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at that instant. Feathers, some burnt, some whole, floated away on a mass of
ashes. It is the trifles which count in detecting crime. Now, Watson, I think
we will investigate a rumor that the steward was seen breaking out a new case
of Scotch this morning."
There was a medley of voices in the group he left. Some actually wondered if
he really believed in his own deep cunning, since he was never seen to smile
even while expounding his most outlandish notions. Others were only disgusted.
There were two who warned Percy without reserve that before the cruise was up
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he would be touched for money by the Sherlockian Holmes and his friend Watson.
"Oh, I don't think that," objected Percy. "He's rather idiotic, of course,
but I think the chap's only fooling himself. They're both gentlemen, anyway,
and we're having some fun with them."
"Why not let us make up a real mystery, Percy?"
"Oh, goody!" cried a merry-eyed girl, dancing joyously."Oh, let's! You can
have a tremendous robbery, or something, and have all the clues point to all
of us, and all of us have an alibi, and you can scatter my hair-pins and combs
about, and--"
"That's the identical scheme!"chuckled Percy, shaking like a jelly in his
mirth. "Let's dope out a plot."
"Presently!" interjected the red-headed youth, intensely. "Here's the Watson
chap. Not a word!"
Watson strolled along the deck, having left Holmes in the smoking room, and
he wore a grimace of mingled boredom and contempt. He glanced around the
little group inquisitively,then addressed Percy.
"Holmes begins to irritate one, doesn't he, Anstruther? A little of his
nonsense is amusing; too much is sickening. I wonder what he'd do if faced
with a real case. Sometimes I think he's really keen on scientific
investigation of problems, at others I feel disgusted at his childishness.
Thechicken twaddle , for instance."
Percy hesitated for a minute, then, smiling fatly in justification of his
resolve, he said.
"I say, Watson, you must be a thought-reader. When you came along we were
discussing playing a little joke on your friend to see how far he would dig
into a real puzzle. You won't mind if we keep you out of it, will you? Might
drop him a hint, you know, and spoil--"
"Not at all," replied Watson quickly. "Make your plans and start him going.
I'll have my fun looking on, I assure you. I hope you concoct a real mystery,
though, with something far deeper than vanishing poultry as a motive. Good
luck."
THE first outcome of a long and close secret confabulation was the sudden
increase of Percy's jewelled embellishments. That evening at dinner he simply
blazed with light from gorgeous gems, and in place of his customary offering
of big, sleek Cuban cigars in a handsome snake-skin case after dinner, he
preferred still choicer weeds in an amazing gold case on both sides of which
his monogram leaped out at one in diamonds. Then, under pretence of showing
the men some intimate curiosities, he took them into his great stateroom
where, obviously through oversight, a stout cash box stood open on his table,
crammed to the top with bank notes of high denomination.
"Confound that man of mine!" he exclaimed, closing the box, but leaving it on
the table. "He's always leaving valuables about as if they were pebbles."
While exhibiting the trivial curiosities he had brought the men in to see, he
shot keen side-glances at Holmes, and chuckled shakily as he led the way out
to the after deck, omitting to reprimand his valet, however, for his
carelessness.
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"It's a gorgeous night," he remarked, when the space under the awnings
resounded with tuneful music from an excellent machine.
"Let's have a bit of dancing, hey, folks?"
IN THE quietest hour of the most silent watch, about two o'clock in the
morning, the yacht rang with sounds of dire mis-happening. A pistol shot
shattered the stillness on deck, a heavy splash was heard over the side, and
in a minute the decks were alive with alarmed seaman and excited officers; a
huddle of sleepy guests milled about each other in well feigned panic. Watson
was there, as panicky as the rest; and Holmes, true to his assumed character,
took up the burden of discovering the meaning of that midnight alarm.
"Where is Mr. Anstruther?" he demanded, peering around like a scrawny hawk.
"Find him, steward. Fancy him sleeping through such a racket! He's getting far
too fat."
While Watson looked on in silence from the companionway door, and a little
giggling group nudged each other delightedly, Holmes flashed a pocket torch
about the decks and rails. On hands and knees at times, he nosed along
waterways and peering overside into the silken blackness of the smooth sea.
Presently he brought forth a huge magnifying glass, and the red-headed youth [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]