I suppose you
might say she was handsome. Perhaps some would say she was
very handsome. `Oh, officer, do let me have a peep!' says she.
She had pretty, coaxing ways, as you might say, and I thought there
was no harm in letting her just put her head through the door."
"How was she dressed?"
"Quiet, sir -- a long mantle down to her feet."
"What time was it?"
"It was just growing dusk at the time. They were lighting the
lamps as I came back with the brandy."
"Very good," said Holmes. "Come, Watson, I think that we have
more important work elsewhere."
As we left the house Lestrade remained in the front room,
while the repentant constable opened the door to let us out.
Holmes turned on the step and held up something in his hand.
The constable stared intently.
"Good Lord, sir!" he cried, with amazement on his face.
Holmes put his finger on his lips, replaced his hand in his
breast-pocket, and burst out laughing as we turned down the street.
"Excellent!" said he. "Come, friend Watson, the curtain rings
up for the last act. You will be relieved to hear that there
will be no war, that the Right Honourable Trelawney Hope will
suffer no set-back in his brilliant career, that the indiscreet
Sovereign will receive no punishment for his indiscretion, that
the Prime Minister will have no European complication to deal
with, and that with a little tact and management upon our part
nobody will be a penny the worse for what might have been a very
ugly incident.
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