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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 Saxe…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 neighbors； 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 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 thirty thousand 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 gaslit
streets until we emerged into Farringdon 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。