Holmes had not returned to our rooms by the time dusk had settled into darkness, and I was just beginning to wonder what had become of him when I heard a tread upon the stair. That it was not my friend was evident from the footsteps; but I laid down my pipe and went to the door, curious as to who our visitor could be.
"Lestrade!" I exclaimed, recognising the familiar figure who was now trailing somewhat wearily up our staircase. He looked no better than when I had seen him last, and I felt compelled to ask, "But what are you doing here? I thought you were to go home to your bed."
"So I would have done by now, Dr. Watson, if I hadn't had a telegram from Mr. Holmes asking me to be here at six o'clock," he answered me, looking about the room for some sign of my friend's presence.
"He is not here yet," I explained, "But I dare say he will not be long, if he has asked you to join us. Come and sit down while we wait." I made sure Lestrade had the chair nearest the fire before sitting down myself; then I asked,
"Did Holmes tell you what he was about?"
"Not exactly; all I could gather was that he wanted to know whether there had been any robberies reported at a pawnbroker's shop near Blackfriars. There's been nothing that I know of; and I don't see what bearing it has on the matter in hand, either. It's Miller I am after, not anyone else. I hope he has not dragged me out on a wild goose-chase."
"I am sure he has not," I soothed my ruffled companion. "I know he had high hopes of catching Miller when I last saw him; if he has called you out it must be because he is certain of laying his hands on the fellow tonight."
Lestrade shrugged, and repressed a shiver. "Well, I suppose Mr. Holmes has been right in these things before," he admitted grudgingly. "Although I still don't see what McNulty's pawnbroking shop has to do with it."
I was about to explain to him the discovery of the pawnbroker's ticket which had so excited Holmes earlier in the day when the hurried steps of a new arrival were heard upon the stair; this time it was Holmes himself, for he threw open the door and strode in, regarding us both with an air of satisfaction.
"I believe we have him, Watson," he announced. "Lestrade, I am pleased you could join us; you may yet have Miller in the bag tonight. There have been no disturbances reported yet at McNulty's shop, I take it?"
"No, Mr. Holmes; but…"
"That is good. And you have done as I asked?"
"Yes; there are six men stationed within hailing distance of the place, in addition to the regular beat constable."
"Excellent!" Holmes glanced at the clock. "Then I suggest we delay no longer; there is a cab waiting outside."
We followed him to the waiting four-wheeler, Lestrade casting inquiring glances at me on the way. As I knew little more than he, I was unable to provide an answer; but Holmes called to the cab driver as we climbed aboard,
"Tarleton Street."
The question of our destination settled, he took the seat opposite me and glanced across at Lestrade, who was seated by the far window, wearing a rather sorry expression.
"I hope it was not too much of an inconvenience for you to come tonight, Lestrade, but I supposed you would rather be present at Miller's arrest yourself than give that satisfaction to one of your colleagues."
"Most definitely, Mr Holmes," agreed our companion fervently, before launching into another of his coughing fits as our cab lurched over a pot-hole.
Holmes winced. "There is no need for you to return the favour by sharing your unfortunate malady with us," he protested. "Watson, is there nothing you can do about it?"
"No, Holmes. Certainly not here."
"It is vital that there be no unnecessary sound to alert anyone to our presence during tonight's proceedings," he went on, looking pointedly at Lestrade.
"I'll try my best, Mr. Holmes," said the little detective, in a nettled tone. This answer did not appear to appease Holmes entirely, but he accepted it for the moment. We rode in silence the rest of the way to Tarleton Street, where the cab eventually pulled up in front of a small pawnbroker's establishment. The shutters were up for the night; but Holmes walked smartly up to the door and rapped upon it with his cane. We waited as the bolts were drawn back from inside, and the door opened a crack.
"Is this how you usually treat old friends, McNulty?" demanded Holmes. "I fail to see how we can have our rubber if you will not let us in."
The door opened fully, revealing a little, balding, middle-aged man. What remained of his hair stood up untidily around his crown, as if he had been running his fingers through it, and his eyes darted nervously behind a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles; but there was only the faintest tremor to his voice as he answered,
"You can never be too careful these days; don't you read your newspapers? But come in, come in, boys; the table's ready and waiting."
We stepped into the shop after the little pawnbroker, and waited as he shut and bolted the door once more.
"There has been no sign of anyone so far, I take it, Mr. McNulty?" queried Holmes, when this operation was done.
"No, Mr. Holmes, no one. I have done exactly as you told me. But are you sure it will be safe? I don't ask for myself, you understand, but my wife and the children are upstairs."
"I thought I recommended you to send them to a safe place for the night?" said Holmes sharply.
"My wife refuses to go, Mr. Holmes. She refuses to be frightened out of her home by a common criminal, she says." McNulty gave a nervous shrug. "She seems to be confident of your ability to catch the villain before he causes any danger." He looked doubtfully at us in the dim light of the shop.
"She must be a courageous woman," I said.
McNulty brightened. "I suppose that is so. And the children take after her, for it was all I could do to persuade them not to come down and join us."
Holmes gave a distant smile. "I think we will manage well enough without their help, although your eldest lad was certainly enthusiastic about his prospects as a detective when I met him earlier."
"If he would attend better to his work than to yellow-backed novels I would be better pleased," grumbled McNulty. "It was he who issued the pawn-ticket which started this business, half-wit that he is."
"Pawn-ticket?" queried Lestrade, who had followed this exchange in evident confusion. "What…"
"There is no time to explain now," interrupted Holmes. "Miller may arrive at any minute; he will be desperate enough to take the risk of coming earlier than we might otherwise expect. You will show us where we may remain concealed in the shop, Mr. McNulty."
The pawnbroker led us behind the shop counter, and gestured to a space cleared beneath it.
"It is the best I could do, gentlemen," he apologised.
"It will serve," answered Holmes. "Will you stay with us?"
"If you wish me to do so, Mr. Holmes; if you are sure my wife and the children will be safe upstairs." McNulty's answer spoke much for his own courage, for he was obviously half-terrified by the prospect of meeting our murderous quarry. He could not quite hide his relief when Holmes replied,
"On second thoughts, it would perhaps be better if you were there to restrain your boys from joining the fray. Will you turn down the gas on your way? Thank you."
"Of course, gentlemen. Good luck." McNulty hurried back to his family before we could change our minds, turning down the gas to such a level that we were left in almost complete blackness. We squeezed ourselves into the space he had left us, although it was scarce large enough for three grown men, and I feared the cramped conditions would begin to tell upon us before long.
"Is there really nowhere else for us to sit, Holmes?" I protested.
"It appears not," replied my friend with a mixture of resignation and suppressed amusement. "It is as well none of us are particularly large; although friend McNulty does seem to be under the impression that we are a pygmy tribe."
"Are we going to be here long, Mr. Holmes?" asked Lestrade, in a tone which could not quite disguise the fact that he was shivering violently beside me.
"You are cold," observed Holmes. "I trust we will not be here all night; however, the possibility is a very real one. Patience, Lestrade; I think you will find it is well rewarded. Until then, we can only wait."
