by Arthur Conan Doyle

pleasant to Dr Watson himself once more untidy room first floor in Baker Street which the starting-point of remarkable adventures He looked round him scientific charts wall, the acid-charred bench of chemicals, the violin-case leaning corner, the coal-scuttle, which contained of old the pipes and tobacco Finally, his eyes came round fresh and smiling face of Billy, the young but very wise and tactful page, who had helped little up the gap of loneliness and isolation which surrounded the saturnine figure great detective

"It all seems very unchanged, Billy You don't change, either the same said of him ? "

Billy glanced with some solicitude closed door bedroom

" he's in bed and asleep,"

seven evening of lovely summer's day, but Dr Watson was sufficiently familiar irregularity old friend's hours no surprise idea

"That means case, I suppose ? "

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

"Yes, Billy, "

"He's following someone Yesterday out as workman looking for job To-day an old woman Fairly took me in, , and I ought his ways by now " Billy pointed with grin to very baggy parasol which leaned against the sofa "That's part old woman's outfit,"

"But 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 Crown diamond "

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

"Yes, sir get it back, sir Why, we had the Prime Minister Home Secretary both sitting very sofa Mr Holmes was very nice He soon put them at their ease and promised do all Then Lord Cantlemere --"

"Ah ! "

"Yes, sir, what that means He's stiff'un, sir, if say so get along Prime Minister, and I've nothing against the Home Secretary, who seemed civil, obliging sort of man, but 't stand his Lordship Neither can Mr Holmes, sir , he don't believe in Mr Holmes and against employing him He'd rather he failed "

"And Mr Holmes knows it ? "

" Mr Holmes always knows whatever "

"Well, we'll hope he won't fail Lord Cantlemere confounded But , Billy, what curtain for across the window ? "

" Mr Holmes had it put up there three We've got something funny behind it "

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

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

"We put it at different angles, so may seem more lifelike I wouldn't dare touch it blind down But when it's up you this from across the way "

"We used something sort once before "

"Before ," said Billy He drew the window curtains apart and looked out street " folk who watch us from over yonder fellow now window Have look "

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

" do, Billy," said he "You were in danger of your life then, my boy, and 't do without you just yet Well, Watson, good you in your old quarters once again You come at critical moment "

"So I gather "

" go, Billy That boy is problem, Watson How far am I justified in allowing him in danger ? "

"Danger of what, Holmes ? "

"Of sudden death I'm expecting something this evening "

"Expecting what ? "

" murdered, Watson "

"No, no, joking, Holmes ! "

"Even my limited sense of humour could evolve better joke than that But comfortable meantime, may we not ? Is alcohol permitted ? The gasogene and cigars are old place Let me see you once more customary armchair , , learned to despise my pipe and my lamentable tobacco ? It place of food these days "

"But eat ? "

"Because the faculties become refined starve them Why, surely, as doctor, my dear Watson, admit that what your digestion gains way of blood supply is lost brain brain, Watson The rest of me is mere appendix Therefore, brain consider "

"But this danger, Holmes ? "

"Ah yes, it should come off, it would perhaps be that burden your memory name and address murderer it to Scotland Yard, with my love and parting blessing Sylvius 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 only too well the immense risks taken by Holmes and was well aware that what was more likely under-statement than exaggeration Watson was always the man of action, and he rose occasion

"Count me in, Holmes nothing for "

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

"Not such important ones But can't this fellow arrested ? "

"Yes, Watson, 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 my fish But got the stone the use of taking them ? world better place by laying them heels But what out for It's the stone "

"And Count Sylvius one of your fish ? "

"Yes, and he's shark He bites The other is Sam Merton the boxer Not bad fellow, Sam, but the Count has used him Sam's not shark great big silly bull-headed gudgeon But flopping about in my net all the same "

"Where Count Sylvius ? "

"I've been at his very elbow all the morning You've seen me as an old lady, Watson never more convincing He actually picked up my parasol once 'By your leave, madame,' said he -- half-ltalian, , and Southern graces of manner when mood, but devil incarnate other mood Life is full of whimsical happenings, Watson "

"It tragedy "

"Well, perhaps it might I followed him to old Straubenzee's workshop Minories Straubenzee made the air-gun -- very pretty bit of work, as I understand, and I rather fancy opposite window present moment seen the dummy ? , Billy showed it Well, it may get bullet beautiful head at any moment Ah, Billy, it ? "