Ourmealwasamerryone.Holmescouldtalkexceedinglywellwhenhechose,andthatnighthedidchoose.Heappearedtobeinastateofnervousexaltation.Ihaveneverknownhimsobrilliant.Hespokeonaquicksuccessionofsubjects,—onmiracle-plays,onmedi?valpottery,onStradivariusviolins,ontheBuddhismofCeylon,andonthewar-shipsofthefuture,—handlingeachasthoughhehadmadeaspecialstudyofit.Hisbrighthumourmarkedthereactionfromhisblackdepressionoftheprecedingdays.AthelneyJonesprovedtobeasociablesoulinhishoursofrelaxation,andfacedhisdinnerwiththeairofabonvivant.Formyself,Ifeltelatedatthethoughtthatwewerenearingtheendofourtask,andIcaughtsomethingofHolmes’sgaiety.Noneofusalludedduringdinnertothecausewhichhadbroughtustogether.
Whentheclothwascleared,Holmesglancedathiswatch,andfilledupthreeglasseswithport.“Onebumper,”saidhe,“tothesuccessofourlittleexpedition.Andnowitishightimewewereoff.Haveyouapistol,Watson?”
“Ihavemyoldservice-revolverinmydesk.”
“Youhadbesttakeit,then.Itiswelltobeprepared.Iseethatthecabisatthedoor.Iordereditforhalf-pastsix.”
ItwasalittlepastsevenbeforewereachedtheWestminsterwharf,andfoundourlaunchawaitingus.Holmeseyeditcritically.
“Isthereanythingtomarkitasapolice-boat?”
“Yes,—thatgreenlampattheside.”
“Thentakeitoff.”
Thesmallchangewasmade,westeppedonboard,andtheropeswerecastoff.Jones,Holmes,andIsatinthestern.Therewasonemanattherudder,onetotendtheengines,andtwoburlypolice-inspectorsforward.
“Whereto?”askedJones.
“TotheTower.TellthemtostopoppositeJacobson’sYard.”
Ourcraftwasevidentlyaveryfastone.Weshotpastthelonglinesofloadedbargesasthoughtheywerestationary.Holmessmiledwithsatisfactionasweoverhauledariversteamerandleftherbehindus.
“Weoughttobeabletocatchanythingontheriver,”hesaid.
“Well,hardlythat.Buttherearenotmanylaunchestobeatus.”
“WeshallhavetocatchtheAurora,andshehasanameforbeingaclipper.Iwil