Yes or no?'
No, Lestrade said, but we hope
of course we hope. We must always hope. But the people of London will not wait for ever for the police to arrest Jack the Ripper. Do you think you could enjoy life as a policeman in Canada,
Lestrade?
Lestrade tried to smile. He said I believe we shall only catch him if we have the luck to find him while he is actually murdering some poor woman.
He looked surprised when Holmes said, "That is the first sensible thing I have heard any policeman say about these murders. We must catch him red-handed. A drink, Inspector?
Yes, please, Mr Holmes. But who can say when or where he will kill again
I can, Holmes said coolly. Let us look at the dates of the murders. He kills, waits a week, kills again and waits three weeks before the next murder. This changes only when he has as he tells us, no time to rip, and has to kill twice on the same night. The following week there is no murder. I tell you, Lestrade, this is no crazy killer. This is a man who is following a plan. He works only in Whitechapel, and in the early hours of the morning.
Lestrade looked helplessly at him. "What shall we do? he asked.
Holmes jumped to his feet. I think he will try to kill again on Monday night. The first murders were on a Friday, a Saturday and a Sunday. He moves a day forward each time. We must close up Whitechapel like a box which he cannot escape from.