tired running up and down five flights of
stairs."

As we reentered the library, where the Earl, Tooter, and Thorneycroft
looked up with surprise as they saw Holmes come back in Vermicelli's
clothes, Lord Launcelot and Billie Hicks came in. They had been up in
the billiard room for some time, and came down to see whether anything
had developed in their absence. Upon being told that Holmes had
recovered two of the cuff-buttons from Yensen and Thorneycroft, and
was in a fair way to recover a third one from Xanthopoulos, they were
greatly surprised.

"We left Inspector Letstrayed asleep on one of the billiard tables,"
said Launcelot, with a grin; "but I guess Holmes was able to get along
pretty well without him. A little while ago I heard the first
gardener, Blumenroth, swearing something fierce on the second floor.
What was he doing up there, anyhow?"

"How do you know it was Blumenroth?" asked Holmes, as he nudged me.

"Because it was in German, and he's the only German here."

"Do you understand German yourself?"

"No."

"Then how do you know it was swearing?"

"Oh, I could tell by the tone of it."

"Well, if you couldn't understand the words, no harm was done. Say,
fellows, how do I look in the valet's togs?" asked Holmes turning
around as if he was in a tailor shop trying on a new suit.

"It fits you kind of quick under the shoulders, Holmes, but I guess it
will do," said the Earl, with a critical eye.

"What are you wearing those valet's clothes for, anyhow?" exclaimed
Hicks.

Holmes winked his crafty old wink, and replied:

"Along about five-thirty this evening you'll find out, after I return
from a little date I have made down at the village. It's twenty-five
minutes of ten now, and a number of things may happen in between, so
just keep your eyes peeled."

"This detective stuff is just one darned disguise after another, ain't
it, Holmes? A little while ago you were a race-track loafer, now
you're a valet, and Heaven only knows what you'll be to-morrow," said
Launcelot, as he curled up in the window-seat and lit a cigarette.

"Well, I don't mind it," was Holmes's reply. "Now, Watson, I'll
need you again. I've had my eye on a certain party since my
deduction-trance yesterday noon, and was waiting for her sense of
shame to impel her to confess her part in the cuff-button robbery;
but since she has not as yet done so, I shall be forced to resort
to sterner measures. Come with me, and leave these fe