Dr. Watson

His eyes first glanced at this top drawer on the dresser here to see if we'd touched it.

It was obviously the most important spot in the room.

Let's see.

Ah, here we are.

A message already rolled up and in its container.

Oh?

What does it say, Holmes?

It's in code, which is not surprising, but I don't think it will be very difficult to decipher.

Yes, and when you've done that?

Then, my dear fellow, I shall compose a code message of my own and persuade this pigeon to lead us to its master.

I can see from your puzzled expression, Watson, that you're wondering why I brought you to Dexter's Music Hall in the metro road.

Well, I must confess I've been confused, Holmes.

First of all, we go to Baker Street and you spend hours poring over some obscure book.

And you write out a message, attach it to a pigeon and let it loose.

Now you bring me here, I hate to question you when you're working, but I should be glad if you'd give me some idea of what's going on.

Of course, old chap.

At times I must seem confounded and mysterious, I'm sure.

Here's the situation.

The obscure book I was studying was the table of ciphers.

I was trying to decode the message we found in the room on the first floor.