the adventure of the mazarin stone-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
〃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