"You ! "

"Me ! "

"Yes, sir, you ! all here -- every action of yor vile and dangerous life "

"Damn you, Holmes ! " cried the Count with blazing eyes " limits to my patience ! "

"It's all here, Count The real facts death of old Mrs Harold, who left you the Blymer estate, which you so rapidly gambled away "

" dreaming ! "

" complete life history of Miss Minnie Warrender "

"Tut ! make nothing ! "

"Plenty more here, Count robbery train de-luxe Riviera on February 13, 1892 forged check same year Credit Lyonnais "

"No, you're wrong there "

"Then right others ! Now, Count, card-player other fellow has all the trumps, it saves time to throw down your hand "

"What has all this talk jewel you spoke ? "

"Gently, Count Restrain that eager mind ! Let me get points in my own humdrum fashion all this against you; but, above all, clear case against both you and your fighting bully case Crown diamond "

"Indeed ! "

" the cabman who took you to Whitehall cabman who brought you away the commissionaire who saw you near the case Ikey Sanders, who refused to cut it up Ikey has peached, game is up "

The veins stood out Count's forehead His dark, hairy hands were clenched in convulsion of restrained emotion He tried , but the words shape themselves

"That's the hand I play from," said Holmes "I put it all table But one card is missing It's the king of diamonds I don't know where the stone is "

"You never shall know "

"No ? Now, be reasonable, Count Consider the situation going locked up for twenty years So is Sam Merton What good going out of your diamond ? None But hand it over -- well, I'll compound felony We don't want you or Sam the stone Give that up, and as concerned go free behave yourself make another slip well, the last But my commission is the stone, not you "

"But if I refuse ? "

"Why, then -- alas ! -- it you and not the stone "

Billy had appeared in answer to ring

" , Count, your friend Sam conference After all, his interests represented Billy, large and ugly gentleman outside the front door Ask him up "

"If he won't come, sir ? "

"No violence, Billy Don't be rough tell him that Count Sylvius wants him certainly come "

" you going now ? " asked the Count as Billy disappeared

"My friend Watson was with me just now him that I had shark and gudgeon in my net; now drawing the net and up together "

The Count had risen chair, hand was behind his back Holmes held something half protruding pocket dressing-gown

"You won't die in your bed, Holmes "

" often had the same idea Does it matter ? Aher all, Count, your own exit is more likely perpendicular than horizontal But these anticipations future are morbid give ourselves unrestrained enjoyment present ? "

sudden wild-beast light sprang up dark, menacing eyes master criminal Holmes's figure seemed to grow taller as he grew tense and ready

" no use your fingering your revolver, my friend," in quiet voice " perfectly well that you dare not use it, even if I time to draw it Nasty, noisy things, revolvers, Count Better stick to air-guns Ah ! I hear the fairy footstep of your estimable partner Good day, Mr Merton Rather dull street, not ? "

The prize-fighter, heavily built young man with stupid, obstinate, slab-sided face, stood awkwardly door, looking about him with puzzled expression Holmes's debonair manner was new experience, and though he vaguely felt hostile, know how to counter it He turned more astute comrade for help

"What's the game now, Count ? What's this fellow want ? What's up ? " His voice was deep and raucous

The Count shrugged his shoulders, and Holmes who answered

"If put it in nutshell, Mr Merton, say all up "

The boxer still addressed his remarks associate

" cove trying funny, or what ? I'm not funny mood myself "

"No, I expect not," said Holmes " promise you that feel even less humorous evening advances Now, look here, Count Sylvius I'm busy man and 't waste time I'm going into that bedroom Pray make yourselves quite at home in my absence explain to your friend how the matter lies without the restraint presence try over the Hoffman 'Barcarole' upon my violin In five minutes return for your final answer You quite grasp the alternative, not ? Shall we take you, or shall the stone ? "

Holmes withdrew, picking up his violin corner as he passed later the long-drawn, wailing notes most haunting of tunes came faintly closed door bedroom

" it, then ? " asked Merton anxiously as his companion turned to him "Does he know stone ? "

" damned sight I'm not sure that he doesn't know all "

"Good Lord ! " The boxer's sallow face turned shade whiter

"Ikey Sanders has split on us "

"He has, has he ? I'll do him down thick 'un if I swing "

"That won't much We've got up our minds what "

"Half mo'," said the boxer, looking suspiciously bedroom door "He's leary cove that wants watching I suppose he's not listening ? "

"How can he be listening music going ? "

"That's right Maybe somebody's behind curtain Too many curtains room " As he looked round he suddenly saw first time the effigy window, and stood staring and pointing, too amazed for words

"Tut ! it's only dummy," said the Count

"A fake, ? Well, strike me ! Madame Tussaud ain't It's the living spit of him, gown and all But them curtains Count ! "

"Oh, confound the curtains ! wasting our time, and none lag us over this stone "

"The deuce ! "

"But he'll slip only tell him where the swag is "

"What ! Give it up ? Give up hundred thousand quid ? "

"It's one or the other "

Merton scratched his short-cropped pate

"He's alone in there Let's do him in If his light were out nothing to fear "

The Count shook his head

" armed and ready shot him hardly get away in place like this Besides, it's likely enough police know whatever evidence he has got Hallo ! What ? "

vague sound which seemed window Both men sprang round, but all was quiet Save one strange figure seated chair, the room was certainly empty

"Something street," said Merton "Now look here, guv'nor, you've got the brains Surely think way out of it If slugging is no use then it's up "