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suggest that you take no notice of this addition to your audience； and
that you proceed with your narrative exactly as you would have done
had you never been interrupted。〃
Our visitor had gulped off the brandy and the colour had returned to
his face。 With a dubious glance at the inspector's notebook； he
plunged at once into his extraordinary statement。
〃I am a bachelor；〃 said he； 〃and being of a sociable turn I
cultivate a large number of friends。 Among these are the family of a
retired brewer called Melville； living at Albemarle Mansion；
Kensington。 It was at his table that I met some weeks ago a young
fellow named Garcia。 He was； I understood； of Spanish descent and
connected in some way with the embassy。 He spoke perfect English；
was pleasing in his manners； and as good…looking a man as ever I saw
in my life。
〃In some way we struck up quite a friendship； this young fellow
and I。 He seemed to take a fancy to me from the first； and within
two days of our meeting he came to see me at Lee。 One thing led to
another； and it ended in his inviting me out to spend a few days at
his house； Wisteria Lodge； between Esher and Oxshott。 Yesterday
evening I went to Esher to fulfil this engagement。
〃He had described his household to me before I went there。 He
lived with a faithful servant； a countryman of his own； who looked
after all his needs。 This fellow could speak English and did his
housekeeping for him。 Then there was a wonderful cook； he said； a
half…breed whom he had picked up in his travels； who could serve an
excellent dinner。 I remember that he remarked what a queer household
it was to find in the heart of Surrey； and that I agreed with him；
though it has proved a good deal queerer than I thought。
〃I drove to the place… about two miles on the south side of Esher。
The house was a fair…sized one； standing back from the road； with a
curving drive which was banked with high evergreen shrubs。 It was an
old； tumble…down building in a crazy state of disrepair。 When the trap
pulled up on the grass…grown drive in front of the blotched and
weather…stained door； I had doubts as to my wisdom in visiting a man
whom I knew so slightly。 He opened the door himself； however； and
greeted me with a great show of cordiality。 I was handed over to the
manservant a melancholy； swarthy individual； who led the way； my bag
in his hand； to my bedroom。 The whole place was depressing。 Our dinner
was tete…a…tete； and though my host did his best to be entertaining；
his thoughts seemed to continually wander； and he talked so vaguely
and wildly that I could hardly understand him。 He continually
drummed his fingers on the table； gnawed his nails； and gave other
signs of nervous impatience。 The dinner itself was neither well served
nor well cooked； and the gloomy presence of the taciturn servant did
not help to enliven us。 I can assure you that many times in the course
of the evening I wished that I could invent some excuse which would
take me back to Lee。
〃One thing comes back to my memory which may have a bearing upon the
business that you two gentlemen are investigating。 I thought nothing
of it at the time。 Near the end of dinner a note was handed in by
the servant。 I noticed that after my host had read it he seemed even
more distrait and strange than before。 He gave up all pretence at
conversation and sat smoking endless cigarettes； lost in his own
thoughts； but he made no remark as to the contents。 About eleven I was
glad to go to bed。 Some time later Garcia looked in at my door… the
room was dark at the time… and asked me if I had rung。 I said that I
had not。 He apologized for having disturbed me so late； saying that it
was nearly one o'clock。 I dropped off after this and slept soundly all
night。
〃And now I come to the amazing part of my tale。 When I woke it was
broad daylight。 I glanced at my watch； and the time was nearly nine。 I
had particularly asked to be called at eight； so I was very much
astonished at this forgetfulness。 I sprang up and rang for the
servant。 There was no response。 I rang again and again； with the
same result。 Then I came to the conclusion that the bell was out of
order。 I huddled on my clothes and hurried downstairs in an
exceedingly bad temper to order some hot water。 You can imagine my
surprise when I found that there was no one there。 I shouted in the
hall。 There was no answer。 Then I ran from room to room。 All were
deserted。 My host had shown me which was his bedroom the night before；
so I knocked at the door。 No reply。 I turned the handle and walked in。
The room was empty； and the bed had never been slept in。 He had gone
with the rest。 The foreign host； the foreign footman； the foreign
cook； all had vanished in the night！ That was the end of my visit to
Wisteria Lodge。〃
Sherlock Holmes was rubbing his hands and chuckling as he added this
bizarre incident to his collection of strange episodes。
〃Your experience is； so far as I know； perfectly unique！〃 said he。
〃May I ask； sir； what you did then？〃
〃I was furious。 My first idea was that I had been the victim of some
absurd practical joke。 I packed my things； banged the hall door behind
me； and set off for Esher； with my bag in my hand。 I called at Allan
Brothers'； the chief land agents in the village； and found that it was
from this firm that the villa had been rented。 It struck me that the
whole proceeding could hardly be for the purpose of making a fool of
me； and that the main object must be to get out of the rent。 It is
late in March； so quarter…day is at hand。 But this theory would not
work。 The agent was obliged to me for my warning； but told me that the
rent had been paid in advance。 Then I made my way to town and called
at the Spanish embassy。 The man was unknown there。 After this I went
to see Melville； at whose house I had first met Garcia； but I found
that he really knew rather less about him than I did。 Finally when I
got your reply to my wire I came out to you； since I gather that you
are a person who gives advice in difficult cases。 But now； Mr。
Inspector； I understand； from what you said when you entered the room；
that you can carry the story on； and that some tragedy has occurred。 I
can assure you that every word I have said is the truth； and that
outside of what I have told you； I know absolutely nothing about the
fate of this man。 My only desire is to help the law in every
possible way。〃
〃I am sure of it Mr。 Scott Eccles… I am sure of it；〃 said
Inspector Gregson in a very amiable tone。 〃I am bound to say that
everything which you have said agrees very closely with the facts as
they have come to our notice。 For example； there was that note which
arrived during dinner。 Did you chance to observe what became of it？〃
〃Yes； I did。 Garcia rolled it up and threw it into the fire。〃
〃What do you say to that； Mr。 Baynes？〃
The country detective was a stout； puffy； red man； whose face was
only redeemed from grossness by two extraordinarily bright eyes；
almost hidden behind the heavy creases of cheek and brow。 With a
slow smile he drew a