Wiggins, as soon as he understood my whispers, proved himself to be the lieutenant that Holmes called him, sending the other boys scurrying to deal with the papers and the carpet while he and Mrs. Hudson between them dragged our prisoner away to be sluiced down. I stumbled to my feet, meaning to collect Holmes' stash of morphine. He'd give them no trouble if he were drugged insensible. But the room spun and I had to sit again.
A hand nudged mine, holding a dripping towel. "Here, Doctor," said Alfie. "It's my turn to tell you to wash your neck."