Part 1 (2/2)
As you are probably aware, the Earl's most precious treasure is,--or, rather, are the six pairs of fancy, diae I presented to his ancestor, Reginald Bertrae's accession to the British throne in the year 1714
”It is an historical fact that King George paid twenty-four hundred pounds for the six pairs of cuff-buttons,--their value being considerably greater now,--and the diae as the end of a man's thumb; so you can see at once how very valuable they are, to say nothing of the senti to the Earl's ancestor two centuries ago”
”Oh, yes; I have heard about the Puddingharabbing the cigarette I had just rolled, cale I had no o on with your little yarn”
Thorneycroft continued, occasionally taking a bite out of one of the apples Holmes had offered hi, when the Earl was being dressed by his valet, an Italian nai Verreen silk shi+rt, lying over the back of the any arm-chair beside his bed, had the ancestral cuff-buttonsfrom the cuffs!
”He is absolutely sure that they were in the cuffs when he took the shi+rt off last night, since he re polished them up a bit with his handkerchief when he retired, and he cannot account for theiron guard outside the castle every night, so he is sure no burglar got in, as the dog ht
”As for any possible suspicion attaching to the Earl's servants, I will say that they have all been with hihly recommended, and he would not presu stolen the heirloo hypotheses that either the cuff-buttons fleay by themselves or else the Earl hid thehtfully rubbed his left ear
At this, the secretary stared, but went on:
”The constables froe, a half a mile from the castle, to who his loss, and who came up there within twenty minutes after, were not so confident of the servants' innocence, however, as they insisted on lining up all fourteen of theentleht, the constables even had the te such a thing as that,--me, Eustace Thorneycroft!
”But they couldn't find the precious pair of diamond cuff-buttons on theht into London on the next train, and engage you to ferret out the scoundrels responsible for this dastardly outrage! His Lordshi+p didn't even give me time to finish my breakfast, he was so worked up about it, and coutheridge, with a rasher of bacon and a half-e table behindinto these red apples so voraciously, Mr Holh the Surrey downs on a rainysharpened my appetite, too
”So that's all there is to tell you, except that here's a hundred gold sovereigns for your retaining fee, and the Earl will positively pay you a reward of ten thousand pounds more when you recover the lost pair of cuff-buttons”
And Thorneycroft threw a cha, full of coins, across the table
”Ah, ha! Five hundred cold bucks in Yankee money!” cried Hemlock Holmes, as he rubbed his hands with pleasure ”Gather up this ive His Nibs a receipt for it, as we are both after the coin, only you haven't got the nerve to admit it Well, Mr
Worhauarantee to give him a run for his money, and that if we don't find the ancestral cuff-buttons, at least we'll tear up half of County Surrey looking for them!”
Our bald-headed visitor here took up his hat and umbrella and opened the door, about to depart
”Gosh, it's raining worse than ever now!” he said ”Well, I've got to shovel dust,--or, rather, mud,--back to Normanstoers, anyhow, or the Earl will raise the deuce with me! Be sure to come out on the next train after this, Mr Holmes, which leaves London at one-twenty-two, as the Earl will be expecting you, and what's e-gutheridge station So long!”
And the Earl's secretary stepped out, closed the door after hi down the stairs, and then leaving by the outer door, Holot up, shook himself, stretched out his lanky arold here, Watson,” he said ”Now it's up to us to scare up a good bluff at earning it! Let's see,--it's ten o'clock now, and we et to the station for the one-twenty-two train So we'll have luncheon,--or lunch, just as you prefer,--at twelve-thirty That leaves me two hours and a half to read 'Old Nick Carter'”
Heot out several yellow-back dime-novels from the book-rack in the corner, pulled the Morris chair over to the , and started in on his light literature
”What! Aren't you worrying about the Puddingha to try to dope out an explanation of their disappearance?” I inquired anxiously
”There you go again, Watson, you old boob!” my friend replied ”How many times must I tell you that it is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts! Keep your shi+rt on till we get out to the castle, Doc; and in the meantime _ich kebibble_ iped the cuff-buttons!”
I knew froue with hi for the rest of thewhy the Sam Hill it was that I still continued to s such talk as that, when I kneas my duty to rise up and paste him one in the eye for his sarcasms
CHAPTER II