He did not seem offended. On the contrary, he put his finger-tipstogether and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair, like onewho has a relish for conversation.
"My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, giveme work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the mostintricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I candispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dullroutine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why Ihave chosen my own particular profession,-or rather created it,
for I am the only one in the world."
"The only unofficial detective?" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"The only unofficial consulting detective," he answered. "I am thelast and highest court of appeal in detection. When Gregson orLestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths-which, by theway, is their normal state-the matter is laid before me. I