noon
`` Well , say , hold on a minute , Puddy , -- er , I mean Your Lordship . I do n't mind stalling awhile before I begin pulling off my historic stunts , as this detective business is only a graft anyhow . But as my long suit has always been to criticize the regular police force , I must ask you why in thunder those constables from the village are n't here on guard , considering that three successive thefts have occurred here in the same day , '' remonstrated my friend . `` Oh , they went back to Hedge-gutheridge at noon , '' replied the Earl , shrugging his shoulders , `` telling me they would wait till all six pairs of cuff-buttons were stolen before they would do anything more , as they would then probably have more clues to follow ! '' `` Can you beat it , Watson ? '' said Holmes to me as we ascended the elegant stairway to the fourth floor . `` These guys are just about as brainy as the average American cop I bumped into on the other side of the Big Pond . ''