Publisher's Synopsis
Mr. Mitchel was still at breakfast one morning, when the card of Mr. Barnes was brought to him by his man Williams. "Show Mr. Barnes in here," said he. "I imagine that he must be in a hurry to see me, else he would not call so early." A few minutes later the detective entered, saying: "It is very kind of you to let me come in without waiting. I hope that I am not intruding." "Not at all. As to being kind, why I am kind to myself. I knew you must have something interesting on hand to bring you around so early, and I am proportionately curious; at the same time I hate to go without my coffee, and I do not like to drink it too fast, especially good coffee, and this is good, I assure you. Draw up and have a cup, for I observe that you came off in such a hurry this morning that you did not get any." "Why, thank you, I will take some, but how do you know that I came off in a hurry and had no coffee at home? It seems to me that if you can tell that, you are becoming as clever as the famous Sherlock Holmes."
