the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs that ever I clapped eyes on.

 

“‘Tention!” cried Holmes, in a sharp tone, and the six dirty little scoundrels

stood in a line like so many disreputable statuettes. “In future you shall send

up Wiggins alone to report, and the rest of you must wait in the street. Have

you found it, Wiggins?”

 

“No, sir, we hain’t,” said one of the youths.

 

“I hardly expected you would. You must keep on until you do. Here are your

wages.” He handed each of them a shilling.

 

“Now, off you go, and come back with a better report next time.”

 

He waved his hand, and they scampered away downstairs like so many rats, and we

heard their shrill voices next moment in the street.

 

“There’s more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a

dozen of the force,” Holmes remarked. “The mere sight of an official-looking

person seals men’s lips. These youngsters, however, go everywhere and hear

everything. They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organisation.”

 

“Is it on this Brixton case that you are employing them?” I asked.

 

“Yes; there is a point which I wish to ascertain. It is merely a matter of time.