It is peculiarly strong and stiff.’

‘Peculiar – that is the very word,’ said Holmes. ‘It is not an English paper at all. Hold it up to the light.’

I did so, and saw a large E with a small g, a P, and a large G with a small t woven into the texture of the paper.

‘What do you make of that?’ asked Holmes.

‘The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather.’

‘Not at all. The G with the small t stands for “Gesellschaft”, which is the German for “Company”. It is a customary contraction like our “Co.”. P, of course, stands for “Papier”. Now for the Eg. Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer.’9 He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. ‘Eglow, Eglonitz – here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking country10 – in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad.11 “Remarkable as being the scene of the death of Wallenstein,12 and for its numerous glass factories and paper mills.”13 Ha, ha, my boy, what do you make of that?’ His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette.

‘The paper was made in Bohemia,’14 I said.

‘Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence – “This account of you we have from all quarters received.” A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.’

As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses’ hoofs and grating wheels against the kerb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled.

‘A pair by the sound,’ said he. ‘Yes,’ he continued, glancing out of the window. ‘A nice little brougham15 and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas16 apiece. There’s money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else.’

‘I think that I had better go, Holmes.’

‘Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell.17 And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it.’

‘But your client—’

‘Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention.’

A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap.

‘Come in!’ said Holmes.

A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-coloured silk, and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended half-way up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance.