the adventure of the mazarin stone-第4节

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　　There　was　an　inrush　of　police；　the　handcuffs　clicked　and　the

criminals　were　led　to　the　waiting　cab。　Watson　lingered　with　Holmes；

congratulating　him　upon　this　fresh　leaf　added　to　his　laurels。　Once

more　their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　imperturbable　Billy

with　his　card…tray。

　　〃Lord　Cantlemere；　sir。〃

　　〃Show　him　up；　Billy。　This　is　the　eminent　peer　who　represents　the

very　highest　interests；〃　said　Holmes。　〃He　is　an　excellent　and　loyal

person；　but　rather　of　the　old　regime。　Shall　we　make　him　unbend？　Dare

we　venture　upon　a　slight　liberty？　He　knows；　we　may　conjecture；　nothing

of　what　has　occurred。〃

　　The　door　opened　to　admit　a　thin；　austere　figure　with　a　hatchet

face　and　drooping　mid…Victorian　whiskers　of　a　glossy　blackness　which

hardly　corresponded　with　the　rounded　shoulders　and　feeble　gait。　Holmes

advanced　affably；　and　shook　an　unresponsive　hand。

　　〃How　do　you　do；　Lord　Cantlemere？　It　is　chilly　for　the　time　of

year；　but　rather　warm　indoors。　May　I　take　your　overcoat？〃

　　〃No；　I　thank　you；　I　will　not　take　it　off。〃

　　Holmes　laid　his　hand　insistently　upon　the　sleeve。

　　〃Pray　allow　me！　My　friend　Dr。　Watson　would　assure　you　that　these

changes　of　temperature　are　most　insidious。〃

　　His　Lordship　shook　himself　free　with　some　impatience。

　　〃I　am　quite　comfortable；　sir。　I　have　no　need　to　stay。　I　have

simply　looked　in　to　know　how　your　self…appointed　task　was

progressing。〃

　　〃It　is　difficult…　very　difficult。〃

　　〃I　feared　that　you　would　find　it　so。〃

　　There　was　a　distinct　sneer　in　the　old　courtier's　words　and　manner。

　　〃Every　man　finds　his　limitations；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　at　least　it

cures　us　of　the　weakness　of　self…satisfaction。〃

　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　have　been　much　perplexed。〃

　　〃No　doubt。〃

　　〃Especially　upon　one　point。　Possibly　you　could　help　me　upon　it？〃

　　〃You　apply　for　my　advice　rather　late　in　the　day。　I　thought　that

you　had　your　own　all…sufficient　methods。　Still；　I　am　ready　to　help

you。〃

　　〃You　see；　Lord　Cantlemere；　we　can　no　doubt　frame　a　case　against

the　actual　thieves。〃

　　〃When　you　have　caught　them。〃

　　〃Exactly。　But　the　question　is…　how　shall　we　proceed　against　the

receiver？〃

　　〃Is　this　not　rather　premature？〃

　　〃It　is　as　well　to　have　our　plans　ready。　Now；　what　would　you　regard

as　final　evidence　against　the　receiver？〃

　　〃The　actual　possession　of　the　stone。〃

　　〃You　would　arrest　him　upon　that？〃

　　〃Most　undoubtedly。〃

　　Holmes　seldom　laughed；　but　he　got　as　near　it　as　his　old　friend

Watson　could　remember。

　　〃In　that　case；　my　dear　sir；　I　shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity

of　advising　your　arrest。〃

　　Lord　Cantlemere　was　very　angry。　Some　of　the　ancient　fires

flickered　up　into　his　sallow　checks。

　　〃You　take　a　great　liberty；　Mr。　Holmes。　In　fifty　years　of　official

life　I　cannot　recall　such　a　case。　I　am　a　busy　man；　sir；　engaged　upon

important　affairs；　and　I　have　no　time　or　taste　for　foolish　jokes。　I

may　tell　you　frankly；　sir；　that　I　have　never　been　a　believer　in　your

powers；　and　that　I　have　always　been　of　the　opinion　that　the　matter　was

far　safer　in　the　hands　of　the　regular　police　force。　Your　conduct

confirms　all　my　conclusions。　I　have　the　honour；　sir；　to　wish　you

good…evening。〃

　　Holmes　had　swiftly　changed　his　position　and　was　between　the　peer　and

the　door。

　　〃One　moment；　sir；〃　said　he。　〃To　actually　go　off　with　the　Mazarin

stone　would　be　a　more　serious　offence　than　to　be　found　in　temporary

possession　of　it。〃

　　〃Sir；　this　is　intolerable！　Let　me　pass。〃

　　〃Put　your　hand　in　the　right…hand　pocket　of　your　overcoat。〃

　　〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃

　　〃Come…　come；　do　what　I　ask。〃

　　An　instant　later　the　amazed　peer　was　standing；　blinking　and

stammering；　with　the　great　yellow　stone　on　his　shaking　palm。

　　〃What！　What！　How　is　this；　Mr。　Holmes？〃

　　〃Too　bad；　Lord　Cantlemere；　too　bad！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃My　old　friend

here　will　tell　you　that　I　have　an　impish　habit　of　practical　joking。

Also　that　I　can　never　resist　a　dramatic　situation。　I　took　the　liberty…

the　very　great　liberty；　I　admit…　of　putting　the　stone　into　your　pocket

at　the　beginning　of　our　interview。〃

　　The　old　peer　stared　from　the　stone　to　the　smiling　face　before　him。

　　〃Sir；　I　am　bewildered。　But…　yes…　it　is　indeed　the　Mazarin　stone。

We　are　greatly　your　debtors；　Mr。　Holmes。　Your　sense　of　humour　may；

as　you　admit；　be　somewhat　perverted；　and　its　exhibition　remarkably

untimely；　but　at　least　I　withdraw　any　reflection　I　have　made　upon　your

amazing　professional　powers。　But　how…〃

　　〃The　case　is　but　half　finished；　the　details　can　wait。　No　doubt；　Lord

Cantlemere；　your　pleasure　in　telling　of　this　successful　result　in

the　exalted　role　to　which　you　return　will　be　some　small　atonement

for　my　practical　joke。　Billy；　you　will　show　his　Lordship　out；　and　tell

Mrs。　Hudson　that　I　should　be　glad　if　she　would　send　up　dinner　for

two　as　soon　as　possible。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

。