Duringthefirstweekorsowehadnocallers，andIhadbeguntothinkthatmycompanionwasasfriendlessamanasIwasmyself。Presently，however，Ifoundthathehadmanyacquaintances，andthoseinthemostdifferentclassesofsociety。Therewasonelittlesallowrat-faced，dark-eyedfellowwhowasintroducedtomeasMr。Lestrade，andwhocamethreeorfourtimesinasingleweek。Onemorningayounggirlcalled，fashionablydressed，andstayedforhalfanhourormore。
Thesameafternoonbroughtagrey-headed，seedyvisitor，lookinglikeaJewpedlar，whoappearedtometobemuchexcited，andwhowascloselyfollowedbyaslip-shodelderlywoman。Onanotheroccasionanoldwhite-hairedgentlemanhadaninterviewwithmycompanion；andonanotherarailwayporterinhisvelveteenuniform。Whenanyofthesenondescriptindividualsputinanappearance，SherlockHolmesusedtobegfortheuseofthesitting-room，andIwouldretiretomybed-room。Healwaysapologizedtomeforputtingmetothisinconvenience。"Ihavetousethisroomasaplaceofbusiness，"hesaid，"andthesepeoplearemyclients。"AgainIhadanopportunityofaskinghimapointblankquestion，andagainmydelicacypreventedmefromforcinganothermantoconfideinme。Iimaginedatthetimethathehadsomestrongreasonfornotalludingtoit，buthesoondispelledtheideabycomingroundtothesubjectofhisownaccord。
Itwasuponthe4thofMarch，asIhavegoodreasontoremember，thatIrosesomewhatearlierthanusual，andfoundthatSherlockHolmeshadnotyetfinishedhisbreakfast。Thelandladyhadbecomesoaccustomedtomylatehabitsthatmyplacehadnotbeenlaidnormycoffeeprepared。WiththeunreasonablepetulanceofmankindIrangthebellandgaveacurtintimationthatIwasready。ThenIpickedupamagazinefromthetableandattemptedtowhileawaythetimewithit，whilemycompanionmunchedsilentlyathistoast。Oneofthearticleshadapencilmarkattheheading，andInaturallybegantorunmyeyethroughit。
Itssomewhatambitioustitlewas"TheBookofLife，"anditattemptedtoshowhowmuchanobservantmanmightlearnbyanaccurateandsystematicexaminationofallthatcameinhisway。Itstruckmeasbeingaremarkablemixtureofshrewdnessandofabsurdity。Thereasoningwascloseandintense，butthedeductionsappearedtometobefar-fetchedandexaggerated。Thewriterclaimedbyamomentaryexpression，atwitchofamuscleoraglanceofaneye，tofathomaman'sinmostthoughts。Deceit，accordingtohim，wasanimpossibilityinthecaseofonetrainedtoobservationandanalysis。
HisconclusionswereasinfallibleassomanypropositionsofEuclid。Sostartlingwouldhisresultsappeartotheuninitiatedthatuntiltheylearnedtheprocessesbywhichhehadarrivedatthemtheymightwellconsiderhimasanecromancer。
"Fromadropofwater，"saidthewriter，"alogiciancouldinferthepossibilityofanAtlanticoraNiagarawithouthavingseenorheardofoneortheother。Soalllifeisagreatchain，thenatureofwhichisknownwheneverweareshownasinglelinkofit。Likeallotherarts，theScienceofDeductionandAnalysisisonewhichcanonlybeacquiredbylongandpatientstudynorislifelongenoughtoallowanymortaltoattainthehighestpossibleperfectioninit。
Beforeturningtothosemoralandmentalaspectsofthematterwhichpresentthegreatestdifficulties，lettheenquirerbeginbymasteringmoreelementaryproblems。
Lethim，onmeetingafellow-mortal，learnataglancetodistinguishthehistoryoftheman，andthetradeorprofessiontowhichhebelongs。Puerileassuchanexercisemayseem，itsharpensthefacultiesofobservation，andteachesonewheretolookandwhattolookfor。Byaman'sfingernails，byhiscoat-sleeve，byhisboot，byhistrouserknees，bythecallositiesofhisforefingerandthumb，byhisexpression，byhisshirtcuffs——byeachofthesethingsaman'scallingisplainlyrevealed。Thatallunitedshouldfailtoenlightenthecompetentenquirerinanycaseisalmostinconceivable。"
"Whatineffabletwaddle!"Icried，slappingthemagazinedownonthetable，"Ineverreadsuchrubbishinmylife。"
"Whatisit?"askedSherlockHolmes。
"Why，thisarticle，"Isaid，pointingatitwithmyeggspoonasIsatdowntomybreakfast。"Iseethatyouhavereaditsinceyouhavemarkedit。Idon'tdenythatitissmartlywritten。Itirritatesmethough。Itisevidentlythetheoryofsomearm-chairloungerwhoevolvesalltheseneatlittleparadoxesintheseclusionofhisownstudy。Itisnotpractical。IshouldliketoseehimclappeddowninathirdclasscarriageontheUnderground，andaskedtogivethetradesofallhisfellow-travellers。Iwouldlayathousandtooneagainsthim。"
"Youwouldloseyourmoney，"SherlockHolmesremarkedcalmly。
"AsforthearticleIwroteitmyself。"
"You!"
"Yes，Ihaveaturnbothforobservationandfordeduction。
ThetheorieswhichIhaveexpressedthere，andwhichappeartoyoutobesochimericalarereallyextremelypractical——
sopracticalthatIdependuponthemformybreadandcheese。"
"Andhow?"Iaskedinvoluntarily。
"Well，Ihaveatradeofmyown。IsupposeIamtheonlyoneintheworld。I'maconsultingdetective，ifyoucanunderstandwhatthatis。HereinLondonwehavelotsofGovernmentdetectivesandlotsofprivateones。Whenthesefellowsareatfaulttheycometome，andImanagetoputthemontherightscent。Theylayalltheevidencebeforeme，andIamgenerallyable，bythehelpofmyknowledgeofthehistoryofcrime，tosetthemstraight。Thereisastrongfamilyresemblanceaboutmisdeeds，andifyouhaveallthedetailsofathousandatyourfingerends，itisoddifyoucan'tunravelthethousandandfirst。Lestradeisawell-knowndetective。Hegothimselfintoafogrecentlyoveraforgerycase，andthatwaswhatbroughthimhere。"
"Andtheseotherpeople?"
"Theyaremostlysentonbyprivateinquiryagencies。
Theyareallpeoplewhoareintroubleaboutsomething，andwantalittleenlightening。Ilistentotheirstory，theylistentomycomments，andthenIpocketmyfee。"
"Butdoyoumeantosay，"Isaid，"thatwithoutleavingyourroomyoucanunravelsomeknotwhichothermencanmakenothingof，althoughtheyhaveseeneverydetailforthemselves?"
"Quiteso。Ihaveakindofintuitionthatway。
Nowandagainacaseturnsupwhichisalittlemorecomplex。
ThenIhavetobustleaboutandseethingswithmyowneyes。
YouseeIhavealotofspecialknowledgewhichIapplytotheproblem，andwhichfacilitatesmatterswonderfully。
Thoserulesofdeductionlaiddowninthatarticlewhicharousedyourscorn，areinvaluabletomeinpracticalwork。
Observationwithmeissecondnature。YouappearedtobesurprisedwhenItoldyou，onourfirstmeeting，thatyouhadcomefromAfghanistan。"
"Youweretold，nodoubt。"
"Nothingofthesort。I_knew_youcamefromAfghanistan。
Fromlonghabitthetrainofthoughtsransoswiftlythroughmymind，thatIarrivedattheconclusionwithoutbeingconsciousofintermediatesteps。Thereweresuchsteps，however。Thetrainofreasoningran，`Hereisagentlemanofamedicaltype，butwiththeairofamilitaryman。Clearlyanarmydoctor，then。Hehasjustcomefromthetropics，forhisfaceisdark，andthatisnotthenaturaltintofhisskin，forhiswristsarefair。Hehasundergonehardshipandsickness，ashishaggardfacesaysclearly。Hisleftarmhasbeeninjured。Heholdsitinastiffandunnaturalmanner。
WhereinthetropicscouldanEnglisharmydoctorhaveseenmuchhardshipandgothisarmwounded?ClearlyinAfghanistan。'
Thewholetrainofthoughtdidnotoccupyasecond。IthenremarkedthatyoucamefromAfghanistan，andyouwereastonished。"
