Holmes looked at the two pieces of paper carefully*

‘This is interesting, he said. ‘He writes the words with a violet-coloured pencil. Mrs Warren, you said that the man is not tall or short and has dark hair and a beard. How old is he?’ ‘He’s young, sir; not over thirty, said Mrs Warren.‘Can you tell me something more about him?’ asked Holmes. ‘He spoke good English, but Em sure he’s a foreigner,’ said Mrs Warren. ‘Was he well-dressed?’ asked Holmes.‘Yes, he was very well dressed in dark clothes,’ answered Mrs Warren. ‘Did he tell you his name?’ asked Holmes. ‘No, sir,’ answered Mrs Warren. ‘Does he receive any letters or friends?’ asked Holmes. ‘No, sir,’ answered Mrs Warren.

‘Do you or the girl go into his room to clean it?’ asked Holmes. ‘No, sir, he does it, said Mrs Warren. ‘Goodness!’ said Holmes. ‘That is surprising. Did he have any luggage?' ‘He only had one big brown bag with him/ said Mrs Warren. ‘We have to know more about him, said Holmes. ‘Did anything come out of that room?’

Mrs Warren took an envelope out of her bag and put it on the table. Inside the envelope there were two burnt matches and a cigarette stub. ‘They were on his tray this morning/ she said. ‘I know that small things are important to you, Mr Holmes.’ Holmes picked them up and examined them. ‘The matches aren’t important. I think: ‘he used them to light cigarettes. But, this cigarette stub is very strange. You said the man has a beard.’ ‘Yes, he does,’ said Mrs warren. ‘I don’t understand,’ said Holmes. ‘How can a man with a beard smoke a cigarette in that way? He will burn his beard! The cigarette stub is too short. Perhaps there are two people in the room, Mrs Warren.’ ‘Oh, no, he eats very little — not even enough for one person, ’said Mrs Warren. ‘At this point I think we must wait for a few more facts,’ said Holmes. ‘After all, he paid the rent and he does not cause trouble. If he wants to hide, it is not your business, Mrs Warren. We can’t disturb him until there is a good reason. Now I have a good picture of your problem. Please tell me if anything new happens. ‘Thank you, Mr Holmes and Dr Watson,’ said Mrs Warren leaving the room. ‘Well, Watson, there are certainly some interesting things in this case,’ said Holmes. ‘I think the person in the rooms is probably not the one who rented them.’ ‘Why?’ I asked surprised. ‘Well, first of all there is the cigarette stub,’ said Holmes. ‘And then the lodger went out only once after he rented the rooms. He came back — or someone came back — when everyone in the house was sleeping. Was the person who went out the same person who came back late at night? We don’t know. The man who rented the rooms spoke English well; but the other person wrote “match” and not “matches”. This person probably does not know English well and that is why he writes short notes. Yes, Watson, I think the person in the rooms is not the same person who rented them, ‘How strange!’ I said. “Well, there is one thing we can do to find out more,’ said Holmes. ‘The person in Mrs Warren’s rooms is alone and does not receive any letters or friends. How can he receive any news or messages from outside? Only by an advertisement in a newspaper. There is no o the r way, and we even know the newspaper — the Daily Gazette.’ Holmes opened a big book where he put the personal advertisement sections of the London newspapers. ‘Here are the Daily Gazette personal advertisements of the last two weeks. Hmm... “Lady with blue hat at Piccadilly Circus “Jimmy, don’t break your mother’s heart”. These don’t interest me. Ah! Listen to this: “I will find a way to send you messages. L or now, this column. G.” Look at the date of the newspaper — it’s two days after Mrs Warren’s lodger rented the rooms. This mysterious person understands English even if he cannot write it. ‘Perhaps we can find more,’ said Holmes. ‘Yes, look, three days later. “Take care! The clouds will pass. G.” There is nothing for another week and then another message, “If I send a message, remember the secret code: one A, two B and so on. You will hear from me soon. G. ” That was yesterday ’s paper and there is nothing in today’s. It could be the lodger. Let’s wait a bit, Watson. We’ll know more soon.’