"He seems a very friendly person" said Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own". As he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, straightened it out again.

"Well, this incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer for her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterward I shall walk down the to law offices, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter.

It was nearly 1.00 pm when Holmes returned from his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled all over with notes and figures. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife", said he. "To determine the exact meaning of the will, I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned."