? ? ? ? "You take my breath away!"
? ? ? ? "I found him in the hands of a faker and took the liberty of running him just as he was sent over."
? ? ? ? "My dear sir, you have done wonders. The horse looks very fit and well. It never went better in its life. I owe you a thousand apologies for having doubted your ability. You have done me a great service by recovering my horse. You would do me a greater still if you could lay your hands on the murderer of John Straker."
? ? ? ? "I have done so," said Holmes quietly.
? ? ? ? The colonel and I stared at him in amazement. "You have got him! Where is he, then?"
? ? ? ? "He is here."
? ? ? ? "Here! Where?"
? ? ? ? "In my company at the present moment."
? ? ? ? The colonel flushed angrily. "I quite recognize that I am under obligations to you, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but I must regard what you have just said as either a very bad joke or an insult."
? ? ? ? Sherlock Holmes laughed. "I assure you that I have not associated you with the crime, Colonel," said he. "The real murderer is standing immediately behind you." He stepped past and laid his hand upon the glossy neck of the thoroughbred.
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