Этюд в багровых тонах
Light in the Darkness.
Themereknowingofhisnameisasmallthing,however,comparedwiththepoweroflayingourhandsuponhim.ThisIexpectveryshortlytodo. Ihavegoodhopesofmanagingitthroughmyownarrangements;butitisathingwhichneedsdelicatehandling,forwehaveashrewdanddesperatemantodealwith,whoissupported,asIhavehadoccasiontoprove,byanotherwhoisascleverashimself. Aslongasthismanhasnoideathatanyonecanhaveacluethereissomechanceofsecuringhim;butifhehadtheslightestsuspicion,hewouldchangehisname,andvanishinaninstantamongthefourmillioninhabitantsofthisgreatcity. Withoutmeaningtohurteitherofyourfeelings,IamboundtosaythatIconsiderthesementobemorethanamatchfortheofficialforce,andthatiswhyIhavenotaskedyourassistance. IfIfailIshall,ofcourse,incuralltheblameduetothisomission;butthatIampreparedfor. AtpresentIamreadytopromisethattheinstantthatIcancommunicatewithyouwithoutendangeringmyowncombinations,Ishalldoso.”
GregsonandLestradeseemedtobefarfromsatisfiedbythisassurance,orbythedepreciatingallusiontothedetectivepolice. Theformerhadflusheduptotherootsofhisflaxenhair,whiletheother’sbeadyeyesglistenedwithcuriosityandresentment. Neitherofthemhadtimetospeak,however,beforetherewasatapatthedoor,andthespokesmanofthestreetArabs,youngWiggins,introducedhisinsignificantandunsavouryperson.
“Please,sir,”hesaid,touchinghisforelock,“Ihavethecabdownstairs.”
