owever, acting on the clews which you
have, you confirm my impression that I am such and such a person, as
well as the views which other people have, then will my status be well
defined and I can institute my suit against my husband for a judicial
separation, with back alimony, with some assurance of a successful
issue."

I was more puzzled than ever.

"Well," said I, slowly, "I of course can see how a bit of swan's-down
and a lock of yellow hair backed up by a pair of silver-tinsel tights
might constitute reasonable evidence in a suit for separation, but
wouldn't it--ah--be more to your purpose if I should use these data as
establishing the identity of--er--somebody else?"

"How very dense you are," she replied, impatiently. "That's precisely
what I want you to do."

"But you told me it was your identity you wished proven," I put in,
irritably.

"Precisely," said she.

"Then these bits of evidence are--yours?" I asked, hesitatingly. One
does not like to accuse a lady of an undue liking for tinsel.

"They are all I have left of my husband," she answered with a sob.

"Hum!" said I, my perplexity increasing. "Was the--ah--the gentleman
blown up by dynamite?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Holmes," she retorted, rising and running the scales.
"I think, after all, I have come to the wrong shop. Have you Hawkshaw's
address handy? You are too obtuse for a detective."

My reputation was at stake, so I said, significantly:

"Good! Good! I was merely trying one of my disguises on you, madame, and
you were completely taken in. Of course no one would ever know me for
Sherlock Holmes if I manifested such dullness."

"Ah!" she said, her face lighting up. "You were merely deceiving me by
appearing to be obtuse?"

"Of course," said I. "I see the whole thing in a nutshell. You married
an adventurer; he told you who he was, but you've never been able to
prove it; and suddenly you are deserted by him, and on going over his
wardrobe you find he has left nothing but these articles: and now you
wish to sue him for a separation on the ground of desertion, and secure
alimony if possible."

It was a magnificent guess.

"That is it precisely," said the lady. "Except as to the extent of his
'leavings.' In addition to the things you have he gave my small brother
a brass bugle and a tin sword."

"We may need to see them later," said I. "At present I will do all I can
for you on the evidence in hand. I have got my eye on a gentleman who
wea