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DarqueDante
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matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated.
This account of you we have from all quarters received. Be in your
chamber then at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor
wear a mask."
"This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that it
means?"
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one
has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories,
instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. What do you
deduce from it?"
I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was
written.
"The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked,
endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper could
not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong
and stiff."
"Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an English
paper at all. Hold it up to the light."
I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a large
"G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper.
"What do you make of that?" asked Holmes.
"The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather."
"Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for 'Gesellschaft,'
which is the German for 'Company.' It is a customary contraction like
our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let
us glance at our Continental Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown
volume from his shelves. "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.