第2章

Duringthefirstweekorsowehadnocallers，andIhadbeguntothinkthatmycompanionwasasfriendlessamanasIwasmyself。Presently，however，Ifoundthathehadmanyacquaintances，andthoseinthemostdifferentclassesofsociety。Therewasonelittlesallowrat-faced，dark-eyedfellowwhowasintroducedtomeasMr。Lestrade，andwhocamethreeorfourtimesinasingleweek。Onemorningayounggirlcalled，fashionablydressed，andstayedforhalfanhourormore。

Thesameafternoonbroughtagrey-headed，seedyvisitor，lookinglikeaJewpedlar，whoappearedtometobemuchexcited，andwhowascloselyfollowedbyaslip-shodelderlywoman。Onanotheroccasionanoldwhite-hairedgentlemanhadaninterviewwithmycompanion；andonanotherarailwayporterinhisvelveteenuniform。Whenanyofthesenondescriptindividualsputinanappearance，SherlockHolmesusedtobegfortheuseofthesitting-room，andIwouldretiretomybed-room。Healwaysapologizedtomeforputtingmetothisinconvenience。"Ihavetousethisroomasaplaceofbusiness，"hesaid，"andthesepeoplearemyclients。"AgainIhadanopportunityofaskinghimapointblankquestion，andagainmydelicacypreventedmefromforcinganothermantoconfideinme。Iimaginedatthetimethathehadsomestrongreasonfornotalludingtoit，buthesoondispelledtheideabycomingroundtothesubjectofhisownaccord。

Itwasuponthe4thofMarch，asIhavegoodreasontoremember，thatIrosesomewhatearlierthanusual，andfoundthatSherlockHolmeshadnotyetfinishedhisbreakfast。Thelandladyhadbecomesoaccustomedtomylatehabitsthatmyplacehadnotbeenlaidnormycoffeeprepared。WiththeunreasonablepetulanceofmankindIrangthebellandgaveacurtintimationthatIwasready。ThenIpickedupamagazinefromthetableandattemptedtowhileawaythetimewithit，whilemycompanionmunchedsilentlyathistoast。Oneofthearticleshadapencilmarkattheheading，andInaturallybegantorunmyeyethroughit。

Itssomewhatambitioustitlewas"TheBookofLife，"anditattemptedtoshowhowmuchanobservantmanmightlearnbyanaccurateandsystematicexaminationofallthatcameinhisway。Itstruckmeasbeingaremarkablemixtureofshrewdnessandofabsurdity。Thereasoningwascloseandintense，butthedeductionsappearedtometobefar-fetchedandexaggerated。Thewriterclaimedbyamomentaryexpression，atwitchofamuscleoraglanceofaneye，tofathomaman"sinmostthoughts。Deceit，accordingtohim，wasanimpossibilityinthecaseofonetrainedtoobservationandanalysis。

HisconclusionswereasinfallibleassomanypropositionsofEuclid。Sostartlingwouldhisresultsappeartotheuninitiatedthatuntiltheylearnedtheprocessesbywhichhehadarrivedatthemtheymightwellconsiderhimasanecromancer。

"Fromadropofwater，"saidthewriter，"alogiciancouldinferthepossibilityofanAtlanticoraNiagarawithouthavingseenorheardofoneortheother。Soalllifeisagreatchain，thenatureofwhichisknownwheneverweareshownasinglelinkofit。Likeallotherarts，theScienceofDeductionandAnalysisisonewhichcanonlybeacquiredbylongandpatientstudynorislifelongenoughtoallowanymortaltoattainthehighestpossibleperfectioninit。

Beforeturningtothosemoralandmentalaspectsofthematterwhichpresentthegreatestdifficulties，lettheenquirerbeginbymasteringmoreelementaryproblems。

Lethim，onmeetingafellow-mortal，learnataglancetodistinguishthehistoryoftheman，andthetradeorprofessiontowhichhebelongs。Puerileassuchanexercisemayseem，itsharpensthefacultiesofobservation，andteachesonewheretolookandwhattolookfor。Byaman"sfingernails，byhiscoat-sleeve，byhisboot，byhistrouserknees，bythecallositiesofhisforefingerandthumb，byhisexpression，byhisshirtcuffs——byeachofthesethingsaman"scallingisplainlyrevealed。Thatallunitedshouldfailtoenlightenthecompetentenquirerinanycaseisalmostinconceivable。"

