beforeverylongtobeabletointroduceyoutothepairofthem.—Awordwithyou,Watson.”
Heledmeouttotheheadofthestair.“Thisunexpectedoccurrence,”hesaid,“hascausedusrathertolosesightoftheoriginalpurposeofourjourney.”
“Ihavejustbeenthinkingso,”Ianswered.“ItisnotrightthatMissMorstanshouldremaininthisstrickenhouse.”
“No.Youmustescortherhome.SheliveswithMrs.CecilForrester,inLowerCamberwell:soitisnotveryfar.Iwillwaitforyouhereifyouwilldriveoutagain.Orperhapsyouaretootired?”
“Bynomeans.Idon’tthinkIcouldrestuntilIknowmoreofthisfantasticbusiness.Ihaveseensomethingoftheroughsideoflife,butIgiveyoumywordthatthisquicksuccessionofstrangesurprisesto-nighthasshakenmynervecompletely.Ishouldlike,however,toseethematterthroughwithyou,nowthatIhavegotsofar.”
“Yourpresencewillbeofgreatservicetome,”heanswered.“Weshallworkthecaseoutindependently,andleavethisfellowJonestoexultoveranymare’s-nestwhichhemaychoosetoconstruct.WhenyouhavedroppedMissMorstanIwishyoutogoontoNo.3,PinchinLane,downnearthewater’sedgeatLambeth.Thethirdhouseontheright-handsideisabird-stuffer’s:Shermanisthename.Youwillseeaweaselholdingayoungrabbitinthewindow.KnockoldShermanup,andtellhim,withmycompliments,thatIwantTobyatonce.YouwillbringTobybackinthecabwithyou.”
“Adog,Isuppose.”
“Yes,—aqueermongrel,withamostamazingpowerofscent.IwouldratherhaveToby’shelpthanthatofthewholedetectiveforceofLondon.”
“Ishallbringhim,then,”saidI.“Itisonenow.Ioughttobebackbeforethree,ifIcangetafreshhorse.”
“AndI,”saidHolmes,“shallseewhatIcanlearnfromMrs.Bernstone,andfromtheIndianservant,who,Mr.Thaddeustellme,sleepsinthenextgarret.ThenIshallstudythegreatJones’smethodsandlistentohisnottoodelicatesarcasms.‘WirsindgewohntdasdieMenschenverh?hnenwassienichtverstehen.’Goetheisalwayspithy.”