oans, 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. Warren's lodger arrived. It sounds plausible, does
it not? The mysterious one could understand English, even if he could
not print it. Let us see if we can pick up the trace again. Yes, here
we are--three days later. 'Am making successful arrangements.
Patience and prudence. The clouds will pass. G.' Nothing for a week
after that. Then comes something much more definite: 'The path is
clearing. If I find chance signal message remember code agreed--One A,
two B, and so on. You will hear soon. G.' That was in yesterday's
paper, and there is nothing in to-day's. It's all very appropriate to
Mrs. Warren's lodger. If we wait a little, Watson, I don't doubt that
the affair will grow more intelligible."

So it proved; for in the morning I found my friend standing on the
hearthrug with his back to the fire and a smile of complete
satisfaction upon his face.

"How's this, Watson?" he cried, picking up the paper from the table.
"'High red house with white stone facings. Third floor. Second window
left. After dusk. G.' That is definite enough. I think after
breakfast we must make a little reconnaissance of Mrs. Warren's
neighbourhood. Ah, Mrs. Warren! what news do you bring us this
morning?"

Our client had suddenly burst into the room with an explosive energy
which told of some new and momentous development.

"It's a police matter, Mr. Holmes!" she cried. "I'll have no more of
it! He shall pack out of there with his baggage.