“The date?” asked Holmes, opening his notebook.

“He disappeared upon the 3rd of December, 1878 ⁠—nearly ten years ago.”

“His luggage?”

“Remained at the hotel. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue⁠—some clothes, some books, and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there.”

“Had he any friends in town?”

“Only one that we know of⁠—Major Sholto, of his own regiment, the 34th Bombay Infantry. The major had retired some little time before, and lived at Upper Norwood. We communicated with him, of course, but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England.”

“A singular case,” remarked Holmes.