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Our client had suddenly burst into the room with an explosive energy which told of some new and momentous development.

"It's a police matter, Mr. Holmes!" she cried.

"I'll have no more of it! He shall pack out of there with his baggage.

I would have gone straight up and told him so, only I thought it was but fair to you to take your opinion first.

But I'm at the end of my patience, and when it comes to knocking my old man about "

"Knocking Mr. Warren about?"

"Using him roughly, anyway."

"But who used him roughly?"

"Ah! that's what we want to know! It was this morning, sir.

Mr. Warren is a timekeeper at Morton and Waylight's, in Tottenham Court Road.

He has to be out of the house before seven.

Well, this morning he had not gone ten paces down the road when two men came up behind him, threw a coat over his head, and bundled him into a cab that was beside the curb.

They drove him an hour, and then opened the door and shot him out.

He lay in the roadway so shaken in his wits that he never saw what became of the cab.

When he picked himself up he found he was on Hampstead Heath; so he took a bus home, and there he lies now on the sofa, while I came straight round to tell you what had happened."

"Most interesting," said Holmes. "Did he observe the appearance of these men - did he hear them talk?"

"No; he is clean dazed. He just knows that he was lifted up as if by magic and dropped as if by magic. Two at least were in it, and maybe three."

"And you connect this attack with your lodger?"

"Well, we've lived there fifteen years and no such happenings ever came before. I've had enough of him. Money's not everything. I'll have him out of my house before the day is done."

"Wait a bit, Mrs. Warren.

Do nothing rash.

I begin to think that this affair may be very much more important than appeared at first sight.

It is clear now that some danger is threatening your lodger.

It is equally clear that his enemies, lying in wait for him near your door, mistook your husband for him in the foggy morning light.

On discovering their mistake they released him.

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