and the silver watch your uncle gave you on the day you succeeded to his
business.'

"Of course, gentlemen," observed the detective, with a smile at Sir Walter
and Hamlet--"of course the man fairly gasped, and I continued: 'You have
been lying face downward in the sand ever since, waiting for nightfall, so
that you could come to me for assistance, not considering it good form to
make an afternoon call upon a stranger at his hotel, clad in a
bathing-suit. Am I correct?'

"'Sir,' he replied, with a look of wonder, 'you have narrated my story
exactly as it happened, and I find I have made no mistake in coming to
you. Would you mind telling me what is your course of reasoning?'

"'It is plain as day,' said I. 'I am the person with the red beard with
whom you came down third class from London this morning, and you told me
your name was Burgess and that you were a butcher. When you looked to see
the time, I remarked upon the oddness of your watch, which led to your
telling me that it was the gift of your uncle.'

"'True,' said Burgess, 'but I did not tell you I had no luggage.'

"'No,' said I, 'but that you hadn't is plain; for if you had brought any
other clothing besides that you had on with you, you would have put it on
to come here. That you have been robbed I deduce also from your costume.'

"'But the number of the machine?' asked Watson.

"'Is on the tag on the key hanging about his neck,' said I.