which is the German for Company. It is a customary contraction like
our Co. P, of course, stands for Papier. Now for the Eg. Let us
glance at our Continental Gazetteer. He took down a heavy brown volume
from his shelves. Eglow, Eglonitz here we are, Egria. It is in a
German-speaking country in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. Remarkable
as being the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous
glass-factories and paper-mills. Ha, ha, my boy, what do you make of
that? His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud
from his cigarette.
The paper was made in Bohemia, I said.
Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the
peculiar construction of the sentence This account of you we have from
all quarters received. A Frenchman or Russian could not have written
that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only
remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who
writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his
face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our
doubts.
As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses hoofs and grating
wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes
whistled.
A pair, by the sound, said he. Yes, he continued, glancing out of
the window. A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred
and fifty guineas apiece. There s money in this case, Watson, if there
is nothing else.
I think that I had better go, Holmes.
Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell.
And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it.
But your client
Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes.
Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention.
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