"Your fortune was staked on him?"

The Countess nodded again.

"The dog was stolen, carried to London, his tail cut and his marks
disfigured."

Amazed at the quiet penetration of the Great Detective, the Countess
kept on nodding and nodding.

"And you are ruined?"

"I am," she gasped, and sank to the floor in a heap of pearls.

"Madame," said the Great Detective, "all is not lost."

He straightened himself up to his full height. A look of
inflinchable unflexibility flickered over his features.

The honour of England, the fortune of the most beautiful woman in
England was at stake.

"I will do it," he murmured.

"Rise dear lady," he continued. "Fear nothing. I WILL IMPERSONATE
THE DOG!!!"

That night the Great Detective might have been seen on the deck of
the Calais packet boat with his secretary. He was on his hands and
knees in a long black cloak, and his secretary had him on a short