This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.

I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.

It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.

It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.

If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.