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The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Six Napoleons

"What is it, then?" I asked.

Don't know - may be anything. But I suspect it is the sequel of the story of the statues. In that case our friend the image-breaker has begun operations in another quarter of London. There's coffee on the table, Watson, and I have a cab at the door."

In half an hour we had reached Pitt Street, a quiet little backwater just beside one of the briskest currents of London life. No. 131 was one of a row, all respectable, and most unromantic dwellings. As we drove up, we found the railings in front of the house lined by a curious crowd. Holmes whistled. "By George! it's attempted murder at the least. Nothing less will hold the London message-boy. There's a deed of violence indicated in that fellow's round shoulders and outstretched neck. What's this, Watson? The top steps swilled down and the other ones dry. Footsteps enough, anyhow! Well, well, there's Lestrade at the front window, and we shall soon know all about it."

The official received us with a very grave face and showed us into a sitting-room, where an exceedingly unkempt and agitated elderly man, clad in a flannel dressing-gown, was pacing up and down. He was introduced to us as the owner of the house -- Mr. Horace Harker, of the Central Press Syndicate.

"It's the Napoleon bust business again," said Lestrade. "You seemed interested last night, Mr. Holmes, so I thought perhaps you would be glad to be present now that the affair has taken a very much graver turn. It has turned to murder. Mr. Harker, will you tell these gentlemen exactly what has occurred?"

Vocabulary:

Sequel: the next part of the story
Backwater: A place where nothing interesting happens
Railings: An iron fance in front of a house
By George!: An old-fashioned exclamation
Swilled: Cleand by having water thrown over it
Unkempt: Untidy, not properly organized
Flannel: A type of cloth
Grave: Serious

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