ThreedayslaterwewerebackinBakerStreettogether；butitwasevidentthatmyfriendwouldbemuchthebetterforachange，andthethoughtofaweekofspringtimeinthecountrywasfullofattractionstomealso。Myoldfriend，ColonelHayter，whohadcomeundermyprofessionalcareinAfghanistan，hadnowtakenahousenearReigateinSurrey，andhadfrequentlyaskedmetocomedowntohimuponavisit。Onthelastoccasionhehadremarkedthatifmyfriendwouldonlycomewithmehewouldbegladtoextendhishospitalitytohimalso。
Alittlediplomacywasneeded，butwhenHolmesunderstoodthattheestablishmentwasabachelorone，andthathewouldbeallowedthefullestfreedom，hefellinwithmyplansandaweekafterourreturnfromLyonswewereundertheColonel’sroof。Hayterwasafineoldsoldierwhohadseenmuchoftheworld，andhesoonfound，asIhadexpected，thatHolmesandhehadmuchincommon。
OntheeveningofourarrivalweweresittingintheColonel’sgun-roomafterdinner，Holmesstretcheduponthesofa，whileHayterandIlookedoverhislittlearmoryofEasternweapons。”Bytheway，”saidhesuddenly，”IthinkI’lltakeoneofthesepistolsupstairswithmeincasewehaveanalarm。””Analarm！”saidI。”Yes，we’vehadascareinthispartlately。OldActon，whoisoneofourcountymagnates，hadhishousebrokenintolastMonday。Nogreatdamagedone，butthefellowsarestillatlarge。””Noclue?”askedHolmes，cockinghiseyeattheColonel。”Noneasyet。Buttheaffairisaprettyone，oneofourlittlecountrycrimes，whichmustseemtoosmallforyourattention，Mr。Holmes，afterthisgreatinternationalaffair。”
Holmeswavedawaythecompliment，thoughhissmileshowedthatithadpleasedhim。”Wasthereanyfeatureofinterest?””Ifancynot。Thethievesransackedthelibraryandgotverylittlefortheirpains。Thewholeplacewasturnedupsidedown，drawersburstopen，andpressesransacked，withtheresultthatanoddvolumeofPope’s’Homer，’twoplatedcandlesticks，anivoryletter-weight，asmalloakbarometer，andaballoftwineareallthathavevanished。””Whatanextraordinaryassortment！”Iexclaimed。”Oh，thefellowsevidentlygrabbedholdofeverythingtheycouldget。”
Holmesgruntedfromthesofa。”Thecountypoliceoughttomakesomethingofthat，”