第6章

"Howlonghaveyoubeenhere，doctor？"

"Sincefouro’clock。"

"Anyoneelse？"

"Yes，theconstablehere。"

"Andyouhavetouchednothing？"

"Nothing。"

"Youhaveactedwithgreatdiscretion。Whosentforyou？"

"Thehousemaid，Saunders。"

"Wasitshewhogavethealarm？"

"SheandMrs。King，thecook。"

"Wherearetheynow？"

"Inthekitchen，Ibelieve。"

"ThenIthinkwehadbetterheartheirstoryatonce。"

Theoldhall，oak—panelledandhigh—windowed，hadbeenturnedintoacourtofinvestigation。Holmessatinagreat，old—fashionedchair，hisinexorableeyesgleamingoutofhishaggardface。Icouldreadinthemasetpurposetodevotehislifetothisquestuntiltheclientwhomhehadfailedtosaveshouldatlastbeavenged。ThetrimInspectorMartin，theold，grey—headedcountrydoctor，myself，andastolidvillagepolicemanmadeuptherestofthatstrangecompany。

Thetwowomentoldtheirstoryclearlyenough。Theyhadbeenarousedfromtheirsleepbythesoundofanexplosion，whichhadbeenfollowedaminutelaterbyasecondone。Theysleptinadjoiningrooms，andMrs。KinghadrushedintoSaunders。

Togethertheyhaddescendedthestairs。Thedoorofthestudywasopenandacandlewasburninguponthetable。Theirmasterlayuponhisfaceinthecentreoftheroom。Hewasquitedead。

Nearthewindowhiswifewascrouching，herheadleaningagainstthewall。Shewashorriblywounded，andthesideofherfacewasredwithblood。Shebreathedheavily，butwasincapableofsayinganything。Thepassage，aswellastheroom，wasfullofsmokeandthesmellofpowder。Thewindowwascertainlyshutandfastenedupontheinside。Bothwomenwerepositiveuponthepoint。Theyhadatoncesentforthedoctorandfortheconstable。Then，withtheaidofthegroomandthestable—boy，theyhadconveyedtheirinjuredmistresstoherroom。Bothsheandherhusbandhadoccupiedthebed。Shewascladinherdress——heinhisdressing—gown，overhisnightclothes。Nothinghadbeenmovedinthestudy。Sofarastheyknewtherehadneverbeenanyquarrelbetweenhusbandandwife。Theyhadalwayslookeduponthemasaveryunitedcouple。

Thesewerethemainpointsoftheservants’evidence。InanswertoInspectorMartintheywereclearthateverydoorwasfastenedupontheinside，andthatnoonecouldhaveescapedfromthehouse。InanswertoHolmestheybothrememberedthattheywereconsciousofthesmellofpowderfromthemomentthattheyranoutoftheirroomsuponthetopfloor。"Icommendthatfactverycarefullytoyourattention，"saidHolmestohisprofessionalcolleague。"AndnowIthinkthatweareinapositiontoundertakeathoroughexaminationoftheroom。"

Thestudyprovedtobeasmallchamber，linedonthreesideswithbooks，andwithawriting—tablefacinganordinarywindow，whichlookedoutuponthegarden。Ourfirstattentionwasgiventothebodyoftheunfortunatesquire，whosehugeframelaystretchedacrosstheroom。Hisdisordereddressshowedthathehadbeenhastilyarousedfromsleep。Thebullethadbeenfiredathimfromthefront，andhadremainedinhisbodyafterpenetratingtheheart。Hisdeathhadcertainlybeeninstantaneousandpainless。Therewasnopowder—markingeitheruponhisdressing—gownoronhishands。Accordingtothecountrysurgeontheladyhadstainsuponherface，butnoneuponherhand。

"Theabsenceofthelattermeansnothing，thoughitspresencemaymeaneverything，"saidHolmes。"Unlessthepowderfromabadly—fittingcartridgehappenstospurtbackwards，onemayfiremanyshotswithoutleavingasign。IwouldsuggestthatMr。Cubitt’sbodymaynowberemoved。Isuppose，doctor，youhavenotrecoveredthebulletwhichwoundedthelady？"

"Aseriousoperationwillbenecessarybeforethatcanbedone。

Buttherearestillfourcartridgesintherevolver。Twohavebeenfiredandtwowoundsinflicted，sothateachbulletcanbeaccountedfor。"

"Soitwouldseem，"saidHolmes。"Perhapsyoucanaccountalsoforthebulletwhichhassoobviouslystrucktheedgeofthewindow？"

Hehadturnedsuddenly，andhislong，thinfingerwaspointingtoaholewhichhadbeendrilledrightthroughthelowerwindow—sashaboutaninchabovethebottom。

"ByGeorge！"criedtheinspector。"Howeverdidyouseethat？"

"BecauseIlookedforit。"

"Wonderful！"saidthecountrydoctor。"Youarecertainlyright，sir。Thenathirdshothasbeenfired，andthereforeathirdpersonmusthavebeenpresent。Butwhocouldthathavebeenandhowcouldhehavegotaway？"

"Thatistheproblemwhichwearenowabouttosolve，"saidSherlockHolmes。"Youremember，InspectorMartin，whentheservantssaidthatonleavingtheirroomtheywereatonceconsciousofasmellofpowderIremarkedthatthepointwasanextremelyimportantone？"

"Yes，sir；butIconfessIdidnotquitefollowyou。"

"Itsuggestedthatatthetimeofthefiringthewindowaswellasthedooroftheroomhadbeenopen。Otherwisethefumesofpowdercouldnothavebeenblownsorapidlythroughthehouse。

Adraughtintheroomwasnecessaryforthat。Bothdoorandwindowwereonlyopenforaveryshorttime，however。"

"Howdoyouprovethat？"

"Becausethecandlehasnotguttered。"

"Capital！"criedtheinspector。"Capital！"

"FeelingsurethatthewindowhadbeenopenatthetimeofthetragedyIconceivedthattheremighthavebeenathirdpersonintheaffair，whostoodoutsidethisopeningandfiredthroughit。

Anyshotdirectedatthispersonmighthitthesash。Ilooked，andthere，sureenough，wasthebulletmark！"

"Buthowcamethewindowtobeshutandfastened？"

"Thewoman’sfirstinstinctwouldbetoshutandfastenthewindow。

But，halloa！whatisthis？"

Itwasalady’shand—bagwhichstooduponthestudytable——

atrimlittlehand—bagofcrocodile—skinandsilver。Holmesopeneditandturnedthecontentsout。Thereweretwentyfifty—poundnotesoftheBankofEngland，heldtogetherbyanindia—rubberband——nothingelse。

"Thismustbepreserved，foritwillfigureinthetrial，"saidHolmes，ashehandedthebagwithitscontentstotheinspector。

"Itisnownecessarythatweshouldtrytothrowsomelightuponthisthirdbullet，whichhasclearly，fromthesplinteringofthewood，beenfiredfrominsidetheroom。IshouldliketoseeMrs。King，thecook，again。Yousaid，Mrs。King，thatyouwereawakenedbyaLOUDexplosion。Whenyousaidthat，didyoumeanthatitseemedtoyoutobelouderthanthesecondone？"

"Well，sir，itwakenedmefrommysleep，andsoitishardtojudge。

Butitdidseemveryloud。"

"Youdon’tthinkthatitmighthavebeentwoshotsfiredalmostatthesameinstant？"

"IamsureIcouldn’tsay，sir。"

"Ibelievethatitwasundoubtedlyso。Iratherthink，InspectorMartin，thatwehavenowexhaustedallthatthisroomcanteachus。Ifyouwillkindlysteproundwithme，weshallseewhatfreshevidencethegardenhastooffer。"

Aflower—bedextendeduptothestudywindow，andweallbrokeintoanexclamationasweapproachedit。Theflowersweretrampleddown，andthesoftsoilwasimprintedalloverwithfootmarks。Large，masculinefeettheywere，withpeculiarlylong，sharptoes。Holmeshuntedaboutamongthegrassandleaveslikearetrieverafterawoundedbird。Then，withacryofsatisfaction，hebentforwardandpickedupalittlebrazencylinder。

"Ithoughtso，"saidhe；"therevolverhadanejector，andhereisthethirdcartridge。Ireallythink，InspectorMartin，thatourcaseisalmostcomplete。"

Thecountryinspector’sfacehadshownhisintenseamazementattherapidandmasterfulprogressofHolmes’sinvestigation。

Atfirsthehadshownsomedispositiontoasserthisownposition；

butnowhewasovercomewithadmirationandreadytofollowwithoutquestionwhereverHolmesled。

"Whomdoyoususpect？"heasked。

"I’llgointothatlater。ThereareseveralpointsinthisproblemwhichIhavenotbeenabletoexplaintoyouyet。

NowthatIhavegotsofarIhadbestproceedonmyownlines，andthenclearthewholematteruponceandforall。"

"Justasyouwish，Mr。Holmes，solongaswegetourman。"

"Ihavenodesiretomakemysteries，butitisimpossibleatthemomentofactiontoenterintolongandcomplexexplanations。

Ihavethethreadsofthisaffairallinmyhand。Evenifthisladyshouldneverrecoverconsciousnesswecanstillreconstructtheeventsoflastnightandensurethatjusticebedone。

FirstofallIwishtoknowwhetherthereisanyinninthisneighbourhoodknownas`Elrige’s’？"

Theservantswerecross—questioned，butnoneofthemhadheardofsuchaplace。Thestable—boythrewalightuponthematterbyrememberingthatafarmerofthatnamelivedsomemilesoffinthedirectionofEastRuston。

"Isitalonelyfarm？"

"Verylonely，sir。"

"Perhapstheyhavenotheardyetofallthathappenedhereduringthenight？"

"Maybenot，sir。"

Holmesthoughtforalittleandthenacurioussmileplayedoverhisface。

"Saddleahorse，mylad，"saidhe。"IshallwishyoutotakeanotetoElrige’sFarm。"

Hetookfromhispocketthevariousslipsofthedancingmen。

Withtheseinfrontofhimheworkedforsometimeatthestudy—table。Finallyhehandedanotetotheboy，withdirectionstoputitintothehandsofthepersontowhomitwasaddressed，andespeciallytoanswernoquestionsofanysortwhichmightbeputtohim。Isawtheoutsideofthenote，addressedinstraggling，irregularcharacters，veryunlikeHolmes’susualprecisehand。ItwasconsignedtoMr。AbeSlaney，Elrige’sFarm，EastRuston，Norfolk。

"Ithink，inspector，"Holmesremarked，"thatyouwoulddowelltotelegraphforanescort，as，ifmycalculationsprovetobecorrect，youmayhaveaparticularlydangerousprisonertoconveytothecountygaol。Theboywhotakesthisnotecouldnodoubtforwardyourtelegram。Ifthereisanafternoontraintotown，Watson，Ithinkweshoulddowelltotakeit，asIhaveachemicalanalysisofsomeinteresttofinish，andthisinvestigationdrawsrapidlytoaclose。"

Whentheyouthhadbeendispatchedwiththenote，SherlockHolmesgavehisinstructionstotheservants。IfanyvisitorweretocallaskingforMrs。HiltonCubittnoinformationshouldbegivenastohercondition，buthewastobeshownatonceintothedrawing—room。Heimpressedthesepointsuponthemwiththeutmostearnestness。Finallyheledthewayintothedrawing—roomwiththeremarkthatthebusinesswasnowoutofourhands，andthatwemustwhileawaythetimeasbestwemightuntilwecouldseewhatwasinstoreforus。Thedoctorhaddepartedtohispatients，andonlytheinspectorandmyselfremained。

"IthinkthatIcanhelpyoutopassanhourinaninterestingandprofitablemanner，"saidHolmes，drawinghischairuptothetableandspreadingoutinfrontofhimthevariouspapersuponwhichwererecordedtheanticsofthedancingmen。"Astoyou，friendWatson，Ioweyoueveryatonementforhavingallowedyournaturalcuriositytoremainsolongunsatisfied。Toyou，inspector，thewholeincidentmayappealasaremarkableprofessionalstudy。ImusttellyoufirstofalltheinterestingcircumstancesconnectedwiththepreviousconsultationswhichMr。HiltonCubitthashadwithmeinBakerStreet。"Hethenshortlyrecapitulatedthefactswhichhavealreadybeenrecorded。"Ihavehereinfrontofmethesesingularproductions，atwhichonemightsmilehadtheynotprovedthemselvestobethefore—runnersofsoterribleatragedy。Iamfairlyfamiliarwithallformsofsecretwritings，andammyselftheauthorofatriflingmonographuponthesubject，inwhichIanalyzeonehundredandsixtyseparateciphers；butIconfessthatthisisentirelynewtome。

Theobjectofthosewhoinventedthesystemhasapparentlybeentoconcealthatthesecharactersconveyamessage，andtogivetheideathattheyarethemererandomsketchesofchildren。

"Havingoncerecognised，however，thatthesymbolsstoodforletters，andhavingappliedtheruleswhichguideusinallformsofsecretwritings，thesolutionwaseasyenough。

ThefirstmessagesubmittedtomewassoshortthatitwasimpossibleformetodomorethantosaywithsomeconfidencethatthesymbolXXXstoodforE。Asyouareaware，EisthemostcommonletterintheEnglishalphabet，anditpredominatestosomarkedanextentthateveninashortsentenceonewouldexpecttofinditmostoften。Outoffifteensymbolsinthefirstmessagefourwerethesame，soitwasreasonabletosetthisdownasE。Itistruethatinsomecasesthefigurewasbearingaflagandinsomecasesnot，butitwasprobablefromthewayinwhichtheflagsweredistributedthattheywereusedtobreakthesentenceupintowords。Iacceptedthisasahypothesis，andnotedthatEwasrepresentedbyXXX。

"Butnowcametherealdifficultyoftheinquiry。TheorderoftheEnglishlettersafterEisbynomeanswellmarked，andanypreponderancewhichmaybeshowninanaverageofaprintedsheetmaybereversedinasingleshortsentence。Speakingroughly，T，A，O，I，N，S，H，R，D，andLarethenumericalorderinwhichlettersoccur；butT，A，O，andIareverynearlyabreastofeachother，anditwouldbeanendlesstasktotryeachcombinationuntilameaningwasarrivedat。I，therefore，waitedforfreshmaterial。InmysecondinterviewwithMr。

HiltonCubitthewasabletogivemetwoothershortsentencesandonemessage，whichappeared——sincetherewasnoflag——

tobeasingleword。Herearethesymbols。Now，inthesinglewordIhavealreadygotthetwoE’scomingsecondandfourthinawordoffiveletters。Itmightbe`sever，’or`lever，’or`never。’Therecanbenoquestionthatthelatterasareplytoanappealisfarthemostprobable，andthecircumstancespointedtoitsbeingareplywrittenbythelady。Acceptingitascorrect，wearenowabletosaythatthesymbolsXXXstandrespectivelyforN，V，andR。

"EvennowIwasinconsiderabledifficulty，butahappythoughtputmeinpossessionofseveralotherletters。Itoccurredtomethatiftheseappealscame，asIexpected，fromsomeonewhohadbeenintimatewiththeladyinherearlylife，acombinationwhichcontainedtwoE’swiththreelettersbetweenmightverywellstandforthename`ELSIE。’OnexaminationIfoundthatsuchacombinationformedtheterminationofthemessagewhichwasthreetimesrepeated。Itwascertainlysomeappealto`Elsie。’

InthiswayIhadgotmyL，S，andI。Butwhatappealcoulditbe？

Therewereonlyfourlettersinthewordwhichpreceded`Elsie，’

anditendedinE。Surelythewordmustbe`COME。’ItriedallotherfourlettersendinginE，butcouldfindnonetofitthecase。

SonowIwasinpossessionofC，O，andM，andIwasinapositiontoattackthefirstmessageoncemore，dividingitintowordsandputtingdotsforeachsymbolwhichwasstillunknown。

Sotreateditworkedoutinthisfashion：——。M。ERE……ESL。NE。

"NowthefirstletterCANonlybeA，whichisamostusefuldiscovery，sinceitoccursnofewerthanthreetimesinthisshortsentence，andtheHisalsoapparentinthesecondword。

Nowitbecomes：——

AMHEREA。ESLANE。

Or，fillingintheobviousvacanciesinthename：——

AMHEREABESLANEY。

IhadsomanylettersnowthatIcouldproceedwithconsiderableconfidencetothesecondmessage，whichworkedoutinthisfashion：——

A。ELRI。ES。

HereIcouldonlymakesensebyputtingTandGforthemissingletters，andsupposingthatthenamewasthatofsomehouseorinnatwhichthewriterwasstaying。"

InspectorMartinandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothefullandclearaccountofhowmyfriendhadproducedresultswhichhadledtosocompleteacommandoverourdifficulties。

"Whatdidyoudothen，sir？"askedtheinspector。

"IhadeveryreasontosupposethatthisAbeSlaneywasanAmerican，sinceAbeisanAmericancontraction，andsincealetterfromAmericahadbeenthestarting—pointofallthetrouble。Ihadalsoeverycausetothinkthattherewassomecriminalsecretinthematter。Thelady’sallusionstoherpastandherrefusaltotakeherhusbandintoherconfidencebothpointedinthatdirection。Ithereforecabledtomyfriend，WilsonHargreave，oftheNewYorkPoliceBureau，whohasmorethanoncemadeuseofmyknowledgeofLondoncrime。IaskedhimwhetherthenameofAbeSlaneywasknowntohim。Hereishisreply：`ThemostdangerouscrookinChicago。’OntheveryeveninguponwhichIhadhisanswerHiltonCubittsentmethelastmessagefromSlaney。Workingwithknownlettersittookthisform：——

ELSIE。RE。ARETOMEETTHYGO。

TheadditionofaPandaDcompletedamessagewhichshowedmethattherascalwasproceedingfrompersuasiontothreats，andmyknowledgeofthecrooksofChicagopreparedmetofindthathemightveryrapidlyputhiswordsintoaction。IatoncecametoNorfolkwithmyfriendandcolleague，Dr。Watson，but，unhappily，onlyintimetofindthattheworsthadalreadyoccurred。"

"Itisaprivilegetobeassociatedwithyouinthehandlingofacase，"saidtheinspector，warmly。"Youwillexcuseme，however，ifIspeakfranklytoyou。Youareonlyanswerabletoyourself，butIhavetoanswertomysuperiors。IfthisAbeSlaney，livingatElrige’s，isindeedthemurderer，andifhehasmadehisescapewhileIamseatedhere，Ishouldcertainlygetintoserioustrouble。"

"Youneednotbeuneasy。Hewillnottrytoescape。"

"Howdoyouknow？"

"Toflywouldbeaconfessionofguilt。"

"Thenletusgotoarresthim。"

"Iexpecthimhereeveryinstant。"

"Butwhyshouldhecome？"

"BecauseIhavewrittenandaskedhim。"

"Butthisisincredible，Mr。Holmes！Whyshouldhecomebecauseyouhaveaskedhim？Wouldnotsucharequestratherrousehissuspicionsandcausehimtofly？"

