No. 3 The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone by Arthur Conan Doyle
Section [1 | 2]
the adventure of_the Mazarin stone

by Arthur Conan Doyle

it_was pleasant to Dr .Watson to_find himself once more in_the untidy room of_the first floor in baker street which had_been the starting- point of so_many remarkable adventures . he looked round him at_the scientific charts upon_the wall, the acid- charred bench of chemicals, the violin- case leaning in_the corner, the coal- scuttle, which contained of old the pipes and tobacco . finally, his eyes came round to_the fresh and smiling face of Billy, the young but very wise and tactful page, who had helped a little to_fill up the gap of loneliness and isolation which surrounded the saturnine figure of_the great detective .

" it all seems very unchanged, Billy . you don't change, either . I_hope the same can_be said of him ? "

Billy glanced with some solicitude at_the closed door of_the bedroom .

" i_think he's in bed and asleep," he_said .

it_was seven in_the evening of a lovely summer's day, but Dr .Watson was sufficiently familiar with_the irregularity of_his old friend's hours to_feel no surprise at_the idea .

" that means a case, I suppose ? "

" yes, sir, he_is very hard at it just now .I'm frightened for_his health . he gets paler and thinner, and he eats nothing .' when will_you be pleased to dine, Mr Holmes ? ' Mrs Hudson asked .'Seven-thirty, the day after to- morrow,' said he . you_know his way when he_is keen on a case ."

" yes, Billy, I_know ."

" he's following someone . yesterday he_was out as a workman looking for a job . to- day he_was an old woman . fairly took me in, he_did, and I ought to_know his ways by now ." Billy pointed with a grin to a very baggy parasol which leaned against the sofa ." that's part of_the old woman's outfit," he_said .

" but what_is it all about, Billy ? "

Billy sank his voice, as one who discusses great secrets of state ."I don't mind telling you, sir, but it should go no farther . it's this_case of_the crown diamond ."

" what -- the hundred- thousand- pound burglary ? "

" yes, sir . they_must get it back, sir . why, we had the prime minister and_the home secretary both sitting on_that very sofa .Mr Holmes was very nice to_them . he soon put them at their ease and promised he_would do all he_could . then there_is lord Cantlemere --"

"Ah ! "

" yes, sir, you_know what that means . he's a stiff'un, sir, if I_may say so . I_can get along with_the prime minister, and I've nothing against the home secretary, who seemed a civil, obliging sort of man, but I_can't stand his lordship . neither can Mr Holmes, sir . you_see, he don't believe in Mr Holmes and he_was against employing him . he'd rather he failed ."

" and Mr Holmes knows it ? "

" Mr Holmes always knows whatever there_is to_know ."

" well, we'll hope he won't fail and_that lord Cantlemere will_be confounded . but I_say, Billy, what_is that curtain for across the window ? "

" Mr Holmes had it put up there three days_ago . we've got something funny behind it ."

Billy advanced and drew away the drapery which screened the alcove of_the bow window .

Dr .Watson could_not restrain a cry of amazement . there_was a facsimile of_his old friend, dressing- gown and all, the face turned three-quarters towards the window and downward, as_though reading an invisible book, while the body was sunk deep in an armchair .Billy detached the head and held it in_the air .

" we put it at different angles, so_that it may seem more lifelike .I wouldn't dare touch it if_the blind were_not down . but when it's up you_can see this from across the way ."

" we used something of_the sort once before ."

" before my_time," said Billy . he drew the window curtains apart and looked out into_the street ." there_are folk who watch us from over yonder . I_can_see a fellow now at_the window . have a look for_yourself ."

Watson had taken a step forward when_the bedroom door opened, and_the long, thin form of Holmes emerged, his face pale and drawn, but his step and bearing as active as ever . with a single spring he_was at_the window, and had drawn the blind once more .

" that_will do, Billy," said he ." you were in danger of your life then, my boy, and I_can't do without you just yet . well, Watson, it_is good to_see you in your old quarters once again . you come at a critical moment ."

" so I gather ."

" you_can go, Billy . that boy is a problem, Watson . how far am I justified in allowing him to_be in danger ? "

" danger of what, Holmes ? "

" of sudden death .I'm expecting something this evening ."

"Expecting what ? "

" to_be murdered, Watson ."

" no, no, you_are joking, Holmes ! "

" even my limited sense of humour could evolve a better joke than that . but we_may_be comfortable in_the meantime, may we not ? is alcohol permitted ? the gasogene and cigars are in_the old place . let me see you once more in_the customary armchair . you_have_not, I_hope, learned to despise my pipe and my lamentable tobacco ? it has_to take_the place of food these days ."

" but why_not eat ? "

" because the faculties become refined when_you starve them . why, surely, as a doctor, my dear Watson, you_must admit that what your digestion gains in_the way of blood supply is so_much lost to_the brain . I_am a brain, Watson . the rest of me is amere appendix . therefore, it_is_the brain I_must consider ."

