Yes

Then called ?

He might

He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry ?

Yes

call for help, you thought ?

Yes He waved his hands

But it cry of surprise Astonishment unexpected sight of cause him to throw up his hands ?

possible

And you thought pulled back ?

He disappeared so suddenly

leaped back anyone else room ?

No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, Lascar was foot stairs

Quite so Your husband, as far as , had his ordinary clothes on ?

But without his collar or tie I distinctly saw his bare throat

Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane ?

Never

Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium ?

Never

, Mrs St Clair Those are the principal points I wished absolutely clear now have little supper and then retire, for very busy day to-morrow

large and comfortable double-bedded room placed at our disposal, and quickly sheets, for weary after my night of adventure Sherlock Holmes was man, however, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for days, and even for week, without rest, turning it over, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his data were insufficient soon evident that now preparing for an all-night sitting off his coat and waistcoat, put on large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered room collecting pillows bed and cushions sofa and armchairs he constructed sort of Eastern divan, he perched himself cross-legged, with an ounce of shag tobacco and box of matches laid out in front of him dim light lamp him sitting there, an old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly corner ceiling, the blue smoke curling up , silent, motionless, light shining upon his strong-set aquiline features So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he sat when sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and the summer sun shining apartment The pipe was still between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, room was full of dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained heap of shag which I had seen previous night

Awake, Watson ? he asked

Yes

Game for morning drive ?

Certainly

Then dress No one is stirring yet, but where the stable-boy sleeps, and soon have the trap out He chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and different man sombre thinker previous night

As I dressed I glanced at my watch no wonder that no one was stirring twenty-five minutes past four I had hardly finished when Holmes returned news boy was putting horse

to test little theory , said he, pulling boots , Watson, that now standing presence of absolute fools in Europe I deserve kicked from here to Charing Cross But the key affair now

And where ? I asked, smiling

bathroom, he answered Oh, yes, not joking, he continued, seeing my look of incredulity just been there, and taken it out, and got it Gladstone bag Come on, my boy, and see whether fit the lock

our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out bright morning sunshine road stood our horse and trap, half-clad stable-boy waiting head We both sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road few country carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables metropolis, but the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as some city in dream

in some points singular case, said Holmes, flicking the horse on into gallop I confess that as blind as mole, but better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all

In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily from their windows drove streets Surrey side Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply right and found ourselves in Bow Street Sherlock Holmes was well known force, two constables door saluted him held the horses head while the other led us in

on duty ? asked Holmes

Inspector Bradstreet, sir

Ah, Bradstreet, how ? tall, stout official had come down the stone-flagged passage, in peaked cap and frogged jacket quiet word , Bradstreet Certainly, Mr Holmes Step into my room here small, office-like room, with huge ledger table, and telephone projecting wall The inspector sat down at his desk

What can , Mr Holmes ?

I called beggarman, Boone-the one who was charged with being concerned disappearance of Mr Neville St Clair, of Lee

Yes brought up and remanded for further inquiries

So I heard him here ?

cells

Is he quiet ?

Oh, no trouble But dirty scoundrel

Dirty ?

Yes, all do him wash his hands, face is as black as tinkers Well, when once his case settled, regular prison bath; and , saw him, agree with me that it

like him

Would you ? easily done Come leave your bag

No, that Ill take it

Come , please He led us down passage, opened barred door, passed down winding stair, and brought us to whitewashed corridor with line of doors on each side

The third right is his, said the inspector Here ! He quietly shot back panel upper part door and glanced through

asleep, said he You him

We both put our eyes grating The prisoner lay face towards us, in very deep sleep, breathing slowly and heavily middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his calling, with coloured shirt protruding rent tattered coat , inspector had said, extremely dirty, but the grime which covered his face conceal its repulsive ugliness broad wheal from an old scar ran right across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up one side upper lip, three teeth were exposed in perpetual snarl shock of very bright red hair grew low over his eyes and forehead

Hes beauty, isnt he ? said the inspector

He certainly needs wash, remarked Holmes I had an idea that he might, and the liberty of bringing the tools with me He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my astonishment, very large bath-sponge

He ! he ! funny one, chuckled the inspector

Now, if the great goodness to open that door very quietly, soon make him cut much more respectable figure

Well, I dont know , said the inspector He doesnt look credit Bow Street cells, does he ? He slipped his key lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell The sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into deep slumber Holmes stooped waterjug, moistened his sponge, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the prisoners face

Let me introduce you, he shouted, to Mr Neville St Clair, of Lee, county of Kent