"IthinkIhaveknownhowtoframetheletter，"saidSherlockHolmes。"Infact，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken，hereisthegentlemanhimselfcomingupthedrive。"

Amanwasstridingupthepathwhichledtothedoor。Hewasatall，handsome，swarthyfellow，cladinasuitofgreyflannel，withaPanamahat，abristlingblackbeard，andagreat，aggressivehookednose，andflourishingacaneashewalked。

Heswaggeredupthepathasiftheplacebelongedtohim，andweheardhisloud，confidentpealatthebell。

"Ithink，gentlemen，"saidHolmes，quietly，"thatwehadbesttakeupourpositionbehindthedoor。Everyprecautionisnecessarywhendealingwithsuchafellow。Youwillneedyourhandcuffs，inspector。Youcanleavethetalkingtome。"

Wewaitedinsilenceforaminute——oneofthoseminuteswhichonecanneverforget。Thenthedooropenedandthemansteppedin。InaninstantHolmesclappedapistoltohisheadandMartinslippedthehandcuffsoverhiswrists。Itwasalldonesoswiftlyanddeftlythatthefellowwashelplessbeforeheknewthathewasattacked。Heglaredfromonetotheotherofuswithapairofblazingblackeyes。Thenheburstintoabitterlaugh。

"Well，gentlemen，youhavethedroponmethistime。Iseemtohaveknockedupagainstsomethinghard。ButIcamehereinanswertoaletterfromMrs。HiltonCubitt。Don’ttellmethatsheisinthis？Don’ttellmethatshehelpedtosetatrapforme？"

"Mrs。HiltonCubittwasseriouslyinjuredandisatdeath’sdoor。"

Themangaveahoarsecryofgriefwhichrangthroughthehouse。

"You’recrazy！"hecried，fiercely。"Itwashethatwashurt，notshe。WhowouldhavehurtlittleElsie？Imayhavethreatenedher，Godforgiveme，butIwouldnothavetouchedahairofherprettyhead。Takeitback——you！Saythatsheisnothurt！"

"Shewasfoundbadlywoundedbythesideofherdeadhusband。"

Hesankwithadeepgroanontothesetteeandburiedhisfaceinhismanacledhands。Forfiveminuteshewassilent。Thenheraisedhisfaceoncemore，andspokewiththecoldcomposureofdespair。

"Ihavenothingtohidefromyou，gentlemen，"saidhe。

"IfIshotthemanhehadhisshotatme，andthere’snomurderinthat。ButifyouthinkIcouldhavehurtthatwoman，thenyoudon’tknoweithermeorher。ItellyoutherewasneveramaninthisworldlovedawomanmorethanIlovedher。Ihadarighttoher。Shewaspledgedtomeyearsago。WhowasthisEnglishmanthatheshouldcomebetweenus？ItellyouthatI

hadthefirstrighttoher，andthatIwasonlyclaimingmyown。"

"Shebrokeawayfromyourinfluencewhenshefoundthemanthatyouare，"saidHolmes，sternly。"ShefledfromAmericatoavoidyou，andshemarriedanhonourablegentlemaninEngland。

Youdoggedherandfollowedherandmadeherlifeamiserytoherinordertoinducehertoabandonthehusbandwhomshelovedandrespectedinordertoflywithyou，whomshefearedandhated。

Youhaveendedbybringingaboutthedeathofanoblemananddrivinghiswifetosuicide。Thatisyourrecordinthisbusiness，Mr。AbeSlaney，andyouwillanswerforittothelaw。"

"IfElsiediesIcarenothingwhatbecomesofme，"saidtheAmerican。Heopenedoneofhishandsandlookedatanotecrumpledupinhispalm。"Seehere，mister，hecried，withagleamofsuspicioninhiseyes，"you’renottryingtoscaremeoverthis，areyou？Iftheladyishurtasbadasyousay，whowasitthatwrotethisnote？"Hetosseditforwardsontothetable。

