〃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