"'It's certainly a delicate matter, I assented. "'I only had a similar task once, said Holmes, 'and that was a widow's son broke into her safe and stole over two hundred pounds. It broke the poor woman's heart!' "'Ha, ha, ha,' broke in the parrot in the Captain's voice, 'how we mowed the black fiends down, eh, John? Slash, slash, with the sword, — lunge, lunge, with the bayonet; and down went a devil every time.' "' Well, here goes,' said Holmes. 'There he is pacing the terrace like a caged lion. I'll be back in a jiffy.' And he went. "'How the blood flow, John! Splash, splash, splash; oh, the black vermin!' continued the parrot. "I never felt so puzzled in all my life, I could not believe things would turn out as Holmes supposed they would. I took my head in my hands to have a good square think before he returned; I went over the simple facts of the case again, but all to no purpose. Nothing suggested itself; I was completely beaten. I tell you, old chap, I was just about ready to run my head against a stone wall, and no wonder I savagely muttered: — "'CONFOUND THE BROOCH!" "'The next things I remembered were hearing the parrot talking in its cage above me, and Holmes and the Captain talking as they came along the hall. The words the parrot said are as indelibly photographed on the taplets of my memory as if it had taken them down in shorthand with an acid which bit in every syllable; and by the side of them is the scrap I caught of the conversation between the two men as they rapidly neared the room. The whole of the words rushed upon me simultaneously, - in fact I might almost say I heard the parrot with one ear and Holmes and the Captain with the other; the two streams of conversation seemed to meet in my brain as two ocean currents meet, and like them they mingled and whirled together madly for a moment, but by some unaccountable mental process they were immediately separated and tranquilized. The parrot said in the voices of the Captain:— "'Brooch ... precious broooch ... Safer .. wouldn't look there ... safe ... billiard table pocket ... ha, ha, safe .. Brooch, brooch ... Brooch.' "'My coachman!' the Captain was saying indignantly; 'why the fellow would lay down his life for me.' "'Then there is only one other person for it,' said Holmes, decisively, as they reached the dining-room door. "'And that one?' demanded the Captain, turning upon Holmes as they entered. "The latter was slightly pale, but cool. He looked the fine old soldier squarely in the face; his mouth quivered as in pain, but only for a second. Bracing himself for the effort be laid his hand on the Captain's arm, and said deliberately:— "'Captain, the purloiner of the lost brooch is you r———' "He got no further. Up to this point I had listened as in a dream; I heard, but was unable to speak. I was stunned by the lightning flash which laid bare the whole mystery, and the after-clap was still ringing in my ears. But, thank goodness, I roused myself in time to save Holmes' reputation!' "Allow me, Captain.' I hurriedly interrupted, and cast an imploring took at my colleague; I have made an important discovery since Mr. Holmes left she room to speak with you. Will you please conduct us to the billiard room?' "'The billiard room! Did you say the billiard room?" the Captain enquired in great surprise. "'The billiard room?' echoed Holmes, puzzled to know what clue he had missed that suggested such a solution. "'Yes, the billiard room,' I returned, though I was not sure of finding the brooch there; and yet I instinctively felt that the mystery would be cleared up there. The parrot could not have uttered these words without hearing them from some persons, nor could it have repeated another person's words in the Captain's voice, or vice versa. It was evident to me that McDonald's uneasiness had caused him to got up in his sleep, and————. Well, I was prepared to go 'Nap' on the rest. On reaching the billiard room I said:— "'Mr. McDonald will you oblige me by feeling in the pockets on that side of the table. ' "'Certainly.' he replied, and felt in each, 'though I cannot for the life of me see what you are driving at.' "Had the parrot told me? I felt like perspiring! "'Feel in the top pocket on this side.' I said. "'What the devil, sir,' — he began after doing so. "'Now in the middle one, if you please, captain.' "Holmes was now excited. My heart almost I stood still as the captain inserted his hand; oh, how I watched his face! If it were not there only one other pocket remained, and -- but I was relieved of all anxiety by the wondrous change in the captain's face as his hand touched the brooch. Such a look of astonishment, joy, and gratitude combined! I tell you, old fellow, it did me good to witness his rejuvenescence. "'Thank God!' he cried, in a voice of great emotion; and seizing my hand he wrung it warmly and long. Then he broke down altogether – fairly collapsed. "'Mr. Anderson,' he said, after a short interval, and pulled out his cheque book. 'I never in the whole of my life paid money more willingly than I pay this five hundred pounds.'