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"Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you

note the peculiar construction of the sentence-'This account of

you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian

could not have written that. It is the German who is so

uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover

what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and

prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if

I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts."

As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and

grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the

bell. Holmes whistled.

"A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing

out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of

beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in

this case, Watson, if there is nothing else."

"I think that I had better go, Holmes."