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I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me

back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say

before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."

The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said

he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at

the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At

present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it

may have an influence upon European history."

"I promise," said Holmes.

"And I."

"You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The

august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to

you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have

just called myself is not exactly my own."

"I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly.