nearly four o’clock
No , sir , I shall approach this case from the point of view that what this young man says is true , and we shall see whither that hypothesis will lead us . And now here is my pocket Petrarch , and not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the scene of action . We lunch at Swindon , and I see that we shall be there in twenty minutes . '' It was nearly four o'clock when we at last , after passing through the beautiful Stroud Valley , and over the broad gleaming Severn , found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross . A lean , ferret-like man , furtive and sly-looking , was waiting for us upon the platform . In spite of the light brown dustcoat and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic surroundings , I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade , of Scotland Yard . With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a room had already been engaged for us .