登陆注册
15318400000006

第6章

Once a year, at Christmastide, I receive a simple foreign hamper via Charing Cross, marked "Return empty." I take it in silence to my own room, and there, opening it, I find--unseen by any other eyes but my own-- a modest pate de foie gras, of the kind I ate with the Princess Flirtia. I take out the pate, replace the label, and have the hamper reconveyed to Charing Cross.

THE STOLEN CIGAR CASE By A. CO--N D--LE

I found Hemlock Jones in the old Brook Street lodgings, musing before the fire. With the freedom of an old friend I at once threw myself in my usual familiar attitude at his feet, and gently caressed his boot. I was induced to do this for two reasons: one, that it enabled me to get agood look at his bent, concentrated face, and the other, that it seemed to indicate my reverence for his superhuman insight. So absorbed was he even then, in tracking some mysterious clue, that he did not seem to notice me. But therein I was wrong--as I always was in my attempt to understand that powerful intellect.

"It is raining," he said, without lifting his head. "You have been out, then?" I said quickly.

"No. But I see that your umbrella is wet, and that your overcoat has drops of water on it."I sat aghast at his penetration. After a pause he said carelessly, as if dismissing the subject: "Besides, I hear the rain on the window. Listen."I listened. I could scarcely credit my ears, but there was the soft pattering of drops on the panes. It was evident there was no deceiving this man!

"Have you been busy lately?" I asked, changing the subject. "What new problem--given up by Scotland Yard as inscrutable--has occupied that gigantic intellect?"He drew back his foot slightly, and seemed to hesitate ere he returned it to its original position. Then he answered wearily: "Mere trifles-- nothing to speak of. The Prince Kupoli has been here to get my advice regarding the disappearance of certain rubies from the Kremlin; the Rajah of Pootibad, after vainly beheading his entire bodyguard, has been obliged to seek my assistance to recover a jeweled sword. The Grand Duchess of Pretzel-Brauntswig is desirous of discovering where her husband was on the night of February 14; and last night"--he lowered his voice slightly--"a lodger in this very house, meeting me on the stairs, wanted to know why they didn't answer his bell."I could not help smiling--until I saw a frown gathering on his inscrutable forehead.

"Pray remember," he said coldly, "that it was through such an apparently trivial question that I found out Why Paul Ferroll Killed His Wife, and What Happened to Jones!"I became dumb at once. He paused for a moment, and then suddenly changing back to his usual pitiless, analytical style, he said: "When I saythese are trifles, they are so in comparison to an affair that is now before me. A crime has been committed,--and, singularly enough, against myself. You start," he said. "You wonder who would have dared to attempt it. So did I; nevertheless, it has been done. I have been ROBBED!"YOU robbed! You, Hemlock Jones, the Terror of Peculators!" I gasped in amazement, arising and gripping the table as I faced him.

"Yes! Listen. I would confess it to no other. But YOU who have followed my career, who know my methods; you, for whom I have partly lifted the veil that conceals my plans from ordinary humanity,--you, who have for years rapturously accepted my confidences, passionately admired my inductions and inferences, placed yourself at my beck and call, become my slave, groveled at my feet, given up your practice except those few unremunerative and rapidly decreasing patients to whom, in moments of abstraction over MY problems, you have administered strychnine for quinine and arsenic for Epsom salts; you, who have sacrificed anything and everybody to me,--YOU I make my confidant!"I arose and embraced him warmly, yet he was already so engrossed in thought that at the same moment he mechanically placed his hand upon his watch chain as if to consult the time. "Sit down," he said. "Have a cigar?""I have given up cigar smoking," I said. "Why?" he asked.

I hesitated, and perhaps colored. I had really given it up because, with my diminished practice, it was too expensive. I could afford only a pipe. "I prefer a pipe," I said laughingly. "But tell me of this robbery. What have you lost?"He arose, and planting himself before the fire with his hands under his coattails, looked down upon me reflectively for a moment. "Do you remember the cigar case presented to me by the Turkish Ambassador for discovering the missing favorite of the Grand Vizier in the fifth chorus girl at the Hilarity Theatre? It was that one. I mean the cigar case. It was incrusted with diamonds.""And the largest one had been supplanted by paste," I said.

