" 'Then it nothing,' said I And there the matter was left, but the whole thing seemed so unusual that --"

Here we had very extraordinary interruption

Holmes raised his hand for silence Then he strode across the room, flung open the door, and dragged in great gaunt woman whom he had seized shoulder She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out coop

"Leave me alone ! you a-doin' of ? " she screeched

"Why, Susan, what ? "

"Well, ma'am, comin' in to ask visitors was stayin' for lunch man jumped out at me "

" listening to her five minutes, but wish to interrupt your most interesting narrative Just little wheezy, Susan, not ? You breathe too heavily kind of work "

Susan turned sulky but amazed face upon her captor "Who be you, anyhow, and what right a-pullin' me about like this ? "

" merely that I wished to ask question in your presence Did you, Mrs Maberley, mention to anyone that you were going to write and consult me ? "

"No, Mr Holmes, "

"Who posted your letter ? "

"Susan did "

"Exactly Now, Susan, that you wrote or sent message that your mistress was asking advice from me ? "

"It's lie no message "

"Now, Susan, wheezy people may not live long, It's wicked thing fibs Whom did you tell ? "

"Susan ! " cried her mistress, "I believe bad, treacherous woman I remember now that you speaking to someone over the hedge "

"That was my own business," said the woman sullenly

"Suppose I tell you Barney Stockdale you spoke ? " said Holmes

"Well, , what to ask for ? "

" not sure, but now Well now, Susan, worth ten pounds tell me back of Barney "

"Someone that could lay down thousand pounds for every ten "

"So, rich man ? No; you smiled -- rich woman Now got , give the name and earn the tenner "

"I'll see you in hell first "

"Oh, Susan ! Language ! "

" clearing out of here I've had enough of you all I'll send box to-morrow " She flounced door

"Good-bye, Susan Paregoric stuff . . Now," he continued, turning suddenly from lively to severe door had closed behind the flushed and angry woman, "this gang means business Look how close they play the game Your letter had the 10 P M postmark And yet Susan passes the word to Barney Barney has time employer and get instructions; he or she -- I incline latter from Susan's grin when she thought I had blundered -- forms plan Black Steve is called in, and warned off by eleven o'clock next morning That's quick work, "

"But what do ? "

"Yes, that's the question Who had the house ? "

"A retired sea captain called Ferguson "

"Anything remarkable about him ? "

"Not that ever I heard of "

" wondering whether he buried something , when people bury treasure nowadays it Post-Office bank But always some lunatics about It dull world without them At first of some buried valuable But why, case, should your furniture ? You don't happen Raphael or first folio Shakespeare without knowing it ? "

"No, I don't think anything rarer than Crown Derby tea-set "

" hardly justify all this mystery Besides, why should they not openly state what ? covet your tea-set, surely offer price without buying you out, lock, stock, and barrel No, as it, something which know that , and which give up if know "

" how it," said I

"Dr Watson agrees, settles it "

"Well, Mr Holmes, what can it be ? "

" whether purely mental analysis get it to finer point house year "

"Nearly two "

"All the better During this long period no one wants anything Now suddenly within three or four days urgent demands What would you gather ? "

"It can only mean," said I, " object, whatever it , has only just come house "

"Settled once again," said Holmes "Now, Mrs Maberley has any object just arrived ? "

"No, bought nothing new this year "

"Indeed ! very remarkable Well, we had best let matters develop little further until clearer data lawyer of yours capable man ? "

" Mr Sutro is most capable "

" another maid, or fair Susan, who has just banged your front door alone ? "

" young girl "

"Try and get Sutro night or two house possibly want protection "

"Against whom ? "

"Who knows ? The matter is certainly obscure If 't find what after, approach the matter other end and try principal Did this house-agent man give any address ? "

"Simply his card and occupation Haines-Johnson, Auctioneer and Valuer "

"I don't think find him directory Honest business men don't conceal their place of business Well, let me know any fresh development taken up your case, and rely upon it that see it through "

passed hall Holmes's eyes, which missed nothing, lighted upon several trunks and cases which were piled in corner The labels shone out upon them

" 'Milano ' 'Lucerne ' These are from Italy "

" poor Douglas's things "

" unpacked them ? How long had them ? "

"They arrived last week "

"But you said -- why, surely this the missing link How do not something of value there ? "

"There possibly be, Mr Holmes Poor Douglas had only his pay and small annuity What could he have of value ? "

Holmes was lost in thought

"Delay no longer, Mrs Maberley," at last "Have these things taken upstairs to your bedroom Examine them what they cohtain come tomorrow and hear your report "

quite evident Three Gables was under very close surveillance, for came round the high hedge end lane the negro prize-fighter standing shadow We came on him quite suddenly, and grim and menacing figure he looked lonely place Holmes clapped his hand pocket

"Lookin' for your gun, Masser Holmes ? "

"No, scent-bottle, Steve "

" funny, Masser Holmes, ain't you ? "

"It won't be funny , Steve, if I get after you I fair warning "

"Well, Masser Holmes, I done gone think over what you said, and I don't want no more talk affair of Masser Perkins S'pose , Masser Holmes, "

"Well, then, tell me behind you job "

"So help me the Lord ! Masser Holmes, you the truth before I don't know My boss Barney gives me orders 's all "

"Well, just bear in mind, Steve, lady house, and everything under that roof, is under my protection Don't forget it "

"All right, Masser Holmes I'll remember "

"I've got him thoroughly frightened own skin, Watson," Holmes remarked walked on " double-cross his employer if who lucky I had some knowledge Spencer John crowd, Steve was Now, Watson, case for Langdale Pike, and going him now When I get back clearer matter "