ofactionthatIturntoyouforaid.Butthisissplendid,reallyuniquefromsomepointsofview.WhenyoupassBradley’s,wouldyouaskhimtosendupapoundofthestrongestshagtobacco?Thankyou.Itwouldbeaswellifyoucouldmakeitconvenientnottoreturnbeforeevening.ThenIshouldbeverygladtocompareimpressionsastothismostinterestingproblemwhichhasbeensubmittedtousthismorning.”
Iknewthatseclusionandsolitudewereverynecessaryformyfriendinthosehoursofintensementalconcentrationduringwhichheweighedeveryparticleofevidence,constructedalternativetheories,balancedoneagainsttheother,andmadeuphismindastowhichpointswereessentialandwhichimmaterial.IthereforespentthedayatmyclubanddidnotreturntoBakerStreetuntilevening.Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenIfoundmyselfinthesitting-roomoncemore.
MyfirstimpressionasIopenedthedoorwasthatafirehadbrokenout,fortheroomwassofilledwithsmokethatthelightofthelampuponthetablewasblurredbyit.AsIentered,however,myfearsweresetatrest,foritwastheacridfumesofstrongcoarsetobaccowhichtookmebythethroatandsetmecoughing.ThroughthehazeIhadavaguevisionofHolmesinhisdressing-gowncoiledupinanarmchairwithhisblackclaypipebetweenhislips.Severalrollsofpaperlayaroundhim.
“Caughtcold,Watson?”saidhe.
“No,it’sthispoisonousatmosphere.”
“Isupposeitisprettythick,nowthatyoumentionit.”
“Thick!Itisintolerable.”
“Openthewindow,then!Youhavebeenatyourcluballday,Iperceive.”
“MydearHolmes!”
“AmIright?”
“Certainly,buthow?”
Helaughedatmybewilderedexpression.“Thereisadelightfulfreshnessaboutyou,Watson,whichmakesitapleasuretoexerciseanysmallpowerswhichIpossessatyourexpense.Agentlemangoesforthonashoweryandmiryday.Hereturnsimmaculateintheeveningwiththeglossstillonhishatandhisboots.Hehasbeenafixturethereforeallday.Heisnotamanwithintimatefriends.Where,then,couldhehavebeen?Isitnotobvious?”
“Well,itisratherobvious.”
“Theworldisfullofobviousthingswhichnobodybyanychanceeverobserves.WheredoyouthinkthatIhavebeen?”