"Ah," he said, with a reflective smile, you know that?" "You told me yourself. I remember considering it a proof of your extraordinary perception. But, by Jove, you don't mean to say you have lost it?"He was silent for a moment. "No; it has been stolen, it is true, but I shall still find it. And by myself alone! In your profession, my dear fellow, when a member is seriously ill, he does not prescribe for himself, but calls in a brother doctor. Therein we differ. I shall take this matter in my own hands.""And where could you find better?" I said enthusiastically. "I should say the cigar case is as good as recovered already.""I shall remind you of that again," he said lightly. "And now, to show you my confidence in your judgment, in spite of my determination to pursue this alone, I am willing to listen to any suggestions from you."He drew a memorandum book from his pocket and, with a grave smile, took up his pencil.

I could scarcely believe my senses. He, the great Hemlock Jones, accepting suggestions from a humble individual like myself! I kissed his hand reverently, and began in a joyous tone:

同类推荐
  • Jewel

    Jewel

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 近词丛话

    近词丛话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 咸宾录

    咸宾录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 福建通志列传选

    福建通志列传选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Charmides and Other

    Charmides and Other

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 品孙子兵法学管理

    品孙子兵法学管理

    本书是我国同时也是世界现存最古老的一部兵书,涉及管理学、战略管理学等诸多方面。内容包括:料敌制胜的战略管理、未战而庙算的决策管理战略、力求全胜的目标管理战略、选贤任能的人才管理战略等。
  • 木系守护

    木系守护

    渺墨灵,精灵族圣女与人类天才武者之女,大自然的宠儿,一个比纯精灵的木系亲和力更强的混血儿,向往自由却不得不背负上寻找父母、种族斗争的少女。只要一颗种子,她就能催生出别人梦寐以求的灵药;森林是她的主战场,源源不断的木元素就是她的士兵。“无论前路艰险或平坦,我都会微笑着迎接一切,挑战一切……”在迷人的笑容背后,是坚定的意志。一个半精灵真的如此受到命运的宠爱,还有另有隐情?命运之神笑而不语。
  • 杨帆:对话《时代智商》

    杨帆:对话《时代智商》

    本书记录的二十几个人物,既有中国顶尖的商业领袖,也有大名鼎鼎的社会名流,还有在天津这座北方经济中心城市开拓奋进的领军人物。改革开放三十多年,中国社会发生了波澜壮阔的巨变,很多普通人的命运也赢得了转机。他们以特有的机智与洞察力和顽强的拼搏精神,创造了一个又一个人生传奇。
  • 宅男之英雄佣兵团

    宅男之英雄佣兵团

    泰格满怀期待的看着召唤法阵,静待着第一次召唤的成功……恩?卷轴?说好的召唤兽呢?《第八套广播体操》?这是什么鬼?坑爹啊!我是什么品种的召唤师啊!
  • 跟着公子混仙路

    跟着公子混仙路

    被收养长大的孤儿,因一场意外不得不离开梦寐以求的地方...奇怪的玉佩,神秘的公子,还有隐秘的身世...在一切都真相大白之后,却又来到一个奇妙的世界!(PS:不喜欢第一卷内容的书友,可以直接跳到第二卷第二章开始看。)
  • 霸道校草,求放过

    霸道校草,求放过

    儿时,她是集万千宠爱于一身的富家千金,只因一次意外,她走失了,后来被一户平民收养。长大后,她凭借着自己的努力破格进入落樱贵族学院,也遇到了那个他。他是冷氏集团的少主,只因遇到她对她无限宠爱,倾尽所有只为她的一抹微笑。正经历着种种之后,他们认识了自己的内心并且走到一起。
  • 奥术时代

    奥术时代

    21世纪大好宅男携至高魔法系统魂穿未来世界,看他怎么以这魔法废材体质在这未来魔法世界叱咤风云。新人新书,希望大家多多支持。
  • 那时的妖族

    那时的妖族

    雪夜里的一场巨变,使得少年韩铁木踏入了陌生的鸿冥界。这里妖魔遍地,鬼怪横行,各大族群,各大门阀,明争暗斗,连绵不绝。幸运地被帝秀峰妖主收为传法人,韩铁木的异界之旅可谓是一帆风顺,他能否一直这么幸运下去?在这片神秘的国度里,他究竟会上演何种的悲喜人生?又会遭遇怎样的爱恨情仇?各位亲爱的读者大人,不要再犹豫了,赶快点击吧!
  • 蝼蚁的呐喊

    蝼蚁的呐喊

    生活就像一笔流水账,记录着我们曾经的言行和感触。这本书带你们走进我的生活,和我一起体会我的曾经,体会我的喜怒哀乐。
  • 侠意狂潮

    侠意狂潮

    狼若回头,必有缘由;不是报恩,便是报仇。月落乌啼霜满天,夫妻双双把家还!