第14章

Theplacewaslocked，butHolmesremovedacircleofglassandturnedthekeyfromtheinside。Aninstantafterwardshehadclosedthedoorbehindus，andwehadbecomefelonsintheeyesofthelaw。Thethick，warmairoftheconservatoryandtherich，chokingfragranceofexoticplantstookusbythethroat。

Heseizedmyhandinthedarknessandledmeswiftlypastbanksofshrubswhichbrushedagainstourfaces。Holmeshadremarkablepowers，carefullycultivated，ofseeinginthedark。

Stillholdingmyhandinoneofhisheopenedadoor，andIwasvaguelyconsciousthatwehadenteredalargeroominwhichacigarhadbeensmokednotlongbefore。Hefelthiswayamongthefurniture，openedanotherdoor，andcloseditbehindus。

PuttingoutmyhandIfeltseveralcoatshangingfromthewall，andIunderstoodthatIwasinapassage。Wepassedalongit，andHolmesverygentlyopenedadoorupontheright—handside。

Somethingrushedoutatusandmyheartsprangintomymouth，butIcouldhavelaughedwhenIrealizedthatitwasthecat。

Afirewasburninginthisnewroom，andagaintheairwasheavywithtobaccosmoke。Holmesenteredontiptoe，waitedformetofollow，andthenverygentlyclosedthedoor。WewereinMilverton’sstudy，andaPORTIEREatthefarthersideshowedtheentrancetohisbedroom。

Itwasagoodfire，andtheroomwasilluminatedbyit。

NearthedoorIsawthegleamofanelectricswitch，butitwasunnecessary，evenifithadbeensafe，toturniton。

Atonesideofthefireplacewasaheavycurtain，whichcoveredthebaywindowwehadseenfromoutside。Ontheothersidewasthedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththeveranda。Adeskstoodinthecentre，withaturningchairofshiningredleather。Oppositewasalargebookcase，withamarblebustofAtheneonthetop。

Inthecornerbetweenthebookcaseandthewalltherestoodatallgreensafe，thefirelightflashingbackfromthepolishedbrassknobsuponitsface。Holmesstoleacrossandlookedatit。Thenhecrepttothedoorofthebedroom，andstoodwithslantingheadlisteningintently。Nosoundcamefromwithin。

Meanwhileithadstruckmethatitwouldbewisetosecureourretreatthroughtheouterdoor，soIexaminedit。Tomyamazementitwasneitherlockednorbolted！ItouchedHolmesonthearm，andheturnedhismaskedfaceinthatdirection。

Isawhimstart，andhewasevidentlyassurprisedasI。

"Idon’tlikeit，"hewhispered，puttinghislipstomyveryear。

"Ican’tquitemakeitout。Anyhow，wehavenotimetolose。"

"CanIdoanything？"

"Yes；standbythedoor。Ifyouhearanyonecome，boltitontheinside，andwecangetawayaswecame。Iftheycometheotherway，wecangetthroughthedoorifourjobisdone，orhidebehindthesewindowcurtainsifitisnot。Doyouunderstand？"

Inoddedandstoodbythedoor。Myfirstfeelingoffearhadpassedaway，andIthrillednowwithakeenerzestthanIhadeverenjoyedwhenwewerethedefendersofthelawinsteadofitsdefiers。Thehighobjectofourmission，theconsciousnessthatitwasunselfishandchivalrous，thevillainouscharacterofouropponent，alladdedtothesportinginterestoftheadventure。Farfromfeelingguilty，Irejoicedandexultedinourdangers。WithaglowofadmirationIwatchedHolmesunrollinghiscaseofinstrumentsandchoosinghistoolwiththecalm，scientificaccuracyofasurgeonwhoperformsadelicateoperation。Iknewthattheopeningofsafeswasaparticularhobbywithhim，andIunderstoodthejoywhichitgavehimtobeconfrontedwiththisgreenandgoldmonster，thedragonwhichheldinitsmawthereputationsofmanyfairladies。Turningupthecuffsofhisdress—coat——hehadplacedhisovercoatonachair——Holmeslaidouttwodrills，ajemmy，andseveralskeletonkeys。Istoodatthecentredoorwithmyeyesglancingateachoftheothers，readyforanyemergency；though，indeed，myplansweresomewhatvagueastowhatIshoulddoifwewereinterrupted。ForhalfanhourHolmesworkedwithconcentratedenergy，layingdownonetool，pickingupanother，handlingeachwiththestrengthanddelicacyofthetrainedmechanic。FinallyIheardaclick，thebroadgreendoorswungopen，andinsideIhadaglimpseofanumberofpaperpackets，eachtied，sealed，andinscribed。Holmespickedoneout，butitwashardtoreadbytheflickeringfire，andhedrewouthislittledarklantern，foritwastoodangerous，withMilvertoninthenextroom，toswitchontheelectriclight。SuddenlyIsawhimhalt，listenintently，andtheninaninstanthehadswungthedoorofthesafeto，pickeduphiscoat，stuffedhistoolsintothepockets，anddartedbehindthewindowcurtain，motioningmetodothesame。

ItwasonlywhenIhadjoinedhimtherethatIheardwhathadalarmedhisquickersenses。Therewasanoisesomewherewithinthehouse。Adoorslammedinthedistance。Thenaconfused，dullmurmurbrokeitselfintothemeasuredthudofheavyfootstepsrapidlyapproaching。Theywereinthepassageoutsidetheroom。Theypausedatthedoor。Thedooropened。Therewasasharpsnickastheelectriclightwasturnedon。Thedoorclosedoncemore，andthepungentreekofastrongcigarwasbornetoournostrils。Thenthefootstepscontinuedbackwardsandforwards，backwardsandforwards，withinafewyardsofus。

Finally，therewasacreakfromachair，andthefootstepsceased。

ThenakeyclickedinalockandIheardtherustleofpapers。

SofarIhadnotdaredtolookout，butnowIgentlypartedthedivisionofthecurtainsinfrontofmeandpeepedthrough。

FromthepressureofHolmes’sshoulderagainstmineIknewthathewassharingmyobservations。Rightinfrontofus，andalmostwithinourreach，wasthebroad，roundedbackofMilverton。Itwasevidentthatwehadentirelymiscalculatedhismovements，thathehadneverbeentohisbedroom，butthathehadbeensittingupinsomesmokingorbilliardroominthefartherwingofthehouse，thewindowsofwhichwehadnotseen。

Hisbroad，grizzledhead，withitsshiningpatchofbaldness，wasintheimmediateforegroundofourvision。Hewasleaningfarbackintheredleatherchair，hislegsoutstretched，alongblackcigarprojectingatananglefromhismouth。Heworeasemi—militarysmokingjacket，claret—coloured，withablackvelvetcollar。Inhishandheheldalonglegaldocument，whichhewasreadinginanindolentfashion，blowingringsoftobaccosmokefromhislipsashedidso。Therewasnopromiseofaspeedydepartureinhiscomposedbearingandhiscomfortableattitude。

IfeltHolmes’shandstealintomineandgivemeareassuringshake，asiftosaythatthesituationwaswithinhispowersandthathewaseasyinhismind。Iwasnotsurewhetherhehadseenwhatwasonlytooobviousfrommyposition，thatthedoorofthesafewasimperfectlyclosed，andthatMilvertonmightatanymomentobserveit。InmyownmindIhaddeterminedthatifIweresure，fromtherigidityofhisgaze，thatithadcaughthiseye，Iwouldatoncespringout，throwmygreat—coatoverhishead，pinionhim，andleavetheresttoHolmes。

ButMilvertonneverlookedup。Hewaslanguidlyinterestedbythepapersinhishand，andpageafterpagewasturnedashefollowedtheargumentofthelawyer。Atleast，Ithought，whenhehasfinishedthedocumentandthecigarhewillgotohisroom；butbeforehehadreachedtheendofeithertherecamearemarkabledevelopmentwhichturnedourthoughtsintoquiteanotherchannel。

SeveraltimesIhadobservedthatMilvertonlookedathiswatch，andoncehehadrisenandsatdownagain，withagestureofimpatience。Theidea，however，thathemighthaveanappointmentatsostrangeanhourneveroccurredtomeuntilafaintsoundreachedmyearsfromtheverandaoutside。

Milvertondroppedhispapersandsatrigidinhischair。

Thesoundwasrepeated，andthentherecameagentletapatthedoor。Milvertonroseandopenedit。

"Well，"saidhe，curtly，"youarenearlyhalfanhourlate。"

SothiswastheexplanationoftheunlockeddoorandofthenocturnalvigilofMilverton。Therewasthegentlerustleofawoman’sdress。IhadclosedtheslitbetweenthecurtainsasMilverton’sfacehadturnedinourdirection，butnowIventuredverycarefullytoopenitoncemore。Hehadresumedhisseat，thecigarstillprojectingataninsolentanglefromthecornerofhismouth。Infrontofhim，inthefullglareoftheelectriclight，therestoodatall，slim，darkwoman，aveiloverherface，amantledrawnroundherchin。Herbreathcamequickandfast，andeveryinchofthelithefigurewasquiveringwithstrongemotion。

"Well，"saidMilverton，"you’vemademeloseagoodnight’srest，mydear。Ihopeyou’llproveworthit。Youcouldn’tcomeanyothertime——eh？"

Thewomanshookherhead。

"Well，ifyoucouldn’tyoucouldn’t。IftheCountessisahardmistressyouhaveyourchancetogetlevelwithhernow。

Blessthegirl，whatareyoushiveringabout？That’sright！

Pullyourselftogether！Now，letusgetdowntobusiness。"

Hetookanotefromthedrawerofhisdesk。"YousaythatyouhavefiveletterswhichcompromisetheCountessd’Albert。

Youwanttosellthem。Iwanttobuythem。Sofarsogood。

Itonlyremainstofixaprice。Ishouldwanttoinspecttheletters，ofcourse。Iftheyarereallygoodspecimens———

Greatheavens，isityou？"

Thewomanwithoutawordhadraisedherveilanddroppedthemantlefromherchin。Itwasadark，handsome，clear—cutfacewhichconfrontedMilverton，afacewithacurvednose，strong，darkeyebrowsshadinghard，glitteringeyes，andastraight，thin—lippedmouthsetinadangeroussmile。

"ItisI，"shesaid；"thewomanwhoselifeyouhaveruined。"

Milvertonlaughed，butfearvibratedinhisvoice。"Youweresoveryobstinate，"saidhe。"Whydidyoudrivemetosuchextremities？IassureyouIwouldn’thurtaflyofmyownaccord，buteverymanhashisbusiness，andwhatwasItodo？

Iputthepricewellwithinyourmeans。Youwouldnotpay。"

"Soyousenttheletterstomyhusband，andhe——thenoblestgentlemanthateverlived，amanwhosebootsIwasneverworthytolace——hebrokehisgallantheartanddied。YourememberthatlastnightwhenIcamethroughthatdoorIbeggedandprayedyouformercy，andyoulaughedinmyfaceasyouaretryingtolaughnow，onlyyourcowardheartcannotkeepyourlipsfromtwitching？Yes，youneverthoughttoseemehereagain，butitwasthatnightwhichtaughtmehowIcouldmeetyoufacetoface，andalone。Well，CharlesMilverton，whathaveyoutosay？"

"Don’timaginethatyoucanbullyme，"saidhe，risingtohisfeet。"Ihaveonlytoraisemyvoice，andIcouldcallmyservantsandhaveyouarrested。ButIwillmakeallowanceforyournaturalanger。Leavetheroomatonceasyoucame，andIwillsaynomore。"

