13533    I've been making a few independent inquiries, you see.

13534    But today must be a day of inquiries.'

13535    'My practice-' I began.

13536    'Oh, if you find your own cases more interesting than mine-' said Holmes, with some asperity.

13537    'I was going to say that my practice could get along very well for a day or two, since it is the slackest time in the year.'

13538    'Excellent,' said he, recovering his good humour.

13539    'Then we'll look into this matter together.

13540    I think that we should begin by seeing Forbes.

13541    He can probably tell us all the details we want, until we know from what side the case is to be approached.'

13542    'You said you had a clue.'

13543    'Well, we have several, but we can only test their value by further inquiry.

13544    The most difficult crime to track is the one which is purposeless.

13545    Now, this is not purposeless.

13546    Who is it that profits by it?

13547    There is the French Ambassador, there is the Russian, there is whoever might sell it to either of these, and there is Lord Holdhurst.'