smile, "you know that?"

"You told me yourself. I remember considering it a proof of your
extraordinary perception. But, by Jove, you don't mean to say you have
lost it?"

He was silent for a moment. "No; it has been stolen, it is true, but I
shall still find it. And by myself alone! In your profession, my dear
fellow, when a member is seriously ill, he does not prescribe for
himself, but calls in a brother doctor. Therein we differ. I shall
take this matter in my own hands."

"And where could you find better?" I said enthusiastically. "I should
say the cigar case is as good as recovered already."

"I shall remind you of that again," he said lightly. "And now, to show
you my confidence in your judgment, in spite of my determination to
pursue this alone, I am willing to listen to any suggestions from you."

He drew a memorandum book from his pocket and, with a grave smile, took
up his pencil.

I could scarcely believe my senses. He, the great Hemlock Jones,
accepting suggestions from a humble individual like myself! I kissed
his hand reverently, and began in a joyous tone:

"First, I should advertise, offering a reward; I should give the same
intimation in hand-bills, distributed at the 'pubs' and the
pastry-cooks'. I should next visit the different pawnbrokers; I should
give notice at the police station. I should examine the servants. I
should thoroughly search the house and my own pockets. I speak
relatively," I added, with a laugh. "Of course I mean YOUR own."

He gravely made an entry of these details.

"Perhaps," I added, "you have already done this?"

"Perhaps," he returned enigmatically. "Now, my dear friend," he
continued, putting the note-book in his pocket and rising, "would you
excuse me for a few moments? Make yourself perfectly at home until I
return; there may be some things," he added with a sweep of his hand
toward his heterogeneously filled shelves, "that may interest you and
while away the time. There are pipes and tobacco in that corner."

Then nodding to me with the same inscrutable face he left the room. I
was too well accustomed to his methods to think much of his
unceremonious withdrawal, and made no doubt he was off to investigate
some clue which had suddenly occurred to his active intelligence.

Left to myself I cast a cursory glance over his shelves. There were a
number of small glass jars containing earthy substances, labeled
"Pavement and Road Sweepings," from