第4章

"OnlyonelittlegleamofhopedidIget——andyetitamountedtonothing。Iexaminedthecontentsofthesafe，mostofwhichhadbeentakenoutandleftonthetable。Thepapershadbeenmadeupintosealedenvelopes，oneortwoofwhichhadbeenopenedbythepolice。Theywerenot，sofarasIcouldjudge，ofanygreatvalue，nordidthebank—bookshowthatMr。Oldacrewasinsuchveryaffluentcircumstances。Butitseemedtomethatallthepaperswerenotthere。Therewereallusionstosomedeeds——possiblythemorevaluable——whichIcouldnotfind。This，ofcourse，ifwecoulddefinitelyproveit，wouldturnLestrade’sargumentagainsthimself，forwhowouldstealathingifheknewthathewouldshortlyinheritit？

"Finally，havingdrawneveryothercoverandpickedupnoscent，Itriedmyluckwiththehousekeeper。Mrs。Lexingtonishername，alittle，dark，silentperson，withsuspiciousandsidelongeyes。Shecouldtellussomethingifshewould——

Iamconvincedofit。Butshewasascloseaswax。Yes，shehadletMr。McFarlaneinathalf—pastnine。Shewishedherhandhadwitheredbeforeshehaddoneso。Shehadgonetobedathalf—pastten。Herroomwasattheotherendofthehouse，andshecouldhearnothingofwhatpassed。Mr。McFarlanehadlefthishat，andtothebestofherbeliefhisstick，inthehall。

Shehadbeenawakenedbythealarmoffire。Herpoor，dearmasterhadcertainlybeenmurdered。Hadheanyenemies？

Well，everymanhadenemies，butMr。Oldacrekepthimselfverymuchtohimself，andonlymetpeopleinthewayofbusiness。

Shehadseenthebuttons，andwassurethattheybelongedtotheclotheswhichhehadwornlastnight。Thewood—pilewasverydry，forithadnotrainedforamonth。Itburnedliketinder，andbythetimeshereachedthespotnothingcouldbeseenbutflames。

Sheandallthefiremensmelledtheburnedfleshfrominsideit。

Sheknewnothingofthepapers，norofMr。Oldacre’sprivateaffairs。

"So，mydearWatson，there’smyreportofafailure。Andyet——

andyet———"——heclenchedhisthinhandsinaparoxysmofconviction——"IKNOWit’sallwrong。Ifeelitinmybones。

Thereissomethingthathasnotcomeout，andthathousekeeperknowsit。Therewasasortofsulkydefianceinhereyes，whichonlygoeswithguiltyknowledge。However，there’snogoodtalkinganymoreaboutit，Watson；butunlesssomeluckychancecomesourwayIfearthattheNorwoodDisappearanceCasewillnotfigureinthatchronicleofoursuccesseswhichIforeseethatapatientpublicwillsoonerorlaterhavetoendure。"

"Surely，"saidI，"theman’sappearancewouldgofarwithanyjury？"

"Thatisadangerousargument，mydearWatson。Yourememberthatterriblemurderer，BertStevens，whowantedustogethimoffin’87？

Wasthereeveramoremild—mannered，Sunday—schoolyoungman？"

"Itistrue。"

"Unlesswesucceedinestablishinganalternativetheorythismanislost。Youcanhardlyfindaflawinthecasewhichcannowbepresentedagainsthim，andallfurtherinvestigationhasservedtostrengthenit。Bytheway，thereisonecuriouslittlepointaboutthosepaperswhichmayserveusasthestarting—pointforaninquiry。Onlookingoverthebank—bookIfoundthatthelowstateofthebalancewasprincipallyduetolargechequeswhichhavebeenmadeoutduringthelastyeartoMr。Cornelius。IconfessthatIshouldbeinterestedtoknowwhothisMr。Corneliusmaybewithwhomaretiredbuilderhassuchverylargetransactions。Isitpossiblethathehashadahandintheaffair？Corneliusmightbeabroker，butwehavefoundnoscriptocorrespondwiththeselargepayments。Failinganyotherindicationmyresearchesmustnowtakethedirectionofaninquiryatthebankforthegentlemanwhohascashedthesecheques。ButIfear，mydearfellow，thatourcasewillendingloriouslybyLestradehangingourclient，whichwillcertainlybeatriumphforScotlandYard。"

IdonotknowhowfarSherlockHolmestookanysleepthatnight，butwhenIcamedowntobreakfastIfoundhimpaleandharassed，hisbrighteyesthebrighterforthedarkshadowsroundthem。

Thecarpetroundhischairwaslitteredwithcigarette—endsandwiththeearlyeditionsofthemorningpapers。Anopentelegramlayuponthetable。

"Whatdoyouthinkofthis，Watson？"heasked，tossingitacross。

ItwasfromNorwood，andranasfollows：——

"IMPORTANTFRESHEVIDENCETOHAND。MCFARLANE’SGUILTDEFINITELY

ESTABLISHED。ADVISEYOUTOABANDONCASE。——LESTRADE。"

"Thissoundsserious，"saidI。

"ItisLestrade’slittlecock—a—doodleofvictory，"Holmesanswered，withabittersmile。"Andyetitmaybeprematuretoabandonthecase。Afterall，importantfreshevidenceisatwo—edgedthing，andmaypossiblycutinaverydifferentdirectiontothatwhichLestradeimagines。Takeyourbreakfast，Watson，andwewillgoouttogetherandseewhatwecando。IfeelasifIshallneedyourcompanyandyourmoralsupportto—day。"

Myfriendhadnobreakfasthimself，foritwasoneofhispeculiaritiesthatinhismoreintensemomentshewouldpermithimselfnofood，andIhaveknownhimpresumeuponhisironstrengthuntilhehasfaintedfrompureinanition。"AtpresentIcannotspareenergyandnerveforcefordigestion，"hewouldsayinanswertomymedicalremonstrances。Iwasnotsurprised，therefore，whenthismorninghelefthisuntouchedmealbehindhimandstartedwithmeforNorwood。AcrowdofmorbidsightseerswerestillgatheredroundDeepDeneHouse，whichwasjustsuchasuburbanvillaasIhadpictured。WithinthegatesLestrademetus，hisfaceflushedwithvictory，hismannergrosslytriumphant。

"Well，Mr。Holmes，haveyouprovedustobewrongyet？Haveyoufoundyourtramp？"hecried。

"Ihaveformednoconclusionwhatever，"mycompanionanswered。

"Butweformedoursyesterday，andnowitprovestobecorrect；

soyoumustacknowledgethatwehavebeenalittleinfrontofyouthistime，Mr。Holmes。"

"Youcertainlyhavetheairofsomethingunusualhavingoccurred，"

saidHolmes。

Lestradelaughedloudly。

"Youdon’tlikebeingbeatenanymorethantherestofusdo，"

saidhe。"Amancan’texpectalwaystohaveithisownway，canhe，Dr。Watson？Stepthisway，ifyouplease，gentlemen，andIthinkIcanconvinceyouonceforallthatitwasJohnMcFarlanewhodidthiscrime。"

Heledusthroughthepassageandoutintoadarkhallbeyond。

"ThisiswhereyoungMcFarlanemusthavecomeouttogethishatafterthecrimewasdone，"saidhe。"Now，lookatthis。"Withdramaticsuddennesshestruckamatchandbyitslightexposedastainofblooduponthewhitewashedwall。AsheheldthematchnearerIsawthatitwasmorethanastain。Itwasthewell—markedprintofathumb。

"Lookatthatwithyourmagnifyingglass，Mr。Holmes。"

"Yes，Iamdoingso。"

"Youareawarethatnotwothumbmarksarealike？"

"Ihaveheardsomethingofthekind。"

"Well，then，willyoupleasecomparethatprintwiththiswaximpressionofyoungMcFarlane’srightthumb，takenbymyordersthismorning？"

Asheheldthewaxenprintclosetotheblood—stainitdidnottakeamagnifyingglasstoseethatthetwowereundoubtedlyfromthesamethumb。Itwasevidenttomethatourunfortunateclientwaslost。

"Thatisfinal，"saidLestrade。

"Yes，thatisfinal，"Iinvoluntarilyechoed。

"Itisfinal，"saidHolmes。

Somethinginhistonecaughtmyear，andIturnedtolookathim。Anextraordinarychangehadcomeoverhisface。Itwaswrithingwithinwardmerriment。Histwoeyeswereshininglikestars。Itseemedtomethathewasmakingdesperateeffortstorestrainaconvulsiveattackoflaughter。

"Dearme！Dearme！"hesaidatlast。"Well，now，whowouldhavethoughtit？Andhowdeceptiveappearancesmaybe，tobesure！Suchaniceyoungmantolookat！Itisalessontousnottotrustourownjudgment，isitnot，Lestrade？"

"Yes，someofusarealittletoomuchinclinedtobecocksure，Mr。Holmes，"saidLestrade。Theman’sinsolencewasmaddening，butwecouldnotresentit。

"Whataprovidentialthingthatthisyoungmanshouldpresshisrightthumbagainstthewallintakinghishatfromthepeg！

Suchaverynaturalaction，too，ifyoucometothinkofit。"

Holmeswasoutwardlycalm，buthiswholebodygaveawriggleofsuppressedexcitementashespoke。"Bytheway，Lestrade，whomadethisremarkablediscovery？"

"Itwasthehousekeeper，Mrs。Lexington，whodrewthenightconstable’sattentiontoit。"

"Wherewasthenightconstable？"

"Heremainedonguardinthebedroomwherethecrimewascommitted，soastoseethatnothingwastouched。"

"Butwhydidn’tthepoliceseethismarkyesterday？"

"Well，wehadnoparticularreasontomakeacarefulexaminationofthehall。Besides，it’snotinaveryprominentplace，asyousee。"

"No，no，ofcoursenot。Isupposethereisnodoubtthatthemarkwasthereyesterday？"

LestradelookedatHolmesasifhethoughthewasgoingoutofhismind。IconfessthatIwasmyselfsurprisedbothathishilariousmannerandathisratherwildobservation。

"Idon’tknowwhetheryouthinkthatMcFarlanecameoutofgaolinthedeadofthenightinordertostrengthentheevidenceagainsthimself，"saidLestrade。"Ileaveittoanyexpertintheworldwhetherthatisnotthemarkofhisthumb。"

"Itisunquestionablythemarkofhisthumb。"

"There，that’senough，"saidLestrade。"Iamapracticalman，Mr。Holmes，andwhenIhavegotmyevidenceIcometomyconclusions。Ifyouhaveanythingtosayyouwillfindmewritingmyreportinthesitting—room。"

Holmeshadrecoveredhisequanimity，thoughIstillseemedtodetectgleamsofamusementinhisexpression。

"Dearme，thisisaverysaddevelopment，Watson，isitnot？"

saidhe。"Andyettherearesingularpointsaboutitwhichholdoutsomehopesforourclient。"

"Iamdelightedtohearit，"saidI，heartily。"Iwasafraiditwasallupwithhim。"

"Iwouldhardlygosofarastosaythat，mydearWatson。

Thefactisthatthereisonereallyseriousflawinthisevidencetowhichourfriendattachessomuchimportance。"

"Indeed，Holmes！Whatisit？"

"Onlythis：thatIKNOWthatthatmarkwasnottherewhenIexaminedthehallyesterday。Andnow，Watson，letushavealittlestrollroundinthesunshine。"

Withaconfusedbrain，butwithaheartintowhichsomewarmthofhopewasreturning，Iaccompaniedmyfriendinawalkroundthegarden。Holmestookeachfaceofthehouseinturnandexamineditwithgreatinterest。Hethenledthewayinsideandwentoverthewholebuildingfrombasementtoattics。Mostoftheroomswereunfurnished，butnonethelessHolmesinspectedthemallminutely。Finally，onthetopcorridor，whichranoutsidethreeuntenantedbedrooms，heagainwasseizedwithaspasmofmerriment。

"Therearereallysomeveryuniquefeaturesaboutthiscase，Watson，"saidhe。"IthinkitistimenowthatwetookourfriendLestradeintoourconfidence。Hehashadhislittlesmileatourexpense，andperhapswemaydoasmuchbyhimifmyreadingofthisproblemprovestobecorrect。Yes，yes；

IthinkIseehowweshouldapproachit。"

TheScotlandYardinspectorwasstillwritingintheparlourwhenHolmesinterruptedhim。

"Iunderstoodthatyouwerewritingareportofthiscase，"saidhe。

"SoIam。"

"Don’tyouthinkitmaybealittlepremature？Ican’thelpthinkingthatyourevidenceisnotcomplete。"

Lestradeknewmyfriendtoowelltodisregardhiswords。

Helaiddownhispenandlookedcuriouslyathim。

"Whatdoyoumean，Mr。Holmes？"

"Onlythatthereisanimportantwitnesswhomyouhavenotseen。"

"Canyouproducehim？"

"IthinkIcan。"

"Thendoso。"

"Iwilldomybest。Howmanyconstableshaveyou？"

"Therearethreewithincall。"

"Excellent！"saidHolmes。"MayIaskiftheyarealllarge，able—bodiedmenwithpowerfulvoices？"

"Ihavenodoubttheyare，thoughIfailtoseewhattheirvoiceshavetodowithit。"

"PerhapsIcanhelpyoutoseethatandoneortwootherthingsaswell，"saidHolmes。"Kindlysummonyourmen，andIwilltry。"

Fiveminuteslaterthreepolicemenhadassembledinthehall。

"Intheouthouseyouwillfindaconsiderablequantityofstraw，"

saidHolmes。"Iwillaskyoutocarryintwobundlesofit。

IthinkitwillbeofthegreatestassistanceinproducingthewitnesswhomIrequire。Thankyouverymuch。Ibelieveyouhavesomematchesinyourpocket，Watson。Now，Mr。Lestrade，Iwillaskyoualltoaccompanymetothetoplanding。"

AsIhavesaid，therewasabroadcorridorthere，whichranoutsidethreeemptybedrooms。AtoneendofthecorridorwewereallmarshalledbySherlockHolmes，theconstablesgrinningandLestradestaringatmyfriendwithamazement，expectation，andderisionchasingeachotheracrosshisfeatures。Holmesstoodbeforeuswiththeairofaconjurerwhoisperformingatrick。

"Wouldyoukindlysendoneofyourconstablesfortwobucketsofwater？Putthestrawonthefloorhere，freefromthewalloneitherside。NowIthinkthatweareallready。"

Lestrade’sfacehadbeguntogrowredandangry。

"Idon’tknowwhetheryouareplayingagamewithus，Mr。SherlockHolmes，"saidhe。"Ifyouknowanything，youcansurelysayitwithoutallthistomfoolery。"

"Iassureyou，mygoodLestrade，thatIhaveanexcellentreasonforeverythingthatIdo。Youmaypossiblyrememberthatyouchaffedmealittlesomehoursago，whenthesunseemedonyoursideofthehedge，soyoumustnotgrudgemealittlepompandceremonynow。MightIaskyou，Watson，toopenthatwindow，andthentoputamatchtotheedgeofthestraw？"

Ididso，and，drivenbythedraught，acoilofgreysmokeswirleddownthecorridor，whilethedrystrawcrackledandflamed。

"Nowwemustseeifwecanfindthiswitnessforyou，Lestrade。

MightIaskyoualltojoininthecryof`Fire！’？Now，then；

one，two，three———"

"Fire！"weallyelled。

"Thankyou。Iwilltroubleyouonceagain。"

"Fire！"

"Justoncemore，gentlemen，andalltogether。"

"Fire！"TheshoutmusthaverungoverNorwood。

Ithadhardlydiedawaywhenanamazingthinghappened。Adoorsuddenlyflewopenoutofwhatappearedtobesolidwallattheendofthecorridor，andalittle，wizenedmandartedoutofit，likearabbitoutofitsburrow。

"Capital！"saidHolmes，calmly。"Watson，abucketofwateroverthestraw。Thatwilldo！Lestrade，allowmetopresentyouwithyourprincipalmissingwitness，Mr。JonasOldacre。"

Thedetectivestaredatthenew—comerwithblankamazement。

Thelatterwasblinkinginthebrightlightofthecorridor，andpeeringatusandatthesmoulderingfire。Itwasanodiousface——crafty，vicious，malignant，withshifty，light—greyeyesandwhiteeyelashes。

"What’sthis，then？"saidLestradeatlast。"Whathaveyoubeendoingallthistime，eh？"

Oldacregaveanuneasylaugh，shrinkingbackfromthefuriousredfaceoftheangrydetective。

"Ihavedonenoharm。"

"Noharm？Youhavedoneyourbesttogetaninnocentmanhanged。

Ifitwasn’tforthisgentlemanhere，Iamnotsurethatyouwouldnothavesucceeded。"

Thewretchedcreaturebegantowhimper。

"Iamsure，sir，itwasonlymypracticaljoke。"