"Itissimpleenoughasyouexplainit，"Isaid，smiling。
"YouremindmeofEdgarAllenPoe'sDupin。Ihadnoideathatsuchindividualsdidexistoutsideofstories。"
SherlockHolmesroseandlithispipe。"NodoubtyouthinkthatyouarecomplimentingmeincomparingmetoDupin，"
heobserved。"Now，inmyopinion，Dupinwasaveryinferiorfellow。Thattrickofhisofbreakinginonhisfriends'
thoughtswithanaproposremarkafteraquarterofanhour'ssilenceisreallyveryshowyandsuperficial。Hehadsomeanalyticalgenius，nodoubt；buthewasbynomeanssuchaphenomenonasPoeappearedtoimagine。"
"HaveyoureadGaboriau'sworks?"Iasked。
"DoesLecoqcomeuptoyourideaofadetective?"
SherlockHolmessniffedsardonically。"Lecoqwasamiserablebungler，"hesaid，inanangryvoice；"hehadonlyonethingtorecommendhim，andthatwashisenergy。Thatbookmademepositivelyill。Thequestionwashowtoidentifyanunknownprisoner。Icouldhavedoneitintwenty-fourhours。Lecoqtooksixmonthsorso。Itmightbemadeatext-bookfordetectivestoteachthemwhattoavoid。"
IfeltratherindignantathavingtwocharacterswhomIhadadmiredtreatedinthiscavalierstyle。Iwalkedovertothewindow，andstoodlookingoutintothebusystreet。
"Thisfellowmaybeveryclever，"Isaidtomyself，"butheiscertainlyveryconceited。"
"Therearenocrimesandnocriminalsinthesedays，"hesaid，querulously。"Whatistheuseofhavingbrainsinourprofession。IknowwellthatIhaveitinmetomakemynamefamous。NomanlivesorhaseverlivedwhohasbroughtthesameamountofstudyandofnaturaltalenttothedetectionofcrimewhichIhavedone。Andwhatistheresult?Thereisnocrimetodetect，or，atmost，somebunglingvillanywithamotivesotransparentthatevenaScotlandYardofficialcanseethroughit。"
Iwasstillannoyedathisbumptiousstyleofconversation。
Ithoughtitbesttochangethetopic。
"Iwonderwhatthatfellowislookingfor?"Iasked，pointingtoastalwart，plainly-dressedindividualwhowaswalkingslowlydowntheothersideofthestreet，lookinganxiouslyatthenumbers。Hehadalargeblueenvelopeinhishand，andwasevidentlythebearerofamessage。
"YoumeantheretiredsergeantofMarines，"saidSherlockHolmes。
"Bragandbounce!"thoughtItomyself。"HeknowsthatI
cannotverifyhisguess。"
Thethoughthadhardlypassedthroughmymindwhenthemanwhomwewerewatchingcaughtsightofthenumberonourdoor，andranrapidlyacrosstheroadway。Weheardaloudknock，adeepvoicebelow，andheavystepsascendingthestair。
"ForMr。SherlockHolmes，"hesaid，steppingintotheroomandhandingmyfriendtheletter。
Herewasanopportunityoftakingtheconceitoutofhim。
Helittlethoughtofthiswhenhemadethatrandomshot。
"MayIask，mylad，"Isaid，intheblandestvoice，"whatyourtrademaybe?"
