Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I must
compliment you.
And I you, Holmes answered. Your red-headed idea was very new and
effective.
You ll see your pal again presently, said Jones. He s quicker at
climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the derbies.
I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands, remarked our
prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You may not be
aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the goodness, also,
when you address me always to say sir and please.
All right, said Jones with a stare and a snigger. Well, would you
please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry your
Highness to the police-station?
That is better, said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to
the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the detective.
Really, Mr. Holmes, said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them from
the cellar, I do not know how the bank can thank you or repay you.
There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most
complete manner one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery
that have ever come within my experience.
I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John
Clay, said Holmes. I have been at some small expense over this
matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond that I am
amply repaid by having had an experience which is in many ways unique,
and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the Red-headed League.
You see, Watson, he explained in the early hours of the morning as we
sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, it was perfectly
obvious from the first that the only possible object of this rather
fantastic business of the advertisement of the League, and the copying
of the _Encyclop dia_, must be to get this not over-bright pawnbroker
out of the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way of
managing it, but, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better.
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