" but this danger, Holmes ? "

"Ah . yes, in_case it should come off, it would perhaps be as_well that you_should burden your memory with_the name and address of_the murderer . you_can_give it to Scotland yard, with my love and aparting blessing .Sylvius is_the name -- count Negretto Sylvius . write it down, man, write it down ! 136 Moorside Gardens, N .W . got it ? "

Watson's honest face was twitching with anxiety . he_knew only too well the immense risks taken by Holmes and was well aware that what he_said was more likely to_be under- statement than exaggeration .Watson was always the man of action, and he rose to_the occasion .

" count me in, Holmes . I_have nothing to_do for a day_or_two ."

" your morals don't improve, Watson . you_have added fibbing to your other vices . you bear every sign of_the busy medical man, with calls on him every hour ."

" not such important ones . but can't you_have this fellow arrested ? "

" yes, Watson, I_could . that's what worries him so ."

" but why don't you ? "

" because I don't know where the diamond is ."

"Ah ! Billy told me -- the missing crown jewel ! "

" yes, the great yellow Mazarin stone .I've cast my net and I_have my fish . but I_have_not got the stone . what_is the use of taking them ? we_can make_the world a better place by laying them by_the heels . but that_is_not what I_am out for . it's the stone i_want ."

" and is_this count Sylvius one of your fish ? "

" yes, and he's a shark . he bites . the other is Sam Merton the boxer . not a bad fellow, Sam, but the count has used him .Sam's not a shark . he_is a great big silly bull- headed gudgeon . but he_is flopping about in my net all the same ."

" where is_this count Sylvius ? "

"I've been at his very elbow all the morning . you've seen me as an old lady, Watson . i_was never more convincing . he actually picked up my parasol for_me once .' by your leave, madame,' said he -- half-ltalian, you_know, and with_the southern graces of manner when in_the mood, but a devil incarnate in_the other mood . life is full of whimsical happenings, Watson ."

" it might_have_been tragedy ."

" well, perhaps it might .I followed him to old Straubenzee's workshop in_the Minories .Straubenzee made the air- gun -- a very pretty bit of work, as I understand, and I rather fancy it_is in_the opposite window at_the present moment . have_you seen the dummy ? of_course, Billy showed it to_you . well, it may get a bullet through_its beautiful head at any moment .Ah, Billy, what_is it ? "

the boy had reappeared in_the room with a card upon a tray .Holmes glanced at it with raised eyebrows and an amused smile .

" the man himself .I had hardly expected this . grasp the nettle, Watson ! a man of nerve . possibly you_have heard of_his reputation as a shooter of big game . it would indeed be a triumphant ending to_his excellent sporting record if he added me to_his bag . this_is a proof that he feels my toe very close behind his heel ."

" send for_the police ."

"I probably shall . but not just yet . would you glance carefully out_of_the window, Watson, and_see if anyone is hanging about in_the street ? "

Watson looked warily round the edge of_the curtain .

" yes, there_is one rough fellow near the door ."

" that_will_be Sam Merton -- the faithful but rather fatuous Sam . where is_this gentleman, Billy ? "

" in_the waiting- room, sir ."

" show him up when I ring ."

" yes, sir ."

" if I_am not in_the room, show him in all the same ."

" yes, sir ."

Watson waited until the door was closed, and then he turned earnestly to_his companion .

" look here, Holmes, this_is simply impossible . this_is a desperate man, who sticks at nothing . he_may_have come to murder you ."

"I should_not_be surprised ."

"I insist upon staying with_you ."

" you_would_be horribly in_the way ."

" in_his way ? "

" no, my dear fellow -- in my way ."

" well, I_can't possibly leave you ."

" yes, you_can, Watson . and you_will, for you_have never failed to play the game . I_am_sure you_will play it to_the end . this man has_come for_his own purpose, but he_may stay for mine ."

Holmes took out his notebook and scribbled a few lines ." take a cab to Scotland yard and give this to Youghal of_the C .I .D . come back with_the police . the fellow's arrest will follow ."

"I'll do_that with joy .

" before_you return I_may_have just time enough to_find out where the stone is ." he touched the bell ." i_think we_will go out through_the bedroom . this second exit is exceedingly useful .I rather want_to_see my shark without his seeing me, and I_have, as_you_will remember, my own way of doing it ."

it_was, therefore, an empty room into which Billy, a minute later, ushered count Sylvius . the famous game- shot, sportsman, and man- about- town was a big, swarthy fellow, with a formidable dark moustache shading a cruel, thin-lipped mouth, and surmounted by a long, curved nose like the beak of an eagle . he_was well dressed, but his brilliant necktie, shining pin, and glittering rings were flamboyant in their effect . as_the door closed behind him he looked round him with fierce, startled eyes, like one who suspects a trap at every turn . then he_gave a violent start as he_saw the impassive head and_the collar of_the dressing- gown which projected above the armchair in_the window . at first his expression was one of pure amazement . then the light of a horrible hope gleamed in_his dark, murderous eyes . he_took one more glance round to_see that there were no witnesses, and then, on tiptoe, his thick stick half raised, he approached the silent figure . he_was crouching for_his final spring 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 humble 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 to- night 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 lell 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 ? "

"

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