The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 30 (1/2)
”Oh, sir, you are the very ed to meet,” cried the little felloith outstretched hands and quivering fingers
”I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter”
Sherlock Hol ”In that case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this wind-swept o farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting”
The man hesitated for an instant ”My nalance
”No, no; the real na business with an alias”
A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger ”Well then,”
said he, ”my real name is James Ryder”
”Precisely so Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan Pray step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know”
The little htened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe
Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour ere back in the sitting-roo our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new cos of his hands, spoke of the nervous tension within him
”Here we are!” said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room
”The fire looks very seasonable in this weather You look cold, Mr Ryder Pray take the basket-chair I will just put on my slippers before we settle this little matter of yours Now, then!
You want to knohat becaeese?”
”Yes, sir”
”Or rather, I fancy, of that goose It was one bird, I iine in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the tail”
Ryder quivered with emotion ”Oh, sir,” he cried, ”can you tell me where it went to?”
”It came here”
”Here?”
”Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved I don't wonder that you should take an interest in it It laid an egg after it was dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen
I have it here in ered to his feet and clutched the -box and held up the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, brilliant,with a drawn face, uncertain whether to claiame's up, Ryder,” said Holmes quietly ”Hold up, man, or you'll be into the fire! Give hih to go in for felony with impunity Give him a dash of brandy So! Now he looks a little more human What a shriered and nearly fallen, but the brandy brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring with frightened eyes at his accuser
”I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me
Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case complete You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar's?”
”It was Catherine Cusack who toldvoice
”I see--her ladyshi+p's waiting-maid Well, the temptation of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous in the means you used It see of a very pretty villain in you You knew that this man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him