Thewomanstoodwithherhandburiedinherbosom，andthesamedeadlysmileonherthinlips。

"Youwillruinnomorelivesasyouruinedmine。Youwillwringnomoreheartsasyouwrungmine。Iwillfreetheworldofapoisonousthing。Takethat，youhound，andthat！——andthat！

——andthat！"

Shehaddrawnalittle，gleamingrevolver，andemptiedbarrelafterbarrelintoMilverton’sbody，themuzzlewithintwofeetofhisshirtfront。Heshrankawayandthenfellforwarduponthetable，coughingfuriouslyandclawingamongthepapers。

Thenhestaggeredtohisfeet，receivedanothershot，androlleduponthefloor。"You’vedoneme，"hecried，andlaystill。

Thewomanlookedathimintentlyandgroundherheelintohisupturnedface。Shelookedagain，buttherewasnosoundormovement。Iheardasharprustle，thenightairblewintotheheatedroom，andtheavengerwasgone。

Nointerferenceuponourpartcouldhavesavedthemanfromhisfate；butasthewomanpouredbulletafterbulletintoMilverton’sshrinkingbodyIwasabouttospringout，whenI

feltHolmes’scold，stronggraspuponmywrist。Iunderstoodthewholeargumentofthatfirm，restraininggrip——thatitwasnoaffairofours；thatjusticehadovertakenavillain；thatwehadourowndutiesandourownobjectswhichwerenottobelostsightof。ButhardlyhadthewomanrushedfromtheroomwhenHolmes，withswift，silentsteps，wasoverattheotherdoor。

Heturnedthekeyinthelock。Atthesameinstantweheardvoicesinthehouseandthesoundofhurryingfeet。Therevolvershotshadrousedthehousehold。WithperfectcoolnessHolmesslippedacrosstothesafe，filledhistwoarmswithbundlesofletters，andpouredthemallintothefire。Againandagainhedidit，untilthesafewasempty。Someoneturnedthehandleandbeatupontheoutsideofthedoor。Holmeslookedswiftlyround。TheletterwhichhadbeenthemessengerofdeathforMilvertonlay，allmottledwithhisblood，uponthetable。

Holmestosseditinamongtheblazingpapers。Thenhedrewthekeyfromtheouterdoor，passedthroughafterme，andlockeditontheoutside。"Thisway，Watson，"saidhe；"wecanscalethegardenwallinthisdirection。"

Icouldnothavebelievedthatanalarmcouldhavespreadsoswiftly。Lookingback，thehugehousewasoneblazeoflight。

Thefrontdoorwasopen，andfigureswererushingdownthedrive。Thewholegardenwasalivewithpeople，andonefellowraisedaview—halloaasweemergedfromtheverandaandfollowedhardatourheels。Holmesseemedtoknowthegroundperfectly，andhethreadedhiswayswiftlyamongaplantationofsmalltrees，Icloseathisheels，andourforemostpursuerpantingbehindus。Itwasasix—footwallwhichbarredourpath，buthesprangtothetopandover。AsIdidthesameIfeltthehandofthemanbehindmegrabatmyankle；butIkickedmyselffreeandscrambledoveraglass—strewncoping。Ifelluponmyfaceamongsomebushes；butHolmeshadmeonmyfeetinaninstant，andtogetherwedashedawayacrossthehugeexpanseofHampsteadHeath。Wehadruntwomiles，Isuppose，beforeHolmesatlasthaltedandlistenedintently。Allwasabsolutesilencebehindus。

Wehadshakenoffourpursuersandweresafe。

WehadbreakfastedandweresmokingourmorningpipeonthedayaftertheremarkableexperiencewhichIhaverecordedwhenMr。Lestrade，ofScotlandYard，verysolemnandimpressive，wasusheredintoourmodestsitting—room。

"Goodmorning，Mr。Holmes，"saidhe；"goodmorning。

MayIaskifyouareverybusyjustnow？"

"Nottoobusytolistentoyou。"

"Ithoughtthat，perhaps，ifyouhadnothingparticularonhand，youmightcaretoassistusinamostremarkablecasewhichoccurredonlylastnightatHampstead。"

"Dearme！"saidHolmes。"Whatwasthat？"

"Amurder——amostdramaticandremarkablemurder。Iknowhowkeenyouareuponthesethings，andIwouldtakeitasagreatfavourifyouwouldstepdowntoAppledoreTowersandgiveusthebenefitofyouradvice。Itisnoordinarycrime。WehavehadoureyesuponthisMr。Milvertonforsometime，and，betweenourselves，hewasabitofavillain。Heisknowntohaveheldpaperswhichheusedforblackmailingpurposes。Thesepapershaveallbeenburnedbythemurderers。Noarticleofvaluewastaken，asitisprobablethatthecriminalsweremenofgoodposition，whosesoleobjectwastopreventsocialexposure。"

"Criminals！"saidHolmes。"Plural！"

"Yes，thereweretwoofthem。Theywere，asnearlyaspossible，capturedred—handed。Wehavetheirfoot—marks，wehavetheirdescription；it’stentoonethatwetracethem。Thefirstfellowwasabittooactive，butthesecondwascaughtbytheunder—gardenerandonlygotawayafterastruggle。Hewasamiddle—sized，strongly—builtman——squarejaw，thickneck，moustache，amaskoverhiseyes。"

"That’srathervague，"saidSherlockHolmes。

"Why，itmightbeadescriptionofWatson！"

"It’strue，"saidtheinspector，withmuchamusement。

"ItmightbeadescriptionofWatson。"

"Well，IamafraidIcan’thelpyou，Lestrade，"saidHolmes。

"ThefactisthatIknewthisfellowMilverton，thatI

consideredhimoneofthemostdangerousmeninLondon，andthatIthinktherearecertaincrimeswhichthelawcannottouch，andwhichtherefore，tosomeextent，justifyprivaterevenge。

No，it’snousearguing。Ihavemadeupmymind。Mysympathiesarewiththecriminalsratherthanwiththevictim，andIwillnothandlethiscase。"

Holmeshadnotsaidonewordtomeaboutthetragedywhichwehadwitnessed，butIobservedallthemorningthathewasinhismostthoughtfulmood，andhegavemetheimpression，fromhisvacanteyesandhisabstractedmanner，ofamanwhoisstrivingtorecallsomethingtohismemory。Wewereinthemiddleofourlunchwhenhesuddenlysprangtohisfeet。"ByJove，Watson；

I’vegotit！"hecried。"Takeyourhat！Comewithme！"

HehurriedathistopspeeddownBakerStreetandalongOxfordStreet，untilwehadalmostreachedRegentCircus。Hereonthelefthandtherestandsashopwindowfilledwithphotographsofthecelebritiesandbeautiesoftheday。Holmes’seyesfixedthemselvesupononeofthem，andfollowinghisgazeIsawthepictureofaregalandstatelyladyinCourtdress，withahighdiamondtiarauponhernoblehead。Ilookedatthatdelicately—curvednose，atthemarkedeyebrows，atthestraightmouth，andthestronglittlechinbeneathit。ThenIcaughtmybreathasIreadthetime—honouredtitleofthegreatnoblemanandstatesmanwhosewifeshehadbeen。MyeyesmetthoseofHolmes，andheputhisfingertohislipsasweturnedawayfromthewindow。

VIII。———TheAdventureoftheSixNapoleons。

ITwasnoveryunusualthingforMr。Lestrade，ofScotlandYard，tolookinuponusofanevening，andhisvisitswerewelcometoSherlockHolmes，fortheyenabledhimtokeepintouchwithallthatwasgoingonatthepolicehead—quarters。InreturnforthenewswhichLestradewouldbring，Holmeswasalwaysreadytolistenwithattentiontothedetailsofanycaseuponwhichthedetectivewasengaged，andwasableoccasionally，withoutanyactiveinterference，togivesomehintorsuggestiondrawnfromhisownvastknowledgeandexperience。

