Yes, Watson, there are good
reasons to suspect that there has been a substitution of
lodgers."
"But for what possible end?"
"Ah! there lies our problem. There is one rather obvious line of
investigation." He took down the great book in which, day by
day, he filed the agony columns of the various London journals.
"Dear me!" said he, turning over the pages, "what a chorus of
groans, cries, and bleatings! What a rag-bag of singular
happenings! But surely the most valuable hunting-ground that
ever was given to a student of the unusual! This person is alone
and cannot be approached by letter without a breach of that
absolute secrecy which is desired. How is any news or any
message to reach him from without? Obviously by advertisement
through a newspaper. There seems no other way, and fortunately
we need concern ourselves with the one paper only. Here are the
Daily Gazette extracts of the last fortnight. 'Lady with a black
boa at Prince's Skating Club'--that we may pass. 'Surely Jimmy
will not break his mother's heart'--that appears to be
irrelevant. 'If the lady who fainted on Brixton bus'--she does
not interest me. 'Every day my heart longs--' Bleat, Watson--
unmitigated bleat! Ah, this is a little more possible. Listen
to this: 'Be patient. Will find some sure means of
communications. Meanwhile, this column. G.' That is two days
after Mrs.
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