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！
new problemgiven up by Scotland Yard as inscrutablehas 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 smilinguntil 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 say
16
… Page 17…
NEW BURLESQUES
these 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。
17
… Page 18…
NEW BURLESQUES
〃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：
〃First； I should advertise； offering a reward； I should give the same
intimation in hand…bills； distributed at the 'pubs' and the pastry…cooks'。 I
should next visit the different pawnbrokers； I should give notice at the
police station。 I should examine the servants。 I should thoroughly
search the house and my own pockets。 I speak relatively；〃 I added； with a
laugh。 〃Of course I mean YOUR own。〃
He gravely made an entry of these details。
〃Perhaps；〃 I added； 〃you have already done this？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 he returned enigmatically。 〃Now； my dear friend；〃 he
continued； putting the note…book in his pocket and rising； 〃would you
excuse me for a few moments？ Make yourself perfectly at home until I
return； there may be some things；〃 he added with a sweep of his hand
toward his heterogeneously filled shelves； 〃that may interest you and
while away the time。 There are pipes and tobacco in that corner。〃
Then nodding to me with the same inscrutable face he left the room。 I
was too well accustomed to his methods to think much of his
18
… Page 19…
NEW BURLESQUES
unceremonious withdrawal； and made no doubt he was off to investigate
some clue which had suddenly occurred to his active intelligence。
Left to myself I cast a cursory glance over his shelves。