."

"Which is about as good a reason for your suspicions as the others
gave for theirs. You're excused, Addie. Next," said Holmes.

"Well, you don't need to bite my head off about it," grumbled Addie,
as she went out, and her place was taken by a cheerful and rubicund
coachman, the same one who had driven us up from the station the day
before.

"What's your name, antecedents, and knowledge as to the
diamond-theft?" Holmes demanded.

"Vell, Ay bane Olaf Yensen, from Aalesund, Norvay. Ay bane the Earl's
first coachman. Und Ay suspect strongly that my partner out at das
stables, Carol Linescu, sviped das Earl's cuff-buttons. Ay saw das
rascal hiding someding in das hay up in the loft last evening, und Ay
bet you, by Golly, that if you yump on him, you vill find that he is
das tief. So!"

And the fat little coachman looked around with a cherubic smile on his
face.

"All right, Yensie, maybe we will. You're excused. Next."

The man who had just been accused of the robbery was now presented by
the secretary. He formed a marked contrast to his partner,--being
tall, dark and slender, with a hangdog expression on his face.

"What's your name, and what have you got to say about the
disappearance of the diamonds?" pursued the relentless inquisitor.

"Carol Linescu. I used to run a livery stable in Bucharest, Roumania.
The guy who stole the diamonds is that fat little loafer Olaf Yensen,
the first coachman. I am the second coachman. He must be the guilty
one because last week he tried to swipe my best pair of boots while I
was asleep."

"Terrible, ain't it? Any other reason? No?--All right, Carol, beat it.
Next! Now shoot 'em along quick, Thorney," Holmes said to the
secretary, as the Roumanian went out, and a heavy-set man with blond
hair, whose blue eyes blazed fiercely behind his spectacles, entered.

"Your name, please. And what do you know about the diamonds?"

"Heinrich Blumenroth, formerly of His Majesty the King of Bavaria's
royal gardens at Munich, Germany. I don't know who stole the diamonds,
but I can say that any one in the place is likely to have stolen them,
except Harrigan, La Violette, and myself. We are the only three that
are worth a darn. Nothing else, is there? I'd like to get back to the
gardens. Very busy this morning."

And the first gardener turned on his heel, whereupon Holmes remarked
with a grin:

"Sorry to have troubled you, Herr Blumenroth. You're all right. You're
exonerated. Next!"