Bleaching of the skin is a common result of the disease. The casewas a strong one—so strong that I determined to act as if it wereactually proved. When on arriving here I noticed that Ralph, whocarries out the meals, had gloves which are impregnated withdisinfectants, my last doubts were removed. A single word showedyou, sir, that your secret was discovered, and if I wrote ratherthan said it, it was to prove to you that my discretion was to betrusted.”
I was finishing this little analysis of the case when the doorwas opened and the austere figure of the great dermatologist wasushered in. But for once his sphinx-like features had relaxed andthere was a warm humanity in his eyes. He strode up to ColonelEmsworth and shook him by the hand.
“It is often my lot to bring ill-tidings and seldom good,” said he.
“This occasion is the more welcome. It is not leprosy.”
“What?”
“A well-marked case of pseudo-leprosy or ichthyosis, a scalelikeaffection of the skin, unsightly, obstinate, but possibly curable,and certainly noninfective. Yes, Mr. Holmes, the coincidenceis a remarkable one. But is it coincidence? Are there not subtleforces at work of which we know little? Are we assured that theapprehension from which this young man has no doubt sufferedterribly since his exposure to its contagion may not produce aphysical effect which simulates that which it fears? At any rate,I pledge my professional reputation—But the lady has fainted! Ithink that Mr. Kent had better be with her until she recovers fromthis joyous shock.”
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
It was pleasant to Dr. Watson to find himself once more in theuntidy room of the first floor in Baker Street which had beenthe starting-point of so many remarkable adventures. He lookedround him at the scientific charts upon the wall, the acid-charredbench of chemicals, the violin-case leaning in the corner, the coalscuttle,which contained of old the pipes and tobacco. Finally, hiseyes came round to the fresh and smiling face of Billy, the youngbut very wise and tactful page, who had helped a little to fill upthe gap of loneliness and isolation which surrounded the saturninefigure of the great detective.
“It all seems very unchanged, Billy. You don’t change, either. Ihope the same can be said of him?”
Billy glanced with some solicitude at the closed door of thebedroom.
“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 oldfriend’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 hishealth. He gets paler and thinner, and he eats nothing. ‘When willyou be pleased to dine, Mr. Holmes?’ Mrs. Hudson asked. ‘Seventhirty,the day after to-morrow,’ said he. You know his way whenhe is keen on a case.”
“Yes, Billy, I know.”
“He’s following someone. Yesterday he was out as a workmanlooking 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 agrin to a very baggy parasol which leaned against the sofa. “That’spart 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. “Idon’t mind telling you, sir, but it should go no farther. It’s this caseof the Crown diamond.”
“What—the hundred-thousand-pound burglary?”
“Yes, sir. They must get it back, sir. Why, we had the PrimeMinister and the Home Secretary both sitting on that very sofa.
Mr. Holmes was very nice to them. He soon put them at theirease and promised he would do all he could. Then there is LordCantlemere——”
“Ah!”
“Yes, sir, you know what that means. He’s a stiff’un, sir, if I maysay so. I can get along with the Prime Minister, and I’ve nothingagainst the Home Secretary, who seemed a civil, obliging sort ofman, but I can’t stand his Lordship. Neither can Mr. Holmes,sir. You see, he don’t believe in Mr. Holmes and he was againstemploying 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 willbe confounded. But I say, Billy, what is that curtain for across thewindow?”
“Mr. Holmes had it put up there three days ago. We’ve gotsomething funny behind it.”
Billy advanced and drew away the drapery which screened thealcove of the bow window.
Dr. Watson could not restrain a cry of amazement. There was afacsimile of his old friend, dressing-gown and all, the face turnedthree-quarters towards the window and downward, as thoughreading an invisible book, while the body was sunk deep in anarmchair. 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’sup 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 apartand looked out into the street. “There are folk who watch us fromover yonder. I can see a fellow now at the window. Have a look foryourself.”
Watson had taken a step forward when the bedroom dooropened, and the long, thin form of Holmes emerged, his face paleand drawn, but his step and bearing as active as ever. With a singlespring he was at the window, and had drawn the blind once more.
“That will do, Billy,” said he. “You were in danger of your lifethen, my boy, and I can’t do without you just yet. Well, Watson, itis good to see you in your old quarters once again. You come at acritical moment.”
“So I gather.”
“You can go, Billy. That boy is a problem, Watson. How far am Ijustified 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!”