"Whatineffabletwaddle!"Icried，slappingthemagazinedownonthetable，"Ineverreadsuchrubbishinmylife。"

"Whatisit?"askedSherlockHolmes。

"Why，thisarticle，"Isaid，pointingatitwithmyeggspoonasIsatdowntomybreakfast。"Iseethatyouhavereaditsinceyouhavemarkedit。Idon"tdenythatitissmartlywritten。Itirritatesmethough。Itisevidentlythetheoryofsomearm-chairloungerwhoevolvesalltheseneatlittleparadoxesintheseclusionofhisownstudy。Itisnotpractical。IshouldliketoseehimclappeddowninathirdclasscarriageontheUnderground，andaskedtogivethetradesofallhisfellow-travellers。Iwouldlayathousandtooneagainsthim。"

"Youwouldloseyourmoney，"SherlockHolmesremarkedcalmly。

"AsforthearticleIwroteitmyself。"

"You!"

"Yes，Ihaveaturnbothforobservationandfordeduction。

ThetheorieswhichIhaveexpressedthere，andwhichappeartoyoutobesochimericalarereallyextremelypractical——

sopracticalthatIdependuponthemformybreadandcheese。"

"Andhow?"Iaskedinvoluntarily。

"Well，Ihaveatradeofmyown。IsupposeIamtheonlyoneintheworld。I"maconsultingdetective，ifyoucanunderstandwhatthatis。HereinLondonwehavelotsofGovernmentdetectivesandlotsofprivateones。Whenthesefellowsareatfaulttheycometome，andImanagetoputthemontherightscent。Theylayalltheevidencebeforeme，andIamgenerallyable，bythehelpofmyknowledgeofthehistoryofcrime，tosetthemstraight。Thereisastrongfamilyresemblanceaboutmisdeeds，andifyouhaveallthedetailsofathousandatyourfingerends，itisoddifyoucan"tunravelthethousandandfirst。Lestradeisawell-knowndetective。Hegothimselfintoafogrecentlyoveraforgerycase，andthatwaswhatbroughthimhere。"

"Andtheseotherpeople?"

"Theyaremostlysentonbyprivateinquiryagencies。

Theyareallpeoplewhoareintroubleaboutsomething，andwantalittleenlightening。Ilistentotheirstory，theylistentomycomments，andthenIpocketmyfee。"

"Butdoyoumeantosay，"Isaid，"thatwithoutleavingyourroomyoucanunravelsomeknotwhichothermencanmakenothingof，althoughtheyhaveseeneverydetailforthemselves?"

"Quiteso。Ihaveakindofintuitionthatway。

Nowandagainacaseturnsupwhichisalittlemorecomplex。

ThenIhavetobustleaboutandseethingswithmyowneyes。

YouseeIhavealotofspecialknowledgewhichIapplytotheproblem，andwhichfacilitatesmatterswonderfully。

Thoserulesofdeductionlaiddowninthatarticlewhicharousedyourscorn，areinvaluabletomeinpracticalwork。

Observationwithmeissecondnature。YouappearedtobesurprisedwhenItoldyou，onourfirstmeeting，thatyouhadcomefromAfghanistan。"

"Youweretold，nodoubt。"

"Nothingofthesort。I_knew_youcamefromAfghanistan。

Fromlonghabitthetrainofthoughtsransoswiftlythroughmymind，thatIarrivedattheconclusionwithoutbeingconsciousofintermediatesteps。Thereweresuchsteps，however。Thetrainofreasoningran，`Hereisagentlemanofamedicaltype，butwiththeairofamilitaryman。Clearlyanarmydoctor，then。Hehasjustcomefromthetropics，forhisfaceisdark，andthatisnotthenaturaltintofhisskin，forhiswristsarefair。Hehasundergonehardshipandsickness，ashishaggardfacesaysclearly。Hisleftarmhasbeeninjured。Heholdsitinastiffandunnaturalmanner。

