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We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to

this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down

from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he

placed his cuttings.

"Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It

appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this:

'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged twenty-six, a

hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten o'clock at night,

and has not been heard of since. Was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha!

That represents the last time that the colonel needed to have his

machine overhauled, I fancy."

"Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the

girl said."