Strona 577 z 657

I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so

I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away

for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that

his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he

came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there

he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the

other, as fresh and trim as possible.

"You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but

you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this

morning."

"Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be

surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring."