His carriage is at the door."
"Never mind. Let him go. He will be clever if he can drive
where I cannot follow him. When you have finished come
downstairs with me, and I will introduce you to a detective who
is a very eminent specialist in the work that lies before us."
When we descended I followed Holmes into the stable yard, where
he opened the door of a loose-box and led out a squat, lop-eared,
white-and-tan dog, something between a beagle and a foxhound.
"Let me introduce you to Pompey," said he. "Pompey is the
pride of the local draghounds, no very great flier, as his build
will show, but a staunch hound on a scent. Well, Pompey, you may
not be fast, but I expect you will be too fast for a couple of
middle-aged London gentlemen, so I will take the liberty of
fastening this leather leash to your collar. Now, boy, come
along, and show what you can do." He led him across to the
doctor's door. The dog sniffed round for an instant, and then
with a shrill whine of excitement started off down the street,
tugging at his leash in his efforts to go faster. In half an hour,
we were clear of the town and hastening down a country road.
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