The Secret Files of Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free PDF Page A

on Phillimore’s regularity of habits and I think that it is in this aspect of his personality that we shall find the answer to his secret. But first I want to return to Laburnum Grove at the same hour of the morning in which Phillimore disappeared. Although Charlie Nelson and Mrs Bennet both swore they saw nothing unusual, I am convinced something must have occurred but so ordinary that neither of them noticed it. Whenever there is an apparent mystery, one should always look to the commonplace in order to solve it. But few people do. They prefer the mystery to its solution. It is this tendency on the part of human nature on which depends the success of the stage magician or illusionist.’ He gave me an oblique glance as if inviting my comment but, as I did not then understand the significance of his remark, I said nothing and, after a brief silence, he continued, ‘Will you be free early tomorrow, Watson? I propose taking a cab to Clapham and observing for myself exactly what occurs in Laburnum Grove at half past seven in the morning.’
    ‘I shall be delighted to accompany you, provided it won’t take too long. I have an appointment at ten o’clock with a patient.’
    ‘A patient!’ Holmes exclaimed, throwing up his hands in mock surprise. ‘This is such a rare occurrence, Watson, that I shall make myself personally responsible for seeing that you are returned to your consulting room in good time.’
    The following morning, I again presented myself at 221B Baker Street where I joined Holmes for an early breakfast. A hansom had been ordered for seven o’clock and we set off once more in the direction of Clapham, through half-empty streets, looking clean and dazzling-bright in the morning sunshine afteran overnight shower which had laid the dust and left the leaves on the trees glistening as if newly washed.
    As we turned into Laburnum Grove, Holmes instructed the driver to draw up on the opposite side of the road to number seventeen and a little distance from it, from which position we had an excellent view not only of Phillimore’s garden gate but a good stretch of the street as well.
    Several people passed down the road in the direction of Lavender Hill, by their appearance and attire mostly clerks and shop-assistants on their way to their respective places of employment and, after a few minutes’ wait, we were rewarded by the sight of Charlie Nelson turning the corner from Magnolia Terrace, at precisely half past seven.
    I saw him hesitate at the gate of number seventeen and glance across at the house, as if reminding himself of his erstwhile companion’s extraordinary disappearance and then, on drawing level with our hansom, cast another glance in its direction, surprised no doubt at the presence of a cab in the area at that hour of the morning. But I comforted myself with the thought that Holmes and I were sitting too far back inside the vehicle for him to see us.
    It was as this idea struck me that I heard Holmes give an involuntary exclamation but not, as I first thought, at Nelson’s interest in our cab. His gaze was fixed on another vehicle which had come slowly plodding into view on the opposite side of the road.
    It was a baker’s van, drawn by a tired-looking pony, not the type of conveyance to attract anyone’s attention and yet Holmes was watching with keen interest as the bread delivery man, a tall youth of about eighteen or so, dressed in a cap and a long white apron, climbed down off his seat and, taking his basket from the rear of the vehicle, opened the gate to Phillimore’s house, walked down the path and disappeared from sight into the passage which ran along the side of the building.
    Meanwhile, the pony, well used, it seemed, to this morning routine, ambled slowly along the street to a gate a few doors along where it waited for its driver.
    Within a few moments, the delivery man had reappeared but,before I could comment on Holmes’ evident interest in the man’s activities, Holmes had