It was late in the afternoon before I woke, strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him, save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. He looked across at me, as I stirred, and I noticed that his face was dark and troubled.

"You have slept soundly," he said. "I feared that our talk would wake you."
"I heard nothing," I answered. "Have you had fresh news, then?"
"Unfortunately, no. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. I expected something definite by this time. Wiggins has just been up to report. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. It is a provoking check, for every hour is of importance."
"Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now, and quite ready for another night's outing."

"No, we can do nothing. We can only wait. If we go ourselves, the message might come in our absence, and delay be caused. You can do what you will, but I must remain on guard."
"Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forrester. She asked me to, yesterday."
"On Mrs. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes, with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes.

"Well, of course Miss Morstan too. They were anxious to hear what happened."
"I would not tell them too much," said Holmes. "Women are never to be entirely trusted,—not the best of them."
I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. "I shall be back in an hour or two," I remarked.
"All right! Good luck! But, I say, if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby, for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now."
I took our mongrel accordingly, and left him, together with a half-sovereign, at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane. At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures, but very eager to hear the news. Mrs. Forrester, too, was full of curiosity. I told them all that we had done, suppressing, however, the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. Thus, although I spoke of Mr. Sholto's death, I said nothing of the exact manner and method of it. With all my omissions, however, there was enough to startle and amaze them.

"It is a romance!" cried Mrs. Forrester. "An injured lady, half a million in treasure, a black cannibal, and a wooden-legged ruffian. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl."

"And two knight-errants to the rescue," added Miss Morstan, with a bright glance at me. "Why, Mary, your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich, and to have the world at your feet!"
It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. On the contrary, she gave a toss of her proud head, as though the matter were one in which she took small interest.
"It is for Mr. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious," she said. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout.

It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge."

It was evening before I left Camberwell, and quite dark by the time I reached home. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair, but he had disappeared. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note, but there was none.

"I suppose that Mr. Sherlock Holmes has gone out," I said to Mrs. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds.
"No, sir. He has gone to his room, sir. Do you know, sir," sinking her voice into an impressive whisper, "I am afraid for his health?"
"Why so, Mrs. Hudson?"

"Well, he's that strange, sir. After you was gone he walked and he walked, up and down, and up and down, until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering, and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead, with 'What is that, Mrs. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room, but I can hear him walking away the same as ever. I hope he's not going to be ill, sir. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine, but he turned on me, sir, with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room."
"I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy, Mrs. Hudson," I answered. "I have seen him like this before. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady, but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread, and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction.
At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard, with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek.

"You are knocking yourself up, old man," I remarked. "I heard you marching about in the night."
"No, I could not sleep," he answered. "This infernal problem is consuming me. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle, when all else had been overcome. I know the men, the launch, everything; and yet I can get no news. I have set other agencies at work, and used every means at my disposal. The whole river has been searched on either side, but there is no news, nor has Mrs. Smith heard of her husband. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. But there are objections to that."
"Or that Mrs. Smith has put us on a wrong scent."
"No, I think that may be dismissed. I had inquiries made, and there is a launch of that description."
"Could it have gone up the river?"
"I have considered that possibility too, and there is a search-party who will work up as far as Richmond. If no news comes to-day, I shall start off myself to-morrow, and go for the men rather than the boat. But surely, surely, we shall hear something."

We did not, however. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. There were articles in most of the papers upon the Norwood tragedy. They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto. No fresh details were to be found, however, in any of them, save that an inquest was to be held upon the following day. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies, and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. He would hardly reply to my questions, and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors, ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment.

In the early dawn I woke with a start, and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside, clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket, and a coarse red scarf round his neck.

