Holmes. Such a conflagration would have saved no considerable trouble and expense. (Strolls over to L., near fire.)
Watson. Tell me, how did you know all that?
Holmes (turning to L. of table—pointing). Too simple to talk about. (Pointing at Watson's shoe.) Scratches and clumsy cuts—on the side of shoe there just where the fire strikes it, somebody scraped away crusted mud—and did it badly—badly. There's your wet feet and careless servant all on one foot. Face badly shaved on one side—used to be on left—light must come from other side—couldn't well move your window—must have moved your dressing. table. (Goes to mantel L. and gets cocaine, etc.)
Watson. Yes, by Jove! But my medical practice—I don't see how you
Holmes (glancing up grieved). Now, Watson! How perfectly absurd of you to come marching in here, fairly reeking with the odour of iodoform, and with the black mark of nitrate of silver on the inner side of your right forefinger and ask me how I know
Watson (interrupting with a laugh). Ha! ha! of course. But how the deuce did you know my wife was away and
Holmes (breaking in). Where the deuce is your second waistcoat button, and what the deuce is yesterday's boutonniére doing in to-day's lapel—and why the deuce do you wear the expression of a
Watson (toying with a cigarette in chair R. of table and laughing). Ha, ha, ha!
Holmes. Ho! (Sneer.) Elementary! The child's play of deduction!
(Holmes has a neat morocco case and a phial in hand, which he brings to the table and lays carefully upon it. As Watson sees Holmes with the open case he looks restless and apparently annoyed at what Holmes is about to do, throwing cigarette on table. Holmes opens the case and takes therefrom a hypodermic syringe, carefully adjusting the needle. Fills from phial. Then rolls back left cuff of shirt a little. Pauses, looks at arm or wrist a moment. Inserts needle. Presses piston home.)
(Music. A weird bar or two—keeping on a strange pulsation on one note for cocaine bus. Begin as Holmes fills syringe.)
(Watson has watched him with an expression of deep anxiety, but with effort to restrain himself from speaking.)
Watson (as Holmes puts needle in case again. Finally speaks). Which is it to-day? Cocaine or morphine or
Holmes. Cocaine, my dear fellow. I'm back to my old love. A seven per cent. solution. (Offering syringe and phial.) Would you like to try some?
Watson (emphatically—rise). Certainly not.
Holmes (as if surprised). Oh! I'm sorry!
