Call to Converse

"I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish," I growled. "There are too many people on the street for you to kidnap me, and I'm not such a fool as to run."

"These gentlemen are here to prevent you from leaving, doctor," the prosecutor said, not quite calmly. "Come. Sit down." He pulled out his cigarette case and offered it to me. "We've a chair all ready for you, see?"

A chair, I saw, and as my eyes were growing accustomed to the dimness I also saw something attached to the balcony railing beside it. A speaking tube.

Call to Converse

"I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish," I growled. "There are too many people on the street for you to kidnap me, and I'm not such a fool as to run."

"These gentlemen are here to prevent you from leaving, doctor," the prosecutor said, not quite calmly. "Come. Sit down." He pulled out his cigarette case and offered it to me. "We've a chair all ready for you, see?"

A chair, I saw, and as my eyes were growing accustomed to the dimness I also saw something attached to the balcony railing beside it. A speaking tube.

Call for Caution

A moment's investigation showed that the far end of the tube was in a carriage, parked below the balcony. Whether Moriarty himself were inside, or merely one of his most trusted lieutenants, I could not tell; given the distortions of the speaking tube, I would not be able to identify even so much as the man's voice should we ever meet on another occasion. The very cleverness of it reassured me, despite the hair which stood on the back of my neck. But I was far too nervous to sit. I reached for my end of the tube. "I'm listening."

Call for Caution

A moment's investigation showed that the far end of the tube was in a carriage, parked below the balcony. Whether Moriarty himself were inside, or merely one of his most trusted lieutenants, I could not tell; given the distortions of the speaking tube, I would not be able to identify even so much as the man's voice should we ever meet on another occasion. The very cleverness of it reassured me, despite the hair which stood on the back of my neck. But I was far too nervous to sit. I reached for my end of the tube. "I'm listening."