Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.I-IV
"Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking `
` country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being `
` the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous `
` glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you `
` make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue `
` triumphant cloud from his cigarette. `
` `
` "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. `
` `
` "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you `
` note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of `
` you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian `
` could not have written that. It is the German who is so `
` uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover `
` what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and `
` prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if `
` I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." `
` `
` As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and `
` grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the `
` bell. Holmes whistled. `
` `
` "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing `
` out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of `
` beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in `
` this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." `
` `
` "I think that I had better go, Holmes." `
` `
` "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my `
` Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity `
` to miss it." `
` `
` "But your client--" `
` `
` "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he `
` comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best `
` attention." `
` `
` A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and `
` in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there `
` was a loud and authoritative tap. `
` `
` "Come in!" said Holmes. `
` `
` A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six `
` inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His `
` dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked `
` upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed `
` across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while `
` the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined `
` with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch `
` which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended `
` halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with `
` rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence `
` which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a `
` broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper `
` part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black `
` vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, `
` for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower `
` part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, `
` with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive `
` of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. `
` `
` "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a `
` strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He `
` looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to `
` address. `
` `
` "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and `
` colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me `
` in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" `
` `
` "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. `
` I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour `
` and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most `
` extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate `
` with you alone." `
` `
` I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me `
` back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say `
` before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." `
` `
` The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said `
` he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at `
` the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At `
` present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it `
` may have an influence upon European history." `
` `
` "I promise," said Holmes. `
` `
` "And I." `
` `
` "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The `
` august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to `
` you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have `
` just called myself is not exactly my own." `
` `
` "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. `
` `
` "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution `
` has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense `
` scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of `
` Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House `
` of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." `
` `
` "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself `
` down in his armchair and closing his eyes. `
` `
` Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, `
` lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him `
` as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. `
` Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his `
` gigantic client. `
` `
` "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he `
` remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." `
` `
` The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in `
` uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he `
` tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You `
` are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to `
` conceal it?" `
` `
` "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken `
` before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich `
` Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and `
` hereditary King of Bohemia." `
` `
` "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down `
` once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you `
` can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in `
` my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not `
` confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I `
` have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting `
` you." `
` `
` "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. `
` `
` "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a `
` lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known `
` adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." `
` `
` "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without `
` opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of `
` docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it `
` was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not `
` at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography `
` sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a `
` staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea `
` fishes. `
` `
` "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year `
` 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera `
` of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in `
` London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled `
` with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and `
` is now desirous of getting those letters back." `
` `
` "Precisely so. But how--" `
` `
` "Was there a secret marriage?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "No legal papers or certificates?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should `
` produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is `
` she to prove their authenticity?" `
` `
` "There is the writing." `
` `
` "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." `
` `
` "My private note-paper." `
` `
` "Stolen." `
` `
` "My own seal." `
` `
` "Imitated." `
` `
` "My photograph." `
` `
` "Bought." `
` `
` "We were both in the photograph." `
` `
` "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an `
` indiscretion." `
` `
` "I was mad--insane." `
` `
` "You have compromised yourself seriously." `
` `
` "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." `
` `
` "It must be recovered." `
`
` country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being `
` the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous `
` glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you `
` make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue `
` triumphant cloud from his cigarette. `
` `
` "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. `
` `
` "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you `
` note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of `
` you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian `
` could not have written that. It is the German who is so `
` uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover `
` what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and `
` prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if `
` I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." `
` `
` As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and `
` grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the `
` bell. Holmes whistled. `
` `
` "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing `
` out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of `
` beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in `
` this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." `
` `
` "I think that I had better go, Holmes." `
` `
` "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my `
` Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity `
` to miss it." `
` `
` "But your client--" `
` `
` "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he `
` comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best `
` attention." `
` `
` A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and `
` in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there `
` was a loud and authoritative tap. `
` `
` "Come in!" said Holmes. `
` `
` A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six `
` inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His `
` dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked `
` upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed `
` across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while `
` the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined `
` with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch `
` which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended `
` halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with `
` rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence `
` which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a `
` broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper `
` part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black `
` vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, `
` for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower `
` part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, `
` with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive `
` of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. `
` `
` "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a `
` strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He `
` looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to `
` address. `
` `
` "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and `
` colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me `
` in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" `
` `
` "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. `
` I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour `
` and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most `
` extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate `
` with you alone." `
` `
` I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me `
` back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say `
` before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." `
` `
` The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said `
` he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at `
` the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At `
` present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it `
` may have an influence upon European history." `
` `
` "I promise," said Holmes. `
` `
` "And I." `
` `
` "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The `
` august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to `
` you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have `
` just called myself is not exactly my own." `
` `
` "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. `
` `
` "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution `
` has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense `
` scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of `
` Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House `
` of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." `
` `
` "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself `
` down in his armchair and closing his eyes. `
` `
` Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, `
` lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him `
` as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. `
` Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his `
` gigantic client. `
` `
` "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he `
` remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." `
` `
` The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in `
` uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he `
` tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You `
` are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to `
` conceal it?" `
` `
` "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken `
` before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich `
` Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and `
` hereditary King of Bohemia." `
` `
` "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down `
` once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you `
` can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in `
` my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not `
` confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I `
` have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting `
` you." `
` `
` "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. `
` `
` "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a `
` lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known `
` adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." `
` `
` "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without `
` opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of `
` docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it `
` was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not `
` at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography `
` sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a `
` staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea `
` fishes. `
` `
` "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year `
` 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera `
` of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in `
` London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled `
` with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and `
` is now desirous of getting those letters back." `
` `
` "Precisely so. But how--" `
` `
` "Was there a secret marriage?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "No legal papers or certificates?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should `
` produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is `
` she to prove their authenticity?" `
` `
` "There is the writing." `
` `
` "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." `
` `
` "My private note-paper." `
` `
` "Stolen." `
` `
` "My own seal." `
` `
` "Imitated." `
` `
` "My photograph." `
` `
` "Bought." `
` `
` "We were both in the photograph." `
` `
` "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an `
` indiscretion." `
` `
` "I was mad--insane." `
` `
` "You have compromised yourself seriously." `
` `
` "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." `
` `
` "It must be recovered." `
`