referring the life of a hermit. A youthful indiscretion,
sir, has made me fear to face the world. There was nothing wrong about
it, save that it was a folly, and I have been anxious in these days of
newspapers to avoid any possible revival of what might in some eyes seem
scandalous."

I felt sorry for him, but my duty was clear. Here was my man--but how
to gain direct proof was still beyond me. No further admissions could be
got out of him, and we soon parted.

Two days later the lady called and again I reported progress.

"It needs but one thing, madame, to convince me that I have found
your husband," said I. "I have found a man who might be connected with
swan's-down, from whose luxuriant curls might have come this tow-colored
lock, and who might have worn the silver-tinsel tights--yet it is all
MIGHT and no certainty."

"I will bring my small brother's bugle and the tin sword," said she.
"The sword has certain properties which may induce him to confess. My
brother tells me that if he simply shakes it at a cat the cat falls
dead."

"Do so," said I, "and I will try it on him. If he recognizes the sword
and remembers its properties when I attempt to brandish it at him, he'll
be forced to confess, though it would be awkward if he is the wrong man
and the sword should work on him as it does on the cat."

The next day I was in possession of the famous toy. It was not very
long, and rather more suggestive of a pancake-turner than a sword, but
it was a terror. I tested its qualities on a swarm of gnats in my room,
and the moment I shook it at them they fluttered to the ground as dead
as door-nails.

"I'll have to be careful of this weapon," I thought. "It would be
terrible if I should brandish it at a motor-man trying to get one of the
Gehenna Traction Company's cable-cars to stop and he should drop dead at
his post."

All was now ready for the demonstration. Fortunately the following
Saturday night was club night at the House-Boat, and we were all
expected to come in costume. For dramatic effect I wore a yellow wig, a
helmet, the silver-tinsel tights, and a doublet to match, with the
brass bugle and the tin sword properly slung about my person. I looked
stunning, even if I do say it, and much to my surprise several people
mistook me for the man I was after. Another link in the chain! EVEN THE
PUBLIC UNCONSCIOUSLY RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF MY DEDUCTIONS. THEY CALLED
ME LOHENGRIN!

And of course it all happened as I