"It's the Napoleon bust business again," said Lestrade "You seemed interested last night, Mr Holmes, so perhaps present now affair has taken graver turn "

"What has it turned to, then ? "

"To murder Mr Harker, tell these gentlemen exactly what has occurred ? "

The man dressing-gown turned upon us with most melancholy face

"It's an extraordinary thing," said he, "that all my life collecting other people's news, and now that real piece of news my own way so confused and bothered that 't put two words together If I had come in here as journalist interviewed myself and had two columns in every evening paper giving away valuable copy by telling my story over and over to string of different people, and make no use of it myself However, I've heard , Mr Sherlock Holmes, and 'll only explain this queer business paid trouble in telling you the story "

Holmes sat down and listened

"It all seems to centre round that bust of Napoleon which I bought very room about four I picked it up cheap from Harding Brothers, two doors High Street Station great deal journalistic work is done at night, and I often write until the early morning So to-day sitting in my den, back top house, about three o'clock, when convinced that I heard some sounds downstairs I listened, but they repeated, and I concluded came from outside Then suddenly, about five minutes later, there came most horrible yell -- the most dreadful sound, Mr Holmes, that ever I heard ring in my ears as long as I live I sat frozen with horror for minute or two Then I seized the poker and went downstairs When I entered this room the window wide open, and I at once observed bust was gone mantelpiece Why any burglar should take such thing passes my understanding, for only plaster cast and of no real value whatever

"You that anyone going out open window could reach the front doorstep by taking long stride clearly what the burglar had done, so I went round and opened the door Stepping out dark I nearly fell over dead man who was lying there I ran back for light, and the poor fellow, great gash throat whole place swimming in blood He lay back, his knees drawn up, mouth horribly open see him in my dreams I had just time to blow on my police-whistle, and then fainted, for nothing more until the policeman standing over me hall "

"Well, who murdered man ? " asked Holmes

"There's nothing to show who ," said Lestrade "You shall see the body mortuary, but nothing of it now tall man, sunburned, very powerful, not more than thirty poorly dressed, and yet appear labourer horn-handled clasp knife was lying in pool of blood beside him Whether it weapon which did the deed, or whether it belonged dead man, know no name clothing, and nothing pockets save an apple, some string, shilling map of London, and photograph Here "

evidently taken by snap-shot from small camera It represented an alert, sharp-featured simian man with thick eyebrows, and very peculiar projection lower part face like the muzzle of baboon

"And what became bust ? " asked Holmes, after careful study picture

"We had news of it just came found front garden of an empty house in Campden House Road broken into fragments going round now it come ? "

"Certainly just take one look round " He examined the carpet window "The fellow had either very long legs or was most active man," said he "With an area beneath, no mean feat to reach that window-ledge and open that window Getting back was comparatively simple coming the remains of your bust, Mr Harker ? "

The disconsolate journalist had seated himself at writing-table

" try and make something of it," said he, "though first editions evening papers are out already with full details It's like my luck ! You remember stand fell at Doncaster ? Well, I only journalist stand, and my journal the that had no account of it, for too shaken to write it And now I'll be too late with murder done on my own doorstep "

left the room we heard his pen travelling shrilly over the foolscap

The spot where the fragments bust found was only few hundred yards away first time our eyes rested presentment great Emperor, which seemed to raise such frantic and destructive hatred mind unknown It lay scattered in splintered shards grass Holmes picked up several and examined them carefully convinced intent face purposeful manner that at last upon clue

"Well ? " asked Lestrade

Holmes shrugged his shoulders

" long way yet," said he "And yet -- and yet -- well, some suggestive facts to act upon The possession trifling bust was worth more eyes strange criminal than human life one point Then the singular fact that break it house, or immediately outside the house, if to break his sole object "

" rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow He hardly knew what doing "

"Well, that's likely enough But your attention very particularly position house garden the bust was destroyed "

Lestrade looked about him

" an empty house, and so that disturbed garden "

"Yes, but another empty house farther up the street which passed before to Why did he not break it there, since evident that every yard that he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him ? "

" it up," said Lestrade

Holmes pointed street lamp above our heads

"He what doing here and there That was his reason "

"By Jove ! that's true," said the detective "Now that I come of it, Dr Barnicot's bust was broken not far red lamp Well, Mr Holmes, we fact ? "

"To remember it -- to docket it come on something later which will bear upon it What steps propose now, Lestrade ? "

"The most practical way of getting at it, in my opinion, is to identify the dead man There no difficulty When found who and who his associates are, good start in learning what doing in Pitt Street last night, and who who met him and killed him doorstep of Mr Horace Harker Don't so ? "

" ; and yet quite the way approach the case "

"What would , then ? "

"Oh, not let me influence you in ! I you go line and I on mine compare notes afterwards, and each will supplement the other "

" ," said Lestrade