DarqueDante/test2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 74

He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any
unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an hour
or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet heavy with
snow and his features as inscrutable as ever.

"I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holder,"
said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my rooms."

"But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?"

"I cannot tell."

The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he cried.
"And my son? You give me hopes?"

"My opinion is in no way altered."

"Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was acted in
my house last night?"

"If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning
between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it
clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you,
provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no limit
on the sum I may draw."

"I would give my fortune to have them back."

"Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then.
Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again
before evening."

It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up about
the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I could
even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I
endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to
some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not
yet three when we found ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried
to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a
common loafer. With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his
red cravat, and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class.

"I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass above
the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Watson, but
I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I
may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it
is. I hope that I may be back in a few hours." He cut a slice of beef
from the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds
of bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off
upon his expedition.

I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in excellent
spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his hand. He chucked
it down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea.

"I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on."

"Where to?"

"Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time before I
get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be late."

"How are you getting on?"

"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham
since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very
sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a good deal.
However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get these
disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self."

I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for
satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and
there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hastened
upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the hall door,
which told me that he was off once more upon his congenial hunt.

I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I
retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for
days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his
lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he came
in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he was
with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other, as fresh
and trim as possible.

"You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you
remember that our client has rather an early appointment this
morning."

"Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be surprised
if that were he. I thought I heard a ring."

It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the change
which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of a broad
and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, while his hair
seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered with a weariness and
lethargy which was even more painful than his violence of the morning
before, and he dropped heavily into the armchair which I pushed
forward for him.

He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any

unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an hour

or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet heavy with

snow and his features as inscrutable as ever.

"I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holder,"

said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my rooms."

"But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?"

"I cannot tell."

The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he cried.

"And my son? You give me hopes?"

"My opinion is in no way altered."

"Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was acted in

my house last night?"

"If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning

between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it

clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you,

provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no limit

on the sum I may draw."

"I would give my fortune to have them back."

"Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then.

Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again

before evening."

It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up about

the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I could

even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I

endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to

some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not

yet three when we found ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried

to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a

common loafer. With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his

red cravat, and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class.

"I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass above

the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Watson, but

I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I

may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it

is. I hope that I may be back in a few hours." He cut a slice of beef

from the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds

of bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off

upon his expedition.

I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in excellent

spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his hand. He chucked

it down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea.

"I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on."

"Where to?"

"Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time before I

get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be late."

"How are you getting on?"

"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham

since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very

sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a good deal.

However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get these

disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self."

I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for

satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and

there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hastened

upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the hall door,

which told me that he was off once more upon his congenial hunt.

I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I

retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for

days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his

lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he came

in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he was

with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other, as fresh

and trim as possible.

"You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you

remember that our client has rather an early appointment this

morning."

"Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be surprised

if that were he. I thought I heard a ring."

It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the change

which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of a broad

and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, while his hair

seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered with a weariness and

lethargy which was even more painful than his violence of the morning

before, and he dropped heavily into the armchair which I pushed

forward for him.