"I am off down the river, Watson," said he. "I have been turning it over in my mind, and I can see only one way out of it. It is worth trying, at all events."
"Surely I can come with you, then?" said I.
"No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. I am loath to go, for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day, though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. I want you to open all notes and telegrams, and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. Can I rely upon you?"
"Most certainly."
"I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me, for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself. If I am in luck, however, I may not be gone so very long. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back."
I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. On opening the Standard, however, I found that there was a fresh allusion to the business. "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy," it remarked, "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. He and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, were both released yesterday evening. It is believed, however, that the police have a clue as to the real culprits, and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard, with all his well-known energy and sagacity. Further arrests may be expected at any moment."
"That is satisfactory so far as it goes," thought I. "Friend Sholto is safe, at any rate. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder."
I tossed the paper down upon the table, but at that moment my eye caught an ment in the agony column. It ran in this way:
"Lost.—Whereas Mordecai Smith, boatman, and his son, Jim, left Smith's Wharf at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora, black with two red stripes, funnel black with a white band, the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs. Smith, at Smith's Wharf, or at 221b Baker Street, as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora."

This was clearly Holmes's doing. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that. It struck me as rather ingenious, because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband.
It was a long day. Every time that a knock came to the door, or a sharp step ed in the street, I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his ment. I tried to read, but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. Could there be, I wondered, some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He was likely, I thought, to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic,—his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand.

Yet, on the other hand, I had myself seen the evidence, and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances, many of them trivial in themselves, but all tending in the same direction, I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling.

At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell, an authoritative voice in the hall, and, to my surprise, no less a person than Mr. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.
"Good-day, sir; good-day," said he. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, I understand."
"Yes, and I cannot be sure when he will be back. But perhaps you would care to wait. Take that chair and try one of these cigars."
"Thank you; I don't mind if I do," said he, mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief.
"And a whiskey-and-soda?"
"Well, half a glass. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me. You know my theory about this Norwood case?"
"I that you expressed one."
"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto, sir, when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. It's a very dark case, and my professional credit is at stake. I should be very glad of a little assistance."

"We all need help sometimes," said I.
"Your friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man, sir," said he, in a husky and confidential voice. "He's a man who is not to be beat. I have known that young man go into a good many cases, but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is irregular in his methods, and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories, but, on the whole, I think he would have made a most promising officer, and I don't care who knows it. I have had a wire from him this morning, by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. Here is the message."
He took the telegram out of his pocket, and handed it to me. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. "Go to Baker Street at once," it said. "If I have not returned, wait for me. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. You can come with us to-night if you want to be in at the finish."
"This sounds well. He has evidently picked up the scent again," said I.
"Ah, then he has been at fault too," exclaimed Jones, with evident satisfaction. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. But there is some one at the door. Perhaps this is he."
A heavy step was heard ascending the stair, with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. Once or twice he stopped, as though the climb were too much for him, but at last he made his way to our door and entered. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. He was an aged man, clad in seafaring garb, with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. His back was bowed, his knees were shaky, and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. He had a colored scarf round his chin, and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes, overhung by bushy white brows, and long gray side-whiskers. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty.

"What is it, my man?" I asked.

He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age.
"Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. "No; but I am acting for him. You can tell me any message you have for him."
"It was to him himself I was to tell it," said he.
"But I tell you that I am acting for him. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?"
"Yes. I knows well where it is. An' I knows where the men he is after are. An' I knows where the treasure is. I knows all about it."
"Then tell me, and I shall let him know."
"It was to him I was to tell it," he repeated, with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man.
"Well, you must wait for him."
"No, no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. If Mr. Holmes ain't here, then Mr. Holmes must find it all out for himself. I don't care about the look of either of you, and I won't tell a word."
He shuffled towards the door, but Athelney Jones got in front of him.

"Wait a bit, my friend," said he. "You have important information, and you must not walk off. We shall keep you, whether you like or not, until our friend returns."
The old man made a little run towards the door, but, as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it, he recognized the uselessness of resistance.
"Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried, stamping his stick. "I come here to see a gentleman, and you two, who I never saw in my life, seize me and treat me in this fashion!"

