It was obvious that my reports had all been wasted therefore, and I
complained vigorously as I remembered the pains & the pride with
which I had composed them.  But Holmes was resolved to placate me.
He had them in his pocket and it was clear that they were well-
thumbed (though by Holmes himself or by Cartwright in carrying them,
I could not tell!) He said that they had only been delayed one day
upon their way, and he complimented me upon the zeal & the
intelligence which I had shown over an extraordinarily difficult
case.
I was still rather low over the deception, but appreciated Holmes'
praise, and thought perhaps his action had been for the best. He then
asked me about my visit to Laura Lyons, and told me that he had been
about to visit her himself, so our researchers had evidently been
