第4章

Theoldwomanfacedroundandlookedkeenlyathimfromherlittlered-rimmedeyes。"Thegentlemanaskedmefor_my_address，"shesaid。"Sallylivesinlodgingsat3，MayfieldPlace，Peckham。"

"Andyournameis——?"

"MynameisSawyer——her"sisDennis，whichTomDennismarriedher——andasmart，cleanlad，too，aslongashe"satsea，andnostewardinthecompanymorethoughtof；butwhenonshore，whatwiththewomenandwhatwithliquorshops——"

"Hereisyourring，Mrs。Sawyer，"Iinterrupted，inobediencetoasignfrommycompanion；"itclearlybelongstoyourdaughter，andIamgladtobeabletorestoreittotherightfulowner。"

Withmanymumbledblessingsandprotestationsofgratitudetheoldcronepackeditawayinherpocket，andshuffledoffdownthestairs。SherlockHolmessprangtohisfeetthemomentthatshewasgoneandrushedintohisroom。

Hereturnedinafewsecondsenvelopedinanulsterandacravat。"I"llfollowher，"hesaid，hurriedly；"shemustbeanaccomplice，andwillleadmetohim。Waitupforme。"

ThehalldoorhadhardlyslammedbehindourvisitorbeforeHolmeshaddescendedthestair。LookingthroughthewindowIcouldseeherwalkingfeeblyalongtheotherside，whileherpursuerdoggedhersomelittledistancebehind。"Eitherhiswholetheoryisincorrect，"Ithoughttomyself，"orelsehewillbelednowtotheheartofthemystery。"Therewasnoneedforhimtoaskmetowaitupforhim，forIfeltthatsleepwasimpossibleuntilIheardtheresultofhisadventure。

Itwascloseuponninewhenhesetout。Ihadnoideahowlonghemightbe，butIsatstolidlypuffingatmypipeandskippingoverthepagesofHenriMurger"s"ViedeBoheme。"{12}

Teno"clockpassed，andIheardthefootstepsofthemaidastheypatteredofftobed。Eleven，andthemorestatelytreadofthelandladypassedmydoor，boundforthesamedestination。

ItwascloseupontwelvebeforeIheardthesharpsoundofhislatch-key。TheinstantheenteredIsawbyhisfacethathehadnotbeensuccessful。Amusementandchagrinseemedtobestrugglingforthemastery，untiltheformersuddenlycarriedtheday，andheburstintoaheartylaugh。

"Iwouldn"thavetheScotlandYardersknowitfortheworld，"

hecried，droppingintohischair；"Ihavechaffedthemsomuchthattheywouldneverhaveletmeheartheendofit。

Icanaffordtolaugh，becauseIknowthatIwillbeevenwiththeminthelongrun。"

"Whatisitthen?"Iasked。

"Oh，Idon"tmindtellingastoryagainstmyself。Thatcreaturehadgonealittlewaywhenshebegantolimpandshoweverysignofbeingfoot-sore。Presentlyshecametoahalt，andhailedafour-wheelerwhichwaspassing。Imanagedtobeclosetohersoastoheartheaddress，butIneednothavebeensoanxious，forshesangitoutloudenoughtobeheardattheothersideofthestreet，`Driveto13，DuncanStreet，Houndsditch，"shecried。Thisbeginstolookgenuine，Ithought，andhavingseenhersafelyinside，Iperchedmyselfbehind。That"sanartwhicheverydetectiveshouldbeanexpertat。Well，awaywerattled，andneverdrewreinuntilwereachedthestreetinquestion。Ihoppedoffbeforewecametothedoor，andstrolleddownthestreetinaneasy，loungingway。Isawthecabpullup。Thedriverjumpeddown，andIsawhimopenthedoorandstandexpectantly。Nothingcameoutthough。WhenIreachedhimhewasgropingaboutfranticallyintheemptycab，andgivingventtothefinestassortedcollectionofoathsthateverIlistenedto。Therewasnosignortraceofhispassenger，andIfearitwillbesometimebeforehegetshisfare。

OninquiringatNumber13wefoundthatthehousebelongedtoarespectablepaperhanger，namedKeswick，andthatnooneofthenameeitherofSawyerorDennishadeverbeenheardofthere。"

"Youdon"tmeantosay，"Icried，inamazement，"thatthattottering，feebleoldwomanwasabletogetoutofthecabwhileitwasinmotion，withouteitheryouorthedriverseeingher?"

