第8章

Hewentin，leavingwordthatIshouldwaitforhim。Thereheremaineduntilclosingtime，andwhenhecameouthewassofargonethatIknewthegamewasinmyownhands。

"Don"timaginethatIintendedtokillhimincoldblood。

ItwouldonlyhavebeenrigidjusticeifIhaddoneso，butIcouldnotbringmyselftodoit。Ihadlongdeterminedthatheshouldhaveashowforhislifeifhechosetotakeadvantageofit。AmongthemanybilletswhichIhavefilledinAmericaduringmywanderinglife，IwasoncejanitorandsweeperoutofthelaboratoryatYorkCollege。Onedaytheprofessorwaslecturingonpoisions，{25}andheshowedhisstudentssomealkaloid，ashecalledit，whichhehadextractedfromsomeSouthAmericanarrowpoison，andwhichwassopowerfulthattheleastgrainmeantinstantdeath。

Ispottedthebottleinwhichthispreparationwaskept，andwhentheywereallgone，Ihelpedmyselftoalittleofit。

Iwasafairlygooddispenser，soIworkedthisalkaloidintosmall，solublepills，andeachpillIputinaboxwithasimilarpillmadewithoutthepoison。IdeterminedatthetimethatwhenIhadmychance，mygentlemenshouldeachhaveadrawoutofoneoftheseboxes，whileIatethepillthatremained。Itwouldbequiteasdeadly，andagooddeallessnoisythanfiringacrossahandkerchief。FromthatdayIhadalwaysmypillboxesaboutwithme，andthetimehadnowcomewhenIwastousethem。

"Itwasneareronethantwelve，andawild，bleaknight，blowinghardandrainingintorrents。Dismalasitwasoutside，Iwasgladwithin——sogladthatIcouldhaveshoutedoutfrompureexultation。Ifanyofyougentlemenhaveeverpinedforathing，andlongedforitduringtwentylongyears，andthensuddenlyfounditwithinyourreach，youwouldunderstandmyfeelings。Ilitacigar，andpuffedatittosteadymynerves，butmyhandsweretrembling，andmytemplesthrobbingwithexcitement。AsIdrove，IcouldseeoldJohnFerrierandsweetLucylookingatmeoutofthedarknessandsmilingatme，justasplainasIseeyouallinthisroom。Allthewaytheywereaheadofme，oneoneachsideofthehorseuntilIpulledupatthehouseintheBrixtonRoad。

"Therewasnotasoultobeseen，norasoundtobeheard，exceptthedrippingoftherain。WhenIlookedinatthewindow，IfoundDrebberallhuddledtogetherinadrunkensleep。

Ishookhimbythearm，`It"stimetogetout，"Isaid。

"`Allright，cabby，"saidhe。

"Isupposehethoughtwehadcometothehotelthathehadmentioned，forhegotoutwithoutanotherword，andfollowedmedownthegarden。Ihadtowalkbesidehimtokeephimsteady，forhewasstillalittletop-heavy。Whenwecametothedoor，Iopenedit，andledhimintothefrontroom。

Igiveyoumywordthatalltheway，thefatherandthedaughterwerewalkinginfrontofus。

"`It"sinfernallydark，"saidhe，stampingabout。

"`We"llsoonhavealight，"Isaid，strikingamatchandputtingittoawaxcandlewhichIhadbroughtwithme。

`Now，EnochDrebber，"Icontinued，turningtohim，andholdingthelighttomyownface，`whoamI?"

"Hegazedatmewithbleared，drunkeneyesforamoment，andthenIsawahorrorspringupinthem，andconvulsehiswholefeatures，whichshowedmethatheknewme。Hestaggeredbackwithalividface，andIsawtheperspirationbreakoutuponhisbrow，whilehisteethchatteredinhishead。Atthesight，Ileanedmybackagainstthedoorandlaughedloudandlong。Ihadalwaysknownthatvengeancewouldbesweet，butIhadneverhopedforthecontentmentofsoulwhichnowpossessedme。

"`Youdog!"Isaid；`IhavehuntedyoufromSaltLakeCitytoSt。Petersburg，andyouhavealwaysescapedme。Now，atlastyourwanderingshavecometoanend，foreitheryouorI

shallneverseeto-morrow"ssunrise。"HeshrunkstillfurtherawayasIspoke，andIcouldseeonhisfacethathethoughtIwasmad。SoIwasforthetime。Thepulsesinmytemplesbeatlikesledge-hammers，andIbelieveIwouldhavehadafitofsomesortifthebloodhadnotgushedfrommynoseandrelievedme。

"`WhatdoyouthinkofLucyFerriernow?"Icried，lockingthedoor，andshakingthekeyinhisface。`Punishmenthasbeenslowincoming，butithasovertakenyouatlast。"

IsawhiscowardlipstrembleasIspoke。Hewouldhavebeggedforhislife，butheknewwellthatitwasuseless。

"`Wouldyoumurderme?"hestammered。

"`Thereisnomurder，"Ianswered。`Whotalksofmurderingamaddog?Whatmercyhadyouuponmypoordarling，whenyoudraggedherfromherslaughteredfather，andboreherawaytoyouraccursedandshamelessharem。"

"`ItwasnotIwhokilledherfather，"hecried。

"`Butitwasyouwhobrokeherinnocentheart，"Ishrieked，thrustingtheboxbeforehim。`LetthehighGodjudgebetweenus。Chooseandeat。Thereisdeathinoneandlifeintheother。Ishalltakewhatyouleave。Letusseeifthereisjusticeupontheearth，orifweareruledbychance。"

"Hecoweredawaywithwildcriesandprayersformercy，butI

drewmyknifeandheldittohisthroatuntilhehadobeyedme。ThenIswallowedtheother，andwestoodfacingoneanotherinsilenceforaminuteormore，waitingtoseewhichwastoliveandwhichwastodie。ShallIeverforgetthelookwhichcameoverhisfacewhenthefirstwarningpangstoldhimthatthepoisonwasinhissystem?IlaughedasI

sawit，andheldLucy"smarriageringinfrontofhiseyes。

Itwasbutforamoment，fortheactionofthealkaloidisrapid。Aspasmofpaincontortedhisfeatures；hethrewhishandsoutinfrontofhim，staggered，andthen，withahoarsecry，fellheavilyuponthefloor。Iturnedhimoverwithmyfoot，andplacedmyhanduponhisheart。Therewasnomovement。Hewasdead!

"Thebloodhadbeenstreamingfrommynose，butIhadtakennonoticeofit。Idon"tknowwhatitwasthatputitintomyheadtowriteuponthewallwithit。Perhapsitwassomemischievousideaofsettingthepoliceuponawrongtrack，forIfeltlight-heartedandcheerful。IrememberedaGermanbeingfoundinNewYorkwithRACHEwrittenupabovehim，anditwasarguedatthetimeinthenewspapersthatthesecretsocietiesmusthavedoneit。IguessedthatwhatpuzzledtheNewYorkerswouldpuzzletheLondoners，soIdippedmyfingerinmyownbloodandprinteditonaconvenientplaceonthewall。ThenIwalkeddowntomycabandfoundthattherewasnobodyabout，andthatthenightwasstillverywild。IhaddrivensomedistancewhenIputmyhandintothepocketinwhichIusuallykeptLucy"sring，andfoundthatitwasnotthere。Iwasthunderstruckatthis，foritwastheonlymementothatIhadofher。ThinkingthatImighthavedroppeditwhenIstoopedoverDrebber"sbody，Idroveback，andleavingmycabinasidestreet，Iwentboldlyuptothehouse——forIwasreadytodareanythingratherthanlosethering。WhenIarrivedthere，Iwalkedrightintothearmsofapolice-officerwhowascomingout，andonlymanagedtodisarmhissuspicionsbypretendingtobehopelesslydrunk。

"ThatwashowEnochDrebbercametohisend。AllIhadtodothenwastodoasmuchforStangerson，andsopayoffJohnFerrier"sdebt。IknewthathewasstayingatHalliday"sPrivateHotel，andIhungaboutallday，buthenevercameout。{26}fancythathesuspectedsomethingwhenDrebberfailedtoputinanappearance。Hewascunning，wasStangerson，andalwaysonhisguard。Ifhethoughthecouldkeepmeoffbystayingindoorshewasverymuchmistaken。

Isoonfoundoutwhichwasthewindowofhisbedroom，andearlynextmorningItookadvantageofsomeladderswhichwerelyinginthelanebehindthehotel，andsomademywayintohisroominthegreyofthedawn。Iwokehimupandtoldhimthatthehourhadcomewhenhewastoanswerforthelifehehadtakensolongbefore。IdescribedDrebber"sdeathtohim，andIgavehimthesamechoiceofthepoisonedpills。

Insteadofgraspingatthechanceofsafetywhichthatofferedhim，hesprangfromhisbedandflewatmythroat。

Inself-defenceIstabbedhimtotheheart。Itwouldhavebeenthesameinanycase，forProvidencewouldneverhaveallowedhisguiltyhandtopickoutanythingbutthepoison。

"Ihavelittlemoretosay，andit"saswell，forIamaboutdoneup。Iwentoncabbingitforadayorso，intendingtokeepatituntilIcouldsaveenoughtotakemebacktoAmerica。IwasstandingintheyardwhenaraggedyoungsteraskediftherewasacabbytherecalledJeffersonHope，andsaidthathiscabwaswantedbyagentlemanat221B，BakerStreet。Iwentround，suspectingnoharm，andthenextthingIknew，thisyoungmanherehadthebraceletsonmywrists，andasneatlysnackled{27}aseverIsawinmylife。That"sthewholeofmystory，gentlemen。Youmayconsidermetobeamurderer；butIholdthatIamjustasmuchanofficerofjusticeasyouare。"

Sothrillinghadtheman"snarrativebeen，andhismannerwassoimpressivethatwehadsatsilentandabsorbed。Eventheprofessionaldetectives，_blase_{28}astheywereineverydetailofcrime，appearedtobekeenlyinterestedintheman"sstory。

WhenhefinishedwesatforsomeminutesinastillnesswhichwasonlybrokenbythescratchingofLestrade"spencilashegavethefinishingtouchestohisshorthandaccount。

"ThereisonlyonepointonwhichIshouldlikealittlemoreinformation，"SherlockHolmessaidatlast。"WhowasyouraccomplicewhocamefortheringwhichIadvertised?"

Theprisonerwinkedatmyfriendjocosely。"Icantellmyownsecrets，"hesaid，"butIdon"tgetotherpeopleintotrouble。

Isawyouradvertisement，andIthoughtitmightbeaplant，oritmightbetheringwhichIwanted。Myfriendvolunteeredtogoandsee。Ithinkyou"llownhediditsmartly。"

"Notadoubtofthat，"saidHolmesheartily。

"Now，gentlemen，"theInspectorremarkedgravely，"theformsofthelawmustbecompliedwith。OnThursdaytheprisonerwillbebroughtbeforethemagistrates，andyourattendancewillberequired。UntilthenIwillberesponsibleforhim。"

Herangthebellashespoke，andJeffersonHopewasledoffbyacoupleofwarders，whilemyfriendandImadeourwayoutoftheStationandtookacabbacktoBakerStreet。

CHAPTERVII。

THECONCLUSION。

WEhadallbeenwarnedtoappearbeforethemagistratesupontheThursday；butwhentheThursdaycametherewasnooccasionforourtestimony。AhigherJudgehadtakenthematterinhand，andJeffersonHopehadbeensummonedbeforeatribunalwherestrictjusticewouldbemetedouttohim。

Ontheverynightafterhiscapturetheaneurismburst，andhewasfoundinthemorningstretcheduponthefloorofthecell，withaplacidsmileuponhisface，asthoughhehadbeenableinhisdyingmomentstolookbackuponausefullife，andonworkwelldone。

"GregsonandLestradewillbewildabouthisdeath，"

Holmesremarked，aswechatteditovernextevening。

"Wherewilltheirgrandadvertisementbenow?"

"Idon"tseethattheyhadverymuchtodowithhiscapture，"

Ianswered。

"Whatyoudointhisworldisamatterofnoconsequence，"

returnedmycompanion，bitterly。"Thequestionis，whatcanyoumakepeoplebelievethatyouhavedone。Nevermind，"

hecontinued，morebrightly，afterapause。"Iwouldnothavemissedtheinvestigationforanything。Therehasbeennobettercasewithinmyrecollection。Simpleasitwas，therewereseveralmostinstructivepointsaboutit。"

"Simple!"Iejaculated。

"Well，really，itcanhardlybedescribedasotherwise，"saidSherlockHolmes，smilingatmysurprise。"Theproofofitsintrinsicsimplicityis，thatwithoutanyhelpsaveafewveryordinarydeductionsIwasabletolaymyhanduponthecriminalwithinthreedays。"

"Thatistrue，"saidI。

"Ihavealreadyexplainedtoyouthatwhatisoutofthecommonisusuallyaguideratherthanahindrance。

Insolvingaproblemofthissort，thegrandthingistobeabletoreasonbackwards。Thatisaveryusefulaccomplishment，andaveryeasyone，butpeopledonotpractiseitmuch。

Intheevery-dayaffairsoflifeitismoreusefultoreasonforwards，andsotheothercomestobeneglected。

Therearefiftywhocanreasonsyntheticallyforonewhocanreasonanalytically。"

"Iconfess，"saidI，"thatIdonotquitefollowyou。"

"Ihardlyexpectedthatyouwould。LetmeseeifIcanmakeitclearer。Mostpeople，ifyoudescribeatrainofeventstothem，willtellyouwhattheresultwouldbe。Theycanputthoseeventstogetherintheirminds，andarguefromthemthatsomethingwillcometopass。Therearefewpeople，however，who，ifyoutoldthemaresult，wouldbeabletoevolvefromtheirowninnerconsciousnesswhatthestepswerewhichleduptothatresult。ThispoweriswhatImeanwhenItalkofreasoningbackwards，oranalytically。"

"Iunderstand，"saidI。

"Nowthiswasacaseinwhichyouweregiventheresultandhadtofindeverythingelseforyourself。Nowletmeendeavourtoshowyouthedifferentstepsinmyreasoning。

Tobeginatthebeginning。Iapproachedthehouse，asyouknow，onfoot，andwithmymindentirelyfreefromallimpressions。Inaturallybeganbyexaminingtheroadway，andthere，asIhavealreadyexplainedtoyou，Isawclearlythemarksofacab，which，Iascertainedbyinquiry，musthavebeenthereduringthenight。Isatisfiedmyselfthatitwasacabandnotaprivatecarriagebythenarrowgaugeofthewheels。TheordinaryLondongrowlerisconsiderablylesswidethanagentleman"sbrougham。

"Thiswasthefirstpointgained。Ithenwalkedslowlydownthegardenpath，whichhappenedtobecomposedofaclaysoil，peculiarlysuitablefortakingimpressions。Nodoubtitappearedtoyoutobeameretrampledlineofslush，buttomytrainedeyeseverymarkuponitssurfacehadameaning。

Thereisnobranchofdetectivesciencewhichissoimportantandsomuchneglectedastheartoftracingfootsteps。

Happily，Ihavealwayslaidgreatstressuponit，andmuchpracticehasmadeitsecondnaturetome。Isawtheheavyfootmarksoftheconstables，butIsawalsothetrackofthetwomenwhohadfirstpassedthroughthegarden。Itwaseasytotellthattheyhadbeenbeforetheothers，becauseinplacestheirmarkshadbeenentirelyobliteratedbytheotherscominguponthetopofthem。Inthiswaymysecondlinkwasformed，whichtoldmethatthenocturnalvisitorsweretwoinnumber，oneremarkableforhisheight(asI

calculatedfromthelengthofhisstride)，andtheotherfashionablydressed，tojudgefromthesmallandelegantimpressionleftbyhisboots。

"Onenteringthehousethislastinferencewasconfirmed。

Mywell-bootedmanlaybeforeme。Thetallone，then，haddonethemurder，ifmurdertherewas。Therewasnowounduponthedeadman"sperson，buttheagitatedexpressionuponhisfaceassuredmethathehadforeseenhisfatebeforeitcameuponhim。Menwhodiefromheartdisease，oranysuddennaturalcause，neverbyanychanceexhibitagitationupontheirfeatures。Havingsniffedthedeadman"slipsIdetectedaslightlysoursmell，andIcametotheconclusionthathehadhadpoisonforceduponhim。Again，Iarguedthatithadbeenforceduponhimfromthehatredandfearexpresseduponhisface。Bythemethodofexclusion，Ihadarrivedatthisresult，fornootherhypothesiswouldmeetthefacts。Donotimaginethatitwasaveryunheardofidea。Theforcibleadministrationofpoisonisbynomeansanewthingincriminalannals。ThecasesofDolskyinOdessa，andofLeturierinMontpellier，willoccuratoncetoanytoxicologist。

"Andnowcamethegreatquestionastothereasonwhy。

Robberyhadnotbeentheobjectofthemurder，fornothingwastaken。Wasitpolitics，then，orwasitawoman?Thatwasthequestionwhichconfrontedme。Iwasinclinedfromthefirsttothelattersupposition。Politicalassassinsareonlytoogladtodotheirworkandtofly。Thismurderhad，onthecontrary，beendonemostdeliberately，andtheperpetratorhadlefthistracksallovertheroom，showingthathehadbeenthereallthetime。Itmusthavebeenaprivatewrong，andnotapoliticalone，whichcalledforsuchamethodicalrevenge。WhentheinscriptionwasdiscovereduponthewallIwasmoreinclinedthanevertomyopinion。

Thethingwastooevidentlyablind。Whentheringwasfound，however，itsettledthequestion。Clearlythemurdererhadusedittoremindhisvictimofsomedeadorabsentwoman。ItwasatthispointthatIaskedGregsonwhetherhehadenquiredinhistelegramtoClevelandastoanyparticularpointinMr。Drebber"sformercareer。

Heanswered，youremember，inthenegative。

"Ithenproceededtomakeacarefulexaminationoftheroom，whichconfirmedmeinmyopinionastothemurderer"sheight，andfurnishedmewiththeadditionaldetailsastotheTrichinopolycigarandthelengthofhisnails。Ihadalreadycometotheconclusion，sincetherewerenosignsofastruggle，thatthebloodwhichcoveredthefloorhadburstfromthemurderer"snoseinhisexcitement。Icouldperceivethatthetrackofbloodcoincidedwiththetrackofhisfeet。

Itisseldomthatanyman，unlessheisveryfull-blooded，breaksoutinthiswaythroughemotion，soIhazardedtheopinionthatthecriminalwasprobablyarobustandruddy-facedman。

EventsprovedthatIhadjudgedcorrectly。

"Havingleftthehouse，IproceededtodowhatGregsonhadneglected。ItelegraphedtotheheadofthepoliceatCleveland，limitingmyenquirytothecircumstancesconnectedwiththemarriageofEnochDrebber。Theanswerwasconclusive。

IttoldmethatDrebberhadalreadyappliedfortheprotectionofthelawagainstanoldrivalinlove，namedJeffersonHope，andthatthissameHopewasatpresentinEurope。

IknewnowthatIheldthecluetothemysteryinmyhand，andallthatremainedwastosecurethemurderer。

"IhadalreadydeterminedinmyownmindthatthemanwhohadwalkedintothehousewithDrebber，wasnoneotherthanthemanwhohaddriventhecab。Themarksintheroadshowedmethatthehorsehadwanderedoninawaywhichwouldhavebeenimpossiblehadtherebeenanyoneinchargeofit。Where，then，couldthedriverbe，unlesshewereinsidethehouse?

Again，itisabsurdtosupposethatanysanemanwouldcarryoutadeliberatecrimeundertheveryeyes，asitwere，ofathirdperson，whowassuretobetrayhim。Lastly，supposingonemanwishedtodoganotherthroughLondon，whatbettermeanscouldheadoptthantoturncabdriver。AlltheseconsiderationsledmetotheirresistibleconclusionthatJeffersonHopewastobefoundamongthejarveysoftheMetropolis。

"Ifhehadbeenonetherewasnoreasontobelievethathehadceasedtobe。Onthecontrary，fromhispointofview，anysuddenchancewouldbelikelytodrawattentiontohimself。Hewould，probably，foratimeatleast，continuetoperformhisduties。Therewasnoreasontosupposethathewasgoingunderanassumedname。Whyshouldhechangehisnameinacountrywherenooneknewhisoriginalone?I

thereforeorganizedmyStreetArabdetectivecorps，andsentthemsystematicallytoeverycabproprietorinLondonuntiltheyferretedoutthemanthatIwanted。Howwelltheysucceeded，andhowquicklyItookadvantageofit，arestillfreshinyourrecollection。ThemurderofStangersonwasanincidentwhichwasentirelyunexpected，butwhichcouldhardlyinanycasehavebeenprevented。Throughit，asyouknow，Icameintopossessionofthepills，theexistenceofwhichIhadalreadysurmised。Youseethewholethingisachainoflogicalsequenceswithoutabreakorflaw。"

"Itiswonderful!"Icried。"Yourmeritsshouldbepubliclyrecognized。Youshouldpublishanaccountofthecase。

Ifyouwon"t，Iwillforyou。"

"Youmaydowhatyoulike，Doctor，"heanswered。"Seehere!"

hecontinued，handingapaperovertome，"lookatthis!"

Itwasthe_Echo_fortheday，andtheparagraphtowhichhepointedwasdevotedtothecaseinquestion。

"Thepublic，"itsaid，"havelostasensationaltreatthroughthesuddendeathofthemanHope，whowassuspectedofthemurderofMr。EnochDrebberandofMr。JosephStangerson。

Thedetailsofthecasewillprobablybeneverknownnow，thoughweareinformedupongoodauthoritythatthecrimewastheresultofanoldstandingandromanticfeud，inwhichloveandMormonismboreapart。Itseemsthatboththevictimsbelonged，intheiryoungerdays，totheLatterDaySaints，andHope，thedeceasedprisoner，hailsalsofromSaltLakeCity。Ifthecasehashadnoothereffect，it，atleast，bringsoutinthemoststrikingmannertheefficiencyofourdetectivepoliceforce，andwillserveasalessontoallforeignersthattheywilldowiselytosettletheirfeudsathome，andnottocarrythemontoBritishsoil。Itisanopensecretthatthecreditofthissmartcapturebelongsentirelytothewell-knownScotlandYardofficials，Messrs。

LestradeandGregson。Themanwasapprehended，itappears，intheroomsofacertainMr。SherlockHolmes，whohashimself，asanamateur，shownsometalentinthedetectiveline，andwho，withsuchinstructors，mayhopeintimetoattaintosomedegreeoftheirskill。Itisexpectedthatatestimonialofsomesortwillbepresentedtothetwoofficersasafittingrecognitionoftheirservices。"

"Didn"tItellyousowhenwestarted?"criedSherlockHolmeswithalaugh。"That"stheresultofallourStudyinScarlet:

togetthematestimonial!"

"Nevermind，"Ianswered，"Ihaveallthefactsinmyjournal，andthepublicshallknowthem。Inthemeantimeyoumustmakeyourselfcontentedbytheconsciousnessofsuccess，liketheRomanmiser——

"`Populusmesibilat，atmihiplaudoIpsedomisimulacnummoscontemplarinarca。""