"You will be none the worse," I said. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. Sit over here on the sofa, and you will not have long to wait."
He came across sullenly enough, and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. Suddenly, however, Holmes's voice broke in upon us.

"I think that you might offer me a cigar too," he said.
We both started in our chairs. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement.
"Holmes!" I exclaimed. "You here! But where is the old man?"
"Here is the old man," said he, holding out a heap of white hair. "Here he is,—wig, whiskers, eyebrows, and all. I thought my disguise was pretty good, but I hardly expected that it would stand that test."
"Ah, You rogue!" cried Jones, highly delighted. "You would have made an actor, and a rare one. You had the proper workhouse cough, and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. I thought I knew the glint of your eye, though. You didn't get away from us so easily, You see."
"I have been working in that get-up all day," said he, lighting his cigar. "You see, a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me,—especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases: so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise like this. You got my wire?"

"Yes; that was what brought me here."
"How has your case prospered?"
"It has all come to nothing. I have had to release two of my prisoners, and there is no evidence against the other two."
"Never mind. We shall give you two others in the place of them. But you must put yourself under my orders. You are welcome to all the official credit, but you must act on the line that I point out. Is that agreed?"
"Entirely, if you will help me to the men."
"Well, then, in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat—a steam launch—to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock."

"That is easily managed. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure."

"Then I shall want two stanch men, in case of resistance."
"There will be two or three in the boat. What else?"

"When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. Let her be the first to open it.—Eh, Watson?"
"It would be a great pleasure to me."
"Rather an irregular proceeding," said Jones, shaking his head. "However, the whole thing is irregular, and I suppose we must wink at it. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation."
"Certainly. That is easily managed. One other point. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him, either here in my rooms or elsewhere, as long as he is efficiently guarded?"

