The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (polar express read aloud .TXT) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซThe Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (polar express read aloud .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โPurely negative as yet,โ my friend answered. โI have inquired at every point where it might be, and I am sure that there is no danger to be apprehended.โ
โBut that is not enough, Mr. Holmes. We cannot live forever on such a volcano. We must have something definite.โ
โI am in hopes of getting it. That is why I am here. The more I think of the matter the more convinced I am that the letter has never left this house.โ
โMr. Holmes!โ
โIf it had it would certainly have been public by now.โ
โBut why should anyone take it in order to keep it in his house?โ
โI am not convinced that anyone did take it.โ
โThen how could it leave the despatch-box?โ
โI am not convinced that it ever did leave the despatch-box.โ
โMr. Holmes, this joking is very ill-timed. You have my assurance that it left the box.โ
โHave you examined the box since Tuesday morning?โ
โNo. It was not necessary.โ
โYou may conceivably have overlooked it.โ
โImpossible, I say.โ
โBut I am not convinced of it. I have known such things to happen. I presume there are other papers there. Well, it may have got mixed with them.โ
โIt was on the top.โ
โSomeone may have shaken the box and displaced it.โ
โNo, no, I had everything out.โ
โSurely it is easily decided, Hope,โ said the Premier. โLet us have the despatch-box brought in.โ
The Secretary rang the bell.
โJacobs, bring down my despatch-box. This is a farcical waste of time, but still, if nothing else will satisfy you, it shall be done. Thank you, Jacobs, put it here. I have always had the key on my watch-chain. Here are the papers, you see. Letter from Lord Merrow, report from Sir Charles Hardy, memorandum from Belgrade, note on the Russo-German grain taxes, letter from Madrid, note from Lord FlowersโโGood heavens! what is this? Lord Bellinger! Lord Bellinger!โ
The Premier snatched the blue envelope from his hand.
โYes, it is itโand the letter is intact. Hope, I congratulate you.โ
โThank you! Thank you! What a weight from my heart. But this is inconceivableโimpossible. Mr. Holmes, you are a wizard, a sorcerer! How did you know it was there?โ
โBecause I knew it was nowhere else.โ
โI cannot believe my eyes!โ He ran wildly to the door. โWhere is my wife? I must tell her that all is well. Hilda! Hilda!โ we heard his voice on the stairs.
The Premier looked at Holmes with twinkling eyes.
โCome, sir,โ said he. โThere is more in this than meets the eye. How came the letter back in the box?โ
Holmes turned away smiling from the keen scrutiny of those wonderful eyes.
โWe also have our diplomatic secrets,โ said he and, picking up his hat, he turned to the door.
THE END End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
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