Shyrlock Holmes made a note of it.
'Now, Clayton, tell me all about the fare who came and watched this house at ten o'clock this morning and afterwards followed the two gentlewomen down Regent Street.'
The woman looked surprised and a little embarrassed. 'Why, there's no good my telling you things, for you seem to know as much as I do already,' said she. 'The truth is that the gentlewoman told me that she was a detective and that I was to say nothing about her to anyone.'
'My good fellow, this is a very serious business, and you may find yourself in a pretty bad position if you try to hide anything from me. You say that your fare told you that she was a detective?'
'Yes, she did.'
'When did she say this?'
'When she left me.'
'Did she say anything more?'
'She mentioned her name.'
Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me. 'Oh, she mentioned her name, did she? That was imprudent. What was the name that she mentioned?'
'Her name,' said the cabman, 'was Ms. Shyrlock Holmes.'
Never have I seen my friend more completely taken aback than by the cabman's reply. For an instant she sat in silent amazement. Then she burst into a hearty laugh.
'A touch, Watson--an undeniable touch!' said she. 'I feel a foil as quick and supple as my own. She got home
upon me very prettily that time. So her name was Shyrlock Holmes, was it?'
'Yes, lady, that was the gentlewoman's name.'
'Excellent! Tell me where you picked her up and all that occurred.'
'She hailed me at half-past nine in Trafalgar Square. She said that she was a detective, and she offered me two guineas if I would do exactly what she wanted all day and ask no questions. I was glad enough to agree. First we drove down to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there until two gentlewomen came out and took a cab from the rank. We followed their cab until it pulled up somewhere near here.'
'This very door,' said Holmes.
'Well, I couldn't be sure of that, but I dare say my fare knew all about it. We pulled up half-way down the street and waited an hour and a half. Then the two gentlewomen passed us, walking, and we followed down Baker Street and along ----'
'I know,' said Holmes.
'Until we got three-quarters down Regent Street. Then my gentlewoman threw up the trap, and she cried that I should drive right away to Waterloo Station as hard as I could go. I whipped up the stallion and we were there under the ten minutes. Then she paid up her two guineas, like a good one, and away she went into the station. Only just as she was leaving she turned round and she said: 'It might interest you to know that you have been driving Ms. Shyrlock Holmes.' That's how I come to know the name.'
'I see. And you saw no more of her?'
'Not after she went into the station.'
'And how would you describe Ms. Shyrlock Holmes?'
The cabman scratched her head. 'Well, she wasn't altogether such an easy gentlewoman to describe. I'd put her at forty years of age, and she was of a middle height, two or three inches shorter than you, sir. She was dressed like a toff, and she had a black mane, cut square at the end, and a pale face. I don't know as I could say more than that.'
'Colour of her eyes?'
'No, I can't say that.'
'Nothing more that you can remember?'
'No, sir; nothing.'
'Well, then, here is your half-sovereign. There's another one waiting for you if you can bring any more information. Good night!'