? ? ? ? "There! there!" said Holmes soothingly, patting him upon the shoulder. "It was too bad to spring it on you like this, but Watson here will tell you that I never can resist a touch of the dramatic."
? ? ? ? Phelps seized his hand and kissed it. "God bless you!" he cried. "You have saved my honour."
? ? ? ? "Well, my own was at stake, you know," said Holmes. "I assure you it is just as hateful to me to fail in a case as it can be to you to blunder over a commission."
? ? ? ? Phelps thrust away the precious document into the innermost pocket of his coat.
? ? ? ? "I have not the heart to interrupt your breakfast any further, and yet I am dying to know how you got it and where it was."
? ? ? ? Sherlock Holmes swallowed a cup of coffee and turned his attention to the ham and eggs. Then he rose, lit his pipe, and settled himself down into his chair.
? ? ? ? "I'll tell you what I did first, and how I came to do it afterwards," said he.
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