"Oldwomanbedamned!"saidSherlockHolmes，sharply。

"Weweretheoldwomentobesotakenin。Itmusthavebeenayoungman，andanactiveone，too，besidesbeinganincomparableactor。Theget-upwasinimitable。Hesawthathewasfollowed，nodoubt，andusedthismeansofgivingmetheslip。ItshowsthatthemanweareafterisnotaslonelyasIimaginedhewas，buthasfriendswhoarereadytorisksomethingforhim。Now，Doctor，youarelookingdone-up。

Takemyadviceandturnin。"

Iwascertainlyfeelingveryweary，soIobeyedhisinjunction。

IleftHolmesseatedinfrontofthesmoulderingfire，andlongintothewatchesofthenightIheardthelow，melancholywailingsofhisviolin，andknewthathewasstillponderingoverthestrangeproblemwhichhehadsethimselftounravel。

CHAPTERVI。

TOBIASGREGSONSHOWSWHATHECANDO。

THEpapersnextdaywerefullofthe"BrixtonMystery，"

astheytermedit。Eachhadalongaccountoftheaffair，andsomehadleadersuponitinaddition。Therewassomeinformationinthemwhichwasnewtome。Istillretaininmyscrap-booknumerousclippingsandextractsbearinguponthecase。Hereisacondensationofafewofthem:——

The_DailyTelegraph_remarkedthatinthehistoryofcrimetherehadseldombeenatragedywhichpresentedstrangerfeatures。TheGermannameofthevictim，theabsenceofallothermotive，andthesinisterinscriptiononthewall，allpointedtoitsperpetrationbypoliticalrefugeesandrevolutionists。TheSocialistshadmanybranchesinAmerica，andthedeceasedhad，nodoubt，infringedtheirunwrittenlaws，andbeentrackeddownbythem。AfteralludingairilytotheVehmgericht，aquatofana，Carbonari，theMarchionessdeBrinvilliers，theDarwiniantheory，theprinciplesofMalthus，andtheRatcliffHighwaymurders，thearticleconcludedbyadmonishingtheGovernmentandadvocatingacloserwatchoverforeignersinEngland。

The_Standard_commenteduponthefactthatlawlessoutragesofthesortusuallyoccurredunderaLiberalAdministration。

Theyarosefromtheunsettlingofthemindsofthemasses，andtheconsequentweakeningofallauthority。ThedeceasedwasanAmericangentlemanwhohadbeenresidingforsomeweeksintheMetropolis。Hehadstayedattheboarding-houseofMadameCharpentier，inTorquayTerrace，Camberwell。

Hewasaccompaniedinhistravelsbyhisprivatesecretary，Mr。JosephStangerson。ThetwobadeadieutotheirlandladyuponTuesday，the4thinst。，anddepartedtoEustonStationwiththeavowedintentionofcatchingtheLiverpoolexpress。

Theywereafterwardsseentogetherupontheplatform。

NothingmoreisknownofthemuntilMr。Drebber"sbodywas，asrecorded，discoveredinanemptyhouseintheBrixtonRoad，manymilesfromEuston。Howhecamethere，orhowhemethisfate，arequestionswhicharestillinvolvedinmystery。

NothingisknownofthewhereaboutsofStangerson。WearegladtolearnthatMr。LestradeandMr。Gregson，ofScotlandYard，arebothengageduponthecase，anditisconfidentlyanticipatedthatthesewell-knownofficerswillspeedilythrowlightuponthematter。

The_DailyNews_observedthattherewasnodoubtastothecrimebeingapoliticalone。ThedespotismandhatredofLiberalismwhichanimatedtheContinentalGovernmentshadhadtheeffectofdrivingtoourshoresanumberofmenwhomighthavemadeexcellentcitizensweretheynotsouredbytherecollectionofallthattheyhadundergone。Amongthesementherewasastringentcodeofhonour，anyinfringementofwhichwaspunishedbydeath。Everyeffortshouldbemadetofindthesecretary，Stangerson，andtoascertainsomeparticularsofthehabitsofthedeceased。Agreatstephadbeengainedbythediscoveryoftheaddressofthehouseatwhichhehadboarded——aresultwhichwasentirelyduetotheacutenessandenergyofMr。GregsonofScotlandYard。

SherlockHolmesandIreadthesenoticesovertogetheratbreakfast，andtheyappearedtoaffordhimconsiderableamusement。

"Itoldyouthat，whateverhappened，LestradeandGregsonwouldbesuretoscore。"

"Thatdependsonhowitturnsout。"

"Oh，blessyou，itdoesn"tmatterintheleast。Ifthemaniscaught，itwillbe_onaccount_oftheirexertions；ifheescapes，itwillbe_inspite_oftheirexertions。It"sheadsIwinandtailsyoulose。Whatevertheydo，theywillhavefollowers。`Unsottrouvetoujoursunplussotquil"admire。""

"Whatonearthisthis?"Icried，foratthismomenttherecamethepatteringofmanystepsinthehallandonthestairs，accompaniedbyaudibleexpressionsofdisgustuponthepartofourlandlady。

"It"stheBakerStreetdivisionofthedetectivepoliceforce，"saidmycompanion，gravely；andashespokethererushedintotheroomhalfadozenofthedirtiestandmostraggedstreetArabsthateverIclappedeyeson。

""Tention!"criedHolmes，inasharptone，andthesixdirtylittlescoundrelsstoodinalinelikesomanydisreputablestatuettes。"InfutureyoushallsendupWigginsalonetoreport，andtherestofyoumustwaitinthestreet。

Haveyoufoundit，Wiggins?"

"No，sir，wehain"t，"saidoneoftheyouths。

"Ihardlyexpectedyouwould。Youmustkeeponuntilyoudo。

Hereareyourwages。{13}Hehandedeachofthemashilling。

"Now，offyougo，andcomebackwithabetterreportnexttime。"

Hewavedhishand，andtheyscamperedawaydownstairslikesomanyrats，andweheardtheirshrillvoicesnextmomentinthestreet。

"There"smoreworktobegotoutofoneofthoselittlebeggarsthanoutofadozenoftheforce，"Holmesremarked。

"Themeresightofanofficial-lookingpersonsealsmen"slips。Theseyoungsters，however，goeverywhereandheareverything。Theyareassharpasneedles，too；alltheywantisorganisation。"

"IsitonthisBrixtoncasethatyouareemployingthem?"Iasked。

"Yes；thereisapointwhichIwishtoascertain。Itismerelyamatteroftime。Hullo!wearegoingtohearsomenewsnowwithavengeance!HereisGregsoncomingdowntheroadwithbeatitudewrittenuponeveryfeatureofhisface。

Boundforus，Iknow。Yes，heisstopping。Thereheis!"

Therewasaviolentpealatthebell，andinafewsecondsthefair-haireddetectivecameupthestairs，threestepsatatime，andburstintooursitting-room。

"Mydearfellow，"hecried，wringingHolmes"unresponsivehand，"congratulateme!Ihavemadethewholethingasclearasday。"

Ashadeofanxietyseemedtometocrossmycompanion"sexpressiveface。

"Doyoumeanthatyouareontherighttrack?"heasked。

"Therighttrack!Why，sir，wehavethemanunderlockandkey。"

"Andhisnameis?"

"ArthurCharpentier，sub-lieutenantinHerMajesty"snavy，"

criedGregson，pompously，rubbinghisfathandsandinflatinghischest。

SherlockHolmesgaveasighofrelief，andrelaxedintoasmile。

"Takeaseat，andtryoneofthesecigars，"hesaid。

"Weareanxioustoknowhowyoumanagedit。Willyouhavesomewhiskeyandwater?"

"Idon"tmindifIdo，"thedetectiveanswered。

"ThetremendousexertionswhichIhavegonethroughduringthelastdayortwohavewornmeout。Notsomuchbodilyexertion，youunderstand，asthestrainuponthemind。

Youwillappreciatethat，Mr。SherlockHolmes，forwearebothbrain-workers。"

"Youdometoomuchhonour，"saidHolmes，gravely。

"Letushearhowyouarrivedatthismostgratifyingresult。"

Thedetectiveseatedhimselfinthearm-chair，andpuffedcomplacentlyathiscigar。Thensuddenlyheslappedhisthighinaparoxysmofamusement。

"Thefunofitis，"hecried，"thatthatfoolLestrade，whothinkshimselfsosmart，hasgoneoffuponthewrongtrackaltogether。HeisafterthesecretaryStangerson，whohadnomoretodowiththecrimethanthebabeunborn。Ihavenodoubtthathehascaughthimbythistime。"

TheideatickledGregsonsomuchthathelaugheduntilhechoked。

"Andhowdidyougetyourclue?"

"Ah，I"lltellyouallaboutit。Ofcourse，DoctorWatson，thisisstrictlybetweenourselves。ThefirstdifficultywhichwehadtocontendwithwasthefindingofthisAmerican"santecedents。Somepeoplewouldhavewaiteduntiltheiradvertisementswereanswered，oruntilpartiescameforwardandvolunteeredinformation。ThatisnotTobiasGregson"swayofgoingtowork。Yourememberthehatbesidethedeadman?"

"Yes，"saidHolmes；"byJohnUnderwoodandSons，129，CamberwellRoad。"

Gregsonlookedquitecrest-fallen。

"Ihadnoideathatyounoticedthat，"hesaid。

"Haveyoubeenthere?"

"No。"

"Ha!"criedGregson，inarelievedvoice；"youshouldneverneglectachance，howeversmallitmayseem。"

"Toagreatmind，nothingislittle，"remarkedHolmes，sententiously。

"Well，IwenttoUnderwood，andaskedhimifhehadsoldahatofthatsizeanddescription。Helookedoverhisbooks，andcameonitatonce。HehadsentthehattoaMr。Drebber，residingatCharpentier"sBoardingEstablishment，TorquayTerrace。ThusIgotathisaddress。"

"Smart——verysmart!"murmuredSherlockHolmes。

"InextcalleduponMadameCharpentier，"continuedthedetective。"Ifoundherverypaleanddistressed。Herdaughterwasintheroom，too——anuncommonlyfinegirlsheis，too；shewaslookingredabouttheeyesandherlipstrembledasIspoketoher。Thatdidn"tescapemynotice。

Ibegantosmellarat。Youknowthefeeling，Mr。SherlockHolmes，whenyoucomeupontherightscent——akindofthrillinyournerves。`HaveyouheardofthemysteriousdeathofyourlateboarderMr。EnochJ。Drebber，ofCleveland?"Iasked。

"Themothernodded。Shedidn"tseemabletogetoutaword。

Thedaughterburstintotears。Ifeltmorethaneverthatthesepeopleknewsomethingofthematter。

"`Atwhato"clockdidMr。Drebberleaveyourhouseforthetrain?"Iasked。

"`Ateighto"clock，"shesaid，gulpinginherthroattokeepdownheragitation。`Hissecretary，Mr。Stangerson，saidthatthereweretwotrains——oneat9。15andoneat11。

Hewastocatchthefirst。{14}

"`Andwasthatthelastwhichyousawofhim?"

"Aterriblechangecameoverthewoman"sfaceasIaskedthequestion。Herfeaturesturnedperfectlylivid。Itwassomesecondsbeforeshecouldgetoutthesingleword`Yes"——andwhenitdidcomeitwasinahuskyunnaturaltone。

"Therewassilenceforamoment，andthenthedaughterspokeinacalmclearvoice。

"`Nogoodcanevercomeoffalsehood，mother，"shesaid。

`Letusbefrankwiththisgentleman。We_did_seeMr。Drebberagain。"

"`Godforgiveyou!"criedMadameCharpentier，throwingupherhandsandsinkingbackinherchair。`Youhavemurderedyourbrother。"

"`Arthurwouldratherthatwespokethetruth，"thegirlansweredfirmly。

"`Youhadbesttellmeallaboutitnow，"Isaid。

`Half-confidencesareworsethannone。Besides，youdonotknowhowmuchweknowofit。"

"`Onyourheadbeit，Alice!"criedhermother；andthen，turningtome，`Iwilltellyouall，sir。Donotimaginethatmyagitationonbehalfofmysonarisesfromanyfearlestheshouldhavehadahandinthisterribleaffair。

Heisutterlyinnocentofit。Mydreadis，however，thatinyoureyesandintheeyesofothershemayappeartobecompromised。Thathoweverissurelyimpossible。Hishighcharacter，hisprofession，hisantecedentswouldallforbidit。"

"`Yourbestwayistomakeacleanbreastofthefacts，"

Ianswered。`Dependuponit，ifyoursonisinnocenthewillbenonetheworse。"

"`Perhaps，Alice，youhadbetterleaveustogether，"shesaid，andherdaughterwithdrew。`Now，sir，"shecontinued，`Ihadnointentionoftellingyouallthis，butsincemypoordaughterhasdiscloseditIhavenoalternative。Havingoncedecidedtospeak，Iwilltellyouallwithoutomittinganyparticular。"

"`Itisyourwisestcourse，"saidI。

"`Mr。Drebberhasbeenwithusnearlythreeweeks。Heandhissecretary，Mr。Stangerson，hadbeentravellingontheContinent。Inoticeda"Copenhagen"labeluponeachoftheirtrunks，showingthatthathadbeentheirlaststoppingplace。

Stangersonwasaquietreservedman，buthisemployer，Iamsorrytosay，wasfarotherwise。Hewascoarseinhishabitsandbrutishinhisways。Theverynightofhisarrivalhebecameverymuchtheworsefordrink，and，indeed，aftertwelveo"clockinthedayhecouldhardlyeverbesaidtobesober。Hismannerstowardsthemaid-servantsweredisgustinglyfreeandfamiliar。Worstofall，hespeedilyassumedthesameattitudetowardsmydaughter，Alice，andspoketohermorethanonceinawaywhich，fortunately，sheistooinnocenttounderstand。Ononeoccasionheactuallyseizedherinhisarmsandembracedher——anoutragewhichcausedhisownsecretarytoreproachhimforhisunmanlyconduct。"

"`Butwhydidyoustandallthis，"Iasked。`Isupposethatyoucangetridofyourboarderswhenyouwish。"

"Mrs。Charpentierblushedatmypertinentquestion。`WouldtoGodthatIhadgivenhimnoticeontheverydaythathecame，"shesaid。`Butitwasasoretemptation。Theywerepayingapoundadayeach——fourteenpoundsaweek，andthisistheslackseason。Iamawidow，andmyboyintheNavyhascostmemuch。Igrudgedtolosethemoney。Iactedforthebest。Thislastwastoomuch，however，andIgavehimnoticetoleaveonaccountofit。Thatwasthereasonofhisgoing。"

"`Well?"

"`MyheartgrewlightwhenIsawhimdriveaway。Mysonisonleavejustnow，butIdidnottellhimanythingofallthis，forhistemperisviolent，andheispassionatelyfondofhissister。WhenIclosedthedoorbehindthemaloadseemedtobeliftedfrommymind。Alas，inlessthananhourtherewasaringatthebell，andIlearnedthatMr。Drebberhadreturned。Hewasmuchexcited，andevidentlytheworsefordrink。Heforcedhiswayintotheroom，whereIwassittingwithmydaughter，andmadesomeincoherentremarkabouthavingmissedhistrain。HethenturnedtoAlice，andbeforemyveryface，proposedtoherthatsheshouldflywithhim。"Youareofage，"hesaid，"andthereisnolawtostopyou。Ihavemoneyenoughandtospare。Nevermindtheoldgirlhere，butcomealongwithmenowstraightaway。Youshalllivelikeaprincess。"PoorAlicewassofrightenedthatsheshrunkawayfromhim，buthecaughtherbythewristandendeavouredtodrawhertowardsthedoor。Iscreamed，andatthatmomentmysonArthurcameintotheroom。WhathappenedthenIdonotknow。Iheardoathsandtheconfusedsoundsofascuffle。Iwastooterrifiedtoraisemyhead。

WhenIdidlookupIsawArthurstandinginthedoorwaylaughing，withastickinhishand。"Idon"tthinkthatfinefellowwilltroubleusagain，"hesaid。"Iwilljustgoafterhimandseewhathedoeswithhimself。"Withthosewordshetookhishatandstartedoffdownthestreet。

ThenextmorningweheardofMr。Drebber"smysteriousdeath。"

"ThisstatementcamefromMrs。Charpentier"slipswithmanygaspsandpauses。AttimesshespokesolowthatIcouldhardlycatchthewords。Imadeshorthandnotesofallthatshesaid，however，sothatthereshouldbenopossibilityofamistake。"

"It"squiteexciting，"saidSherlockHolmes，withayawn。

"Whathappenednext?"

"WhenMrs。Charpentierpaused，"thedetectivecontinued，"Isawthatthewholecasehungupononepoint。FixingherwithmyeyeinawaywhichIalwaysfoundeffectivewithwomen，Iaskedheratwhathourhersonreturned。

"`Idonotknow，"sheanswered。

"`Notknow?"

"`No；hehasalatch-key，andhelethimselfin。"

"`Afteryouwenttobed?"

"`Yes。"

"`Whendidyougotobed?"

"`Abouteleven。"

"`Soyoursonwasgoneatleasttwohours?"

"`Yes。"

"`Possiblyfourorfive?"

"`Yes。"

"`Whatwashedoingduringthattime?"

"`Idonotknow，"sheanswered，turningwhitetoherverylips。

"Ofcourseafterthattherewasnothingmoretobedone。

IfoundoutwhereLieutenantCharpentierwas，tooktwoofficerswithme，andarrestedhim。WhenItouchedhimontheshoulderandwarnedhimtocomequietlywithus，heansweredusasboldasbrass，`IsupposeyouarearrestingmeforbeingconcernedinthedeathofthatscoundrelDrebber，"

hesaid。Wehadsaidnothingtohimaboutit，sothathisalludingtoithadamostsuspiciousaspect。"

"Very，"saidHolmes。

"HestillcarriedtheheavystickwhichthemotherdescribedhimashavingwithhimwhenhefollowedDrebber。Itwasastoutoakcudgel。"

"Whatisyourtheory，then?"

"Well，mytheoryisthathefollowedDrebberasfarastheBrixtonRoad。Whenthere，afreshaltercationarosebetweenthem，inthecourseofwhichDrebberreceivedablowfromthestick，inthepitofthestomach，perhaps，whichkilledhimwithoutleavinganymark。Thenightwassowetthatnoonewasabout，soCharpentierdraggedthebodyofhisvictimintotheemptyhouse。Astothecandle，andtheblood，andthewritingonthewall，andthering，theymayallbesomanytrickstothrowthepoliceontothewrongscent。"

"Welldone!"saidHolmesinanencouragingvoice。"Really，Gregson，youaregettingalong。Weshallmakesomethingofyouyet。"

"IflattermyselfthatIhavemanageditratherneatly，"

thedetectiveansweredproudly。"Theyoungmanvolunteeredastatement，inwhichhesaidthatafterfollowingDrebbersometime，thelatterperceivedhim，andtookacabinordertogetawayfromhim。Onhiswayhomehemetanoldshipmate，andtookalongwalkwithhim。Onbeingaskedwherethisoldshipmatelived，hewasunabletogiveanysatisfactoryreply。

Ithinkthewholecasefitstogetheruncommonlywell。WhatamusesmeistothinkofLestrade，whohadstartedoffuponthewrongscent。Iamafraidhewon"tmakemuchof{15}

Why，byJove，here"stheverymanhimself!"

ItwasindeedLestrade，whohadascendedthestairswhileweweretalking，andwhonowenteredtheroom。Theassuranceandjauntinesswhichgenerallymarkedhisdemeanouranddresswere，however，wanting。Hisfacewasdisturbedandtroubled，whilehisclothesweredisarrangedanduntidy。HehadevidentlycomewiththeintentionofconsultingwithSherlockHolmes，foronperceivinghiscolleagueheappearedtobeembarrassedandputout。Hestoodinthecentreoftheroom，fumblingnervouslywithhishatanduncertainwhattodo。

"Thisisamostextraordinarycase，"hesaidatlast——

"amostincomprehensibleaffair。"

"Ah，youfinditso，Mr。Lestrade!"criedGregson，triumphantly。"Ithoughtyouwouldcometothatconclusion。

HaveyoumanagedtofindtheSecretary，Mr。JosephStangerson?"

"TheSecretary，Mr。JosephStangerson，"saidLestradegravely，"wasmurderedatHalliday"sPrivateHotelaboutsixo"clockthismorning。"

CHAPTERVII。

LIGHTINTHEDARKNESS。

THEintelligencewithwhichLestradegreeteduswassomomentousandsounexpected，thatwewereallthreefairlydumfoundered。Gregsonsprangoutofhischairandupsettheremainderofhiswhiskeyandwater。IstaredinsilenceatSherlockHolmes，whoselipswerecompressedandhisbrowsdrawndownoverhiseyes。

"Stangersontoo!"hemuttered。"Theplotthickens。"

"Itwasquitethickenoughbefore，"grumbledLestrade，takingachair。"Iseemtohavedroppedintoasortofcouncilofwar。"

"Areyou——areyousureofthispieceofintelligence?"

stammeredGregson。

"Ihavejustcomefromhisroom，"saidLestrade。

"Iwasthefirsttodiscoverwhathadoccurred。"

"WehavebeenhearingGregson"sviewofthematter，"Holmesobserved。"Wouldyoumindlettingusknowwhatyouhaveseenanddone?"

"Ihavenoobjection，"Lestradeanswered，seatinghimself。

"IfreelyconfessthatIwasoftheopinionthatStangersonwasconcernedinthedeathofDrebber。ThisfreshdevelopmenthasshownmethatIwascompletelymistaken。

Fulloftheoneidea，IsetmyselftofindoutwhathadbecomeoftheSecretary。TheyhadbeenseentogetheratEustonStationabouthalf-pasteightontheeveningofthethird。AttwointhemorningDrebberhadbeenfoundintheBrixtonRoad。ThequestionwhichconfrontedmewastofindouthowStangersonhadbeenemployedbetween8。30andthetimeofthecrime，andwhathadbecomeofhimafterwards。

ItelegraphedtoLiverpool，givingadescriptionoftheman，andwarningthemtokeepawatchupontheAmericanboats。

Ithensettoworkcallinguponallthehotelsandlodging-housesinthevicinityofEuston。Yousee，IarguedthatifDrebberandhiscompanionhadbecomeseparated，thenaturalcourseforthelatterwouldbetoputupsomewhereinthevicinityforthenight，andthentohangaboutthestationagainnextmorning。"

"Theywouldbelikelytoagreeonsomemeeting-placebeforehand，"

remarkedHolmes。

"Soitproved。Ispentthewholeofyesterdayeveninginmakingenquiriesentirelywithoutavail。ThismorningI

beganveryearly，andateighto"clockIreachedHalliday"sPrivateHotel，inLittleGeorgeStreet。OnmyenquiryastowhetheraMr。Stangersonwaslivingthere，theyatonceansweredmeintheaffirmative。

"`Nodoubtyouarethegentlemanwhomhewasexpecting，"

theysaid。`Hehasbeenwaitingforagentlemanfortwodays。"

"`Whereishenow?"Iasked。

"`Heisupstairsinbed。Hewishedtobecalledatnine。"

"`Iwillgoupandseehimatonce，"Isaid。

"Itseemedtomethatmysuddenappearancemightshakehisnervesandleadhimtosaysomethingunguarded。TheBootsvolunteeredtoshowmetheroom:itwasonthesecondfloor，andtherewasasmallcorridorleadinguptoit。TheBootspointedoutthedoortome，andwasabouttogodownstairsagainwhenIsawsomethingthatmademefeelsickish，inspiteofmytwentyyears"experience。Fromunderthedoortherecurledalittleredribbonofblood，whichhadmeanderedacrossthepassageandformedalittlepoolalongtheskirtingattheotherside。Igaveacry，whichbroughttheBootsback。Henearlyfaintedwhenhesawit。Thedoorwaslockedontheinside，butweputourshoulderstoit，andknockeditin。Thewindowoftheroomwasopen，andbesidethewindow，allhuddledup，laythebodyofamaninhisnightdress。Hewasquitedead，andhadbeenforsometime，forhislimbswererigidandcold。Whenweturnedhimover，theBootsrecognizedhimatonceasbeingthesamegentlemanwhohadengagedtheroomunderthenameofJosephStangerson。

Thecauseofdeathwasadeepstabintheleftside，whichmusthavepenetratedtheheart。Andnowcomesthestrangestpartoftheaffair。Whatdoyousupposewasabovethemurderedman?"

Ifeltacreepingoftheflesh，andapresentimentofcominghorror，evenbeforeSherlockHolmesanswered。

"ThewordRACHE，writteninlettersofblood，"hesaid。

"Thatwasit，"saidLestrade，inanawe-struckvoice；

andwewereallsilentforawhile。

Therewassomethingsomethodicalandsoincomprehensibleaboutthedeedsofthisunknownassassin，thatitimpartedafreshghastlinesstohiscrimes。Mynerves，whichweresteadyenoughonthefieldofbattletingledasIthoughtofit。

"Themanwasseen，"continuedLestrade。"Amilkboy，passingonhiswaytothedairy，happenedtowalkdownthelanewhichleadsfromthemewsatthebackofthehotel。Henoticedthataladder，whichusuallylaythere，wasraisedagainstoneofthewindowsofthesecondfloor，whichwaswideopen。

Afterpassing，helookedbackandsawamandescendtheladder。Hecamedownsoquietlyandopenlythattheboyimaginedhimtobesomecarpenterorjoineratworkinthehotel。Hetooknoparticularnoticeofhim，beyondthinkinginhisownmindthatitwasearlyforhimtobeatwork。Hehasanimpressionthatthemanwastall，hadareddishface，andwasdressedinalong，brownishcoat。Hemusthavestayedintheroomsomelittletimeafterthemurder，forwefoundblood-stainedwaterinthebasin，wherehehadwashedhishands，andmarksonthesheetswherehehaddeliberatelywipedhisknife。"