55927    'Was he the only applicant?'

55928    'No, I had a dozen.'

55929    'Why did you pick him?'

55930    'Because he was handy, and would come cheap.'

55931    'At half wages, in fact.'

55932    'Yes.'

55933    'What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?'

55934    'Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty.

55935    Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead.'

55936    Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement.

55937    'I thought as much,' said he.

55938    'Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for ear-rings?'

55939    'Yes, sir.

55940    He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he was a lad.'

55941    'Hum!' said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought.