An answer had arrived to Holmes's telegram before our Surrey officer had returned Holmes read it and was about it notebook when he caught glimpse expectant face He tossed it across with laugh

" moving in exalted circles," said he

The telegram was list of names and addresses:

Lord Harringby, The Dingle; Sir George Ffolliott, Oxshott Towers; Mr Hynes Hynes, J P , Purdey Place; Mr James Baker Williams, Forton Old Hall; Mr Henderson, High Gable; Rev Joshua Stone, Nether Walsling

" very obvious way of limiting our field of operations," said Holmes " Baynes, methodical mind, has already adopted some similar plan "

"I don't quite understand "

"Well, my dear fellow, already arrived conclusion message received by Garcia at dinner was an appointment or an assignation Now, obvious reading of correct and this tryst one ascend main stair and seek the seventh door in corridor, perfectly clear house is very large one equally certain house more than mile or two from Oxshott, since Garcia was walking direction and hoped, according to my reading facts, back in Wisteria Lodge to avail himself of an alibi, which would only be valid one o'clock number of large houses close to Oxshott limited, I adopted the obvious method of sending agents mentioned by Scott Eccles and obtaining list Here telegram, other end tangled skein must lie among them "

nearly six o'clock before ourselves pretty Surrey village of Esher, with Inspector Baynes as our companion

Holmes and I had taken things night, and found comfortable quarters Bull Finally we set out company detective visit to Wisteria Lodge cold, dark March evening, with sharp wind and fine rain beating upon our faces, fit setting wild common over which our road passed tragic goal it led us

2 The Tiger of San Pedro

cold and melancholy walk of couple of miles brought us to high wooden gate, which opened into gloomy avenue of chestnuts The curved and shadowed drive led us to low, dark house, pitch-black against slate-coloured sky front window left door there peeped glimmer of feeble light

"There's constable in possession," said Baynes "I'll knock window " He stepped across the grass plot and tapped hand pane fogged glass I dimly saw man spring up from chair beside the fire, and heard sharp cry from room An instant later white-faced, hard-breathing policeman had opened the door, the candle wavering trembling hand

"What's the matter, Walters ? " asked Baynes sharply

The man mopped his forehead handkerchief and gave long sigh of relief

" come, sir long evening, and I don't think my nerve is as good as "

"Your nerve, Walters ? I have thought you had nerve in your body "

"Well, sir, it's this lonely, silent house queer thing kitchen Then tapped window it had come again "

"That what had come again ? "

"The devil, sir, for all window "

" window, and when ? "

" just about two The light was just fading sitting reading chair I don't know what made me look up, but face looking in at me lower pane Lord, sir, what face ! I'll see it in my dreams "

"Tut, tut, Walters talk for police-constable "

" , sir, ; but it shook me, sir, and there's no use to deny it It wasn't black, sir, nor white, nor any colour that , but kind of queer shade like clay with splash of milk Then the size of it- twice yours, sir look of it- the great staring goggle eyes, line of white teeth like hungry beast I tell you, sir, I couldn't move finger, nor get my breath, till it whisked away and was gone Out I ran and shrubbery, but thank God no one there "

"If I didn't know you were good man, Walters, put black mark against you were the devil himself constable on duty should never thank God that lay his hands upon him I suppose the whole thing vision and touch of nerves ? "

"That, , is very easily settled," said Holmes, lighting his little pocket lantern "Yes," he reported, after short examination grass bed, "a number twelve shoe, say If all same scale as his foot certainly giant "

"What became of him ? "

"He seems broken shrubbery and made road "

"Well" said the inspector with grave and thoughtful face, "whoever been, and whatever wanted, he's gone and more immediate things to attend to Now, Mr Holmes, with your permission, show you round the house "

The various bedrooms and sitting-rooms had yielded nothing to careful search Apparently the tenants had brought little or nothing , and all the furniture down smallest detail taken over house of clothing stamp of Marx and Co , High Holborn, left behind Telegraphic inquiries already made which showed that Marx knew nothing customer save that good payer Odds and ends, some pipes, few novels, two in Spanish, an old-fashioned pinfire revolver, and guitar were personal property

"Nothing in all this" said Baynes, stalking, candle in hand, from room to room "But now, Mr Holmes, I invite your attention kitchen "

gloomy, high-ceilinged room back house, with straw litter in one corner, which served apparently as bed cook The table was piled with half-eaten dishes and dirty plates, the debris of last night's dinner

"Look ," said Baynes "What make of it ? "

He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood back dresser so wrinkled and shrunken and withered difficult what it One could but say black and leathery it bore some resemblance to dwarfish, human figure At first, as I examined it, mummified negro baby, and then it seemed very twisted and ancient monkey Finally left in doubt whether animal or human double band of white shells was strung round the centre of it

"Very interesting- very interesting, indeed ! " said Holmes, peering sinister relic "Anything more ? "

In silence Baynes led the way sink and held forward his candle The limbs and body of some large, white bird, torn savagely to pieces feathers still on, were littered all over it Holmes pointed wattles severed head

"A white cock," said he "Most interesting ! really very curious case "

But Mr Baynes had kept his most sinister exhibit last From under the sink he drew zinc pail which contained quantity of blood Then table platter heaped with small pieces of charred bone