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were as unlike those of Holmes； the sleuth…hound； Holmes the
relentless； keen…witted； ready…handed criminal agent； as it was
possible to conceive。 In his singular character the dual nature
alternately asserted itself； and his extreme exactness and
astuteness represented； as I have often thought； the reaction
against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally
predominated in him。 The swing of his nature took him from
extreme languor to devouring energy； and； as I knew well； he was
never so truly formidable as when； for days on end； he had been
lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his
black…letter editions。 Then it was that the lust of the chase
would suddenly come upon him； and that his brilliant reasoning
power would rise to the level of intuition； until those who were
unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a
man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals。 When I saw him
that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St。 James's Hall I
felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set
himself to hunt down。
〃You want to go home； no doubt； Doctor；〃 he remarked as we
emerged。
〃Yes； it would be as well。〃
〃And I have some business to do which will take some hours。
This business at Coburg Square is serious。〃
〃Why serious？〃
〃A considerable crime is in contemplation。 I have every
reason to believe that we shall be in time to stop it。 But to…day
being Saturday rather complicates matters。 I shall want your help
to…night。〃
〃At what time？〃
〃Ten will be early enough。〃
〃I shall be at Baker Street at ten。〃
〃Very well。 And； I say； Doctor； there may be some little
danger； so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket。〃 He
waved his hand； turned on his heel； and disappeared in an instant
among the crowd。
I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours； but I was
always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings
with Sherlock Holmes。 Here I had heard what he had heard； I had
seen what he had seen； and yet from his words it was evident that
he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to
happen； while to me the whole business was still confused and
grotesque。 As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought
over it all； from the extraordinary story of the red…headed copier
of the Encyclopaedia down to the visit to Saxe…Coburg Square； and
the ominous words with which he had parted from me。 What was this
nocturnal expedition； and why should I go armed？ Where were we
going； and what were we to do？ I had the hint from Holmes that
this smooth…faced pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable mana
man who might play a deep game。 I tried to puzzle it out； but
gave it up in despair and set the matter aside until night should
bring an explanation。
It was a quarter…past nine when I started from home and made
my way across the Park； and so through Oxford Street to Baker
Street。 Two hansoms were standing at the door； and as I entered
the passage I heard the sound of voices from above。 On entering
his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men； one
of whom I recognized as Peter Jones； the official police agent；
while the other was a long； thin； sad…faced man； with a very shiny
hat and oppressively respectable frock…coat。
〃Ha！ our party is complete；〃 said Holmes； buttoning up his
pea…jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack。
〃Watson； I think you know Mr。 Jones； of Scotland Yard？ Let me
introduce you to Mr。 Merryweather； who is to be our companion in
to…night's adventure。〃
〃We're hunting in couples again； Doctor； you see；〃 said Jones
in his consequential way。 〃Our friend here is a wonderful man for
starting a chase。 All he wants is an old dog to help him to do
the running down。〃
〃I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our
chase；〃 observed Mr。 Merryweather gloomily。
〃You may place considerable confidence in Mr。 Holmes； sir；〃
said the police agent loftily。 〃He has his own little methods；
which are； if he won't mind my saying so； just a little too
theoretical and fantastic； but he has the makings of a detective
in him。 It is not too much to say that once or twice； as in that
business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure； he has been
more nearly correct than the official force。〃
〃Oh； if you say so； Mr。 Jones； it is all right；〃 said the
stranger with deference。 〃Still； I confess that I miss my rubber。
It is the first Saturday night for seven…and…twenty years that I
have not had my rubber。〃
〃I think you will find；〃 said Sherlock Holmes； 〃that you will
play for a higher stake to…night than you have ever done yet； and
that the play will be more exciting。 For you； Mr。 Merryweather；
the stake will be some 30；000 pounds； and for you； Jones； it will be the
man upon whom you wish to lay your hands。〃
〃John Clay； the murderer； thief； smasher； and forger。 He's a
young man； Mr。 Merryweather； but he is at the head of his
profession； and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on
any criminal in London。 He's a remarkable man； is young John
Clay。 His grandfather was a royal duke； and he himself has been
to Eton and Oxford。 His brain is as cunning as his fingers； and
though we meet signs of him at every turn； we never know where to
find the man himself。 He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week；
and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next。
I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him
yet。〃
〃I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you
to…night。 I've had one or two little turns also with Mr。 John
Clay； and I agree with you that he is at the head of his
profession。 It is past ten； however； and quite time that we
started。 If you two will take the first hansom； Watson and I will
follow in the second。〃
Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long
drive and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard
in the afternoon。 We rattled through an endless labyrinth of
gas…lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street。
〃We are close there now；〃 my friend remarked。 〃This fellow
Merryweather is a bank director； and personally interested in the
matter。 I thought it as well to have Jones with us also。 He is
not a bad fellow； though an absolute imbecile in his profession。
He has one positive virtue。 He is as brave as a bulldog and as
tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone。 Here we
are； and they are waiting for us。〃
We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had
found ourselves in the morning。 Our cabs were dismissed； and；
following the guidance of Mr。 Merryweather； we passed down a
narrow passage and through a side door； which he opened for us。
Within there was a small corridor； which ended in a very massive
iron gate。 This also was opened； and led down a flight of winding
stone steps； which terminated at another formidable gate。 Mr。
Merryweather stopped to light a lantern； and then conducted us
down a dark； earth…smelling passage； and so； after opening a third
door； into a huge vault or cellar； which was piled all round with
crates and massive boxes。
〃You are not very vulnerable from above；〃 Holmes remarked as
he held up the lantern and gazed about him。
〃Nor from below；〃 said Mr。 Merryweather； striking his stick
upon the flags which lined the floor。 〃Why； dear me； it sounds
quite hollow！〃 he remarked； looking up in surprise。
〃I must really ask you to be a little more quiet！〃 said Holmes
severely。 〃You have already imperilled the whole success of our
expedition。 Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit
down upon one of those boxes； and not to interfere？〃
The solemn Mr。 Merryweather perched himself upon a crate； with
a very injured expression upon his face； while Holmes fell upon
his knees upon the floor and； with the lantern and a magnifying
lens； began to examine minutely the cr