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