the adventure of the mazarin stone-第1节
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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAZARIN STONE
by Sir 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 a mere 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 a parting
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…Italian; 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 banging 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 shoul