"Commissionaire，sir，"hesaid，gruffly。
"Uniformawayforrepairs。"
"Andyouwere?"Iasked，withaslightlymaliciousglanceatmycompanion。
"Asergeant，sir，RoyalMarineLightInfantry，sir。
Noanswer?Right，sir。"
Heclickedhisheelstogether，raisedhishandinasalute，andwasgone。
CHAPTERIII。
THELAURISTONGARDENMYSTERY
ICONFESSthatIwasconsiderablystartledbythisfreshproofofthepracticalnatureofmycompanion'stheories。
Myrespectforhispowersofanalysisincreasedwondrously。
Therestillremainedsomelurkingsuspicioninmymind，however，thatthewholethingwasapre-arrangedepisode，intendedtodazzleme，thoughwhatearthlyobjecthecouldhaveintakingmeinwaspastmycomprehension。
WhenIlookedathimhehadfinishedreadingthenote，andhiseyeshadassumedthevacant，lack-lustreexpressionwhichshowedmentalabstraction。
"Howintheworlddidyoudeducethat?"Iasked。
"Deducewhat?"saidhe，petulantly。
"Why，thathewasaretiredsergeantofMarines。"
"Ihavenotimefortrifles，"heanswered，brusquely；
thenwithasmile，"Excusemyrudeness。Youbrokethethreadofmythoughts；butperhapsitisaswell。SoyouactuallywerenotabletoseethatthatmanwasasergeantofMarines?"
"No，indeed。"
"ItwaseasiertoknowitthantoexplainwhyIknewit。
Ifyouwereaskedtoprovethattwoandtwomadefour，youmightfindsomedifficulty，andyetyouarequitesureofthefact。
EvenacrossthestreetIcouldseeagreatblueanchortattooedonthebackofthefellow'shand。Thatsmackedofthesea。Hehadamilitarycarriage，however，andregulationsidewhiskers。Therewehavethemarine。Hewasamanwithsomeamountofself-importanceandacertainairofcommand。
Youmusthaveobservedthewayinwhichheheldhisheadandswunghiscane。Asteady，respectable，middle-agedman，too，onthefaceofhim——allfactswhichledmetobelievethathehadbeenasergeant。"
"Wonderful!"Iejaculated。
"Commonplace，"saidHolmes，thoughIthoughtfromhisexpressionthathewaspleasedatmyevidentsurpriseandadmiration。"Isaidjustnowthattherewerenocriminals。
ItappearsthatIamwrong——lookatthis!"Hethrewmeoverthenotewhichthecommissionairehadbrought。"{7}
"Why，"Icried，asIcastmyeyeoverit，"thisisterrible!"
"Itdoesseemtobealittleoutofthecommon，"heremarked，calmly。"Wouldyoumindreadingittomealoud?"
ThisistheletterwhichIreadtohim——
"MYDEARMR。SHERLOCKHOLMES，——"Therehasbeenabadbusinessduringthenightat3，LauristonGardens，offtheBrixtonRoad。Ourmanonthebeatsawalightthereabouttwointhemorning，andasthehousewasanemptyone，suspectedthatsomethingwasamiss。Hefoundthedooropen，andinthefrontroom，whichisbareoffurniture，discoveredthebodyofagentleman，welldressed，andhavingcardsinhispocketbearingthenameof`EnochJ。Drebber，Cleveland，Ohio，U。S。A。'Therehadbeennorobbery，noristhereanyevidenceastohowthemanmethisdeath。Therearemarksofbloodintheroom，butthereisnowounduponhisperson。
Weareatalossastohowhecameintotheemptyhouse；
indeed，thewholeaffairisapuzzler。Ifyoucancomeroundtothehouseanytimebeforetwelve，youwillfindmethere。
Ihavelefteverything_instatuquo_untilIhearfromyou。
IfyouareunabletocomeIshallgiveyoufullerdetails，andwouldesteemitagreatkindnessifyouwouldfavourmewithyouropinion。Yoursfaithfully，"TOBIASGREGSON。"
"GregsonisthesmartestoftheScotlandYarders，"
myfriendremarked；"heandLestradearethepickofabadlot。
Theyarebothquickandenergetic，butconventional——shockinglyso。Theyhavetheirknivesintooneanother，too。Theyareasjealousasapairofprofessionalbeauties。Therewillbesomefunoverthiscaseiftheyarebothputuponthescent。"
Iwasamazedatthecalmwayinwhichherippledon。
"Surelythereisnotamomenttobelost，"Icried，"shallIgoandorderyouacab?"
