’un’ protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a

bet,” said he. “I daresay that if I had put £ 100 down in front of

him, that man would not have given me such complete information as was drawn

from him by the idea that he was doing me on a wager. Well, Watson, we are, I

fancy, nearing the end of our quest, and the only point which remains to be

determined is whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or

whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what that surly

fellow said that there are others besides ourselves who are anxious about the

matter, and I should—”


His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke out from the

stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a little rat-faced fellow

standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the

swinging lamp, while Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his

stall, was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure.


“I’ve had enough of you and your geese,” he shouted. “I

wish you were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more with

your silly talk I’ll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and

I’ll answer her, but what have you to do with it? Did I buy the geese off

you?”


“No; but one of them was mine all the same,” whined the little man.


“Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it.”


“She told me to ask you.”


“Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I’ve had

enough of it. Get out of this!” He rushed fiercely forward, and the

inquirer flitted away into the darkness.


“Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road,” whispered Holmes.

“Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fellow.”

Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring

stalls, my companion speedily overtook the little man and touched him upon the