These were the two men who entered abruptly into our little sitting-room on Tuesday, March the 16th , shortly after our breakfast hour, as we were smoking together, preparatory to our daily excursion upon the moors.

“ Mr. Holmes,” said the vicar in an agitated voice, “the most extraordinary and tragic affair has occurred during the night. It is the most unheard-of business. We can only regard it as a special Providence that you should chance to be here at the time, for in all England you are the one man we need.”