bent towards Fomka, whispered something in his ear and, quickly leaving the tavern, was lost outside amidst the crowd.
Fomka waited a few minutes, settled his bill and also left. We followed him at once.
At the Strastniy Monastery, Fomka jumped aboard a tram car going to the Ustinsk Bridge. We hailed a cab and instructed him to follow. At Yauza, Fomka jumped off and went into one of the cheap taverns along the banks of this smelly little river.
‘We’d better wait for him here,’ said Holmes. ‘Our appearance is bound to raise his suspicion.’
In the meantime, darkness was falling and we had to get nearer the tavern not to lose sight of Fomka when he emerged. Nine struck from a clock tower. A little while later and Gavriushka’s familiar figure appeared outside the entrance of the tavern. He looked round carefully, went in and a minute later emerged, accompanied by Fomka.
They turned right along the river bank. Luckily for us, there was no street lighting here, so we moved silently after them. Several hundred steps on, we found ourselves in a silent, deserted locality. The figures of Gavriushka and Fomka were now hardly discernable in front of us. They finally stopped and began to descend quietly down to the river.
‘Crawl!’ Holmes whispered.
We stretched out on the ground and, like snakes, followed for some twenty-five paces. The darkness helped us.
Gavriushka was talking to Fomka about something or other, but all we could hear were snatches of what he was saying: ‘Tomorrow … the damned fellow won’t get away … get nearer … Peterhof … you’ll counterfeit Yefimoff’s….’ From time to time he snarled in fury. He raved.
Fomka’s replies, delivered in a cold tone of voice, were short and sharp. ‘So, tomorrow at the Peterhof at three,’ we heard.
Then they dropped their voices again and we only heard the end of their conversation. ‘Everyone scattered … well, that’s to the good … let them look for witnesses if they can.’
There was more whispering about something and then they climbed up to the river bank again.
X
‘And so, my dear Watson, till tomorrow. At three in the afternoon we will most probably see something interesting at the Peterhof restaurant.’
Our adversaries had vanished and we followed them no further. Returning back to town, we made our way directly to Kliukin.
‘You’ve probably come with something new,’ he greeted us.
‘I don’t wish to anticipate events,’ answered Holmes with a smile, ‘and only came to ask you about one or two things.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Tomorrow you will very likely receive, in one form or another, something connected with the Peterhof restaurant. Regardless of whoever speaks or writes to you about it, please be on your guard and do nothing and go nowhere without letting me know beforehand.’
‘Is that all?’ Kliukin asked with a smile.
‘So far, yes. Regarding Gavriushka and Semionoff, I suggest that you immediately give instructions that any goods dispatched by them to any destination will be intercepted along the way.’
‘I’ve already done that,’ answered Kliukin.
‘That’s excellent! It will only confirm the evidence against them, not that it is likely any more evidence will be necessary after tomorrow.’
We chatted for a while, bade him goodbye and returned to our hotel. The senior porter, having already seen us in our get-up, let us through.
Back in our hotel room, Homes changed into decent-looking clothes and suggested I do the same. Puzzled, I did as I was told and we were soon ready.
Again we emerged from our hotel, called a cab and Holmes instructed him to take us to the Peterhof restaurant.
It was already after midnight and the place was full. We just about managed to get a table. We ordered a light supper, but I could see from the look in Holmes’s eyes that he wasn’t interested in it. Other things were on his mind.
Half an hour later and I detected Gavriushka flash by through the door leading to the private rooms. Holmes immediately went in pursuit, but was back a minute later, sat down calmly and said quietly, ‘Now they won’t get away.’
The restaurant was preparing to close down and, nothing having happened, we went out with the other diners. Gavriushka and Fomka emerged with us. We saw them hail a cab and go off quickly.
Holmes went back, rang the restaurant bell and whispered something to the porter who opened the door and admitted us. Holmes put a ten-rouble note in the porter’s hand and we followed him along the corridor into one of the private rooms. Holmes switched on the electric light and began to examine the floor and walls. This took him half an hour. He proceeded to thank the porter, took me by the arm and we returned home where we fell fast asleep.
XI
At one in the afternoon there was a knock on the door of our hotel room. It was a messenger with a letter. Holmes opened it and read, ‘I received an invitation from Yefimoff to present myself at the Peterhof restaurant at three this afternoon. I am informing you as requested. Kliukin.’
We threw our coats on, ran out and jumped into the first available cab, which took us to Mohovaya Street.
‘I have no idea what this is about,’ said Kliukin, meeting us with a smile.
‘You’ll know soon enough,’ answered Sherlock Holmes, ‘but let me warn you, be careful entering the private room … don’t step into it right away.’
‘Is this some sort of hoax or are you trying to mystify me?’ exclaimed Kliukin in surprise.
‘Whatever it is, you’ll soon be thanking me,’ Holmes answered solemnly. ‘And I hope your wife will also be very grateful.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘You don’t have to yet.’
Holmes looked at his watch and said it was time to make for the restaurant, adding that Kliukin had to go in a separate cab and not to show by so much as the slightest sign that we were following him. So that’s what we did.
Some twenty minutes later, Kliukin’s cab deposited him at the restaurant and we followed closely behind as if we were total strangers.
‘The name is Kliukin. Which private dining-room is my invitation for?’
‘Let me show you,’ said the porter.
Kliukin followed him and we followed Kliukin as if we were chance strangers.
‘Here you are,’ said the porter, indicating one of the doors along the corridor, and left.
Kliukin opened the door, stepped over the threshold and stopped in utter perplexity. Gavriushka and Fomka seized him by his hands and tried to slam the door shut.
But this was not to be. Like an enraged beast, Sherlock Holmes threw himself forward. Gavriushka and Fomka froze from the unforeseen interruption and let go of Kliukin’s hand.
Holmes threw himself at Gavriushka, gave him a mighty thump to the head, then seized his shoulders and