WhereinthetropicscouldanEnglisharmydoctorhaveseenmuchhardshipandgothisarmwounded?ClearlyinAfghanistan。"

Thewholetrainofthoughtdidnotoccupyasecond。IthenremarkedthatyoucamefromAfghanistan，andyouwereastonished。"

"Itissimpleenoughasyouexplainit，"Isaid，smiling。

"YouremindmeofEdgarAllenPoe"sDupin。Ihadnoideathatsuchindividualsdidexistoutsideofstories。"

SherlockHolmesroseandlithispipe。"NodoubtyouthinkthatyouarecomplimentingmeincomparingmetoDupin，"

heobserved。"Now，inmyopinion，Dupinwasaveryinferiorfellow。Thattrickofhisofbreakinginonhisfriends"

thoughtswithanaproposremarkafteraquarterofanhour"ssilenceisreallyveryshowyandsuperficial。Hehadsomeanalyticalgenius，nodoubt；buthewasbynomeanssuchaphenomenonasPoeappearedtoimagine。"

"HaveyoureadGaboriau"sworks?"Iasked。

"DoesLecoqcomeuptoyourideaofadetective?"

SherlockHolmessniffedsardonically。"Lecoqwasamiserablebungler，"hesaid，inanangryvoice；"hehadonlyonethingtorecommendhim，andthatwashisenergy。Thatbookmademepositivelyill。Thequestionwashowtoidentifyanunknownprisoner。Icouldhavedoneitintwenty-fourhours。Lecoqtooksixmonthsorso。Itmightbemadeatext-bookfordetectivestoteachthemwhattoavoid。"

IfeltratherindignantathavingtwocharacterswhomIhadadmiredtreatedinthiscavalierstyle。Iwalkedovertothewindow，andstoodlookingoutintothebusystreet。

"Thisfellowmaybeveryclever，"Isaidtomyself，"butheiscertainlyveryconceited。"

"Therearenocrimesandnocriminalsinthesedays，"hesaid，querulously。"Whatistheuseofhavingbrainsinourprofession。IknowwellthatIhaveitinmetomakemynamefamous。NomanlivesorhaseverlivedwhohasbroughtthesameamountofstudyandofnaturaltalenttothedetectionofcrimewhichIhavedone。Andwhatistheresult?Thereisnocrimetodetect，or，atmost，somebunglingvillanywithamotivesotransparentthatevenaScotlandYardofficialcanseethroughit。"

Iwasstillannoyedathisbumptiousstyleofconversation。

Ithoughtitbesttochangethetopic。

"Iwonderwhatthatfellowislookingfor?"Iasked，pointingtoastalwart，plainly-dressedindividualwhowaswalkingslowlydowntheothersideofthestreet，lookinganxiouslyatthenumbers。Hehadalargeblueenvelopeinhishand，andwasevidentlythebearerofamessage。

"YoumeantheretiredsergeantofMarines，"saidSherlockHolmes。

"Bragandbounce!"thoughtItomyself。"HeknowsthatI

cannotverifyhisguess。"

Thethoughthadhardlypassedthroughmymindwhenthemanwhomwewerewatchingcaughtsightofthenumberonourdoor，andranrapidlyacrosstheroadway。Weheardaloudknock，adeepvoicebelow，andheavystepsascendingthestair。

"ForMr。SherlockHolmes，"hesaid，steppingintotheroomandhandingmyfriendtheletter。

Herewasanopportunityoftakingtheconceitoutofhim。

Helittlethoughtofthiswhenhemadethatrandomshot。

"MayIask，mylad，"Isaid，intheblandestvoice，"whatyourtrademaybe?"

"Commissionaire，sir，"hesaid，gruffly。

"Uniformawayforrepairs。"

"Andyouwere?"Iasked，withaslightlymaliciousglanceatmycompanion。

"Asergeant，sir，RoyalMarineLightInfantry，sir。

Noanswer?Right，sir。"

Heclickedhisheelstogether，raisedhishandinasalute，andwasgone。

CHAPTERIII。

THELAURISTONGARDENMYSTERY

ICONFESSthatIwasconsiderablystartledbythisfreshproofofthepracticalnatureofmycompanion"stheories。

Myrespectforhispowersofanalysisincreasedwondrously。

Therestillremainedsomelurkingsuspicioninmymind，however，thatthewholethingwasapre-arrangedepisode，intendedtodazzleme，thoughwhatearthlyobjecthecouldhaveintakingmeinwaspastmycomprehension。

WhenIlookedathimhehadfinishedreadingthenote，andhiseyeshadassumedthevacant，lack-lustreexpressionwhichshowedmentalabstraction。

"Howintheworlddidyoudeducethat?"Iasked。

"Deducewhat?"saidhe，petulantly。

"Why，thathewasaretiredsergeantofMarines。"

"Ihavenotimefortrifles，"heanswered，brusquely；

thenwithasmile，"Excusemyrudeness。Youbrokethethreadofmythoughts；butperhapsitisaswell。SoyouactuallywerenotabletoseethatthatmanwasasergeantofMarines?"

"No，indeed。"

"ItwaseasiertoknowitthantoexplainwhyIknewit。

Ifyouwereaskedtoprovethattwoandtwomadefour，youmightfindsomedifficulty，andyetyouarequitesureofthefact。

EvenacrossthestreetIcouldseeagreatblueanchortattooedonthebackofthefellow"shand。Thatsmackedofthesea。Hehadamilitarycarriage，however，andregulationsidewhiskers。Therewehavethemarine。Hewasamanwithsomeamountofself-importanceandacertainairofcommand。

Youmusthaveobservedthewayinwhichheheldhisheadandswunghiscane。Asteady，respectable，middle-agedman，too，onthefaceofhim——allfactswhichledmetobelievethathehadbeenasergeant。"

"Wonderful!"Iejaculated。

"Commonplace，"saidHolmes，thoughIthoughtfromhisexpressionthathewaspleasedatmyevidentsurpriseandadmiration。"Isaidjustnowthattherewerenocriminals。

ItappearsthatIamwrong——lookatthis!"Hethrewmeoverthenotewhichthecommissionairehadbrought。"{7}

"Why，"Icried，asIcastmyeyeoverit，"thisisterrible!"

"Itdoesseemtobealittleoutofthecommon，"heremarked，calmly。"Wouldyoumindreadingittomealoud?"

ThisistheletterwhichIreadtohim——

"MYDEARMR。SHERLOCKHOLMES，——"Therehasbeenabadbusinessduringthenightat3，LauristonGardens，offtheBrixtonRoad。Ourmanonthebeatsawalightthereabouttwointhemorning，andasthehousewasanemptyone，suspectedthatsomethingwasamiss。Hefoundthedooropen，andinthefrontroom，whichisbareoffurniture，discoveredthebodyofagentleman，welldressed，andhavingcardsinhispocketbearingthenameof`EnochJ。Drebber，Cleveland，Ohio，U。S。A。"Therehadbeennorobbery，noristhereanyevidenceastohowthemanmethisdeath。Therearemarksofbloodintheroom，butthereisnowounduponhisperson。

Weareatalossastohowhecameintotheemptyhouse；

indeed，thewholeaffairisapuzzler。Ifyoucancomeroundtothehouseanytimebeforetwelve，youwillfindmethere。

Ihavelefteverything_instatuquo_untilIhearfromyou。

IfyouareunabletocomeIshallgiveyoufullerdetails，andwouldesteemitagreatkindnessifyouwouldfavourmewithyouropinion。Yoursfaithfully，"TOBIASGREGSON。"

"GregsonisthesmartestoftheScotlandYarders，"

myfriendremarked；"heandLestradearethepickofabadlot。

Theyarebothquickandenergetic，butconventional——shockinglyso。Theyhavetheirknivesintooneanother，too。Theyareasjealousasapairofprofessionalbeauties。Therewillbesomefunoverthiscaseiftheyarebothputuponthescent。"

Iwasamazedatthecalmwayinwhichherippledon。

"Surelythereisnotamomenttobelost，"Icried，"shallIgoandorderyouacab?"

"I"mnotsureaboutwhetherIshallgo。Iamthemostincurablylazydevilthateverstoodinshoeleather——thatis，whenthefitisonme，forIcanbespryenoughattimes。"

"Why，itisjustsuchachanceasyouhavebeenlongingfor。"

"Mydearfellow，whatdoesitmattertome。

SupposingIunravelthewholematter，youmaybesurethatGregson，Lestrade，andCo。willpocketallthecredit。

Thatcomesofbeinganunofficialpersonage。"

"Buthebegsyoutohelphim。"

"Yes。HeknowsthatIamhissuperior，andacknowledgesittome；buthewouldcuthistongueoutbeforehewouldownittoanythirdperson。However，wemayaswellgoandhavealook。Ishallworkitoutonmyownhook。ImayhavealaughatthemifIhavenothingelse。Comeon!"

Hehustledonhisovercoat，andbustledaboutinawaythatshowedthatanenergeticfithadsupersededtheapatheticone。

"Getyourhat，"hesaid。

"Youwishmetocome?"

"Yes，ifyouhavenothingbettertodo。"Aminutelaterwewerebothinahansom，drivingfuriouslyfortheBrixtonRoad。

Itwasafoggy，cloudymorning，andadun-colouredveilhungoverthehouse-tops，lookinglikethereflectionofthemud-colouredstreetsbeneath。Mycompanionwasinthebestofspirits，andprattledawayaboutCremonafiddles，andthedifferencebetweenaStradivariusandanAmati。Asformyself，Iwassilent，forthedullweatherandthemelancholybusinessuponwhichwewereengaged，depressedmyspirits。

"Youdon"tseemtogivemuchthoughttothematterinhand，"

Isaidatlast，interruptingHolmes"musicaldisquisition。

"Nodatayet，"heanswered。"Itisacapitalmistaketotheorizebeforeyouhavealltheevidence。Itbiasesthejudgment。"

"Youwillhaveyourdatasoon，"Iremarked，pointingwithmyfinger；"thisistheBrixtonRoad，andthatisthehouse，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken。"

"Soitis。Stop，driver，stop!"Wewerestillahundredyardsorsofromit，butheinsisteduponouralighting，andwefinishedourjourneyuponfoot。

Number3，LauristonGardensworeanill-omenedandminatorylook。

Itwasoneoffourwhichstoodbacksomelittlewayfromthestreet，twobeingoccupiedandtwoempty。Thelatterlookedoutwiththreetiersofvacantmelancholywindows，whichwereblankanddreary，savethathereandtherea"ToLet"cardhaddevelopedlikeacataractupontheblearedpanes。Asmallgardensprinkledoverwithascatterederuptionofsicklyplantsseparatedeachofthesehousesfromthestreet，andwastraversedbyanarrowpathway，yellowishincolour，andconsistingapparentlyofamixtureofclayandofgravel。Thewholeplacewasverysloppyfromtherainwhichhadfallenthroughthenight。

Thegardenwasboundedbyathree-footbrickwallwithafringeofwoodrailsuponthetop，andagainstthiswallwasleaningastalwartpoliceconstable，surroundedbyasmallknotofloafers，whocranedtheirnecksandstrainedtheireyesinthevainhopeofcatchingsomeglimpseoftheproceedingswithin。

IhadimaginedthatSherlockHolmeswouldatoncehavehurriedintothehouseandplungedintoastudyofthemystery。Nothingappearedtobefurtherfromhisintention。

Withanairofnonchalancewhich，underthecircumstances，seemedtometoborderuponaffectation，heloungedupanddownthepavement，andgazedvacantlyattheground，thesky，theoppositehousesandthelineofrailings。Havingfinishedhisscrutiny，heproceededslowlydownthepath，orratherdownthefringeofgrasswhichflankedthepath，keepinghiseyesrivetedupontheground。Twicehestopped，andonceIsawhimsmile，andheardhimutteranexclamationofsatisfaction。Thereweremanymarksoffootstepsuponthewetclayeysoil，butsincethepolicehadbeencomingandgoingoverit，Iwasunabletoseehowmycompanioncouldhopetolearnanythingfromit。StillIhadhadsuchextraordinaryevidenceofthequicknessofhisperceptivefaculties，thatIhadnodoubtthathecouldseeagreatdealwhichwashiddenfromme。

Atthedoorofthehouseweweremetbyatall，white-faced，flaxen-hairedman，withanotebookinhishand，whorushedforwardandwrungmycompanion"shandwitheffusion。

"Itisindeedkindofyoutocome，"hesaid，"Ihavehadeverythingleftuntouched。"

"Exceptthat!"myfriendanswered，pointingatthepathway。

"Ifaherdofbuffaloeshadpassedalongtherecouldnotbeagreatermess。Nodoubt，however，youhaddrawnyourownconclusions，Gregson，beforeyoupermittedthis。"

"Ihavehadsomuchtodoinsidethehouse，"thedetectivesaidevasively。"Mycolleague，Mr。Lestrade，ishere。

Ihadrelieduponhimtolookafterthis。"

Holmesglancedatmeandraisedhiseyebrowssardonically。

"WithtwosuchmenasyourselfandLestradeupontheground，therewillnotbemuchforathirdpartytofindout，"hesaid。

Gregsonrubbedhishandsinaself-satisfiedway。

"Ithinkwehavedoneallthatcanbedone，"heanswered；

"it"saqueercasethough，andIknewyourtasteforsuchthings。"

"Youdidnotcomehereinacab?"askedSherlockHolmes。

"No，sir。"

"NorLestrade?"

"No，sir。"

"Thenletusgoandlookattheroom。"Withwhichinconsequentremarkhestrodeonintothehouse，followedbyGregson，whosefeaturesexpressedhisastonishment。

Ashortpassage，bareplankedanddusty，ledtothekitchenandoffices。Twodoorsopenedoutofittotheleftandtotheright。Oneofthesehadobviouslybeenclosedformanyweeks。Theotherbelongedtothedining-room，whichwastheapartmentinwhichthemysteriousaffairhadoccurred。

Holmeswalkedin，andIfollowedhimwiththatsubduedfeelingatmyheartwhichthepresenceofdeathinspires。

Itwasalargesquareroom，lookingallthelargerfromtheabsenceofallfurniture。Avulgarflaringpaperadornedthewalls，butitwasblotchedinplaceswithmildew，andhereandtheregreatstripshadbecomedetachedandhungdown，exposingtheyellowplasterbeneath。Oppositethedoorwasashowyfireplace，surmountedbyamantelpieceofimitationwhitemarble。Ononecornerofthiswasstuckthestumpofaredwaxcandle。Thesolitarywindowwassodirtythatthelightwashazyanduncertain，givingadullgreytingetoeverything，whichwasintensifiedbythethicklayerofdustwhichcoatedthewholeapartment。

AllthesedetailsIobservedafterwards。Atpresentmyattentionwascentreduponthesinglegrimmotionlessfigurewhichlaystretchedupontheboards，withvacantsightlesseyesstaringupatthediscolouredceiling。Itwasthatofamanaboutforty-threeorforty-fouryearsofage，middle-sized，broadshouldered，withcrispcurlingblackhair，andashortstubblybeard。Hewasdressedinaheavybroadclothfrockcoatandwaistcoat，withlight-colouredtrousers，andimmaculatecollarandcuffs。Atophat，wellbrushedandtrim，wasplaceduponthefloorbesidehim。Hishandswereclenchedandhisarmsthrownabroad，whilehislowerlimbswereinterlockedasthoughhisdeathstrugglehadbeenagrievousone。Onhisrigidfacetherestoodanexpressionofhorror，andasitseemedtome，ofhatred，suchasIhaveneverseenuponhumanfeatures。Thismalignantandterriblecontortion，combinedwiththelowforehead，bluntnose，andprognathousjawgavethedeadmanasingularlysimiousandape-likeappearance，whichwasincreasedbyhiswrithing，unnaturalposture。Ihaveseendeathinmanyforms，butneverhasitappearedtomeinamorefearsomeaspectthaninthatdarkgrimyapartment，whichlookedoutupononeofthemainarteriesofsuburbanLondon。

Lestrade，leanandferret-likeasever，wasstandingbythedoorway，andgreetedmycompanionandmyself。

"Thiscasewillmakeastir，sir，"heremarked。

"ItbeatsanythingIhaveseen，andIamnochicken。"

"Thereisnoclue?"saidGregson。

"Noneatall，"chimedinLestrade。

SherlockHolmesapproachedthebody，and，kneelingdown，examineditintently。"Youaresurethatthereisnowound?"

heasked，pointingtonumerousgoutsandsplashesofbloodwhichlayallround。

"Positive!"criedbothdetectives。

"Then，ofcourse，thisbloodbelongstoasecondindividual——{8}

presumablythemurderer，ifmurderhasbeencommitted。

ItremindsmeofthecircumstancesattendantonthedeathofVanJansen，inUtrecht，intheyear"34。Doyourememberthecase，Gregson?"

"No，sir。"

"Readitup——youreallyshould。Thereisnothingnewunderthesun。Ithasallbeendonebefore。"

Ashespoke，hisnimblefingerswereflyinghere，there，andeverywhere，feeling，pressing，unbuttoning，examining，whilehiseyesworethesamefar-awayexpressionwhichIhavealreadyremarkedupon。Soswiftlywastheexaminationmade，thatonewouldhardlyhaveguessedtheminutenesswithwhichitwasconducted。Finally，hesniffedthedeadman"slips，andthenglancedatthesolesofhispatentleatherboots。

"Hehasnotbeenmovedatall?"heasked。

"Nomorethanwasnecessaryforthepurposesofourexamination。"

"Youcantakehimtothemortuarynow，"hesaid。

"Thereisnothingmoretobelearned。"

Gregsonhadastretcherandfourmenathand。Athiscalltheyenteredtheroom，andthestrangerwasliftedandcarriedout。Astheyraisedhim，aringtinkleddownandrolledacrossthefloor。Lestradegrabbeditupandstaredatitwithmystifiedeyes。

"There"sbeenawomanhere，"hecried。"It"sawoman"swedding-ring。"

Hehelditout，ashespoke，uponthepalmofhishand。

Weallgatheredroundhimandgazedatit。Therecouldbenodoubtthatthatcircletofplaingoldhadonceadornedthefingerofabride。

"Thiscomplicatesmatters，"saidGregson。"Heavenknows，theywerecomplicatedenoughbefore。"

"You"resureitdoesn"tsimplifythem?"observedHolmes。

"There"snothingtobelearnedbystaringatit。

Whatdidyoufindinhispockets?"

"Wehaveitallhere，"saidGregson，pointingtoalitterofobjectsupononeofthebottomstepsofthestairs。

"Agoldwatch，No。97163，byBarraud，ofLondon。GoldAlbertchain，veryheavyandsolid。Goldring，withmasonicdevice。

Goldpin——bull-dog"shead，withrubiesaseyes。

Russianleathercard-case，withcardsofEnochJ。DrebberofCleveland，correspondingwiththeE。J。D。uponthelinen。

Nopurse，butloosemoneytotheextentofsevenpoundsthirteen。

PocketeditionofBoccaccio"s`Decameron，"withnameofJosephStangersonuponthefly-leaf。Twoletters——oneaddressedtoE。J。DrebberandonetoJosephStangerson。"

"Atwhataddress?"

"AmericanExchange，Strand——tobelefttillcalledfor。

TheyarebothfromtheGuionSteamshipCompany，andrefertothesailingoftheirboatsfromLiverpool。ItisclearthatthisunfortunatemanwasabouttoreturntoNewYork。"

"Haveyoumadeanyinquiriesastothisman，Stangerson?"

"Ididitatonce，sir，"saidGregson。"Ihavehadadvertisementssenttoallthenewspapers，andoneofmymenhasgonetotheAmericanExchange，buthehasnotreturnedyet。"

"HaveyousenttoCleveland?"

"Wetelegraphedthismorning。"