OnthisparticulareveningLestradehadspokenoftheweatherandthenewspapers。Thenhehadfallensilent，puffingthoughtfullyathiscigar。Holmeslookedkeenlyathim。

"Anythingremarkableonhand？"heasked。

"Oh，no，Mr。Holmes，nothingveryparticular。"

"Thentellmeaboutit。"

Lestradelaughed。

"Well，Mr。Holmes，thereisnousedenyingthatthereIS

somethingonmymind。AndyetitissuchanabsurdbusinessthatIhesitatedtobotheryouaboutit。Ontheotherhand，althoughitistrivial，itisundoubtedlyqueer，andIknowthatyouhaveatasteforallthatisoutofthecommon。ButinmyopinionitcomesmoreinDr。Watson’slinethanours。"

"Disease？"saidI。

"Madness，anyhow。Andaqueermadnesstoo！Youwouldn’tthinktherewasanyonelivingatthistimeofdaywhohadsuchahatredofNapoleontheFirstthathewouldbreakanyimageofhimthathecouldsee。"

Holmessankbackinhischair。

"That’snobusinessofmine，"saidhe。

"Exactly。That’swhatIsaid。Butthen，whenthemancommitsburglaryinordertobreakimageswhicharenothisown，thatbringsitawayfromthedoctorandontothepoliceman。"

Holmessatupagain。

"Burglary！Thisismoreinteresting。Letmehearthedetails。"

Lestradetookouthisofficialnote—bookandrefreshedhismemoryfromitspages。

"Thefirstcasereportedwasfourdaysago，"saidhe。"ItwasattheshopofMorseHudson，whohasaplaceforthesaleofpicturesandstatuesintheKenningtonRoad。Theassistanthadleftthefrontshopforaninstantwhenheheardacrash，andhurryinginhefoundaplasterbustofNapoleon，whichstoodwithseveralotherworksofartuponthecounter，lyingshiveredintofragments。Herushedoutintotheroad，but，althoughseveralpassers—bydeclaredthattheyhadnoticedamanrunoutoftheshop，hecouldneitherseeanyonenorcouldhefindanymeansofidentifyingtherascal。ItseemedtobeoneofthosesenselessactsofHooliganismwhichoccurfromtimetotime，anditwasreportedtotheconstableonthebeatassuch。

Theplastercastwasnotworthmorethanafewshillings，andthewholeaffairappearedtobetoochildishforanyparticularinvestigation。

"Thesecondcase，however，wasmoreseriousandalsomoresingular。Itoccurredonlylastnight。

"InKenningtonRoad，andwithinafewhundredyardsofMorseHudson’sshop，therelivesawell—knownmedicalpractitioner，namedDr。Barnicot，whohasoneofthelargestpracticesuponthesouthsideoftheThames。Hisresidenceandprincipalconsulting—roomisatKenningtonRoad，buthehasabranchsurgeryanddispensaryatLowerBrixtonRoad，twomilesaway。

ThisDr。BarnicotisanenthusiasticadmirerofNapoleon，andhishouseisfullofbooks，pictures，andrelicsoftheFrenchEmperor。SomelittletimeagohepurchasedfromMorseHudsontwoduplicateplastercastsofthefamousheadofNapoleonbytheFrenchsculptor，Devine。OneoftheseheplacedinhishallinthehouseatKenningtonRoad，andtheotheronthemantelpieceofthesurgeryatLowerBrixton。Well，whenDr。

Barnicotcamedownthismorninghewasastonishedtofindthathishousehadbeenburgledduringthenight，butthatnothinghadbeentakensavetheplasterheadfromthehall。Ithadbeencarriedoutandhadbeendashedsavagelyagainstthegardenwall，underwhichitssplinteredfragmentswerediscovered。"

