Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads.
"He could see what he was doing here and he could not there.
That was his reason."
"By Jove! that's true," said the detective."Now that I come to think of it, Dr.Barnicot's bust was broken not far from his red lamp.Well, Mr.Holmes, what are we to do with that fact?""To remember it -- to docket it.We may come on something later which will bear upon it.What steps do you propose to take now, Lestrade?""The most practical way of getting at it, in my opinion, is to identify the dead man.There should be no difficulty about that.When we have found who he is and who his associates are, we should have a good start in learning what he was doing in Pitt Street last night, and who it was who met him and killed him on the doorstep of Mr.Horace Harker.Don't you think so?""No doubt; and yet it is not quite the way in which I should approach the case.""What would you do, then?"
"Oh, you must not let me influence you in any way! I suggest that you go on your line and I on mine.We can compare notes afterwards, and each will supplement the other.""Very good," said Lestrade.
"If you are going back to Pitt Street you might see Mr.Horace Harker.Tell him from me that I have quite made up my mind, and that it is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Napoleonic delusions was in his house last night.It will be useful for his article."Lestrade stared.
"You don't seriously believe that?"
Holmes smiled.
"Don't I? Well, perhaps I don't.But I am sure that it will interest Mr.Horace Harker and the subscribers of the Central Press Syndicate.Now, Watson, I think that we shall find that we have a long and rather complex day's work before us.