Se rompe la cadena

Estaba ya bastante avanzada la tarde cuando me despert, fortalecido y reanimado. Sherlock Holmes segua sentado exactamente igual que la ltima vez que lo vi, salvo que haba dejado a un lado el violn y ahora se hallaba absorto en un libro. Me mir de refiln cuando empec a moverme y not que tena una expresin sombra y preocupada.
––Ha dormido como un tronco ––dijo––. Tem que nuestra conversacin le despertara.
––No he odo nada ––respond––. As que ha tenido nuevas noticias?
––Por desgracia, no. Confieso que estoy sorprendido y decepcionado. Esperaba tener algo concreto a estas horas. Wiggins acaba de pasar a informar. Dice que no han encontrado ni rastro de la lancha. Es un parn irritante, porque cada hora cuenta.
––Puedo hacer algo? Estoy perfectamente recuperado y listo para otra salida nocturna.
––No, no podemos hacer nada. nicamente esperar. Si salimos, el mensaje puede llegar durante nuestra ausencia y se producira un retraso. Usted haga lo que quiera, pero yo tengo que quedarme de guardia.
––En tal caso, me pasar por Camberwell y le har una visita a la seora de Cecil Forrester. Me lo pidi ayer.
––A la seora de Cecil Forrester? ––pregunt Holmes con una chispa de sonrisa en la mirada.
––Bueno, claro, y tambin a la seorita Morstan. Estaban ansiosas por enterarse de lo ocurrido.
––Yo no les contara demasiado ––dijo Holmes––. Nunca hay que fiarse del todo de las mujeres..., ni siquiera de las mejores.
No me entretuve en discutir tan despreciable opinin. Volver dentro de una o dos horas ––fue lo nico que dije.
––Muy bien. Buena suerte. Pero, oiga: si va a cruzar el ro, podra aprovechar para devolver a Toby, porque ya no creo que lo necesitemos para nada.
De manera que me llev a nuestro chucho y lo dej, junto con medio soberano, en casa del viejo naturalista de Pinchin Lane. En Camberwell encontr a la seorita Morstan un poco fatigada tras sus aventuras nocturnas, pero ansiosa por escuchar las noticias. Tambin la seora Forrester se mora de curiosidad. Les cont todo lo que habamos hecho, omitiendo, no obstante, las partes ms siniestras de la tragedia. Por ejemplo, aunque les habl de la muerte del seor Sholto, no les dije nada del mtodo exacto empleado. Sin embargo, aun con todas mis omisiones, haba material suficiente para asombrarlas y sobresaltarlas.
––Es como una novela! ––exclam la seora Forrester––. Una dama agraviada, un tesoro de medio milln, un canbal negro y un rufin con pata de palo. Vienen a sustituir al dragn y al malvado conde tradicionales.
––Y dos caballeros andantes al rescate ––aadi la seorita Morstan, dirigindome una mirada encendida. ––Caramba, Mary, del resultado de esta bsqueda depende tu fortuna. Me parece que no ests lo bastante emocionada. Imagnate lo que debe ser hacerte rica y tener el mundo a tus pies.
Sent un ligero estremecimiento de alegra al observar que aquella perspectiva no provocaba en ella ninguna muestra de entusiasmo. Por el contrario, levant su orgullosa cabeza como si aquel asunto no le interesara lo ms mnimo.
––Lo que s me preocupa es el seor Thaddeus Sholto ––dijo––. Todo lo dems carece de importancia. Pero creo que l se ha portado en todo momento como un hombre absolutamente decente y honrado, y nuestro deber es librarlo de esa terrible e infundada acusacin.
Estaba ya anocheciendo cuando me march de Camberwell y cuando llegu a casa era completamente de noche. El libro y la pipa de mi compaero estaban junto a su silln, pero l se haba esfumado. Ech un vistazo con la esperanza de encontrar una nota, pero no haba ninguna.
––Ha salido el seor Holmes? ––le pregunt a la seora Hudson cuando entr para bajar las persianas.
––No, seor. Est en su habitacin. Sabe usted, seor? ––dijo, bajando la voz hasta convertirla en un impresionante susurro––. Temo por su salud.
––Por qu dice eso, seora Hudson?
