Scene 14

EXT. A QUIETER CORNER. EVENING.

The hum and bustle of the market is now slightly muted.

WATSON: Well done, Holmes!

HOLMES: Thank you for your contribution. A masterly performance.

Your after-dinner recitation tomorrow should be excellent. What is to be?

“Billy’s Rose”? “Christmas Day in the Workhouse”?

WATSON: Please. ( A moment) “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”.

HOLMES: ( Laughs)

WATSON: All right, all right. Look, how did you know that that would work?

HOLMES: When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and a sporting paper protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him with a bet.

WATSON: Do we have to go out to Brixton? How much longer is this trail going to stretch?

HOLMES: Remember Watson, a man will certainly get seven years’ penal servitude unless we can establish his innocence.

WATSON: Oh, so you do think he’s innocent?

HOLMES: Well, it’s possible. Wait a moment. Look.

Slightly distant, raised voices sound from Breckinridge’s stall.

BRECKINRIDGE: Right, I’ve had enough of you and your geese. If you show your face here again, I’ll set the dog on you, see if I don’t.

RYDER: But all I want to know is - ( who you sold them to... ) BRECKINRIDGE: Did I buy them off you? Did I sell them to you?

RYDER: No, of course not.

BRECKINRIDGE: Then it’s none of your business, is it? Now be off.

RYDER: But Mrs. Oakshott told me to ask you.

BRECKINRIDGE: You can ask the King of Proosia for all I care, I’ve had enough. Are you going?

RYDER: Don’t hit me, don’t hit me! ( He comes closer to us, calling back:) I didn’t mean no harm! Honest I didn’t! It’s just that one of them was mine, that’s all... Mine...

HOLMES: ( Suddenly close) Good evening.

Ryder jumps out of his skin.

RYDER: Who are you? What do you want?

HOLMES: I couldn’t help overhearing. I think that I could be of assistance to you.

RYDER: You? Who are you? How could you know anything about it?

HOLMES: It’s my business to know what other people don’t know. My name is Sherlock Holmes.

RYDER: ( Whimpers)

A violin passage takes us to: