scomfited Egbert outside, and, at
Holmes's request, returned with Donald MacTavish, the second footman.

"Well, Donald, I don't suppose it makes any difference how old you
are, and your name I already know. I only asked those routine
questions of the first three servants to humor my fat friend from
Scotland Yard here, Inspector Barnabas Letstrayed, who represents the
slow and beef-witted majesty of the London police." And Holmes winked
at me, as he added: "Now, Mac, have you ever been in prison?"

The second footman, who seemed just as embarrassed as the first
footman had been, shifted his feet uneasily and answered:

"Well, I suppose you might call it that, Mr. Holmes. About three years
ago, when I was employed at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, I was taken
before the village squire and given three days in jail for having been
caught with a bottle in my pocket."

"It isn't a crime in Scotland to carry a bottle, is it?" said Holmes,
grinning.

"No; but they claimed that it was half full of Scotch 'smoke,' and
that I had been found totally unconscious up in the hayloft at the
time," said MacTavish, with downcast eyes.

"Whom do you suspect of having stolen the cuff-buttons?"

The man from Balmoral brightened up, as he answered:

"I am inclined to believe that my partner, Egbert Bunbury, stole them,
sir. When he went to propose to Miss Olivano, the Countess's maid,
yesterday afternoon, I saw something sparkling in his hand."

"Think he intended to give her a diamond cuff-button, instead of a
diamond ring, Donald?" queried Holmes.

"Well, who can say? Perhaps he was going to have it taken out, and
then reset in a ring."

"You're an original cuss,--aren't you, Donald? Also pretty good at
passing the buck. The Italian valet we examined first accused _you_ of
having stolen the Earl's precious heirlooms. Now, go and fight it out
with him. Thorneycroft, you may bring in the butler."

"Ah, that reminds me," said the Earl, "I feel pretty dry. Harrigan,
you may pour me out a glass of wine before you answer any of Mr.
Holmes's questions," he added as the genial butler stood before us.

When the Earl had been sufficiently refreshed from a bottle that stood
handy on a nearby table, Holmes began:

"What is your full name?"

"I have no full name. Despite the fact that I belong to the
Bartenders' and Butlers' Union, I am always sober," said Harrigan,
with a wink.

"Well, Mr. Smart Alec, what's your entire name?"

"Jo