Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1070 page)

VON STALBURG
: Did I understand you to say, doctor, that you had sent for Mr. Holmes?

WATSON
: Yes, Count, and he’ll be here shortly. Indeed, I think I hear him on the stairs now.

(
Pause. Enter
HOLMES
at centre door. He is very pale. His clothing is re-arranged and cleansed, though he still, of course, wears the clerical suit, white tie, etc. He stands near door a moment.
SIR
EDWARD
and
COUNT
rise and turn to him.
WATSON
rises and goes to desk, where he soon seats himself in chair behind desk.
SIR EDWARD
and the
COUNT
stand looking at
HOLMES
. Brief Pause
.)

HOLMES
(
coming forward and speaking in a low clear voice, entirely calm, but showing some suppressed feeling or anxiety at the back of it
): Gentlemen, be seated again, I beg.

(
Brief pause.
SIR EDWARD
and the
COUNT
reseat themselves.
HOLMES
remains standing. He stands looking down before him for quite a while, others looking at him. He finally begins to speak in a low voice without first looking up
)

Our business to-night can be quickly disposed of. I need not tell you, gentlemen — for I have already told you — that the part I play in it is more than painful to me. But business is business — and the sooner it is over the better. You were notified to come here this evening in order that I might — (
pause
) — deliver into your hands the packet which you engaged me — on behalf of your exalted client —

(
COUNT
and
SIR EDWARD
bow slightly at “exalted client.”
)

 
— to recover. Let me say, in justice to myself, that but for that agreement on my part, and the consequent steps which you took upon the basis of it, I would never have continued with the work. As it was, however, I felt bound to do so, and therefore pursued the matter — to the very end — and I now have the honor to deliver it into your hands.

(
HOLMES
goes toward
SIR EDWARD
with the packet.
SIR EDWARD
rises and meets him.
HOLMES
places the packet in his hands,
COUNT VON STALBURG
rises and stands at his chair
.)

SIR EDWARD (formally): Permit me to congratulate you, Holmes, upon the marvellous skill you have displayed, and the promptness with which you have fulfilled your agreement.

(
HOLMES
bows slightly and turns away.
SIR EDWARD
at once breaks the seals of the packet and looks at the contents. He begins to show some surprise as he glances at one or two letters or papers and at once looks closer. He quickly motions to
COUNT
, who goes at once to him. He whispers something to him, and they both look at two or three things together
.) ,

VON STALBURG
: Oh! No! No!

SIR EDWARD
(
stopping examination and looking across to
HOLMES
): What does this mean? (
Pause
.)

(
HOLMES
turns to
SIR EDWARD
in apparent surprise
.)

These letters! And these — other things. Where did you get them?

HOLMES
: I purchased them — last night.

SIR EDWARD
: Purchased them?

HOLMES
: Quite so — quite so.

VON STALBURG
: From whom — if I may ask?

HOLMES
: From whom? From the parties interested — by consent of Miss Faulkner.

SIR EDWARD
: You have been deceived.

HOLMES
: What!

(
WATSON
rises and stands at his desk.
)

SIR EDWARD
(
excitedly
): This packet contains nothing — not a single letter or paper that we wanted. All clever imitations! The photographs are of another person! You have been duped. With all your supposed cleverness, they have tricked you! Ha! ha! ha!

VON STALBURG
: Most decidedly duped, Mr. Holmes!

(
HOLMES
turns quickly to
SIR EDWARD
.)

HOLMES
: Why, this is terrible! (
Turns back to
WATSON
. Stands looking in his face
.)

SIR EDWARD
(
astonished
): Terrible! Surely, sir, you do not mean by that, that there is a possibility you may not be able to recover them!

(
Enter
ALICE
and stands listening
.)

HOLMES
: It’s quite true!

SIR EDWARD
: After your positive assurance! After the steps we have taken in the matter by your advice! Why — why, this is — (
Turns to
COUNT
, too indignant to speak
.)

VON STALBURG
(
indignantly
): Surely, sir, you don’t mean there is no hope of it?

HOLMES
: None whatever, Count. It is too late now! I can’t begin all over again!

SIR EDWARD
: Why, this is scandalous! It is criminal, sir! You had no right to mislead us in this way, and you shall certainly suffer the consequences. I shall see that you are brought into court to answer for it, Mr. Holmes. It will be such a blow to your reputation that you —

HOLMES
: There is nothing to do, Sir Edward — I am ruined — ruined —

ALICE
(
coming forward
): He is not ruined, Sir Edward. (
quiet voice, perfectly calm and self-possessed; she draws the genuine packet from her dress
.) It is entirely owing to him and what he said to me that I now wish to give you the — (
Starting toward
SIR EDWARD
as if to hand him the packet
.)