Holmesrubbedhishands。

"Thisiscertainlyverynovel，"saidhe。

"Ithoughtitwouldpleaseyou。ButIhavenotgottotheendyet。Dr。Barnicotwasdueathissurgeryattwelveo’clock，andyoucanimaginehisamazementwhen，onarrivingthere，hefoundthatthewindowhadbeenopenedinthenight，andthatthebrokenpiecesofhissecondbustwerestrewnallovertheroom。

Ithadbeensmashedtoatomswhereitstood。Inneithercasewerethereanysignswhichcouldgiveusaclueastothecriminalorlunaticwhohaddonethemischief。Now，Mr。Holmes，youhavegotthefacts。"

"Theyaresingular，nottosaygrotesque，"saidHolmes。

"MayIaskwhetherthetwobustssmashedinDr。Barnicot’sroomsweretheexactduplicatesoftheonewhichwasdestroyedinMorseHudson’sshop？"

"Theyweretakenfromthesamemould。"

"SuchafactmusttellagainstthetheorythatthemanwhobreaksthemisinfluencedbyanygeneralhatredofNapoleon。

ConsideringhowmanyhundredsofstatuesofthegreatEmperormustexistinLondon，itistoomuchtosupposesuchacoincidenceasthatapromiscuousiconoclastshouldchancetobeginuponthreespecimensofthesamebust。"

"Well，Ithoughtasyoudo，"saidLestrade。"Ontheotherhand，thisMorseHudsonisthepurveyorofbustsinthatpartofLondon，andthesethreeweretheonlyoneswhichhadbeeninhisshopforyears。So，although，asyousay，therearemanyhundredsofstatuesinLondon，itisveryprobablethatthesethreeweretheonlyonesinthatdistrict。Therefore，alocalfanaticwouldbeginwiththem。Whatdoyouthink，Dr。Watson？"

"Therearenolimitstothepossibilitiesofmonomania，"

Ianswered。"ThereistheconditionwhichthemodernFrenchpsychologistshavecalledthe`ideefixe，’whichmaybetriflingincharacter，andaccompaniedbycompletesanityineveryotherway。AmanwhohadreaddeeplyaboutNapoleon，orwhohadpossiblyreceivedsomehereditaryfamilyinjurythroughthegreatwar，mightconceivablyformsuchan`ideefixe’andunderitsinfluencebecapableofanyfantasticoutrage。"

"Thatwon’tdo，mydearWatson，"saidHolmes，shakinghishead；

"fornoamountof`ideefixe’wouldenableyourinterestingmonomaniactofindoutwherethesebustsweresituated。"

"Well，howdoYOUexplainit？"

"Idon’tattempttodoso。Iwouldonlyobservethatthereisacertainmethodinthegentleman’seccentricproceedings。Forexample，inDr。Barnicot’shall，whereasoundmightarousethefamily，thebustwastakenoutsidebeforebeingbroken，whereasinthesurgery，wheretherewaslessdangerofanalarm，itwassmashedwhereitstood。Theaffairseemsabsurdlytrifling，andyetIdarecallnothingtrivialwhenIreflectthatsomeofmymostclassiccaseshavehadtheleastpromisingcommencement。

Youwillremember，Watson，howthedreadfulbusinessoftheAbernettyfamilywasfirstbroughttomynoticebythedepthwhichtheparsleyhadsunkintothebutteruponahotday。

Ican’tafford，therefore，tosmileatyourthreebrokenbusts，Lestrade，andIshallbeverymuchobligedtoyouifyouwillletmehearofanyfreshdevelopmentsofsosingularachainofevents。"

Thedevelopmentforwhichmyfriendhadaskedcameinaquickerandaninfinitelymoretragicformthanhecouldhaveimagined。

IwasstilldressinginmybedroomnextmorningwhentherewasatapatthedoorandHolmesentered，atelegraminhishand。

Hereaditaloud：——