Holmes replied, “We wait like spiders and…” he raised an eyebrow, “No disrespect Hopkins, I have my best men…..well, boys on the job.”
“You mean the irregulars, Holmes?” I asked.
“Yes, as we speak they have been sitting and watching across the road from all of the expensive French restaurants selling newspapers, matches and generally blending in invisibly as though they were bricks in the wall for the past two days, collecting their usual daily fee and a Guinea reward for the successful Irregular who spots them. As soon as the fat man is spotted they will telegram to me here and I plan to hasten there and follow him back to his lair. Also, if you look outside you will see Wiggins with his Hansom waiting at my call.”
Wiggins was, by this point, a strong weather beaten young man of four and twenty, tall and rugged, but with a quick wit and charm. He had outgrown the Irregulars, but as to how he could have afforded a hansom at such a young age I did not know, but I rather suspect my friend was behind it. Moreover I also suspect that it was to the great benefit of Holmes having a driver that knew every street as well as he did but also to have access to every scrap of gossip and criminality that was happening within the city’s streets. He was currently hired exclusively for Holmes as he went about his investigations.
I went to the window and saw him sitting upright at the driver's seat smoking a pipe. Whilst observing this scene I saw Mrs. Hudson taking him a mug of tea and a sandwich which he rewarded her with a huge grin. Mrs. Hudson had grown exceedingly fond of Wiggins after he had finally learnt to remove his dirty boots before going up to see Holmes whilst still an Irregular. She was delighted to see him move up in the world and never missed an opportunity to mother him in his not infrequent appearances to Baker Street.
After a pipe, Inspector Hopkins took his leave to return to Scotland Yard and send off instructions to the south coast police in the search for the violin maker. Holmes also asked him to keep a couple of strong constables free to assist when he had tracked down the two men’s hideout.
At 6pm I was called to an urgent case from one of my nearby regular patients who was complaining of a recurring malady. By 7pm I had reassured myself that it was a simple case, prescribed some medication and returned to Baker Street to find both my friend and Wiggins gone.
My curiosity in the matter had led to such a distraction that I found myself unable to concentrate on anything for more than a minute. I stood by the windows smoking more than I usually allowed myself in a day. I paced back and forth in the sitting room; I tried to read a medical journal but barely took in a word. Would Holmes send for me? In a final effort to distract myself I decided to take out and spent twenty minutes cleaning and oiling my trusty Revolver that had certainly seen more action in London than it had ever in the Far East.
Darkness had descended into Baker Street when I felt someone gentle shake me and I awoke to find Holmes looking down on me.
“Holmes, what time is it? What happened? Did you catch them?”
“Watson, one question at a time please. Come and have a seat by the fire whilst we light our pipes and then I will give you a full account of the matter.”
We seated ourselves on our armchairs and I waited till we had gotten our pipes alight. In a fug of smoke Sherlock began, “About 20 minutes after you had gone I received a telegram from young Johnston who had been observing ‘L’Escargot’ in King William street near the monument informing me that our Fat man was seen to enter. Wiggins made excellent speed along the Euston road and down the City Road reaching our destination within 45 minutes of receiving the telegram. We arrived just in time to be told by Johnston that the Fat man had left about 5 minutes previously. I paid Johnston and told him to wait and follow the Thin man when he left.
“And you went in to wait for the Thin man to show up?” I asked.
“Yes, I bid Wiggins to wait nearby and entered the Restaurant. I sat at the nearest table I could find to the entrance and awaited the appearance of the Thin man. There, within plain sight was a familiar looking violin case. The Thin man didn’t disappoint either and some 10 minutes later he arrived, smartly dressed as Monsieur Jonquet described. His interaction took less than 5 minutes and off he scurried. Almost if upon a stage production, a quarter of an hour later brought back the Fat man to whom the Owner now treated like a long lost relative and off they went to a back office, doubtless to conclude a deal on the violin.”
“He was soon back and straight back outside. I knew they would probably be meeting together nearby. I followed with a plan of myself tackling the Thin man and Wiggins the fat man. One thing that area doesn’t lack is plenty of policemen on the beat so I knew there would be backup if required.”