"Superb!"
"Good! I've drawn blanks, regular round O's, except three probably useless addresses."
"Addresses are never useless, friend. The mere knowing of a number in a street picks out that street from all the other streets where one knows no numbers."
"Tell me things, you rat, if conditions permit."
"Well, I've hit on two facts of profound importance. First, Roxton contains an artist of rare genius, and, second, it holds a cook of admitted excellence."
"Look here——"
"I'm listening here, which is all that science can achieve at present."
"I'm in no mood for ill timed pleasantries."
"But I'm not joking, 'pon me honor. The cook, name of Eliza, does really exist, and is sworn to surprise even your jaded appetite. The artist is John Trenholme. In years to come you'll boast of having met him before he was famous."