"Oh！ajoke，wasit？Youwon’tfindthelaughonyourside，Ipromiseyou。Takehimdownandkeephiminthesitting—roomuntilIcome。Mr。Holmes，"hecontinued，whentheyhadgone，"Icouldnotspeakbeforetheconstables，butIdon’tmindsaying，inthepresenceofDr。Watson，thatthisisthebrightestthingthatyouhavedoneyet，thoughitisamysterytomehowyoudidit。Youhavesavedaninnocentman’slife，andyouhavepreventedaverygravescandal，whichwouldhaveruinedmyreputationintheForce。"

HolmessmiledandclappedLestradeupontheshoulder。

"Insteadofbeingruined，mygoodsir，youwillfindthatyourreputationhasbeenenormouslyenhanced。Justmakeafewalterationsinthatreportwhichyouwerewriting，andtheywillunderstandhowharditistothrowdustintheeyesofInspectorLestrade。"

"Andyoudon’twantyournametoappear？"

"Notatall。Theworkisitsownreward。PerhapsIshallgetthecreditalsoatsomedistantdaywhenIpermitmyzealoushistoriantolayouthisfoolscaponcemore——eh，Watson？

Well，now，letusseewherethisrathasbeenlurking。"

Alath—and—plasterpartitionhadbeenrunacrossthepassagesixfeetfromtheend，withadoorcunninglyconcealedinit。

Itwaslitwithinbyslitsundertheeaves。Afewarticlesoffurnitureandasupplyoffoodandwaterwerewithin，togetherwithanumberofbooksandpapers。

"There’stheadvantageofbeingabuilder，"saidHolmes，aswecameout。"Hewasabletofixuphisownlittlehiding—placewithoutanyconfederate——save，ofcourse，thatprecioushousekeeperofhis，whomIshouldlosenotimeinaddingtoyourbag，Lestrade。"

"I’lltakeyouradvice。Buthowdidyouknowofthisplace，Mr。Holmes？"

"Imadeupmymindthatthefellowwasinhidinginthehouse。

WhenIpacedonecorridorandfounditsixfeetshorterthanthecorrespondingonebelow，itwasprettyclearwherehewas。

Ithoughthehadnotthenervetoliequietbeforeanalarmoffire。Wecould，ofcourse，havegoneinandtakenhim，butitamusedmetomakehimrevealhimself；besides，Iowedyoualittlemystification，Lestrade，foryourchaffinthemorning。"

"Well，sir，youcertainlygotequalwithmeonthat。Buthowintheworlddidyouknowthathewasinthehouseatall？"

"Thethumb—mark，Lestrade。Yousaiditwasfinal；andsoitwas，inaverydifferentsense。Iknewithadnotbeentherethedaybefore。Ipayagooddealofattentiontomattersofdetail，asyoumayhaveobserved，andIhadexaminedthehallandwassurethatthewallwasclear。Therefore，ithadbeenputonduringthenight。"

"Buthow？"

"Verysimply。Whenthosepacketsweresealedup，JonasOldacregotMcFarlanetosecureoneofthesealsbyputtinghisthumbuponthesoftwax。ItwouldbedonesoquicklyandsonaturallythatIdaresaytheyoungmanhimselfhasnorecollectionofit。

Verylikelyitjustsohappened，andOldacrehadhimselfnonotionoftheusehewouldputitto。Broodingoverthecaseinthatdenofhis，itsuddenlystruckhimwhatabsolutelydamningevidencehecouldmakeagainstMcFarlanebyusingthatthumb—mark。

Itwasthesimplestthingintheworldforhimtotakeawaximpressionfromtheseal，tomoistenitinasmuchbloodashecouldgetfromapin—prick，andtoputthemarkuponthewallduringthenight，eitherwithhisownhandorwiththatofhishousekeeper。IfyouexamineamongthosedocumentswhichhetookwithhimintohisretreatIwilllayyouawagerthatyoufindthesealwiththethumb—markuponit。"

"Wonderful！"saidLestrade。"Wonderful！It’sallasclearascrystal，asyouputit。Butwhatistheobjectofthisdeepdeception，Mr。Holmes？"

Itwasamusingtometoseehowthedetective’soverbearingmannerhadchangedsuddenlytothatofachildaskingquestionsofitsteacher。

"Well，Idon’tthinkthatisveryhardtoexplain。Averydeep，malicious，vindictivepersonisthegentlemanwhoisnowawaitingusdownstairs。YouknowthathewasoncerefusedbyMcFarlane’smother？Youdon’t！ItoldyouthatyoushouldgotoBlackheathfirstandNorwoodafterwards。Well，thisinjury，ashewouldconsiderit，hasrankledinhiswicked，schemingbrain，andallhislifehehaslongedforvengeance，butneverseenhischance。

Duringthelastyearortwothingshavegoneagainsthim——

secretspeculation，Ithink——andhefindshimselfinabadway。

Hedeterminestoswindlehiscreditors，andforthispurposehepayslargechequestoacertainMr。Cornelius，whois，Iimagine，himselfunderanothername。Ihavenottracedthesechequesyet，butIhavenodoubtthattheywerebankedunderthatnameatsomeprovincialtownwhereOldacrefromtimetotimeledadoubleexistence。Heintendedtochangehisnamealtogether，drawthismoney，andvanish，startinglifeagainelsewhere。"

"Well，that’slikelyenough。"

"Itwouldstrikehimthatindisappearinghemightthrowallpursuitoffhistrack，andatthesametimehaveanampleandcrushingrevengeuponhisoldsweetheart，ifhecouldgivetheimpressionthathehadbeenmurderedbyheronlychild。Itwasamasterpieceofvillainy，andhecarrieditoutlikeamaster。

Theideaofthewill，whichwouldgiveanobviousmotiveforthecrime，thesecretvisitunknowntohisownparents，theretentionofthestick，theblood，andtheanimalremainsandbuttonsinthewood—pile，allwereadmirable。Itwasanetfromwhichitseemedtomeafewhoursagothattherewasnopossibleescape。Buthehadnotthatsupremegiftoftheartist，theknowledgeofwhentostop。Hewishedtoimprovethatwhichwasalreadyperfect——

todrawtheropetighteryetroundtheneckofhisunfortunatevictim——andsoheruinedall。Letusdescend，Lestrade。

TherearejustoneortwoquestionsthatIwouldaskhim。"

Themalignantcreaturewasseatedinhisownparlourwithapolicemanuponeachsideofhim。

"Itwasajoke，mygoodsir，apracticaljoke，nothingmore，"

hewhinedincessantly。"Iassureyou，sir，thatIsimplyconcealedmyselfinordertoseetheeffectofmydisappearance，andIamsurethatyouwouldnotbesounjustastoimaginethatIwouldhaveallowedanyharmtobefallpooryoungMr。McFarlane。"

"That’sforajurytodecide，"saidLestrade。"Anyhow，weshallhaveyouonachargeofconspiracy，ifnotforattemptedmurder。"

"Andyou’llprobablyfindthatyourcreditorswillimpoundthebankingaccountofMr。Cornelius，"saidHolmes。

Thelittlemanstartedandturnedhismalignanteyesuponmyfriend。

"Ihavetothankyouforagooddeal，"saidhe。"PerhapsI’llpaymydebtsomeday。"

Holmessmiledindulgently。

"Ifancythatforsomefewyearsyouwillfindyourtimeveryfullyoccupied，"saidhe。"Bytheway，whatwasityouputintothewood—pilebesidesyouroldtrousers？Adeaddog，orrabbits，orwhat？Youwon’ttell？Dearme，howveryunkindofyou！

Well，well，Idaresaythatacoupleofrabbitswouldaccountbothforthebloodandforthecharredashes。Ifeveryouwriteanaccount，Watson，youcanmakerabbitsserveyourturn。"

III。———TheAdventureoftheDancingMen。

HOLMEShadbeenseatedforsomehoursinsilencewithhislong，thinbackcurvedoverachemicalvesselinwhichhewasbrewingaparticularlymalodorousproduct。Hisheadwassunkuponhisbreast，andhelookedfrommypointofviewlikeastrange，lankbird，withdullgreyplumageandablacktop—knot。

"So，Watson，"saidhe，suddenly，"youdonotproposetoinvestinSouthAfricansecurities？"

Igaveastartofastonishment。AccustomedasIwastoHolmes’scuriousfaculties，thissuddenintrusionintomymostintimatethoughtswasutterlyinexplicable。

"Howonearthdoyouknowthat？"Iasked。

Hewheeledrounduponhisstool，withasteamingtest—tubeinhishandandagleamofamusementinhisdeep—seteyes。

"Now，Watson，confessyourselfutterlytakenaback，"saidhe。

"Iam。"

"Ioughttomakeyousignapapertothateffect。"

"Why？"