Sherlock Holmes was rubbing his hands and chuckling as he added
this bizarre incident to his collection of strange episodes.

"Your experience is, so far as I know, perfectly unique," said
he. "May I ask, sir, what you did then?"

"I was furious. My first idea was that I had been the victim of
some absurd practical joke. I packed my things, banged the hall
door behind me, and set off for Esher, with my bag in my hand. I
called at Allan Brothers', the chief land agents in the village,
and found that it was from this firm that the villa had been
rented. It struck me that the whole proceeding could hardly be
for the purpose of making a fool of me, and that the main objet
must be to get out of the rent. It is late in March, so quarter-
day is at hand. But this theory would not work. The agent was
obliged to me for my warning, but told me that the rent had been
paid in advance. Then I made my way to town and called at the
Spanish embassy. The man was unknown there. After this I went
to see Melville, at whose house I had first met Garcia, but I
found that he really knew rather less about him than I did.
Finally when I got your reply to my wire I came out to you, since
I gather that you are a person who gives advice in difficult
cases. But now, Mr. Inspector, I understand, from what you said
when you entered the room, that you can carry the story on, and
that some tragedy had occurred. I can assure you that every word
I have said is the truth, and that, outside of what I have told
you, I know absolutely nothing about the fate of this man. My
only desire is to help the law in every possible way."