morning we advertised in all the papers. Our inquiries led to no
result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of
my unfortunate father. He came home with his heart full of hope,
to find some peace, some comfort, and instead--" She put her
hand to her throat, and a choking sob cut short the sentence.

"The date?" asked Holmes, opening his note-book.

"He disappeared upon the 3d 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.

"I have not yet described to you the most singular part. About
six years ago--to be exact, upon the 4th of May, 1882--an