yet I live and keep bees upon_the south Downs ."

" curse you, you double traitor ! " cried the German, straining against his bonds and glaring murder from_his furious eyes .

" no, no, it_is_not so bad as_that," said Holmes, smiling ." as my speech surely shows you, Mr Altamont of Chicago had no existence in_fact .I used him and he_is gone ."

" then who_are you ? "

" it_is really immaterial who I_am, but since_the matter seems to interest you, Mr Von Bork, I_may say that_this_is not my first acquaintance with_the members of your family . I_have_done a good_deal of business in Germany in_the_past and my name is probably familiar to_you ."

" i_would wish to_know it," said the Prussian grimly .

" it_was I who brought about_the separation between Irene Adler and_the late king of Bohemia when your cousin Heinrich was_the imperial envoy . it_was I also who saved from murder, by_the nihilist Klopman, count Von und Zu Grafenstein, who was your mother's elder brother . it_was I-"

Von Bork sat up in amazement .

" there_is only_one man," he cried .

" exactly," said Holmes .

Von Bork groaned and sank back on_the sofa ." and most of_that information came through you," he cried ." what_is it worth ? what have I done ? it_is my ruin forever ! "

" it_is certainly a little untrustworthy," said Holmes ." it_will require some checking and you_have little time to_check it . your admiral may find the new guns rather larger than he expects, and_the cruisers perhaps a trifle faster ."

Von Bork clutched at his own throat in despair .

" there_are a good many_other points of detail which will, no_doubt, come to light in good_time . but you_have one quality which_is very rare in a German, Mr Von Bork: you_are a sportsman and you_will bear me no ill- will when_you realize_that you, who_have outwitted so many_other people, have at last been outwitted yourself . after all, you have_done your best for your country, and I_have_done my best for mine, and what could_be more natural ? besides," he added, not unkindly, as he laid his hand upon_the shoulder of_the prostrate man, " it_is better than to_fall before some more ignoble foe . these papers are now ready, Watson . if_you_will help me with_our prisoner, i_think that we_may get started for London at once ."

it_was no easy task to move Von Bork, for he_was a strong and a desperate man . finally, holding either arm, the two friends walked him very slowly down the garden walk which he had trod with_such proud confidence when he received the congratulations of_the famous diplomatist only a few hours before . after a short, final struggle he_was hoisted, still hound hand and foot, into_the spare seat of_the little car . his precious valise was wedged in beside him .

"I trust that you_are as comfortable as circumstances permit," said Holmes when_the final arrangements were made ." should I be guilty of a liberty if I lit a cigar and placed it between your lips ? "

but all amenities were wasted upon_the angry German .

"I suppose you realize, Mr Sherlock Holmes," said he, " that if your government bears you out in_this treatment it becomes an act of war ."

" what about_your government and all this treatment ? " said Holmes, tapping the valise .

" you_are a private individual . you_have no warrant for_my arrest . the whole proceeding is absolutely illegal and outrageous ."

" absolutely," said Holmes .

"Kidnapping a German subject ."

" and stealing his private papers ."

" well, you realize your position, you and your accomplice here . if I were to shout for help as_we pass through_the village-"

" my dear_Sir, if you_did anything so foolish you_would probably enlarge the two limited titles of_our village inns by giving us ' the Dangling Prussian' as a signpost . the Englishman is a patient creature, but at present his temper is a little inflamed, and it would_be as_well not to_try him too far . no, Mr Von Bork, you_will go with_us in a quiet, sensible fashion to Scotland yard, whence you_can send for your friend, baron Von Herling, and_see if even now you_may not fill that place which he has reserved for_you in_the ambassadorial suite . as to_you, Watson, you_are joining us with your old service, as I understand, so London won't be out of your way . stand with me here upon_the terrace, for_it may_be the last quiet talk that we_shall ever have ."

the two friends chatted in intimate converse for_a_few_minutes, recalling once again the days of_the past, while their prisoner vainly wriggled to undo the bonds that held him . as_they turned to_the car Holmes pointed back to_the moonlit sea and shook a thoughtful head .

" there's an east wind coming, Watson ."

" i_think not, Holmes . it_is very warm ."

" good old Watson ! you_are the one fixed point in achanging age . there's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet . it_will_be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good_many of us may wither before its blast . but it's god's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in_the sunshine when_the storm has cleared . start her up, Watson, for_it's time that we were on_our way . I_have a check for five hundred pounds which should_be cashed early, for_the drawer is quite capable of stopping it if he_can ."

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