It took me but a few moments to find Holmes. He could see that I was more than a little unnerved. “Gracious me, Watson. You came down those steps in a very spritely fashion for a man with a war wound!” He laughed heartily and patted me on the back. “Come on old fellow, let us look for somewhere to compare stories.” With that, he took my arm and we set off to seek somewhere to lunch.
Finding a nearby tavern, we ordered two pints of ale. For our luncheon we were served a fine meal of pork pie, a little Stilton cheese, some pickles and freshly baked bread. Holmes was as anxious to hear my tale as I was to hear whether he had been able to retrieve the Bishop's tie pin and photograph.
“I have to say, Holmes that my heart almost stopped when I saw you through the crack in the door as you entered the waiting room.”
Holmes smiled broadly. “Yes, very quick thinking on your part, Watson. I heard it all!”
I grumbled and raised my glass of ale. “That is not all, Holmes. I had to prevent Mrs Withers from returning to her office. I did so by procuring her services and enduring the indignity of a most intrusive and intimate assisted bath!” At this, Holmes roared with laughter and, whilst at first I was a little aggrieved, I did eventually see the humorous side of the affair.
Holmes then began to recount his adventure from when he entered the waiting room. “On opening the outer door a crack, I observed that the coast was clear. Crossing towards the office of Mrs Withers, I saw the door of the treatment room beginning to open and heard your voice. Thankfully, your request saved the day! I slipped into the office which I have to say was richly furnished in Mahogany and velvets. Mrs Withers’ desk was rather fine with inlaid legs and a leather writing surface in the Georgian style.”
Holmes paused and took a drink of ale before continuing. “However, the drawer locks were child's play and by using the appropriate pick they soon gave up their secrets. I was surprised to find that Mrs Withers had files on numerous clients, several illustrious names were amongst them. It took me but a few moments to find the Bishop’s file and from it I removed the photograph and also the tie pin.
Holmes paused again briefly before continuing. “It was as I prepared to copy the names of the clients into my notebook that I heard footsteps approaching. This required me to dive into the kneehole of the desk. I could see, from my position in the shadow beneath the desk, that one of the nurses had entered the room. She crossed to a wooden cabinet, opened it and inside was a small safe with a slotted recess in the top. Obviously, it was the practice that when Mrs Withers was not present to take the money, the girls dropped the coins into the safe. I observed that the safe was made by Thomas Milner of Oxford Street. A safe of reasonable quality but certainly not invincible.”
I looked closely at Holmes and noted that he now had a distinct twinkle in his eye. “Waiting until the girl had left, I then quickly scribbled the names from the files into my notebook. I also took the liberty of making an impression of the safe key which was also in the desk drawer. Taking a small tin containing some glaziers putty is always useful when one may have to make an impression of a key. Replacing everything as it had been found, I locked the drawer, slipped from the office and out of the building.”