A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson, M.D.
Ourprisoner’sfuriousresistancedidnotapparentlyindicateanyferocityinhisdispositiontowardsourselves,foronfindinghimselfpowerless,hesmiledinanaffablemanner,andexpressedhishopesthathehadnothurtanyofusinthescuffle. “Iguessyou’regoingtotakemetothepolice-station,”heremarkedtoSherlockHolmes. “Mycab’satthedoor. Ifyou’llloosemylegsI’llwalkdowntoit. I’mnotsolighttoliftasIusedtobe.”
GregsonandLestradeexchangedglancesasiftheythoughtthispropositionratheraboldone;butHolmesatoncetooktheprisonerathisword,andloosenedthetowelwhichwehadboundroundhisancles. Heroseandstretchedhislegs,asthoughtoassurehimselfthattheywerefreeoncemore. IrememberthatIthoughttomyself,asIeyedhim,thatIhadseldomseenamorepowerfullybuiltman;andhisdarksunburnedfaceboreanexpressionofdeterminationandenergywhichwasasformidableashispersonalstrength.
“Ifthere’savacantplaceforachiefofthepolice,Ireckonyouarethemanforit,”hesaid,gazingwithundisguisedadmirationatmyfellow-lodger. “Thewayyoukeptonmytrailwasacaution.”
“Youhadbettercomewithme,”saidHolmestothetwodetectives.
“Icandriveyou,”saidLestrade.
“Good!andGregsoncancomeinsidewithme. Youtoo,Doctor,youhavetakenaninterestinthecaseandmayaswellsticktous.”