––Es que es tan raro! Cuando se march usted, se puso a andar de un lado a otro, arriba y abajo, arriba y abajo, hasta que llegu a hartarme de or sus pasos. Luego le o hablar y cuchichear solo, y cada vez que sonaba el timbre sala a la escalera a preguntar: Quin es, seora Hudson? Y ahora se ha metido en su cuarto, dando un portazo, pero le oigo pasear lo mismo que antes. Ojal no se ponga enfermo, seor. Me atrev a decirle algo sobre tomar un calmante y me mir con una mirada que no s ni cmo pude salir de la habitacin.
––No creo que haya motivos para preocuparse, seora Hudson ––respond– –. Ya lo he visto as otras veces. Tiene algn asunto en la cabeza que no le deja tranquilo.
Procur hablar con nuestra estupenda casera en tono despreocupado, pero yo mismo empec a preocuparme, porque durante toda la larga noche segu oyendo de vez en cuando el sonido apagado de sus pasos, y comprend que su espritu inquieto se rebelaba con todas sus fuerzas contra aquella inactividad involuntaria.
A la hora del desayuno lo encontr fatigado y ojeroso, con un toque de color febril en las mejillas.
––Se est usted destrozando, amigo mo ––coment––. Le he odo desfilar toda la noche.
––Es que no poda dormir ––respondi––. Este problema infernal me est consumiendo. Mira que quedarnos atascados en un obstculo tan insignificante, despus de haber superado todo lo dems! Conozco a los hombres, la lancha, todo..., y sin embargo, no me llegan noticias. He puesto en accin a otros agentes y he empleado todos los medios a mi disposicin. Se ha buscado en todo el ro por las dos orillas y no hay novedades, y tampoco la seora Smith ha sabido nada de su marido. De seguir as, habr que llegar a la conclusin de que han echado a pique la lancha. Pero existen objeciones a esta hiptesis.
––Puede que la seora Smith nos haya mandado tras una pista falsa.
––No, creo que eso podemos descartarlo. He hecho averiguaciones y existe una lancha que responde a la descripcin.
––Y no podra haber ido ro arriba?
––Tambin he considerado esa posibilidad, y tengo un grupo encargado de buscar hasta Richmond. Si hoy no llegan noticias, maana me pondr en accin personalmente, y buscar a los hombres en vez de buscar la lancha. Pero seguro, seguro, que hoy sabremos algo.
Sin embargo, no fue as. No nos lleg ni una palabra, ni de parte de Wiggins ni de los dems agentes. En casi todos los peridicos se publicaron artculos acerca de la tragedia de Norwood, y todos se mostraban bastante hostiles respecto al desdichado Thaddeus Sholto. Pero en ninguno de ellos se aportaban nuevos detalles, excepto que al da siguiente tendra lugar la investigacin judicial. Por la tarde me acerqu paseando hasta Camberwell para informar a las seoras de nuestra falta de xito, y a mi regreso encontr a Holmes abatido y de bastante mal humor. Apenas se dign responder a mis preguntas y estuvo toda la noche ocupado en un abstruso anlisis qumico que inclua mucho calentamiento de retortas y destilacin de vapores, culminando en un olor tan desagradable que casi me expuls del apartamento. Hasta las primeras horas de la madrugada estuve oyendo el tintineo de sus tubos de ensayo, que me indicaba que continuaba enfrascado en su maloliente experimento.
Empezaba a amanecer cuando me despert sobresaltado y me sorprendi verlo de pie junto a mi cama, vestido con toscas ropas de marinero, con chaquetn y una spera bufanda roja al cuello.
––Me voy ro abajo, Watson ––dijo––. He estado dndole vueltas al asunto y no veo ms que una salida. En cualquier caso, vale la pena intentarlo.
––Podr ir con usted, verdad? ––pregunt.
––No; ser usted mucho ms til si se queda aqu en representacin ma. No me hace gracia marcharme, porque es muy posible que llegue algn mensaje durante el da, aunque anoche Wiggins se mostr bastante pesimista. Quiero que abra usted todas las notas y telegramas que lleguen, y acte segn su propio criterio si llega alguna noticia. Puedo contar con usted?
––Naturalmente que s.
––Me temo que no podr telegrafiarme, porque no puedo decirle dnde voy a estar. Pero si tengo suerte, no estar fuera mucho tiempo. Y cuando regrese, tendr noticias de una u otra clase.
A la hora del desayuno, an no haba sabido nada de l. Pero al abrir el Standard encontr publicada una nueva alusin al caso:
Con respecto a la tragedia de Upper Norwood, tenemos motivos para creer que el asunto promete ser aun ms complicado y misterioso de lo que se supona en principio. Nuevas averiguaciones han demostrado que es completamente imposible que el seor Thaddeus Sholto estuviera implicado en modo alguno. Tanto l como el ama de llaves, la seora Bernstone, fueron puestos en libertad ayer por la tarde. No obstante, se cree que la polica dispone de una pista acerca de los verdaderos culpables, que est siendo seguida por el inspector Athelney Jones, de Scotland Yard, con toda la energa y sagacidad que le han hecho famoso. Se esperan nuevas detenciones en cualquier momento.
Hasta cierto punto, esto marcha bien ––pens––. Por lo menos, el amigo Sholto est a salvo. Me pregunto cul ser esa nueva pista, aunque ms parece una frmula estereotipada para decir que la polica ha metido la pata.
Dej el peridico sobre la mesa, pero en aquel momento mis ojos se fijaron en un anuncio de la seccin de personales. Deca as:
DESAPARECIDO.–– Mordecai Smith, barquero, y su hijo Jim zarparon del embarcadero de Smith a eso de las tres de la madrugada del martes pasado, en la lancha de vapor Aurora, negra con dos franjas rojas, chimenea negra con franja blanca. Se pagar la suma de cinco libras a quien pueda dar informacin sobre el paradero del mencionado Mordecai Smith y de la lancha Aurora a la seora Smith, en el embarcadero, o en el 22111 de Baker Street.
Aquello era, sin duda, obra de Holmes. La direccin de Baker Street bastaba para demostrarlo. Me pareci bastante ingenioso, porque los fugitivos podan leerlo sin ver en ello ms que la angustia natural de una esposa por la desaparicin de su marido.
El da se me hizo largusimo. Cada vez que llamaban a la puerta o se oan pasos rpidos por la calle, me imaginaba que era Holmes que volva o alguien que vena en respuesta a su anuncio. Intent leer algo, pero mis pensamientos se desviaban constantemente hacia nuestra extraa bsqueda y la pintoresca y maligna pareja a la que perseguamos. Era posible, me preguntaba, que existiera un fallo de raz en el razonamiento de mi compaero? No podra haber cometido un error monumental? Caba la posibilidad de que su mente gil y especulativa hubiera elaborado toda aquella descabellada teora sobre una base equivocada? Que yo supiera, nunca se haba equivocado, pero hasta el razonador ms agudo puede engaarse de vez en cuando. Pens que era probable que hubiera cado en el error a causa del excesivo refinamiento de su lgica, de su preferencia por las explicaciones sutiles y extravagantes cuando tena a mano otras ms vulgares y sencillas. Pero por otra parte, yo mismo haba visto las pruebas y haba escuchado las razones de sus deducciones. Si repasaba la larga cadena de curiosas circunstancias ––muchas de ellas triviales en s mismas, pero todas apuntando en la misma direccin––, no poda dejar de pensar que, aun en el caso de que la explicacin de Holmes resultara errnea, la verdadera tena que ser igualmente extravagante y sorprendente.
A las tres en punto de la tarde o un fuerte timbrazo en la puerta y una voz autoritaria en el vestbulo y, con gran sorpresa por mi parte, se present en nuestro cuarto nada menos que el seor Athelney Jones. Sin embargo, se le vea muy diferente del brusco y dominante profesor de sentido comn que con tanta confianza se haba hecho cargo del caso de Upper Norwood. Traa una expresin abatida y sus modales eran suaves, casi como si se disculpara.
––Buenos das, seor, buenos das ––dijo––. Tengo entendido que el seor Holmes ha salido.
––S, y no s a ciencia cierta cundo regresar. Pero si quiere esperarle, puede sentarse en esa butaca y fumar uno de estos cigarros.
––Gracias, no tengo inconveniente ––dijo, secndose el sudor de la cara con un pauelo rojo estampado.
––Y un whisky con soda?
––Bueno, medio vaso. Hace mucho calor para esta poca del ao y he tenido bastantes problemas y dificultades. Conoce usted mi teora acerca del caso de Norwood?
