Chapter VI Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

now!Didn’tItellyou!”criedthepoorlittleman,throwingouthishands,andlookingfromonetotheotherofus. “Don’ttroubleyourselfaboutit,Mr.Sholto,”saidHolmes.“IthinkthatIcanengagetoclearyouofthecharge.” “Don’tpromisetoomuch,Mr.Theorist,—don’tpromisetoomuch!”snappedthedetective.“Youmayfinditahardermatterthanyouthink.” “NotonlywillIclearhim,Mr.Jones,butIwillmakeyouafreepresentofthenameanddescriptionofoneofthetwopeoplewhowereinthisroomlastnight.Hisname,Ihaveeveryreasontobelieve,isJonathanSmall.Heisapoorly-educatedman,small,active,withhisrightlegoff,andwearingawoodenstumpwhichiswornawayupontheinnerside.Hisleftboothasacoarse,square-toedsole,withanironbandroundtheheel.Heisamiddle-agedman,muchsunburned,andhasbeenaconvict.Thesefewindicationsmaybeofsomeassistancetoyou,coupledwiththefactthatthereisagooddealofskinmissingfromthepalmofhishand.Theotherman—” “Ah!theotherman—?”askedAthelneyJones,inasneeringvoice,butimpressednonetheless,asIcouldeasilysee,bytheprecisionoftheother’smanner. “Isarathercuriousperson,”saidSherlockHolmes,turninguponhisheel.“Ihopebeforeverylongtobeabletointroduceyoutothepairofthem.—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.”