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  〃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 horrible 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 tonight 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 tell 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?〃

  〃No; sir; I do not!〃

  〃You!〃

  〃Me!〃

  〃Yes; sir; you! You are all here… every action of your vile and

dangerous life。〃

  〃Damn you; Holmes!〃 cried the Count with blazing eyes。 〃There are

limits to my patience!〃

  〃It's all here; Count。 The real facts as to the death of old Mrs。

Harold; who left you the Blymer estate; which you so rapidly gambled

away。〃

  〃You are dreaming!〃

  〃And the complete life history of Miss Minnie Warrender。〃

  〃Tut! You will make nothing of that!〃

  〃Plenty more here; Count。 Here is the robbery in the train de…luxe

to the Riviera on February 13; 1892。 Here is the forged check in the

same year on the Credit Lyonnais。〃

  〃No; you're wrong there。〃

  〃Then I am right on the others! Now; Count; you are a card…player。

When the other fellow has all the trumps; it saves time to throw

down your hand。〃

  〃What has all this talk to do with the jewel of which you spoke?〃

  〃Gently; Count。 Restrain that eager mind! Let me get to the points

in my own humdrum fashion。 I have all this against you; but; above

all; I have a clear case against both you and your fighting bully in

the case of the Crown diamond。〃

  〃Indeed!〃

  〃I have the cabman who took you to Whitehall and the cabman who

brought you away。 I have the commissionaire who saw you near the case。

I have Ikey Sanders; who refused to cut it up for you。 Ikey has

peached; and the game is up。〃

  The veins stood out on the Count's forehead。 His dark; hairy hands

were clenched in a convulsion of restrained emotion。 He tried to

speak; but the words would not shape themselves。

  〃That's the hand I play from;〃 said Holmes。 〃I put it all on the

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。 You are

going to be locked up for twenty years。 So is Sam Merton。 What good

are you going to get out of your diamond? None in the world。 But if

you hand it over… well; I'll compound a felony。 We don't want you or

Sam。 We want the stone。 Give that up; and so far as I am concerned you

can go free so long as you behave yourself in the future。 If you

make another slip… well; it will be the last。 But thi

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