"Then" Holmes went on "there is the dying mention of a band, and finally that metallic clang, which might have been one of the metal bars which secured the shutters falling back into place, and I think there is good ground to suppose that the mystery might be cleared up along these lines."

"But what then, did the gypsies do?"

"I cannot imagine"

"I see many objections to any such theory."

"And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the devil!"

The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that the door had been suddenly dashed open, and a huge man stood in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mixture of the professional and the agricultural. He had a black top hat, a long coat, and a hunting crop swinging in one hand.