Sherlock Holmes and I walked together to the High Street, where

he stopped at the shop of Harding Brothers, whence the bust had

been purchased. A young assistant informed us that Mr. Harding

would be absent until after noon, and that he was himself a

newcomer who could give us no information. Holmes's face

showed his disappointment and annoyance.

"Well, well, we can't expect to have it all our own way,

Watson," he said, at last. "We must come back in the afternoon

if Mr. Harding will not be here until then. I am, as you have

no doubt surmised, endeavouring to trace these busts to their

source, in order to find if there is not something peculiar

which may account for their remarkable fate. Let us make for

Mr. Morse Hudson, of the Kennington Road, and see if he can

throw any light upon the problem."

A drive of an hour brought us to the picture-dealer's

establishment. He was a small, stout man with a red face

02.08.2007