There　was　an　inrush　of　police；　the　handcuffs　clicked　and　the
  criminals　were　led　to　the　waiting　cab。　Watson　lingered　with　Holmes；
  congratulating　him　upon　this　fresh　leaf　added　to　his　laurels。　Once
  more　their　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　imperturbable　Billy
  with　his　card…tray。
  〃Lord　Cantlemere；　sir。〃
  〃Show　him　up；　Billy。　This　is　the　eminent　peer　who　represents　the
  very　highest　interests；〃　said　Holmes。　〃He　is　an　excellent　and　loyal
  person；　but　rather　of　the　old　regime。　Shall　we　make　him　unbend？　Dare
  we　venture　upon　a　slight　liberty？　He　knows；　we　may　conjecture；　nothing
  of　what　has　occurred。〃
  The　door　opened　to　admit　a　thin；　austere　figure　with　a　hatchet
  face　and　drooping　mid…Victorian　whiskers　of　a　glossy　blackness　which
  hardly　corresponded　with　the　rounded　shoulders　and　feeble　gait。　Holmes
  advanced　affably；　and　shook　an　unresponsive　hand。
  〃How　do　you　do；　Lord　Cantlemere？　It　is　chilly　for　the　time　of
  year；　but　rather　warm　indoors。　May　I　take　your　overcoat？〃
  〃No；　I　thank　you；　I　will　not　take　it　off。〃
  Holmes　laid　his　hand　insistently　upon　the　sleeve。
  〃Pray　allow　me！　My　friend　Dr。　Watson　would　assure　you　that　these
  changes　of　temperature　are　most　insidious。〃
  His　Lordship　shook　himself　free　with　some　impatience。
  〃I　am　quite　comfortable；　sir。　I　have　no　need　to　stay。　I　have
  simply　looked　in　to　know　how　your　self…appointed　task　was
  progressing。〃
  〃It　is　difficult…　very　difficult。〃
  〃I　feared　that　you　would　find　it　so。〃
  There　was　a　distinct　sneer　in　the　old　courtier's　words　and　manner。
  〃Every　man　finds　his　limitations；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　at　least　it
  cures　us　of　the　weakness　of　self…satisfaction。〃
  〃Yes；　sir；　I　have　been　much　perplexed。〃
  〃No　doubt。〃
  〃Especially　upon　one　point。　Possibly　you　could　help　me　upon　it？〃
  〃You　apply　for　my　advice　rather　late　in　the　day。　I　thought　that
  you　had　your　own　all…sufficient　methods。　Still；　I　am　ready　to　help
  you。〃
  〃You　see；　Lord　Cantlemere；　we　can　no　doubt　frame　a　case　against
  the　actual　thieves。〃
  〃When　you　have　caught　them。〃
  〃Exactly。　But　the　question　is…　how　shall　we　proceed　against　the
  receiver？〃
  〃Is　this　not　rather　premature？〃
  〃It　is　as　well　to　have　our　plans　ready。　Now；　what　would　you　regard
  as　final　evidence　against　the　receiver？〃
  〃The　actual　possession　of　the　stone。〃
  〃You　would　arrest　him　upon　that？〃
  〃Most　undoubtedly。〃
  Holmes　seldom　laughed；　but　he　got　as　near　it　as　his　old　friend
  Watson　could　remember。
  〃In　that　case；　my　dear　sir；　I　shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity
  of　advising　your　arrest。〃
  Lord　Cantlemere　was　very　angry。　Some　of　the　ancient　fires
  flickered　up　into　his　sallow　checks。
  〃You　take　a　great　liberty；　Mr。　Holmes。　In　fifty　years　of　official
  life　I　cannot　recall　such　a　case。　I　am　a　busy　man；　sir；　engaged　upon
  important　affairs；　and　I　have　no　time　or　taste　for　foolish　jokes。　I
  may　tell　you　frankly；　sir；　that　I　have　never　been　a　believer　in　your
  powers；　and　that　I　have　always　been　of　the　opinion　that　the　matter　was
  far　safer　in　the　hands　of　the　regular　police　force。　Your　conduct
  confirms　all　my　conclusions。　I　have　the　honour；　sir；　to　wish　you
  good…evening。〃
  Holmes　had　swiftly　changed　his　position　and　was　between　the　peer　and
  the　door。
  〃One　moment；　sir；〃　said　he。　〃To　actually　go　off　with　the　Mazarin
  stone　would　be　a　more　serious　offence　than　to　be　found　in　temporary
  possession　of　it。〃
  〃Sir；　this　is　intolerable！　Let　me　pass。〃
  〃Put　your　hand　in　the　right…hand　pocket　of　your　overcoat。〃
  〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃
  〃Come…　come；　do　what　I　ask。〃
  An　instant　later　the　amazed　peer　was　standing；　blinking　and
  stammering；　with　the　great　yellow　stone　on　his　shaking　palm。
  〃What！　What！　How　is　this；　Mr。　Holmes？〃
  〃Too　bad；　Lord　Cantlemere；　too　bad！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃My　old　friend
  here　will　tell　you　that　I　have　an　impish　habit　of　practical　joking。
  Also　that　I　can　never　resist　a　dramatic　situation。　I　took　the　liberty…
  the　very　great　liberty；　I　admit…　of　putting　the　stone　into　your　pocket
  at　the　beginning　of　our　interview。〃
  The　old　peer　stared　from　the　stone　to　the　smiling　face　before　him。
  〃Sir；　I　am　bewildered。　But…　yes…　it　is　indeed　the　Mazarin　stone。
  We　are　greatly　your　debtors；　Mr。　Holmes。　Your　sense　of　humour　may；
  as　you　admit；　be　somewhat　perverted；　and　its　exhibition　remarkably
  untimely；　but　at　least　I　withdraw　any　reflection　I　have　made　upon　your
  amazing　professional　powers。　But　how…〃
  〃The　case　is　but　half　finished；　the　details　can　wait。　No　doubt；　Lord
  Cantlemere；　your　pleasure　in　telling　of　this　successful　result　in
  the　exalted　role　to　which　you　return　will　be　some　small　atonement
  for　my　practical　joke。　Billy；　you　will　show　his　Lordship　out；　and　tell
  Mrs。　Hudson　that　I　should　be　glad　if　she　would　send　up　dinner　for
  two　as　soon　as　possible。〃
  …THE　END…
  。