"Then" Holmes went on "the dying woman mentioned a band, and finally that metallic clang, which might have been one of the metal bars on the shutters falling back into place. and I think there is good reason to think that the mystery might be solved with these facts."

"But what do you think the gypsies did?"

"I cannot imagine"

"I see many problems with your ideas."

"And so do I. That is exactly why we are going to Stoke Moran today. I want to see whether the problems can be explained away, or it we have to start again. But what in the name of the devil!"

The exclamation from Holmes was caused by the fact that the door had been suddenly thrown open, and a huge man stood in the doorway. His clothes were a peculiar mixture of a doctor's and a farmer's. He had a black top hat, a long coat, and a whip in one hand.