? ? ? ? "If it's a local villain there should not be much difficulty in running him down," said Holmes with a yawn. "All right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle."
? ? ? ? "Inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door.
? ? ? ? The official, a smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped into the room. "Good-morning, Colonel," said he. "I hope I don't intrude, but we hear that Mr. Holmes of Baker Street is here."
? ? ? ? The colonel waved his hand towards my friend, and the inspector bowed.
? ? ? ? "We thought that perhaps you would care to step across, Mr. Holmes."
? ? ? ? "The fates are against you, Watson," said he, laughing. "We were chatting about the matter when you came in, Inspector. Perhaps you can let us have a few details." As he leaned back in his chair in the familiar attitude I knew that the case was hopeless.
? ? ? ? "We had no clue in the Acton affair. But here we have plenty to go on, and there's no doubt it is the same party in each case. The man was seen."
? ? ? ? "Ah!"
? ? ? ? "Yes, sir.
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