(
HOLMES
steps forward and intercepts her with left hand extended. She stops surprised
.)

HOLMES
: One moment — (
Pause
.) Allow me. (
He takes packet from her hand
.)

(
WATSON
stands looking at the scene. Pause.
HOLMES
stands with the package in his hand looking down for a moment. He raises his head, as if he overcame weakness — glances at his watch, and turns to
SIR EDWARD
and the
COUNT
. He speaks quietly as if the climax of the tragedy were passed — the deed done.
ALICE’S
questioning gaze he plainly avoids.
)

Gentlemen — (
putting watch back in pocket
) — I notified you in my letter of this morning that the package should be produced at a quarter-past nine. It is barely fourteen past — and this is it.  The one you have there, as you have already discovered, is a counterfeit.

(
Love music
.)

(
HOLMES
turns a little, sees
ALICE
, stands looking at her.
ALICE
is  looking at
HOLMES
with astonishment and horror. She moves back a little involuntarily
.)

SIR EDWARD and VON STALBURG
(
staring up with admiration and delight as they perceive the trick
): Ah! excellent! Admirable, Mr. Holmes! It is all clear now! Really marvellous! (
To one another, etc
.) Yes — upon my word!

(
On
SIR EDWARD
and
COUNT
breaking into expressions of admiration,
WATSON
quickly moves up to them, and stops them with a quick “Sh!” All stand motionless.
HOLMES
and
ALICE
looking at one another.
HOLMES
goes quickly to
ALICE
and puts the package into her hands.
)

HOLMES
(
as he does this
): Take this, Miss Faulkner. Take it away from me, quick! It is yours. Never give it up. Use it only for what you wish!

(
Stop music.
)

SIR EDWARD
(
springing forward with a mild exclamation
):  What! We are not to have it? (
Throwing other package up stage
.)

(
VON STALBURG
gives an exclamation or look with foregoing
.)

HOLMES
(
turning from
ALICE
— but keeping left hand back upon her hands into which he put the package — as if to make her keep it. Strong — breathless — not loud — with emphatic shake of head
): No, you are not to have it.

SIR EDWARD
: After all this?

HOLMES
: After all this.

VON STALBURG
: But, my dear sir —

SIR EDWARD
: This is outrageous! Your agreement?

HOLMES
: I break it! Do what you please — warrants — summons — arrests — will find me here! (
Turns up and says under his breath to
WATSON
.) Get them out! Get them away! (
Stands by
WATSON’S
desk, his back to the audience.
)

(
Brief pause.
WATSON
moves toward
SIR EDWARD
and the
COUNT
at the back of
HOLMES
.)

WATSON
: I’m sure, gentlemen, that you will appreciate the fact — -

ALICE
(
stepping forward — interrupting
): Wait a moment, Doctor Watson! (
Going to
SIR EDWARD
.) Here is the package, Sir Edward! (
Hands it to
SIR EDWARD
at once
.)

(
WATSON
motions to
PARSONS
, off to come on
.)

HOLMES
(
turning to
ALICE
): No!

ALICE
(
to
HOLMES
): Yes — (
Turning to
HOLMES
. Pause.
) I much prefer that he should have them. Since you last came that night and asked me to give them to you, I have thought of what you said. You were right — it was revenge. (
She looks down a moment, then suddenly turns away.
)

(
HOLMES
stands motionless, near corner of desk, his eyes down.
PARSONS
enters and stands waiting with
SIR EDWARD’S
hat in his hand, which he took from off pedestal.
)

SIR EDWARD
: We are greatly indebted to you, Miss Faulkner —

(
Looks at
VON STALBURG
.)

VON STALBURG
: To be sure!

SIR EDWARD
: And to you, too, Mr. Holmes — if this was a part of the game. (
Motionless pause all round. Examining papers carefully.
COUNT
looking at them also.
) It was certainly an extraordinary method of obtaining possession of valuable papers — but we won’t quarrel with the method as long as it accomplished the desired result! Eh, Count? (
Placing package in breast pocket and buttoning coat
.)

VON STALBURG
: Certainly not, Sir Edward.

SIR EDWARD
(
turning to
HOLMES
): You have only to notify me of the charge for your services — (
ALICE
gives a little look of bitterness at the word “charge”
) — Mr. Holmes, and you will receive a cheque I have the honour to wish you — good night.