"I'mnotsureaboutwhetherIshallgo。Iamthemostincurablylazydevilthateverstoodinshoeleather——thatis，whenthefitisonme，forIcanbespryenoughattimes。"
"Why，itisjustsuchachanceasyouhavebeenlongingfor。"
"Mydearfellow，whatdoesitmattertome。
SupposingIunravelthewholematter，youmaybesurethatGregson，Lestrade，andCo。willpocketallthecredit。
Thatcomesofbeinganunofficialpersonage。"
"Buthebegsyoutohelphim。"
"Yes。HeknowsthatIamhissuperior，andacknowledgesittome；buthewouldcuthistongueoutbeforehewouldownittoanythirdperson。However，wemayaswellgoandhavealook。Ishallworkitoutonmyownhook。ImayhavealaughatthemifIhavenothingelse。Comeon!"
Hehustledonhisovercoat，andbustledaboutinawaythatshowedthatanenergeticfithadsupersededtheapatheticone。
"Getyourhat，"hesaid。
"Youwishmetocome?"
"Yes，ifyouhavenothingbettertodo。"Aminutelaterwewerebothinahansom，drivingfuriouslyfortheBrixtonRoad。
Itwasafoggy，cloudymorning，andadun-colouredveilhungoverthehouse-tops，lookinglikethereflectionofthemud-colouredstreetsbeneath。Mycompanionwasinthebestofspirits，andprattledawayaboutCremonafiddles，andthedifferencebetweenaStradivariusandanAmati。Asformyself，Iwassilent，forthedullweatherandthemelancholybusinessuponwhichwewereengaged，depressedmyspirits。
"Youdon'tseemtogivemuchthoughttothematterinhand，"
Isaidatlast，interruptingHolmes'musicaldisquisition。
"Nodatayet，"heanswered。"Itisacapitalmistaketotheorizebeforeyouhavealltheevidence。Itbiasesthejudgment。"
"Youwillhaveyourdatasoon，"Iremarked，pointingwithmyfinger；"thisistheBrixtonRoad，andthatisthehouse，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken。"
"Soitis。Stop，driver，stop!"Wewerestillahundredyardsorsofromit，butheinsisteduponouralighting，andwefinishedourjourneyuponfoot。
Number3，LauristonGardensworeanill-omenedandminatorylook。
Itwasoneoffourwhichstoodbacksomelittlewayfromthestreet，twobeingoccupiedandtwoempty。Thelatterlookedoutwiththreetiersofvacantmelancholywindows，whichwereblankanddreary，savethathereandtherea"ToLet"cardhaddevelopedlikeacataractupontheblearedpanes。Asmallgardensprinkledoverwithascatterederuptionofsicklyplantsseparatedeachofthesehousesfromthestreet，andwastraversedbyanarrowpathway，yellowishincolour，andconsistingapparentlyofamixtureofclayandofgravel。Thewholeplacewasverysloppyfromtherainwhichhadfallenthroughthenight。
Thegardenwasboundedbyathree-footbrickwallwithafringeofwoodrailsuponthetop，andagainstthiswallwasleaningastalwartpoliceconstable，surroundedbyasmallknotofloafers，whocranedtheirnecksandstrainedtheireyesinthevainhopeofcatchingsomeglimpseoftheproceedingswithin。
IhadimaginedthatSherlockHolmeswouldatoncehavehurriedintothehouseandplungedintoastudyofthemystery。Nothingappearedtobefurtherfromhisintention。
Withanairofnonchalancewhich，underthecircumstances，seemedtometoborderuponaffectation，heloungedupanddownthepavement，andgazedvacantlyattheground，thesky，theoppositehousesandthelineofrailings。Havingfinishedhisscrutiny，heproceededslowlydownthepath，orratherdownthefringeofgrasswhichflankedthepath，keepinghiseyesrivetedupontheground。Twicehestopped，andonceIsawhimsmile，andheardhimutteranexclamationofsatisfaction。Thereweremanymarksoffootstepsuponthewetclayeysoil，butsincethepolicehadbeencomingandgoingoverit，Iwasunabletoseehowmycompanioncouldhopetolearnanythingfromit。StillIhadhadsuchextraordinaryevidenceofthequicknessofhisperceptivefaculties，thatIhadnodoubtthathecouldseeagreatdealwhichwashiddenfromme。
