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“ What are you going to do , then ? ” “ To smoke , ” he answered . “ It is quite a three pipe problem , and I ask you not to speak to me for fifty minutes . ” He curled up in his chair with his thin knees near his sharp nose . His eyes were closed , and his black pipe stuck out like the beak of a strange bird . I thought he was asleep . Then suddenly he jumped up like a man who has made up his mind . “ There is a violin concert at St James’s Hall this afternoon , ” he said . “ Can your patients spare you for a few hours , Watson ? ” “ I have nothing to do today . ” “ Then come . I am going through the City first . ” IV . A Walk to Saxe - Coburg Square We took the Underground train , and a short walk brought us to Saxe - Coburg Square . It was a small , poor , tired - looking place . On a corner house hung three gold balls , the sign of a pawnbroker , and a board with the name JABEZ WILSON . This was our client’s shop . Holmes stopped in front of it and looked it all over with shining eyes . He walked slowly up the street and down again , still looking hard at the houses . Then he came back to the shop and hit the pavement hard with his stick two or three times . After that he went to the door and knocked . A bright - looking young man with a clean - shaven face opened it . His trousers were dusty at the knees . “ I only wanted to ask you the way to the Strand , ” said Holmes . “ Third right , fourth left , ” answered the assistant quickly , and he closed the door . “ Smart fellow , that , ” said Holmes as we walked away . “ In my opinion he is the fourth smartest man in London , and for courage he may be the third . I have known something of him before . ” “ Clearly , Mr Wilson’s assistant is important in this mystery , ” I said . “ You asked the way only so that you could see him . ” “ Not him . ” “ What , then ? ” “ The knees of his trousers . ” “ And what did you see ? ” “ What I expected to see . ” “ Why did you hit the pavement with your stick ? ” “ My dear doctor , this is a time for looking , not for talking . We are spies in an enemy’s country . Now let us look at the street behind the square . ” We turned the corner , and we were in a very different world . This was one of the main roads of the City , full of traffic and hurrying people . It was hard to believe that these fine shops and offices stood back to back with the quiet little square . Holmes stood at the corner and looked along the row . “ I like to know London exactly , ” he said . “ There is a tobacco shop , a newspaper shop , the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank , a restaurant and a carriage builder’s . And now , Doctor , we have done our work , so it is time for some play . A sandwich and a cup of coffee , and then off to the music . ”
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