"Iwroteittobringyouhere。"

"Youwroteit？TherewasnooneonearthoutsidetheJointwhoknewthesecretofthedancingmen。Howcameyoutowriteit？"

"Whatonemancaninventanothercandiscover，"saidHolmes。

ThereisacabcomingtoconveyyoutoNorwich，Mr。Slaney。

But，meanwhile，youhavetimetomakesomesmallreparationfortheinjuryyouhavewrought。AreyouawarethatMrs。HiltonCubitthasherselflainundergravesuspicionofthemurderofherhusband，andthatitwasonlymypresencehereandtheknowledgewhichIhappenedtopossesswhichhassavedherfromtheaccusation？Theleastthatyouoweheristomakeitcleartothewholeworldthatshewasinnoway，directlyorindirectly，responsibleforhistragicend。"

"Iasknothingbetter，"saidtheAmerican。"IguesstheverybestcaseIcanmakeformyselfistheabsolutenakedtruth。"

"Itismydutytowarnyouthatitwillbeusedagainstyou，"

criedtheinspector，withthemagnificentfair—playoftheBritishcriminallaw。

Slaneyshruggedhisshoulders。

"I’llchancethat，"saidhe。"Firstofall，IwantyougentlementounderstandthatIhaveknownthisladysinceshewasachild。ThereweresevenofusinaganginChicago，andElsie’sfatherwasthebossoftheJoint。Hewasacleverman，wasoldPatrick。Itwashewhoinventedthatwriting，whichwouldpassasachild’sscrawlunlessyoujusthappenedtohavethekeytoit。Well，Elsielearnedsomeofourways；butshecouldn’tstandthebusiness，andshehadabitofhonestmoneyofherown，soshegaveusalltheslipandgotawaytoLondon。

Shehadbeenengagedtome，andshewouldhavemarriedme，Ibelieve，ifIhadtakenoveranotherprofession；butshewouldhavenothingtodowithanythingonthecross。ItwasonlyafterhermarriagetothisEnglishmanthatIwasabletofindoutwhereshewas。Iwrotetoher，butgotnoanswer。AfterthatIcameover，and，asletterswerenouse，Iputmymessageswhereshecouldreadthem。

"Well，Ihavebeenhereamonthnow。Ilivedinthatfarm，whereIhadaroomdownbelow，andcouldgetinandouteverynight，andnoonethewiser。ItriedallIcouldtocoaxElsieaway。Iknewthatshereadthemessages，foronceshewroteananswerunderoneofthem。Thenmytempergotthebetterofme，andIbegantothreatenher。Shesentmealetterthen，imploringmetogoawayandsayingthatitwouldbreakherheartifanyscandalshouldcomeuponherhusband。Shesaidthatshewouldcomedownwhenherhusbandwasasleepatthreeinthemorning，andspeakwithmethroughtheendwindow，ifIwouldgoawayafterwardsandleaveherinpeace。Shecamedownandbroughtmoneywithher，tryingtobribemetogo。Thismadememad，andIcaughtherarmandtriedtopullherthroughthewindow。Atthatmomentinrushedthehusbandwithhisrevolverinhishand。Elsiehadsunkdownuponthefloor，andwewerefacetoface。Iwasheeledalso，andIheldupmyguntoscarehimoffandletmegetaway。Hefiredandmissedme。Ipulledoffalmostatthesameinstant，anddownhedropped。Imadeawayacrossthegarden，andasIwentIheardthewindowshutbehindme。That’sGod’struth，gentlemen，everywordofit，andIheardnomoreaboutituntilthatladcameridingupwithanotewhichmademewalkinhere，likeajay，andgivemyselfintoyourhands。"

AcabhaddrivenupwhilsttheAmericanhadbeentalking。

Twouniformedpolicemensatinside。InspectorMartinroseandtouchedhisprisonerontheshoulder。