His Last Bow - Arthur Conan Doyle (classic books for 12 year olds txt) 📗
- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
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invective, his face convulsed with passion. Holmes continued his
swift investigation of documents while his prisoner cursed and
swore.
“Though unmusical, German is the most expressive of all
languages,” he observed when Von Bork had stopped from pure
exhaustion. “Hullo! Hullo!” he added as he looked hard at the
corner of a tracing before putting it in the box. “This should
put another bird in the cage. I had no idea that the paymaster
was such a rascal, though I have long had an eye upon him.
Mister Von Bork, you have a great deal to answer for.”
The prisoner had raised himself with some difficulty upon the
sofa and was staring with a strange mixture of amazement and
hatred at his captor.
“I shall get level with you, Altamont,” he said, speaking with
slow deliberation. “If it takes me all my life I shall get level
with you!”
“The old sweet song,” said Holmes. “How often have I heard it in
days gone by. It was a favorite ditty of the late lamented
Professor Moriarty. Colonel Sebastian Moran has also been known
to warble it. And yet I live and keep bees upon the South
Downs.”
“Curse you, you double traitor!” cried the German, straining
against his bonds and glaring murder from his furious eyes.
“No, no, it is not so bad as that,” said Holmes, smiling. “As my
speech surely shows you, Mr. Altamont of Chicago had no existence
in fact. I used him and he is gone.”
“Then who are you?”
“It is really immaterial who I am, but since the matter seems to
interest you, Mr. Von Bork, I may say that this is not my first
acquaintance with the members of your family. I have done a good
deal of business in Germany in the past and my name is probably
familiar to you.”
“I would wish to know it,” said the Prussian grimly.
“It was I who brought about the separation between Irene Adler
and the late King of Bohemia when your cousin Heinrich was the
Imperial Envoy. It was I also who saved from murder, by the
Nihilist Klopman, Count Von und Zu Grafenstein, who was your
mother’s elder brother. It was I—”
Von Bork sat up in amazement.
“There is only one man,” he cried.
“Exactly,” said Holmes.
Von Bork groaned and sank back on the sofa. “And most of that
information came through you,” he cried. “What is it worth?
What have I done? It is my ruin forever!”
“It is certainly a little untrustworthy,” said Holmes. “It will
require some checking and you have little time to check it. Your
admiral may find the new guns rather larger than he expects, and
the cruisers perhaps a trifle faster.”
Von Bork clutched at his own throat in despair.
“There are a good many other points of detail which will, no
doubt, come to light in good time. But you have one quality
which is very rare in a German, Mr. Von Bork: you are a
sportsman and you will bear me no ill-will when you realize that
you, who have outwitted so many other people, have at last been
outwitted yourself. After all, you have done your best for your
country, and I have done my best for mine, and what could be more
natural? Besides,” he added, not unkindly, as he laid his hand
upon the shoulder of the prostrate man, “it is better than to
fall before some ignoble foe. These papers are now ready,
Watson. If you will help me with our prisoner, I think that we
may get started for London at once.”
It was no easy task to move Von Bork, for he was a strong and a
desperate man. Finally, holding either arm, the two friends
walked him very slowly down the garden walk which he had trod
with such proud confidence when he received the congratulations
of the famous diplomatist only a few hours before. After a
short, final struggle he was hoisted, still bound hand and foot,
into the spare seat of the little car. His precious valise was
wedged in beside him.
“I trust that you are as comfortable as circumstances permit,”
said Holmes when the final arrangements were made. “Should I be
guilty of a liberty if I lit a cigar and placed it between your
lips?”
But all amenities were wasted upon the angry German.
“I suppose you realize, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” said he, “that if
your government bears you out in this treatment it becomes an act
of war.”
“What about your government and all this treatment?” said Holmes,
tapping the valise.
“You are a private individual. You have no warrant for my
arrest. The whole proceeding is absolutely illegal and
outrageous.”
“Absolutely,” said Holmes.
“Kidnapping a German subject.”
“And stealing his private papers.”
“Well, you realize your position, you and your accomplice here.
If I were to shout for help as we pass through the village—”
“My dear sir, if you did anything so foolish you would probably
enlarge the two limited titles of our village inns by giving us
‘The Dangling Prussian’ as a signpost. The Englishman is a
patient creature, but at present his temper is a little inflamed,
and it would be as well not to try him too far. No, Mr. Von
Bork, you will go with us in a quiet, sensible fashion to
Scotland Yard, whence you can send for your friend, Baron Von
Herling, and see if even now you may not fill that place which he
has reserved for you in the ambassadorial suite. As to you,
Watson, you are joining us with your old service, as I
understand, so London won’t be out of your way. Stand with me
here upon the terrace, for it may be the last quiet talk that we
shall ever have.”
The two friends chatted in intimate converse for a few minutes,
recalling once again the days of the past, while their prisoner
vainly wriggled to undo the bonds that held him. As they turned
to the car Holmes pointed back to the moonlit sea and shook a
thoughtful head.
“There’s an east wind coming, Watson.”
“I think not, Holmes. It is very warm.”
“Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age.
There’s an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never
blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a
good many of us may wither before its blast. But it’s God’s own
wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie
in the sunshine when the storm has cleared. Start her up,
Watson, for it’s time that we were on our way. I have a check
for five hundred pounds which should be cashed early, for the
drawer is quite capable of stopping it if he can.”
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