Chapter X The End of the Islander

Ourmealwasamerryone.Holmescouldtalkexceedinglywellwhenhechose,andthatnighthedidchoose.Heappearedtobeinastateofnervousexaltation.Ihaveneverknownhimsobrilliant.Hespokeonaquicksuccessionofsubjects,—onmiracle-plays,onmedi?valpottery,onStradivariusviolins,ontheBuddhismofCeylon,andonthewar-shipsofthefuture,—handlingeachasthoughhehadmadeaspecialstudyofit.Hisbrighthumourmarkedthereactionfromhisblackdepressionoftheprecedingdays.AthelneyJonesprovedtobeasociablesoulinhishoursofrelaxation,andfacedhisdinnerwiththeairofabonvivant.Formyself,Ifeltelatedatthethoughtthatwewerenearingtheendofourtask,andIcaughtsomethingofHolmes’sgaiety.Noneofusalludedduringdinnertothecausewhichhadbroughtustogether. Whentheclothwascleared,Holmesglancedathiswatch,andfilledupthreeglasseswithport.“Onebumper,”saidhe,“tothesuccessofourlittleexpedition.Andnowitishightimewewereoff.Haveyouapistol,Watson?” “Ihavemyoldservice-revolverinmydesk.” “Youhadbesttakeit,then.Itiswelltobeprepared.Iseethatthecabisatthedoor.Iordereditforhalf-pastsix.” ItwasalittlepastsevenbeforewereachedtheWestminsterwharf,andfoundourlaunchawaitingus.Holmeseyeditcritically. “Isthereanythingtomarkitasapolice-boat?” “Yes,—thatgreenlampattheside.” “Thentakeitoff.” Thesmallchangewasmade,westeppedonboard,andtheropeswerecastoff.Jones,Holmes,andIsatinthestern.Therewasonemanattherudder,onetotendtheengines,andtwoburlypolice-inspectorsforward. “Whereto?”askedJones. “TotheTower.TellthemtostopoppositeJacobson’sYard.” Ourcraftwasevidentlyaveryfastone.Weshotpastthelonglinesofloadedbargesasthoughtheywerestationary.Holmessmiledwithsatisfactionasweoverhauledariversteamerandleftherbehindus. “Weoughttobeabletocatchanythingontheriver,”hesaid. “Well,hardlythat.Buttherearenotmanylaunchestobeatus.” “WeshallhavetocatchtheAurora,andshehasanameforbeingaclipper.Iwilltellyouhowthelandlies,Watson.YourecollecthowannoyedIwasatbeingbalkedbysosmallathing?” “Yes.” “Well,Igavemymindathoroughrestbyplungingintoachemicalanalysis.Oneofourgreateststatesmenhassaidthatachangeofworkisthebestrest.Soitis.WhenIhadsucceededindissolvingthehydrocarbonwhichIwasatworkat,IcamebacktoourproblemoftheSholtos,andthoughtthewholematteroutagain.Myboyshadbeenuptheriveranddowntheriverwithoutresult.Thelaunchwasnotatanylanding-stageorwharf,norhaditreturned.Yetitcouldhardlyhavebeenscuttledtohidetheirtraces,—thoughthatalwaysremainedasapossiblehypothesisifallelsefailed.IknewthismanSmallhadacertaindegreeoflowcunning,butIdidnotthinkhimcapableofanythinginthenatureofdelicatefinesse.Thatisusuallyaproductofhighereducation.IthenreflectedthatsincehehadcertainlybeeninLondonsometime—aswehadevidencethathemaintainedacontinualwatchoverPondicherryLodge—hecouldhardlyleaveatamoment’snotice,butwouldneedsomelittletime,ifitwereonlyaday,toarrangehisaffairs.Thatwasthebalanceofprobability,atanyrate.” “Itseemstometobealittleweak,”saidI.“Itismoreprobablethathehadarrangedhisaffairsbeforeeverhesetoutuponhisexpe