He will be a desperate man, and though I shall take him unawares, it is as well to be ready for anything." I went to my bedroom and followed his advice.

When I returned with the pistol the table had been cleared, and Holmes was engaged in his favourite occupation of scraping upon his violin.
"The plot thickens," he said, as I entered; "I have just had an answer to my American telegram.

My view of the case is the correct one." "And that is ?" I asked eagerly.
"My fiddle would be the better for new strings," he remarked.

"Put your pistol in your pocket.

When the fellow comes speak to him in an ordinary way.