––Recuerdo slo que expuso una.
––Bueno, me he visto obligado a reconsiderarla. Tena ya al seor Sholto bien atrapado en mis redes cuando, zas, se me cuela por un agujero. Consigui presentar una coartada imposible de echar abajo. Desde el instante en que sali de la habitacin de su hermano, estuvo en todo momento a la vista de una u otra persona, as que no pudo ser l quien trep por los tejados y se meti por las trampillas. Es un caso muy complicado y me juego en l mi prestigio profesional. Me vendra muy bien una pequea ayuda.
––Todos necesitamos ayuda de vez en cuando ––dije yo.
––Su amigo, el seor Sherlock Holmes, es un hombre maravilloso ––dijo en tono ronco y confidencial––. No hay quien pueda con l. He visto a ese jovencito meter la nariz en un buen montn de casos, y an no ha habido un caso en el que no haya podido arrojar algo de luz. Sus mtodos son irregulares, y tal vez se precipita un poco al inventar teoras, pero, en conjunto, creo que habra sido un polica muy prometedor, y no me importa decirlo. Esta maana he recibido un telegrama suyo, dando a entender que dispone de alguna pista en el caso Sholto. Aqu est su mensaje.
Sac el telegrama del bolsillo y me lo entreg. Se haba enviado desde Poplar, a las doce. Vaya inmediatamente a Baker Street ––deca––. Si an no he regresado, espreme. Sigo de cerca la pista de la banda del caso Sholto. Si quiere intervenir en el final, puede acompaarnos esta noche.
––Esto suena bien. Est claro que ha vuelto a encontrar el rastro ––dije.
––Ah!, entonces es que tambin l haba fallado ––exclam Jones, con evidente satisfaccin––. Hasta los mejores nos despistamos alguna que otra vez. Claro que esto podra ser una falsa alarma, pero mi deber como agente de la ley es no pasar por alto ninguna posibilidad. Ah!, hay alguien en la puerta. Tal vez sea l.
Se oyeron unos pasos inseguros que suban por la escalera, acompaados de fuertes resoplidos y jadeos, como de un hombre que tiene grandes dificultades para respirar. Se detuvo un par de veces, como si el ascenso fuera demasiado fatigoso para l, pero al fin consigui llegar a nuestra puerta y entrar. Su aspecto cuadraba bien con los sonidos que habamos odo. Era un hombre de edad avanzada, vestido de marinero, con un viejo chaquetn abotonado hasta el cuello. Tena la espalda doblada, le temblaban las rodillas y su respiracin era dolorosamente asmtica. Se apoyaba en un grueso bastn de roble y sus hombros se alzaban con esfuerzo para aspirar aire hacia los pulmones. Llevaba una bufanda de colores tapndole la barbilla y pude ver poco de su cara, aparte de un par de ojos oscuros y penetrantes, enmarcados por unas cejas blancas y pobladas y un par de largas patillas grises. En conjunto, me dio la impresin de un respetable patrn de barco cargado de aos y empobrecido.
––Qu desea, buen hombre? ––pregunt.
El hombre mir a su alrededor al estilo lento y metdico de los ancianos.
––Est aqu el seor Sherlock Holmes? ––pregunt. ––No, pero yo acto en su nombre. Puede darme cualquier mensaje que traiga para l.
––Tena que decrselo a l en persona.
––Pero ya le digo que acto en su nombre. Es algo referente a la lancha de Mordecai Smith?
––S. Yo s muy bien dnde est. Y s dnde estn los hombres que busca. Y s dnde est el tesoro. Lo s todo.
––Pues dgamelo y yo se lo har saber.
––Tena que decrselo a l ––insisti, con la obstinacin petulante de un hombre muy viejo.
––Pues tendr que esperar a que venga.
––Ni hablar. No voy a perder todo un da para dar gusto a nadie. Si el seor Holmes no est, el seor Holmes tendr que averiguarlo todo por su cuenta. No me gusta el aspecto de ninguno de ustedes dos y no pienso decir ni una palabra.
Arrastr los pies hacia la puerta, pero Athelney Jones se le puso delante.
––Un momento, amigo ––dijo––. Usted posee informacin importante y no debe marcharse. Le guste o no, vamos a retenerlo aqu hasta que regrese nuestro amigo.
