No. 8 The Adventure of the Six Napoleons by Arthur Conan Doyle
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up," said Lestrade .

Holmes pointed to_the street lamp above our heads .

" he could_see what he_was doing here and he_could_not there . that was his reason ."

" by Jove ! that's true," said the detective ." now that I come to_think of it, Dr .Barnicot's bust was broken not far from_his red lamp . well, Mr Holmes, what_are we to_do with_that fact ? "

" to remember it -- to docket it . we_may come on something later which will bear upon it . what steps do_you propose to_take now, Lestrade ? "

" the most practical way of getting at it, in my opinion, is to identify the dead man . there should_be no difficulty about_that . when we_have found who he_is and who his associates are, we_should_have a good start in learning what he_was doing in Pitt street last night, and who it_was who met him and killed him on_the doorstep of Mr Horace Harker .Don't you_think so ? "

" no_doubt; and yet it_is_not quite the way in_which i_should approach the case ."

" what would you_do, then ? "

"Oh, you_must not let me influence you in any_way ! I suggest_that you go on_your line and I on mine . we_can compare notes afterwards, and each will supplement the other ."

" very_good," said Lestrade .

" if_you_are going back to Pitt street you_might see Mr Horace Harker . tell him from me that I_have quite made up my mind, and that_it_is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Napoleonic delusions was in_his house last night . it_will_be useful for_his article ."

Lestrade stared .

" you don't seriously believe that ? "

Holmes smiled .

"Don't I ? well, perhaps I don't . but I_am_sure that_it_will interest Mr Horace Harker and_the subscribers of_the central press syndicate . now, Watson, i_think that we_shall find that we_have a long and rather complex day's work before_us . i_should_be glad, Lestrade, if_you_could make it convenient to meet us at baker street at six o'clock this evening . until then i_should like to_keep this photograph found in_the dead man's pocket . it_is possible that I_may_have to ask your company and assistance upon a small expedition which will_have be undertaken to- night, if_my chain of reasoning should prove to_be correct . until then, good-bye and good luck ! "

Sherlock Holmes and I walked together to_the high street, where he stopped at_the shop of Harding Brothers, whence the bust had_been purchased .a young assistant informed us that Mr Harding would_be absent until after noon, and_that he_was himself a newcomer who_could give_us no information .Holmes's face showed his disappointment and annoyance .

" well, well, we_can't expect to_have it all our own way, Watson," he_said, at last ." we_must come back in_the afternoon if Mr Harding will_not_be here until then . I_am, as_you_have no_doubt surmised, endeavouring to trace these busts to_their source, in_order to_find if_there_is not something peculiar which_may account for their remarkable fate . let_us_make for_Mr Morse Hudson, of_the Kennington road, and_see if he_can throw any light upon_the problem ."

a drive of an hour brought us to_the picture- dealer's establishment . he_was a small, stout man with a red face and a peppery manner .

" yes, sir . on my very counter, sir," said he ." what we pay rates and taxes for I don't know, when any ruffian can come in and break one's goods . yes, sir, it_was I who sold Dr .Barnicot his two statues . disgraceful, sir ! a nihilist plot, that's what I make it . no one but an anarchist would go about breaking statues . red republicans, that's what I call 'em . who did I get the statues from ? I don't see what that has_to do with it . well, if_you really want to_know, I got them from Gelder and Co ., in church street, Stepney . they_are a well- known house in_the trade, and have_been this twenty years . how_many had I ? three -- two and one are three -- two of Dr .Barnicot's and one smashed in broad daylight on my own counter . do I_know that photograph ? no, I don't . yes, I_do, though . why, it's Beppo . he_was a kind of Italian piece- work man, who_made himself useful in_the shop . he_could carve a bit and gild and frame, and do odd jobs . the fellow left me last week, and I've heard nothing of him since . no, I don't know where he_came from nor where he went to . I_have nothing against him while he_was here . he_was gone two days before_the bust was smashed ."

