It was evident there was no deceiving this man! "Have you been busy lately ?" I asked, changing the subject.

"What new problem--given up by Scotland Yard as inscrutable--has occupied that gigantic intellect ?" He drew back his foot slightly, and seemed to hesitate ere he returned it to its original position.

Then he answered wearily: "Mere trifles--nothing to speak of.

The Prince Kupoli has been here to get my advice regarding the disappearance of certain rubies from the Kremlin; the Rajah of Pootibad, after vainly beheading his entire bodyguard, has been obliged to seek my assistance to recover a jeweled sword.

The Grand Duchess of Pretzel-Brauntswig is desirous of discovering where her husband was on the night of February 14; and last night"-- he lowered his voice slightly--"a lodger in this very house, meeting me on the stairs, wanted to know why they didn't answer his bell." I could not help smiling--until I saw a frown gathering on his inscrutable forehead.
"Pray remember," he said coldly, "that it was through such an apparently trivial question that I found out Why Paul Ferroll Killed His Wife, and What Happened to Jones!" I became dumb at once.