It's all about a cardboard box. Or rather, what was in the cardboard box mailed anonymously from Belfast to Miss Susan Cushing, a fifty-year-old "maiden lady" of Cross Street, Croydon. It was filled, almost to the brim, with course salt. The rest of the box was taken up by two, recently-severed, human ears from, obvious after a quick glance, two different people.

Inspector Lestrade attended and soon wrote Sherlock Holmes that, "I think this case is very much in your line." Holme's response? "Ring for our boots [Watson] and tell them to order a cab."

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