Chapter VIII The Baker Street Irregulars

icalknowledgeandhispowersofminuteobservationhaveenabledhimtoproveconclusivelythatthemiscreantscouldnothaveenteredbythedoororbythewindow,butmusthavemadetheirwayacrosstheroofofthebuilding,andsothroughatrap-doorintoaroomwhichcommunicatedwiththatinwhichthebodywasfound.Thisfact,whichhasbeenveryclearlymadeout,provesconclusivelythatitwasnomerehaphazardburglary.Thepromptandenergeticactionoftheofficersofthelawshowsthegreatadvantageofthepresenceonsuchoccasionsofasinglevigorousandmasterfulmind.Wecannotbutthinkthatitsuppliesanargumenttothosewhowouldwishtoseeourdetectivesmoredecentralised,andsobroughtintocloserandmoreeffectivetouchwiththecaseswhichitistheirdutytoinvestigate.” “Isn’titgorgeous!”saidHolmes,grinningoverhiscoffee-cup.“Whatdoyouthinkofit?” “Ithinkthatwehavehadacloseshaveourselvesofbeingarrestedforthecrime.” “SodoI.Iwouldn’tanswerforoursafetynow,ifheshouldhappentohaveanotherofhisattacksofenergy.” Atthismomenttherewasaloudringatthebell,andIcouldhearMrs.Hudson,ourlandlady,raisinghervoiceinawailofexpostulationanddismay. “Byheaven,Holmes,”Isaid,halfrising,“Ibelievethattheyarereallyafterus.” “No,it’snotquitesobadasthat.Itistheunofficialforce,—theBakerStreetirregulars.” Ashespoke,therecameaswiftpatteringofnakedfeetuponthestairs,aclatterofhighvoices,andinrushedadozendirtyandraggedlittlestreet-Arabs.Therewassomeshowofdisciplineamongthem,despitetheirtumultuousentry,fortheyinstantlydrewupinlineandstoodfacinguswithexpectantfaces.Oneoftheirnumber,tallerandolderthantheothers,stoodforwardwithanairofloungingsuperioritywhichwasveryfunnyinsuchadisreputablelittlescarecrow. “Gotyourmessage,sir,”saidhe,“andbrought’emonsharp.Threebobandatannerfortickets.” “Hereyouare,”saidHolmes,producingsomesilver.“Infuturetheycanreporttoyou,Wiggins,andyoutome.Icannothavethehouseinvadedinthisway.However,itisjustaswellthatyoushouldallheartheinstructions.IwanttofindthewhereaboutsofasteamlaunchcalledtheAurora,ownerMordecaiSmith,blackwithtworedstreaks,funnelblackwithawhiteband.Sheisdowntheriversomewhere.IwantoneboytobeatMordecaiSmith’slanding-stageoppositeMillbanktosayiftheboatcomesback.Youmustdivideitoutamongyourselves,anddobothbanksthoroughly.Letmeknowthemomentyouhavenews.Isthatallclear?” “Yes,guv’nor,”saidWiggins. “Theoldscaleofpay,andaguineatotheboywhofindstheboat.Here’sadayinadvance.Nowoffyougo!”Hehandedthemashillingeach,andawaytheybuzzeddownthestairs,andIsawthemamomentlaterstreamingdownthestreet. “Ifthelaunchisabovewatertheywillfindher,”saidHolmes,asherosefromthetableandlithispipe.“Theycangoeverywhere,seeeverything,overheareveryone.Iexpecttohearbeforeeveningthattheyhavespottedher.Inthemeanwhile,wecandonothingbutawaitresults.WecannotpickupthebrokentrailuntilwefindeithertheAuroraorMr.MordecaiSmith.” “Tobycouldeatthesescraps,Idaresay.Areyougoingtobed,Holmes?” “NoIamnottired.Ihaveacuriousconstitution.Ineverrememberfeelingtiredbywork,thoughidlenessexhaustsmecompletely.Iamgoingtosmokeandtothinkoverthisqueerbusinesstowhichmyfairclienthasintroducedus.Ifevermanhadaneasytask,thisofoursoughttobe.Wooden-l