The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 22 (1/2)

There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of it Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical adviser, and as such I had influence over hie it better if I were alone I promised her on my word that I would send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the address which she had given me And so in ten -rooe errand, as it seeh the future only could sho strange it was to be

But there was no great difficulty in the first stage ofbehind the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of London Bridge Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search

Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and , low room, thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced ooden berths, like the forecastle of an elooe fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcoliht, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the metal pipes The most lay silent, but soether in a strange, low, ushes, and then suddenly tailing off into silence, eachlittle heed to the words of his neighbour At the farther end was a sed wooden stool there sat a tall, thin oldupon his two fists, and his elbows upon his knees, staring into the fire

As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe forme to an empty berth

”Thank you I have not come to stay,” said I ”There is a friend of mine here, Mr Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with hiht, and peering through the gloo out at me

”My God! It's Watson,” said he He was in a pitiable state of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter ”I say, Watson, what o'clock is it?”

”Nearly eleven”

”Of what day?”

”Of Friday, June 19th”

”Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday It is Wednesday What d'you want to frighten a chap for?” He sank his face onto his arh treble key

”I tell you that it is Friday,this two days for you You should be ashaot mixed, Watson, for I have only been here a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how hten Kate--poor little Kate

Give ”

”Then I shall go in it But IFind what I owe, Watson I a for e between the double row of sleepers, holding , and looking about for the er As I passed the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, ”Walk past me, and then look back at lanced down They could only have come from the old man at my side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opiuh it had dropped in sheer lassitude froers I took two steps forward and looked back It took allout into a cry of astonishment He had turned his back so that none could see hione, the dull eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holht motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the co, loose-lipped senility

”Hol in this den?”

”As low as you can,” he answered; ”I have excellent ears If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you”

”I have a cab outside”

”Then pray send him home in it You et into any mischief I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to say that you have thrown in your lot with me If you ait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes”

It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holly definite, and put forith such a quiet air of mastery I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab my mission was practically acco better than to be associated with ular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence In a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led hih the darkness In a very short tied fro down the street with Sherlock Hol with a bent back and an uncertain foot

Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened hihter

”I suppose, Watson,” said he, ”that you i to cocaine injections, and all the other little weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical views”

”I was certainly surprised to find you there”

”But not more so than I to find you”