his coattails, looked down upon me reflectively for a moment. "Do
you remember the cigar case presented to me by the Turkish
Ambassador for discovering the missing favorite of the Grand Vizier
in the fifth chorus girl at the Hilarity Theatre? It was that one.
I mean the cigar case. It was incrusted with diamonds."

"And the largest one had been supplanted by paste," I said.

"Ah," he said, with a reflective smile, you know that?"

"You told me yourself. I remember considering it a proof of your
extraordinary perception. But, by Jove, you don't mean to say you
have lost it?"

He was silent for a moment. "No; it has been stolen, it is true,
but I shall still find it. And by myself alone! In your
profession, my dear fellow, when a member is seriously ill, he does
not prescribe for himself, but calls in a brother doctor. Therein
we differ. I shall take this matter in my own hands."

"And where could you find better?" I said enthusiastically. "I
should say the cigar case is as good as recovered already."

"I shall remind you of that again," he said lightly. "And now, to
show you my confidence in your judgment, in spite of my
determination to pursue this alone, I am willing to listen to any
suggestions from you."

He drew a memorandum book from his pocket and, with a grave smile,
took up his pencil.