El anciano intent una carrerita hacia la puerta, pero al ver que Athelney Jones apoyaba en ella su ancha espalda se convenci de la inutilidad de su resistencia.
––Bonita manera de tratarle a uno! ––exclam, golpeando el suelo con su bastn––. Vengo aqu a ver a un caballero y dos tipos a los que no he visto en mi vida me sujetan y me tratan de esta manera.
––No perder nada con esto ––dije––. Le recompensaremos por el tiempo perdido. Sintese ah, en el sof, y no tendr que esperar mucho.
El hombre cruz la habitacin de muy mal humor y se sent con la cara apoyada en las manos. Jones y yo seguimos fumando y reanudamos nuestra charla. Pero de pronto, son sobre nuestras cabezas la voz de Holmes.
––Ya podran ustedes ofrecerme tambin a m un cigarro ––dijo.
Los dos dimos un salto en nuestros asientos. All estaba Holmes, sentado junto a nosotros, con expresin de tranquilo regocijo.
––Holmes! ––exclam––. Usted aqu! Pero... dnde est el anciano?
––Aqu est el anciano ––dijo Holmes, extendiendo un montn de pelo blanco––. Aqu lo tiene. Peluca, patillas, cejas y todo lo dems. Estaba convencido de que mi disfraz era bastante bueno, pero no esperaba que llegara a superar esta prueba.
––Qu bribn! ––exclam Jones, absolutamente encantado––. Habra podido ser actor, y de los buenos. Tena la tos exacta de un viejo del asilo, y esas piernas temblorosas valen diez libras a la semana. Aun as, me pareci reconocer el brillo de sus ojos. Ya ve que no es tan fcil burlarnos.
––Llevo todo el da actuando con este disfraz ––dijo Holmes, mientras encenda un cigarro––. Resulta que ya empieza a conocerme un buen nmero de de la clase criminal, sobre todo desde que a nuestro amigo, aqu presente, le dio por publicar algunos de mis casos. As que ya slo puedo recorrer el sendero de guerra bajo algn disfraz sencillo, como ste. Recibi usted mi telegrama?
––S, por eso he venido.
––Qu tal va progresando su caso?
––Todo se ha quedado en nada. He tenido que soltar a dos de mis detenidos y no hay pruebas contra los otros dos.
––No se preocupe. Le proporcionaremos otros dos a cambio de sos. Pero tiene usted que ponerse a mis rdenes. Puede usted quedarse con todo el crdito oficial, pero tiene que actuar tal como yo le indique. Est de acuerdo?
––Por completo, si me ayuda a cazar a esos hombres.
––Muy bien. En primer lugar, necesitar una lancha rpida de la polica, una lancha de vapor, que debe estar en el embarcadero de Westminster a las siete en punto.
––Eso se arregla fcilmente. Siempre hay una por all. Pero para estar seguro puedo cruzar la calle y telefonear.
––Tambin necesitar dos hombres fuertes y valientes, por si ofrecen resistencia.
––Habr dos o tres en la lancha. Qu ms?
––Cuando atrapemos a los hombres, nos haremos con el tesoro. Creo que para este amigo mo sera un placer llevarle personalmente la caja a la joven a quien pertenece por derecho la mitad. Que sea ella la primera en abrirla. Eh, Watson?
––Sera un gran placer para m.
––Es un procedimiento bastante irregular ––dijo Jones, meneando la cabeza––. Sin embargo, el asunto entero es irregular, y supongo que tendremos que hacer la vista gorda. Pero luego habr que entregar el tesoro a las autoridades hasta que concluya la investigacin oficial.
––Desde luego. Eso es fcil de arreglar. Una cosa ms: me gustara que el propio Jonathan Small me explicara algunos detalles del caso. Ya sabe usted que me gusta dejar resueltos mis casos hasta el ltimo detalle. Hay alguna objecin a que mantenga una entrevista extraoficial con l, aqu en mis habitaciones o en cualquier otro lugar, tenindolo en todo momento convenientemente vigilado?
––Bueno, usted controla la situacin. An no tengo ninguna prueba de la existencia de ese Jonathan Small, pero si es usted capaz de atraparlo, no veo por qu iba a negarme a que hable con l.
––De acuerdo, pues?
––Por completo. Hay algo ms?
––Slo que insisto en que cene usted con nosotros. La cena estar lista en media hora. Tengo ostras y gallo de bosque, con una buena seleccin de vinos blancos. Watson, usted todava no ha apreciado mis habilidades de ama de casa.