Atthedoorofthehouseweweremetbyatall，white-faced，flaxen-hairedman，withanotebookinhishand，whorushedforwardandwrungmycompanion'shandwitheffusion。
"Itisindeedkindofyoutocome，"hesaid，"Ihavehadeverythingleftuntouched。"
"Exceptthat!"myfriendanswered，pointingatthepathway。
"Ifaherdofbuffaloeshadpassedalongtherecouldnotbeagreatermess。Nodoubt，however，youhaddrawnyourownconclusions，Gregson，beforeyoupermittedthis。"
"Ihavehadsomuchtodoinsidethehouse，"thedetectivesaidevasively。"Mycolleague，Mr。Lestrade，ishere。
Ihadrelieduponhimtolookafterthis。"
Holmesglancedatmeandraisedhiseyebrowssardonically。
"WithtwosuchmenasyourselfandLestradeupontheground，therewillnotbemuchforathirdpartytofindout，"hesaid。
Gregsonrubbedhishandsinaself-satisfiedway。
"Ithinkwehavedoneallthatcanbedone，"heanswered；
"it'saqueercasethough，andIknewyourtasteforsuchthings。"
"Youdidnotcomehereinacab?"askedSherlockHolmes。
"No，sir。"
"NorLestrade?"
"No，sir。"
"Thenletusgoandlookattheroom。"Withwhichinconsequentremarkhestrodeonintothehouse，followedbyGregson，whosefeaturesexpressedhisastonishment。
Ashortpassage，bareplankedanddusty，ledtothekitchenandoffices。Twodoorsopenedoutofittotheleftandtotheright。Oneofthesehadobviouslybeenclosedformanyweeks。Theotherbelongedtothedining-room，whichwastheapartmentinwhichthemysteriousaffairhadoccurred。
Holmeswalkedin，andIfollowedhimwiththatsubduedfeelingatmyheartwhichthepresenceofdeathinspires。
Itwasalargesquareroom，lookingallthelargerfromtheabsenceofallfurniture。Avulgarflaringpaperadornedthewalls，butitwasblotchedinplaceswithmildew，andhereandtheregreatstripshadbecomedetachedandhungdown，exposingtheyellowplasterbeneath。Oppositethedoorwasashowyfireplace，surmountedbyamantelpieceofimitationwhitemarble。Ononecornerofthiswasstuckthestumpofaredwaxcandle。Thesolitarywindowwassodirtythatthelightwashazyanduncertain，givingadullgreytingetoeverything，whichwasintensifiedbythethicklayerofdustwhichcoatedthewholeapartment。
AllthesedetailsIobservedafterwards。Atpresentmyattentionwascentreduponthesinglegrimmotionlessfigurewhichlaystretchedupontheboards，withvacantsightlesseyesstaringupatthediscolouredceiling。Itwasthatofamanaboutforty-threeorforty-fouryearsofage，middle-sized，broadshouldered，withcrispcurlingblackhair，andashortstubblybeard。Hewasdressedinaheavybroadclothfrockcoatandwaistcoat，withlight-colouredtrousers，andimmaculatecollarandcuffs。Atophat，wellbrushedandtrim，wasplaceduponthefloorbesidehim。Hishandswereclenchedandhisarmsthrownabroad，whilehislowerlimbswereinterlockedasthoughhisdeathstrugglehadbeenagrievousone。Onhisrigidfacetherestoodanexpressionofhorror，andasitseemedtome，ofhatred，suchasIhaveneverseenuponhumanfeatures。Thismalignantandterriblecontortion，combinedwiththelowforehead，bluntnose，andprognathousjawgavethedeadmanasingularlysimiousandape-likeappearance，whichwasincreasedbyhiswrithing，unnaturalposture。Ihaveseendeathinmanyforms，butneverhasitappearedtomeinamorefearsomeaspectthaninthatdarkgrimyapartment，whichlookedoutupononeofthemainarteriesofsuburbanLondon。
Lestrade，leanandferret-likeasever，wasstandingbythedoorway，andgreetedmycompanionandmyself。
"Thiscasewillmakeastir，sir，"heremarked。
"ItbeatsanythingIhaveseen，andIamnochicken。"
"Thereisnoclue?"saidGregson。
"Noneatall，"chimedinLestrade。
SherlockHolmesapproachedthebody，and，kneelingdown，examineditintently。"Youaresurethatthereisnowound?"
