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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
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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 placeabout 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；
tumbledown 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；
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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 doorthe 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 objet
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
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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 had 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 EcclesI 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 folded and discoloured scrap of paper from his pocket。
〃It was a dog…grate； Mr。 Holmes； and he overpitched it。 I picked this
out unburned from the back of it。〃
Holmes smiled his appreciation。
〃You must have examined the house very carefully to find a single
pellet of paper。〃
〃I did； Mr。 Holmes。 It's my way。 Shall I read it； Mr。 Gregson？〃
The Londoner nodded。
〃The note is written upon ordinary cream…laid paper without
watermark。 It is a quarter…sheet。 The paper is cut off in two snips with a
short…bladed scissors。 It has been folded over three times and sealed with
purple wax； put on hurriedly and pressed down with some flat oval object。
It is addressed to Mr。 Garcia； Wisteria Lodge。 It says：
〃Our own colours； green and white。 Green open； white shut。 Main stair；
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first corridor； seventh right； green baize。 Godspeed。 D。
〃It is a woman's writing； done with a sharp…pointed pen； but the
address is either done with another pen or by