The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 8 (1/2)
”How did he come?”
”In answer to an advertisement”
”Was he the only applicant?”
”No, I had a dozen”
”Why did you pick him?”
”Because he was handy and would coes, in fact”
”Yes”
”What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?”
”Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead”
Holht as much,” said he ”Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for earrings?”
”Yes, sir He told ipsy had done it for hi back in deep thought ”He is still with you?”
”Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him”
”And has your business been attended to in your absence?”
”Nothing to co”
”That will do, Mr Wilson I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two To-day is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion”
”Well, Watson,” said Holmes when our visitor had left us, ”what do youof it,” I answered frankly ”It is a most mysterious business”
”As a rule,” said Hol is the less mysterious it proves to be It is your co, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify But Ito do, then?” I asked
”To smoke,” he answered ”It is quite a three pipe proble that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes” He curled himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of soe bird
I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and indeed was nodding esture of a man who has made up his mind and put his pipe down upon the mantelpiece
”Sarasate plays at the St James's Hall this afternoon,” he remarked ”What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare you for a few hours?”
”I have nothing to do to-day My practice is never very absorbing”