heasked，pointingtonumerousgoutsandsplashesofbloodwhichlayallround。
"Positive!"criedbothdetectives。
"Then，ofcourse，thisbloodbelongstoasecondindividual——{8}
presumablythemurderer，ifmurderhasbeencommitted。
ItremindsmeofthecircumstancesattendantonthedeathofVanJansen，inUtrecht，intheyear'34。Doyourememberthecase，Gregson?"
"No，sir。"
"Readitup——youreallyshould。Thereisnothingnewunderthesun。Ithasallbeendonebefore。"
Ashespoke，hisnimblefingerswereflyinghere，there，andeverywhere，feeling，pressing，unbuttoning，examining，whilehiseyesworethesamefar-awayexpressionwhichIhavealreadyremarkedupon。Soswiftlywastheexaminationmade，thatonewouldhardlyhaveguessedtheminutenesswithwhichitwasconducted。Finally，hesniffedthedeadman'slips，andthenglancedatthesolesofhispatentleatherboots。
"Hehasnotbeenmovedatall?"heasked。
"Nomorethanwasnecessaryforthepurposesofourexamination。"
"Youcantakehimtothemortuarynow，"hesaid。
"Thereisnothingmoretobelearned。"
Gregsonhadastretcherandfourmenathand。Athiscalltheyenteredtheroom，andthestrangerwasliftedandcarriedout。Astheyraisedhim，aringtinkleddownandrolledacrossthefloor。Lestradegrabbeditupandstaredatitwithmystifiedeyes。
"There'sbeenawomanhere，"hecried。"It'sawoman'swedding-ring。"
Hehelditout，ashespoke，uponthepalmofhishand。
Weallgatheredroundhimandgazedatit。Therecouldbenodoubtthatthatcircletofplaingoldhadonceadornedthefingerofabride。
"Thiscomplicatesmatters，"saidGregson。"Heavenknows，theywerecomplicatedenoughbefore。"
"You'resureitdoesn'tsimplifythem?"observedHolmes。
"There'snothingtobelearnedbystaringatit。
Whatdidyoufindinhispockets?"
"Wehaveitallhere，"saidGregson，pointingtoalitterofobjectsupononeofthebottomstepsofthestairs。
"Agoldwatch，No。97163，byBarraud，ofLondon。GoldAlbertchain，veryheavyandsolid。Goldring，withmasonicdevice。
Goldpin——bull-dog'shead，withrubiesaseyes。
Russianleathercard-case，withcardsofEnochJ。DrebberofCleveland，correspondingwiththeE。J。D。uponthelinen。
Nopurse，butloosemoneytotheextentofsevenpoundsthirteen。
PocketeditionofBoccaccio's`Decameron，'withnameofJosephStangersonuponthefly-leaf。Twoletters——oneaddressedtoE。J。DrebberandonetoJosephStangerson。"
"Atwhataddress?"
"AmericanExchange，Strand——tobelefttillcalledfor。
TheyarebothfromtheGuionSteamshipCompany，andrefertothesailingoftheirboatsfromLiverpool。ItisclearthatthisunfortunatemanwasabouttoreturntoNewYork。"
"Haveyoumadeanyinquiriesastothisman，Stangerson?"
"Ididitatonce，sir，"saidGregson。"Ihavehadadvertisementssenttoallthenewspapers，andoneofmymenhasgonetotheAmericanExchange，buthehasnotreturnedyet。"
"HaveyousenttoCleveland?"
"Wetelegraphedthismorning。"