Mr. Lestrade. If you wish to see them you must go to the
outhouse."

It was a small shed in the narrow garden which ran behind the
house. Lestrade went in and brought out a yellow cardboard box,
with a piece of brown paper and some string. There was a bench
at the end of the path, and we all sat down while Homes examined
one by one, the articles which Lestrade had handed to him.

"The string is exceedingly interesting," he remarked, holding it
up to the light and sniffing at it. "What do you make of this
string, Lestrade?"

"It has been tarred."

"Precisely. It is a piece of tarred twine. You have also, no
doubt, remarked that Miss Cushing has cut the cord with a
scissors, as can be seen by the double fray on each side. This
is of importance."

"I cannot see the importance," said Lestrade.

"The importance lies in the fact that the knot is left intact,
and that this knot is of a peculiar character."

"It is very neatly tied. I had already made a note of that
effect," said Lestrade complacently.

"So much for the string, then," said Holmes, smiling, "now for
the box wrapper. Brown paper, with a distinct smell of coffee.