" well, that's all we_could reasonably expect to_get from Morse Hudson," said Holmes, as_we emerged from_the shop ." we_have this Beppo as a common factor, both in Kennington and in Kensington, so_that is worth aten- mile drive . now, Watson, let_us_make for Gelder and Co ., of Stepney, the source and origin of busts . I_shall_be surprised if_we don't get some help down there ."

in rapid succession we passed through_the fringe of fashionable London, hotel London, theatrical London, literary London, commercial London, and, finally, maritime London, till we came to a riverside city of a hundred thousand souls, where the tenement houses swelter and reek with_the outcasts of Europe . here, in a broad thoroughfare, once the abode of wealthy city merchants, we_found the sculpture works for_which we searched . outside was a considerable yard full of monumental masonry . inside was a large room in_which fifty workers were carving or moulding . the manager, a big blond German, received us civilly, and gave a clear answer to all Holmes's questions .a reference to_his books showed that hundreds of casts had_been taken from a marble copy of Devine's head of napoleon, but that_the three which had_been sent to Morse Hudson a year or so before had_been half of a batch of six, the other three being sent to Harding Brothers, of Kensington . there_was no reason why those six should_be different to any of_the other casts . he_could suggest no possible cause why anyone should wish to destroy them -- in_fact, he laughed at_the idea . their wholesale price was six shillings, but the retailer would get twelve or more . the cast was taken in two moulds from each side of_the face, and then these two profiles of plaster of Paris were joined together to make_the complete bust . the work was usually done by Italians in_the room we were in . when finished the busts were put on a table in_the passage to dry, and afterwards stored . that was all he_could tell us .

but the production of_the photograph had a remarkable effect upon_the manager . his face flushed with anger, and_his brows knotted over his blue Teutonic eyes .

"Ah, the rascal ! " he cried ." yes, indeed, I_know him very_well . this has always been a respectable establishment, and_the only time that we_have ever had the police in it_was over this very fellow . it_was more than a year ago now . he knifed another Italian in_the street, and then he_came to_the works with_the police on_his heels, and he_was taken here .Beppo was his name -- his second name I never knew . serve me right for engaging a man with_such a face . but he_was a good workman, one_of_the_best ."

" what did he get ? "

" the man lived and he got off with a year . I_have no_doubt he_is out now; but he has_not dared to show his nose here . we_have a cousin of_his here, and I dare say he_could tell you where he_is ."

" no, no," cried Holmes, " not a word to_the cousin -- not a word, I beg you . the matter is very_important, and_the farther I go with it the more important it seems to grow . when_you referred in your ledger to_the sale of_those casts I observed that_the date was June 3rd of last year . could you give_me the date when Beppo was arrested ? "

" I_could tell you roughly by_the pay- list," the manager answered ." yes," he continued, after some turning over of pages, " he_was paid last on may 20th ."

" thank_you," said Holmes ."I don't think that I_need intrude upon your time and patience any more ." with a last word of caution that he_should say nothing as_to our researches we turned our faces westward once more .

the afternoon was far advanced before we were able to snatch a hasty luncheon at a restaurant .anews- bill at_the entrance announced "Kensington outrage . murder by a madman," and_the contents of_the paper showed that Mr Horace Harker had got his account into print after all . two columns were occupied with a highly sensational and flowery rendering of_the whole incident .Holmes propped it against the cruet- stand and read it while he ate . once_or_twice he chuckled .

" this_is all right, Watson," said he ." listen to_this: ` it_is satisfactory to_know that there can_be no difference of opinion upon this_case, since Mr Lestrade, one_of_the_most experienced members of_the official force, and Mr Sherlock Holmes, the well- known consulting expert, have each come to_the conclusion that_the grotesque series of incidents, which_have ended in so tragic a fashion, arise from lunacy rather than from deliberate crime . no explanation save mental aberration can cover the facts .' the press, Watson, is a most valuable institution if_you only know how to use it . and now, if_you_have quite finished, we_will hark back to Kensington and_see what the manager of Harding Brothers has_to say to_the matter ."

the founder of_that great emporium proved to_be a brisk, crisp little person, very dapper and quick, with a clear head and a ready tongue .

" yes, sir, I_have already read the account in_the evening papers .Mr Horace Harker is a customer of ours . we supplied him with_the bust some months_ago . we ordered three busts of_that sort from Gelder and Co ., of Stepney . they_are all sold now . to_whom ? Oh, I dare say by consulting our sales book we_could very easily tell you . yes, we_have the entries here . one to Mr Harker, you_see, and one to Mr Josiah brown, of laburnum lodge, laburnum vale, Chiswick, and one to Mr Sandeford, of lower grove road, Reading . no, I_have never seen this face which you show me in_the photograph . you_would hardly forget it, would you, sir, for I've seldom seen an uglier . have we any Italians on_the staff ? yes, sir, we_have several among our workpeople and cleaners .I dare say they_might get a peep at_that sales book if_they wanted to . there_is no particular reason for keeping a watch upon that book . well, well, it's a very strange business, and I_hope_that you'll let me know if anything comes of your inquiries ."

Holmes had taken several notes during Mr Harding's evidence, and I could_see that he_was thoroughly satisfied by_the turn which affairs were taking . he_made no remark, however, save that, unless we hurried, we_should_be late for_our appointment with Lestrade . sure enough, when we reached baker street the detective was already there, and we_found him pacing up and down in a fever of impatience . his look of importance showed that his day's work had_not_been in vain .

" well ? " he asked ." what luck, Mr Holmes ? "

" we_have_had a very busy day, and not entirely a wasted one," my friend explained ." we_have seen both the retailers and also the wholesale manufacturers . I_can trace each of_the busts now from_the beginning ."

" the busts ! " cried Lestrade ." well, well, you_have your own methods, Mr Sherlock Holmes, and it_is_not for_me to_say a word against them, but i_think I_have_done a better day's work than you . I_have identified the dead man ."

" you don't say so ? "

" and found a cause for_the crime ."

" splendid ! "

" we_have an inspector who makes a specialty of saffron hill and_the Italian quarter . well, this dead man had some catholic emblem round his neck, and_that, along with_his colour, made me think he_was from_the south . inspector hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him . his name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples, and he_is one_of_the greatest cut-throats in London . he_is connected with_the Mafia, which, as_you_know, is a secret political society, enforcing its decrees by murder . now you_see how the affair begins to clear up . the other fellow is probably an Italian also, and a member of_the Mafia . he has broken the rules in some fashion .Pietro is set upon his track . probably the photograph we_found in_his pocket is_the man himself, so_that he_may not knife the wrong person . he dogs the fellow, he sees him enter a house, he waits outside for him, and in_the scuffle he receives his own death- wound . how is_that, Mr Sherlock Holmes ? "

Holmes clapped his hands approvingly .

" excellent, Lestrade, excellent ! " he cried ." but I didn't quite follow your explanation of_the destruction of_the busts ."

" the busts ! you never can get those busts out of your head . after all, that_is nothing; petty larceny, six months at_the most . it_is_the murder that we_are really investigating, and I tell you that I_am gathering all the threads into my hands ."

" and_the next stage ? "

" is a very simple one . I_shall go down with hill to_the Italian quarter, find the man whose photograph we_have got, and arrest him on_the charge of murder . will_you come with_us ? "

" i_think not .I fancy we_can attain our end in a simpler way . I_can't say for certain, because it all depends -- well, it all depends upon a factor which_is completely outside our control . but I_have great hopes -- in_fact, the betting is exactly two to one -- that if_you_will come with_us to- night I_shall_be_able to help_you to lay him by_the heels ."

" in_the Italian quarter ? "

" no; I fancy Chiswick is an address which_is more likely to_find him . if_you_will come with me to Chiswick to- night, Lestrade, I'll promise to_go to_the Italian quarter with_you to- morrow, and no harm will_be_done by_the delay . and now i_think that a few hours' sleep would do us all good, for I_do_not propose to leave before eleven o'clock, and it_is unlikely that we_shall_be back before morning . you'll dine with_us, Lestrade, and then you_are welcome to_the sofa until it_is time for_us to start . in_the meantime, Watson, i_should_be glad if_you_would ring for an express messenger, for I_have a letter to send, and it_is important that_it should go at once ."

Holmes spent the evening in rummaging among_the files of_the old daily papers with_which one_of_our lumber-rooms was packed . when at last he descended it_was with triumph in_his eyes, but he_said nothing to either of us as_to_the result of_his researches . for_my own part, I had followed step by step the methods by_which he had traced the various windings of_this complex case, and, though I_could_not yet perceive the goal which we_would reach, I understood clearly that Holmes expected this grotesque criminal to_make an attempt upon_the two remaining busts, one of_which, I remembered, was at Chiswick . no_doubt the object of_our journey was to catch him in_the very act, and I_could_not but admire the cunning with_which my friend had inserted a wrong clue in_the evening paper, so as to_give the fellow the idea that he_could continue his scheme with impunity . i_was not surprised when Holmes suggested that i_should take my revolver with me . he had himself picked up the loaded hunting- crop which_was his favourite weapon .

afour-wheeler was at_the door at eleven, and in_it we drove to a spot at_the other side of Hammersmith bridge . here the cabman was directed to wait .a short walk brought us to a secluded road fringed with pleasant houses, each standing in its own grounds . in_the light of a street lamp we

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