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it that I knew you could not think of Beecher without thinking of that also。
When a moment later I saw your eyes wander away from the picture； I
suspected that your mind had now turned to the Civil War； and when I
observed that your lips set； your eyes sparkled； and your hands clenched I
was positive that you were indeed thinking of the gallantry which was
shown by both sides in that desperate struggle。 But then； again； your face
grew sadder； you shook your head。 You were dwelling upon the sadness
and horror and useless waste of life。 Your hand stole towards your own
old wound and a smile quivered on your lips； which showed me that the
ridiculous side of this method of settling international questions had forced
itself upon your mind。 At this point I agreed with you that it was
preposterous and was glad to find that all my deductions had been
correct。〃
〃Absolutely！〃 said I。 〃And now that you have explained it； I confess
that I am as amazed as before。〃
〃It was very superficial； my dear Watson； I assure you。 I should not
have intruded it upon your attention had you not shown some incredulity
the other day。 But I have in my hands here a little problem which may
prove to be more difficult of solution than my small essay I thought
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
reading。 Have you observed in the paper a short paragraph referring to
the remarkable contents of a packet sent through the post to Miss Cushing；
of Cross Street； Croydon？〃
〃No； I saw nothing。〃
〃Ah！ then you must have overlooked it。 Just toss it over to me。 Here
it is； under the financial column。 Perhaps you would be good enough to
read it aloud。〃
I picked up the paper which he had thrown back to me and read the
paragraph indicated。 It was headed； 〃A Gruesome Packet。〃
〃Miss Susan Cushing； living at Cross Street； Croydon； has been made
the victim of what must be regarded as a peculiarly revolting practical joke
unless some more sinister meaning should prove to be attached to the
incident。 At two o'clock yesterday afternoon a small packet； wrapped in
brown paper； was handed in by the postman。 A cardboard box was inside；
which was filled with coarse salt。 On emptying this； Miss Cushing was
horrified to find two human ears； apparently quite freshly severed。 The
box had been sent by parcel post from Belfast upon the morning before。
There is no indication as to the sender； and the matter is the more
mysterious as Miss Cushing； who is a maiden lady of fifty； has led a most
retired life； and has so few acquaintances or corespondents that it is a rare
event for her to receive anything through the post。 Some years ago；
however； when she resided at Penge； she let apartments in her house to
three young medical students； whom she was obliged to get rid of on
account of their noisy and irregular habits。 The police are of opinion that
this outrage may have been perpetrated upon Miss Cushing by these
youths； who owed her a grudge and who hoped to frighten her by sending
her these relics of the dissecting…rooms。 Some probability is lent to the
theory by the fact that one of these students came from the north of Ireland；
and； to the best of Miss Cushing's belief； from Belfast。 In the meantime；
the matter is being actively investigated； Mr。 Lestrade； one of the very
smartest of our detective officers； being in charge of the case。〃
〃So much for the Daily Chronicle；〃 said Holmes as I finished reading。
〃Now for our friend Lestrade。 I had a note from him this morning； in
which he says：
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
〃I think that this case is very much in your line。 We have every hope
of clearing the matter up； but we find a little difficulty in getting anything
to work upon。 We have； of course； wired to the Belfast post…office； but a
large number of parcels were handed in upon that day； and they have no
means of identifying this particular one； or of remembering the sender。
The box is a half…pound box of honeydew tobacco and does not help us in
any way。 The medical student theory still appears to me to be the most
feasible； but if you should have a few hours to spare I should be very
happy to see you out here。 I shall be either at the house or in the police…
station all day。
〃What say you； Watson？ Can you rise superior to the heat and run
down to Croydon with me on the off chance of a case for your annals？〃
〃I was longing for something to do。〃
〃You shall have it then。 Ring for our boots and tell them to order a
cab。 I'll be back in a moment when I have changed my dressing…gown
and filled my cigar…case。〃
A shower of rain fell while we were in the train； and the heat was far
less oppressive in Croydon than in town。 Holmes had sent on a wire； so
that Lestrade； as wiry； as dapper； and as ferret… like as ever； was waiting
for us at the station。 A walk of five minutes took us to Cross Street；
where Miss Cushing resided。
It was a very long street of two…story brick houses； neat and prim； with
whitened stone steps and little groups of aproned women gossiping at the
doors。 Halfway down； Lestrade stopped and tapped at a door； which was
opened by a small servant girl。 Miss Cushing was sitting in the front
room； into which we were ushered。 She was a placid…faced woman； with
large； gentle eyes； and grizzled hair curving down over her temples on
each side。 A worked antimacassar lay upon her lap and a basket of
coloured silks stood upon a stool beside her。
〃They are in the outhouse； those dreadful things；〃 said she as Lestrade
entered。 〃I wish that you would take them away altogether。〃
〃So I shall； Miss Cushing。 I only kept them here until my friend； Mr。
Holmes； should have seen them in your presence。〃
〃Why in my presence； sir？〃
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〃In case he wished to ask a