Considering the events of the last minute, his voice was remarkably clam. He turned toward Holmes, whose lips were twitching, from self-castigation, no doubt.
'Mr. Holmes, I have committed no crime. Destruction of one's own property does not warrant that accusation. I have merely fulfilled my destiny. The debt has been paid. I leave you with the Golden Bird and my heartfelt thanks.'
Before Holmes or I could think of a thing to say, he was gone. It sounds ridiculous but I swear he departed in a far more agile manner than he had entered.
Alone in our chambers, Holmes and I stared at each other. The climax of this strange case had certainly been unanticipated. A wry smile played round the mouth of the great detective.
' 'Ol chap, after all our adventures, it is you and I who end up with the statue. You might well say that we have been given the Bird.'
About the Author
Physician, medical researcher, and man of letters, John Hamish Watson was the most painstaking and diligent biographer to grace the printed page. Born of an English father and Scottish mother in 1852, he spent his boyhood in Australia, returning to England to take his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1878. Following a tour of Army duty in India, he was invalided back to England. There, because of the famous chance meeting with young Stamford at the Criterion Bar, he came in contact with that man who was to become his intimate friend and companion. The rest is history.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GOLDEN BIRD
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
An original Pinnacle Books edition, published for the first time anywhere.
First printing, September 1979 ISBN: 0-523-40616-9 Cover illustration by David Mann
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