'Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.'" "What on earth is this ?" I cried, for at this moment there came the pattering of many steps in the hall and on the stairs, accompanied by audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady.
"It's the Baker Street division of the detective police force," said my companion, gravely; and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of 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." [13] 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.