55991 'My dear Doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk.
55992 We are spies in an enemy's country.
55993 We know something of Saxe-Coburg Square.
55994 Let us now explore the paths which lie behind it.'
55995 The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back.
55996 It was one of the main arteries which convey the traffic of the City to the north and west.
55997 The roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inwards and outwards, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians.
55998 It was difficult to realize as we looked at the line of fine shops and stately business premises that they really abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which we had just quitted.
55999 'Let me see,' said Holmes, standing at the corner, and glancing along the line, 'I should like just to remember the order of the houses here.
56000 It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of London.
56001 There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building depôt.
56002 That carries us right on to the other block.
56003 And now, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play.