" deceive you by saying so, Mr Holmes, but it true De Merville is broken man The strong soldier utterly demoralized incident He has lost the nerve which never failed him battlefield and has become weak, doddering old man, utterly incapable of contending with brilliant, forceful rascal like this Austrian My client however is an old friend, one who has known the General intimately for many years and taken paternal interest young girl since she wore short frocks He this tragedy consummated without some attempt to stop it nothing Scotland Yard can act his own suggestion that called in, but , as said, express stipulation that be personally involved matter , Mr Holmes, with your great powers easily trace my client back through me, but , as point of honour, to refrain from , and not to break in upon his incognito "

Holmes gave whimsical smile

" safely promise that," said he " add that your problem interests me, prepared to look How shall I keep in touch ? "

"The Carlton Club me But of emergency, private telephone call, 'XX 31 ' "

Holmes noted it down and sat, still smiling, open memorandum-book upon his knee

"The Baron's present address, please ? "

"Vernon Lodge, near Kingston large house He fortunate in some rather shady speculations rich man, which naturally makes him more dangerous antagonist "

"Is he at home at present ? "

"Yes "

"Apart from what told me, me any further information man ? "

"He has expensive tastes horse fancier For short time he played polo at Hurlingham, but then this Prague affair got noised about and he had to leave He collects books and pictures man with considerable artistic side nature , I believe, recognized authority upon Chinese pottery and book "

"A complex mind," said Holmes "All great criminals have that My old friend Charlie Peace was violin virtuoso Wainwright was no mean artist quote many more Well, Sir James, inform your client that turning my mind upon Baron Gruner no more some sources of information own, and I dare say find some means of opening the matter up "

When our visitor had left us Holmes sat in deep thought seemed that he had forgotten my presence At last, however, briskly back to earth

"Well, Watson, any views ? " he asked

" think you had better see the young lady herself "

"My dear Watson, if her poor old broken father cannot move her, how shall I, stranger, prevail ? And yet something suggestion if all else fails But begin from different angle I rather fancy that Shinwell Johnson help "

occasion to mention Shinwell Johnson memoirs because seldom drawn my cases latter phases friend's career During the first years century he became valuable assistant Johnson, I grieve , made his name first as very dangerous villain and served two terms at Parkhurst Finally he repented and allied himself to Holmes, acting as his agent huge criminal underworld of London and obtaining information which often proved of vital importance Had Johnson been "nark" police soon exposed, but as he dealt with cases which never came directly courts, his activities were never realized by his companions glamour two convictions upon him, he had the entree of every night-club, doss house, and gamblingden town, quick observation and active brain made him an ideal agent for gaining information to him that Sherlock Holmes now proposed

not possible the immediate steps taken by my friend, for I had some pressing professional business own, but I met him by appointment that evening at Simpson's, where, sitting at small table front window and looking down rushing stream of life Strand, me something of what had passed

"Johnson is prowl," said he " pick up some garbage darker recesses underworld, is down there, amid the black roots of crime, that hunt man's secrets "

"But lady will not accept already known, why should any fresh discovery of yours turn her from her purpose ? "

"Who knows, Watson ? Woman's heart and mind are insoluble puzzles male Murder condoned or explained, and yet some smaller offence might rankle Baron Gruner remarked --"

"He remarked ! "

"Oh, , I told you plans Well, Watson, I love to close grips with my man I like to meet him eye to eye and read the stuff that made of When I had given Johnson his instructions cab out to Kingston and found the Baron in most affable mood "

"Did he recognize you ? "

" no difficulty , for I simply sent in my card an excellent antagonist, cool as ice, silky voiced and soothing as one of your fashionable consultants, and poisonous as cobra He has breeding in him -- real aristocrat of crime with superficial suggestion of afternoon tea and all the cruelty grave behind it Yes, had my attention called to Baron Adelbert Gruner "

"You say affable ? "

"A purring cat who thinks he sees prospective mice Some people's affability is more deadly violence of coarser souls His greeting was characteristic 'I rather thought I you sooner or later, Mr Holmes,' said he ' engaged, by General de Merville, to endeavour to stop my marriage daughter, Violet so, not ? '

"I acquiesced

" 'My dear man,' said he ' only ruin your own well-deserved reputation case in possibly succeed barren work, nothing of incurring some danger Let me very strongly advise you to draw off at once '

" ' curious,' I answered, 'but that very advice which I had intended respect for your brains, Baron, little which of your personality lessened it Let me put it as man to man No one wants to rake up your past and make you unduly uncomfortable over, and now in smooth waters, but persist marriage raise up swarm of powerful enemies never leave you alone until they England too hot to hold you game worth it ? Surely wiser left the lady alone It pleasant if these facts of your past were brought to her notice '

"The Baron has little waxed tips of hair under his nose, like the short antennae of an insect These quivered with amusement as he listened, and he finally broke into gentle chuckle

" 'Excuse my amusement, Mr Holmes,' said he, 'but really funny you trying to play hand with no cards I don't think anyone could better, but rather pathetic all the same Not colour card there, Mr Holmes, nothing but the smallest small '

" 'So '